US oil firms see biggest strike since 1980

The United Steelworkers union that represents employees at more than 200 US oil refineries, terminals, pipelines and chemical plants began a strike at nine sites in the biggest walkout since 1980.

The USW started the work stoppage after failing to agree on a labor contract that expired on Sunday, saying in a statement that it "had no choice". The union rejected five contract offers made by Royal Dutch Shell Plc on behalf of oil companies including Exxon Mobil Corp and Chevron Corp since negotiations began on Jan 21.

The steelworkers' union hasn't called a strike nationally since 1980, when a stoppage lasted three months. A full walkout of USW workers would threaten to disrupt as much as 64 percent of US fuel production. Shell and union representatives began negotiations amid the biggest collapse in oil prices since 2008.