US oil workers strike enters second day

San Francisco

THE strike by oil workers at plants accounting for 10 per cent of US refining capacity entered a second day on Monday in the biggest walkout since 1980.

The United Steelworkers (USW) union that represents employees at more than 200 refineries, terminals, pipelines and chemical plants stopped work on Sunday at nine sites after failing to agree on a renewed labour contract. The union rejected five offers made by Royal Dutch Shell plc on behalf of companies including Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp since talks began on Jan 21.