2012 United Kingdom fuel crisis

In March 2012 Unite trades union warned it was considering a strike over health and safety standards. Unite represents around 2,000 tanker drivers, who deliver fuel to 90% of Britain's forecourts.^[1][2] Although no strike took place, Government action precipitated panic-buying and a woman was very seriously injured after following a minister's advice to store extra petrol.^[3]

Background

Towards the end of 2007, fuel prices exceeded £1 per litre with a two-pence rise in fuel tax in October, resulting in the highest diesel prices and the fourth highest for petrol in Europe.^[4] New protests were planned by two unconnected groups, one called Transaction 2007 and the Road Haulage Association (RHA).^[4] The RHA is currently headed by Chief Executive Mr Geoff Dunning. Protesters claimed that forecourts and oil firms were profiteering. Tanker drivers also claimed felt that they were being neglected and over worked. They were also concerned about the outsourcing in the haulage industry has triggered relentless pressure on cutting costs, with firms likes of Asda, Shell and Esso all contracting out their deliveries to low quality rivals.^[2][2][2][5]

Union representatives and tanker drivers revealed that some vehicles can weigh 44 tonnes and can carry around 36,000 to 40,000 litres of fuel.^[6][7] Some drivers can start at two in the morning and work until two in the afternoon, with one weekend off every 14 weeks.^[6][7]

News of the planned industrial action days after George Osborne had outlined the imposition of 20 per cent VAT on hot pies, more public sector cuts, council workers’ pension cuts and the planned NHS reforms in mid-March.^[8]

The Panic buying at forecourts across the UK in March 2012 began after Unite members threatened to vote to strike. According to their critics (including the AA),^[9] both statements from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Cabinet Minister Francis Maude,^[9] and poor media coverage, encouraged tens of thousands of motorists to panic buy, leading to a number of forecourts running out of fuel.^[9]

Unite members must legally give seven days' prior notification of a strike; no such notification had been given as of 30 March.

Panic buying and long queues at garages were reported in Banbury, Christchurch ^[10] and Crawley.^[11]

The Unite trades union threatened a strike over health and safety standards earlier in March 2012. Unite represents around 2,000 tanker drivers, who deliver fuel to 90% of Britain's forecourts.^[1][2]

The event

25 March

The Cabinet Office Minister, Francis Maude, called upon both the Unite union, who was balloting for a drivers' strike at seven fuel distribution firms, to seek an agreement with distribution companies via ACAS.^[2] The Unite Union's rep's argued that the outsourcing in the haulage industry has triggered relentless pressure on cutting costs, with firms likes of Asda, Shell and Esso all contracting out their deliveries to low quality rivals.^[2][2]

The Government said preparations were underway, the army tanker fleet was put on standby as petrol tanker drivers at 5 of the 7 firms voted on strike action.^[2]

The Petrol Retailers Association, whose membership represents more than 5,500 petrol stations, said that it knew nothing about any form of planned government contingency plans and was advising members to keep fuel levels high. The group's chairman, Brian Madderson told the BBC: "We have had no word from the Department of Energy and Climate Change whatsoever."^[2]

26 March

Talks continued at ACAS.

27 March

Ministers consider plans to train up military personnel to ensure that fuel supplies are maintained at a cabinet meeting.^[1] Confused statements from UK Prime Minister David Cameron, Cabinet Minister Francis Maude,^[9] and later poor quality/alarmist media coverage lead to tens of thousands of motorists panic buying in Banbury, Christchurch ^[10] and Crawley.

