To: Ben van Beurden, CEO, Royal Dutch Shell Oil Company

We support the USW unfair labor practices strike against big oil companies

We support the unfair labor practice strike by steelworkers at the refineries in Texas City, Texas, and across the country. Their struggle is the struggle of working people in this country and around the world. We all want safe refineries and safe communities.

Why is this important?

We don't want any more workers to die. That's why the United Steelworkers union is taking on the richest, most powerful industry in the world by fighting to secure a fair contract that will protect the health and safety of workers and communities. The oil industry's greed and bad-faith bargaining have stalled efforts to improve conditions in its workplaces. The industry has refused to address serious health and safety issues that have already killed thousands of workers over the years.

We support the efforts of the USW union to improve the working conditions of the striking refinery workers. Jobs in refineries are dangerous and require a high level of skill. As we know from the BP disaster, mistakes can cause catastrophes for the surrounding communities and the environment.

These workers deserve to be treated fairly. Failure to bargain fairly in these negotiations will only reflect the oil industry's lack of regard for the workers and the communities in which its enterprises are located.