The Lake County Council passed a resolution on July 14, 2026, in support of approximately 800 union workers locked out of BP’s Whiting Refinery since March 19, calling on the energy company to end the lockout and resume negotiations with United Steelworkers Local 7-1.
The resolution, reported by the Chicago Tribune, states that the lockout has placed significant financial and emotional strain on working families, local businesses, schools, and municipal economies throughout Northwest Indiana. The council voted 6-0 to pass the measure, which will be sent to BP, the union, and state and federal elected officials representing Northwest Indiana.
BP locked out the workers on March 19 after contract negotiations stalled. The previous contract expired on January 31, and the parties have held 63 formal bargaining sessions since negotiations began on January 5. The most recent session took place on June 10, with BP officials stating they have reached out to the union multiple times since then without receiving a response. The union counters that BP has not presented a meaningful proposal and is engaged in union-busting tactics.
The refinery, located in Whiting, Indiana, is a critical part of the Chicago region’s energy infrastructure. It processes crude oil into gasoline, diesel, and other petroleum products for the Midwest market. Since the lockout began, approximately 450 employees and specialized contractors have been operating the facility, according to refinery officials who claim the plant continues to run safely.
Beyond the immediate labor dispute, the lockout has economic ripple effects across the Chicago metropolitan area. Many of the locked-out workers live in Northwest Indiana communities that are economically integrated with Chicago’s South Side and southern suburbs. Local businesses in Whiting, Gary, Schererville, and Crown Point have felt the impact of reduced household spending among the 800 affected families.
The dispute has also taken on a political dimension. Several local governments have passed resolutions supporting the workers, and community events including Whiting’s Pierogi Fest and Hammond’s Festival of the Lakes have removed BP as a sponsor, returning the company’s sponsorship funding. The Chicago Tribune’s business coverage notes that the lockout has drawn attention from regional labor organizations and elected officials.
For Chicago’s business community, the Whiting lockout illustrates the broader economic interconnections between the city and Northwest Indiana. The refinery is a major industrial employer whose labor relations affect regional energy supply, household incomes, and the business environment across the greater Chicago metropolitan area. The resolution passed by Lake County adds to the growing pressure on both parties to reach a settlement.
