Lakewood, Colo. - The Oil, Chemical and Atomic
Workers International Union (OCAW), which has been in a
bitter 32-month labor battle with Baltimore-based Crown
Central Petroleum, today applauded a resolution of the
National Baptist Convention USA, Inc., Labor Relations
Roundtable for its endorsement of the national boycott of
Crown gasoline stations and Zippy Mart and Fast Fare
convenience stores. The National Baptist Convention USA
is the nation's largest African-American church with over
eight million members.
"We will be asking all Baptist churches and her
members not to buy products from Crown," said Rev. Bennie
Mitchell, Jr., Director of the National Baptist
Convention, Labor Relations Roundtable.
The resolution references a class action lawsuit
filed against Crown by African-American and female
workers alleging discrimination in promotions, the
distribution of racist and sexist handbills, and the
creation of a hostile work environment. One handbill
presented as evidence in the lawsuit consists of an
application for "Jesse Jackson's Staff Positions" and
asks, "number of convenience stores robbed?"
Crown forcibly removed 232 OCAW workers from its
Pasadena, Texas refinery in February 1996 and replaced
them with non-union workers after the union refused to
accept company demands to eliminate 40 percent of the
workforce, destroy protections for older workers, and
contract out jobs at will. There has been little
progress in settling the dispute.
Last month, Crown received the largest pollution
fine in Texas history for violating environmental laws
and polluting of minority neighborhoods near its Pasadena
refinery. A study showed that pollution from the
refinery nearly tripled after the lockout.
"We express our profound gratitude to the National
Baptist Convention USA, Labor Relations Roundtable for
taking this stand for human rights," said Robert Wages,
OCAW President.
Other organizations which have passed resolutions
condemning Crown or endorsing the national boycott
include: AFL-CIO, NAACP, National Black Caucus of State
Legislators, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense
Council, Environmental Defense Fund, Baltimore City
Council, Southern Organizing Committee for Economic and
Social Justice, Coalition of Labor Union Women, Coalition
of Black Trade Unionists, Alabama Coalition for a New
South, National Organization of Women (Texas Chapter),
South Carolina Progressive Network, and Atlantic States
Legal Foundation.
Crown gas stations and convenience stores are
located in Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South
Carolina, Georgia and Alabama. Crown's stock price
recently hit a 20-year low, falling by over 80 percent
since its 1989 high.