Furloughed sub technicians asked not to speak to press
Submarine workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard were directed not to speak to the press about furloughs that will give them a 20% pay cut over the next 11 weeks, Foster’s Daily Democrat reported.
The paper reported a federal public affairs official for the Navy’s Submarine Maintenance, Engineering, Planning and Procurement Activity, a tenant at the Portsmouth shipyard that employs around 300 engineers and technicians, told union leaders in an email that workers are not to voice opinions or relay facts to the press without approval of the agency’s public affairs office. The paper reported that a shipyard spokeswoman said its employees are free to speak to the press and Norm Lafleur, the federal public affairs officer issuing the prohibition, said a statement from his office would not be available until later this week.
Union leaders received the email after soliciting members who would be willing to speak with a Daily Democrat reporter for a story about the furloughs. Union leader Debbie Jennings told the paper that she has been frustrated with a lack of pressure on Congress to help the furloughed workers.
Around 1,300 workers are on a furlough schedule from now through September, the paper reported. The paper spoke with other shipyard workers and union representatives about the furloughs in a separate story.
Most Recent
Most Recent
Comments