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February 3, 2015

U.S. Oil Workers Launch Broadest Strike Since 1980 
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U.S. oil workers have launched their largest strike in 35 years amid
demands for safer conditions, higher pay and better healthcare. Nearly
4,000 members of the United Steelworkers Union walked off the job Sunday
at nine sites which supply about 10 percent of the country's refining
capacity. One refinery in California has shut down, while managers have
taken over operations at several other sites. The strike comes after
union negotiators rejected an offer from Shell, which is leading
contract talks on behalf of major firms including Exxon Mobil, BP and
Chevron. United Steelworkers says the oil industry is "the richest in
the world" and can afford to address issues including unsafe staffing
levels and dangerous conditions which lead to fires, explosions and
leaks.

 

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