News Articles

• May 18, 2013 | The Wall Street Journal FTC Clears Tesoro Purchase of BP Refinery . The California Attorney General's office said Friday that Tesoro agreed to conditions aimed at keeping employment and gasoline-production levels steady after it takes over the refinery. Under the agreement, Tesoro agreed not to lay off any workers at either Los Angeles area refinery for two years.
• May 17, 2013 | USW Weekly List of Refinery Events The USW is providing a weekly list of process safety upsets and refinery events to inform our members and the public of how frequent these incidents happen at U.S. oil refineries. The information listed is from the Department of Energy website and only includes incidents that have been reported to the government and the media.
• May 16, 2013 | USW USW Members Ratify Contracts at ExxonMobil Baytown Complex United Steelworkers (USW) local 13-2001 members tonight ratified three separate agreements with ExxonMobil Baytown for the operations, maintenance and laboratory groups.
• May 10, 2013 | USW USW Commends Hawaii Legislative Resolution to Expand Refinery Task Force Mandate and Include USW United Steelworkers (USW) commends the Hawaii State Legislature for passing Resolution HCR99/SD1 that urges Governor Neil Abercrombie to add a USW Local 12-591 member to the Hawaii Refinery Task Force and to broaden the issues the task force will review.
• April 29, 2013 | USW ExxonMobil Refuses to Agree to Health and Safety Language during Talks for New Contract at Baytown Complex A possible lockout or strike could occur June 15 at ExxonMobil’s Baytown, Texas, refinery, chemical plant and laboratory if company management continues to reject contract language that would improve health and safety at the largest petroleum and petrochemical complex in the U.S.
• April 24, 2013 2013 National Oil Bargaining Program Conference The National Oil Bargaining Program Conference is scheduled for July 31- August 3, 2013 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania for local unions having membership in oil and related groups.
• April 23, 2013 | USW The Oil Worker newsletter Read Issue 18 of The Oil Worker and learn how EPA's proposed Tier 3 regulations affect USW oil workers.
• April 16, 2013 | USW USW Study Warns Public about Dangers of Hydrofluoric Acid Use in Refinery Alkylation Process to Produce Clean-Burning Gasoline A United Steelworkers (USW) study released today-"A Risk Too Great, Hydrofluoric Acid in U.S. Refineries"-warns that refiners that use hydrofluoric acid (HF) in their alkylation process to make clean-burning gasoline do not have adequate safety systems in place and are not prepared to handle a release.
• April 11, 2013 | USW Local 12-591 Local 12-591 Unit Chair Pat Koge Testifies Before Hawaii Statehouse Committee Local 12-591 unit chair Pat Koge of the Tesoro Hawaii group testified before the Hawaii House Committee on Consumer Protection & Commerce about the need for a Legislative Task Force on Energy Security that would examine ways to keep the Tesoro refinery operating.
• April 08, 2013 USW Local 2001 Confirms Support for their Negotiating Committee The United Steelworkers Local 2001 union negotiating committee has begun negotiations with ExxonMobil Baytown Facility in Channelview, TX. On April 5, the local held a Solidarity Day in support of the Clerical Group which has worked under an extended contract for over two years without reaching a new agreement.
• April 05, 2013 Shutting Tesoro Refinery Will Hurt Hawaii’s Residents Closing Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery will hurt the wallets of Hawaii’s residents, give the state’s economy a black eye, threaten our national security and make the state dependent upon renewable sources that will take years to develop before they are economically viable.
• April 01, 2013 | Local 10-1 Local 10-1 and Philadelphia Energy Solutions Remember Tragedy at Tesoro's Anacortes, WA refinery Local 10-1 and Philadelphia Energy Solutions are jointly remembering the tragedy at Tesoro's Anacortes, Wash., refinery on its third anniversary. Seven workers died as the result of a fire/explosion at the facility on April 2, 2010.
• March 22, 2013 | Teamsters Local 877 & New Jersey Work Environment Council Sign a Petition to Management of Phillips 66 to Rescind Their Staffing Cuts to Their Linden Refinery Fire Department Phillips 66 executives are cutting the Fire Department at Bayway Refinery by 40%, eliminating firefighting training for the rescue squad, eliminating key personnel who keep the refinery running safely, refusing to repair bridges needed for firefighter access, and more.
• March 21, 2013 Shuttering Refinery Threatens National Security, High Prices, Diminished Access Elected officials, workers and Hawaii residents must all work together to prevent Tesoro from closing its Kapolei, Hawaii refinery.
• March 20, 2013 | Reuters Valero not seeking sale of California refineries - CEO The head of Valero Energy Corp said on Monday his company is not pursuing a sale of its two California refineries, putting an end to months of speculation over whether the refining major was seeking buyers for the two plants.
• March 20, 2013 | USW USW Members Deliver Petition to Governor Abercrombie Requesting Help to Keep Tesoro Refinery Operating United Steelworkers Union (USW) activists from Local 12-591 delivered 5,000 petitions this morning to Governor Neil Abercrombie, requesting his help in finding a buyer for Tesoro's Kapolei refinery.
• March 12, 2013 | U.S. Chemical Safety Board Chemical Safety Board seeks public comment on Fatigue Prevention Recommendation Are you having trouble negotiating an adequate fatigue standard at your refinery? If so,the Chemical Safety Board is seeking public comment on its draft evaluation of how its fatigue prevention recommendation has been implemented. The recommendation grew out of the investigation of the BP Texas City refinery incident in 2005.
• March 07, 2013 | Philadelphia Inquirer Delta expects profit from Trainer refinery Shares of Delta Air Lines rose 5 percent after the carrier said Monday that it expected a second-quarter profit of $75 million to $100 million at its oil refinery in Trainer.
• March 04, 2013 | USW USW Supports Obama’s EPA and Energy Nominations The United Steelworkers (USW) released a statement today in support of President Obama’s nominations of Dr. Ernest J. Moniz to head the Department of Energy (DOE) and Gina McCarthy to lead the Environmental Protection Agency.
• March 04, 2013 District 13 Staff Rep. Gary Fuslier Passes It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of District 13 Staff Representative Gary Fuslier. Representative Fuslier passed away Friday, February 22, 2013 at his home in Sulphur, La., after a long battle with cancer.
• February 28, 2013 | USW USW Says Problems EPA Found at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana Refinery are Prevalent throughout Refining Sector The items highlighted in the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) report on its July 2012 inspection of ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, La., refinery are the same issues the United Steelworkers (USW) union has raised for a number of years regarding the safe operation of the nation’s refineries.
• February 28, 2013 | USW USW Says Problems EPA Found at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, Louisiana Refinery are Prevalent throughout Refining Sector The items highlighted in the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) report on its July 2012 inspection of ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge, La., refinery are the same issues the United Steelworkers (USW) union has raised for a number of years regarding the safe operation of the nation's refineries.
• February 27, 2013 | USW USW Sends Letter to Hawaii Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism Director to Request Seat on Refinery Task Force The USW sent a letter to Richard C. Lim, director of the Hawaii Dept. of Business, Economic Development & Tourism, requesting that the USW be included on Governor Abercrombie's task force to assess the potential impacts of the projected Tesoro refinery closure.
• February 21, 2013 | USW Health, Safety & Environment Department Hazard Alert--Workplace Chemical Exposures and Increased Breast Cancer Risk A new health study correlates workplace chemical exposures to increased breast cancer risk. Women who work in oil refining and other industries could be at risk.
• February 20, 2013 | USW USW Urges Governor Abercrombie to Include Union on Committee Examining Tesoro Refinery Closure in Kapolei, Hawaii The United Steelworkers Union (USW) today called on Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie to include the USW on a committee being formed to examine the closure of Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery and its impact on the state. The committee will also examine coordinating efforts to save the refinery and other issues related to Hawaii’s economy.
