BP and the United Steelworkers 7-1 have been in negotiations for over two months, with BP's "last, best and final offer" rejected by 94% of its members and 98.3% voted not to accept it. The union claimed the BP proposal would eliminate and outsource over 100 union jobs, cut base wages across nearly all job classifications, strip the union of bargaining rights, end seniority protections for layoffs, and limit the union's ability to strike. BP responded by saying it will continue to bargain in the best interests of its employees and the community. The offer expired at 11:59 p.m. Thursday.