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HOUSTON, April 14 (Reuters) - Negotiations were continuingon Tuesday between company representatives and striking UnitedSteelworkers union (USW) members from BP Plc's Whiting,Indiana refinery.
The walkout at the Whiting refinery began on Feb. 7 as partof the largest strike by U.S. refinery workers in 35 years.National USW leaders concluded a tentative agreement with U.S.refinery owners on March 12 , but local issues have kept hourlyemployees walking picket lines.
One issue, bargaining rights over changes in policy by BPwhile the contract is in effect, is the remaining stickingpoint, company and union officials said.
"Our desire is to be able to make and implement decisions onimportant management subjects, such as worker safety, in anexpeditious manner without having to engage in protracteddiscussions or risk a strike in response," wrote Doug Sparkman,BP's chief operating officer for Fuels North America, in a emailsent to employees on Friday.
Dave Danko, president of USW local 7-1, which represents thestriking workers at the Whiting refinery, said the union hasproposed eliminating its right to strike over safety issues.
"We don't have final authority," Danko said. "All we have isa seat at the table, a request to negotiate over issuesimportant to our members. This is very important in our viewespecially in light of the history this company has in regard tosafety."
A 2005 explosion at BP's Texas City, Texas, refinery killed15 workers and injured 180 others. The company pled guilty toenvironmental violations and paid over $70 million in fines tothe U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration forworkplace safety violations stemming from the blast.
BP has kept the 413,500 barrel per day (bpd) Whitingrefinery in operation with temporary replacement workers.
Strikes over local issues are continuing at BP's jointventure refinery with Husky Energy in Toledo, Ohio;Marathon Petroleum Corp's Galveston Bay Refinery andSouth Houston Green Power Plant in Texas City, Texas, andLyondell Basell Industries' Houston refinery. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Christian Plumb)
