Union Rules Trigger Shipyard Strike Talks Deadlocked Over Whether Employees Must Join A Union

About 2,700 workers of National Steel & Shipbuilding Co. did not show up for work Thursday, the first day of a strike over union rules at the West Coast’s largest ship-building company.

Union members, who have not had a contract in four years, voted to strike Wednesday afternoon after talks deadlocked on whether workers would be required to join one of seven unions.

Leaders of the seven striking unions - representing iron workers, machinists, electricians, carpenters, operating engineers, Teamsters and painters - promised to stay out as long as it takes for a contract.

On Thursday afternoon, about 150 workers marched outside the main gate with picket signs. A company official said about 1,000 of its 3,700 employees showed up for work; union leaders said the company exaggerated.

“The company respects the right of the union members to strike,” said Fred Hallett, senior vice president. “We have also pressed on the union members that the issue will not be resolved by pressure by the strikers.”

Union negotiators want a vote on whether to continue union representation with a closed shop or scrap the unions altogether. The company wants a third choice - an open shop in which employees decide to join.

Union leaders also complain that the company wants the workers to accept all the terms of a unilateral contract, including no cost of living increases and changes in seniority rules, before a vote occurs.

“We don’t want to have to support members who are not paying dues,” said iron worker Ken Johnston, who has worked at Nassco for 23 years.

Nassco, which traces its local roots to 1905, is an employee-owned company with more than $500 million in annual sales, mostly from Navy business. Last month, it hired 200 workers from more than 5,000 applicants, Hallett said.

The shipyard, which has the West Coast’s only large-ship building dock, is currently building a fast combat support ship. It is also converting two Navy ships and building four cargo-type vessels, in addition to doing repairs on other vessels.