Posted on 02/22/2015 11:34:52 AM PST by thackney
The largest U.S. refinery strike in 35 years entered its fourth week as workers at 12 refineries accounting for one-fifth of national production capacity were walking picket lines as of 12 a.m. CST on Sunday, according to union officials.
A total of 6,550 members of the United Steelworkers union at 15 plants, including the 12 refineries, are involved in the work stoppage that began on Feb. 1 when talks for a new three-year contract between the USW and lead oil company negotiator Shell Oil Co stopped....
After the latest breakdown between the two sides, Steelworkers leaders targeted Shell, which is the U.S. arm of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, calling workers out at a chemical plant and three refineries in the company's Motiva Enterprises joint-venture with Saudi Aramco.
The first work stoppage of the three refineries was at the nation's largest, the 600,250 barrel per day Port Arthur, Texas, refinery,...
Twenty-four hours later, USW members were also picketing at Motiva's 235,000 bpd Convent, Louisiana, and 238,000 bpd Norco, Louisiana, refineries and the Shell chemical plant in Norco....
In a letter Shell has sent to striking employees at its Deer Park, Texas, refinery and chemical plant, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, the company said the key sticking point was non-union contractors who perform daily maintenance, which the USW would like to see replaced with union workers....
Workers were already on strike at Shell's 327,000 bpd joint-venture refinery in Deer Park since the strike began on Feb. 1....
Union negotiators have rejected seven contract offers from Shell....
Only one refinery has shut down due to the strike...Tesoro's 166,000-bpd plant in Martinez, California, which was previously scheduled to undergo maintenance....
Refiners are using trained replacement workers, primarily managers and engineers to keep plants running at near normal rates.
(Excerpt) Read more at reuters.com ...
The oligarchs have had enough of this shrinking the cost of gasoline and fuel oil so they have employed their goon-squad unions to do what is needed to make the commodity scarce again, thus driving back up the price their serfs pay for the dole of energy.
I guess gasoline will be going up again. The fun is over ...
Production at the refineries has not stopped except at one that was already half-down due to other work.
I’d take any of those jobs in a heart beat. Oil and gas pas close to the top for blue collar work. Second to longshoremen.
Oily chess game continues with BP strike
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/opinion/ct-ptb-davich-contractors-101-st-0222-20150220-column.html
...”BP has begun to train additional replacement workers to supplement the current workforce that has been filling in for striking USW employees. All replacement workers are trained and qualified to the same standards as the striking USW employees they are replacing,” the release stated.
BP spokesman Scott Dean told me Friday, “Ensuring all employees return home safely each and every day is our top priority.”...
“BP USW employees are among the highest paid hourly workers in the region enjoying a total compensation package well in excess of $100,000 per year,” Scott said. “The average BP USW employee earns more than $82,000 a year in base salary. This does not include overtime, bonuses, company retirement contributions or other benefits, which on average adds well in excess of $20,000 to the total annual compensation package for the average BP USW employee.”
Yes, they get paid well but at what cost? Not a cost I’m willing to pay. I’m guessing the replacement workers are learning this, too.
I want to clarify a point in my initial column regarding the company supervisor who claimed she received only “three scoops of rice” once for dinner. It happened only once, early on during the strike, and to only one supervisor as far as I know.....
See post #6
Problem solved.
OK, don't take a job at a refinery.
If you don't like retail don't work at Walmart. If you don't like nursing don't become one and take a job in nursing. If you don't like insurance don't take a job in insurance. If you don't like teaching don't take a job in teaching. If you don't like longshoremen, you might want to reconsider, but at the end of the day, don't take a job there if it doesn't work for you
If oil& gas is at a cost you don't want to pay...don't work at a refinery.
YUP you are right ANYONE can walk into a control center....start pushing any old button...as always supervisors will do most of the work....most people do not even know which way to go to unscrew a nut off a bolt....much less close the right valve and turn it the right way
“In a letter Shell has sent to striking employees at its Deer Park, Texas, refinery and chemical plant, a copy of which was seen by Reuters, the company said the key sticking point was non-union contractors who perform daily maintenance, which the USW would like to see replaced with union workers....”
Waah... Waah... Waah... we don’t want anyone else coming in here making “our” money (which averages six figures). Furthermore, we should have full control over every aspect of (insert any company’s name here) workforce. So when they do (or don’t do) something we disapprove (or approve) of, we can bring them to their knees as well as hold innocent people or other companies that rely on (insert product here) hostage. By God, we don’t give a crap if our actions drives the price of (insert product here) up and creates a shortage or a perception thereof as well as disrupt what little economy is left. Oh.... and we love America!!!
