Local 13-555
USW Local 13-555 is located in Sulphur, Louisiana, and we are organized with Phillips 66, Sasol, Louisiana Pigment and Alcoa. It is our goal to be of service to our membership and to attend to the needs of the Local with professionalism and integrity. For more information on who we are, please see the International Steelworkers Union website.
To contact our Local, please click here.
Pittsburgh -- The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that a tentative agreement was reached with Shell Oil Company for a pattern settlement on wages, benefits and working conditions. Shell leads the negotiations and consulted with the rest of the industry during the talks.
The three-year pattern agreement affects more than 30,000 oil refinery, petrochemical plant, pipeline and terminal employees in 220 USW bargaining units.
“We reached a tentative agreement because of our members’ solidarity and the industry’s willingness to negotiate a contract that is fair to both parties,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard.
The USW is not revealing the details of the proposed pattern agreement until members have a chance to examine it and vote.
Please click here to read the full press release.
At our July monthly meeting a motion was made and passed to hold a referendum vote for the purpose of pulling the membership support of VPP. At the August monthly meeting there will be discussions as to why the motion was made. There will be an opportunity to discuss the advantages, we as a workforce, have through the VPP process and any disagreements to the process.
As your USW Health & Safety rep. and site VPP coordinator, I have firsthand knowledge of how the VPP program offers our members another layer of safety protection and helps give the hourly workforce a stronger voice within our own safety and health systems. The VPP program strives for continuous and sustained improvements. Some of the many advantages are:
-Participation in the VPP process empowers Unions in the safety arena and enables opportunities for training for represented employees. When Unions work with OSHA in the VPP process, Union members are involved in developing, instituting and sustaining safety programs and policies.
-A site will often see OSHA more frequently. If you are on the general inspection list, you may not see OSHA for 97 years unless they arrive on site to address a complaint or serious accident. As a VPP site, OSHA will visit you every 3 to 5 years.
-Better management commitment - At VPP sites, management is more inclined to work toward better safety and health programs. They listen to the hourly workers and Union leadership’s concerns and are more responsive to fixing any problems that may arise. Management at VPP sites must be willing to commit the resources necessary to alleviate hazards.
-Participation in the VPP process empowers Unions in the safety arena and enables opportunities for training for represented employees. Working with OSHA and the companies, Union members are involved in developing, instituting and sustaining safety programs and policies. Where once ideas for safety improvement from workers fell on deaf ears at times, they are now listened to and in most cases implemented, when justified, making work areas for America’s workforce much safer.
-The most important benefit is improved safety and health programs that lead to fewer incidents and lost time accidents to the Union members.
-A better working relationship with management in regards to safety and health, which often leads to better working relationships in other areas.
-More effective contractor management. VPP sites are usually stricter on contractor safety and health and manage their contractors accordingly. This provides a safer working environment for the Union floor employee.
The VPP Star site recognition does not mean the site operates perfectly or is without room for improvement. The Star program says you must identify areas of improvement; they must be measurable, and acted upon. If you want to see the Value in the VPP program, participate in it. Be a part of the process and it will open your eyes to the benefits.
It is both my opinion and that of the workers committee’, to continue to support participation within the VPP program. The VPP program is another Safety program at the site that allows our members another way to participate in improving our worksite safety and health programs.
John Bel Edwards to go on Louisiana statewide #putlouisianafirst tour.
From Monday, July 6 to Saturday, July 12, John Bel Edwards will be touring the state. Please click here to see the complete schedule.
For anyone interested in sending monetary donations to the individual locals still on strike in our District 13, please see the below information.
It was requested that we make the checks payable to the local Strike and Defense Fund.
The addresses for the locals are as follows:
USW Local 13-1
2327 Texas Ave
Texas City, TX 77590
Check payable to: Local 13-1 Strike and Defense Fund
(There are two facilities on strike at this local)
(Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery, Houston Green Cogeneration facility, Shell Deer Park Refinery, and Shell Deer Park Chemical Plant)
USW Local 227
704 E Pasadena Freeway
Pasadena, TX 77508
Check payable to: Local 227 Strike and Defense Fund
(LyondellBasell in Houston)
If at all possible, please send support to these fighting locals.