• February 19, 2013 | USW USW Urges Governor Abercrombie to Include Union on Committee Examining Tesoro Refinery Closure in Kapolei, Hawaii The United Steelworkers Union (USW) today called on Hawaii Governor Neil Abercrombie to include the USW on a committee being formed to examine the closure of Tesoro’s Kapolei refinery and its impact on the state. The committee will also examine coordinating efforts to save the refinery and other issues related to Hawaii’s economy.
• February 14, 2013 | Reuters Exxon Louisiana refinery cited for safety breaches Exxon Mobil Corp's refinery in Baton Rouge, Louisiana exposed workers to possible fires and explosions among other safety violations, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration said.
• February 13, 2013 | U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) In Cooperation with Cal/OSHA, CSB Releases Technical Report on Chevron 2012 Pipe Rupture and Fire; Extensive Sulfidation Corrosion Noted The U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) and the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) today released a technical evaluation report on piping samples taken from the Chevron Refinery in Richmond, California, where a hydrocarbon release and massive fire occurred on August 6, 2012.
• February 01, 2013 | Houston Business Journal BP completes Texas City refinery sale to Marathon Petroleum BP Plc (NYSE: BP) said Friday it has completed the sale of its Texas City refinery and other assets to Ohio-based Marathon Petroleum Corp. (NYSE: MPC).
• January 30, 2013 | USW Health, Safety & Environment Department USW Commends CalOSHA for Citations after Chevron Richmond Refinery Fire The United Steelworkers (USW) today lauded the California Occupational Safety and Health Administration (CalOSHA) for nearly $1 million in fines and citations the department issued against Chevron in response to a fire last summer at the company’s refinery in Richmond, Calif.
• January 24, 2013 | USW Health, Safety & Environment Department Hazard Alert--Failure to Conduct Management of Change (MOC) Leads to Fatality
• January 14, 2013 Letter to the editor concerning the Chevron refinery fire In your story on the Chevron refinery fire "Workers' role in inferno probed" (Jan. 4), you report that two officials of the U.S. Chemical Safety Board stated that firefighters may have inadvertently punctured already-damaged pipe while responding to the fire.
• January 13, 2013 | San Francisco Chronicle Chevron firefighters may have gouged pipe The pipe that fed a huge fire at Chevron's Richmond oil refinery in August appears to have been punctured from the outside, possibly by company firefighters trying to get at a small leak before the blaze ignited, investigators said Thursday.
• December 11, 2012 | USW Local 624 USW Local 624 Members Ratify Contract at Husky Lima Refining United Steelworkers (USW) Local 624 members ratified a three-year agreement last night with Husky Lima Refining in Lima, Ohio.
• December 11, 2012 | USW USW Local 624 Members Ratify Contract at Husky Lima Refining United Steelworkers (USW) Local 624 members ratified a three-year agreement last night with Husky Lima Refining in Lima, Ohio. The ratification followed a 135-day unfair labor practice strike and an unconditional return to work Oct. 8, 2012.
• December 03, 2012 | USW Fifteen Things Every Union Leader Should Know About Safety And Health This list summarizes the basics of what you need to know about safety and health.
• December 03, 2012 | Louisiana Bucket Brigade Louisiana Refineries Average 5.7 Accidents Per Week Louisiana’s 17 refineries reported 301 accidents to the state of Louisiana in 2011. These self reports – long criticized for underestimating actual releases – detail pollution from over one million pounds of toxicants into the air and over 1.3 million gallons into Louisiana’s water and soil. The data – the most recent available – is released as part of an annual report on refinery accidents.
• December 03, 2012 | Memphis Commercial Appeal Worker dies after hazmat incident at Valero Memphis refinery Officials say one refinery worker has died after being exposed to a hazardous substance at a Valero refinery in Memphis.
• November 13, 2012 | Los Angeles Times U.S. to become world's largest oil producer by 2020, report says The U.S. will become the world's top producer of oil by 2020, a net exporter of oil around 2030 and nearly self-sufficient in energy by 2035, according to a new report from the International Energy Agency.
• October 17, 2012 ExxonMobil Council Meeting Carson, CA United Steelworker (USW) Delegates to the ExxonMobil Council met in District 12, Carson, CA at Local 675 the third largest Local in the United States with over 5,000 USW members. Our Thanks go out to the District 12 Director, Bob LaVenture, Chris Youngmark Assistant to the Director, Dave Campbell Secretary-Treasurer Local 675, Gary Holloway, Ray Sisneros, Al Garcia, and George Galvan who rolled out the red carpet for us.
• October 17, 2012 Valero Council Meeting Bossier City, LA Delegates of the Valero Company Council met on October 9, 2012 at the Marriot Courtyard Boardwalk. The wives had plenty of shopping time while the delegates met to discuss the issues of the Valero sites. The LA Boardwalk has over 100 stores for shopping, eating, and entertainment.
• October 02, 2012 | USW USW Statement on Clean Air Council Challenge USW responds to Clean Air Council lawsuit that challenges refinery emissions deal to allow the Philadelphia Energy Solutions refinery to claim credit for a reduction in emissions caused by the closure of Sunoco's Marcus Hook refinery.
• September 28, 2012 | USW Local 624 USW Offers Unconditional Return to Work at Husky Refinery, Awaits Company Response The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union has made the strategic decision to end its current unfair labor practice strike against Husky Energy and has made an unconditional offer to return to work at the refinery, effective immediately. The union is now waiting for the company’s response.
• September 24, 2012 Steelworkers Participate at the 2012 Inter-Union Gas Workers Conference This morning, around 400 delegates from six international unions came together for the 2012 Inter-Union Gas Workers Conference in Portland, OR. Over 70 United Steelworkers (USW) from across North America are attending this four-day event to discuss mutual concerns they share related to the natural gas industry. The theme of the conference is "Natural Gas; the Road to Energy Independence.”
• September 21, 2012 | Delaware County Daily Times ‘A new name, a new company, a new future’ for Sunoco plant “We were dead men walking for 10 months,” Savage said, “and now, we have a brighter future had we not been through this at all.”
• September 14, 2012 | USW USW Members, Supporters Protest at Husky Energy Headquarters in Calgary; Demand a Fair Contract at Lima, Ohio Refinery After a week of leafleting across Canada at Husky gas stations, a company office, a Husky refinery and the Lloydminster Heavy Oil Trade Show, United Steelworkers (USW) members and their supporters protested this morning at Husky Energy headquarters here to demand the company bargain fairly for a contract at its Lima, Ohio, refinery.
• September 06, 2012 District 13 Members Conduct Funeral for Justice and Fairness Members from United Steelworker (USW) Locals 13-2001, 13-227, 13-243, 6000, 13-1, SOAR members, IBEW and CWA members all converged on the Houston, TX headquarters of ExxonMobil to conduct a funeral for Justice and Fairness September 4, 2012.
• August 30, 2012 | USW USW to Hold Funeral for Justice & Fairness at ExxonMobil The United Steelworkers union believes fairness is dead at ExxonMobil and that it requires a proper funeral.
• August 28, 2012 A Shared Vision for the Future of the Oil Industry On August 21st, oil refinery workers represented by USW and representatives from the environmental partners of the BlueGreen Alliance (NRDC, Sierra Club, National Wildlife Federation and Union of Concerned Scientists) and other environmentalists came together for a Future of Oil Roundtable.
• August 23, 2012 | USW ExxonMobil: Stop the Attack on Union Leaders! Stand With Ricky and Mark! Send a letter to ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson and tell him to bring back Ricky and Mark to work and stop the attack on union leaders in Baytown, TX.
• August 22, 2012 Progressive Radio Network Interviews USW About Refinery Safety Listen to USW staffers discuss the lack of adequate attention paid to refinery safety by the oil industry.
• August 13, 2012 | Reuters Tesoro eyes West Coast empire with BP refinery deal Aug 13 (Reuters) - Tesoro Corp moved on Monday to create the biggest U.S. refining empire in the Pacific Basin with a $2.5 billion deal to buy BP's Carson plant in the isolated California market.
