In March, British Petroleum (BP) locked out over 800 workers, prompting Indiana lawmakers to push for legislation to ensure unemployment benefits for those workers. Indiana Senator Rodney Pol, D-Portage, discussed BP’s appeal against pre-approved unemployment claims. The company is attempting to have workers return $335 a week in unemployment benefits.
During a press conference at USW Local 7-1 headquarters in Whiting, Pol and State Representative Chuck Moseley, D-Portage, introduced a bill to guarantee unemployment benefits for locked out workers from the first day of the lockout. Currently, workers are eligible for benefits only after all bargaining options are exhausted and an impasse is reached.
According to Senator Pol, the Governor, Mike Braun, was contacted immediately post-lockout to protect BP workers. Pol emphasized that the legislative action would proceed during the January session, highlighting the financial challenges faced by workers amidst high foreclosures.
“At a time when we’re seeing record-high foreclosures and record-low homebuyers, we have a foreign company trying to starve 800 families,” Pol stated.
Representative Moseley, with a personal connection as his grandson is among the locked-out workers, criticized BP’s actions, labeling them an indignity forced upon working families. Moseley urged workers to contact Governor Braun to prevent the recoupment of unemployment benefits.
Scott Houldieson, Democratic candidate for District 1’s State Senate seat, described BP’s actions as “economic terrorism.” He contrasted Indiana benefits with his own at Ford Motor Company in Illinois, reinforcing the importance of collective action.
“I want to be here for this legislation because my opponent will be a vote against it,” Houldieson commented.
Local 7-1 President Eric Schultz confirmed that legal efforts are underway to extend unemployment for affected workers. Concerns over having to pay back benefits were voiced, and Pol reassured that efforts to prevent this were in place.
Cynthia Gil, a worker’s wife, expressed the emotional impact of the lockout. Recalling the initial excitement when her husband joined BP 20 years earlier, she implored for a resolution, questioning the governor’s role in the ongoing issue.
Moseley encouraged attendees to urge Governor Braun to protect their unemployment benefits through direct communication.
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