Fuel Tanker Drivers Association operating at the Buipe depot on Monday embarked on a sit down strike over the failure of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transport (BOST) authorities to change non-functioning loading meters at the depot.
The drivers, numbering over 100, parked their tankers and gathered at the forecourt of the depot to express their displeasure at situation.
Explaining their concern to the Media, the drivers indicated that the loading meter equipment at the depot had been non-functional for over ten years, thereby contributing to their losses at the delivery point.
The drivers, complained that the loading meters at the depot does not give them accurate figures any time they are taking products and this has resulted in some of the tanker owners refusing to pay them their monthly salaries because of shortfalls they always had at the delivery point.
They accused the BOST authority of deliberately attempting to drill them at the Buipe depot. Their leaders also threatened that they will be forced to move to Tema if BOST fails to attend to them.
Speaking on behalf of the Tanker drivers association Yuma Joseph, a member of the association said they have written several letters to the BOST, but these have been unheeded to, hence the strike .He said they will continue with their strike until the issues were addressed.
“The loading meters aren’t consistent and do not give accurate figures or measurement thereby creating problems at the delivering point. After loading at the depot, you only get the products not up to what you are expected to get. That is the cause of our strike today. We are telling the authorities responsible to come and fix the meters so that we can go in to start our normal operations without feeling being cheated. These meters broke down over a decade, but it’s been only promises. We are not seeing results.” he stated
Attempts by the media to speak to BOST authorities proved futile.
Story By: Alhassan Yakubu
