NEARLY 50 tanker drivers launched a second 24-hour strike last week in a bid to have a sacked colleague reinstated.

Staff at Wincanton, who deliver fuel for BP Castrol, protested outside the Bridges Road site in Ellesmere Port for the second Thursday in succession.

The official strike action was held in support of a driver who was sacked by the company in March after 17 years of service.

He was dismissed for alleged use of a hand held mobile phone while driving a forty-tonne articulated vehicle.

His union, Unite, claims there is no substance to the allegations, adding that workers are concerned there may be an ulterior motive behind the dismissal.

However, Wincanton has stood firm saying it would make “no apologies” for its decision.

Unite officer Tommy Kirwan told the Pioneer: “The issue hasn’t just been left at my level, the Unite national secretary has contacted the company to try and resolve this.

“We feel the worker has been treated abysmally. We want him reinstated which is why we balloted for the action.

“But if nothing comes from it then we will have to go back and put our thinking caps on.”

A spokeswoman for Wincanton said contingency plans had been put in place in preparation for the strike so deliveries to customers were not affected.

The company argues the driver was dismissed for “a serious breach” of health and safety guidelines.”