ConocoPhillips Lays Off Workers, North Slope Employees Petition to Unionize

ConocoPhillips confirmed on December 9 that it had reduced staff on the North Slope while 243 employees from the Kuparuk, Alpine and Willow fields filed a petition with the National Labor Relations Board to join the United Steelworkers. The November 21 petition seeks representation for a range of roles, including all full time and regular part time operations and maintenance staff, as organizers cited staffing changes they say threaten employee safety and reduce pay.

Company spokesperson Dennis Nuss said, "ConocoPhillips is working with the National Labor Relations Board to facilitate an election so that all of our employees can have a say in whether to unionize with the USW. We are focused on encouraging our employees to vote and providing the information they need to make an informed decision." ConocoPhillips also published material noting longstanding issues with the United Steelworkers. Organizers say a confidential campaign has been underway for months, and workers coordinating through their website did not provide additional comment.

ConocoPhillips confirmed in September that it planned to reduce 20 to 25 percent of its global workforce after completing a merger with Marathon Oil Corporation. Nuss said the majority of those global layoffs were completed in 2025 and no further layoffs were expected on the North Slope. He declined to provide exact North Slope numbers, but indicated the local reduction was about half the companywide rate, which equates to roughly 10 to 12.5 percent of North Slope employees.

For the North Slope Borough the economic stakes are tangible. Energy payrolls support local businesses, contractors and municipal revenues, so a sustained cut in staffing or a change in labor relations could affect household incomes and available services. The NLRB will review the petition and schedule an election in which a majority of voting workers would need to approve union representation. If successful, collective bargaining could lead to changes in pay, staffing and safety protocols, while also introducing a formal negotiating channel between workers and management.

This episode reflects broader pressures in the oil sector following consolidation and cost cutting, and it will be a focal point for residents who depend on stable employment from Kuparuk, Alpine and Willow fields. The election outcome and any subsequent bargaining will determine how firms, workers and the borough adapt to these changes.