HOUSTON, Jan 18 (Reuters) - Negotiators for the UnitedSteelworkers union (USW) on Friday rejected a proposal byrepresentatives of Royal Dutch Shell Plc for anautomatic extension of the national refinery workers' contractbeyond its Feb. 1 expiration date, sources familiar with thetalks said.
The union also instructed local union negotiators to rejectsimilar proposals being made at talks taking place around theUnited States, the sources said.(Reporting by Erwin Seba;Editing by Sandra Maler)