Negotiations Update #3 from Chris DellaFranco – February 20, 2026
Protecting the future of bp Whiting refinery
Key Takeaways:
- Our goal is to make the changes needed now so the refinery can continue to be an economic engine in Northwest Indiana and provide long-term job stability.
- bp America's proposals are designed to improve skills, training, fairness, and efficiency so the refinery can stay safe, competitive, and positioned for the future.
- bp America continues to bargain in good faith with the USW. Over the past 45 days, we have conducted 54 official bargaining sessions, as well as several additional informal discussions, as we work toward a fair contract.
- We are seeking a 6-year contract term and 150-day industrial peace clause which provide security for our employees and would protect them against any loss of pay and benefits for 150 days in the event of a future work stoppage.
- We are proposing to transfer this work to incumbent specialized contractors. These contractors are trained in these crafts, and it is their core business. Some examples of this work include scaffold building and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services.
- We are negotiating our total compensation package to compete with the external market: the average wage increase over the next four years of the contract is over $7.00 per hour per person, or the equivalent of a 13% increase, and we are proposing new rules on overtime management to help ensure overtime is distributed equitably and allows for a better work-life balance.
- bp Whiting refinery's average earner is among the top 10% in the state of Indiana.
"We’re trying to help ensure we have long-term job stability for our current employees and future generations."
Chris DellaFranco, bp Whiting refinery manager
Transcription
Hello again. My name is Chris DellaFranco, the bp Whiting refinery Manager. I wanted to give everyone an update about the ongoing labor negotiations.
I wanted to take a moment to discuss some of the proposals you may have heard about.
First, we continue to bargain in good faith with the United Steel Workers. Over the past 45 days we have conducted 54 official bargaining sessions, as well as several additional informal discussions, as we work our way toward a fair contract.
I want you to know we are committed to safety at our refinery – safety for the people, the community and the environment. I want to clear up a statement made in some media reports; we are NOT eliminating our environmental department. We have a dedicated environmental department that includes 30 environmental technicians of which 9 are bp-employed. Our proposal is to shift the work of those 9 bp-employed technicians to our incumbent specialized contractor, which is a standard practice in industry.
As it pertains to compensation, let me address a few points. We have proposed implementing a new job advancement structure that focuses on skills and competency development. To complement this change we want to enhance our training programs to upskill our workforce and improve performance across the organization.
We are negotiating our total compensation package to compete with the external market. As part of that the average wage increase over the next four years of the contract is over $7.00 per hour per person or the equivalent of a 13% increase. I am proud of the fact that our average earner is among the top 10% in the state of Indiana. In addition we are proposing new rules on overtime management to help ensure overtime is distributed equitably and allows a better work life balance.
Along with this we are looking to provide certainty and stability for the business and its employees. To achieve this, we are seeking a 6-year contract term, and a 150-day industrial peace clause. Together these provide security for our employees and would protect them against any loss of pay and benefits for 150 days in the event of a future work stoppage.
You may have heard about the proposed elimination of our maintenance non-core craft lines, and that is true. We are proposing to transfer this work to incumbent specialized contractors. These contractors are trained in these crafts, and it is their core business. Some examples of this work includes scaffold building, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning services.
Finally, we need to continue to make advancements in technology, part of which is the use of Artificial intelligence to make our business safer and more efficient.
Thank you for your time today and we will continue to bargain in good faith with the hopes of reaching a fair agreement and avoiding a work stoppage.