Press Releases

Members of the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional Delegationswrote to the Department of Defense (DOD) to express their concern with an updated policy that reduces the paid administrative leave options available to public shipyard workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The updated guidance creates impediments to Portsmouth Naval Shipyard workers staying home if necessary to protect public health or the health of a vulnerable family member during this public health crisis.

The letter addressed to Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Acting Navy Secretary James McPherson was signed by U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME), Angus King (I-ME), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH) and Representatives Chellie Pingree (D-ME) and Chris Pappas (D-NH).

In March, DOD and the Navy took a series of actions to protect workers at PNSY and other shipyards.  This included permitting administrative leave for workers who have family members with preexisting health conditions based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, as well as for workers who were sick or symptomatic in order to minimize the risk to other shipyard employees.  The new DOD policy that took effect today at PNSY, however, requires employees who are sick or symptomatic or who live with at-risk members in their household with preexisting health conditions to begin using accrued sick leave or annual leave.

“Under this new guidance, employees who live with at-risk members in their household with preexisting health conditions, or who are sick or symptomatic, will now be required to utilize accrued sick leave or annual leave.  This change in leave policy comes on the heels of the tragic loss of one of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s civilian employees to COVID-19,” the members of the Maine and New Hampshire Congressional Delegations wrote.  “We believe the administrative leave policy initially put in place was essential to protecting our most vulnerable shipyard workers and their family members, while also helping to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19 at our nation’s shipyards.”

“[W]e ask the Department of Defense and Navy to reinstate the initial personnel guidance to ensure the health of the public shipyard industrial base workforce as well as the rest of our defense workforce,” the Members of Congress continued.  “We do not believe this is the time to create impediments or disincentives for sick or high-risk workers to stay home if necessary, as may be the case if they do not have any sick leave or other forms of paid leave available to them.”

Click HERE to read the full letter.

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Dear Secretary Esper and Secretary McPherson:

In March, the Navy issued direction to each of its four public shipyards intended to limit the potential exposure of shipyard workers to COVID-19, while maximizing the important national security work they accomplish.  This included the use of telework, as well as permitting the most vulnerable workers to take paid administrative leave (weather & safety) based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines, such as for older individuals or those who have preexisting health conditions, and those who have family members with preexisting health conditions.  The Navy further authorized individuals who were sick or symptomatic to take administrative leave to further minimize the risk to other workers. 

While we appreciate the actions the Department of Defense and the Navy took at the outset of this pandemic to protect workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard and other public shipyards, we want to express our strong concern about the recent decision to end paid administrative leave, particularly for individuals who are currently sick or symptomatic.

As COVID-19 continues to spread across our nation, many states, such as Maine and New Hampshire, have extended their shelter-at-home guidance through at least the end of April. This is why we were so concerned to hear that DOD altered this guidance, which will take effect on April 14 at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.  Under this new guidance, employees who live with at-risk members in their household with preexisting health conditions, or who are sick or symptomatic, will now be required to utilize accrued sick leave or annual leave.  This change in leave policy comes on the heels of the tragic loss of one of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard’s civilian employees to COVID-19.

We believe the administrative leave policy initially put in place was essential to protecting our most vulnerable shipyard workers and their family members, while also helping to avoid the potential spread of COVID-19 at our nation’s shipyards.  Maintaining safe social distancing practices as recommended by the CDC can be especially difficult at shipyards given the complexities of working aboard submarines and ships. 

Accordingly, we ask the Department of Defense and Navy to reinstate the initial personnel guidance to ensure the health of the public shipyard industrial base workforce as well as the rest of our defense workforce. At a minimum, we believe the Departments should ensure that those who are currently on administrative leave because they are sick or symptomatic be permitted to remain on administrative leave until their health improves.  We do not believe this is the time to create impediments or disincentives for sick or high-risk workers to stay home if necessary, as may be the case if they do not have any sick leave or other forms of paid leave available to them. 

Again, thank you for your attention to this important issue, and we look forward to your prompt response.

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