The following is the latest press release issued by UE Local 106 on its effort to prevent the closing of Hess Oil's Port Reading refinery.
UE PRESS RELEASE
February 25, 2013
Seeking to Stem Gasoline Price Spikes,
NJ Oil Refinery Union Expands Search for Buyer
The union representing workers at Hess Oil's Port Reading, NJ refinery has expanded its search for a new owner for the plant who will continue its operation. Hess recently announced plans to close the 70,000 barrel-per-day refinery as part of a corporate restructuring in which it will exit the refining business. Workers at the refinery are members of Local 106 of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers (UE). "The gigantic gasoline price spikes hitting customers are a direct result of the closing of the Port Reading refinery and similar industry actions", said UE National President Bruce Klipple. "Our early outreach to interested firms who could continue operation of the refinery is promising. Within one week of the start of our campaign we have half a dozen interested parties who have consulted with UE. We expect more to come forward."
Within weeks of Hess's January 28 refinery closing announcement, retail gasoline prices hit an all-time seasonal high in the U.S. Industry analysts linked the price spike directly to the refinery's imminent cessation of operations and other refinery-related factors. Millions of gasoline customers in the New Jersey-New York region were subjected to crippling gas shortages during Hurricane Sandy late last year. The Port Reading refinery supplied critical fuel to emergency first responders in the tri-state area during the storm and resumed operations after just several days. Multiple refinery closures in the Northeast and throughout U.S. in recent years have led to much higher fuel prices, frequent price increases, and disruptive shortages.
"The news media tell us day after day that gas prices are skyrocketing," said Chris Townsend, the UE representative heading up its plant sale efforts. "Consumers see this every day at the pump. But somebody has to do something about it. Our union is talking action. We are going to find a buyer to continue operations of this critically-important refinery. The public should contact their lawmakers and tell them to help our effort, before prices go even higher."
For further information, contact UE:
UE Political Action Director Chris Townsend (Washington, DC), cell 703-341-9446 uewashingtonoffice@gmail.com
UE Local 106 President Jim Borowski, cell 732-330-4559 jimborowski1@yahoo.com
UE Representative Jim Ermi, cell 609-284-5064 office 610-832-0560 local155ue@verizon.net
UE National President Bruce Klipple (Pittsburgh, PA) office 412-471-8919 bklipple@ueunion.org