United Steelworkers called for union members to go on strike on Sunday, a move that could impact over 60 percent of U.S. oil production.
Nine U.S. oil refineries and chemical plants could stop production after a contract expired at midnight on Sunday, Fox News reports. According to Republican Georgia Rep. Tom Price, United Steelworkers wants more jobs and job security.
The union is reportedly angry at President Obama for issuing a veto threat after the House and Senate both passed Keystone XL Pipeline bills.
“We call on the American people to let the president know that the kinds of policies that the House and Senate are pushing through right now in a bipartisan way are the kinds of things that’ll get this country back on track and get this economy rolling in a healthy way,” Price said.
USW rejected multiple deals from Shell, which represented U.S. refiners, and they failed to reach a deal by the 12:01 a.m. deadline, but both are reportedly still hopeful about reaching an agreement, The Wall Street Journal reports.