Union Calls for End to BP Refinery Lockout
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA is urging an end to BP's lockout of more than 800 workers at its Whiting, Indiana refinery.
Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Unions
Live Poll
Do you trust large companies to treat their workers fairly?
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA called for BP to end its lockout of more than 800 union workers at the Whiting refinery in Indiana. The union also asked United Airlines to drop BP as a jet fuel supplier if the workers are not returned to work.
Why it matters
The Whiting refinery supplies jet fuel through underground pipelines to United Airlines and other carriers at O'Hare International Airport, so the dispute ties a labor fight in Indiana to air travel in Chicago. The lockout follows workers' rejection of a contract that would eliminate jobs and weaken safety protections.
More than 800 United Steelworkers Local 7-1 members remain locked out of BP's Whiting refinery, according to the union letter. The refinery's operations have continued without interruption, and no timeline for a new agreement has been announced.
The players
Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
A union representing flight attendants at major U.S. airlines, part of the Communications Workers of America.
BP
A multinational energy company that operates the Whiting, Indiana refinery, one of the largest in the Midwest.
United Airlines
A major U.S. airline and a customer of the Whiting refinery's jet fuel, based in Chicago.
The details
The Association of Flight Attendants-CWA asked United Airlines to review BP under its Supplier Guiding Principles and to directly urge the company to end the lockout and reach a fair agreement. BP says it has been bargaining for a contract aimed at the long-term sustainability of the more than century-old refinery.
Timeline
November 4, 2026: Union letter calling for an end to the BP lockout was published.
Big Picture
The union is leveraging United Airlines' Supplier Guiding Principles to pressure BP over a labor dispute at a supplier. The campaign links a refinery lockout in Indiana to the airline's procurement standards.
Travelers flying from O'Hare may not see immediate effects, since the refinery continues operating normally during the dispute. The outcome could eventually affect jet fuel supply and pricing for airlines that rely on the Whiting refinery.
The takeaway
Labor disputes at fuel suppliers can ripple into the airline industry, and customers may watch how major carriers respond to supplier labor practices. Following union announcements and company statements offers a clearer view as negotiations develop.
Further reading
Explore more Indiana union news for context on labor disputes in the state.
Live Poll
Do you trust large companies to treat their workers fairly?
