Delegates from Local 1998, San Diego, Calif., gather before meeting with Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA 52nd) at the U.S. Capitol.
Congressman’s ship photo serves as example
DELEGATES FROM LOCAL 1998 (San Diego, Calif.) shared an opportune moment while lobbying in Washington, D.C., at the LEAP conference in March.
Discussing shipbuilding issues with Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA 52nd), they noticed a photograph of the USS Ranier, a supply ship built in the 1990s at the NASSCO shipyard where they work. To demonstrate that foreign-built components are being placed on U.S. Navy ships, IR Bobby Godinez and other members of the delegation used the photo to point out which parts had been made at a General Dynamics facility in Mexico.
“We had a very good meeting with Congressman Hunter,” said Godinez. “We spent about an hour with him. He told us he was not aware that foreign-made-components were being used on U.S. Navy ships or that we are leasing foreign-built vessels.” Godinez said that although Hunter does not side with the Boilermakers on every issue, at least on shipbuilding, he is with us.
Shipbuilding is a key Boilermaker concern. The union seeks to restore the U.S. Navy to at least 300 ships, prohibit leasing foreign-built ships for periods of more than two years, and enforce the Jones Act, a law designed to protect domestic shipbuilding.
