HOUSTON, March 6 (Reuters) - Police blocked several hundredstriking laborers from entering Shell Oil Co's downtown Houstonheadquarters during a protest on Friday to demand a new laborcontract for U.S. refinery workers.
Officers quickly moved to guard entrances to the 50-storybuilding as the workers climbed stairs leading to publicdoorways. There were no arrests or scuffles.
"We wanted to see if they would talk to us about thenegotiations," said Lee Medley, president of United Steelworkersunion (USW) local 13-1, which represents workers striking atMarathon Petroleum Corp's Galveston Bay, Texas, Refinery andShell's joint-venture Deer Park, Texas Refinery.
Lead U.S. refinery owner representative Shell, the U.S. armof Royal Dutch Shell Plc, has been negotiating with theUSW for more than seven weeks for a new three-year contractcovering 30,000 workers at some 60 refineries and chemicalplants nationwide.
Workers have walked off their jobs at 15 plants including 12refineries that account for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacityin a strike that is completing its fifth week.
Under orders from several police officers, the protestersmoved back down the stairs to the street and continued marchingaround the building and then moved on to the headquarters ofLyondell Basell.
A Houston Police Department spokeswoman said the agency hadno immediate statement about the incident.
"Shell respects the right for people to peacefully protest,"said Shell spokeswoman Kimberly Windon. "We remain committed tocontinuing negotiations with the USW with the ultimate goal ofreaching a mutual acceptable agreement for both parties."
Shell and the USW are scheduled to renew face-to-facenegotiations on Monday in Houston after meeting by telephone onWednesday. Talks broke off on Feb. 20 after refinery ownersbalked at a settlement. The USW then ordered workers at threeMotiva Enterprises refineries to strike. (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Terry Wade and GrantMcCool)