Ungrateful anti-American bass-turds should be thankful they are employed full time particularly while many of their “fellow” Americans are picking Shiit’e with the chickens.
I have never belonged to a union but I have seen and read about the damage they have inflicted upon various areas of the country therefore I despise unions as they are only out for themselves regardless of the consequences to others.
Fire every one of them, it will be cheaper in the long run.
Shell Responds To Oil Worker Strike With Solution - Read The Letter
http://oilpro.com/post/10840/read-internal-employee-letter-shell-sent-to-its-striking-workers
In a letter to striking employees at the Shell and Motiva facilities, Shell officials said the company has offered annual pay raises of 2% in each of the first two years of a proposed three-year pact and a 2.5% increase in the third year. Shell has also offered to evaluate issues of worker fatigue, which has been referenced as a factor in at least one fatal incident in the past decade. Shell also told striking USW members that the principal sticking point was non-union contractors who perform daily maintenance. “The central issue of the USW’s national leaders is their continued demand that Shell replace routine maintenance contractors with USW-represented employees,” Shell said in the letter.
Below are excerpts from an internal employee communication from Shell, issued Saturday, where the company provides an update on the current status of the negotiations with the United Steelworkers International Union:
“One month ago, Shell Oil Company sat down at the bargaining table with a negotiating team representing national leaders of the United Steelworkers International Union (USW). Our goals were – and still are – to reach an agreement that respects the needs and interests of our employees and ensures the ongoing safety as well as economic health of Shell refineries and chemical plants.”
“To that end, we have put seven offers on the negotiating table. The USW International Union leaders have rejected all seven of them. In addition to striking at our Deer Park refinery, chemical plant and lab, the USW on Friday, called for strikes at Motiva’s Port Arthur Refinery, Motiva Convent, Motiva Norco and Shell Chemicals Norco. In total, 14 facilities across multiple industry companies are facing strikes.”
“As these strikes occur, we’re grateful for the strong relationships we have maintained with employees at our sites, which was demonstrated through the care and respect given during the handover to replacement workers thus far.”
“We’re extremely disappointed that the USW International Union has seemed unwilling to achieve a timely and reasonable agreement, particularly since we have fostered strong cooperation with local members as evidenced by the productive outcome at many local negotiating tables.”
“Indeed, we’re seeing little evidence that the USW’s leaders are interested in a meaningful settlement any time in the foreseeable future. We note, also, that it is not clear that the USW International Union leaders share our commitment to bargain respectfully at the negotiating table – preferring, instead, to misrepresent the facts in the media. With that in mind, I’d like to share with you more information about the position we have taken during the course of bargaining and the issues we are attempting to resolve.”
“The central issue standing in the way of a settlement is not safety or fatigue, nor is it even about healthcare or wages, as the union claims. Those things are important to all of us, and it’s important to share that we have engaged in productive negotiations regarding each of these issues.”
“The central issue of the USW’s national leaders is their continued demand that Shell replace routine maintenance contractors with USW-represented employees.”
“It’s unreasonable for the USW to demand that Shell agree to their position. Our established practice of utilizing contractors supports the need for flexibility in hiring to accommodate economic cycles and maintenance schedules. And we’re open to a variety of ways to maintain a strong roster of skilled craftsmen available to each of our locations. But hiring flexibility is a proven way to protect our core Shell workforce and the long-term economic viability of our business. It is the most effective way to keep our sites running safely, efficiently and reliably. This strategy has served us well as we have not had to conduct any layoff in decades.”
“Despite our disappointment, we will continue to negotiate in good faith.”
“These strikes are unfortunate in light of Shell’s commitment to our employees and our diligent focus on safety and training, as well as our highly competitive compensation and benefits package.”
Anything is possible, but I suspect this is a strategic move on the part of the unions...just as the Longshoreman strike just settled.
Unions are in a world of hurt. (Praise Jesus!) If not for the overwhelmingly supportive NLRB, they would be on life support.
When Wisconsin passed RTW for government employees friendly school boards/districts signed extensions of contracts already in place. It locked in existing policies and benefits, including mandatory dues for the period of the extension. These RTW provisions only go into effect when old contracts expire.
I believe the contracts signed by the Big Three at the time of BK expire this year. New contracts in Michigan will be governed by RTW.
If I were in charge of negotiations I would advocate for setting a high water mark for pay, benefits, and work rules. Frankly, the only thing in their future is givebacks as far as the eye can see. Short of the Repubs really $cr3wing the pooch, the next prez will be Repub...no more Obama NLRB.
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