Workers, Supporters Rally at Corporate Headquarters

Fifteen United Steelworkers (USW) members from Tesoro refineries attended the Tesoro shareholder meeting this morning to ask why the company was not bargaining a fair contract with the union. Afterward, more than 75 USW members from around the country and their supporters marched and chanted for more than an hour.

Inside the shareholder meeting, USW members attempted to raise questions about Tesoro’s labor relations practices and refinery safety, but CEO Greg Goff took no questions from shareholders and ended the meeting after 12 minutes.

“He obviously didn’t want to address the problems the company is creating by not negotiating fairly,” said USW Local 5 member Jeff Clark, from the Golden Eagle (Martinez, Calif.) refinery.

In a separate question and answer session after the meeting, USW Local 12-591 President Steve Garey from Anacortes, Wash., called on management to do the right thing at the bargaining table in order to avert a strike.

“We do not want a strike and we have been trying to avoid a strike,” Garey said. “But do not confuse our patience with fear. If we do not achieve a reasonable agreement soon, there will be a strike.

“Greg Goff, do the right thing for us and for your shareholders and please direct your representatives to come to the table with our union, ready to bargain fair labor agreements.”