The members represented by Boilermakers Local 92 who are building the U.S. Navy’s latest replenishment oiler ships at General Dynamics NASSCO in San Diego have been in negotiations for over two months and have yet to reach an agreement. After rejecting NASSCO’s latest offer several weeks ago, the members continue working under an extension that expires October 31.
After numerous days of negotiating, NASSCO will not agree to pay the members on par with other area shipyard and sub-contractors' wage rates. At current wage rates, these Boilermakers cannot afford to live in San Diego. Members are forced to undertake long commutes, losing valuable time with their families. Some even sleep in their cars in the parking lots to balance long shifts and commutes far from where they can afford to live. For many, this means commuting from Mexico and crossing the border daily. While NASSCO is receiving billions of dollars in contracts from the federal government to build and repair Naval ships, they are unwilling to pay union shipbuilders fair wages.
We hoped NASSCO would do right by the highly skilled men and women who are building these vessels from the bottom up. Unfortunately, the company once again failed to put an offer on the table that provides the workers with what they are asking for, deserve, and need: a livable wage.
This Saturday, October 28, the USNS Robert F. Kennedy, built in part by local 92 Boilermakers, is scheduled to be launched with a christening ceremony at 8 a.m. at Gate 6, NASCCO, 2798 E. Harbor Drive, San Diego. Boilermakers Local 92, members, local officials and labor supporters will be gathering from 6:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. to let launch attendees know that our shipbuilders deserve to be fairly paid and fairly treated.
