The Gary Common Council unanimously passed a city resolution calling for an end to the lockout of union employees at the BP Whiting Refinery.
Gary is one of a handful of Lake County cities to pass a similar resolution. The Crown Point council passed its resolution at the beginning of the month, and the town of Schererville has passed one as well.
Councilwoman Mary Brown, D-3rd, was absent from Gary’s Tuesday evening meeting. The council passed the resolution — which was presented at the meeting — in an 8-0 vote.
Mayor Eddie Melton sponsored the resolution, according to city documents.
“Mayor Melton wanted to make sure that we are united as a city to encourage (them to) continue negotiations,” said Chief of Staff Ellis Dumas, who spoke on behalf of Melton during Tuesday’s meeting. “We understand that negotiations must happen between (BP) and those in the union, but this is a dire push. Some of those union workers are, in fact, Gary residents, and they have reached out to ask the city of Gary for support.”
More than 800 United Steelworkers Local 7-1 employees have been locked out of the BP refinery since March 19, which has stayed in place for nearly three months. Contract negotiations began on Jan. 5, and the contract expired on Jan. 31.
The company and union last met on June 10 for their 63rd formal bargaining session, which was the first since May 22, according to Post-Tribune archives.
According to BP’s website, about 450 employees and “specialized contractors” are operating the refinery during the lockout. Refinery officials claim in updates that the facility continues to “operate safely, reliably, and compliantly,” without impact to operations, despite relying on replacement workers.
Dumas told council members Tuesday that the city has seen “by way of public information” several incidents occur at the refinery, including “large fires or blowouts.”
“That’s causing, what some citizens have stated, concerns for public health and well-being,” Dumas said.
At the end of April, flares went off at the Whiting refinery after a “brief loss of electric power disrupted operations,” according to Post-Tribune archives. The company, at the time, was unable to comment on whether the community and picketing USW members were made aware.
Once Gary passed the resolution, Dumas believed it would be sent to union leadership to ensure the city is showing its support, he said.
Gary Council Vice President Darren Washington, D-at large, asked Dumas if BP and union leadership were aware of the resolution. Dumas said the city talked with the union and attempted to talk with BP, but they had not been able to meet with the company.
“We are aware of the resolution; however, we have no record of any communication requests from the City of Gary or members of the Gary Common Council,” a BP spokesperson said in an email statement.
The statement also touched on BP’s previously made points, including that the company’s contract proposals are “critical to the refinery’s long-term sustainability.” The company also claimed that the union has not meaningfully engaged in negotiations, which the union has denied throughout the process.
The union has asked BP to end the lockout at various negotiations, according to Post-Tribune archives, which the company has denied. USW 7-1 leadership has said BP’s proposal would require the elimination of dozens of local jobs, force hundreds of workers to take pay cuts and require them to give up bargaining and seniority rights.
“The lockout does not prevent negotiations from continuing, and we cannot return to operating under the prior agreement, which presented safety and operational risk,” BP’s statement said. “BP remains at the negotiating table and is committed to working respectfully and transparently.”
Councilwoman Lori Latham, D-1st, asked if the city could help the union in other ways after the resolution’s passage.
“As always, Mayor Melton will coordinate with the council, should they need our support,” Dumas said. “We’ve been following their lead just to ensure that we’re not overstepping.”
mwilkins@chicagotribune.com
