Toledo-area workers join strike at oil refineries

Associated Press

OREGON, OHIO

Workers in Northwest Ohio have joined the first nationwide strike at U.S. oil refineries since 1980.

The Blade newspaper of Toledo reported that some 100 BP-Husky Toledo refinery workers began picketing at midnight outside the plant in Oregon, Ohio.

A local union official said Saturday night that some 350 workers would be on strike and planned to have picketing around the clock.

The United Steelworkers union earlier notified BP Plc. that workers at refineries in Ohio and Indiana would join a walkout that began Feb. 1 at nine other refineries.

A BP spokesman said the company expects to continue operating with replacement workers and doesn’t expect a significant effect on production.

The strike began after steelworkers said that talks with Shell Oil Co. had broken down. Shell is negotiating the national contract for other oil companies.

The union has said workers want better health care benefits and limits on the use of contractors to replace union members in maintenance jobs.