Talks ongoing for new refinery workers contract

HOUSTON (Reuters) – United Steelworkers negotiators and oil company representatives returned to the bargaining table Sunday, one day after telling thousands of U.S. refinery and chemical plant workers to stay on the job as they try to hammer out a new national contract.

The USW decided Saturday night to extend the current agreement on a rolling 24-hour basis to keep talks ongoing without a nationwide strike.

The Steelworkers can call a strike by giving lead refiner negotiator Shell Oil Co 24-hour notice of a walkout, union spokeswoman Lynne Baker said on Sunday.

A strike would idle at least 10 percent of U.S. refining capacity within days as top refiners Valero Energy Corp and BP Plc have said they will close some of their refineries if a work stoppage happens.

Other refiners like Shell, Exxon Mobil Corp, and ConocoPhillips have said they plan to keep churning out fuels and petrochemicals with replacement workers they have been pulling together over the past 12 months in preparation for a possible strike.

Reuters