Union coalition urges investors to hold bp accountable for growing risks at Whiting (U.S.) refinery
- Labor organizations cite safety, governance and environmental concerns stemming from ongoing lockout of 800 refinery workers
The United Steelworkers (USW), AFL-CIO and IndustriALL Global Union today urged investors to engage British Petroleum's (bp’s) board and executive leadership over the company's ongoing, illegal lockout of approximately 800 workers at its Whiting, Indiana (U.S.) refinery, warning that the dispute reflects broader environmental, social and governance concerns with potential consequences for investors.
During a global investor briefing, representatives of the three organizations outlined how bp's decision to lock out members of USW Local 7-1 while continuing to operate its largest refinery has created unnecessary operational, financial and reputational risks at a time of continued volatility in global energy markets.
The organizations detailed how bp locked out workers after they overwhelmingly rejected a proposal that would have frozen wages, weakened safety protections, eliminated jobs — including environmental technician positions — and granted the company sweeping authority to restructure work, alter schedules and expand the use of artificial intelligence to monitor employees and assign work.
The workers remained willing to continue working under the existing agreement while negotiations continued, but bp instead chose to initiate the lockout.
Speakers also discussed bp's history of serious refinery safety failures at other of its facilities, including the deadly 2005 explosion at the company's Texas City refinery and the 2022 fatal fire at the Toledo refinery that at the time was operated as BP-Husky. The group also addressed governance concerns, including repeated turnover among bp's senior leadership and criticism from major investors and proxy advisors over the company's treatment of shareholder rights and transparency.
The organizations further pointed to environmental concerns following an April 26 flaring event at the Whiting refinery during the lockout. While workers inside the facility were instructed to shelter in place, nearby residents and locked-out workers outside the refinery were not notified despite many having enrolled in bp's emergency alert system.
The USW, AFL-CIO and IndustriALL called on investors to engage bp's leadership regarding the risks identified during the briefing and urged the company to end the lockout and negotiate a fair agreement that protects workers, communities and the long-term interests of shareholders.
The USW represents 850,000 workers employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of people in tech, higher education, public sector and service occupations.
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