• August 09, 2012 USW Incident Report: We Need Your Help The USW is documenting the daily incidents that take place at your worksites: pump trips that lead to unit upsets or flaring; leaks in pipes, vessels and tanks whether they are product or utility leaks; safety system activations including PRV (process relief valve) relief on a process unit or tank whatever the cause.
• July 24, 2012 An Essay: "Why Corporate America Fights to Destroy Unions" George Gilbert is the son of Local 13-555 member Bruce Gilbert, who works at the Phillips 66 plant in Westlake, Louisiana. Bruce did what many of us fail to do and that is to educate our own children about the labor movement. He took his son along to a USW Rapid Response conference and that motivated his son to learn more about the labor movement. George did additional research on unions and corporate America and wrote this interesting essay.
• July 23, 2012 | U.S. Chemical Safety Board Board Concludes American Petroleum Institute Has Made “Acceptable” Progress on Recommendation to Develop Process Safety Indicators for Onshore Industries Houston, Texas, July 23, 2012 - The U.S. Chemical Safety Board (CSB) has formally voted to classify the American Petroleum Institute’s (API) response to the Board’s recommendation to develop an effective system of performance safety indicators as “Open- Acceptable Action.”
• July 03, 2012 | USW USW 10-Month Campaign to Save Pennsylvania Jobs, Communities Results in Continued Operations for Philadelphia Refinery When Sunoco Inc. announced last September it would shut down the company’s Philadelphia refinery if a buyer was not found, United Steelworkers (USW) Local 10-1 leaders and members were given little hope of keeping their refinery alive. Ten months later, after a hard-fought campaign waged by the local and international union ...
• June 14, 2012 USW-ACCO Mead Products Seek Continued Tariffs on Imports of School Lined Paper A delegation of management and USW Local 10-1442 representing 400 paper workers at the ACCO Mead Products plant in Alexandria, PA., attended a public hearing before the U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) for a sunset review of current duty orders on imports of certain lined paper school supplies (CLPSS) from China, India and Indonesia.
• June 07, 2012 | USW USW Meets with Husky Energy First Time Since Unfair Labor Practice Strike Began At the request of the United Steelworkers Union (USW) and its Local 624, Husky Energy met with the union yesterday for the first time since the unfair labor practice strike began 14 days ago on May 25. Both sides met without a federal mediator involved.
• June 07, 2012 | USW USW Members at Tesoro Martinez Ratify Contract United Steelworkers (USW) members voted last night to accept Tesoro’s offer for workers employed at the company’s refinery here. This was the last Tesoro contract to be ratified. The Kapolei, Hawaii contract settled in March. The Salt Lake City contract settled in April, and the Mandan, N. Dakota, Anacortes, Wash., and Wilmington, Calif. agreements were ratified in May.
• May 31, 2012 USW Confronts ExxonMobil about Pay Equity, Safety Issues at Shareholders Meeting The USW raised pay equity and safety concerns at the ExxonMobil shareholders meeting May 30, 2012 at the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas. For two years the all-female clerical unit at the ExxonMobil Beaumont, Texas, refinery has gone without a raise while the predominately male production and maintenance workers have received raises in each of those years.
• May 30, 2012 | USW USW Urges Chevron Stockholders to Pass Safety Resolution United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5 member Mike Smith presented a safety resolution to Chevron stockholders today while the company denied two other USW representatives and a Brazilian labor leader access to the meeting.
• May 14, 2012 | USW USW Says Marathon Petroleum’s Actions Impinge on Safety and are Unlawful United Steelworkers (USW) Local 8-719 says that the terms and conditions of employment Marathon Petroleum unilaterally implemented do not promote safe staffing levels to safeguard the refinery’s employees and the surrounding community.
• May 03, 2012 | USW USW Members Tell Tesoro Management: “Bargain a Fair Agreement or else there will be a Strike” Fifteen United Steelworkers (USW) members from Tesoro refineries attended the Tesoro shareholder meeting this morning to ask why the company was not bargaining a fair contract with the union. Afterward, more than 75 USW members from around the country and their supporters marched and chanted for more than an hour.
• April 27, 2012 ExxonMobil Stalls in Accepting Industry Pattern Agreement During Contract Talks at Baton Rouge, La., Facility Despite accepting the United Steelworkers (USW) National Oil Bargaining Program (NOBP) pattern agreement at its other facilities, ExxonMobil is refusing to do so at its refinery/chemical complex in Baton Rouge, La.
• April 26, 2012 Capitol Hill Hearing to Explore Impact of Northeast Refinery Closures on Price of Fuel Products The U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) is holding a hearing this Thursday, April 26, 2012 at 2:15 p.m. (EDT) in room G-50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building to address the impact of the Philadelphia-area refinery closures on fuel prices.
• April 23, 2012 | USW Gerard: Union Supportive of Carlyle Group Discussions with Sunoco Over Refinery USW International President Leo W. Gerard said the union is supportive of the discussions of The Carlyle Group with Sunoco regarding the Philadelphia refinery that employs hundreds of our members. Click here for more.
• April 19, 2012 | USW USW Members at Tesoro Los Angeles Refinery Join Three Other Sites in Authorizing Their Bargaining Committee to Call a Strike United Steelworkers (USW) Local 675 members from the Tesoro Wilmington (Los Angeles), Calif., refinery overwhelmingly voted to authorize their bargaining committee to call for a strike if a settlement cannot be reached with Tesoro.
• April 05, 2012 USW Members at Tesoro Refinery in Mandan, North Dakota Vote for Strike Authorization United Steelworkers (USW) members at Tesoro’s Mandan, North Dakota, refinery voted overwhelmingly today to give their negotiating committee the authority to call a strike. At this time a strike has not been called.
• March 28, 2012 | USW USW Tesoro Council Intensifies Campaign to Obtain Fair Contracts at all Tesoro Sites United Steelworkers (USW) local union leaders from Tesoro’s six USW-represented sites met March 24-25 in Salt Lake City to discuss bargaining, plan mobilization activities and rally in front of the company’s Salt Lake City refinery.
• March 21, 2012 | USW USW Members at Tesoro Anacortes Refinery Authorize Bargaining Committee to Call a Strike United Steelworkers (USW) members at Tesoro’s Anacortes, Wash., refinery overwhelmingly voted last night to give their negotiating committee the authorization to call for a strike if necessary. This is the second Tesoro location to give strike authorization. The Golden Eagle refinery in Martinez, Calif., was the first to do so two weeks ago.
• March 19, 2012 Refinery Murder Mystery Lynn Laverty Elsenhans, who will remain Sunoco chair until May, tried to kill off a Shell refinery in Bakersfield, Calif., when she was CEO at Shell Oil Products. At Sunoco, where she was CEO until March 1, she succeeded in snuffing out its Marcus Hook refinery in Eastern Pennsylvania in December.
• March 13, 2012 Louisiana Residents Urge ExxonMobil to Reduce Accidents, Hire More Workers ExxonMobil Baton Rouge refinery manager Steven Blume refused letters from 2,284 residents across south Louisiana urging the company to reduce accidents at the facility and hire more full-time union workers.
• March 13, 2012 | USW Leaked Pennsylvania State Reports on Philadelphia-Area Refinery Shutdowns Set off Alarm about Massive Economic Devastation A new economic impact study from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry estimates greater job and tax revenue loss from the shutdown of three Philadelphia-area refineries than the United Steelworkers (USW) originally estimated.
• March 07, 2012 | Tim Danahey Show Mysterious Closings of East Coast Oil Refineries On a recent Tim Danahey Show, host Tim Danahey talks about the closing of three oil refineries in Philadelphia, PA and the impact on the country. He talks about how the national media has virtually ignored this story from getting the national attention it deserves.
• March 06, 2012 | USW USW Members Fight to Retain Bargaining Rights at Tesoro United Steelworkers (USW) members at Tesoro’s refineries are fighting to protect their right to bargain over mid-contract changes in their benefits and plan to reject the company’s attempts to destroy their bargaining rights.
