[CPEO-IRF] Massive union job losses at Portsmouth (ME) shipyard

[Lenny Siegel <lsiegel@cpeo.org>]

While the impending closure of the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard would slash 
the number of highly paid, unionized blue-collar jobs in the Maine-New 
Hampshire area, the problem is more general. Such Federal jobs are 
decreasing nationally.

While the shift of work in other industries - textiles, auto, etc. - 
from the Northeast to the South has often replaced union jobs with 
non-union work, Federal blue-collar work is generally unionized 
throughout the country.

Thus, the lost of union jobs in New England is due to reduced demand for 
ship construction and maintenance, not the "runaway" from union to 
non-union areas.

As I have written before, the direct impact on blue-collar workers is 
the most difficult consequence of base closure to overcome.

LS

***


Base closure would make victims of unions

By Associated Press

Complete Maine News Index

PORTSMOUTH NAVAL SHIPYARD - Union membership stands to take another 
major hit if the government succeeds in closing the Portsmouth Naval 
Shipyard.

Unions could lose more than 4,000 members if the shipyard closes. Three 
major labor organizations covering 2,300 tradespeople, 1,400 engineers 
and technicians, and 500 secretaries, police officers and other 
employees would be affected. Average pay at Portsmouth is about $65,000 
annually.


http://www.seacoastonline.com/news/05312005/maine/45063.htm


--
Lenny Siegel
Director, Center for Public Environmental Oversight
c/o PSC, 278-A Hope St., Mountain View, CA 94041
Voice: 650/961-8918 or 650/969-1545
Fax: 650/961-8918
http://www.cpeo.org

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