EcoUnionist News #27 (Refinery Workers Strike Edition)

Compiled by x344543 - IWW Environmental Unionism Caucus, February 2, 2015

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are not the official position of the IWW (or even the IWW’s EUC) and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone but the author’s. The IWW is not affiliated with the United Steelworkers Union.

The following news items feature issues, discussions, campaigns, or information potentially relevant to green unionists:

Announcement from the United Steel Workers:

(As of Midnight, January 31, 2015) the oil industry rejected the union’s last national proposal. Based on the lack of progress and respect at the table, I regret to report that strike action has been initiated at nine locations nationally beginning at midnight tonight.

One of the locations selected for strike is the Tesoro Golden Eagle Refinery (Martinez, California). A few minutes (later) the union offered Tesoro a safe and orderly shutdown, which the company has accepted. The bargaining committee will be communicating the details of the shutdown to the bargaining unit as they become available.

In the mean time, everyone should report to work as scheduled until notified by your bargaining committee otherwise. We know this is a stressful time for all our members. Please continue to stay focused and perform your duties as safely as possible.

All other locations have been offered a 24 hour rolling extension.

We can expect more locations to be targeted very soon if we don’t see substantial progress in the very near future. Everyone should clear out their personal belongings in preparation for a strike at all locations.

For bargaining updates call 888-429-4217

Jim Payne, Secretary-Treasurer, USW Local 5

Strike News:

• In Major Walkout, U.S. Oil Workers Demand Safety, Fair Treatment - By Ari Phillips, Truthout, February 2, 2015
• Oil Workers in U.S. on First Large-Scale Strike Since 1980 - Bloomberg, reposted by Earth First! Newswire, February 1, 2015 [updates]
• Offical United Steelworkers Union Strike Bulletin - Link

Appeal for Solidarity from a Rank and File Member:

If you have time we would like to start calling and emailing people of the community as well as emailing Kory Judd Chevron Richmond refinery Manager to let them know how you feel about the current actions of Chevron. Here is a list of people to call or email at the bottom. Please be professional when voicing your opinions. Let Kory Judd know how you feel about his lies about safety of the community Chevron will lose the trust of the community again if they run with replacement workers.

Chevron will be running with replacement workers that are fraudulently qualified and do not know the plants or the emergency procedures used to keep the plants from blowing up.

Tesoro has accepted an offer from USW workers to shut down their refinery safely during the strike. Why is Chevron not doing the right thing again? They are not putting safety first, they are putting PROFITS first again.

If USW workers go on strike the community will be at risk with the replacement workers. The Chevron fire department will lose their coverage because chevron relies on volunteer firefighters who are USW workers. They cannot put a fire out without them and will be risking the community again by not having adequate coverage. They will be putting the lives of the community at risk and when a fire breaks out and are expecting Richmond Fire and surrounding agencies to respond to put it out.

All this in the name of profits and unfair bargaining practices!

TELL THEM YOU WANT ANSWERS!!!!

Thank you

Robert watts (a concerned rank & file USW member)

• Kory Judd Chevron Richmond Refinery Manger - KDJU@chevron.com
• Mayor Tom Butt - 510-412-6503
• City of Richmond Fire department - 510-307-0848
• Public Information Officer/Media Relations, Richomnd Police, Sergeant N. Abetkov - desk line: 510-620-6851 media line - 510-621-1751 or Andrea Baily of Community Engagement - 510-242-5405

Other News of Interest:

• (The Bosses Claim) Refinery strikes unlikely to move gasoline, oil prices - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, February 1, 2015
• Gasoline futures up on fear refinery strikes curtailing supplies, analysts say - By Collin Eaton, FuelFix, February 2, 2015
• Labor Network for Sustainability Calls for Support for Oil Strikers - By Joe Uehline, Labor Network for Sustainability, February 2, 2015
• “What Happens Offshore Stays Offshore” – Gulf of Mexico Oil Industry Veteran Speaks Out - By Cherri Foytlin, Bridge the Gulf Project, January 29, 2015
• Our Lives Are at Stake - Shell Strike of 1973: Workers Fight for Health and Safety - By Berry Weisberg - July 1973

For more green news, please visit our news feeds section on ecology.iww.org; Twitter #IWWEUC