• February 28, 2012 | USW US Energy Dept. Report Affirms USW Oil Workers’ View on Price Hikes, Northeast Supply Shortages to Follow Philadelphia-area Refinery Closures United Steelworkers (USW) leaders today acknowledged the release of a full report from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration (EIA) about the impact on the Northeast of the three Philadelphia-area refinery closures.
• February 25, 2012 We Won’t Pay for Big Oil’s Mistakes A little after midnight on Good Friday in 2010, a heat exchanger on a naphtha hydrotreater unit at the oil refinery I work at in Anacortes, Washington, catastrophically failed. The unit exploded, setting off a blast that shook homes five miles away and igniting a fire that could be seen anywhere in town.
• February 17, 2012 Workers Take Campaign to Save Philadelphia Refineries to Washington for a “Lobby & Action Day” Over 250 United Steelworkers (USW) refinery workers, their families and members of the Boilermakers, Pipefitters, United Auto Workers and Carpenters unions descended upon Washington, D.C. on Feb. 15 for a “Lobby & Action Day” in support of the campaign to keep open the Sunoco and ConocoPhillips refineries in the Philadelphia area.
• February 15, 2012 | USW US Sen. Bob Casey Press Event on Philly Refineries Feb. 15; USW Oil Workers Mobilize for D.C. ‘Lobby & Action Day’ About 200 oil workers from three Philadelphia refineries slated for permanent shutdowns early this year are arriving on buses for a ‘Lobby & Action Day’ on Capitol Hill to advocate that the closures threaten family-supportive jobs and will lead to persistent shortages of home heating oil and motor vehicle fuels ...
• February 10, 2012 | USW USW Members to Rally Feb. 14 at Tesoro Anacortes Refinery United Steelworkers Union (USW) members at Tesoro’s Anacortes, Wash., facility are rallying at the refinery gate on Tuesday, Feb. 14 at 11:30 AM to send Tesoro Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Greg Goff a message that the company needs to bargain fairly.
• February 03, 2012 Confused About National Oil Bargaining Process? Maybe This Will Help There seems to be a lot of confusion over how the National Oil Bargaining process works. What occurs at the National level of negotiations between the International Union and the lead Company (in this case Shell Oil) is the negotiations of the National Oil Policy which was adopted by the National Oil Conference in September of last year 2011.
• February 01, 2012 | USW USW Reaches Tentative Three-Year Agreement With Oil Industry The United Steelworkers (USW) is pleased to announce that we have reached a tentative agreement with Shell on a new three-year agreement, pending ratification by the union’s membership.
• January 31, 2012 | USW Action Alert for USW Members in the Northeast Sunoco and ConocoPhillips have arbitrarily decided to shut down three strategic oil refineries on the East Coast, all three in or near Philadelphia, Pa. All three of these refineries are USW workplaces, and if the companies follow through on their threat, 1,300 of our members will lose their jobs.
• January 20, 2012 | USW USW Refinery Workers Hold National Day of Action for Safety Members of the United Steelworkers (USW) union who work at oil refineries around the country are planning a National Day of Action for Safe Refineries and Good Jobs on January 21. Members in refinery communities around the country plan to visit gas stations and distribute handbills to drivers on the importance of refinery safety
• January 19, 2012 | USW Oil Workers to Rally at Chevron Headquarters Members and supporters of United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5 plan to rally at Chevron Corporation’s global headquarters in San Ramon, California at noon on Friday, January 20. USW Local 5 will be demanding that Chevron and the other oil companies address serious health and safety proposals at the bargaining table in the ongoing round of contract negotiations.
• January 10, 2012 Building Support in our Communities - 2012 National Oil Bargaining To strengthen our position and help ensure victory as we fight for fair contracts, we need to involve our communities. Sometimes, our employers are simply too big to fight alone: and they donʼt get much bigger than Big Oil. In cases like that - if the company wants to slash wages or benefits - we must find allies to join our campaign and support our side of the cause.
• January 10, 2012 | USW USW Local 10-234 Fights Demolition of ConocoPhillips Trainer, Pa., Refinery United Steelworkers Local 10-234 President Denis Stephano announced today that the plant manager at the ConocoPhillips refinery in Trainer, Pa., told union officials on Jan. 5 that if a serious buyer is not identified or the refinery is not sold by March 31, the facility will be demolished.
• January 05, 2012 | USW USW Details Negative Impact of Philadelphia Refinery Shutdowns Three United Steelworkers (USW) local union oil refinery leaders spoke here today about the negative effects on employment and Northeast oil product supplies and prices if the three Philadelphia area refineries slated for closure are allowed to stop production permanently.
• December 24, 2011 | USW USW Says Government Analysis Confirms Shutdown of Philadelphia-area Refineries Could Negatively Impact Oil Products for Northeast Region The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released a report today that confirms what the USW has been saying about the impact of shutting down the ConocoPhillips and Sunoco Philadelphia-area refineries: supplies of oil products could be negatively impacted with accompanying price volatility and spikes.
• December 22, 2011 | The Advocate Group assails plant’s record Over the past few months, the Louisiana Bucket Brigade has collected 1,363 letters from state residents urging ExxonMobil to reduce the number of accidents at its large oil refinery in Baton Rouge.
• December 22, 2011 Hundeds of Louisiana Residents Urge ExxonMobil to Improve Storm Preparation, Reduce Accidents The Louisiana Bucket Brigade collected letters about ExxonMobil's Baton Rouge accidents and delivered them today to the refinery's manager, Steven Blume. The letters urge Blume to upgrade equipment, hire more workers, improve emergency alerts and implement proper shutdowns of sthe refinery in advance of storms.
• December 20, 2011 | The Epoch Times Safety Concerns Heighten Over Petrochemical Plants A firefighter at the 2009 Catano oil refinery fire in the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico adjusts his equipment. Officials from the U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board determined that a faulty gauge had caused the fire.
• December 01, 2011 Nibarger Presents "Five Fatal Flaws" Liz Bettinger from the USW's Legislative Dept. took photos of Kim Nibarger, USW's health and safety oil expert, and Jim Lefton, assistant to USW International Vice President Gary Beevers, as they briefed Congress on health and safety issues within the oil sector and how National Oil Bargaining works.
• November 29, 2011 | USW USW Officials Detail Oil Health & Safety Problems to Congress United Steelworkers (USW) officials briefed congressional members and staff today about health and safety problems in the oil industry and how they will impact National Oil Bargaining talks which are scheduled to heat up in January.
• November 22, 2011 | USW NEW VIDEO: Why the oil industry is still out of control Check out this new video that shows how workers are dying in the richest industry on earth because the profit-fueled oil industry is still out of control. Click here now.
• November 15, 2011 Louisiana Bucket Brigade's "Common Ground III" The Louisiana Bucket Brigade issued its "Common Ground III" report today. Based on reports Louisiana refineries provided to the state there were 354 accidents in 2010 - one for nearly every day of the year. The two Exxon refineries in the state were responsible for a third (133) of the accidents.
• October 27, 2011 Still Out of Control Copies of our new film "Still Out of Control" have been mailed to every local along with this promotional poster. Be sure to screen the movie with your members and hang the poster up at your refinery!
• September 29, 2011 | USW USW Delegates Set National Oil Bargaining Policy Three hundred United Steelworkers (USW) delegates from the oil sector met last week in Dallas to form, debate and adopt the National Oil Bargaining Policy (NOBP) for 2012 negotiations.
• September 27, 2011 | USW USW Statement on ConocoPhillips’ Decision to Shut Down Trainer, Pa., Refinery in Six Months United Steelworkers (USW) Union International Vice President Gary Beevers issued the following statement today on ConocoPhillips’ decision to close its Trainer, Pa., refinery in six months if a buyer is not found:
• June 17, 2011 | USW ExxonMobil Must Improve Process Safety at Baytown Refinery The United Steelworkers Union (USW) says the June 14 injury at ExxonMobil's Baytown, Texas, refinery shows the company must do a better job at handling process safety. Click here for more.
