Eric Sweeney, President of the West Central Ohio Central Labor Council, joined the America’s Work Force Union Podcast and discussed a Sept. 20 explosion at the BP-Cenovus Toledo Refinery, which killed two people.
The tradegy toook the lives of brothers, Ben and Max Morrissey, who were both members of the United Steelworkers District One Local 346. Sweeney is also a Staff Representative at Local 346.
Servicing oil refineries is an inherently dangerous job due to close work with flammable materials, Sweeney said. He emphasized the importance of safety, which the USW makes a priority. Several investigations into the tragedy are ongoing, and Sweeney hopes the findings will lead to greater workplace safety.
He also talked about contract negotiations for USW members who work at the Hollywood Casinos in Toledo and Columbus, Ohio. Pay continues to be an issue, as 75 percent of the wages the casinos advertises the employees earn is funded through customer tips, he added.
Listen to the entire episode to learn more about these topics: