HOUSTON, Feb 16 (Reuters) - The strike by U.S. refineryworkers, which entered its 16th day on Monday, could spread ifthere is no progress in talks this week with plant on owners onsafe staffing levels, said the leader of United Steelworkersunion (USW) contract bargaining program.
"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 the lack of progress in talks with lead oil companynegotiator Royal Dutch Shell Plc could result morestrikes, 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.
(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Steve Orlofsky)