For further information, please visit Support Striking Oil Workers--Donate to the Strike Fund.
There will be an all-day vote at the Local Union Hall for the position of Phillips66 Unit Secretary. This position will be elected for a three year period commencing May 2015.
This election will take place on April 14, 2015, from 6 a.m. – 8 p.m., at the Local Union Hall located at 201 Center Circle, Sulphur, LA.
(Pittsburgh) – The United Steelworkers (USW) announced today that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new four-year contract with Shell Oil as a pattern agreement for the rest of the industry. The agreement accomplishes the major goals as directed by the USW’s oil conference in October of last year, and has been approved by union’s lead negotiators and National Oil Bargaining Policy (NOBP) Committee.
“We salute the solidarity exhibited by our membership,” said USW International President Leo W. Gerard. “There was no way we would have won vast improvements in safety and staffing without it.”
Safety issues were central to the negotiations, and the proposed agreement calls for the immediate review of staffing and workload assessments, with USW safety personnel involved at every facility. Daily maintenance and repair work in the plants was another critical issue that, too, was addressed...
March 13, 2015• 12:00 PM
One Shell Square
Corner of Poydras St and St Charles Ave in New Orleans (701 Poydras St.)
New Orleans, LA 70139
Almost 7,000 USW members working in oil refineries and chemical plants—including at the Shell and Motiva facilities in Norco and Convent, Louisiana are striking to demand that the oil industry to bargain fairly with workers and implement lifesaving improvements in refinery safety, fatigue management, and staffing.
On Friday, March 13 oil workers from across Louisiana will take the fight from the picket lines to the oil industry’s front door with a demonstration at One Shell Square in New Orleans.
Join Us!
Buses leaving from:
USW Local 620
10:30am
2416 South Darla Ave
Gonzales, LA
USW Local 750
11:00am
601 Goodhope St
Norco, LA
If you plan on riding a bus you MUST RSVP online at https://actionnetwork.org/events/safe-refineries-save-lives-rally-at-one-shell-square or at the union hall.
Almost 7,000 USW members working in oil refineries and chemical plants are striking to demand that the oil industry to bargain fairly with workers and implement lifesaving improvements in refinery safety, fatigue management, and staffing.
On Friday, March 6 oil workers from across the Gulf Coast will take the fight from the picket lines to the oil industry’s front door with demonstrations at the headquarters of Shell, Motiva and Lyondell Basell. Join Us!
Please make every effort to attend the regular monthly meeting at the Union hall on March 10, 2015 at 6:30 p.m. In addition to regular business, there will be nominations for local union officers.
The election of officers will be held on Tuesday April 14, 2015 at the Local Union hall located at 201 Center Circle, Sulphur, Louisiana. The polls will open at 6:00 a.m. and will close at 8:00 p.m. at which time the votes will be tallied.
Almost 7,000 USW members working in oil refineries and chemical plants are striking to demand that the oil industry to bargain fairly with workers and implement lifesaving improvements in refinery safety, fatigue management, and staffing.
On Friday, March 6 oil workers from across the Gulf Coast will take the fight from the picket lines to the oil industry’s front door with demonstrations at the headquarters of Shell, Motiva and Lyondell Basell. Join Us!
Dear Brothers and Sisters:
As you know, we began our unfair labor practice strike on Feb. 1 at nine locations. Since then, we have expanded it to 15 locations and nearly 7,000 members. In the past few days, some companies have taken to writing letters to our members. These letters spin their positions about the negotiations and the offers they have made.
Safety is Paramount
During this round of negotiations, the union has made many proposals to address the safety and well-being of our members. While the companies have regurgitated some of the language of these proposals in their letters to employees, thereby giving the impression that they are actually bargaining over these issues, they have, in fact, only agreed to “meet and discuss” them. They have, up until now, adamantly refused to bargain in good faith over these critical matters.
