U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer calls for incentive pay, increased protection for shipyard workers

Josh Farley
Kitsap Sun

BREMERTON — U.S. Rep. Derek Kilmer, D-Gig Harbor, is asking the Navy to boost pay for shipyard workers and provide them additional personal protection amid the COVID-19 pandemic.  

"They know that our Navy and nation’s sailors count on them to ensure the readiness of the fleet to respond to national security threats,” Kilmer wrote to the acting secretary of the Navy, James E. McPherson, joined by other members of Congress who represent public shipyards. “Because they have continued to report for duty during this public health emergency, we ask the Navy to authorize incentive pay for these essential workers.”

Kilmer asked that such "incentive pay" follow the same guidelines by the federal Office of Personnel Management that enhances retention "of up to a certain percentage of basic pay to a group or category of employees." 

"We ask that the authorization cover the duration of this crisis," Kilmer and the others wrote.

The call comes as the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard is sending more employees back to work. On Tuesday, the administrative leave for caregivers to those most vulnerable of complications from COVID-19 expires. 

Base police will also begin to enforce mask-wearing for employees who aren't able to work more than 6 feet apart from others.  

COVID-19:'Anxiety and fear' at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard, where mission goes on

Fabric workers at the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard sew cloth masks.

The Navy has four public shipyards around the country — in Bremerton; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Norfolk, Virginia; and Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The Puget Sound Naval Shipyard — which repairs, overhauls, refuels and recycles the Navy's nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines — is the country's largest shipyard by employment. 

Some of those in the 14,300-strong workforce have been at home, however. Anyone over 65 and those most vulnerable to catch the novel coronavirus have been sent home with pay. The shipyard is also allowing more than 2,000 employees to work from home and has staggered shifts for those who are still coming to the waterfront in Bremerton

The shipyard isn't just repairing boats and ships these days. A manufacturing line of cloth masks has been up and running since late March; production has reached almost 3,000 a day.

On Tuesday, the shipyard will begin distributing them to every worker who comes through the shipyard turnstiles.   

Workers who do not wear a mask and are found working within 6 feet of others may also be stopped by base police. 

The shipyard has also been producing its own hand sanitizer.

Kilmer's letter was also signed by Reps. Chellie Pingree of Maine, Bobby Scott of Virgina, Elaine Luria of Virgina, Chris Pappas of New Hampshire and Ed Case of Hawaii.

A federal lawsuit has also been filed on behalf of federal workers to demand hazard pay for working through the pandemic, according to the American Federation of Government Employees. 

Reporter Josh Farley has been reached at josh.farley@kitsapsun.com