THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, January 21, 1995 TAG: 9501210232
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: D2 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Short : 40 lines
Norfolk Naval Shipyard is releasing some temporary employees and placing on-call employees on nonpay status, a yard spokesman said Friday.
The action affects less than 100 workers at the Navy-owned shipyard in Portsmouth, said Steve Milner, shipyard spokesman. The shipyard employed 7,700 people at the end of 1994.
``We make these adjustments periodically as the work load fluctuates,'' Milner said.
The public yard is no different from some of the region's private shipyards in that respect. Employment at Marine Hydraulics International Inc., a small ship repairer on the Elizabeth River in Norfolk, swings between 200 and 600 regularly, depending on the work available.
``This is the nature of on-call and temporary employment,'' Milner said.
On-call employees are permanent employees of the yard who work when the yard needs them. Temporaries are hired short-term on an as-needed basis.
The on-call employees who are being placed on nonpay status will continue to receive benefits such as insurance and accumulated leave for six months.
Milner couldn't say precisely how many employees would be affected. He also couldn't say how many temporary or on-call employees the shipyard has.
Some notices have already gone out to affected employees and the action takes effect immediately, Milner said.
``We will attempt to place these employees at other naval shipyards,'' he said.
This is not a reduction in force, so it doesn't require approval up the Navy chain of command and 120 days notice for affected employees, Milner said.
KEYWORDS: LAYOFF U.S. NORFOLK NAVAL SHIPYARD by CNB