Petrol tanker drivers to strike in pay dispute

Petrol tanker drivers have announced a strike in the run up to Christmas in a dispute over pay.

The Unite union said about 20 drivers in the West Midlands who are contracted to XPO Bulk UK Ltd would walk out due to unfair pay, claiming drivers elsewhere in the country earned up to £11,000 more.

The strike is set to take place between 19 and 24 December and the union said it could "see petrol run dry at Tesco garages across the region".

A spokesperson for XPO said they continued to cooperate with the union and measures were being put in place to mitigate any impact of industrial action.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: "XPO is a massive multinational making nearly a billion dollars in profit last year, yet feels the need to try and short-change our members in the West Midlands."

She called on XPO to come up with an acceptable pay offer, otherwise petrol supplies to Tesco would be affected over Christmas.

Unite regional officer Jason Richards added that members in the West Midlands wanted a "fair deal" after seeing colleagues elsewhere in the UK "earning vastly more".

The BBC has contacted Tesco for comment.

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