Chevron California refinery workers ratify contract; ending strike -sources
HOUSTON (Reuters) -Hanging union employees at Chevron Corp’s Richmond, California, refinery voted on Saturday to ratify the most recent contract supplied by the corporate, ending a 10-week strike with out reaching their aim of extra pay to counter rising well being care prices, stated sources acquainted with the vote.
About 500 employees represented by United Steelworkers (USW) union Native 12-5 started the strike on March 21 in a dispute over pay to match the rising price of well being care over the previous few years within the San Francisco Bay space the place the 245,271-barrel-per-day refinery is positioned.
Chevron has stated putting employees would return to work within the weeks following the contract’s ratification. At the least 60 employees had crossed the picket line and returned to the refinery earlier than a tentative settlement was reached on Thursday.
The sources stated the members of Native 12-5 ratified the contract by a slim margin on Saturday.
Spokespeople for each side weren’t instantly out there on Saturday.
The contract ratified on Saturday accommodates the phrases of the nationwide settlement reached between USW Worldwide negotiators and refinery homeowners in February, which offers a 12% pay enhance over 4 years, in response to the sources.
The strike started over long-simmering frustration amongst union members rising prices for his or her share of healthcare.
To make up the distinction, Native 12-5 sought a 5% pay enhance along with the pay increase within the nationwide settlement. Chevron didn’t provide the native pay enhance earlier than the strike. It was not a part of the ratified contract.
The USW filed fees on Might 13 towards Chevron with the U.S. Nationwide Labor Relations Board alleging the corporate had modified the phrases of employment, engaged in coercive actions, together with surveillance, and refused to discount with the union.
Chevron has stored the refinery in operation with managers, supervisors and employees who crossed the picket line.
(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Modifying by Sandra Maler)
