WHITING, Ind. — One week after being locked out at the British Petroleum’s refinery here, United Steelworkers Local 7-1 stands strong, committed to fighting against BP’s union-busting takeaway contract offer. Over 800 union members were locked out March 19 after overwhelmingly voting down the company’s “last, best, and final” offer.
BP management “continues to propose eliminating more than 100 local union jobs,” Erik Schultz, president of USW Local 7-1, said in a union statement. “They only recently offered to withdraw their proposal to transition over 100 more union jobs into management roles, but only if we agreed to their plan to cut wages across most job classifications, waive our bargaining rights and limit our ability to strike. They have proposed eliminating maintenance and environmental jobs, while also reducing headcount in the remaining crafts. This comes after they’ve already eliminated more than 300 union jobs in the last 10 years.”
The company, which has now eliminated retroactive pay and reduced the signing bonus from its contract offer, wants a six-year contract with a 150-day notice before any strike.
On March 27, the union held a news conference at the union headquarters attended by hundreds of members, their families and supporters and representatives of other unions, including at least 10 members of USW Local 1010 who work at the nearby U.S. Steel mill.
“The full weight and support of the entire international unit of Steelworkers stands with our members here at 7-1,” said Roxanne Brown, international president of the USW. “The company made a profit of $8 billion at this refinery last year. For years, we worked to establish a bargaining pattern, which sets the basis for our contracts. BP has chosen not to honor it. Instead, they chose to go down a path that tries to cut our members’ wages, cuts jobs and tries to weaken our rights and collective bargaining agreements.”
This year the national union reached agreements with most of the oil companies for a four-year contract that included a 15% wage increase.
“I was going to retire this year but I want one more day in the plant after this lockout!” Brian Good, who has worked at BP for 20 years, told the Militant. “They want to decide who works overtime and when we take vacations. We won seniority a long time ago, and we’re not going to let BP replace it with favoritism.”
The refinery, founded in 1889, needs skilled maintenance to operate safely. In a risk to workers and the nearby community, those jobs are now being covered by managers, engineers, former employees and other salaried workers. BP is also bringing in nonunion scabs from other states.
Members of most of the USW locals in northwestern Indiana, United Auto Workers from Local 551 at the South Chicago Ford plant, teachers, members of International Union of Painters and Allied Trades Local 460, and other trade unionists have been stopping by to join the picket lines.
Hugo Gil, a member of Local 460, brought his son with him. “I’m trying to teach him about unions,” he told the Militant. “And that being in a union is not like a job, it’s a lifestyle. Solidarity with other workers is how we should live our lives.” Many pickets bring their whole families, some in strollers.
The oil workers have broad community support. Nearly 150 businesses have put up signs in their windows protesting the lockout. Several restaurants have volunteered to provide dinners in the union hall. The hall is a busy place, bustling with locked-out union members, their families and supporters. Many bring something to help. The family of one locked-out union member who raise cattle on their farm donated 100 pounds of ground beef. “That’s a great start to our food bank,” a unionist said.
Pickets are organized at four plant gates at the sprawling refinery. The union welcomes volunteers, “especially on night shift,” said one picket organizer. “If you want to join a picket line, come to the union hall first,” said President Schultz of USW Local 7-1. The union staffs big vans that circle the refinery every 15 minutes, dropping off and picking up union members who are assigned four-hour shifts. Picket lines, with tents and burn barrels to warm them, are up 24 hours a day.
Financial donations can be dropped off or sent to United Steelworkers Local 7-1, Inc. Strike and Defense Fund at the union hall, 2045 Schrage Avenue, Whiting, IN 46394.