• May 03, 2011 | USW Steelworkers Take Oil-Industry Safety Issues to Shareholders The United Steelworkers (USW) are presenting shareholder resolutions at Marathon Oil (NYSE: MRO), Valero (NYSE: VLO), Tesoro (NYSE: TSO), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP), calling on the companies to improve disclosures on safety at oil refineries.
• March 01, 2011 | The Center for Public Integrity The Forgotten Ones: Few Remedies for Injured Contractors February 22, 2008, began like any other day for José Herrera. A seasoned contract pipefitter in his late 40s, Herrera had labored in Texas refineries for two decades. The work was hard and sporadic, but on a good week, including overtime, an experienced hand like Herrera might earn $3,500, enough to provide a good life for his wife ... more
• February 28, 2011 | The Center for Public Integrity Regulatory Flaws, Repeated Violations Put Oil Refinery Workers at Risk One evening last April at the Tesoro Corp.’s refinery in Anacortes, Washington, Matt Gumbel and six co-workers cautiously returned to service a stack of giant, radiator-like tubes filled with volatile hydrocarbons. The tubes, known as heat exchangers, tended to leak, especially during start-up ...
• February 25, 2011 Use of Toxic Acid Puts Millions at Risk It was a disturbingly close call, closer than it appeared at the time. On July 19, 2009, an explosion rocked an oil refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas, critically injuring a worker and spawning a fire that burned for more than two days. The blast at the Citgo East refinery unleashed a chemical unknown to many Americans, though it is capable of sweeping ... more
• February 01, 2011 | USW Steelworkers to Maintain Safety Campaign at BP Refineries The United Steelworkers Union (USW) is working with BP to guarantee a smooth transition when the company’s Texas City, Texas, and Carson, Calif., refineries are sold. Employees’ jobs and the USW contracts at both facilities will be protected because of the successorship language in the agreements.
• January 27, 2011 Common Ground 11, Why Cooperation To Reduce Accidents at Louisiana Refineries is Needed Now A new report shows Louisiana’s problems with environmental destruction and public health hazards are not limited to the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster. The USW, along with the Louisiana Bucket Brigade and other national and local environmental groups, rolled out in mid-December the report ... more
• January 14, 2011 | USW USW Officials Tell Chemical Safety Board Refinery Operations Showcase Oil Industry’s Approach to Safety The health and safety problems that led to the fire and explosion of the Deepwater Horizon and subsequent oil spill are symbolic of the problems found throughout the industry, USW officials testified to the Chemical Safety Board (CSB).
• December 13, 2010 | USW USW Participating Dec. 15 in Chemical Safety Board Hearing on Offshore Oil, Gas Safety A United Steelworkers Union (USW) oil health and safety expert and two USW leaders who work on the North Slope of Alaska in BP’s pipeline and exploration operations will be discussing process safety issues at the Chemical Safety Board (CSB) Dec. 15 hearing in Washington, D.C. on "Regulatory Approaches to Offshore Oil and Gas Safety."
• October 15, 2010 | USW USW Applauds Final ITC Vote for Duties on Seamless Pipe China Imports The United Steelworkers (USW) applauded today’s 6-0 affirmative vote by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) on a joint petition with U.S. pipe makers against China imports of seamless carbon and alloy steel line and pressure pipe.
• September 23, 2010 USW Says Oil Industry Runs Equipment to Failure United Steelworkers (USW) Vice President Gary Beevers said at the union’s National Oil Bargaining (NOB) conference that the oil industry’s “run to failure” mentality concerning equipment gets worse every day. He also said that the union will not give up its campaign to have enforceable health and safety language.
• September 23, 2010 | USW USW Says Oil Industry Runs Equipment to Failure United Steelworkers (USW) Vice President Gary Beevers said at the union’s National Oil Bargaining (NOB) conference that the oil industry’s “run to failure” mentality concerning equipment gets worse every day. He also said that the union will not give up its campaign to have enforceable health and safety language.
• September 14, 2010 Platts Energy Week - Refinery Safety ViolationsPlatts Energy Week Bill Loveless moderates a panel with Charles Drevna, President of NPRA; Jordan Barab, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor at OHSA and Kim Nibarger, Health and Safety Specialist for the United Steelworkers Union.
• September 02, 2010 | USW USW Statement on Latest Gulf Oil Platform Explosion United Steelworkers (USW) International Vice President Gary Beevers issued the following statement concerning the explosion and fire of an offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico today: “We are thankful that no one was killed in the explosion today of an offshore petroleum platform in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, one person was injured and that is one person too many."
• August 16, 2010 | USW Speech at the Emergency Oil Meeting by USW Vice President Gary Beevers United Steelworkers International Vice President Gary Beevers addressed oil local delegates at the June 15-16, 2010 emergency oil meeting held in Pittsburgh. He spoke about the oil companies' failure to learn from previous accidents, the need to change the safety culture within the industry and among the membership, the need to develop an adequate fatigue standard, short staffing within the refineries ... more
• August 13, 2010 USW Statement on BP Settlement to Resolve OSHA Citations United Steelworkers Union (USW) International Vice President Gary Beevers issued the following statement today regarding the settlement agreement between BP Products North America Inc. and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) ... more
• July 06, 2010 | USW USW Pursues Safety Negotiations with Oil Industry United Steelworkers (USW) Vice President Gary Beevers, who heads the union’s oil sector, sent a request to the oil industry to re-open the National Oil Bargaining pattern agreement and negotiate health and safety provisions.
• June 23, 2010 | Workers Independent News USW: Need stronger safety standards in oil industry, more Click here to listen to USW's Gary Beevers discuss the need for stronger safety standards in the oil industry and more with WIN.
• June 10, 2010 Lessons Not Learned: Oil Industry Fails to Embrace Adequate Safety Measures Kim Nibarger, health and safety specialist for the United Steelworkers (USW), testified today before a Senate subcommittee that the oil industry is failing its workers and the public by failing to embrace process safety. He also emphasized that OSHA’s ability to regulate must be improved.
• June 01, 2010 Refinery Safety Near-misses and deadly tragedies still occur in the petroleum refining industry five years after 15 workers were killed and 180 were injured in a blast at the BP refinery in Texas City, Texas. Click here for a series of articles highlighting Refinery Safety.
• May 18, 2010 | USW USW Says LyondellBasell Fire Yet Another Example of Problems Within Oil Industry The United Steelworkers (USW) today said the LyondellBasell refinery fire in Houston is the latest in a series of fires to occur in May and exemplifies the lack of safety within the oil industry. USW Local 13-227 represents the workers at the facility.
• May 03, 2010 | USW USW Chastises Oil Industry for Weekly Refinery Fires The United Steelworkers Union (USW) today chastised the oil industry for the series of fires and explosions that keep happening at refineries around the country, resulting in unnecessary injuries and deaths.
• April 28, 2010 | USW This Workers Memorial Day: Honor Dead By Fighting for Better Safety Laws This Workers Memorial Day we remember the 34 Steelworkers who lost their lives at work over the last year and we vow to keep fighting hard for better health and safety laws. Click here for more.
• April 22, 2010 | USW USW Points to Latest Oil Industry Explosion/Fire as Evidence of Sector’s Need to Overhaul Health & Safety With yet again another accident within the oil industry, the United Steelworkers (USW) union today again called for an overhaul of health and safety within the oil sector.
• April 20, 2010 | USW Too Many Industrial Accidents in Oil Sector, USW Charges The United Steelworkers (USW) today urged the oil industry to monitor safety conditions at refinery construction sites in light of yet another death in the industry yesterday of a contractor on the Motiva Enterprises expansion project in Port Arthur, Texas.
• April 16, 2010 | USW Another Serious Refinery Fire Prompts USW to Renew Call for Better Process Safety The United Steelworkers (USW) said today that Wednesday’s fire at ExxonMobil’s Baton Rouge, La., refinery that injured one employee and two contractors demonstrates the urgency of the union’s call for greater attention to process safety within the refining sector.
