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February 12, 2009

No strike this time around

By David Ball

PORT ARTHUR — United Steelworkers Local 13-423 will continue on the job at Valero’s Port Arthur Refinery.

Bobby Hollis with the union said though the vote wasn’t unanimous, the majority favored the contract and passed it Thursday night at the USW union hall at 1500 Jefferson Drive in Port Arthur.

“We’re satisfied with it,” Hollis said. “We’ll sign it next week. Everybody’s glad. It was a long struggle that began on Jan. 5 — it’s been quite a long journey.”

USW workers passed the international contract that is a three-year tentative agreement offering wage increases of 3 percent each Feb. 1, a $2,500 signing bonus, which equates to $1,000 for ratification and $500 per year to help defray the cost of out-of-pocket medical expenses and continuation of health care coverage 80 percent paid by the employer.

This tentative national agreement is a pattern for all the local union contracts covered under the National Oil Bargaining program. It is the union’s National Oil Policy.

Bill Day, spokesperson for Valero, said the company was glad the USW approved the contract.

“We’re happy they approved the agreement without a work stoppage. Now it’s back to business of making products at our refinery,” Day said.

On Tuesday, steelworkers with Chevron Phillips Chemical in Port Arthur voted overwhelmingly its tentative agreement to stay on the job.

Butch Chapman with the USW said the people will continue working at Chevron Phillips through the tough economic times.

“Chevron Phillips Chemical is pleased to have reached an agreement on a new three-year contract with its represented workforce. The company maintained a successful focus on safety throughout the negotiation process,” Brian Cain, Chevron Phillips media and management communications specialist said.

dball@panews.com

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