Whiting refinery workers begin contract negotiations with BP

By Nicole Jao

NEW YORK, Jan 13 (Reuters) - Workers at BP's BP.L refinery in Whiting, Indiana are in contract negotiations with the British oil major, which has proposed changes including job cuts at the 440,000-barrel-per-day facility, the United Steelworkers union said on Tuesday.

The local USW union represents around 800 workers at Whiting, the largest refinery in the U.S. Midwest.

The union said BP had proposed a series of workplace changes, including cutting more than 200 union jobs in operations, maintenance and environmental safety as well as stripping away some workplace protections.

“We want BP to be successful and can show them ways to operate more efficiently. But it cannot come at the expense of the men and women who’ve dedicated their careers to BP’s success,” said Eric Schultz, president of local USW 7-1.

The current three-year collective bargaining agreement expires on January 31.

A spokesperson at BP declined to comment on ongoing negotiations but said the company is committed to bargaining in good faith.