RAF and Army stand by for tanker strike 28.03.12
7A newspaper is reporting that 80 RAF drivers are being trained to drive oil tankers, as petrol tanker drivers threaten strike action next month.
The Army and Police are also on standby to ensure fuel deliveries do not grind to a halt resulting in the same chaos that hit Tony Blair's government in 2000.
Conciliation service ACAS has invited unions and oil companies to talks to prevent the strike.
Yesterday, David Cameron and his cabinet were briefed on the plans to put military personnel through an 8-day training course to take the place of striking drivers.
Unite announced last month that it would ballot members working for seven major fuel distribution firms on whether to launch a campaign of industrial action.
The union warned that strikes could hit petrol supplies at supermarkets, garages and airports across the country.
The 2,000 drivers account for 90% of those supplying petrol to UK forecourts.
Unite said there had been "unrelenting attacks" on drivers' terms and conditions, adding that it had been trying to establish a forum to agree industry-wide best practice on issues such as safety and training.