Indiana Senate Democrats condemn BP’s corporate bullying of locked-out workers
INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Senate Democratic Caucus issued the following statement supporting United Steelworkers Local 7-1 members locked out of BP’s Whiting refinery:
“For more than six months, BP has kept approximately 800 Whiting refinery workers out of their jobs and denied them their paychecks. These workers did not choose to stop working. BP locked them out on March 19, leaving families to stretch savings, find temporary work and rely on community support to keep food on the table and bills paid.
“Now, according to United Steelworkers Local 7-1, BP is challenging unemployment benefits Indiana already approved. Workers could lose the income helping them survive and potentially be required to repay benefits they have already spent on necessities.
“BP chose to lock these workers out. Their families have already spent more than six months bearing the consequences. Now the company is challenging the benefits helping them survive, potentially turning months without a paycheck into a demand to repay money already spent on groceries, housing and utility bills. This is an unconscionable escalation against families already pushed to the brink. And the worst part? Nothing changes for BP if these families lose critical funding for their livelihoods, because BP has to pay into the Unemployment Insurance program regardless of whether these workers receive their benefits by law.
“This is corporate bullying. Keeping workers from earning a paycheck and then targeting their unemployment benefits intensifies the financial pressure on families while the company demands concessions affecting their jobs, wages and rights. Their ability to pay the mortgage, keep the lights on and feed their children should never be used as bargaining leverage.
“These workers have devoted years to keeping BP’s refinery operating and generating its profits. They deserve respect for that work. Instead, after more than six months without their regular paychecks, they face the possibility of losing benefits and being saddled with repayment demands.
“Indiana Senate Democrats stand unequivocally with USW Local 7-1 and their families. Working Hoosiers deserve a state government that defends their livelihoods and holds powerful corporations accountable. A corporation generating billions in profits has no business asking the governor to strip struggling families of the support keeping them afloat. This is an egregious abuse of power. We fully support legislation protecting unemployment eligibility for workers who are locked out by their employers, and we will not let corporate pressure dictate whether Hoosiers can pay their bills.”
“BP must withdraw its challenge, end the lockout and negotiate in good faith. Additionally, regardless of BP’s next move, Gov. Mike Braun must condemn this corporate bullying and make clear that his administration will not help BP strip locked-out workers of the benefits keeping their families afloat. Every day this continues, families pay the price for BP’s decisions. We will not look the other way while BP uses their financial survival to pressure them into submission.”
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