I think I should be getting paid more (No, really.)

I'm not thrilled with the last raise I got at work. I've been looking through the employee handbook, and I haven't found anything in there about how exactly raises work, except that you get one every six months because we are with the union.

However, it's not necessarily the raise that I'm not happy with. It's the recent increases in minimum wage and how it hasn't been effecting my rate of pay. Frankly, I think if minimum wage is going to be increased, it should effect everyone's wages and not just those working at minimum wage. I'm scheduled for my next raise in June. Indiana's minimum wage goes up again in July to $7.25 an hour. (For those of you going "WTF?! $7.25 an hour?! Hell, where I live, it's at least $10 an hour!" keep in mind that I live in INDIANA.) Which means if the raises keep going the way they are and my paycheck won't be affected by the increase in minimum wage....I'll be back to earning a crappy paycheck. :(

Is this job really worth it if I've been working for nearly two years and earning close to minimum wage, despite these "raises"?


I need to find out when the next union meeting will be around here, or else I'll have to call my rep and ask him directly.


On a related note, they want to re-train me to work in the service center. Ugh. Not thrilled with that, either.

Still no contract for BP Whiting refinery

Rolling 24-hour extensions continue

BY BOWDEYA TWEH
Bowdeya.Tweh@nwitimes.com
219.933.4183 | Monday, February 02, 2009 | 19 comment(s)

Contract talks between the United Steelworkers and oil refining companies ended Sunday afternoon without an agreement being forged, but representatives from both sides said there were no work stoppage plans today.

Negotiations are expected to continue today as well.

Both sides agreed to continue talks and work on a rolling 24-hour extension without a contract in place.

The union's oil bargaining committee is negotiating with Shell Oil Co., the lead company in the master contract negotiations. The master agreement, or the National Oil Bargaining agreement, will set a precedent for other companies to follow. Each union local must approve the master agreement and local agreements covering issues in each workplace, including overtime guidelines and scheduling.

The national negotiations are in Texas, and, on a local level, they are occurring at the Radisson Hotel in Merrillville.

A call to Shell Oil Co.'s media line Sunday was not returned.

USW spokeswoman Lynne Baker didn't return a call Sunday seeking comment on the status of negotiations. However, a contract update posted on the union's Web site Saturday said, "Please be advised that sufficient progress has been made in our deliberations today to warrant a rolling 24-hour extension at all locations. Discussions are continuing."

According to the union's Web site, the union had rejected three of Shell's proposals as of Thursday.

"Obviously, we're still on an extension, so it would indicate that there's some level of progress being met," said Bob Lofton, USW international staff representative for the 1,100 workers at BP's Whiting Refinery and for local oil pipeline and terminal workers.

BP spokesman Brad Etlin said negotiations have been productive, but more time is needed to continue working on an agreement. He expects work to continue as usual at BP facilities, including the Whiting Refinery, today.

"We're happy with the progress, and we're continuing to work toward that goal," Etlin said.

Etlin said if talks were to break down, the union would provide a 24-hour notice of a strike. Etlin and Lofton said a notice wasn't filed Sunday. In the case of a USW strike, the refinery would not use replacement workers, Etlin said.