BP's Whiting Refinery offers revised proposal to union in ongoing talks

May ​22 (Reuters) - ⁠BP said on Friday ​its Whiting refinery returned to the bargaining table with the United Steelworkers ​Local ‌7-1 bargaining committee and presented a revised proposal intended to ⁠move the parties closer to ⁠an agreement.

The company added that ​the current settlement offer includes a withdrawal of the proposed voluntary reduction of up to 42 maintenance craft employees ​in ‌response to the union's concerns.

BP added the proposal includes an average 13% pay increase over the first four years of a proposed six-year agreement, with pay ​increases in the final two years to match ‌those set in the 2030 National Oil Bargaining.

However, United Steelworkers Local 7-1 disputed ‌BP’s characterisation of the proposal in an email to Reuters, saying the company is "misleading" workers and the community.

The union said ​BP still intends to cut dozens of local jobs and criticised ‌the offer as “concessionary,” arguing that headline pay increases would come alongside wage cuts, reduced bonuses and a loss of ⁠bargaining ⁠and seniority rights.

“The Company’s public statement ‌talks about raises, bonuses, and lump sums, but it leaves out ​the ​wage cuts, job eliminations, loss of rights, ‌and reductions in earning potential that come with them," said Eric Schultz, president of USW Local 7-1.

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