February 15, 2022
City Council
DATE: February 15, 2022
TO: Mayor Butt and Members of the City Council
FROM:
Councilmembers Claudia Jiménez and Eduardo Martínez
Subject:
Support of a safe and fair contract for refinery workers at Chevron, Richmond, CA
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no fiscal impact related to this item.
PREVIOUS COUNCIL
ACTION:
None
STATEMENT OF THE
ISSUE:
This resolution provides a formal opportunity for the
Richmond City Council to support USW local 5 members
and Chevron workers
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
ADOPT a resolution of the Richmond City Council in
support of a safe and fair contract for Refinery workers at Chevron in Richmond, California; and DIRECT staff to
send a copy of the resolution and cover letter to the
Chevron CEO John Watson - Councilmembers Claudia
Jimenez (510-620-6565) and Eduardo Martinez (510-
620-6593).
DISCUSSION:
The contract between Chevron and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5 (who represents 550 Chevron refinery workers) expired January 31, 2022. The workers AGENDA
REPORT
February 15, 2022
represented by USW Local 5 have asked that their contract include safety measures as dictated by Fatigue Risk Management guidelines, which are outlined by The American Petroleum Institute in API 755 and were adopted by refineries across the country (including Richmond Chevron). Chevron has proposed to drastically reduce death benefits and pay for the Lubrications plant refinery workers, thereby creating a two-tier wage system and offering wages that do not keep pace with inflation (a reduction from 3% wage increase annually to .6% annually).
Local 5 has an obligation to its members to push for safe working conditions and basic benefits, Richmond City leadership has an obligation to its constituents to make sure corporations within City boundaries are not endangering community health, and Chevron has an obligation to the City of Richmond and the workers who maintain the entire facility to meet basic safety guidelines.
DOCUMENTS ATTACHED:
Attachment 1 – Resolution