• April 14, 2010 | USW Refiners Still Weak on Process Safety, Charges USW The United Steelworkers (USW) disputes the oil industry’s claim that oil refineries are doing a lot to address safety issues. “If this is such a safe industry, why did six workers die as a result of the April 2 explosion and fire at Tesoro’s Anacortes, Wash., refinery?” asked USW Vice President Gary Beevers, who heads the union’s oil sector. “Why do we see accidents, releases and near misses almost daily?
• April 13, 2010 | MSNBC Gerard on MSNBC about worker safety: the slaughter must stop USW International President Leo W. Gerard talked with Ed Schultz about what he called the slaughter of workers because of unsafe conditions such as those at a Texas refinery and a West Virginia coal mine. Click here to watch.
• April 13, 2010 | USW Sixth worker dies after refinery explosion A sixth worker has died after the tragic April 2 refinery explosion in Washington. Click here for more.
• April 12, 2010 | USW 2007 USW Report Warned of More Refinery Accidents The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the refinery industry has failed to learn from past disasters and that its 2007 report, Beyond Texas City: The State of Process Safety in the Unionized U.S. Oil Refining Industry is more relevant than ever in light of the April 2 Tesoro explosion and fire that killed five workers and critically injured two others.
• April 06, 2010 | USW USW Criticizes Oil Industry’s Approach to Health and Safety The United Steelworkers (USW) today condemned remarks made by oil industry trade associations in the aftermath of the Tesoro refinery explosion and fire April 2 in Anacortes, Wash., that killed five and severely injured two others. Click here for more.
• April 03, 2010 | USW USW Expresses Deep Sympathy to Families, Fellow Employees of Those Killed, Injured in Tesoro Explosion The United Steelworkers (USW) union expresses its deep sympathy to the families and co-workers of the employees killed and severely injured in the explosion and fire that occurred at approximately 12:30 a.m. on April 2 at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes, Washington.
• March 11, 2010 Safety Notice on Hydrofluoric Acid Hydrofluoric acid, also known as HF, is a deadly corrosive chemical that is used as a catalyst by some oil refineries to make high-octane gasoline. When it releases into the air, it can form a deadly plume that can travel for miles.
• February 25, 2010 | USW USW supports striking Mexican miners The USW continues its support of striking Mexican miners. Click here for more.
• February 22, 2010 | USW USW Health Insurance Tool Kit Updated with Latest Obama Plan
• February 12, 2010 Safe Refineries, Secure Jobs, Healthy Communities Campaign As part of our mobilization to get a safer workplace, oil locals are distributing to their members a series of handbills relating to health and safety. Download the handbills from this website to make extra copies for distribution.
• February 12, 2010 | USW USW Black History Month Blog: Manufacturing the great equalizer In a special Black History Month blog by USW International President Leo W. Gerard and Vice President Fred Redmond, the leaders say that the youth of today need to lead a revolution for manufacturing jobs, which will help everyone in our nation prosper. Click here for more.
• January 27, 2010 | Workers Uniting Global union protests invite of British National Party to white supremacist meeting In a letter sent this week to the Westin Hotel, Workers Uniting expresses deep anger about the decision to allow a British National Party leader whose views are so offensive to so many to address a white supremacist conference on its premises. Click here for more.
• January 26, 2010 | USW Info for USW members, locals wishing to donate to Haiti Click here for information about how to donate to the Steelworkers Charitable Fund to help the victims of the terrible earthquake in Haiti as well as info about Union Plus' pledge to match donations.
• January 26, 2010 | USW USW President to FOX News: Campaign Finance Ruling Very Troubling USW International President Leo W. Gerard in an interview with FOX News last night discussed the troubling Supreme Court ruling regarding corporate campaign contributions. Click here for more.
• January 26, 2010 | USW VIDEO: USW President on FOX: 'Cadillac' tax bad for workers, bad politics USW International President Leo W. Gerard appeared recently on Fox Business Network to talk about why a so-called "Cadillac" tax to pay for health insurance reform is not only bad policy, but bad politics. Click here to watch.
• January 22, 2010 | AFL-CIO Trumka: Working class revolt wake-up call for more action on jobs, health care AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka says in a new video message that the election in Massachusetts symbolizes a working class revolt that should be a wake-up call for all politicians that working families want more. Click here to watch.
• January 21, 2010 | USW USW, Others Call for Reform of Federal Toxic Chemical Law The USW, Learning Disabilities Association, Cancer Institute, and the PA Nurses today called for an overhaul of federal toxic chemical law to reduce the level of toxic exposures to workers, families and children. Click here for more.
• January 19, 2010 | USW USW members, children eligible for Union Plus scholarships The deadline is approaching for Union Plus scholarships that are available for USW members and their children. Click here for more info.
• January 13, 2010 | Workers Uniting Global Union Challenges Aggressive Behavior of Crown Holdings Workers Uniting, the global union in the UK, USA and Canada, has written to the chief executive officer of Crown Holdings to challenge the company’s aggressive behavior towards some of its employees around the world. Click here for more.
• January 13, 2010 | USW Standing strong in Canada: 6 months on the line for Vale Inco workers Our sisters and brothers in Canada are marking the 6-month anniversary of the strike at Vale Inco by filing an bad-faith bargaining complaint against the company. Click here for more.
• January 13, 2010 | USW USW Offers Support, Solidarity after Devastating Earthquake in Haiti The USW today responded to the devastating earthquake in Haiti by offering condolences, solidarity and $20,000 from the Steelworkers Humanity Fund. Click here for more.
• January 12, 2010 | AFL-CIO NEW VIDEO: AFL-CIO President: Nation in crisis needs political courage AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka said in a speech to the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. that the economic crisis and the decline of the nation’s middle class “cries out for political courage.” Click here for more.
• January 12, 2010 | USW Tell Congress: Don't Tax Our Benefits Today is a national call-in day to tell Congress not to tax our hard-earned health insurance benefits. Please plan to partipate and urge others to do the same! Click here for more info.
• January 12, 2010 | USW USW Confident WTO Dispute Panel Will Uphold U.S. Tire Action USW International President Leo W. Gerard responded to the World Trade Organization decision to launch an investigation into President Obama’s decision to impose tariffs on surging Chinese tire imports. Click here for more.
• January 11, 2010 | National Labor Committee 8 more Bangladesh workers die in ship explosion Eight more workers in Bangladesh were burned to death on December 26, 2009, when the ship they were dismantling exploded. Click here for more details.
• January 08, 2010 | USW EPI, others debunk 'Cadillac' tax myths and mistruths There are so many myths and mistruths flying around about the so-called "Cadillac tax" on health insurance benefits. The bottom line: the tax is bad for working families and for reform. Click here for more info.
• January 06, 2010 | USW USW updates info for laid-off members The new year brings new information about COBRA and other benefits for members who have unfortunately lost their jobs. Click here for the latest.
• January 05, 2010 | Workers Independent News NEW AUDIO: WIN airs report about USW's trade fight Click here to hear a WIN report about the USW's reaction to recent duties against the Chinese for violating trade rules.
• December 22, 2009 | USW Evaluate the 15th Civil and Human Rights Conference If you attended the USW's recent Civil and Human Rights conference, we want to hear from you. Click here to find out how you can do an online evaluation.
• December 22, 2009 | USW More than chicken soup: USW members demonstrate for real health care reform USW members were among demonstrators who encouraged local residents to remind Pennsylvania Congressman Tim Holden that America needs more than chicken soup when it comes to health care security. Click here for more.
• December 21, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO: USW President on Vale Inco strike: We're fighting for our community USW International President Leo W. Gerard appeared today on Canada's BNN to discuss the strike at Vale Inco, talking about how the union is fighting for the community and for workers around the world. Click here to watch.
