Oil Industry Trade Publication Takes Crown to Task

BTU WEEKLY, A LEADING oil industry trade publication, reported that "Crown's Woes Resonate Throughout the Energy Industry." The publication reported that "During the past three years, Crown Central Petroleum Corp. has perpetuated its refusal to comply with several national oil bargaining agreement guidelines established upon the contract's renewal in February of 1996.

"Crown's contract renewal proposals have been in direct opposition of employer standards upheld by the Paper, Allied-industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers International Union.

The article stated that, "Crown has gone on record accusing PACE members of sabotage, which brought investigative teams from the FBI and NLRB to its Pasadena refinery. However, no evidence of the allegations have been discovered; regardless, Crown has deposed 21 nondefendant employees suspected of sabotage. Ironically, Crown invited the same workers, it accused of foul play, to work the day following the lockout, provided they would accept Crown's contract renewal proposals.

The article pointed out that, "Crown's allegations are vehemently denied by PACE and members of Local 4-227 locked out in Pasadena," said Joe Drexler, Director of Special Projects, PACE International Union.

"PACE and the former OCAW have requested a face-to-face meeting between Henry Rosenberg (Chairman of the Board, President and CEO of Crown) and Boyd Young (President of PACE) and Robert Wages (President of OCAW) but he (Rosenberg) has declined. Rosenberg could not be reached for comment."

The article stated that the settlement reached with the workers would have an impact on the industry as a whole.

It's one thing to see articles which support the union's position in union publications, but it's quite another to see the recent outpouring of supportive articles in business publications like BTU Weekly.

Crown Boycott News, July-August-September 1999