USW members at Par Hawaii Refining rejects company’s offer

Kapolei, HI – United Steelworkers (USW) members employed by Par Hawaii Refining, LLC, in Kapolei, a subsidiary of Houston-based Par Pacific Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:PARR), overwhelmingly rejected the company’s contract proposal.

The USW represents 150 production and maintenance employees at Par Hawaii Refining (PHR). With nearly 90% of USW members voting, over 95% of them rejected PHR’s onerous demands.

Jarrett Wa’a, USW Local 12-591 Kapolei unit president, said, “Our members deserve predictable benefits from the company. PHR relies on our members’ vast knowledge, experience and skill to make fuels efficiently and safely; in exchange, our members expect to be treated with dignity and respect. Par Pacific and PHR must step up and negotiate benefits for their workers – our members – in Hawaii now.”

Members of USW Local 12-591 are bargaining with Par for a new three-year labor agreement that covers the approximately 150 bargaining unit members producing gasoline, diesel, jet, and other products at the only fully operating oil refinery in Hawaii. USW members are currently working under a rolling 24-hour extension to the February 1, 2015, through January 31, 2019 Labor Agreement.