
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, September 6, 1995                   TAG: 9509060135
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: GREG EDWARDS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LYNCHBURG                                 LENGTH: Short

BABCOCK TO MAKE JOB CUTS

The Babcock & Wilcox Naval Nuclear Fuel Division in Campbell County said Tuesday that it will cut its current work force of 1,800 by 100 to 200 jobs in the next few months.

J.A. Conner, the division's vice president and general manager, said the job cuts were being made in response to government efforts to cut costs in all its contracts. Conner said the company hoped most of the cuts could be made through voluntary departures and transfers.

The first round of cuts, involving 75 workers, will occur by mid-October. The company said it has asked workers who want to volunteer to leave to do so by Sept. 15.

The Babcock & Wilcox division is the only supplier of some components for the Navy's nuclear fleet, which includes submarines, aircraft carriers and escort ships.

"Congress is demanding that spending on defense programs must be based on affordability," Conner said. "Every supplier in the defense industrial base is being challenged to find ways to provide ... services at the lowest ... cost while maintaining the same quality."

Babcock & Wilcox is a unit of McDermott International Inc. of New Orleans, which reported a net income of $8.8 million on revenues of $816.5 million for its first quarter, which ended June 30.

by CNB