BP Pay Changes for Contract Workers Threatens North Sea Strikes

(Bloomberg) — BP Plc,

Europe’s

second-largest oil company, plans to cut pay for North Sea contract

staff, risking strike action later this year.

BP wants to reduce the cost of offshore platform workers employed

through contractors and plans to end discretionary payments

including overtime built-in to the day rate and automatic night shift

payments. The changes cut pay as much as 20 percent for 800 people,

union

leaders say.