DETROIT — Nearly 300 workers at the Marathon oil refinery here, members of Teamsters Local 283, walked off the job Sept. 4 after voting by 95% to strike. They had been working without a contract since January. It’s the first strike at the refinery in 30 years.
They are fighting for a 22% wage increase over four years and schedules that allow for family and rest time. They presently work 12-hour rotating shifts for four days at a time, but often are forced to work overtime.
The strike has won wide support. “Steelworkers are following our strike very closely,” said Jesse Dansby, a board operator and steward and trustee of Teamsters Local 283. The United Steelworkers organizes 30,000 refinery workers, including at other Marathon refineries. “The USW are going to set the pattern for contracts at all those refineries, and they want to see what we get in our fight.”
“Marathon only wants to give a 3% raise, which is nowhere close to inflation in this day and age, as you know, and they want to take away our work,” said Steve Hicks, president of Teamsters Local 283, when the workers walked out. “So subcontracting is a major issue with us.”
Many strikers wore T-shirts that read, “Teamsters fuel Marathon profits” and “Our patience for a fair contract is on empty.” People driving cars and truckers passing by honked in support. Four water- and wind-proof tents well supplied with food and drinks are set up by the picket lines to protect strikers from the cold and rain.
“Ford United Auto Workers Local 600 has donated funds and the use of its facilities for our meetings and activities,” said Dansby. “And members of the UAW, which represents almost 6,000 workers at the River Rouge plant in Detroit, have joined our picket line.”
Solidarity with strike grows
“Nurses have been on our picket lines too,” he said. Nurses from all eight of the Corewell Health system’s metro Detroit hospitals and its Southfield Service Center — some 9,600 workers — filed for representation by the Teamsters and will vote Nov. 12-14. “It’s the largest Teamsters organizing drive in the last 50 years,” Kevin Moore, president of the Michigan Teamsters, told the Detroit Free Press.
“Some women from UAW Local 598 and Women of Steel from USW Local 690 in Flint came down to donate a truckload of candy for our members to give out on Halloween,” said Paul Kedzior, a steward and process operator.
The workers are demanding Marathon stop contracting out maintenance work. Under the last agreement, the company contracted out janitorial work. Wages for warehouse workers were cut to about half of the top pay for operations workers, and workers hired in the warehouse are barred from bidding on the higher-paid jobs.
“The company wants to make even more cuts into the maintenance union jobs. These jobs used to be ones that older workers and workers with injuries could bid into and hold during their last years of employment,” Dansby explained. “But now it’s virtually impossible for operations workers to bid into maintenance.”
“We work in six units and have four shifts. Now we’re on strike, standing up together and getting to know each other,” he said, noting that the strike has strengthened the union.
The company has refused to negotiate since the second week of the walkout. “So we’ll just keep standing strong and continue to fight,” said Dynita McCaskill, one of the strikers.
“Join us on the picket line,” says a leaflet being widely distributed. “Skip filling your gas tank at Marathon-owned gas stations, including Speedway. Spread the word about our fight on social media and keep the pressure on Marathon. Contribute to the success of collective bargaining and organize.”
The picket line is organized 24/7 in front of the refinery at 301 S. Fort Street. Stop by or call the union hall at (734) 282-8850 with messages of support or to find out how to make donations to the strike fund.