US Steelworkers Union looks at clean energy to replace lost jobs at oil refineries

A union official stated that the United Steelworkers union will rely on clean energy projects in order to boost membership growth and offset losses at oil refineries and petrochemical facilities, even if Donald Trump is elected president on November 5.

The USW, a union that represents 30,000 workers at crude oil refineries and petrochemical plants in North America, has predicted a major expansion as the Inflation Reduction Act of the Biden Administration is implemented and new provisions to support union jobs are deployed.

Larry Burchfield said, "We expect it to be a period of growth", at a regional gathering in Louisiana on Friday.

He stated that projects backed by Inflation Reduction Act could create 17,000 new jobs for unions.

The Republican candidate Trump has promised to repeal the Biden administration’s signature climate legislation that offers tax breaks for projects that promote clean energy. Burchfield, however, said that he was confident that this will not occur as it is backed by both Democrats AND Republicans. All changes would require Congressional approval.

Burchfield stated that the Inflation Reduction Act is a bipartisan law. The IRA has a lot of things sewed in place. It would be difficult to reverse the damage.

He was optimistic about building membership despite the fact that there were no union victories at wind or gas projects, which are rapidly growing and have 1,400 job losses due to refineries closing.

As Lyondell Basell Industries Houston refinery stops processing in early 2020, at least 300 USW jobs will be lost.

Phillips 66 plans to close its Los Angeles refinery in 2025, which will result in the loss of up to 900 jobs. Most of these are USW members.

As a result of rising fuel costs and forecasts of a weaker demand for fuel, at least five U.S. refineries have shut down in the past four years.

Burchfield stated that companies receiving U.S. assistance promise to be neutral during union campaigns, or allow card-check agreements where workers can approve union membership by signing a signature card.

He said that 30 companies had pledged neutrality and two others agreed to conduct card-check campaigns. Canadian Solar, a Texas-based solar panel manufacturer, is among the companies.

(source: Reuters)