(Updates with Shell comments, paragraphs 6, 11-12)
By Erwin Seba
HOUSTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - A strike by U.S. refineryworkers that passed its 16th day on Monday could spread if thereis no progress in talks this week with plant owners on safestaffing levels, said the lead negotiator for the UnitedSteelworkers union (USW).
"The longer that this strike rolls on, the more people thatwill be affected," said Gary Beevers, USW international vicepresident, in a telephone interview on Monday.
Asked if a lack of progress in talks with lead oil companynegotiator Royal Dutch Shell Plc could result instrikes at more plants, Beevers said: "There certainly will be."
About 5,200 workers from 11 plants, including ninerefineries accounting for 13 percent of U.S. capacity, werewalking picket lines after talks between the USW and Shell OilCo failed to reach an agreement on a new national contract.
Face-to-face negotiations between the two sides arescheduled to resume on Wednesday, after being recessed for aweek. Shell said it needed the time to fulfill a unioninformation request about the use of contractors by refiners.The USW has said the company is also considering acounterproposal from the union.
A Shell spokesman said the company look forward to resumingtalks this week to reach "a mutually satisfactory agreement."
Beevers said staffing will have to discussed.
"We're going to talk about safe staffing one way or theother," Beevers said.
For the union, the use of non-union contractors and lack ofan industry-wide policy on preventing worker fatigue are keyobstacles to safe staffing.
"On a day-to-day basis they are attriting the qualified USWpeople and hiring people who aren't qualified," he said. "Thereis no fatigue policy across the industry."
A Shell spokesman said the company was committed to safeoperations.
"For Shell, safety - of all employees, our communities andour operations - is always a top priority," spokesman Ray Fishersaid. "Our need to be flexible in staffing our operationsaccording to our business needs does not conflict with ourcommitment to safety."
In the 2012 contract negotiations, the USW and oil companiesagreed to adopt an American Petroleum Institute recommendedpractice that sets limits on how long a person can work withouthaving a day off. Not all refineries have adopted the policy.
Worker fatigue was found to be involved in the 2005explosion at a Texas City, Texas, refinery that killed 15workers.
The USW wants to limit the number of contractors performingday-to-day maintenance on refinery units.
Beevers said meetings with Shell have been sporadic andtalks brief.
"Progress would be meeting on a regular basis and having adialogue on the contract issues," he said. "We're willing tomeet 24-7. We came to the table looking for a contract, not afight. They chose to fight." (Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Terry Wade, SteveOrlofsky, Tom Brown and Eric Walsh)
