Two women sue BP over loss of North Slope jobs

by The Associated Press

Two former BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. employees recently filed a lawsuit in state Superior Court charging that the company wrongfully eliminated their jobs on the North Slope because of sex and age discrimination and the women’s involvement in a union.

Shelley Reynolds of Anchorage said she was sexually harassed and 52-year-old Lois Rutherford of Texas, claims her termination was in part due to age discrimination.

The company eliminated their jobs as administrative assistants on the Slope in April.

The women want their North Slope jobs back as well as compensatory and punitive damages from BP.

BP spokesman Ronnie Chappell the decision to eliminate the jobs was strictly economics. Pay is higher for workers on the North Slope and BP pays for transportation and housing for Slope workers. “We made a business decision to move jobs from the North Slope to town because that would result in savings,” he said.