USW strike update

On February 1, the United Steelworkers Union (USW) announced that it was calling for a work stoppage at the following US refineries:

• LyondellBasell, Houston, Texas.
• Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery, Texas City, Texas.
• Marathon Houston Green Cogeneration Facility, Texas City, Texas.
• Marathon Refinery, Catlettsburg, Kentucky.
• Shell Deer Park Refinery, Deer Park, Texas.
• Shell Deer Park Chemical Plant, Deer Park, Texas.
• Tesoro Anacortes Refinery, Anacortes, Washington.
• Tesoro Martinez Refinery, Martinez California.
• Tesoro Carson Refinery, Carson, California.

Comments and background

Leo W. Gerard, USW International President said, “Shell refused to provide us with a counter offer and left the bargaining table. We had no choice but to give notice of a work stoppage.”

The remaining USW represented refineries and oil facilities are now operating under a rolling 24 hour contract extension. The USW represents 65 refineries across the US and over 230 oil terminals, pipelines and petrochemical facilities in the country.

Gary Beevers, USW International Vice President said, “we told Shell that we were willing to continue bargaining for a fair agreement that would benefit the workers and the industry, but they just refused to return to the table. This work stoppage is about onerous overtime; unsafe staffing levels; dangerous conditions the industry continues to ignore; the daily occurrences of fires, emissions, leaks and explosions that threaten local communities without the industry doing much about it; the industry’s refusal to make opportunities for workers in the trade crafts; the flagrant contracting out that impacts health and safety on the job; and the erosion of our workplace, where qualified and experienced union workers are replaced by contractors when they leave or retire.”

The USW rejected the last offer made by Shell, which was the company’s fifth offer to the union. Shell is the lead company for the National Oil Bargaining talks. National negotiations focus on establishing a pattern on wages, benefits and working conditions. Local union and unit negotiations focus on local issues at the particular facility. The union did offer to bargain over a safe and orderly shutdown or a safe and orderly transitional release. Oil workers were told to stay at their posts until they were relieved or to finish out their shift.

USW International Vice President of Administration, Tom Conway commented, “the oil companies do not want to work with us to improve the workplace and safety at oil refineries and facilities. The industry is the richest in the world and can afford to make the changes we offered in bargaining. The problem is that oil companies are too greedy to make a positive change in the workplace and they continue to value production and profit over health and safety, workers and the community. When the industry comes to its senses, we are more than willing to meet them at the bargaining table and negotiate a fair pattern agreement that will help everyone.”

Edited from press release by Claira Lloyd

Read the article online at: https://www.hydrocarbonengineering.com/refining/02022015/usw-strike-update-1/