Representatives of United Steelworkers (USW) local 13-1 in Pasadena, Texas, have begun talks over local contract issues with representatives of Royal Dutch Shell’s joint-venture Deer Park refinery, the company said.

Any agreement produced by the talks, which are expected to last through August, will be attached to a new national oil workers’ contract to be negotiated early next year by the United Steelworkers International Union and US oil companies led by Shell.

“Shell Deer Park and the USW leadership have agreed to engage in early bargaining on local items for the labor contract covering operations, maintenance and lab personnel,” said Shell spokeswoman Destin Singleton. “These negotiations began on July 14.”

A USW spokeswoman said the company and the union had the opportunity reach an agreement.

“By using a problem-solving approach, both parties should be able to resolve their local issues,” said Lynne Hancock, USW spokeswoman.

The current national oil bargaining agreement between the USW and US oil companies expires at 11:59 pm on January 31, 2015. The national agreement covers pay, benefits and working conditions across the nation, while the local talks will cover other issues specific to the Deer Park refinery.