As part of their ongoing series on the future of oil and gas in California, the UC Berkeley School of Law hosted a webinar with labor union representatives to discuss the impact of state energy policies on workers.

While the event covered important topics like workforce planning, apprenticeship programs, and investing in new energy technologies, one point in particular stood out: across the board, the panelists sharply criticized California’s increasing dependence on gasoline imports as bad for workers, communities and the environment.

Tim Sbranti, Executive Director of the Contra Costa Building and Construction Trades Council, said relying on imports is “causing prices to go up” and noted how foreign fuel producers do not follow California’s strict regulations:

“[I]f we’re importing, that’s a policy failure, because we have the capacity in this state. We have the refineries. We have the ability to do it. And if we’re not, and we’re having to import … [from] where they don’t have the same environmental standards [and] they don’t have the same labor standards, that is a policy failure. That is a policy choice … and that’s something we’re going to need to fix.”

Sbranti added: “I want things done here in California because I know that when we import, you know, that that has a net negative on the environment.”

Mike Smith, Chair of the United Steelworkers National Oil Bargaining Program, agreed, noting his union believed California has “the cleanest and the safest” refineries.

Thomas Enslow, representing the California State Pipe Trades Council, also called imports a “policy failure”:

“The more we rely on imports, that is showing that we either don’t have a policy or we have a policy that’s not working … Imports can’t be looked at as a solution. They’re the canary in the coal mine that our solutions aren’t working.”

The panelists noted how California has faced multiple refinery shutdowns in recent years. Smith said the closures have been devastating for workers:

“[M]any of our members had struggled to find jobs. Most of them found jobs that were at least 20 to 25 to 30% less pay. Most of them [are] not protected by collective bargaining agreements, less safety protections … no retirement packages. So, it’s really been devastating[.]”

While noting that wages, pension, and benefits are “not comparable” for refinery workers looking for new jobs, Sbranti said facility shutdowns can also be extremely challenging for local governments:

“When a facility shuts down or limits operation, you have less tax revenue … [W]hile you have a greater demand on services, you also have less revenue coming in.”

The labor perspective is clear. California should produce the fuel it needs at home – with California workers, and under the state’s best-in-class environmental and labor standards.