TANKER drivers at Scotland’s last oil refinery have overwhelmingly backed strike action, Unite announced today.

Hoyer drivers voted 100 per cent to take strike action on a 97 per cent turnout after they had rejected a 7 per cent pay offer from their employer, Hoyer Gas and Peroleum Logistics.

The workers, who ferry fuel from Grangemouth to Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Newcastle airports, as well as to Esso and BP forecourts around the country, have not had a pay rise since 2021, despite the company seeing its profits rocket by a staggering 369 per cent to £4.1 million between 2021 and 2022.

Unite’s Lyn Turner, who represents the workers at Grangemouth, warned: “Hoyer needs to significantly improve its current pay offer. If it fails to grasp this opportunity, then Unite will have no option but to announce strike action.

“The tanker drivers working on this Hoyer contract are getting paid less than other Hoyer drivers at Grangemouth.

“This is simply unacceptable.

“If there is no movement by Hoyer, workers will be forced to take strike action which would severely impact Scottish airports and forecourts.”

A Hoyer Gas and Petroleum Logistics spokesperson said: “Negotiations are ongoing and further arrangements are in place for follow up discussions with the union.

“We will continue to negotiate with the union in good faith while simultaneously working on contingency plans to mitigate any disruption should industrial action proceed.”