BP offers to delay strike at U.S. refineries

An illuminated BP logo is seen at a petrol station in Chester-le- Street, Durham, England September 23, 2021.

The United Steelworkers Union USW on Friday said that proposals by energy giant BP Plc would undermine its 56-year-old national program for refinery and chemical plant worker contracts.

People in the USW familiar with the matter said BP has put forward proposals in local negotiations at its U.S. refineries to require a waiting period of up to 120 days between the end of a contract and the possible start of a strike.

The union said in a message to members that it was seen by Reuters that BP's position at local tables attacks the National Oil Bargaining Program. Pipeline refinery locals stand together to fight back! A BP spokeswoman declined to discuss the details of proposals in contract negotiations.

BP is negotiating with the United Steelworkers Union to improve the competitiveness of our business and create a sustainable future for all, according to Cameron Nazminia, company spokeswoman.

A union spokesperson was not immediately available to discuss the message of the USW.

The union has had a common expiration date for chemical plant and refinery contracts since 1966. The common date raises the possibility that workers will strike at multiple plants at the same time, as happened in 2015 during the last nationwide strike.

A union source said the company was allowed to influence the contract behind the scenes because of the BP proposals, which took refineries off the common contract expiration date. The 120 day no strike period changes the date in practice, potentially reducing the power of collective action available to the USW with a common expiration date, as well as not changing the formal expiration date.

Exxon Mobil Corp, which locked out 650 workers at its Beaumont, Texas refinery nearly nine months ago, after a 75 day no-strike period, has been a company that has used no-strike or so-called labor peace periods.

A union source said that we don't believe Exxon is the best example to follow.

The USW is negotiating a new national agreement for 30,000 U.S. refinery and chemical plant workers with Marathon Petroleum Corp, the industry's lead negotiator.

The USW local unions are negotiating site-specific issues with plant managers at the same time.