385 Oil Refinery Workers in New Jersey Demand Fair Contract
LINDEN, N.J., Sept. 29, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Members of Teamsters Local 877 at Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery have voted by an overwhelming 92 percent margin to authorize a strike. The 385 process and mechanical workers work at the largest oil refinery on the East Coast.
The workers are demanding a contract that delivers higher wages, stronger benefits, reliable access to paid time off, and protects contractual language previously negotiated and agreed upon.
“If a strike occurs, it will be because Phillips 66 management has left these workers with no other choice,” said Jeff Sanford, President of Local 877. “Our members are standing together for a fair contract that recognizes the essential work they perform every day at Bayway.”
In 2025, management implemented an Absence Control Policy that allows discipline, up to and including termination, for employee absences due to illness.
Management has proposed changes that would compromise safety, including reducing qualification requirements and shortening the current 30-month training period for new employees. The company has also proposed tying probationary status to qualification milestones that could take up to six years to complete, replacing the current 10-month probationary period.
“These workers are in a demanding and essential industry. Without their labor, the Northeast’s energy infrastructure would crumble,” said Juan Campos, Director of the Teamsters Tankhaul Division. “If management thinks they can drag their feet and force workers to settle for less, they’re in for a sobering wake up call. The Teamsters are united and we aren’t backing down.”
Negotiations are ongoing, but no agreement has been reached. The current collective bargaining agreement expires on Oct 1.
“We put our health, safety, and livelihoods on the line to keep this refinery running, and we expect to be compensated accordingly,” said Fred Trachsler, an 18-year operator and Local 877 steward. “We’re not going to accept weaker safety standards, blatant concessions, or policies that punish workers. If management keeps this up, we’ll have to fight on the picket line.”
The Phillips 66 Bayway Refinery processes 275 million barrels of crude oil and 145 million barrels of gasoline products each day. Last year, they generated $4.4 billion.
Founded in 1903, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters represents 1.3 million hardworking people in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Visit Teamster.org for more information. Follow us on X @Teamsters and on Facebook at Facebook.com/teamsters.
Contact:
Lena Melentijevic, (347) 208-2279
LMelentijevic@teamster.org
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SOURCE International Brotherhood of Teamsters
