NEWPORT NEWS — The deadline for “more than” 2,500 shipyard employees to accept severance is Monday (Jan. 7) yet the fate of those who decline the buyout remains unclear.
“There is nothing to share on the voluntary severance program at the moment,” said Duane Bourne, spokesman for the Newport News Shipbuilding division of Huntington Ingalls Industries.
On Dec. 17, the Newport News Shipbuilding announced a voluntary severance program for more than 2,500 people in a letter from NNS president, Jennifer Boykin.
Bourne said the company plans to hire an additional 2,500 employees this year, and when asked about the number of people who accept the voluntary severance packages, Bourne said he might be able to share something in the middle of next week.
He declined to elaborate.
WYDaily also reached out to Sen. Tim Kaine, D-VA, to see what he thought about shipbuilding company’s decision to offer a voluntary severance program to more than 2,500 people, and turn around and hire an additional 2,500 shipbuilders this year.
Kaine declined to comment directly on whether the buyouts made sense.
“Congress and the Department of Defense need to do a better job offering certainty to Virginia’s hardworking shipbuilders and repairers,” Kaine said. “I’m relieved that Newport News Shipbuilding was able to set up this restructuring with only voluntary buyouts, and that they’re taking precautionary measures to avoid any layoffs.”
When asked if there was oversight on the private shipbuilding company, which handles government contracts with the Navy worth hundreds of millions of taxpayers dollars, Kaine said the company has the authority to make its own decisions about offering buyouts.
“The oversight would be of the government contracts themselves,” Miryam Lipper, press secretary for Kaine wrote in an email. “Unless the voluntary buyout was somehow negatively impacting government contracts, the Committee has no oversight of their personnel policies.”
Kaine is a member of the U.S. Senate Committee of Armed Services where he serves as a ranking member of the Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support and a member of the Subcommittee of Seapower.
On Dec. 27, Newport News Shipbuilding received cost adjustments to two existing Navy contracts: $228.8 million toward the Enterprise (CVN 80) and $11 million for the overhaul of the USS John C. Stennis (CVN 74). In total: An additional $240 million. Read more about NNS’ ongoing projects here.
The Navy will award NNS with contract for two more aircraft carriers in the Enterprise series in an effort to save money. While an official announcement with the award amount has not been released, Kaine said the following in a news release:
“I’m thrilled the Navy has decided to pursue a block buy for aircraft carriers, something I’ve been advocating to save billions in taxpayer dollars and offer more certainty to the Hampton Roads defense community. This smart move will save taxpayer dollars and help ensure the shipyards can maintain a skilled workforce to get the job done. Newport News builds the finest carriers in the world, and I know they are ready to handle this increase in work as we make progress toward the Navy’s goal of a 355-ship fleet.”
It remains unclear if these government contracts affect the buyouts and exactly how many people were offered severance.
