(Adds union comment, details)
HOUSTON, May 28 (Reuters) - Managers at BP Plc andHusky Energy's joint-venture refinery in Toledo, Ohio,are weighing a proposal to allow striking union workers toreturn to work without a final contract, a BP spokesman said onThursday.
"The union is seeking to call off its strike and return itsmembers to work even though our local issues are not resolved,"said Scott Dean, spokesman for BP, which manages the refinery.
More than 300 members of United Steelworkers union (USW)Local 1-346 walked off their jobs at the refinery on Feb. 8 aspart of the largest strike in 35 years by U.S. refinery andchemical plant workers.
"We are currently considering the union's offer and arestill engaged in negotiations," Dean said.
USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock said Local 1-346 asked onWednesday night for BP to allow workers to return.
"They made a request to return to work and a request tocontinue bargaining," Hancock said.
The national strike spread to 15 plants including 12refineries accounting for one-fifth of U.S. refining capacity.An agreement on national issues, including pay, benefits andsafety issues, was reached on March 12.
Workers at 13 plants have resolved local issues to completecontracts and return to their jobs since the national agreementwas reached.
"The local also put forward a offer on Wednesday night,"Hancock said.
In addition to 135,000 barrel-per-day (bpd) Toledo refinery,workers are also on strike at Marathon Petroleum Corp's 451,000 bpd Galveston Bay refinery in Texas City, Texas, overlocal issues.
BP-Husky has kept the refinery in operation using temporaryreplacement workers.
"We will continue to safely operate the refinery with thoseemployees currently on the job," Dean said. (Reporting by Erwin Seba in Houston and Jarrett Renshaw in NewYork; Editing by David Gregorio and Steve Orlofsky)
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