TESCO garages in the West Midlands could run out of petrol in the run up to Christmas due to a tanker drivers’ strike over pay, Unite warned today. 

The union said around 20 members contracted to XPO Bulk UK Ltd will walk out from December 19 to 24, demanding a fair pay offer from the multinational freight company.

They earn up to £11,000 less than tanker drivers in other parts of the country, said the union.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “XPO is a massive multinational making nearly a billion dollars in profit last year, yet feels the need to try and short-change our members in the West Midlands.

“Unite won’t stand for it and if Tesco isn’t going to run out of petrol this Christmas, their supplier needs to come back with a pay offer acceptable to our members.”

XPO was contacted for comment.