Stand with refinery workers fighting for workplace safety

For more than a month, members of the United Steelworkers who work at oil refineries and chemical plants across the country have been out on an unfair labor practice strike prompted by management’s refusal to address health and safety concerns.

The strike started at nine facilities and has since spread to six others, involving more than 6,600 USW members.

In addition to health and safety issues, contracting out, and health care benefits, the strike is over the oil companies’ bad faith bargaining, including the refusal to bargain over mandatory subjects; undue delays in providing information; impeded bargaining; and threats issued to workers if they joined the ULP strike. 

“We shouldn’t be expected to work long hours for weeks on end without a break. We shouldn’t be expected to work in places where, on average, we have a fire every week of the year,” USW leadership wrote in a letter to members. “We shouldn’t have to sacrifice quality time with our families by working shifts and schedules that never end.  We end up too exhausted to do anything other than grab a few hours’ sleep before heading back to work.  We have the right to insist on better conditions.”

Management’s unwillingness to bargain in good faith was on display earlier this week when, two days before talks were set to resume, Royal Dutch Shell announced it would run one of its refineries without union labor – a move the union has denounced as a scare tactic that puts safety at risk.

“Attempting such operations is arrogant and dangerous, and a threat to our communities,” USW leadership wrote.

You can show your support for striking oil industry workers by signing an online petition to tell oil industry management and federal, state, and local officials that we all want safe refineries.

You can also visit the USW Oil Workers Facebook page to receive updates on the strike and to learn about events, actions and rallies near you.