RESOLUTION NO. XX
Resolution of the Richmond City Council in Support of a safe and fair contract for refinery workers at Chevron in Richmond, CA
WHEREAS, on January 31, 2022, the contract between Chevron and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 5 (who represents 550 Chevron refinery workers) expired; and WHEREAS, the workers represented by USW Local 5 are asking their contract to 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) in the wake of the devastating and fatal 2005 Texas City refinery explosion; and WHEREAS, Chevron instead wants to introduce language into refinery workers’ contracts that create dangerous and potentially lethal conditions: that company management may punish workers who have worked a full week’s schedule of 42 hours and refuse to come in on their one day off; and
WHEREAS, Chevron would like 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); and WHEREAS, when USW Local 5 offered to complete a safe and orderly shutdown of the refinery in the event of a strike, were negotiations to prove ultimately unsuccessful, Chevron was unresponsive; and WHEREAS, Chevron owns a refinery whose presence significantly impacts the health and safety of the refinery workers and surrounding community. Richmond residents contend with disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer. Data from the California EPA places every community bordering the Chevron facility in the 99th percentile for asthma. Chevron creates ongoing risks of fires, spills, leaks, flaring, and toxic gas releases; and WHEREAS, the risks posed by Chevron’s unwillingness to meet refinery workers’ demands are unacceptable, as the modest stipulations put forward by the workers promote worker safety, community safety, and environmental safety; and
WHEREAS, Chevron is the largest employer in the City of Richmond; and WHEREAS, Richmond is a diverse working class city who has supplied Chevron with a workforce, public infrastructure, and optimum land since before the city itself was incorporated in 1905; and
WHEREAS, Richmond has historically supported union efforts including decent wages, safe work environments, and labor actions when necessary; and
WHEREAS, Richmond has a deep commitment to our working class community, which includes a majority people of color; and
WHEREAS, USW 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; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that City staff send a copy of this resolution and a cover letter expressing the City Council’s strong support for the United Steelworkers Local 5 contract demands to the CEO of Chevron by Wednesday February 16, 2022.
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I certify that the foregoing resolution was passed and adopted by the Council of the City of Richmond at a regular meeting thereof held on February 15, 2022, by the following vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSTENTIONS:
ABSENT:
CLERK OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND
SEAL
Approved:
Mayor
Approved as to form:
City Attorney