• December 17, 2009 | USW New report refutes claims that health care excise tax would not hurt middle class A new report by the CWA shows just how bad an excise tax on health care benefits would be for the middle class. Click here for more.
• December 16, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO: USW President on direction of health reform: 'I'm angry as hell' USW International President Leo Gerard appeared on MSNBC and expressed the anger many Steelworkers are feeling about how the health insurance reform debate is going. Click here to watch and to find out how you can fight back.
• December 15, 2009 | USW Showing solidarity with our Sisters, Brothers on strike against Vale Inco Please click here to learn how you can help show solidarity and support for our fellow USW members who are on strike against Vale Inco in Canada.
• December 09, 2009 Chemical Safety Board Recommendations Fail to Address Overall Safety of Refinery, Community The United Steelworkers Union issued the following statement on the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s recommendations concerning the July 19, 2009 explosion and fire at the CITGO refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas ... read more
• December 09, 2009 Chemical Safety Board Recommendations Fail to Address Overall Safety of Refinery, Community The United Steelworkers Union issued the following statement on the U.S. Chemical Safety Board’s recommendations concerning the July 19, 2009 explosion and fire at the CITGO refinery in Corpus Christi, Texas ... read more
• December 04, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO: USW President Plays Major Role in White House Jobs Summit USW International President Leo W. Gerard played a major role in the White House jobs summit. He says he's optimistic, but the real work has just begun. Click here to see a video.
• November 23, 2009 | Workers Uniting U.S. study prompts transatlantic campaign to prevent deaths in paper industry A recent increase in workplace fatalities and serious injuries in the paper industry may have been brought on by employers trying to increase profit margins at the expense of health and safety, the world’s first global union said as it embarks on a transatlantic investigation of the industry. Click here for more.
• November 19, 2009 | USW Serious concerns from working families about Senate health proposal The impending Senate vote on health insurance reform is a good step towards progress, but working families have some serious concerns about the Senate proposal. Click here to find out how you can help.
• November 19, 2009 | USW Support our brothers and sisters at Vale; sign petition today Some 3,500 brothers and sisters remain on strike in Canada. Please show support today by signing an online petition that fights the vicious attack against Vale workers. Click here for more info.
• November 10, 2009 United Steelworkers Union Holds Community Educational Forum, Press Conference in Corpus Christi on Dangers, Alternatives to Hydrogen Fluoride Use in Refineries The community educational forum will include presentations by an expert on hydrogen fluoride and a vendor offering an alternative chemical process. A question and answer session will follow the program. The press conference is open only to the press and will give journalists an opportunity to ask questions of most of the speakers.
• November 09, 2009 | Workers Uniting Global union shows solidarity for striking Vale workers; you can help, too Members of Workers Uniting showed solidarity with striking Vale workers by picketing a London bank were Vale executives were giving a presentation. You can support our brothers and sisters, too. Click here for more.
• November 07, 2009 | USW Historic House action on health care giant step, but not final step The historic House vote on health insurance reform is a giant leap, but we still have a long way to go in this fight. Click here for the latest.
• November 06, 2009 | USW Ahead of historical health insurance reform vote, Congress must hear from us A historic vote to change our nation's health care system appears on the horizon in the U.S. House. It's imperative USW members call their members of Congress to make sure our voices are heard. Click here for more info.
• November 06, 2009 | USW USW, paper companies applaud ITC decision to investigate unfair trade case Appleton Coated LLC, NewPage Corp., and Sappi Fine Paper North America – together with the USW - applauded the U.S. International Trade Commission for its unanimous vote to proceed with a full investigation of coated paper imports from China and Indonesia. Click here for more.
• October 23, 2009 | USW Tell Congress to say no to taxing health insurance benefits There's a bill in Congress right now that proposes a 40 percent excise tax on some health insurance plans, including many union plans. Please click here to learn what you can do to help stop this.
• October 20, 2009 | USW USW answers common member questions about health insurance reform A series of successful conference calls on the issue of health insurance reform resulted in several good questions from USW members. Click here to read those questions and answers.
• October 13, 2009 | USW USW Mourns Loss of Brother from Arizona USW member Robert Stewart died recently on the job. Click here to read his story.
• October 09, 2009 | USW USW Affirms Report on China Glass Industry Subsidization as Job Threat The United Steelworkers applauded the Alliance for American Manufacturing for a report just released on the significant job losses of U.S. glass workers and the massive increase of Chinese government subsidies that have exacerbated a damaging flood of imports to the industry. Click here for more.
• October 09, 2009 | USW USW lauds legislation that would create jobs; invest in workers; rebalance trade The USW lauded new legislation introduced by U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown and U.S. Rep. Louise M. Slaughter that would support our nation’s workforce and strengthen the competitiveness of American industries globally, while enhancing the administration’s ability to reduce foreign trade barriers. Click here for more.
• October 09, 2009 | USW USW to host conference call for members on health insurance reform USW will host a series of conference calls next week to talk to members about the important health insurance reform fight. Click here for more details.
• October 08, 2009 | USW For USW members, health care fight is personal Click here to read some inspiring and heartbreaking stories from USW members talking about why for them, the fight for access to health care is personal.
• October 08, 2009 | Workers Independent News NEW AUDIO: USW works for safety at refinery startup Click here to hear a report from Workers Independent News about the USW's safety efforts at a refinery in Texas.
• October 07, 2009 | USW National Call-In Day for Health Care TODAY - Click here to call Congress now! USW members are asked to call their members of Congress and ask them to support health insurance reform that helps working families, not insurance companies. Click here fo rmore.
• September 28, 2009 | USW NEW PHOTOS: Sights from the G-20 Click here to view a photo slide show featuring photography from Steve Dietz capturing some of the sights during the recent G-20 summit in Pittsburgh. You'll see some USW members marching for jobs and justice.
• September 24, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO: USW Joins National Day of Action for Health Insurance Reform USW International Vice President Fred Redmond spoke at a rally for health insurance reform on the National Day of Action. Click here for more, including video.
• September 23, 2009 | USW USW President to NY Times: Standing up to China is standing up to bully International President Leo W. Gerard gives it to them straight in today’s New York Times in an article about the USW’s fight against China’s predatory trade policies: “They cheat in every area,” he said. “If the bully keeps beating you up, is it so bad to stand up to him?” Click here for more.
• September 18, 2009 | USW Civil and Human Rights Conference: Building Strength and Power Through Action The 15th annual Civil and Human Rights conference is themed "Building Strength and Power through Action." Click here for more information.
• September 16, 2009 | USW NEW PHOTOS: Pictures from the AFL-CIO Convention USW leaders have been front and center at the 2009 AFL-CIO convention. Click here for a photo slideshow.
• September 16, 2009 | USW USW praises election of Trumka, team to AFL-CIO leadership Delegates to the AFL-CIO convention today elected Richard Trumka to succeed the retiring John Sweeney as the new president of the 11.5 million-member labor federation. The USW applauded the election. Click here for more.
• September 15, 2009 | USW USW President leads AFL-CIO actions on economy, green jobs USW International President Leo W. Gerard is among the nation's labor leaders overseeing action today involving the economy and green jobs. Click here for more about the ongoing AFL-CIO convention.
• September 12, 2009 | USW USW President: AFL-CIO Convention Opportunity to Rally Activists USW International President spoke to a gathering ahead of the AFL-CIO convention, saying union members and leaders must get involved in critical issues such as trade, health care and economic recovery. Click here for more.
• September 11, 2009 | USW Real impact of flood of Chinese tires: Jobs lost Until it closed last year, Goodyear’s Tyler, Texas, plant made the type of consumer tires that are the subject of the trade case filed by the USW against China with the U.S. International Trade Commission. Click here for more.
• September 11, 2009 USW Applauds EPA Rejecting Portions of Texas Clean-Air Permitting Program The United Steelworkers (USW) Union today applauded the EPA for its proposal to disapprove parts of the Texas clean-air permitting program that do not meet federal Clean Air Act requirements.
