Reading between the lines

ONE of those typically-boring press releases,extolling the virtues of a new plant, hit the media this week and, as usual, what was unsaid was much more interesting than what was. It was all about BP's "integrated safety, security and environment policies" and how they affect the company's warehousing and transport infrastructure (yawn). Quoted voluminously was Allister Kay, described as "LSC Africa logistics manager" (what, precisely LSC stands for, we were left to guess -- such is the oil industry's love of mysterious acronyms). Spigot wonders if BP controls the public utterings of its staff these days. Reading between the lines it emerged that Unitrans has been "identified" in presumably the words of Mr Kay, as a " single countrywide service provider with a mindset, outlook and culture similar to our own." Dear heaven, does he really speak like this to his mates? Spigot wonders if the trade union that recently took out BP drivers on strike will have noticed what this means for the long-term prospects (as permanent BP staffers) of its members.