USW reaches tentative three-year agreement with oil industry
By Christin Nance Lazerus cnance@post-trib.com January 31, 2012 5:56PM
Updated: March 2, 2012 8:12AM
The United Steel Workers on Tuesday night announced a tentative agreement with Shell Oil Co. and BP on a new three-year contract, pending ratification by the union’s membership.
BP Whiting refinery employees represented by United Steelworkers Local 7-1 were watching as the current three-year deal was set to expired at midnight Tuesday. But the national organization announced about 7:30 p.m. that negotiators had reached terms.
“BP Whiting Refinery is pleased that a tentative agreement has now been reached between BP and the USW in national pattern negotiations,” BP Whiting spokesman Brad Etlin said. “Normal business operations will continue tomorrow at Whiting.
Negotiations were taking place across the country on two tiers: the United Steelworkers and lead negotiator Shell Oil Co. were working on a national agreement, while individual locals were negotiating with companies on local issues, USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock said.
Nationwide, the agreement affects 30,000 workers in U.S. production, refining, marketing, transportation, pipeline and petrochemical industries.
Earlier in the day, Hancock said the union wasn’t yet talking about striking because negotiators were focused on arriving at an agreement.
“Health and safety concerns have always been a major concern of our union,” Hancock said. “We’re not going into details of what’s being discussed.”
Michael Boyd, president of USW Local 7-1, did not respond to a message left for comment. Local 7-1 represents about 1,200 workers at the BP Whiting Refinery and other local oil pipelines and terminals.
Post-Tribune correspondent
Michelle L. Quinn contributed.
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