US Sen. Bob Casey Press Event on Philly Refineries Feb. 15; USW Oil Workers Mobilize for D.C. ‘Lobby & Action Day’

USW MEDIA ADVISORY

For Use February 15 at 12:00 Noon

Contacts:  Gary Hubbard (USW); 202-778-4384; 202-256-8125; ghubbard@usw.org
               Lynne Hancock (USW); (615) 828-6169; lhancock@usw.org
             
Auto fuels, heating oil shortages expected if closures proceed

Washington, D.C. – About 200 oil workers from three Philadelphia refineries slated for permanent shutdowns early this year are arriving on buses for a ‘Lobby & Action Day’ on Capitol Hill to advocate that the closures threaten family-supportive jobs and will lead to  persistent shortages of home heating oil and motor vehicle fuels in Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast.

 A press briefing with U.S. Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7th-PA) and other invited Pennsylvania congressional members is scheduled with leaders of the United Steelworkers (USW) on Wed., Feb. 15 at 12:00 Noon in Room 902, Hart Senate Office Building. The refinery workers will also be present.

Sidewalk demonstrations by the Philly oil workers against their employers’ Washington offices are happening at the ConocoPhillips Corp.: Eye and 18th Streets., NW at 2:00 pm; and at the Sunoco Corp.: K and 9th Streets., NW at 3:00 pm. ‘Pink Slips’ will be presented to the managers of each oil company office owning the Pennsylvania refineries being shutdown.

The Pennsylvania refinery shutdown in Trainer was completed last month by ConocoPhillips; while the refinery in Marcus Hook is now idled and the Philadelphia refinery is scheduled for shutdown this July. The closures will devastate the families of 2,500 workers employed at the refineries, and will affect communities in Delaware County.

The three refineries produce heating oil, diesel, jet and auto fuels — processing more than 700,000 barrels a day of oil, or about 46 percent of the Northeast region’s refining capacity. About one million Pennsylvanians use heating oil.

WHAT:     Press Briefing on Shutdown Impact by Three Philadelphia Oil Refineries to Consumers of
               Heating Oil and Motor Vehicle Fuels in Pennsylvania and NE Region

WHEN:     Wednesday, February 15, 2012; 12:00 Noon.

WHERE:   Room 902, Hart Senate Office Building.
          
WHO:      U.S. Sen. Casey (D-PA), U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (R-7th-PA) and other invited Pennsylvania
              Congressional Members
              Fred Redmond, USW International Vice Pres., Human Affairs
              Gary Beevers, USW International Vice Pres., National Oil Sector
              Denis Stephano, ConocoPhillips-Trainer, Pa., Local 10-234 President

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***SPECIAL REFINERY WORKERS PRESS BRIEFING SIDEBAR***

12:30 pm – Senate Hart #902

John DeFazio, Director, USW District 10 (Pennsylvania) has assembled local leaders of the three Philly refineries, plus a few workers, family members and community allies to speak in a sidebar in Hart #902 immediately following Sen. Casey’s press briefing.