Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. James Kilby recently testified before Congress that jobs involved in shipbuilding and maintenance should be safe from cuts among civilian defense workers expected in the coming weeks.
That includes people hired less than a year ago, which the federal government classifies as probationary employees, he said.
“The shipyards are exempt from the probationary employees, and they’re exempt from the hiring freeze,” Kilby said in response to questions from the Senate Armed Services Committee. “So we are trying to shape this in a manner that allows us to continue the most important work as we work through guidance from the administration.”
The pronouncement has not stopped at least a small number of civilians being let go from the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine. All six probationary workers were secretaries, said Bill Webber, American Federation of Government Employees Local 2024 in Maine.
“If it wasn’t for the support trades then the deckplate workers cannot do the work,” he said.
The Navy put the workers on administrative leave for three weeks pending their dismissal. In the meantime, a federal judge ordered probationary workers reinstated. The hope is the six workers will be brought back before their leave ends April 1, Webber said.
“I cannot understand how we could cut anybody at this point. We’re already doing everything we can to fulfill our contracts,” he said.
The Navy has not said publicly whether civilian workers have been cut at the Norfolk Naval Shipyard.
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