The proposed strike by petrol tanker drivers over
working conditions and pay is starting to take its toll on petrol station
forecourts across the UK. Unique Client Solutions tries to make sense of the
conflicting information out there.
Customer acquisitions and direct sales
company Unique Client Solutions has been following the escalating fuel row
carefully. They understand that if the threatened strikes go ahead the
implications could be wide-ranging as 90% of forecourts are supplied by roughly
2,000 drivers who are members of the Unite union. No actual dates have been set
yet and the union has announced that they would give seven days notice before
any action took place. Why then have forecourts been jam-packed already?
Simon Tomlinson, a manager at Unique Client Solutions, believes that the answer is simple. “This is a classic case of panic
buying. Because there has been a great deal of coverage in the news about the
proposed strikes, people around the country who rely heavily on their cars are
stocking up in case a strike were to take place.”
It seems that the government has done little
to abate the panic buying. David
Cameron gave vague advice to stay ‘topped up’ which has been criticised by
Labour ministers who are seeking an apology for the handing of the situation.
Labour leader Ed Milliband has said, "The prime minister is presiding over a
shambles on petrol." Energy Minister Ed Davey has had to give further advice
after the confusing comments of the prime minister.
Unique Client Solutions feels that his
comments are in fact very sensible, if delivered a little late. Mr. Davey said
“We don’t think people need to change their behaviour very significantly at the
moment…There will be seven days’ notice so people will be able to top up them.”
The government has also had to admit that they made a mistake on early advice
when cabinet minister Francis Maude advised drivers to store “maybe a little
bit in the garage as well in a jerry can.” The Fire Brigade Union and the AA
have both criticised the advice as a jerry can holds 20 litres of petrol which is
more than the official limit that can be safely stored at home.
Mr. Tomlinson said, “There has clearly been
a great deal of confusion and mis-information over the situation. What’s even
sillier is that no strike has even been announced yet. At Unique Client Solutions we understand people rely heavily on their cars for work and
recreation. We would advise the public simply to be sensible, top up as usual
until anything has been announced and then ensure that you have a full tank in
the seven days before any announced action.”
RMI Petrol, who represents independent
retailers, found that petrol sales were up 81% and diesel up by 43% on
Wednesday. Unique Client Solutions is hopeful that the strikes can still be
averted before it affects the general public any further.