By midday, Francis Maude had told drivers that they should make sure they have enough fuel in their vehicles and "maybe a little bit in their garage as well in a jerry can". However, both the AA and fire-fighters have now called on him to withdraw the advice, because of the risk of explosions in garages.^[12] The shadow transport secretary, Maria Eagle, warned of a danger of panic fuel buying, as did the AA after the government urged motorists to be ready for a strike-induced shortage.^[1] The AA also warned of the danger of panic-buying. Andrew Howard, its spokesman, said: "If people begin panic-buying we could well have shortages in fuel even before the strike.".^[13] As the day progressed there were scenes of long queues at petrol pumps in Liverpool,^[12] Preston^[12] and Kent,^[12] while pumps ran dry in Wilmslow in Cheshire^[12] and Llandudno Junction in North Wales.^[12]

Some garages capped individual sales to stretch reserves, by using methods such as a 25-litre or £20 maximum spend on any one purchase.^[14]

Other forecourts had introduced 'minimum spend' rules of £35, to try and prevent motorists who have a half-full tank from filling up again, as well as to turn an extra profit in a time of crisis.^[14]

28 March

That morning David Cameron told a press conference that the fuel tanker drivers' strike has no justification and was part of a supposed Labour party plot to undermine his government.^[13]

Later on BBC Radio 4's World at One, Maude denied that he had earlier told people to fill jerry cans.^[13]

Petrol ran low in some Dorset, Hertfordshire and Herefordshire forecourts.

29 March

Petrol Retailers Association said petrol sales increased by more than 170% and sales of diesel were up by almost 80%.^[15] Weymouth, Dorset almost run out of diesel by the end of trading.^[16] Babu Jha, manager of MPK Filling Station in Leicester's Dysart Way, said on the 29th: "We have been really busy, probably three times as much as usual. People seem to be panicking." as demand rose heavily in Leicester.^[17] The Aintree forecourt attendant Farhaan Mohammed, 21, said expected petrol to have run out by the end of trading and that there was no guarantee from Esso of more fuel.^[18] Worried motorists in Crawley and Horley queued for petrol.^[11]

The Texaco garage in Telscombe Cliffs ran out of fuel and customers began rowing outside the petrol station at Asda in Hollingbury after accusations of queue jumping, as the stretched from the forecourt in to Carden Avenue.^[19]

Taxi drivers reported long petrol queues in Clarence Place, Coroporation Road and parts of Maindee in Newport. ABC Taxis told drivers to top up amid fears stations would sell out.^[20]

A van driver in Leeds said he had to wait for 30 minutes to get fuel, while a forecourt on the outskirts Harrogate had run out of fuel by 11.30am.^[21]

Retail store Halfords reported "high" sales of fuel cans. Sales of all cans have soared by 225% compared with this time last year, with motorists buying in "the thousands", while sales of jerry cans are up by more than 500%.^[21]

The Energy Secretary, Ed Davey urged motorists to "Keep tanks two-thirds full, but don't panic.".^[22]

The London Fire Brigade urged businesses to place legal warnings on websites and petrol cans.^[21] Chief Inspector Nick Maton of Dorset Police warned motorists not to panic.^[20]

The British army was put on n standby to deliver petrol if a strike was called.^[23]

30 March

That morning, Crawley's MP, Henry Smith said to the local newspaper's reporters that he supported the Government was right to warn people to prepare for a potential fuel strike,^[11] backed up France's Maude's advice (despite criticism that it caused panicked queues of spooked drivers and shortages at several petrol pumps).^[11][11] He also condemned the Labour Party's funding by the Trades Unions and accused the tanker drivers of being lazy fat cats.^[11]

Later, the Government and national media went on to falsely claime that the panic buying had led to an incident in which a woman from Moorgate, in Acomb,^[24] near York was badly burned at home, when petrol ignited as she transferred it between containers in her kitchen on 30 March.^[15] (It is hard to associate this with recent political events. 1,382 people were burned by petrol in the UK from 2003–2007;^[25] an average of 5 per week. Hence it's extremely difficult to link the York petrol burn victim with political events, because petrol burns are so frequent.) North Yorkshire Fier Brigade issue a warning on line and on Radio 5 over the storage of petrole.^[26]