The union has made specific proposals about how safety issues need to be assessed jointly with the local union and our safety committees and professionals. We’ve made proposals on how vacancies need to be reviewed and filled; on the way overtime and exceptions to the fatigue standards need continuous monitoring; and how we can insure safe staffing levels in the operations without undermining the bargaining unit. The company’s response has been to shut down any such discussion and to refuse any good faith bargaining over such issues...
If you would like to donate directly to the locals the information below will help guide you through the process. This information came directly from our international rep.
Support Striking Oil Workers--Donate to the Strike Fund
On February 1, 2015, our members at nine refineries were forced out on an unfair labor practice strike as industry negotiators failed to address serious concerns raised by the USW regarding the health and safety of workers and their communities
The industry gave us no other option. Our bargaining team has made every reasonable effort to reach a fair agreement, but the oil companies, represented by Shell, offered proposals showing very minimal movement.
The 3,800 USW members at the nine refineries in Texas, Washington, California and Kentucky are fighting hard and standing strong on behalf of the 65 oil refineries and almost 200 other facilities including oil terminals, pipelines and petrochemical plants.
They need our support. Your local can help by taking actions such as gate collections, donations, or sending striking locals payments from your Local Union treasury.
Please make checks payable to the local union strike and defense funds (ie. USW Local XXX Strike and Defense Fund).
On Strike Since February 1, 2015:
USW Local 675, 1200 E 220th Street, Carson, CA 90745. (Tesoro Carson Refinery)
USW Local 13-1, 2327 Texas Avenue, Texas City, TX 77590. (Marathon Galveston Bay Refinery, Houston Green Cogeneration facility, Shell Deer Park Refinery, and Shell Deer Park Chemical Plant)
USW Local 5, 1333 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553. (Tesoro Martinez Refinery)
USW Local 12-591, 47 Alder Lane, Mount Vernon, WA 98273. (Tesoro Anacortes Refinery)
USW Local 227, 704 E. Pasadena Freeway, Pasadena, TX 77506. (LyondellBasell in Houston)
USW Local 8-719, PO Box 214, Ashland, KY 41105. (Marathon Refinery in Catlettsburg)
On Strike Since February 8, 2015
USW Local 346, 2910 Consaul Street, Toledo, Ohio 43605. (BP Husky Refinery in Toledo, OH)
USW Local 7-1, 2045 Schrage Avenue, Whiting IN 46394. (BP Whiting Refinery)
Together, we can win a fair contract that makes oil refineries and surrounding communities safer. Together, we will last one day longer.
--Neal
As we have mentioned before, the American Income Life company provides great benefits to our members at no cost. As a member of our USW 13-555 local, you are automatically eligible for these benefits. Please see the below flyer for more details.
USW Local 13-555 will be holding a vote on the proposed 2014 Oil Bargaining Package. The informational meeting will take place at the hall (201 Center Circle, Sulphur, LA) on Wednesday, December 3rd, from 3:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Absentee voting will take place at the hall from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m., and 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on December 4th, 5th and 8th. The regular vote will take place on December 9 from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
As a reminder, the regular monthly meeting will also take place on December 9th at 6:30 p.m., and the Phillips66 group meetings at 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
Please make every effort to attend. Thank you!
We regret to announce that the Union has lost brother Phil Derouen as of September 19, 2014. Phil was involved in labor for many years, and was a trustee for 13-555 as well as chairman of our Sasol group. There will be a memorial and celebration of his life on Saturday, October 4 at 2 p.m. at the local union hall (201 Center Circle).
The funeral for Mr. Derouen will take place at 11 a.m. at St. Theresa's Church in Carlyss, LA (4822 Carlyss Drive).
Our USW International Union is helping efforts to provide relief for our Union brothers and sisters impacted by Hurricane Sandy. Please consider donating. For information on how to donate, go to this link: Support USW Members Impacted by Hurricane Sandy.
USW Local 13-555 broke ground on the construction of our new building on December 12 (Click for larger images).
Pursuant to the rules governing the National Bargaining Policy the following meetings have been scheduled for the 2012 National Oil Bargaining Proposal. The proposal was adopted on September 23, 2011 at the NOBP Conference and pertains to the ConocoPhillips and Sasol, N.A. bargaining units.
