Rep. Joe Deshotel (D-Beaumont) has written a letter calling on ExxonMobil CEO Darren Woods to end the lockout and return to the negotiation table with the union.
The letter, released on Friday and provided to the Enterprise, is the first public response from a state legislator representing the Beaumont area in support of ExxonMobil workers that have been locked out of the work place since May 1.
The letter was addressed to Woods at the company’s headquarters in Irving, and was also sent to Beaumont management.
The following is the letter from Deshotel, published as written:
Dear Mr. Woods,
I am writing to urge ExxonMobil to immediately end the lockout at your Beaumont operations and for the company and the union to return to the bargaining table until a fair deal is reached. I have served in the Texas Legislature for twenty-two years and my district includes the refinery, the blending and packing plant. I am a long-time supporter of the oil and gas industry and of the labor unions which represent families in these industries. I have witnessed the long-term economic benefits for workers, management, and communities when we work together to pursue our common interests.
During the 87th Legislative session, I, along with the United Steelworkers and the Texas AFL-CIO, worked with the oil and gas industry on legislation that was viewed as mutually beneficial. House Bill 1284 will transfer authority to regulate carbon sequestration to Texas agencies. It had the support of labor unions and has been sent to the Governor.
I authored HB 2730 which is on the Governor’s desk representing a fair balance between industry including Exxon Mobil and Texas landowners streamlining the eminent domain process that governs the future expansion of your pipeline system.
House Bill 1683 is another recent example of how I have acted to support the oil industry in Texas, addressing the regulation of federal laws relating to oil and gas operations in our state. I voted for the bill, and it passed the House. Many of my colleagues and I have been supporters of the oil industry because it brings jobs to our state. Those jobs are meaningful as long as they keep paying well.
While the oil industry needs ever-increasing support in order to thrive in the future, workers need to be supported as well. ExxonMobil’s ongoing lockout of USW Local 13-243 is depriving these skilled workers of millions of dollars in lost income, on top of the hardships they just experienced with COVID-19 and doing harm to the businesses and community services in my district which benefit from workers spending their hard-earned wages.
In conclusion, I strongly urge Exxon Mobil to end the lockout and work with the United Steelworkers to resolve the current dispute and reach an agreement where safety comes first and where all our stakeholders can prosper.
Respectfully,
Joseph D. Deshotel
22nd Legislative District