United Steelworkers warn of possible refinery worker strike

Contract negotiations continued for U.S. refiners and the United Steel Workers union Tuesday, with the looming possibility of a strike giving gasoline and diesel prices a slight bump, the Wall Street Journal is reporting.

The union has been pushing for stronger safety measures in the industry. The negotiations cover refineries comprising 6.24 million barrels a day of capacity, about a third of the national total. United Steelworkers could start striking at those facilities if an agreement for a new, three-year national contract isn't reached by midnight Tuesday.

USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock said early Tuesday that talks were continuing but declined to elaborate. In case of a strike, the union could choose to target specific refining companies or take the action industry-wide, Hancock said earlier.

The United Steelworkers union warned on Saturday that a strike by U.S. refinery workers as early as 12 a.m. Wednesday was becoming more likely due to "the lack of a more substantive response from the industry."

Union and oil company negotiators have been meeting since Jan. 17 to hammer out a new three-year agreement for workers at nearly two-thirds of U.S. refining capacity.

The Steelworkers union has warned that the lack of improved safety protections for workers at the nation's refineries could bring about the first nationwide strike since 1980.

As much as 11 percent of U.S. refining capacity could temporarily shut due to a strike lasting three months, sources have said.

Industry analysts have said they thought the chances of a strike were slim.