Geurts: Austal 'crucial' work for Navy

Delivering ships to the Navy is “unwavering and crucial” to national security, Assistant Secretary to the Navy James Geurts, wrote in a letter to Austal USA President Craig Perciavalle, requiring Mobile, Ala.-based workers to stay on the job to build ships for the Navy despite the threat of the coronavirus. Geurts instructed Austal to inform the Navy of “impediments” that might arise. The shipyard employs around 4,000 people. “Given the missions essential functions you perform, while ensuring the safety and well-being of the workforce, I cannot stress enough the importance of accomplishing the missions,” Geurts wrote. Austal USA, as a defense industry contractor, is considered an “essential critical infrastructure” employer as defined by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Geurts said the Navy understands the “challenge” and is “dedicated to working closely” with Austal to ensure workers’ safety. Craig Savage, a spokesman with Austal USA in Mobile, said the company has six ships under various phases of construction, and is adhering to strict safety guidelines from the CDC and World Health Organization by taking “significant steps to distance the workforce for large gatherings.” Austal’s primary concern is the well-being of its workers, he continued. “Austal remains open and operating under close care.” (Source: AL.com 03/20/20) In a similar letter to Bath (Maine) Iron Works’ president Dirk Lesko, Geurts wrote that BIW has a “special responsibility” to continue operations to produce ship for the Navy regardless of the health risk to its 8,000 employees, the Portland (Maine) Press Herald reported March 20. Maine delegates echoed the leaders of two of the shipyard’s largest unions, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers locals S6 and S7, who called for the shipyard to close and give employees paid leave for two weeks. BIW is to stay open despite demands from delegations and unions. https://www.al.com/coronavirus/2020/03/austal-ship-building-continues-after-navy-deems-it-a-national-need-despite-coronavirus.html