FURLOUGH

Most US DoD Civilians to be Sent on 11-day Unpaid Leave

The full text of Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel's message on May 14, 2013 to all Department of Defense personnel follows: As you are fully aware, the Department of Defense is facing a historic shortfall in our budget for the current fiscal year. This is the result of current law that went into effect March 1. It imposes deep across-the-board cuts on DoD and other federal agencies. Combined with higher than expected wartime operating costs, we are now short more than $30 billion in our operation and maintenance (O&M) accounts – which are the funds that we use to pay most civilian employees, maintain our military readiness, and respond to global contingencies. The Department has been doing everything possible to reduce this shortfall while ensuring we can defend the nation, sustain wartime operations, and preserve DoD's most critical asset – our world-class civilian and military personnel. To that end, we have cut back sharply on facilities maintenance, worked to shift funds from investment to O&M accounts, and reduced many other important but non-essential programs. Still, these steps have not been enough to close the shortfall. Each of the military services has begun to significantly reduce training and maintenance of non-deployed operating forces – steps that will adversely impact military readiness. And even these reductions are not enough

Brunswick Mothballs Knoxville Boat Plant

Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) announced on Jan. 6 that it will mothball its Riverview boat manufacturing facility near Knoxville, Tenn., and take additional actions aimed at reducing its work force, production and expenses. One of three manufacturing facilities in the Knoxville area, Riverview makes Sea Ray boats and will wind down production during the first quarter of the year. To better utilize Brunswick's overall boat making capacity

Electric Boat Cuts Will Not be Layoffs

The Norwich Bulletin reported that Electric Boat’s reduction in jobs this year can be achieved through attrition and furloughs, rather than laying off employees. More than 1,400 jobs were eliminated at EB this year, far fewer than the initial projections a year ago suggesting as many as 2,400 jobs might be lost this year. Of those jobs that were cut, more than 600 came from a series of layoffs throughout the year and the remaining 800 through attrition

This Day in Coast Guard History – May 24

1830-Navy officers, under furlough from the Navy until April 1832, were given commissions in the Revenue Service. 1941-CGC Modoc sighted the German battleship Bismarck while the cutter searched for survivors of a convoy southeast of Cape Farewell, Greenland.  British Swordfish torpedo planes from the Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Victorious circled Modoc as they flew towards the German battleship's position.  The Modoc's crew then spotted the flashes caused by anti-aircraft fire

Labor, Maritime Business Coalition Urge Congress to Avoid CR

A bipartisan coalition urge Congress to pass a Defense Appropriation Bill to avoid another Continuing Resolution (CR) & Sequestration. A bipartisan coalition of labor unions and maritime business owners affiliated with the Shipbuilding Council of America have jointly sent a letter to congressional leaders urging them to pass a defense appropriations bill and avoid sequestration cuts before the Navy begins widespread lay-offs and cancellation of ship maintenance on February 15, 2013.

Brunswick Closing MD Plant

On Nov. 13, Brunswick Corporation (NYSE:BC) announced that it will transfer production of Trophy offshore fishing boats made at its plant in Cumberland, Md., to another Brunswick facility in Ashland City, Tenn. The shift will precipitate ceasing production at the Cumberland manufacturing facility by the end of 2008, eliminating approximately 115 production and support positions. "As we deal with the global economic downturn and its impact on recreational marine markets

Retail Imports to Increase 2.3 Percent in March

 Import cargo volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.3 percent in March over the same month last year despite federal spending cuts that could slow down cargo processing, according to the monthly Global Port Tracker report released today by the National Retail Federation and Hackett Associates. “Retailers are aware of the impact of the cuts on Customs operations at the ports and are working to plan accordingly so the impact on

US Ports' Retail Imports Predicted to Rise Despite Sequestration

The monthly Global Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation & Hackett Associates, predicts a 2.7% April 2013 retail import rise. With US Customs officials saying they hope to minimize the impact of federal spending cuts on cargo processing, import volume at the nation’s major retail container ports is expected to increase 2.7 percent in April over the same month last year. “The impact of sequestration isn’t yet fully known

Sequestration to Hit Maritime Economy, Affect Coast Guard

Coast Guard & Maritime Transportation ranking member Garamendi warns resources will be severely slashed, significantly hampering maritime commerce. During the House Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation Subcommittee hearing yesterday, Ranking Member Congressman John Garamendi (D-Fairfield) exposed that cutbacks to basic maritime services caused by the sequester will significantly hit our economy. Under questioning from Congressman Garamendi, U.S

Navy Announce Sequestration Response

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus announces the Navy will go ahead with spending reductions to meet fiscal constraints imposed by sequestration. In ALNAV 014/13, Mabus outlined a variety of reductions in operations, training and maintenance, text is as follows: Navy plans to:
 a.  Shut down carrier air wing two (cvw-2) in april.  This will initiate the preparations to gradually stand-down flying in at least
three additional air wings with two more air wings being reduced to