US oil workers join London protest at BP

American trade unionists joined environmental protesters outside the BP’s
annual general meeting in London last week, claiming the company is exploiting
a loophole in the US oil workers’ agreement to cut healthcare contributions.
Members of the Paper, Allied-Industrial, Chemical and Energy Workers Union
(PACE) said that because new BP staff from May 2004 will get no contribution
paid to healthcare insurance by the company, this will store up major problems
for people when they retire. Monthly healthcare costs average US$900 (£500).