Diesel ran out in Banbury and Adderbury. Petrol and diesel both ran out in Hammersmith Bridge in Barnes,^[16] High Wycombe,^[16] South Shields, North Shields,^[16] and Newcastle upon Tyne.^[15][15] Long queues occurred in several places such as Banbury, Crawley and Gateshead in N.E. England.^[27]

Police in southwest England asked many petrol stations to close temporarily amid violent and desperate panic buying by hysterical and fear-crazed motorists (A phenomenon called 'fuel rage' by police and forecourt staff).^[27] A PCSO told the manager of a Total service station in Christchurch, Dorset, to close temporarily due to the deteriorating situation and panic buying in the area.^[28] A security guard patrolled the besieged petrol pumps at Morrisons in Derby amid the heavy panic buying.^[16] Later that evening the Tesco filling station at Inshes, Inverness, finally ran out of fuel.^[7] Motorists in Crawley and Horley queued for petrol.^[11]

By mid-day the Unite's leadership ruled out Easter fuel strikes and negotiations were started at ACAS.^[15] and talks were planned for the next week.^{[27][29][30][31]}

Morrisons in Freemen's Common, Leicester, and Asda at Fosse Park, used supermarket staff to act as marhals in an attempt manage motorists panicked motorists pumps.^[17] The Shell garage on the A6, near Leicester Racecourse, by midday and Tesco filling station in Hamilton, near Leicester, was out of both petrol and diesel by the evening, with later reports of several other stations exhausting their supplies.^[17] Queuing also occurred at the Shell Trocadero in Uppingham Road, Leicester.^[17]

Altogether more than 100 forecourts ran dry as retailers warned that large parts of the country could run out of fuel by the end of the 30th if the panic continued. Some marked up their prices as stocks began to fall.^[31]

Army personnel started being trained to drive military and civil tankers were put on standby to help maintain essential supplies.^[16] Civil tanker drivers replenished stocks in Weymouth, a town which had almost run out of diesel on the 29th ^[16]

During the middle of the day London's Mayor, Boris Johnson called for the creation of a National Emergency Plan.^[26]

Labour peer Lord Harris called for Francis Maude to resign in the wake of Diane Hill burning herself.^[32]

The UK Petroleum Industry Association described fuel crisis as "self-inflicted insanity and condemned the Department of Energy's poor handling of the crisis.^[32] Several business leaders also said in a press release late that evening,^[33] warning that a strike would destroy the economy, cause a recession, and close small businesses.^[33]

31 March

The government told people via the Department for Energy and Climate Change web page to stop panic buying after the Unite union ruled out a strike over Easter.^[34]

There was still little sign of the situation easing as drivers formed queues of up to half a mile at those filling stations still holding supplies. Many forecourts were rationing drivers to as little as £10 each,^[34] while others imposed a minimum spend of £25.^[34] A Cornish garage even refused to serve anyone who was "not local" after the owner decided to turn away holidaymakers in favour of regular customers and account holders as supplies in Cornwall began to dry up.^[34]

Trade at Banbury's Texaco and Adderbury's Esso had slackened, but were still out of diesel. Some afternoon queues and shortages at the petrol stations in Leeds, Tonbridge in Kent, Egham, Bromley in south-east London, Finchampstead in Berkshire and St Albans.^[35] PCSOs manned the pumps at Esso Tesco Express petrol station on Soundwell Road, Bristol.^[36]

Evening demand for fuel appeared to be dropping, with unleaded petrol sales down from 172% above normal on Thursday to 57% above normal on 30th, according to independent retailers' group RMI Petrol.^[35] Diesel sales were down from 77% above normal on 29th to 29% above normal on the 30th.^[35] The AA estimated that one in five stations ran out of fuel that day.^[14]

A BP spokesperson stated that there had been a reduction in demand on the forecourts but some were still low or had completely run out of stock and were awaiting deliveries.^[35]

Motoring organisations also warned of a 2-3 day backlog as tanker crews attempt to refuel petrol stations.^[35]

Several Labour MPs have also called for the resignation of the Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude over comments he made advising storing petrol in jerrycans.^[35]

1 April

The planned strike was abandoned in the face of continuing talks at ACAS. The government introduces new taxes to make up for 'lost' tax revenue.^[37]

2 April

Conciliation talks were planned between UNITE and Bosses at ACAS on 4 April according to an ACAS spokesperson.^[38]

The RMI chairman, Brian Madderson, warning of a repeat of the previous week's fuel panic if talks failed.^[38]

4 April

Talks continue at ACAS.

