HOUSTON, March 17 (Reuters) - More than 700 union workers atthe largest U.S. refinery unanimously approved a new contract ina vote at their union hall in Port Arthur, Texas, on Tuesdaynight, said union officials.
The United Steelworkers union (USW) also said workers atthree Tesoro Corp refineries on the West Coast weremaking progress in finalizing contracts. Return-to-workagreements, usually the final step before ratification votes,were under discussion.
USW members at the Motiva Enterprises PortArthur, Texas, refinery walked off their jobs on Feb. 21 as partof the nation's largest refinery strike in 35 years.
Port Arthur workers are expected to return to their jobsnext week.
"This is a ton of bricks off the backs of our members," saidJeffrey Wright, vice chairman of the Motiva Workman's Committeein USW local 13-423. "Our membership is thankful ourinternational leadership got a good contract."
USW negotiators reached an industry-wide agreement to settlethe strike with lead U.S. refinery owner representative RoyalDutch Shell Plc on Thursday. Shell is a co-owner ofMotiva.
USW-represented workers are also expected to return to workat Motiva's refineries in Norco and Convent, Louisiana, nextweek.
Workers at Shell's joint-venture refinery in Deer Park,Texas, who were among the first to go on strike when workstoppages began on Feb. 1, are scheduled to vote Thursday on thenew contract.
A Tesoro spokeswoman said the company was pleased with theprogress being made to end strikes by workers at refineries inAnacortes, Washington, Carson and Martinez, California.
"We look forward to welcoming back our workers and resumingnormal operations together," said Tesoro's Tina Barbee.
The USW said BP Plc, Lyondell Basell Industries, and Marathon Petroleum Corp "continue fights ontough local issues." (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Paul Tait)