Last week The Lima News gave praise to Roy Warnock for his contribution to Lima. Easy to do when he is handing out money. But what about those who worked under him?
I first met Warnock July 2007 when Husky Energy Inc. bought the Lima refinery. I raised some issues we had in the refinery that he might address. He was clear that he did not care about those issues and he would run the plant his way. He also stated in a second meeting he would not let the labor contract stand in his way.
His attack on the contract and his wish for a strike came true in 2012. Despite a 39-day extension by the union to get a contract and two federal mediators, Warnock had his strike. He even told his salary workers that, “It’s a great day for a strike.” There had not been a strike at the refinery since 1978. After 4½ months of hardship the workers returned to work.
Warnock reduced sick time for his workers by 33 percent, he cut new hires pay by 30 percent, cut training pay to learn new jobs by 20 percent, and restricted shift workers schedules that reduced time to attend family events. All of this was done when the Lima refinery had a profit of $283 million in 2012.
The union filed more grievances, arbitrations and national labor board charges in Warnock’s eight years at the refinery than the previous 20 years.
The best thing about Roy Warnock is that he is gone. It is the local’s hope that the healing can start and a better relationship can begin.
— Mike Edelbrock, president, U.S.W. Local 624
