BP on Thursday it proposed to extend to 150 days the notice period before the local union at its 440,000 b/d Whiting, Ind., refinery can walk off the job or the company can lock out workers.
The company said in an employee bulletin it is seeking to extend the notice period from 24 hours to provide "job stability, security and predictability" for both its hourly and salaried employees as talks on a new labor agreement continue.
BP also said it is also proposing a new contract term of six years.
"An extended term would give our employees certainty in wage rates, benefits and working conditions over a longer period and would also reduce disruptions and help ensure industrial stability over the next six years," the company added.
BP last week said it had presented a comprehensive offer to the 800 members of the local union that included a complete set of proposals that had been tentatively agreed upon.
Eric Shultz, president of the local United Steelworkers union, said BP has continued to propose eliminating union jobs at the refinery.
"We will continue to bargain in good faith, with hopes for a positive resolution, but our members have overwhelmingly encouraged us to go forward with preparations for a strike," he said.
The local earlier this month said it had received approval from 98% of the union's members to authorize a strike.
The USW on Feb. 6 said it had reached a four-year national labor contract with dozens of refineries, led by Marathon Petroleum. Labor agreements in the refinery industry are negotiated at both the national and local levels. The parties meet to agree on industry standards for wage increases, while local unions negotiate over site-specific issues.
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Reporting by Frank Tang, ftang@opisnet.com; Editing by Jeffrey Barber, jbarber@opisnet.com
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(END) Dow Jones Newswires
February 19, 2026 17:38 ET (22:38 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2026 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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