BY BRIAN WILLIAMS AND MARY MARTIN
NEWPORT NEWS, Virginia - The U.S. Navy has canceled part of
Newport News Shipbuilding's $30-million overhaul of the USS
Truman aircraft carrier because the yard has no carrier-
capable dry dock available. The Navy claims the cancellation
has nothing to do with the two-month-long strike by 8,200
Steelworkers here. But the dry dock is not available because
it is still occupied by the USS Nimitz, whose two nuclear
reactors are being defueled and decontaminated. The shipyard's
plans prior to the launching of the Steelworkers' strike in
early April was to have this work completed by June 5. Now the
Navy says this work could take many more months. After
completing a crash five-week training course, supervisors and
salaried engineers began working on the Nimitz's nuclear
reactors May 13. Numerous strikers on the picket lines point
out how this is a dangerous and unsafe act on the part of the
company, since virtually all the qualified, experienced,
nuclear refuelers remain on strike. The Navy is backing this
strike-breaking move.
Striking nuclear mechanics trained for an entire year in preparation for working on the Nimitz. Newport News is the only shipyard in the world to have refueled a nuclear carrier. "You can become qualified by taking a written test, but that doesn't mean you have the experience, skills, and ability to do the work," stated Ray Rougeau, a shipfitter on strike against the yard. "They are trying to say the people in the yard are even more qualified than those of us out on strike. That just means the written test scores were higher."
The union at a May 19 news conference in Washington, D.C., and through a subsequent advertising campaign, blasted the company's moves as a dire threat to health and safety of not only workers in the yard but the entire community. In its most serious allegation, union officials reported that the yard discharged radioactive resin into a container that might have been cracked. The union's claims prompted an inquiry by the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) into safety practices inside the yard, but not into nuclear issues. As the strike goes on, those on the picket lines are more determined than ever to stand their ground in their fight for safety, respect, and dignity on the job, and a decent contract that includes a significant increase in wages and pensions.
"People are fed up with the yard," stated Bob Fitzgerald, a pipefitter with 23 years at Newport News. "It's stand up now or we may never get back. If we stand up now the company will think twice the next time."
"We are having barbecues here on the picket line every night," stated Jamie Rodriguez. "We are letting the scabs know we are eating well and having a good time. Let `em smell that while they are working. We're not suffering! I can stay out as long as necessary."
Workers here have welcomed the strike by 8,000 other shipyard workers at Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi (see article on front page). When asked what he would like to say to those strikers, spray-painter Zeke Cook responded, "Hold on! Fight for what you believe in. That's what you are supposed to do. Don't be afraid to sacrifice. Like me, I'm not going nowhere. I'm holding on to my guns and I have a family of four. In the strike, this is when you find out how many friends you have."
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has come out against the bid by Litton Industries Inc., which owns Ingalls, to buy the Newport News shipyard for $1.3 billion in stock. In response, shares of Newport News stock plunged $5.25 or 16 percent on May 28. Several weeks earlier the government also blocked a move by General Dynamics Corp. to take over the shipyard.
The Navy said they were concerned about keeping in place an agreement with the shipyard reached shortly after the strike began to eliminate $360 million in labor costs and materials over the next five years. However, a Litton spokesman made clear that their company would implement this cutback agreement if their bid were to be approved.
Mary Martin is a member of the International Association of Machinists. Brian Williams is a member of United Steelworkers of America.