Workers Strike for New Pact at 9 U.S. Oil, Chemical Plants

Union workers took to picket lines on Sunday after strikes were called at nine U.S. refineries and chemical plants in a bid to pressure oil companies to agree to a new national contract covering workers at 63 plants.

The walkouts, the first held in support of a nationwide pact since 1980, target plants that together account for about 10 percent of U.S. refining capacity. The discord comes as plunging crude prices force oil companies to slash spending.

The United Steelworkers union (USW) said Royal Dutch Shell Plc, the lead industry negotiator, halted talks after the union rejected a fifth proposal from the company.

"Shell refused to provide us with a counter-offer and left the bargaining table," USW International President Leo Gerard said. "We had no choice but to give notice of a work stoppage."

Shell said it would like to restart talks."We remain committed to resolving our differences with USW at the negotiating table and hope to resume negotiations as early as possible," Shell said.

Tesoro Corp said management was operating its refinery in Carson, California, and that managers would take over from union workers at three other plants in the next 24-48 hours.

Besides Shell and Tesoro, the USW said strikes were called at three plants belonging to Marathon Petroleum in Texas and Kentucky, and LyondellBasell's plant near Houston. At least two of the plants on the list have a history of deadly accidents.

"The strike is going well," said a union member picketing Lyondell's plant who declined to speak on the record. "I am not concerned it will backfire."

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