The United Steelworkers (USW) union this week began picketing Tesoro’s Carson oil refinery and eight other such production facilities after contract negotiations broke down. It is the nation’s first strike of steelworkers in 35 years.
The union says that Tesoro was not negotiating fairly and has set aside worker concerns about safety at some facilities. Tesoro has said the USW strike is unmerited and “without good cause” because the walkout ignored a required 24-hour notice period. The Carson plant and Tesoro’s Martinez facility are the only two in California on strike.
The USW reportedly holds sway at 65 U.S. oil refineries which the union says represents about two-thirds of the petroleum industry. Tesoro’s Wilmington plant is reportedly operating as normal.
Dave Campbell, secretary-treasurer of USW Local 675, said the contractors and managers now running the Carson plant “aren’t trained properly and that is a danger to the community.”
Tesoro purchased the Carson site in 2013 from BP West Coast Products LLC. Since then, the oil giant has integrated some operations with the Wilmington facility—reportedly developing a plan to tie the two into a giant operations center—which, if approved, would become the state’s largest oil refinery.
Tesoro said this week that the USW had rejected five contracts before negotiations stalled.
“Short staffing has forced many employees to work six days a week and 12-hour shifts,” Campbell said. “They’re jeopardizing our lives and our safety.”
