http://kplu.org en http://kplu.org/post/tentative-labor-deal-averts-western-wash-refinery-strikes The United Steelworkers union has reached a tentative deal with oil companies to avert a possible strike at dozens of refineries, including three important ones in the Northwest.<p>Negotiations over a new labor contract for refinery workers concluded mere hours before a late night deadline. The United Steelworkers and Shell Oil announced a tentative 3-year deal that's intended to set the pattern for local agreements at unionized refineries nationwide. That includes the big ConocoPhillips refinery near Ferndale, Washington, Tesoro in Anacortes and US Oil in Tacoma. Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:43:06 +0000 Tom Banse 4001 at http://kplu.org Tentative labor deal averts Western Wash. refinery strikes http://kplu.org/post/oil-refineries-western-washington-face-possible-strike <p>Bargaining is going down to the wire on new labor contracts at three of the five big oil refineries in the Northwest. Union members have been told to prepare to strike as early as Wednesday.</p><p> Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:43:07 +0000 Tom Banse 3993 at http://kplu.org