Neo
05-17-2005, 10:49 AM
"The Navy has betrayed us, pure and simple," says Paul O'Connor, an electrician and union representative. "To me, it's as clear as that."
O'Connor is one of several shipyard workers — some of them, like Jann Gray, third-generation — who argue Portsmouth should be kept open because of its strong cost-efficiency.
"My whole family was brought up with shipyard dollars," says Gray, who works as a machine tool repair specialist.
"The U.S. Navy's tradition, heritage and history was founded on this island [Seavey Island] that's in back of me," says John Joyal, a welding instructor at the shipyard. "There's nobody who does it better, nobody."
But the nature of America's security threat has changed.
"Current arrangements pretty much designed for the Cold War must give way to the new demands of war against extremists," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday, in advance of the base closing list announcement.
That puts not just the workersat risk, but also folks like Mark Miller, who says his Crooked Lane Cafe could take a 25 percent hit.
John Arnold remembers the lasttime the shipyard was targeted for closure, only to escape. He says this time feels different.
"I think there's a sense of urgency here that our number could be up," says Arnold, whose family owns We Care Cleaners.
American cities have dealt with closures before and survived — even flourished. But few bases are as specialized as the shipyard. The workers here are trained to do one thing — overhaul nuclear subs. Finding similar work is not easy.
Already, there's chatter about what "The Yards" might one daybecome: Retail shops or an oil refinery.
Ohhh, I'm sorry. You mean to tell me that the people the military families primarily voted for are now screwing them over? I'm so shocked. Same goes for the veterans who are now complaining because Bush cut their retirement benefits. Well gee Grandpa, perhaps you should have thought of that before November. I mean what did you expect was going to happen? :rolleyes: Good luck landing that job at Luby's. They're always looking for extra people to serve the macaroni & cheese.
O'Connor is one of several shipyard workers — some of them, like Jann Gray, third-generation — who argue Portsmouth should be kept open because of its strong cost-efficiency.
"My whole family was brought up with shipyard dollars," says Gray, who works as a machine tool repair specialist.
"The U.S. Navy's tradition, heritage and history was founded on this island [Seavey Island] that's in back of me," says John Joyal, a welding instructor at the shipyard. "There's nobody who does it better, nobody."
But the nature of America's security threat has changed.
"Current arrangements pretty much designed for the Cold War must give way to the new demands of war against extremists," said Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Thursday, in advance of the base closing list announcement.
That puts not just the workersat risk, but also folks like Mark Miller, who says his Crooked Lane Cafe could take a 25 percent hit.
John Arnold remembers the lasttime the shipyard was targeted for closure, only to escape. He says this time feels different.
"I think there's a sense of urgency here that our number could be up," says Arnold, whose family owns We Care Cleaners.
American cities have dealt with closures before and survived — even flourished. But few bases are as specialized as the shipyard. The workers here are trained to do one thing — overhaul nuclear subs. Finding similar work is not easy.
Already, there's chatter about what "The Yards" might one daybecome: Retail shops or an oil refinery.
Ohhh, I'm sorry. You mean to tell me that the people the military families primarily voted for are now screwing them over? I'm so shocked. Same goes for the veterans who are now complaining because Bush cut their retirement benefits. Well gee Grandpa, perhaps you should have thought of that before November. I mean what did you expect was going to happen? :rolleyes: Good luck landing that job at Luby's. They're always looking for extra people to serve the macaroni & cheese.