United Steelworkers continue strike at nine US oil refineries

The United Steelworkers union (USW) is continuing its strike at nine US oil refineries with a demand to improve safety conditions and increase annual pay.

Royal Dutch Shell negotiators met with the union to resolve the issue. Several reports, however, suggest that talks on a new national contract was turned down.

The union has sought for yearly pay increases twice as those mentioned in the last agreement in addition to better health cover and a reduction in the use of non-unionised contractors.

Shell spokesman Ray Fisher was quoted by Reuters as saying, "Representatives from Shell and the United Steelworkers union (USW) resumed communications on Monday in hopes of coming to a mutually satisfactory contract agreement."

Tesoro’s Martinez refinery in California, was affected due to the strike. The strike is expected to delay the current maintenance activities at the facility. About one half of the refinery has been undergoing planned work for the last month.

The company said it plans to continue operating two refineries impacted by the USW’s strike.

Meanwhile, Tesoro will continue to safely operate the refineries and meet customer requirements until a resolution is reached with the USW.

Tesoro executive vice president of operations Keith Casey said: "We are extremely disappointed by USW local bargaining units’ decision to strike. We have bargained in good faith and were prepared to continue to do so. The national United Steelworkers union instead chose to call for a strike."