A new contract may be signed after union members marched on Sunoco headquarters, decrying cuts they said would put safety at a premium.
Hundreds came out to support United Steelworkers' local unions at a rally near City Hall Feb. 26 in their fight for safety and jobs. Staff Photo by Greg Bezanis
Chanting, "They say cut back. We say fight back" along with more than 400 others, Matt Tankelwicz protested with his family by his side. The United Steelworkers Union and its members marched to Sunoco's corporate headquarters at 1735 Market St. Feb. 26, fighting to keep the Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries running at what they say are safe staffing levels and to save 100 operator positions the company may cut at the 3144 W. Passyunk Ave. site.
Tankelwicz has three years as an operator at the South Philly refinery under his belt, where he monitors utilities and inspects equipment, but since cuts are based on seniority, he will be one of the possible 100 laid off if Sunoco does not reach terms with the union.
"It's nerve-wracking," the Northeast resident said. "I haven't been out of a job since I was 12."
"I don't want my dad to die at work," son Josh, 11, added at the rally, fearing the cuts could compromise safety.
Inside Sunoco headquarters, Local 10-1 President Jim Savage, left, tries to give a petition with 2,000 signatures from residents to Chief Executive Officer Lynn Elsenhans, but has to settle for a security guard (Staff Photo by Greg Bezanis).
"[It's] scary because we might not have any money," daughter Tori, 13, also at the rally, said.
Tankelwicz is only one potential cut. There could be 99 others.
"The stress level in the refinery is unbelievable," he said.
Sunoco, citing a weak economy and change in consumer needs, is looking to cut back, while Locals 10-1 from Philadelphia and 10-901 from Marcus Hook are looking to solidify an agreement that includes job security. The terms would mean union employees would not be laidoff except in a decreased level of operation caused by the sale of units; complete or partial closure; or a merger or a joint venture.
Sunoco, according to the union, does not want to abide by the job security portion because it wants to lay off workers while operating the sites at full capacity. The cuts and the company's desire to combine jobs are the issues stalling negotiations that began Jan. 21, though as of press time Tuesday, Local 10-1 reached a verbal, tentative agreement, which it had hoped to sign by last night. The next step is a review before a ratification late next week, 10-1 President Jim Savage said. A tentative agreement also was reached late Tuesday and signed by the Marcus Hook union. Its approval is pending a review and member vote.
According to the union, Sunoco is proposing to eliminate 100 out of 400 operators in Philadelphia. At Marcus Hook, it wants to cut 60 of 270 operators and 30 of 150 mechanics, and is proposing pay cuts for others.
Regardless of how negotiations proceed, last Thursday union members delivered a 2,000-signature petition from community members surrounding the Passyunk plant against the cuts to Sunoco Chairwoman/CEO Lynn Elsenhans, Savage said.
Sunoco Inc. has announced its plans Monday to exit the refining business, which includes looking for buyers for its South Philly, 3144 W. Passyunk Ave., and Marcus Hook refineries. 

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1. Bill Mulligan said... on Mar 5, 2009 at 08:05AM
“ Have to laugh at the Union folks. I live about 1/2 a mile from the Sun plant in South Philly, and not one person knocked on my door for my families signature. Whose signature did they ask for other Union members ? Unions don't care about any community, all they care for is thier membership. I hope the Sun management ask me if I would feel safe with job cuts and I would definitely say yes. It's the union workers that make me feel unsafe, I mean it was Union workers that caused the Gulf fire of the 70's. Wake up America unions are not American and could care nothing about the working man, why do you think the economy is the way it is ? No company wants too manufacture goods in this Country do too the union bullying that drives down profit. ”
2. PJ said... on Mar 5, 2009 at 09:38AM
“Next you want to post a comment make sure you have your information straight first!”
3. Bill Mulligan said... on Mar 5, 2009 at 09:51AM
“ I do have my information right, my whole family works at the refinery, infact my grandfather was upper management....”
4. Howard Stern said... on Mar 6, 2009 at 09:14AM
“Hey Bill, it wasn't a "union" member that caused the fire, that side of the refinery wasn't unionized until the mid 80's. Your entire family works at the refinery huh? I guess they aren't union members. Wish them luck for me as the company that doesn't compromise on safety is going to layoff 25-30% of them. USW Local 10-1 saved 100 jobs that Sunoco wanted to cut purely to make more profits. They had no plan on how the refinery was going to run with this reduction in the work force. This contract was all about money for Sunoco, and all about safety for the union members. ”
5. Bill Mulligan said... on Mar 6, 2009 at 11:02AM
“ The probelm is that Unions always use scare tactics, want to scare the neighbors of the refinery's so that we agree with the Union pilaging the company. The Company has a right to make a profit, that's what business is all about. Hey Howard most of my family are Union infact most on my mother's side run Safway Scaffolding, I too was Union, but Unions have lost there way there ain't nothing about a Union thats American. You guys go ahead and pass that EFCA act and the rest of us true Americans will turn against you folk in droves. Unionized Labor is not the solution infacts it's the probelm...”
6. Carlene Basquilli said... on Mar 6, 2009 at 03:08PM
“Bill Mulligan you are a real goober..u honestly don't know what you are talking about. If you had been following the story, and what Sunoco was really proposing maybe you would feel different. On a more serious note, does anyone know what that VERY good looking man is in the grey shirt in the front of the picture?? Wow, what a stud..”
7. Howard Stern said... on Mar 6, 2009 at 04:45PM
“I know who he is, but sorry to say Carlene, he is consumed by his work at the refinery, he is basically married to it...sorry”
8. Bill Mulligan said... on Mar 6, 2009 at 10:36PM
“ Um Carlene I do know what I'm talking about and I have more at stake from Sunoco then you. I live at 28th and Porter. Sunoco was planning to lay off Steel workers big deal, that's the economy we live in, what makes the Union worker any different ? You unions always use scare tactics, infact you cost the company more then your really worth. Have to be honest I rather see Union workers laid off then management. How American is the EFCA act your all pushing ? I mean come on men and women died in wars for the right to vote in private and you folk want to take that away. Remember Organized Labor is a communist theory taken right out Marx's book.... ”
9. Howard Stern said... on Mar 7, 2009 at 10:42AM
“so..where did you get the information that private ballots are going away..that is not true, and is propaganda..yeah..layoff the union workers who do the actual work..that makes sense...Nothing makes us different, except the fact that Sunoco has been making record profits...why should they layoff workers and add to the misery of this economy when there is no need to, and don't tell me they can do what they want..because if that is your arguement, then the union can do what it wants..whatever it takes to save jobs”
10. Bill Mulligan said... on Mar 7, 2009 at 07:41PM
“ First of all the Union is an employee of the said company, you work for them, not the other way around. That's the problem with you Union folk, you want to tell the employer how to run his business, when without the employers capital you'd have no job. So you gonna tell me the economy is bad and management of companies are bad yet the leaders of the AFL-CIO are down in Florida at an 300.00 a night resort ? And you want me too feel sorry if union workers get laid off ? Give me a break unions should be disbanded and out lawed infact unions are one of the main reasons the economy is the way it is... ”