By Erwin Seba
HOUSTON | Sat Jan 28, 2012 11:16pm EST
(Reuters) – The United Steelworkers union warned on Saturday that a strike by U.S. refinery workers as early as 12 a.m. Wednesday was becoming more likely due to “the lack of a more substantive response from the industry.”
Union and oil company negotiators have been meeting since January 17 to hammer out a new three-year agreement for workers at nearly two-thirds of U.S. refining capacity.
Union negotiators have not sent out a similar warning to refinery workers in the past three rounds of contract talks with the industry.
Shell Oil Co, which is the lead oil company negotiator, said on Saturday it would work toward an agreement.
“We continue to negotiate with the goal of reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement with USW,” said Shell spokeswoman Kayla Macke.
Previously, Shell had said it was optimistic a deal could be reached.
In the statement issued Saturday night, the USW’s bargaining committee said that without further progress in the talks a strike could take place at “one or more locations when the collective bargaining agreements expire.”
Talks between the two sides were scheduled to continue through the weekend.
USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock said the union would make no further statements on Saturday.
In the lead-up to this year’s talks, the Steelworkers union warned that the lack of improved safety protections for workers at the nation’s refineries could bring about the first nationwide strike since 1980.
Eighteen workers have died at U.S. refineries since the last agreement in 2009, according to the union.
As much as 11 percent of U.S. refining capacity could temporarily shut due to a strike lasting three months, sources have said.
In addition to possible shutdowns, oil companies have been training temporary replacement workers to continue to operate their refineries in the event of work stoppage.
One source said refiners’ preparations for a possible strike are unlike any seen in 20 years.
Industry analysts have said they thought the chances of a strike were slim.
During the 1980 strike, refiners kept their plants in operation by using trained supervisors and engineers to replace hourly workers who operate and maintain equipment.
Shell Oil Co is the U.S. unit of energy giant Royal Dutch Shell Plc (RDSa.L).
(Editing by Chistopher Wilson)
This website and sisters royaldutchshellplc.com, shellnazihistory.com, royaldutchshell.website, johndonovan.website, and shellnews.net, are owned by John Donovan. There is also a Wikipedia segment.
Royal Dutch Shell conspired directly with Hitler, financed the Nazi Party, was anti-Semitic and sold out its own Dutch Jewish employees to the Nazis. Shell had a close relationship with the Nazis during and after the reign of Sir Henri Deterding, an ardent Nazi, and the founder and decades long leader of the Royal Dutch Shell Group. His burial ceremony, which had all the trappings of a state funeral, was held at his private estate in Mecklenburg, Germany. The spectacle (photographs below) included a funeral procession led by a horse drawn funeral hearse with senior Nazis officials and senior Royal Dutch Shell directors in attendance, Nazi salutes at the graveside, swastika banners on display and wreaths and personal tributes from Adolf Hitler and Reichsmarschall, Hermann Goring. Deterding was an honored associate and supporter of Hitler and a personal friend of Goring.
Deterding was the guest of Hitler during a four day summit meeting at Berchtesgaden. Sir Henri and Hitler both had ambitions on Russian oil fields. Only an honored personal guest would be rewarded with a private four day meeting at Hitler’s mountain top retreat.
IN JULY 2007, MR BILL CAMPBELL (ABOVE, A RETIRED GROUP AUDITOR OF SHELL INTERNATIONAL SENT AN EMAIL TO EVERY UK MP AND MEMBER OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS: 
MORE DETAILS:
A head-cut image of Alfred Donovan (now deceased) appears courtesy of The Wall Street Journal.