• September 11, 2009 | USW USW teams up with Steelers QB to donate school supplies The United Steelworkers joined Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch this week to donate school supplies to kids in need. Click here for more info.
• September 02, 2009 | USW USW's Redmond at rally: Health insurance reform civil rights issue USW International Vice President Fred Redmond was a featured speaker at an Organizing for America health insurance bus tour stop in Pittsburgh today. His message: health care for all is a modern civil rights issue. Click here for more, including photos.
• August 11, 2009 | USW Online tool kit, other info available for important health insurance debate There is perhaps no greater issue facing Americans right now than reforming the health insurance system and revitalizing our economy. Click here for the latest information so you can stay involved.
• August 07, 2009 | USW USW officials, members testify before Trade Representative in effort to get relief for tire industry USW International President Leo W. Gerard and International Vice President Tom Conway were among those who testified today before the U.S. Trade Representative in an effort to save tire jobs. Click here for more.
• August 06, 2009 | USW National Oil Bargaining Local Union Settlement Agreements Posted Online The Spring 2009 national oil bargaining local union settlement agreements have been posted. Click here for more info.
• August 04, 2009 | USW USW Withdraw from Talks with American Petroleum Institute, Oil Industry The United Steelworkers withdrew from talks today with the American Petroleum Institute and the oil industry because of safety issues. Click here for more.
• July 12, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO & PHOTOS: Thousands march for free choice, say it's civil rights issue This weekend, thousands took to the streets in Arkansas to march for a civil rights issue - the right for workers to bargain for a better life. Click here for the latest photos and videos.
• July 09, 2009 | RealNewsNetwork.com and Workers Independent News USW President Supports Single Payer Healthcare USW International President Leo W. Gerard has been speaking about the need for single payer health care reform. Click here to view video and hear audio.
• July 07, 2009 | Union Privilege New Grants Help Union Members Save for College The new Union Plus College Savings Grant offers $500 to qualified union members who open a new tax-free 529 college savings or prepaid tuition plan. Click here for more info.
• June 12, 2009 | USW Gerard awarded honorary doctorate degree USW International President Leo W. Gerard has a new title - doctor. Click here for more.
• June 09, 2009 | USW 'Buy American' not the problem for Duferco USW International Vice President Thomas Conway writes in a letter to the editor that "Buy American" is not the source of problems for Duferco, as the company and media have tried to portray. Read more here.
• June 02, 2009 | USW Members: Thinking about running for office in your community? Take our survey The USW wants to help members who are considering to run for local elected offices in their communities, or who already hold office. Click here for more info.
• May 13, 2009 | USW Bus tour rolls on, spreading message about need to save jobs The "Keep It Made in America" bus tour continued to roll on Tuesday and Wednesday, spreading the word about the importance of good jobs. Read more here.
• May 11, 2009 | USW NEW VIDEO: Bus Tour Day 1: Workers urged to keep faith, march on D.C. On Day 1 of the "Keep It Made in America" bus tour, USW International President Leo W. Gerard was joined by the Rev. Jesse Jackson and others who made the case for why manufacturing jobs are key to our communities. They said workers around the nation are prepared to take to the streets in defense of the American Dream. Click here for more.
• May 11, 2009 | USW USW's 'Keep It Made in America' Tour Kicks Off More than 7.2 million paychecks are dependent on U.S. autos, including health care, education, service, retail and other jobs. That’s the message workers, community leaders, elected officials, labor leaders, and others will bring to an 11-state, 32-city “Keep it Made in America” bus tour. Read more here.
• May 01, 2009 | USW Illinois Steelworkers protest plant: 'Run it, or sell it' is message Busloads of USW members laid off from the ArcelorMittal plant in Hennepin, Ill., protested with a simple message: "Run it, or sell it." Read more here.
• April 28, 2009 | USW Workers' Memorial Day: Honoring the dead, fighting hard for the living As another Workers' Memorial Day passes with thousands of workers killed and millions injured on the job, a new AFL-CIO report shows that the government has done little to improve safety conditions at work. Read more here.
• April 24, 2009 | USW New Video: USW members featured on CNN's Lou Dobbs USW members from Granite City were featured on CNN's Lou Dobb's this week. Click here to watch.
• April 20, 2009 | AFL-CIO Help change America: Take our health care survey Click here to find out how to participate in a new health care survey and help make our voices heard!
• April 08, 2009 | USW Hundreds Rally for Free Choice at Specter’s Harrisburg Office Several hundred workers spent part of their day on Tuesday, April 7, 2009, rallying at the federal building in downtown Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to demand that Senator Arlen Specter stand up for working families and support the Employee Free Choice Act. Read more here.
• March 26, 2009 | The New York Times Report: Labor Agency Failing Workers The New York Times reports that the Department of Labor under George W. Bush repeatedly failed the workers it was supposed to protect. Read more here.
• March 25, 2009 | USW While USW brothers, sisters are laidoff, steel pipe made in India If ever there were a case for why "Buy American" is sorely needed, it's the story of our sisters and brothers in Granite City. Some 2,800 of them are laid off from a steel mill. Meanwhile, a huge pipeline being built just miles away is using steel made in India. Click here for more.
• March 16, 2009 United Steelworkers Members Ratify Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery Contract United Steelworkers Union (USW) members of Local 10-1 overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract March 13 that includes the National Oil Bargaining pattern agreement and no layoffs, pay cuts or givebacks.
• March 13, 2009 Sunoco Marcus Hook Workers Ratify Three-Year Agreement United Steelworkers Union (USW) members of Local 10-901 overwhelmingly ratified a new, three-year contract with Sunoco, Inc. last night that includes the National Oil Bargaining pattern wages, benefits and contract language and resolution of local issues.
• March 12, 2009 | USW New Video: The truth about Employee Free Choice Rachel Maddow of MSNBC breaks down the truth about the Employee Free Choice Act and the real reason why opponents are working so hard to block it. Watch the video here.
• March 10, 2009 | USW Obama: Only option off the table is to do nothing about health care President Obama recently gathered a group in our nation's Capitol to discuss one of the most important issues of our time: health care reform. Read a first-hand account here.
• March 02, 2009 | USW Economic Recovery bill offers help with COBRA for laid-off workers The economic recovery law signed by President Obama offers help for those who have recently been laid off to continue health insurance. Read more here.
• February 28, 2009 United Steelworkers Union Gives 24-Hour Strike Notice to Sunoco United Steelworkers Union (USW) Locals 10-1 from Philadelphia and 10-901 from Marcus Hook, Pa., gave a 24-hour strike notice to Sunoco, Inc. around noon EST today. If an agreement is not reached by noon EST Sunday, March 1 when the contract expires, workers from both refinery locals will go out on strike.
• February 03, 2009 Steelworkers Union Reaches Tentative Pattern Agreement with Oil Industry The United Steelworkers (USW) union reached a tentative agreement today with the lead company for the oil industry that becomes the minimum standard of wages, benefits and working conditions for all National Oil Bargaining local union negotiations in the U.S.
• January 30, 2009 How National Oil Bargaining Works The National Oil Bargaining (NOB) program is a modified form of pattern bargaining that is rooted in the power of the rank and file. It has been in existence for 43 years and has served the membership well. It begins with the National Oil Bargaining conference held four months prior to the expiration of the national pattern agreement.
• January 22, 2009 2005 Extension of National Oil Bargaining Pattern Settlement with Oil Industry Representatives from the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union (PACE) negotiated a three-year extension of the National Oil Bargaining pattern settlement with Shell Oil Company, which negotiated on behalf of the oil industry.
• January 22, 2009 2002 National Oil Bargaining Settlement
• January 22, 2009 National Oil Bargaining: 1965-2005 The development of National Oil Bargaining first began in 1965. Six weeks after the election of former Oil, Chemical & Atomic Workers President A.F. “Al” Grospiron in that year, a combination of aggressive action and shrewd timing enabled the union to achieve a common expiration date of December 31, 1966, for collective bargaining agreements covering most workers in the oil industry.