USW 7-1

10/09/2026

“Can the damage that’s been done be healed?”
- WJOB Network's Jim Dedelow asks about British Petroleum’s negotiating strategy to hurt our families by locking us out of our jobs.
We appreciate the opportunity to talk about their decision - and the impact it has had on our families and our community.
Additional clips can be found in the comments.

10/06/2026

Today, British Petroleum issued yet another propaganda video meant to divide our members, emphasizing how much they care about us and how committed they are to our community, a fair contract and our future.

This, as they continue to demand the State of Indiana cut off the $335 in unemployment benefits many of us are now taking home each week.
And that we pay back the thousands of dollars in unemployment many of us have already received since they locked us out of our jobs in March.
They hope if they just continue to refuse to explain why they are doing this, we will all forget.

So as they continue their manipulative PR campaign, we will continue to ask – why would a company that cares so much about its employees do that to our families?
Because we haven’t forgotten – and we won’t.
And neither will our community. ✊

10/03/2026

No video messages, no media statements, no explanation at all.

When it was time for British Petroleum to publicly explain why they are trying to prevent our families from receiving unemployment benefits while they lock us out of our jobs, they chose to say nothing.
When it was time for British Petroleum to publicly explain why they are demanding that our families pay back any unemployment benefits we’ve already received, they chose to say nothing.

This after they chose to take away our paychecks, simply because 98% of our members voted against their demands that we agree to eliminate dozens of jobs, nearly all of us take pay cuts and give up all bargaining and seniority rights.

We appreciate your incredible support in this fight and are asking Governor Mike Braun to reject the London company’s latest demands – and that he support legislation from Sen. Rodney Pol Jr. and State Representative Chuck Moseley to prevent any corporation from trying to take unemployment away from locked-out Indiana workers.

The last time British Petroleum chose to say anything at all to our community, it was that “our priority is to reach a fair agreement with the USW, while continuing to support our employees.”
Their actions speak much louder than their words.

10/02/2026

BRITISH PETROLEUM ASKS STATE TO DENY UNEMPLOYMENT FOR LOCKED-OUT WORKERS, FORCE THEM TO GIVE BACK ANY PAYMENTS RECEIVED

British Petroleum has officially filed an appeal with the State of Indiana, asking that already-approved unemployment claims be denied for hundreds of workers the London company locked out of their jobs in March.
If the company’s appeal is granted, United Steelworkers Local 7-1 members will lose the roughly $310 a week in unemployment benefits they are now taking home. Worse, they could be required to pay back unemployment benefits they’ve already received.

Union leaders will join state legislators and community organizers in a press conference, set for 12pm Friday at USW 7-1, 2045 Schrage Ave. in Whiting.
They will call on Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, who oversees the agency that decides unemployment appeals, to reject the company’s effort. They will also outline proposed legislation to ensure Indiana workers who are locked out of their jobs by a company automatically qualify for unemployment, as is done in other states.

“British Petroleum’s latest attempt to hurt Northwest Indiana families is unconscionable,” said Eric Schultz, president of USW 7-1. “Locking us out of our jobs and taking paychecks away from hundreds of local families was always part of their negotiating strategy. This is the next step in their negotiating strategy and proof they truly do not care about this community or the people who call it home.”

As union leaders were negotiating a new contract with the company earlier this year, more than 98% of the union’s roughly 800 members voted to reject the company’s demands to eliminate dozens of jobs, impose pay cuts for most workers and that all workers give up bargaining and seniority rights. British Petroleum then chose to lock those workers out of their jobs and deny them paychecks.
Many of those union members then filed for unemployment, which was approved by the State of Indiana. British Petroleum did not challenge those filings before a state deadline, but now says that was an error they are asking the state to overlook.
A hearing is set for Oct. 16 on British Petroleum’s unemployment challenges against the Whiting refinery workers.

On Friday, State Sen. Rodney Pol and State Rep. Chuck Moseley will join USW 7-1, as well as community leaders, in detailing proposed legislation that would immediately allow workers locked out by their employers to qualify for unemployment benefits.
“We are going to fight like hell so that the 800+ USW families get those benefits,” the legislators said in a joint statement.

Whiting is the last union refinery in the U.S. for British Petroleum, which has already delivered nearly $6B in profits to its shareholders this year. Still, their CEO vowed to deliver even more profits this year, while continuing to demand hundreds of Whiting refinery workers be locked out of work until they agree to the company’s demands to cut jobs, wages and workplace rights.
More information can be found at www.supportoilworkers.com.

09/28/2026

As we all endured power outages and damage to our homes after last month’s tornados, British Petroleum offered Go Hammond $50,000 to help.
“We said ‘no thanks’," Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr. said. “I don’t want their f*%king help.”
Mayor McDermott’s support for our union has never wavered and as we continue picketing, continue looking for side jobs to support our families and continue negotiating, we also continue to be locked out of our jobs by the London company.
Our families are in particular need of toiletries and household supplies at this time. If you can donate items, find the Amazon link on our website, www.supportoilworkers.com
✊
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1019428704453871

09/19/2026

Your support for our families during the back-to-school supply drive was OVERWHELMING and we thank all of you!

We had so many donated school supplies left over that when we heard about a need for items among East Chicago and Portage Township families, we knew how we could continue the kindness shown to our families. We were proud to continue paying it forward.

It’s now been six months since British Petroleum made the decision to hurt our community and families by locking hundreds of us out of our jobs, but our solidarity and support for one another remains our greatest strength. ✊

09/15/2026

- UPDATE -
Today, British Petroleum introduced us to their new lead negotiator, while informing us of additional changes to their bargaining team, giving our negotiations a bit of a re-set in a more measured atmosphere.

They heard – and will continue to hear – our concerns about their earlier proposals to cut dozens of jobs, force hundreds of us to take pay cuts and to give up bargaining and seniority rights.
The company also agreed to meet again later this week.

While there is still a long road ahead, we are hopeful this is a sign of a fresh start and that we will be able to negotiate a fair contract for our members. ✊

09/14/2026

09/11/2026

We remember the thousands of innocent lives lost in the terrorism attacks 25 years ago today.
We also honor the courage of the first responders who saved lives and inspired us all that day, while thanking those who continue to put their own lives at risk for all of us.