United Steelworkers Union picketed in Utah on Friday for better contracts

SALT LAKE CITY — Members of the United Steelworkers Union picketed in Utah on Friday for better contracts.

Union members stood outside the Marathon Petroleum Refinery in Salt Lake City and picketed three times. Truck drivers honked in support as they drove by.

The United Steelworkers Union wants to renegotiate their contracts, that expired on February 1. And this is happening nationwide. Their negotiations are with Marathon Petroleum, which is representing other oil companies.

Local union leader Casey Wardell says it is all about safety.

“Every day when you walk into that refinery, there’s potential of us having some kind of catastrophic event,” he said.

Marathon issued a statement Friday saying it offered substantial wage increases. Marathon is also hopeful the union will reconsider the offer.

Wardell’s main concern is better health and safety for oil industry workers. 

He says oil workers were essential workers during the pandemic and are doing dangerous work daily. Wardell wants fair contracts that reflect that risk. He was among those that picketed outside Marathon Petroleum on Friday.

Read more:

• US to release 50 million barrels of oil to ease energy costs
• Cleanup boats on scene of large Gulf oil spill following Ida