Overview
- Around 400 Certas Energy tanker drivers are slated to strike for 15 days between December 22 and January 25 in a pay dispute, according to Unite.
- The union warns the action could curb heating-oil deliveries to the Sandringham Estate as the Royal Family gathers there for Christmas.
- Unite also claims wider disruption could reach schools, military sites, Royal Mail refuelling areas and hundreds of petrol stations.
- Certas counters that its proposal is a generous, above-inflation pay and conditions offer, saying talks with Unite continue and contingency plans are in place.
- Sandringham has backup energy sources, including a biomass boiler and a recently completed solar array, which could help offset any shortfall in oil deliveries.