United Steelworkers Members Ratify Sunoco Philadelphia Refinery Contract

Philadelphia—United Steelworkers Union (USW) members of Local 10-1 overwhelmingly ratified a three-year contract March 13 that includes the National Oil Bargaining pattern agreement and no layoffs, pay cuts or givebacks.

“We were negotiating in the worst possible economic environment,” Local 10-1 President Jim Savage said. “Our members were not thrilled with the contract, although it passed by an overwhelming margin. It’s better than the alternate (a strike).”

The three-year agreement includes the national pattern of 3 percent wage increases each year, a $2,500 lump sum payment, continuation of health care coverage with the employer paying 80 percent of the cost and no retrogression language, which now includes successorship and job security language.

Both sides compromised on Sunoco’s desire to combine some operations positions and were able to do this without compromising safety. Originally, the company wanted to cut pay for about 140 operators, but the union was successful in getting this proposal dropped. Local 10-1 negotiators were also successful in preventing layoffs among the union-represented employees and in maintaining the gains negotiated in earlier agreements.

Local 10-1 represents some 650 to 700 operators, maintenance workers, storehouse personnel and lab employees.

The USW represents 850,000 workers in the oil, chemical, atomic, paper, metals, rubber, glass and service industries.

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