Teamsters strike at Marathon refinery

[Omaha Steve]

Full story: http://www.twincities.com/mld/twincities/business/15077580.htm



Posted on Thu, Jul. 20, 2006

Teamsters strike at Marathon refinery
Union members balk at overtime change
BY JULIE FORSTER
Pioneer Press

Teamsters at the Marathon Petroleum Co.'s refinery in St. Paul Park walked off the job Wednesday afternoon, refusing to accept what they referred to as 25 pages of contract concessions and giveaways.

The approximately 200 workers are part of Teamsters Local 120 and include electricians, pipe fitters, maintenance workers and plumbers.

The plant, which operates around the clock, continued operating with the help of 120 engineers, chemists and managers who already work there, in addition to 25 workers from the company's other plants.

Refining operations are expected to continue as normal, a Marathon spokeswoman said.

The two sides started negotiating in May, and the previous contract expired at the end of that month.Last week, the company presented what it called its final offer, which calls for changes in "on call" procedures the union considered unacceptable.

"The company refused to bargain and would not modify their final offer so they forced us on strike," said Brad Slawson Jr., the local's secretary-treasurer. Workers walked off the job after a strike vote that started Tuesday. The union also had given a 24-hour strike notice to Marathon Petroleum, the Marathon Oil Co. subsidiary that runs the refining operations.