Friday, February 27, 2009

Heat is on at Sunoco

A glance at the calendar says we’re still weeks away from the official start of spring, let alone summer.

Not at the Sunoco refinery in Marcus Hook. The heat arrives there this weekend. And at another Sunoco facility in South Philly.

The company and one of its big unions, United Steelworkers Local 10-901, are in a standoff at the negotiating table. The contract expires midnight Saturday night.

This one’s not about money; it’s about jobs, and how secure those union positions are.

The company and union seem to be on the same page when it comes to money, agreeing on a 3 percent raise across the board in each of the three years of the deal. There’s also a $2,500 lump sum bonus when a new deal is ratified.

But the company has made it clear that it intends to reduce jobs at its refineries in South Philadelphia and Marcus Hook.

That’s where the two sides sit, staring down the barrel of a possible work stoppage that could start as soon as noon Sunday.

Tim Kolodi is the president of United Steelworkers Local 10-901, which represents 500 workers at the Marcus Hook plant.

He doesn’t exactly sound optimistic.

“We’re miles apart still,” Kolodi said. “Nobody wants a strike, but we’re prepared to give them one at noon on Sunday.”

That’s what you call turning up the heat. Stay tuned.

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