13 disciplined, 2 fired in shipyard sexual harassment probe

Associated Press

BREMERTON – Investigators completed a 10-month inquiry into sexual harassment allegations at a Washington state shipyard that led to 13 people being disciplined and two fired from their positions.

More than 150 interviews were conducted after a former employee of the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Bremerton made the harassment claims in a September social media post, The Kitsap Sun reported Monday.

Brandon Hunt detailed pervasive sexual harassment she and others faced at Kitsap County’s largest employer.

Hunt accused a fellow worker of pressing her against a desk and forcibly kissing her.

In addition to the two employees who were fired, the investigation resulted in two demotions, three reprimands and suspensions lasting between one and 10 days.

The shipyard said it cannot discuss individual cases because of privacy laws.

“Some of the allegations could not be substantiated and many had been investigated already with some resulting in previous discipline,” shipyard commander Capt. Dianna Wolfson said in a letter to more than 14,000 workers. “We also found out that we have more to go work on.”

Hunt, who was interviewed as part of the inquiry, called the investigation a start and said she hoped the shipyard’s leadership would stay vigilant regarding a deeply rooted cultural problem.