Suspensions Upset Union Officials

Union officials in Carson are upset with Arco for suspending two pipe fitters at its Carson refinery after they refused to perform maintenance work atop an oil tank because they believed that it was unsafe.

Harry Engelhardt, an official with the Oil, Chemical and Atomic Workers International Union, says the suspensions without pay--one for five days and one for 10--were unwarranted in view of a Cal/OSHA citation issued against Arco last week.

The general citation, which does not carry a fine, says Arco should have conducted tests for flammable or noxious gases on the tank’s roof before ordering the two workers to replace valves there.

“(Arco) took an unsafe condition and twisted it around into a disciplinary issue,” Engelhardt said Friday. He added that the union is attempting through the grievance process to recover the two men’s lost pay--$1,396 in one case and $698 in the other.

An Arco spokesman said Friday that the tank repair was ordered after a careful review had determined the work could be done safely. Albert Greenstein said: “Arco would never knowingly expose its workers to an unsafe condition.”