Refinery workers strike spreads to biggest US location

PORT ARTHUR, Texas (AP) --The first nationwide, oil refinery strike in more than 30 years is growing to encompass four new plants, including the largest U.S. refinery in Port Arthur, Texas.

The United Steelworkers union says workers at the Motiva Enterprises refinery in Port Arthur started their strike at midnight Friday. Employees at two other refineries and a chemical plant in Louisiana will strike at the end of Saturday.

The expansion adds another 1,350 union-represented workers to the strike, which began February 1st at refineries mostly in Texas and California. It later grew to include Ohio and Indiana refineries.

The union started negotiating last month with Shell Oil Co., which is serving as the lead company in national bargaining talks.

Shell representatives did not immediately return calls from The Associated Press seeking comment.