INFORMATIONAL MEETING: Monday, October 17, 2011, 4:30 p.m. - until @ Union Hall: National Oil Bargaining Policy Discussion. This proposal, if accepted, will contain the Union's contract proposal that will be presented to the lead company for the 2012 round of National Oil negotiations.
***ALL DAY VOTE, 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. @ Union Hall on October 31, 2011.***To see the AFL-CIO's analysis of the 2010 average annual pay of CEOs at S&P 500 companies, click here.
ConocoPhillips Chairman and CEO James J. Mulva averaged $17,932,895 for 2010; the average median worker made $33,190 (Source: http://www.aflcio.org/corporatewatch/paywatch/ceou/database.cfm?tkr=COP&pg=1)
The regular monthly meeting of USW Local 13-555 has been moved to September 21, 2010. Please note that this is one week later than usual; the meeting has been postponed due to schedule conflicts.
In February of this year USW Local 13-555 joined the Access of Louisiana Credit Union, making all Local members eligible for Access membership.
During the June 8th meeting, representatives from the nearby Access credit union will be present to briefly speak on the benefits of membership and will be accepting applications during our Local meeting for those members interested.
If you would like to join Access at that time, please bring $25 (cash or check only) and two forms of identification, primary and secondary. Primary ID includes drivers' licenses, passports and military IDs; secondary ID includes insurance cards, social security cards, voter registration card, birth certificates and more.
For more information on the required forms of ID, call Jessica at the hall (337.625.5490) or Mandy at Access (337.436.1250 ext. 1201).
International Union of Operating Engineers Local 407 Unfair Labor Practice Dispute.
Business Manager Ken Fugat reported that the Union had been in negotiations with Basell up until Friday April 30, 2010. The contract was set to expire at midnight on the 30th.
At issue were areas in the contract that were subject to mandatory bargaining. The company refused to discuss these bargaining items and subsequently the Union membership refused the company’s contract proposal.
The Union offered to continue to work with a contract extension until negotiations were complete.
The company refused the Union’s offer and prior to the expiration of the contract escorted the represented workers from the plant thereby locking them out.
I urge Local 13-555’s member’s who pass through the area to acknowledge our Brothers and Sisters who are manning an Unfair Labor Practice protest at the plant site.
Any gesture of kindness and support will be greatly appreciated by these Union members who have been forced from their jobs.
In Solidarity,
Vaughn Johnson
President,
USW Local 13-555
On Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the regular monthly meeting there will be a third reading of the amendments and revisions to the Local Union By-laws and a vote will be held of those members present for their approval or rejection.
On April 13 there will be an all-day vote concerning the merger between Locals 13-555 and 13-500. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. at the local union hall and will coincide with the regular monthly meeting for Local 13-555.
Beginning in 2011, Local 13-555 will finalize adoption of the United Steelworkers dues structure. To download the dues calculator that the Local will be using to calculate 13-555's dues, click here.
United Steelworkers Local 13-555 has joined the Access of Louisiana Credit Union and all Local 13-555 members are now eligible for Access membership. Access of Louisiana has three locations: 4400 Maplewood Drive in Sulphur, 2203 Sampson Street in Westlake, and 3109 Common Street, Suite 103 in Lake Charles.
The three locations can be reached by phone at 337.436.1250 or 800.556.2274.
Ponca City Local 13-857 is announcing an update on a tentative agreement with ConocoPhillips. Please visit their blog for the latest information.
Please read this letter from Chairman Leon Royer concerning potential actions in support of the Ponca City Local.
United Steelworkers Local 13-555 is happy to announce that all USW members and retirees now have new benefits from the American Income Life Insurance Company. This no-cost insurance covers $2,500 worth of accidental death and dismemberment benefits. For more information, read the AIL Flyer. Please complete the beneficiary card in the information packet, which can be picked up at the USW Union Hall, or mailed by request if you call 337.625.5490.
You may reach the American Income Life Insurance Company at 800.495.1213.
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