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. Delegates from the local unions involved in the NOB program gather in their company council meetings at the conference to draft national proposals that will be presented to the National Oil Bargaining Policy Committee. This committee, which is composed of elected rank-and-file members, debates the submitted proposals and creates a proposed oil bargaining policy which it submits to the delegates for adoption. When the delegates adopt the policy it becomes the union’s official proposal.
 
Locals Ratify Policy
The NOB Policy is then submitted to the oil locals in the NOB program, which have 45 days to approve it. Members in these locals vote on the policy during a regular or special meeting.

The locals’ ratification of the policy authorizes the international vice president in charge of oil bargaining, in consultation with the international president, to coordinate, administer and direct all activities related to the NOB program and to call any bargaining unit(s) out on strike to establish or spread the pattern.

The locals’ ratification of the policy also makes it mandatory for all bargaining units: All units must present the policy to their company; none may present any other proposal on the same subject, and none may settle for less, unless modified in the course of bargaining by the NOB Policy Committee.

Bargaining on Two Levels
National and local bargaining occurs at the same time. The discussions at the top revolve around the national policy, which is usually limited to major items like wage increases, health care, or health and safety matters. At the local level, discussions include these items, but also normally a wide range of issues having to do with the operation of the particular facility, such as shift schedules and administration of overtime guidelines.

Most of the locals in the NOB program start their bargaining over local issues in December with local oil company refinery and terminal managers. Some local unions are given permission to start earlier if they need more time to settle local issues. The local unions conduct their own vote to authorize their negotiating committee to call a strike if agreement is not reached on local issues.

Negotiating with Lead Company
National bargaining over the policy items also begins in December between the international vice president in charge of oil bargaining and the lead oil company. The lead company tacitly represents the other major oil companies and consults with them about what is happening at the bargaining table.

Reaching a Pattern Settlement
The international vice president in charge of oil bargaining operates in continuous consultation with the NOB Policy Committee during talks with the lead company.

When a proposal is reached, it goes to the NOB Policy Committee, which determines whether or not it is satisfactory.  If the committee determines the proposal to be satisfactory, the international vice president in charge of oil bargaining informs the lead company that a tentative agreement has been reached. This agreement is then put on one of the designated lead company’s local bargaining tables.

Once on the table, the tentative agreement must be approved by the international vice president in charge of oil bargaining for content.

Once the tentative agreement is approved at the local table it becomes the minimum the industry must meet in order to be in compliance with the National Oil Bargaining program and establishes a pattern.

No local union can negotiate a contract that is below the pattern. It is possible for a local union to negotiate more than the pattern.

If the pattern is not met, the local union contract is rejected. It is possible for a local union contract to meet the pattern and not be settled because of local issues. 

During negotiations the local unions engage in national mobilization activities to show management they are united in wanting a good contract. Bargaining developments at the national and local levels are shared between the international vice president in charge of oil bargaining and the locals via email.