By Kathy Adams
Northrop Grumman Shipbuilding and the union that represents about a third of its workers are scheduled to begin haggling today over facets of the workers' contract, which expires next month.
United Steelworkers of America Local 8888 is seeking higher wages to compensate for the cost of living; better retirement plans; sick pay; and protection from rising health care costs.
Fred Redmond, chief negotiator and vice president of the national union, said preliminary discussions have been positive and he is confident they will reach an agreement before the contract expires Oct. 26.
"We have some very critical and serious issues to discuss, but we're very optimistic that we'll reach an agreement," he said.
Jennifer Dellapenta, a Northrop Grumman spokeswoman, declined to comment.
Several hundred workers rallied outside the company's Newport News shipyard Aug. 17 to garner support in the upcoming negotiations.
The union represents about 80 percent of the company's 8,000 union-eligible hourly workers. The Northrop Grumman shipyard, the sole builder of nuclear-powered aircraft carriers for the Navy, employs about 19,000 people, making it Hampton Roads' largest private employer.
In 2004, contract negotiations between the company and Local 8888 resulted in an agreement without a strike. But in 1999, the local and its 6,000 members went on strike for 117 days during negotiations with Newport News Shipbuilding Co., which Northrop Grumman acquired in 2001.
Improving retirement benefits and keeping out-of-pocket health care expenses low are two of the union's chief priorities, Redmond said. Workers also want paid sick days so they don't have to use vacation or annual leave for health needs.
A strike is a last resort, Redmond said.
"Hopefully, due to the discussions that we're going to have, we'll be able to reach an agreement," he said. "We definitely want to try to do anything we can to avoid a strike."
Kathy Adams, (757) 446-2643, kathy.adams@pilotonline.com
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