DETROIT — Some 35 striking Marathon Petroleum workers, members of Teamsters Local 283, picketed outside the main refinery entrance here Sept. 16. The 273 union members had voted by 95% to strike. Their picket signs read, “Our patience for a fair contract is on empty” and “Teamsters fuel Marathon’s profits.”
The union organizes the board operators, field operators, chemists, lab technicians, electricians and mechanics. They have been without a contract since Jan. 31. After seven months of failed negotiations, the union walked off the job on Sept. 4. The last strike here was 30 years ago.
“We are disappointed that the union has decided to engage in a strike,” the bosses said in a public statement. “Marathon Petroleum and the union have engaged in collective bargaining since December 4, 2023.”
But several strikers told the Militant that some of the negotiating sessions lasted only 15 minutes after the company laid down a written proposal on the table. “This isn’t serious,” said Jesse Dansby, who has 15 years in at the refinery. “The company wants to push the union out.”
“The safety of our employees, contractors, and the community remain our top priority,” Marathon said, “and we are committed to maintaining our vigilant focus on compliance, reliability, and care for the environment as we continue producing transportation fuels for the region.”
Strikers disagree. “There are people living in houses surrounding the refinery that are worried about their safety, and they support us,” said Dansby. “They brought in scabs before the strike began to train them. They claim to have refinery experience, but they’re not familiar with this particular refinery. The strike began right before a shutdown. Shutdowns and startups are the most dangerous times for refinery workers and the surrounding neighbors.”
The 140,000 barrel-per-day refinery here is one of 13 that Marathon operates. The Teamsters also represent workers at Marathon’s Saint Paul, Minnesota, refinery.
Strikers are fighting for higher pay, said Steve Hicks, president of the local. “We want to go back to the table, but they’re refusing to bargain. The wage increases Marathon offered, around 3% each year, isn’t enough to keep up with inflation.”
“We are demanding a 22% increase over four years, starting with a 6% increase the first year,” Dansby said. “And the company wants us to pay 20% of our health care costs, which have been covered 100% until now. I am 51 years old, and I’m forced to keep working despite having a couple of major surgeries. I’m on the verge of a medical retirement, but I can’t afford it.”
Another important issue is winning the closed shop. Recent state legislation eliminated the right-to-work law. But so far the company has refused.
Bosses also want to contract out maintenance work. “We need job security,” Dansby said. “The work should be done by the union maintenance workers.”
“There are a lot of issues, but my number one is work and home life balance,” said striker Dynita McCaskill. “I don’t want to work overtime. Most operating staff work 12-hour rotating shifts for four days before they’re supposed to get a four-day break to recover and rest. We miss out on valuable family time and wear ourselves down to keep this refinery going.”
Hicks added, “Though Marathon Petroleum made nearly $10 billion in profit in 2023 on the backs of Teamsters, the company claims to not have enough to pay their workers their fair share.”
“I am totally union,” said McCaskill, “eighth generation union. They aren’t treating us like human beings.” She said she was offended when Marathon refused to consider making Juneteenth a holiday.