Background check a must for oil workers

BAYOU LA BATRE, Alabama (WALA) - From protests to a lot of complaints, out of work fishermen are showing their frustration. They said they're being pushed aside when it comes to jobs. But those in charge of the screening process are trying to make sure the right people get hired.

The Bayou La Batre Community Center has become the hub of assistance and information regarding work and claims stemming from the BP oil spill. Among the agencies set up is The Department of Public Safety, which gives workers credentials to particpate in the oil spill clean up.

"Unfortunately one of the biggest complaints is there is so many out of state workers coming in. From the state stand point and from my stand point, we can at least identify we're not bringing in people that shouldn't be here. They're doing background checks and checking for warrants and actually issuing an ID where the contractor can easily recognize and can produce his contract identification," State Representative Spencer Collier said.

Each day officials get an update of how many arrests were made for outstanding warrants, and how many illegal immigrants were detained. Wednesday alone, out of the 328 people screened, 17 people were turned away. There were 14 misdemeanor arrests, one felony arrest and two sex offenders.

"We want to make sure we do things right, want to make sure we're credentialed properly, make sure the laws are abided by," Collier added.

For local people trying to make ends meet, that's important.

"I think they should. Like I said a lot of the seafood workers will be out of work and they depend on this," one man in line said.

If you need information about how to make a claim, volunteer opportunities, or want to see how things are going underwater at the spill site, just click on the crude crisis link.