A union coalition on Wednesday urged investors to engage BP's (BP) leadership over the company's decision to lock out about 800 workers at its Whiting Refinery in Indiana beginning March 19.
The United Steelworkers, AFL-CIO, and IndustriAll Global Union also urged the company to end the lockout and initiate a fair agreement negotiation.
BP locked out members of the USW Local 7-1 after workers rejected a proposal that, according to the union, would have "frozen wages, weakened safety protections, eliminated jobs, restructured job classifications, and dramatically undermined the role of the union at the facility."
The company initiated the lockout despite the workers' willingness to continue working while in negotiations, the statement said.
BP continues to operate the refinery despite the move, creating "unnecessary operational, financial and reputational risks at a time of continued volatility in global energy markets," the coalition said.
BP did not immediately respond to' request for comment.