Oil Workers in U.S. on First Large-Scale Strike Since 1980
The United Steelworkers union, which
represents employees at more than 200 U.S. oil refineries,
terminals, pipelines and chemical plants, began a strike at nine
sites on Sunday, the biggest walkout called since 1980.
The USW started the work stoppage after failing to reach agreement on a labor contract that expired Sunday, saying in a statement that it “had no choice.” The union rejected five contract offers made by Royal Dutch Shell Plc on behalf of oil companies including Exxon Mobil Corp. and Chevron Corp. since negotiations began on Jan. 21. ....
.... “The problem is that oil companies are too greedy to make a positive change in the workplace,” USW International Vice President Tom Conway said in the statement. “They continue to value production and profit over health and safety, workers and the community.”...
... The refineries called on to strike span the U.S., from Tesoro Corp.’s plants in Martinez, California; Carson, California; and Anacortes, Washington, to Marathon Petroleum Corp.’s Catlettsburg complex in Kentucky to three sites in Texas, according to the USW’s statement..... more here
per Ahmed Gaya: As of midnight last night workers at 9 refineries nationwide went on strike. That includes Tesoro in Anacortes. There is an active picket-line and we have gotten a request from the USW that if Environmentalists want to support striking workers who are pushing back on unsafe work conditions in the refinery that threaten our communities, please go join or support the picket line. 56 other refineries are operating on 24 hour extension contracts, but the strike will likely expand tomorrow and the next day.
If anyone from Skagit or Bellingham or Seattle want to help us bring food to the picket line Monday please e-mail directly to me: adgaya (at)gmail (dot) com
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