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BP Requests Re-Start of Contract Talks at Indiana Refinery

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BP (BP), the global energy giant, on Thursday sent a letter to the union representing workers at its refinery in Whiting, Indiana, stating that it is willing re-start negotiations, or work through a federal mediator, to end a BP lock-out that began on March 19.

About 800 workers in United Steelworkers Local 7-1 were locked out after BP-union contract talks, started in January, stalled. The union's contract with BP expired Jan. 31.

In its letter to the union, BP said that arranging for a federal mediator to assist in negotiations would likely take several weeks, and that it was willing to meet with the union for direct talks on Sept. 9 or Sept. 16.

BP requested that union representatives respond to its latest request to re-start contract talks.

"If your (United Steelworkers Local 7-1) position is that you are unwilling to participate in mediation or further discussions/negotiations at this time, then we ask that you confirm that intention,"BP said, in its letter to union leadership.

The Whiting refinery, on the southwestern shore of Lake Michigan, remains in operation, producing about 400,000 barrels a day, BP has reported.

Representatives of United Steelworkers Local 7-1 did not immediately respond to a request for comment from.

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