Why I want to smack the Prime Minister

[Lace Neil Singer]

If everyone was sensible and filled up normally, there wouldn't be a problem. It's just everyone going mental and panic buying that's causing the crisis; for example, in my town, my petrol station was the only one today that had any diesel. We ran out at lunchtime; got a delivery, but what they gave us wouldn't last the day. Two other petrol stations are closed, cuz they have no fuel and another is running just one pump. As for the strike...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/b...ic-petrol-live

Unite has ruled out strike action by tanker drivers over Easter to focus on talks, the union said today.

So basically, there isn't a flipping strike at the moment and won't be til after Easter, that is if there ever is one.

[BlaqueKatt]

Stocking up on something that's likely to be hard to get in the near future is just good sense. If anything, it's whichever side of the strike (or both sides) to blame for that, not the Prime Minister for telling the truth.

from the article:

in case of a strike by tanker drivers.
raising the prospect of a strike
No date has been set for a strike, but ministers suggested

The ministers are creating a panic, the tanker drivers HAVE NOT EVEN SAID THEY ARE GOING TO STRIKE, that's the ministers saying it-so yes they are to blame.

"hey I heard Ed was going to wrap 20 frogs in tinfoil and lob them at pedestrians,(ed gets arrested) don't blame me Ed's the one that's going to do it."

[s_stabeler]

true, but in this case people are panic buying, and it's causing supply issues. Specifically, petrol stations are running out.

[HYHYBT]

Stocking up on something that's likely to be hard to get in the near future is just good sense. If anything, it's whichever side of the strike (or both sides) to blame for that, not the Prime Minister for telling the truth.

(Unless the PM *is* the cause of the strike, of course.)

[Lace Neil Singer]

Reposted here as it's a better place for it.

Details here for the people who aren't UK residents.

Basically, as a result of David Cameron telling people on TV to stock up with fuel, it's been crazy mad busy at the petrol station all week. Every day since Monday, we've had craploads of customers; more than we had at Christmas. Cuz of panic buying, we've been the only petrol station in the whole town to have diesel; both Sea Creature Home petrol stations ran out of diesel and the twenty four hour one closed cuz it completely ran out of fuel. The We Killed Spongebob station was running with one pump.

And of course, the SCs have been coming in droves. Here are some of the more memorable ones: (italics are my thoughts, not actual replies)


SC: I can't believe this; I had to queue for half an hour just to get into the petrol station! Can't you hire more staff?

That wouldn't make a blind bit of difference, you stupid cow. In case you didn't notice, we have three tills and all three are in use. If you don't want to queue, then you have a choice; either go away and come back later, or fucking walk.

SC: Well, my card worked perfectly an hour ago. It must be your machine!

The chip is split in half. Of course it's your card. And I really doubt it worked an hour ago, unless you broke it after that time.

SC: Why are you people going on strike anyway? What's your problem?

Newsflash! We are petrol station cashiers, not tanker drivers. Learn to fucking READ.

Not to mention the fact that we practically had to physically boot customers out after closing time, and all the idiots who kept driving in after we'd closed, demanding to be served. Look, I feel for you, I really do; I know that the other petrol stations have no fuel. But when I've been here for eight hours facing constant crowds as well as somehow managing to squeeze in all the other jobs that need doing, I'm not about to stay on and serve you. I'm tired, I'm hungry and I want to go home.

We had people swearing at us and banging on the door as we scuttled around closing up cuz they couldn't accept this little factoid, and the "But whyy aren't you opening later?" question made an unwelcome comeback. -.- All in all, a seriously stressful week.

And THAT is why I want to smack the Prime Minister.