Ron Ault News

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. •    Up to 46,000 Department of Defense civilian employees will be immediately laid off. •    Another 800,000 workers will face furlough days resulting in a 20 percent pay cut. •    More than 100,000 people could lose jobs in the shipbuilding and repair industry and our supply chain.

With State and Federal Assistance, Huntington Ingalls to Explore Options for Avondale Conversion; Save Our Shipyard Coalition Hails New Developments. "This is good news for the people of New Orleans and the state of Louisiana—indeed America," declared Metal Trades Department President Ron Ault, welcoming the announcement that Huntington Ingalls will collaborate with state and federal authorities to explore options to transition Avondale. One of those options would be converting the facility into a commercial shipyard. "We look forward to working with the state and all our stakeholders to maintain Avondale as the largest private employer in the state and as a pathway to the middle class for future generations," Ault said.

Metal Trades Department Praises Rep. Richmond, Sen. Landrieu and Avondale SOS Partners. Thanks to the work of Senator Mary Landrieu and Congressman Cedric Richmond and the Avondale SOS Coalition, Avondale Shipyard took another step toward stability after they persuaded the federal government to remove the financial incentive for Huntington Ingalls to shut down the shipyard. "This is a hopeful new development for working families in Avondale," said Metal Trades Department President Ron Ault. "Thanks to the hard work and determination of Representative Richmond and Senator Landrieu, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus, and all our SOS coalition partners, Avondale could have a new life. Sen. Landrieu and Rep. Richmond sent a letter to Sec.

The Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has sued the U.S. Coast Guard over allowing domestic shipyards to use preassembled foreign ship parts and engines, Ron Ault, president of the MTD, said on Tuesday. Preassembled ship parts require little or no assembly at U.S. shipyards, and cut the need for U.S. labor at these yards, he told Reuters in an interview. MTD, a trade department of the American federation of labor unions, coordinates negotiating, organizing and legislative efforts of affiliated metal-working and related crafts and trade unions. Angela McArdle, a U.S. Coast Guard spokeswoman, said it was the Coast Guard's policy not to comment on pending litigation. MTD's suit, filed late last week in the U.S.

The Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has sued the U.S. Coast Guard to block controversial rulings that violate the 80-year-old Jones Act to allow U.S. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, charges that a ruling issued on May 24, 2006 and affirmed on November 15, 2006 by the Coast Guard's National Vessel Documentation Center, ignores the requirements of the Jones Act that stipulate that ships moving between U.S. ports must be "built in" the U.S. Shipyards Philadelphia (APSI) and NASSCO, a division of General Dynamics, to produce a series of tankers that are assembled from thousands of parts and modules imported from Korea.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the AFL-CIO accused Aker Philadelphia Shipyard Inc. of undercutting the struggling U.S. shipbuilding industry by using too many foreign-made components in its new vessels. Aker, formerly Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard, denied the allegations, and asserted it is leading the industry's rebirth by expanding its business using mostly local workers and suppliers. The war of words began after the labor federation's Metal Trades Department, representing about 600 Philadelphia shipyard workers, said Thursday that it was asking the Coast Guard to probe Aker's use of components and prefabricated parts from Hyundai Mipo Dockyard and other South Korean companies.

U.S. with the requirements of the Jones Act. discussions with key members of Congress to start inquiries on the Hill. commodities between U.S. ports. Hyundai violates the terms of the Jones Act. directly from Hyundai. be used in the Jones Act market. facilities and the employees to produce vessels. particular," declared MTD President Ron Ault. South Korea," he added. brought them into the Philadelphia Shipyard in the first place. ship," Ault said. pre-assembled ship modules and components from South Korea and Germany. isn't like we can't do this work. Lines, proving we can build American Jones Act ships in Philadelphia. region. shipyard grounds. and to set up apprenticeship programs to train local workers. brought in foreign shipyard workers to "train" U.S.