Labor talks break down, refinery work stoppage begins

Oil refinery workers began a strike Sunday at nine U.S. sites after contract talks broke down.

The United Steelworkers Union called for about 3,800 workers to strike at 12:01 a.m. local time Sunday, when the current contract expired, at five refineries and plants in Texas, two in California and one each in Kentucky and Washington.

It's the largest work stoppage since 1980, by the union, which represents refineries that produce nearly two-thirds of all U.S. oil.

Overall, about 30,000 union workers are employed at 65 refineries and more than 230 oil terminals, pipelines and petrochemical facilities in the U.S. They are working under a rolling 24-hour contract extension, the union said.

Negotiations between the union and Shell Oil Company, which is serving as the lead company in the bargaining talks, began Jan. 21. Shell representatives left the bargaining table after the union's rejection of its offer.

"Shell refused to provide us with a counter-offer and left the bargaining table," said USW international president Leo Gerard in a statement. "We had no choice but to give notice of a work stoppage."

Shell spokesman Ray Fisher said in a statement sent via email that Shell is "committed to resolving our differences with (the) USW at the negotiating table and hope to resume negotiations as early as possible."

The union says that it wants improvement in unsafe work conditions and a reduction in contract workers. "This work stoppage is about onerous overtime; unsafe staffing levels ... and the erosion of our workplace," said union international vice president Gary Beevers in a statement.

Contributing: The Associated Press

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