United Steelworkers and BP Resume Contract Talks at Whiting Refinery

The United Steelworkers consented to return to the bargaining table on Monday, May 18, after repeated requests from BP regarding the Whiting Refinery. BP stated it is prepared to review the United Steelworkers' counteroffer so they can start working toward a new agreement. The oil company issued the statement in response to the union's decision to resume talks.

The bargaining concerns the Whiting Refinery in Indiana, where the two sides have been unable to reach a new contract. The consent to return to bargaining followed repeated requests, according to people familiar with the negotiations. BP's willingness to examine the counteroffer marks a potential turning point in the long-running dispute.

Both parties now appear positioned to resume direct discussions next week at the refinery, which has been the focal point of the labor standoff. The move comes amid ongoing uncertainty over working conditions and compensation at the facility. No further details on the content of the union's counteroffer or the specific issues under discussion were released in the statements from either side.