1300 Sunoco refinery workers stay on the job, for now

[Omaha Steve]

http://ydr.inyork.com/ci_11814248

The Associated Press
Posted: 03/01/2009 02:42:25 PM EST

PHILADELPHIA—More than a thousand union workers at Sunoco refineries in the Philadelphia area will stay on the job—for now—as contract talks continue.

Union employees at the oil company's plants in the city and in Marcus Hook were poised to walk out at noon on Sunday.

But officials with the United Steelworkers say they're making progress in talks with the company, and pushed back the deadline.

The union has been fighting to keep staffing at current levels. They say Sunoco wants to cut nearly 200 jobs from the 1,300 working at the two refineries.

The company says those plans are in line with what's happening at its refineries across the country. They say those plants continue to operate safely.