Posted on 02/08/2015 6:51:36 PM PST by thackney
The United Steelworkers union is broadening its nationwide walkout to include two more refineries.
Early Sunday, the union is planning to go on strike against two BP facilities in the Midwest, union spokeswoman Lynne Hancock confirmed. That will bring the total number of plants on strike to 11, after union members walked out of nine facilities, including five in the Houston area, a week ago.
The latest work stoppages are scheduled to begin 12:01 a.m. Sunday at BP’s refineries in Toledo, Ohio and Whiting, Ind., Hancock said.
BP issued a statement saying it is disappointed the union is launching a strike at both the Whiting Refinery and BP-Husky Toledo Refinery.
“BP remains at the negotiating table and is committed to reaching an agreement that provides good wages while giving management the flexibility it needs to enhance safety, improve efficiency and remain competitive with others in the industry,” BP spokesman Scott Dean said in a written statement.
The company added that it is committed to ensuring a safe and orderly transition at 11:59 p.m. Saturday night. BP has trained replacement workers made up primarily of current and former BP employees to operate the refinery for the duration of this strike, Dean said.
“We hope this strike will be as short as possible and for workers to return with a contract that ensures long-term prosperity for everyone,” BP said.
The union, which represents 30,000 workers at refineries, chemical plants, pipelines and oil terminals nationwide, including 5,000 in the Houston area, went on strike against nine facilities early Sunday after its negotiations with Shell Oil Co. broke down.
Shell is representing the oil industry at the bargaining table.
Negotiations resumed, but the union turned down Shell’s latest contract proposal on Wednesday.
The union is striking over health and safety issues, excessive overtime and contracting out of jobs.
Hancock characterized the disputes as unfalr labor practices and accused Shell of “bad faith bargaining” by refusing to give relevant information to the union and threatening retaliation against the strikers.
When workers strike over economic issues such as higher wages, a company can permanently replace the strikers. But when a strike is considered an unfair labor practice dispute, a company cannot permanently replace the striking workers, Hancock said.
“We are not aware of any unfair labor practice charges filed against Shell,” Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in a prepared statement.
“We regret that we have been unable to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement with USW prior to contract expiration,” Fisher added. “We remain committed to resolving the remaining issues through collective bargaining at the bargaining table. We remain committed to providing competitive pay and benefits to our employees in an environment where people want to grow, develop and provide for their families.”
The Steelworkers union represents more than 230 refineries, oil terminals, pipelines and petrochemical facilities in the U.S. Of those, 65 are refineries that produce nearly two-thirds of the oil in the nation.
While the union called strikes at 11 facilities, union members continue to work as usual at the other plants are operating under “rolling 24-hour” contract extensions, which extend contracts a day at a time until negotiators reach an agreement or one side calls off the extension.
In addition to the national talks, local unions are also negotiating issues at individual sites.
http://chicago.suntimes.com/business/7/71/353484/steelworkers-refinery-strike-bp-whiting
Union spokeswoman Lynne Hancock said the workers are seeking better health care benefits and limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in maintenance jobs. She said wages are not an issue.
Refineries are far more automated than they were during the last nationwide strike 35 years ago. Management draws up plans to use nonunion workers and contractors to keep running. That could blunt the impact of the steelworkers’ walkout and prevent a shock to gasoline prices.
“Generally production is not impacted by these work stoppages, but prices can go up because of the perception” of an interruption, said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service. “We’re seeing that on the West Coast.”
Three of the targeted refineries are in California and Washington, and one — a Tesoro Corp. plant in Martinez, California, that was already operating at a reduced level for maintenance work — has been idled.
Wife’s brother in law is in management and is working 12 hours a day 7 days a week.
Press the advantage.
So who in the democrat party and Obola’s administration is prodding the steelworker’s UNION to hurt the oil companies and Texas. And ND. And the rest of the nation?
Oh. By the way. The Obola’s administration’s UNIONS are also striking the ports in CA for more money. (Can’t get by on 1,200.00 dollars ya know.)
Just a coincidence, of course.
seeking better health care benefits ? LOL
Will Obama get involved and save the day ?LOL
The Unions have pretty much used up their usefulness and are proving it every day.
Abolish unions! Crush Big Labor! Exterminate the minimum wage! Let freedom ring!
Maybe this is why gas prices shot up recently? Also, would a B.P. strike even affect supply (let alone price) in TX?
AFAIK, B.P./American Oil/StdIndiana have no service stations in TX...
What about Shell, are they in TX?
You mean let indentured servitude ring. It aint freedom you are advocating.
How so? You're not in favor of the unconstitutional minimum wage are you? I certainly hope not. What about union thuggery? Are you endorsing Big Labor goons? Unionism and the minimum wage are communist in origin. Neither has a place in America where liberty is paramount.
So there is no misunderstanding, I reiterate that I unequivocally an opposed to unions of all types and I vehemently call for the extermination of the minimum wage and the manifest evils its has wrought.
Indeed they are. In fact, I filled up at one earlier today. Though there is only one refinery in TX—Deer Park.
Again—does the strike begin to explain the sudden jump in gas prices?
Currently about 15% of the US refining capacity is affected.
Remember this, for discussion's sake, let's say all Shell and BP gas stations closed because of the strikes, all the other brands would have to take up additional load.
All the independent gas companies who get their gas from BP, might have to get it from somewhere else.
For the good in the nation please keep walking, right out the gate. Real Americans want jobs.
BP sold/closed all their retail gas stations a while back - but they still supply gasoline to independents and sell fuel wholesale.
Lots of Shell stations in Texas.
I’m in a union and I’ve seen first hand why and how unions serve a good purpose. I know some are over the top but most aren’t.
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