Support spreads for striking drivers

Striking petrol tanker drivers and supporters held a picket outside Riverside BP Connect. Photo/Lindy Laird

The effects of a strike by Northland tanker drivers employed by Toll Group have moved nationwide as a series of public pickets to support them are being planned.

Six of the eight drivers employed by Toll Carriers in Whangarei went on an indefinite strike nearly two weeks ago, demanding a pay rise to about $26 an hour, from a rate of between $20 and $25 an hour they are currently being paid.

Toll Carriers is contracted to supply fuel to 32 Gasoline Alley Services (GAS) and seven BP service stations in Northland.

First Union organiser Jared Abbott said the striking drivers have reassured petrol station owners from Gasoline Alley there would not be pickets of their owner-operated service stations.

About 30 supporters staged a picket at Greenlane BP on Saturday morning.

Mr Abbott said similar pickets were being planned for Christchurch and Wellington.

A march to the Wellington headquarters of BP would take place tomorrow, he said.

Mr Abbott said both the drivers and the owner-operators were feeling the squeeze from the big corporates that dominated the industry.

"Our concern is not with small owner-operator service stations in the North. Our dispute is with Toll Carriers and the global oil giant who benefits from the low wages Toll pays BP Oil."

He said owner-operators had expressed their solidarity with the drivers, but had requested not to be named for fear of retaliation from their providers.

The terms of the market were dictated at the top of the supply chain with little room for negotiation and speaking out publicly on these issues could have serious consequences, he said.

Striking drivers have been bargaining with Toll Carriers since January but claimed the company was unwilling to match industry rates.

Despite seeking a pay increase that would still see Toll being the lowest paying company in the industry, bargaining broke down after Toll refused to offer union members what the company paid non-union staff with less experience, Mr Abbott said.

BP had said the strike would not have any impact on the company as it had a contingency plan in place.

Toll yesterday said it hoped to have differences with its drivers resolved "soon".

Meanwhile, a website has been set up for anyone that wishes to donate to help the striking drivers.

See www.onebigvoice.com/fundraiser/toll-strike-fund for further information.