USW, ExxonMobil: Little progress 1 week into lockout at Beaumont plant
Relief for workers is coming almost a week after more than 600 employees were locked out of ExxonMobil’s Beaumont refinery and packaging plant, but there is no sign of a contract agreement yet.
Both representatives from the United Steelworkers union and the company confirmed that there haven’t been further negotiations since the morning of April 30, when ExxonMobil rejected a comprehensive contract proposal from the union.
ExxonMobil has said it seeks to bring Beaumont’s refinery and packaging plant contract in line with what it says are industry standards already in place at its other plants in hopes of being more competitive for the future, but USW believes the company’s proposals will compromise its seniority system and worker safety.
After hourly workers were walked off the work site, which the company said would prevent impacts to safety from an impromptu strike, there were reports that ExxonMobil had advertised for and hired temporary workers.
Read more: https://www.beaumontenterprise.com/insider/article/USW-ExxonMobil-Little-progress-1-week-into-16161039.php