Tesoro’s announcement that it was putting its Hawaii operations up for sale has made it easier for company management to finalize a contract with the United Steelworkers, Reuters reports. 

United Steelworkers union members at Tesoro Corp’s 93,500 barrel-per-day Kapolei, Hawaii, refinery approved a new contract as workers at five other of the company’s refineries threaten a strike, a union spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

Workers in Hawaii approved the agreement because of Tesoro’s plan to sell the Kapolei plant, said USW spokeswoman Lynne Hancock.

“Everyone saw them as in a special circumstance,” Hancock said. “They approved the contract so Tesoro could find a buyer who will keep the refinery open.”

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