Franklin County asks BP to hire more local people

Franklin County Commissioners say they want BP to hire as many local people as possible to combat the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

County Commissioners said Tuesday that they are concerned that BP is using outside contractors to place boom in the Gulf of Mexico and feel they local seafood workers should be the ones doing the work.

County Commissioner Noah Lockley said that if the oil does hit the bay that nearly a third of local workers will be out of a job immediately – so BP needs to hire every local person it can. He said outside contractors should only be hired if local people can’t fit the bill.

BP representatives said if the oil spill moves closer to Franklin County we will see a lot more hiring.

The work that is being done now far out in the Gulf requires experiences workers because of the size of the boom and the dangerous nature of the work. An environmental services company called Eagle SWS is doing what they call the tier 1 boom work.
Local people will be hired to assist with laying boom closer to shore and in the bay which is much less dangerous.

BP said their top priority at this time is to keep the oil out of the bay and off the beaches but if the oil moves closer we will see more BP reps in the area, more training classes and more employment opportunities.


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