18 April

Talks began to break down between the Unite Union and bosses at the Acas summit.^[39] A conference of 60 oil tanker drivers Unite's London headquarters rejected the proposals made by fuel distributors. The tanker drivers asked for the Health and Safety Executive and to create a tanker driver accreditation licence or "passport".^[40]

8 May

A Unite spokesmand said that 57.5% of members on a turnout of 79.5% voted for action short of strike in the union's re-ballot on the issue.^[41]

11 May

Unite members voted by 51% in favour of the boss's proposals, which included the introduction of an industrywide accreditation covering health safety and training, a Unite said in a statement issued at its website.^[42]

12 May

Unite chairwoman Diana Holland said the narrow vote would lead to no strike action taking place.^[43]

Public Safety issues

An AA statement said: "A lady about 75 was seen filling up 20 empty one-gallon paint tins with plastic lids and also a tray of jam jars in her boot with petrol.” The incident was in Macclesfield, Cheshire.^[14]

One motorist tried to fill a pair of 1 gallon glass flagons with petrol in South Wales. The nozzle of the pump was, in fact, bigger than the neck of the flagon, and the fuel was spilt over the surrounding ground.^[14]

A motorist in Ilkley, Yorkshire, was ejected from a garage forecourt after he had snatched the pump out of the hand of a female driver.^{[18][19][21][44]}

Firefighters were called to deal with a fuel spillage after a car was overfilled with petrol in Deerswood Road, Crawley, West Sussex.^{[18][19][21][44]}

Firefighters were called to deal with a fuel spillage after a motorist was ejected from a garage because he had snatched the pump out of the hand of an elderly driver.^[45]

Aftermath

It was estimated that the panic buying will bring in £32 million in fuel excise duty.^[44]

The government announced new taxes on 1 April to compensate for ‘lost’ strike related tax revenue. The APD tax for short-haul flights went up from £12 to £13, while the tax on a long-haul rose to between £62 (to the United States) to £92 (to Australia). ^[46][47] An increase in NHS prescription charges in England of 25p to £7.65.^[37]

A new Northern Irish Assembly business levy on large stores comes into force in Northern Ireland on 2 April. It revalued rates on commercial premises that have a rateable value of more than £500,000. The proceeds will be used to reduce rates for smaller businesses, affecting 76 and is thought it will cost big shops an average of £66,000 a year. Ikea claimed that Finance Minister Sammy Wilson could be putting jobs at risk.^[48]

