http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/bp-vo ... 60372.html
Confusion reigned. About 200 fishermen, many still in their muddy white rubber fishing boots, discussed BP's offer to lease their boats and hire crews to lay booms to retain the slick and prevent it from leaking to their precious bayous.
The document they were asked to sign did not specify how much BP would pay, but some captains said they had been offered as much as $3,000 a day for their large boats and crews.
But who wanted to sign away their right to be part of a class-action lawsuit against BP? Many fishermen already have been contacted by lawyers who want to represent them in lawsuits against BP.
That was the problem, Kinnaird said. BP never intended for them to relinquish their right to sue the company. That is not what the document said. The document was merely a standard safety waiver - not a work contract, Kinnaird said.
"I am sitting her right now tearing them up and putting them in the trash," Kinnaird said. More than 400 captains had signed documents allowing BP to lease their vessels. "It was just a standard waiver, something the lawyers like. But it just caused so many problems."
That does not mean that BP won't use local fishermen in its cleanup. BP still has their contact information, along with information about their vessels.
As soon as the winds die down, BP will begin hiring vessels and crew. There will be a contract that spells out how much BP will pay, but fishermen will not be asked to waive their right to sue BP, Kinnaird said.
"We're not offering jobs to people in other states," Kinnaird said. "We're hiring people in these communities because they are the ones who need it."
SEMPER FI