Settlement reached in British oil strike

LONDON, June 21 (UPI) -- A strike that temporarily disrupted British fuel services has been settled with tanker drivers getting a 14 percent pay hike over two years, a negotiator says.

Gerry McKenna, who negotiated for the Hoyer oil firm, said officials with the union Unite agreed to the raises for all tanker drivers following their four-day strike, The Times of London reported Saturday.

"We are pleased our drivers have accepted this competitive pay deal and the threat of industrial action has been lifted," McKenna said.

Both Hoyer and Suckling, the other oil firm whose drivers went on strike, supply Shell gas stations throughout Britain. Drivers from both firms voted 453 to 56 to accept the pay increase for the next two years.

The first 9 percent raise will go into effect during the first year of the contract, while the next 12 months will bring an additional 5 percent pay increase.

The tanker drivers had threatened to begin a second work stoppage if their demand for higher pay was not met. The Times said a breakthrough in negotiations temporarily shelved strike plans to allow the final settlement to be reached.