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Shell is holding talks with union leaders to resolve a strike by tanker drivers set to begin this Friday.

The drivers claim their basic wage has not changed in 15 years, while their hours have increased.

Unite assistant general secretary Len McCluskey said yesterday: "It is no use Shell bosses, who have themselves enjoyed 15 per cent plus pay increases in the last year, sitting on their hands.

"They have 72 hours to start focusing on avoiding the disruption this will cause to the general public who are already mindful of the staggering profits Shell rakes in.

"This dispute could be settled for less than £1 million, an amount that would not put even the slightest dent in Shell profits."

Unite says that Shell tanker drivers today earn a basic wage of just under £32,000 per year for a 48-hour working week. In 1992, a typical tanker driver directly employed by Shell earned approximately £32,000 per year for a 37-hour week.

Tanker drivers employed on the Shell contract, and members of Unite, are set to take strike action from the first shift on Friday, June 13th, 2008 until the end of shift on Monday June 16th, 2008.

The strike will hit 14 terminals across the mainland UK.

The government said contingency plans were in place to minimise disruption, and urged motorists not to panic buy fuel.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We want the public to continue to buy as normal so as to avoid creating problems that might otherwise not exist."

The strike could affect one in ten filling stations across the UK.