Union Says Sunoco Wants To Close Local Refineries, Laying Off Thousands
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Union workers gathered outside Sunoco's annual shareholders' meeting this morning in center city Philadelphia to voice fears that the company may close its two area refineries.
United Steelworkers Union "Sun Council" president Jerry Dugan (above) stood outside the Sunoco shareholders' meeting at the Moore College of Art to tell reporters that the way he reads the shareholder's report, Sunoco CEO Lynn Elsenhans seems to want to sell or close the Philadelphia and Marcus Hook refineries -- a move that would put 1,600 employees out of work.
"She just wants to be a marketer, meaning selling gas in the gas stations," says Dugan. "She has no interest whatsoever to produce gasoline in our petrochemical refineries."
Sunoco spokesman Tom Golembeski said Sunoco's goal is to be the premium provider of transportation fuels, and the company wants its refineries to be competitive. He wouldn't comment on what he called "marketplace rumors" about any plans to close or sell refineries.
Reported by Mike DeNardo, KYW Newsradio 1060
