(WHITING, INDIANA) - BP and Union Representatives said Wednesday (April 29th) They've Reached a Tentative Agreement on a New Contract, Which Means Nearly 1,100 Workers Who've Been Out on Strike for Nearly Three Months Could be Returning to Work Soon.

BP Spokesman Scott Dean said the Company and United Steelworkers (USW) Local 7-1 Representatives are in the Process of Finalizing the Settlement Package.

Local 7-1 President Dave Danko said the Tentative Agreement Was Reached Wednesday Afternoon After the Two Sides Were Able to Negotiate the Final, and for the Union, Most Pressing Issue -- Collective Bargaining.

"Both Parties Moved.  We Adjusted Our Language Enough That the Company Could Remain Competitive and the Company Adjusted its Language So the Union’s Satisfied We Were Able to Keep Our ‘Key’ Bargaining Rights," Danko said.

Danko said the USW Gave Up its Right to Strike Mid-Contract Over an Issue: "We Felt it Was Necessary to Get an Agreement.  At the End of the Day, Both Sides Moved a Little Toward Each Other to Reach a Common Goal."

The Tentative Agreement Still Needs to be Approved by the USW International and Ratified by Local Members.  A Return-to-Work Agreement Also Needs to be Approved.

If the Tentative Agreement is Ratified Next Week, Danko said he Hopes the Workers Can Return to Their Jobs in Another Week or Two.

Dean said the Company is “Pleased” to Have a Tentative Agreement in Place at Whiting and Will Work Towards Getting the Union Employees Back to Work as Soon as Possible: "During This Process, We Sought an Agreement That Ensured Safe, Compliant and Reliable Operations of the Refinery, Fairly Compensates Our Employees for Their Work and Improves the Competitiveness of Our Business.  This Deal Accomplishes Those Goals and We Hope Our USW-Represented Employees Will Ratify This Contract as Soon as Possible."

The Local 7-1 Members Walked Off Their Jobs at the Whiting Refinery on February 8th as Part of a Nationwide Strike Against Oil Refineries That Expanded to Include 15 Refineries.  The Whiting Refinery Never Stopped Operation, as the Company Substituted the Union Workers With a Replacement Team Consisting of Some Former Union Members, Managers and Others.

On March 12th, the USW International Bargaining Team Announced it Had Reached a Tentative Agreement With Shell Oil on a Pattern Agreement for the Industry, Which Addressed Wage Increases, Safety and Routine Maintenance Issues.  However, There Were Still Local Issues That Needed to be Ironed Out at Some of the Refineries, Including the One in Whiting, That Kept Members on the Picket Lines Longer.

The USW’s Danko Believes the Company Was Able to Reach its Goal of Being Able to Operate its Business Competitively: "We ‘Want Them’ to be Successful.  A ‘Strong’ Company is Very Well Balanced by a ‘Strong’ Union.  I Think ‘All’ Parties Will Agree That This is a ‘Strong’ Company and All Our Members Make Up a ‘Very Strong’ Union."

You Can Directly Access This Labor News Story at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/post-tribune/news/ct-ptb-bp-tentative-agreement-st-0430-20150429-story.html