The United Steelworkers union (USW) and Royal Dutch Shell PLC , which serves as lead company for National Oil Bargaining negotiations, have agreed to return to the bargaining table in an attempt to resolve USW’s more than 5-week-long unfair labor practice strike in effect at US refineries and associated installations ( OGJ Online, Feb. 2, 2015 ). After an extended period of halted discussions between the parties, Shell and USW decided at a Mar. 4 meeting to resume the negotiation process during the week beginning Mar. 9, Shell said. The announcement comes just days after Shell revealed its plan to return the company’s strike-impacted sites to normal, full-rotation operations with the use of Shell-trained employees and without the use of union workers ( OGJ Online, Mar. 3, 2015 ). While Shell expressed hopes of reaching a mutually satisfactory agreement with USW upon renewed negotiations, the company also said it […]