Union at Exxon Beaumont, Texas, refinery faces removal vote

By Erwin Seba
7 October 2021
Source: Reuters

HOUSTON, Oct 6 (Reuters) - Members of the union representing locked-out workers at Exxon Mobil Corp's (XOM.N) Beaumont, Texas, refinery have submitted a petition to force a vote on removing the union, the union and company said on Wednesday.

Exxon and the local United Steelworkers union said they were notified by the U.S. National Labor Relations Board, which will oversee the vote, that a petition calling for removal had been filed. It was unclear when the vote would occur.

The union represents 650 workers who have been locked out of their jobs since May 1, following failure to reach a new contract after the previous one expired in February.

At least 30% of the members must sign the petition for the decertification vote to take place. Decertification is the formal name for the removal process.

"You've got people that have been locked out for six months, it's getting pretty tough," Bryan Gross, USW international representative, said about the petition.

"The company respects employee choice and believes in the value of a direct relationship between the company and employees, without a third party union," Exxon said in a message to Beaumont employees, as confirmed by an Exxon spokesperson.

The USW in April filed a complaint with the NLRB alleging Exxon had violated federal law by providing an employee with decertification materials, employee email addresses and use of a company computer and email system to campaign for decertification.

The petition comes a week after Exxon made its first concession at the bargaining table when it offered greater seniority and job security protection for the lube oil plant workers

Exxon said it began the lockout to avoid the disruption of a possible strike. The USW said the company's contract proposal would wipe out seniority and create separate contracts for the workers at the refinery and the adjoining lubricant oil plant.

Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Chris Reese and Cynthia Osterman

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ExxonMobil response to impounding of ballots in USW decertification vote
by KFDM/FOX 4
Wednesday, December 29th 2021

https://kfdm.com/news/local/exxonmobil-response-to-impounding-of-ballots-in-usw-decertification-vote

BEAUMONT — From ExxonMobil To: All Represented BMRF/B&P Employees

The USW has, once again, silenced your voice and stopped your vote. Through their baseless legal charges, the Union has prevented your vote from being counted in the election. This morning, the Company was informed by the NLRB that effective today, December 29, 2021, the mail-in votes will be impounded – and won’t be counted – until further notice.

While the USW’s actions may have resulted in your votes being impounded, the Company remains confident that it has acted in accordance with the law at all times, and the NLRB will dismiss these charges once they have completed their investigation.

As we have said numerous times, the Company will end the lockout when the Company and the Union reach a signed, ratified agreement or employees have removed the Union through decertification or withdrawal of recognition. Today, the USW’s action not only prevented your voice from being heard but also denied you an opportunity to end the lockout.

Does this mean the NLRB has found fault or that the decertification has failed? Why haven’t they decided?

No. The NLRB has impounded the votes while they continue to assess the merits of the charges and determine whether any unfair labor practice has occurred. The NLRB is reviewing an increased number of cases, causing a backlog in their reviews. As such, we have no way of knowing how long it will take for the NLRB to complete its investigation.

The NLRB has not found that the Company violated the law in any capacity; however, the Union continues to suggest that the charges being referred to the NLRB’s Division of Advice is somehow a “win” for the Union. To be clear, a referral is not indicative of a ruling against the Company. We are confident that the Company acted lawfully at all times and that these charges will eventually be dismissed.

What else can you do to remove the USW from the Beaumont Refinery and Lubes Plant?

In addition to voting “no” in the NLRB’s election, you may also consider signing the decertification petition.

If the majority of employees sign the decertification petition, the law allows the Company to withdraw recognition from the USW immediately without an election even if ballots are impounded. Following withdrawal of recognition, employees would no longer be represented by the USW, and the Company could return employees to work. This means that the withdrawal of recognition is still a viable option provided the majority of employees signed the decertification petition.

Please note, signing the decertification petition is separate from voting “no” in the NLRB’s election. If you have already voted “no” in the election and still want to decertify the USW, you should sign the employee decertification petition.

Any questions related to the employee led decertification effort can be submitted to Beaumont Area HR Department at Beaumont.Area.HR@exxonmobil.com.

Exxon discusses new terms with union representing locked-out Texas refinery workers

Oct 9 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp (XOM.N) said on Saturday it and the United Steelworkers union, the union representing workers locked out of a Texas refinery, discussed terms of a proposed labor contract.

Exxon said it provided clarifications to its latest proposal and rejected the union's proposed changes to that offer, saying they would raise its costs.

"Union provided a one-pager with 24 proposed items they requested be included in our offer ... the majority of the items increase cost to the Company, and as we told the Union, we are not interested in including them in our offer," Exxon said.

It has been over five months since Exxon locked some 650 workers out at the Beaumont, Texas, plant, replacing them with temporary workers.

The new proposal came at a time when at least 30% of workers represented by United Steelworkers union local 13-243 signed a petition to the U.S. National Labor Relations Board to force a vote on removing the union.

The union on Friday accused the company of misleading people with confusing statements regarding the union, negotiations and the company's lockout. read more

Exxon also said the union refused to say whether it would seek a vote on the latest offer and the next bargaining meeting was not scheduled.

Reporting by Maria Ponnezhath in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Gary McWilliams; Editing by Chris Reese

In astronomical terms, XOM is a red gas giant.
and Texas is a white dwarf.
amazingly enough, they have equal gravity pull.
But for both - implosion imminent.
then what is left, you ask?
a molecule of dust.

Perspective. keeping it in.

@1quh+1dcctYFY what is there to help when the ILEU does nothing? If XOM doesn't care about making a contract to Beamount, what makes you think they care about R&D techs?

We need help in Annandale I believe they are holding off until the announcement .three years no raise and one year no match

Exxon accuses USW of 'voter suppression' in message to locked-out Texas refinery workers

HOUSTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Exxon Mobil Corp in a Thursday night message to locked-out workers at its Beaumont, Texas, refinery accused the United Steelworkers union (USW) of engaging in misinformation and voter suppression, one day after a campaign to remove the union cleared a crucial hurdle.

"We look forward to continuing to give the facts, particularly as the USW continues its campaign of misinformation and voter suppression," the company said in the message posted on-line.

Reuters could not immediately reach a USW representative for comment.

(Reporting by Erwin Seba; Editing by Christopher Cushing)

I don't really blame the company, but there's no chance it is actually bargaining in good faith. Some of the people locked out are good people, and the company quietly made salary offers to many of the people it wanted to keep before this whole thing began. The union is not going back onsite unless it's neutered.

Coming to a manufacturing site near you

Will be interesting.

At least there's no Pinkertons or howitzers operating so far as we know of.
Maybe some bribes.

What's a scab of a scab of a scab?
Yum

Thread regarding ExxonMobil Corp. layoffs

Union at Exxon Beaumont, Texas, refinery faces removal vote

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