Hmm, what's happening here and why now ? Is this a sign of things to come ?
https://www.hydrocarbonprocessing.com/news/2021/05/exxons-beaumont-refnery-faced-first-lockout-in-118-years
Workers represented by the United Steelworkers union (USW) walked picket lines for a third day outside the gates of the refinery and its lube oil plant. No talks took place and no proposals were swapped on Monday between two sides, the people said.
The oil company on Saturday barred about 650 USW Local 13-243 members from the complex, citing the union's refusal to call for a vote on its contract proposal. Exxon also feared the workers might strike, officials said.
No small plant.
(Bloomberg) -- The Exxon Mobil Corp. Texas refinery that’s set to become America’s largest oil-processing plant had to tap temporary crews to keep making gasoline and diesel during a worker lockout as the fuel industry prepares for a strong rebound this summer.
With the help of trained temporary employees and contractors, the Beaumont refinery has sufficient resource to “safely and efficiently operate,” the oil giant said in a statement Monday. It’s the first time the refinery has faced such a situation, and it’s unclear how it may affect production.
American refiners are racing to build up gasoline supplies to meet what they hope is a robust summer driving season as the country emerges from a pandemic that wiped out demand a year ago. Beaumont is poised to jump to the top position among U.S. refineries, up from seventh-largest, and surpass Saudi Arabia-owned Motiva Enterprises’ facility in Port Arthur, Texas.