EPISODE · Apr 28, 2026 · 36 MIN
The Whiting Refinery Lockout with USW Local 7-1’s Eric Schultz
from America’s Work Force Union Podcast · host BMA Media Group
Is BP using an ExxonMobil playbook to break the union in Indiana? In this episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast, we dive into the heart of the labor struggle at the BP Whiting refinery. USW Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz joins us to pull back the curtain on the lockout of over 800 union members at the nation's largest inland refinery. Schultz details how BP transitioned from "surface bargaining" to a full-scale lockout, hiring out-of-state replacement workers at a staggering $127 per hour while running the 100-year-old facility at dangerously low capacity. We discuss: The Exxon Playbook: How BP’s lead negotiator is using tactics honed during the infamous Beaumont lockout. The AI Threat: Why BP is demanding workers waive bargaining rights over Artificial Intelligence and employee tracking. Safety Risks: The terrifying reality of operating a century-old refinery with undertrained personnel. Community Solidarity: How the town of Whiting is rallying to support the picket lines. Stand with the workers: Visit supportoilworkers.com to learn how you can help.
What this episode covers
BP has locked out 800 Steelworkers at the Whiting Refinery, bringing in $127/hr scabs to replace local families. USW Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz joins the podcast to expose BP’s union-busting strategy, the dangerous safety risks at the facility, and why this fight is a line in the sand for the future of collective bargaining in the oil industry.
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The Whiting Refinery Lockout with USW Local 7-1’s Eric Schultz
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