Ratification Vote

The majority of our Local has voted to accept the Contract.

Ratification Vote

There is an Informational Meeting at the Union Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 10 at 5:45PM.  The contract offers will be discussed during the meeting.  Immediately after the meeting, a secret ballot vote will be held.

For people not able to make it to the meeting, the Union Hall will be open the next day, Wednesday, Feb. 11 from 2 until 6PM.  Someone will be there to give information on what was discussed at the meeting and answer questions.  You will be able to cast a vote during this time.

National Offer

We received an offer from the company.  It is currently being reviewed.  Assuming everything is in order we will have a meeting and vote at the Union Hall.  When we know, we’ll post a time and day for a meeting and vote at the Union Hall.

National Update

Not much to report other than we’re still on rolling 24 hr. extensions.  Check this link for official updates:

www.oilbargaining.org

Rolling 24 hour extension

Just a few minutes ago a 24 hour rolling extension was offered by the Union and accepted by the Company. We are in the process of calling everyone who is scheduled to work on Sunday. Gary Beevers says that sufficient progress has been to warrant the rolling extension. We will pass on any news as soon as we get it.

Union Hall Phone Number

Feel free to call down to the Hall if you have questions or need to get a hold of someone: 252-7575

Tenative Agreement on Local Issues

We reached tentative agreement on local items late this afternoon with the Company. We weren’t able to get everything we might have liked but we were able this afternoon to reach an agreement that reduces the length of time a person can work in the R.O.S.E. classification.

The Company has agreed that the longest a person can work in the R.O.S.E. is one year. If a R.O.S.E. works one full year they will be offered regular employment. The Union agreed to increase the probationary period from 120 days worked to one year. For R.O.S.E. employees the time spent working as a R.O.S.E. will count toward the probationary period. We also agreed on how to handle employees now caught between the present language and the new language.

The other items we negotiated include changes in the Marlo Foster letter. It should help spread overtime to the upper posts in the progression charts and generally equalize overtime opportunity. We also have agreed with the Company to sit down after the contract is signed and further discuss the Chub post and how to man it.

We now have a twelve hour training schedule for process training. We have an agreement to allow all of the Patch operators to freeze if they choose to.

We also have new language concerning grievances and arbitration. This will streamline the time line for us getting grievances resolved.

We appreciate everyone’s patience during this stressful period. There are still very difficult issues with National Oil Bargaining. It is likely most of the industry will be offered 24 hour rolling extensions. Unfortunately there are problems unique to ExxonMobil. ExxonMobil at the present time has not indicated a willingness to agree to the safety language being developed. I don’t know what direction it will go. Tomorrow will be the crucial day for knowing if we are included in the rolling extension. When we know we will get the information to you as soon as possible.

Dave Noell

Friday meeting with Company

The Workmen’s Committee will be meeting with the Company later this afternoon in an effort to resolve remaining local items. If we are successful in closing out these issues we will still have to await developments in National Oil Bargaining.

There is nothing new to report on National Oil Bargaining  from the last posting. We will post news as soon as we learn of it.

Picket Party

We’ll be assembling picket signs on Saturday at 1PM at the Union Hall.  Come on down and help out if you can.

National Bargaining Update

There have been complications in the National Oil Bargaining negotiations. Yesterday at the ExxonMobil Beaumont facility, ExxonMobil expressed disagreement with the Health and Safety language that was contained in the offer extended late yesterday.

The Company stated that they will not agree to the language and would craft language to their liking. This is clearly deviating from the emerging pattern. The Company has done similar things in the past with regards to medical insurance. For reasons known only to Exxonmobil management they feel entitled to more favorable contractual terms than the rest of the industry.

The chance of  a strike or lockout has become distinct possibility. I can’t tell you at this time how will break this weekend but you need to prepare for the worst.

 

Dave Noell