Responses

• The Petrol Retailers Association's chairman, Brian Madderson told the BBC: "We have had no word from the Department of Energy and Climate Change whatsoever." on 25 March.^[2]
• Unite's assistant general secretary, Diana Holland, said in a letter to Davey: "We have been tireless in seeking talks to avoid industrial action, but we have been frustrated at every turn." on 28 March.^[13]
• The AA also warned of the danger of panic-buying. Andrew Howard, its spokesman, said: "If people begin panic-buying we could well have shortages in fuel even before the strike." on the 28th.^[13]
• Babu Jha, manager of MPK Filling Station, in Leicester's Dysart Way, said on the 29th: "We have been really busy, probably three times as much as usual. People seem to be panicking." ^[17]
• Michelle Watson of the Texaco garage in Telscombe Cliffs, Sussex said: "We closed at about 12.30pm after selling three days’ worth of fuel in a day." on 29 March.
• Energy Secretary, Ed Davey urged motorists to "Keep tanks two-thirds full, but don't panic." on 29 March.^[22]
• Chief Inspector Nick Maton of Dorset Police warned motorists not to panic and said in the 29th in a local press conference "There is no disruption to the fuel supply in the UK and members of the public should not panic buy. The actions of some motorists in queuing irresponsibly at petrol stations is causing danger to other road users. Police are taking action, requesting petrol stations to close temporarily in order to keep traffic flowing. Once the queues have dispersed, the petrol stations may re-open for short periods." ^[20]
• The AA president Edmund King said on 29 March: "We plead with drivers who really don't need to fill up to stay away from the pumps. The AA also stresses that drivers do not and should not hoard extra supplies of fuel in jerry cans or other containers. Hoarding fuel is dangerous and is not required."^[14][18][19]
• The Petrol Retailers Association said it was waiting for "practical and well-considered" leadership from the Government and said that "300 Army drivers cannot possibly replace 2,000 striking civilian drivers" on 30 March.^[15]
• The Department for Transport repealed the EU hours and working-time rules for drivers of fuel tankers from 30 March to 5 April.^[15]
• RAC and AA spokesmen said the panic buying was unnecessary and condemned the government for stoking the crisis up. The AA blamed the 'unnecessary and self-inflicted' shortages are due to the poor government advice to drivers on 30 March.
• Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls told BBC Radio Leeds that David Cameron of playing "schoolboy political games" in stoking up panic over fuel to try to distract attention from his troubles with Budget tax rises and the scandal over donations to the Tories on 30 March.^[15]
• Crawley's Member of Parliament, Henry Smith said to the loacl newspaper's reporter: "A fuel tanker driver strike is unjustified, most earn over £45,000 and UK safety conditions are the best in the world. All parties should condemn the threat of industrial action which would cause massive disruption and threaten lives and livelihoods.",^[11] "Local and national Labour Party leaders should soul-search as to why they allow themselves to be to heavily funded and supported by the Unite Union which is threatening to seriously disrupt the lives of people in Crawley and across the country."^[11] and "The Government are right to make contingency plans and warn people so the lessons of the fuel stoppages a decade ago aren’t ignored." on 30 March.^[11]
• An ACAS spokesman said: "We are pleased that Unite have confirmed they are ready to start substantive talks as soon as possible. We are meeting all of the employers involved in the dispute on Monday to complete our exploratory talks with them. We hope that more formal talks involving both Unite and the employers will start as soon as possible after Monday, on March 30th." ^[15]
• Energy Secretary Ed Davey chaired a meeting in Whitehall with the haulage firms involved in the dispute as well as the defence and transport secretaries. An Energy Department spokesman said: "It was a productive meeting... Discussions focused on contingency planning, covering training more military drivers in the event that a strike is called. There is no strike at the moment, and we are calling for a swift resolution to this industrial dispute on March 30th." ^[15]
• Professor Stephen Glaister, director of the RAC Foundation, said Unite’s decision to hold off on strike action "should give everyone breathing space and ease the pressure at the pumps." on 31 March.^[34]
• The RAC motoring group also said it was "business as usual"^[35] on the 31st.
• The AA described "a rapidly improving picture at fuel stations" 31st.^[35]
• The AA president Edmund King said on 1 April: "We hope that the weekend will bring back some sanity in this silly situation. It is almost as if the last five days have been one big April Fool come early.”, "AA patrols estimate that about one fifth of garages ran out of fuel on Friday. We have also noted that more cars are cruising at 56mph on motorways in order to conserve fuel." ^[14]
• The RMI chairman, Brian Madderson, warned: "The government needs to understand that the panic buying witnessed last week will be instantly repeated should the supply-side logistics come under renewed threat. This is merely the consumer's self-preservation instinct as our society is completely structured around road transport, especially in rural areas.", on 2 April.^[38]

See also

• Fuel protests in the United Kingdom
• 2011 UK public sector strikes

References