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Whiting Today
By the People, for the People
BP Whiting Refinery Faces Potential Lockout Amid Labor Dispute
Union workers authorized to strike as contract negotiations stall
Mar. 19, 2026 at 12:04am
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Hundreds of union workers at the BP refinery in Whiting, Indiana, may be locked out at midnight on Thursday if a labor dispute over contract negotiations is not resolved. The lockout would affect 900 workers, many of whom live in the local community. The union claims BP wants to cut over 100 jobs, accept pay cuts, and give up bargaining rights, while BP says it has trained other workers to operate the refinery safely during the lockout.
Why it matters
The potential lockout could have significant economic impacts on the Whiting community, as the refinery is a major employer and its workers support local businesses. There are also concerns about the safety and operations of the refinery if it is run by replacement workers during the lockout.
The details
The labor dispute involves contract negotiations between BP and the USW-71 union. BP has provided the union with a revised proposal, but the two sides have not reached an agreement. The union says BP wants to cut over 100 jobs, accept pay cuts, and give up bargaining rights, while BP claims it has trained other workers to safely operate the refinery during the lockout.
- The lockout would take effect at 12 a.m. midnight on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
- The union presented an offer to BP on Tuesday, March 17, 2026, which was rejected.
The players
BP Whiting Refinery
The largest inland refinery in the United States, processing and supplying oil to five Midwest states and portions of Canada.
USW-71
The union representing the 900 workers at the BP Whiting Refinery.
Chris Della Franco
BP Whiting Refinery Manager.
Eric Schultz
President of the USW-71 union.
Chris Alcala
A Whiting resident concerned about the potential impact of the lockout on local businesses.
What they’re saying
“We still have not reached an agreement and this afternoon we provided a revised comprehensive company proposal dated [March 17]. We also notified the UW Bargaining committee. The company will begin the process of a lockout that will take effect Thursday, March 19 at 12 a.m. midnight.”
— Chris Della Franco, BP Whiting Refinery Manager
“It will affect a lot of businesses here. There's a place down the block, Center Lounge, a lot of people go out to dinner there, lunch. It's going to affect us, too, if 100 people leave.”
— Chris Alcala, Whiting resident
“I want to ensure the community we have trained BP employees to run the refinery. They've prepared for over a year and have prepared with over 80,000 hours of training. They are qualified, highly skilled and committed to running the refinery safely and effectively. We do not expect any disruptions to our production.”
— Chris Della Franco, BP Whiting Refinery Manager
What’s next
The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow the lockout to proceed.
The takeaway
This labor dispute highlights the tensions between unions and corporations over job security, wages, and working conditions. The potential lockout could have significant economic impacts on the Whiting community, raising concerns about the safety and operations of the refinery if it is run by replacement workers.
