Electric Boat furloughs more than 100 workers due to shipping dilemma
By Bianca Buono
bbuono@abc6.com
@BBuonoABC6
One of the largest job creators in Rhode Island is forced to put several workers on furlough. 138 workers at Electric Boat’s massive shipyard at Quonset Point are out of a job for 45 days while the company straightens out its delivery process.
"We have plenty of work here at Electric Boat. The issue that we have has been late material deliveries,” said company spokesman Tim Boulay.
Boulay says nothing to this extent has ever happened before. Several of the company’s suppliers are simultaneously late on their deliveries.
"The mix of materials that we’ve had issues with have been a mix of major components, general materials and specialized raw material,” Boulay said.
The workers, who volunteered to take furlough, are primarily welders, pipefitters and shipfitters. Boulay says they’re receiving full benefits but no pay.
"Each employee that volunteered for the furlough will be welcomed back on October 17th,” said Boulay.
Earlier this year, Governor Gina Raimondo partnered with Electric Boat to announce that the company would be hiring more than 300 new employees this year alone. Boulay is confident that this hiccup won’t affect those plans.
"Our long-term hiring plans are not impacted by this voluntary program,” he said.
Electric Boat is in the works of building several submarines for the U.S. Navy. We’re told the company is still on track to meet those deliveries.
© WLNE-TV 2016
