BEAUMONT, Texas Reuters - One person familiar with the matter said on Tuesday that the U.S. National Labor Relations Board is expected to schedule a mid November vote on lifting the United Steelworkers Union from Exxon Mobil's Beaumont, Texas, refinery.
On 1 May, Exxon locked out union members after it unable to get the USW to agree on a new, six year contract for the refinery and oil-blending plant. A vote on Exxon's proposed contract is ongoing and results are due in this evening.
At least 30% of the 650 members signed separate petition calling for an NLRB vote to decertify the plant union. Decertification is the formal name of removal process.
An Exxon spokesperson was not immediately available to comment on the timing of the vote. The NLRB would first consider the union's charge that Exxon improperly aided the removal petition before releasing any results of the vote, the person familiar with the matter said.
The USW filed a complaint with the NLRB in April alleging Exxon alleged violating federal law by providing an employee with decertification materials, employee email addresses and using a company computer and corporate web site to campaign for decertification.