<article><p>US independent refiner Tesoro will idle units not under maintenance at its 168,000 b/d Golden Eagle refinery in Martinez, California, amid strikes and contract negotiations with United Steel Worker (USW) union employees.</p><p>The refiner will extend maintenance already underway for weeks at the northern California facility following the early Sunday notification of a strike by USW employees. Operations at the company's 120,000 b/d Anacortes, Washington, and 260,000 b/d Carson, California, refineries transitioned to non-union operations yesterday. </p><p>Golden Eagle accounts for roughly 9pc of California refining capacity. </p><p>USW workers began strikes after rejecting what refiners called a last, best offer on operating contracts. National negotiations led for refiners by Shell concentrated on wages, benefits and working conditions. The union objects to a shift of jobs to contractors, which they say undermines safety and trade career opportunities. </p><p>The strike continued for a second day this morning. Workers gave notifications at the 268,000 b/d LyondellBasell refinery in Houston, Texas; Marathon Petroleum's 475,000 b/d refinery in Texas City, Texas, and 240,000 b/d refinery in Catlettsburg, Kentucky; Shell's 340,000 b/d joint venture refinery in Deer Park, Texas; ExxonMobil's 348,000 b/d refinery in Beaumont, Texas; and at Tesoro's 68,000 b/d refinery in Mandan, North Dakota. </p><p>eb/tdf</p><p><br> Send comments to <a href="mailto:feedback@argusmedia.com" target="_parent"> feedback@argusmedia.com </a></p><p><u><a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/Info/General/News" target="_TOP"> Request more information </a></u> about Argus' energy and commodity news, data and analysis services. </p><p><i> Copyright © 2015 Argus Media Ltd - <a href="http://www.argusmedia.com/" target="_TOP"> www.argusmedia.com </a> - All rights reserved. </i></p></article>
