Job security

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Chanting, "They say cut back. We say fight back" along with more than 400 others, Matt Tankelwicz protested with his family by his side. The United Steelworkers Union and its members marched to Sunoco’s corporate headquarters at 1735 Market St. Feb. 26, fighting to keep the Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries running at what they say are safe staffing levels and to save 100 operator positions the company may cut at the 3144 W. Passyunk Ave. site.

Tankelwicz has three years as an operator at the South Philly refinery under his belt, where he monitors utilities and inspects equipment, but since cuts are based on seniority, he will be one of the possible 100 laid off if Sunoco does not reach terms with the union.

"It’s nerve-wracking," the Northeast resident said. "I haven’t been out of a job since I was 12."

"I don’t want my dad to die at work," son Josh, 11, added at the rally, fearing the cuts could compromise safety.

Inside Sunoco headquarters, Local 10-1 President Jim Savage, left, tries to give a petition with 2,000 signatures from residents to Chief Executive Officer Lynn Elsenhans, but has to settle for a security guard (Staff Photo by Greg Bezanis).

"[It’s] scary because we might not have any money," daughter Tori, 13, also at the rally, said.

Tankelwicz is only one potential cut. There could be 99 others.

"The stress level in the refinery is unbelievable," he said.

Sunoco, citing a weak economy and change in consumer needs, is looking to cut back, while Locals 10-1 from Philadelphia and 10-901 from Marcus Hook are looking to solidify an agreement that includes job security. The terms would mean union employees would not be laidoff except in a decreased level of operation caused by the sale of units; complete or partial closure; or a merger or a joint venture.

Sunoco, according to the union, does not want to abide by the job security portion because it wants to lay off workers while operating the sites at full capacity. The cuts and the company’s desire to combine jobs are the issues stalling negotiations that began Jan. 21, though as of press time Tuesday, Local 10-1 reached a verbal, tentative agreement, which it had hoped to sign by last night. The next step is a review before a ratification late next week, 10-1 President Jim Savage said. A tentative agreement also was reached late Tuesday and signed by the Marcus Hook union. Its approval is pending a review and member vote.

According to the union, Sunoco is proposing to eliminate 100 out of 400 operators in Philadelphia. At Marcus Hook, it wants to cut 60 of 270 operators and 30 of 150 mechanics, and is proposing pay cuts for others.

Regardless of how negotiations proceed, last Thursday union members delivered a 2,000-signature petition from community members surrounding the Passyunk plant against the cuts to Sunoco Chairwoman/CEO Lynn Elsenhans, Savage said.

While Savage only was able to give the documents to a security guard, he thought the rally was successful. "We wanted to let them know we’re serious. Any reasonable depiction shows them we’re serious."

Sunoco acknowledged the petitions, but insists its commitment to safety, including millions to modernize and upgrade the local refineries, is paramount, Sunoco spokesman Thomas Golembeski said.

"With investments and cooperation from the union, we have reduced the rate of recordable injuries by 50 percent and we’re not going to jeopardize that progress," he said.

An explosion last month injured two at the South Philly refinery, Savage said. Many at the Passyunk site work 12-hour shifts over two weeks when they are only supposed to work seven days in that span, he added.

"There won’t be an agreement that puts the members of my local or the members of the community that surround this refinery in danger," he said.

According to Savage, part of the bargaining agreement stated the refineries could not layoff workers for economic reasons, something Sunoco agreed to overall, but is now trying to back out of at the local sites.

According to Golembeski, Sunoco will not layoff any union employee, but a "generous" voluntary severance package will be on the table for any union representative as well as those eligible for retirement.

"We think that a reasonable way to adjust staffing levels is to offer employees voluntary ways to leave the company and that’s why we made a voluntary severance offer," he said, adding the number could be more or less than the original 100.

In addition, Sunoco also is offering a 3-percent wage increase each year for the next three years and, if there is no strike, a ratification bonus of $2,500, Golembeski added.

While Sunoco’s net income has declined from $979 to $776 million in the last three years, its revenue reached $54.1 billion last year — up from $44.7 billion, according to Sunoco reports. The economy has hit many and the same is true for the refinery industry, Golembeski said.

"We are seeing lower demand for our products across the board and we expect that to last awhile, so we are shifting our focus," he said.

Since October, he said, the company has been addressing ways to save money and change business while continuing to run its operation safely; these changes may reduce the current workforce.

Not only were Sunoco staffers concerned about the cuts, so was the Philadelphia Firefighters’ Union as eight of its men were lost in a 1975 fire at then-Gulf Oil.

"I remember it well," firefighters’ union President Brian McBride said before the rally. "That’s why they can’t have this. They’re endangering everyone … This is a step back. This is a step to disaster."

The Community Labor Refinery Tracking Committee did not return calls for comment by press time.

Employed as a blending and shipping operator, Carol Gallagher has been working at the Passyunk refinery for 29 years.

"We need a certain amount of operators to make sure operation is safe," she said. "Everyone is disgusted. They are absolutely disgusted. We know times are tough, but we won’t give up on safety. I want to go home to my kids at night."