Refinery Workers Reach New Contract

Union employees at Flying J Inc.’s Bakersfield oil refinery agreed to a three-year contract that took effect Tuesday, ending a months-long impasse.

The plant was one of the few refineries that hadn’t signed a nationwide pact between major refiners and the United Steel, Paper and Forestry, Rubber, Manufacturing, Energy, Allied Industrial and Service Workers International Union.

Union members approved the deal late last week, clearing the way for 122 employees to receive a $1,500 signing bonus and annual raises of between 3.5% and 3.7% over the life of the contract, according to the union.

Elizabeth Douglass