Shipyard management stands by its decision

Management at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard said position description changes for inspectors and test directors in the crane department were necessary with or without the merger of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.

That claim is being disputed by the Planners-Estimators, Progressmen and Schedulers Local 6, which represents workers in the shipyard who were affected by the changes, and has filed an unfair labor practice charge against shipyard management.

“It was discovered that there were crane inspectors in the combined command who had different position descriptions and pay for the same work,” said Patricia Hubler, public affairs specialist for the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and IMF.

The new position description was written that captured the changes taken place over a period of several years, she said.

“The duties of the crane inspectors at the shipyard had changed over the years and had resulted in a significantly out-of-date positiondescription,” she said.

The changes provide a position description that accurately reflects the duties and responsibilities of personnel performing inspections and tests on weight handling equipment, she said.

“The revision provides for a more flexible work force, one that should be able to perform more efficiently,” she said.

She said the Shipyard followed all required notification procedures and has actively involved the labor organizations throughout the process.

“The union’s bargaining proposal could not be implemented,” she said.

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