Indiana Refinery Workers Overwhelmingly Reject BP’s Contract Offer

Workers at BP's Whiting refinery in Indiana decisively turned down the company's contract proposal, with 98.3% voting against the offer. The United Steelworkers union says the deal would have eliminated jobs and stripped worker protections.

Workers at BP’s Indiana refinery have delivered a resounding rejection of the energy company’s contract proposal, with nearly all union members voting against what BP had described as its final offer.

United Steelworkers union officials announced Thursday that 94% of eligible members participated in the vote, and a decisive 98.3% chose to turn down BP’s contract terms.

The energy giant had given the union one week to consider what it termed its “last, best, and final” proposal, setting a 10-day deadline for acceptance.

According to the USW, BP’s contract terms included significant changes that would harm workers, such as restrictions on the union’s strike capabilities, removal of collective bargaining rights, pay reductions for various job categories, elimination of 100 union positions through outsourcing, and removal of seniority-based layoff protections.

The dispute involves United Steelworkers Local 7-1, representing approximately 800 employees at what stands as the Midwest’s largest petroleum refinery. Union representatives have informed BP of the vote outcome and indicated they remain open to reviewing a more acceptable proposal from the company.

BP acknowledged the vote results Thursday evening, confirming that workers had declined to approve the company’s contract terms.

“BP will continue to bargain in the best interests of our employees, our company, and the community,” the company stated.

USW Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz described recent company tactics aimed at undermining union solidarity, including management distributing pastries to workers during their shifts while simultaneously warning of potential health insurance losses and workplace lockouts.

Workers have continued their duties under temporary 24-hour contract extensions since their previous agreement ended on January 31, following two months of unsuccessful negotiations.