CONTACT: Ryan Meyhoff, USW Staff Representative (253) 854-4563
The United Steelworkers (USW) members employed by Par Hawaii Refining, LLC (PHR), in Kapolei, a subsidiary of Houston based Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PARR), overwhelmingly rejected the Company’s contract proposal.
The USW represents 150 production and maintenance employees at PHR. With nearly 90 percent of USW members voting, over 95 percent of them rejected PHR’s onerous demands.
Jarrett Wa’a, USW Local 12-591 Kapolei Unit President, said, “Our members deserve predictable benefits from the company. PHR relies on our members’ vast knowledge, experience and skill to make fuels efficiently and safely; in exchange, our members expect to be treated with dignity and respect. Par Pacific and PHR must step up and negotiate benefits for their workers – our members – in Hawaii now.”
Members of USW Local 12-591 are bargaining with Par for a new 3-year labor agreement that covers the approximately 150 bargaining unit members producing gasoline, diesel, jet, and other products at the only fully operating oil refinery in Hawaii. USW members are currently working under a rolling 24-hour extension to the Feb. 1, 2015, through Jan. 31, 2019 Labor Agreement.
USW District 12 Director Robert LaVenture said, “Our members in Kapolei have sacrificed millions of dollars to benefit Par’s rapid growth and consolidation.” On Jan. 1, 2017, Par discontinued certain pension and all retiree health care benefits for its workers at PHR. The USW continues to protest many of the cuts.
Director LaVenture went on to say, “Our members have played an instrumental role in Par’s success and growth. The Kapolei oil refinery, once owned by Tesoro and idled in 2012, is now a viable, profitable operation that provides refined fuels for Hawaii and export. It is time Par joins the universe of responsible corporations and provides its employees with negotiated, strategically planned health care, disability, and pension benefits. Par Pacific owes that to its shareholders, employees, and Hawaii.”