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Northrop Grumman Strike-

By News 5

Published: Wed, March 07, 2007 - 11:03 am

Union workers at Northrop Grumman Shipyards in Pascagoulavoted overwhelmingly Wednesday night to turn down the latest contract proposal from the company.

But that doesn't mean workers will go on strike Thursdaymorning.

Members of the Pascagoula Metal Trades Councilvoted to reject the contract proposal, 2,634 to 298.

It was the second contract proposal made by Northrup Grumman and it suffered the same fate as the first.

Union worker Sherwin Bradford of Moss Point, Mississippi said, "When they (the company) first brought it (the original contract proposal)out here last week, it was an ugly lady, and all they did last weekend was put a wig on her and dressed her up and we undressed her today and showed them its still ugly."

What happens now as far as a strike-

Mike Crawley with the Pascagoula Metal Trades Council says, "There's a letter that we send off as soon as I get away from here to the metal trades department. They will take it and work it back to us and they will give us a sanctioned strike within a few days."

But when asked whether everyone should go to work Thursday, Crawley said, "I couldn't tell you that. There are some more independent locals here. I cannot speak for those and I couldn't say if you could or you couldn't."

Workers we talked to Wednesday night reflected the vote totals.

Leslie McKellon of Moss Point said, "We didn't get enough money first of all. The insurance went up, so gas and everything is going up, so,therefore,we're not really getting a raise."

Kimberly Huckaby of Grand Bay said, "We're at war, that's what they're saying, help pay for the war. Well, we're building the ships for them and they're not paying us the right amount of money to do it."

Some people mentioned Hurricane Katrina in talking about why they voted down the contract.

Jennifer Kelley of Moss Point said, "Due to the fact that the cost of living has increased so drastically since Hurricane Katrina, I believe this needed to happen."

Northrop Grumman E-mailed News Five a statement Wednesday night.

Bill Glenn says the company is pleased employees in New Orleans, Gulfport and Tallulah approved the new agreement.

Glenn says the company is disappointed that employees in Pascagouladid not ratify the same contract.