BP to 40,000 Gulf oil spill workers: Talk away with the media, but only if you want

BP to 40,000 oil spill workers: Talk away to media

GULF SHORES, Ala. — BP PLC says it’s handing out cards to all 40,000 of its cleanup workers telling them they can talk to the media — but only if they want to.

The message on the small cards? “Feel Free to Talk.”

The oil giant, stung by footage of coastal work crews dodging cameras and refusing to talk to reporters, started telling workers Friday it was OK to talk with reporters.

The company said it also delivered a warning to contractors working on the project: Cooperate with news crews or risk being fired.

Keith Seilhan, BP’s incident commander for the Mobile area, says contractors are being told they can’t restrict anyone’s access to the media.

He says “if they do, we’re going to let them go.”