The United Steelworkers (USW) today said that the union will sponsor a noon rally at Dorney Plaza followed by a march to Marathon corporate headquarters on Tues., Feb. 24, to show management that union members are united in their drive for fair contracts that improve safety throughout the oil industry.

Almost 6,600 USW oil workers are currently engaged in an industry-wide unfair labor practice strike at 15 refineries and chemical plants in Ohio, California, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Texas and Washington, and industry negotiators continue to refuse to discuss serious concerns raised by the union regarding the health and safety of workers and their communities.

USW members account for about 64 percent of the country's oil refining capacity, and the union represents about 30,000 workers throughout the oil industry at more than 200 pipelines, terminals, petrochemical plants and other facilities.

The USW represents 850,000 men and women employed in metals, mining, pulp and paper, rubber, chemicals, glass, auto supply and the energy-producing industries, along with a growing number of workers in public sector and service occupations.