Union workers were on strike for
a second day on Monday at nine U.S. refineries and chemical plants as
they sought a new national contract with oil companies covering laborers
at 63 plants.
The
walkouts were the first in support of a nationwide pact since 1980 and
targeted plants with a combined 10 percent of U.S. refining capacity.
One of the plants, Tesoro Corp's (TSO.N) 166,000-barrel-per-day
Martinez, California, refinery, was being shut because it was in the
midst of planned maintenance work.
The
other refineries appeared set to continue running normally as operators
initiated contingency plans, calling on trained managers as replacement
workers. U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel prices rose on Monday on
concerns over supply, as well as a bounce in crude.
Talks
broke down against a backdrop of plunging crude prices, down nearly 60
percent since June, prompting oil companies to cut spending.
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