BP offers to delay refinery strike, union says

An illuminated BP logo is seen at a petrol station in Chester-le- Street, Durham, England on September 23, 2021. HOUSTON, Jan 21, Reuters - The United Steelworkers Union USW on Friday said 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 spokesman didn't say anything about 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, said Cameron Nazminia, company spokesperson.

A union spokeswoman 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. There is the possibility that workers will strike at multiple plants at the same time, as happened in 2015 during the last nationwide strike.

"We're standing the line," said a union source who described the BP proposals as taking refineries off the common contract expiration date, allowing the company to influence the contract behind the scenes. The 120 day no strike period does not change the date in practice, potentially reducing the power of collective action available to the USW with a common expiration date.

Exxon Mobil Corp XOM.N, which locked out 650 workers at its Beaumont, Texas refinery nearly nine months ago after a 75 day no-strike period, is 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 MPC.N, the industry's lead negotiator.

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