WHITING | United Steelworkers Local 7-1 and BP have reached a tentative agreement on local issues that will be presented to the Whiting Refinery's 1,100 union workers when a National Oil Bargaining agreement is reached.
However, broader national negotiations between the union and the refining industry continued Monday.
"Overall, I think the committee and everyone is satisfied with what we've accomplished," said Bob Lofton, United Steelworkers international staff representative for the refinery and for local oil pipeline and terminal workers.
The local agreement covers scheduling, work rules and some other issues specific to the local facilities, he said.
"There's some enhancements in some areas," Lofton said. "As soon as the national (bargaining team) gets us the (national) settlement offer, that and the local issues agreement will go to membership for a ratification vote."
BP Whiting Refinery spokesman Brad Etlin confirmed the local agreement was reached.
"The parties are working on a national agreement, and we're optimistic that one will be reached soon," Etlin said.
Negotiations are continuing between the union and Royal Dutch Shell Oil Co. on the new master agreement covering an estimated 24,000 U.S. oil refinery workers, including those at the local BP refinery. The agreement will set a precedent for the other companies to follow.
After the former agreement between the oil companies -- Shell , Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp., BP Plc, and Chevron Corp. -- and the union expired Sunday, the two sides agreed to continue negotiations under a rolling 24-hour extension. The union can call a strike by giving Shell a 24-hour notice of a walkout.
The union has rejected three national agreement offers, and no new offers have been forthcoming, Lofton said. By 3 p.m. Monday, he said he doubted there would be anything else to report until at least today.
Shell Oil Co. spokesman Stan Mays said Monday that talks continue to progress.
"And Shell is committed to resolving the remaining issues at the negotiation table," he said.
