U.S. Rep. Joseph D. Courtney (D-CT) visited IAM Local 1871 in Groton, CT last week to announce funding to begin ramping up Virginia-class submarine production to two submarines per year. The $588 million included in the Fiscal Year 2008 Department of Defense (DOD) Appropriations Bill is expected to stabilize the workforce at Electric Boat (EB) in southeastern Connecticut.
During World War II, Electric Boat turned out a new submarine every few weeks but with more sophisticated nuclear submarines going at $2 billion, the Navy is down to one new boat a year, with the work split between EB and a shipyard in Virginia. The new funding is enough to put the Navy on pace to order two subs a year something it hadn't intended to do until 2012.
Congressman Courtney is no stranger to Local 1871, attending the Connecticut State Council Of Machinists meeting last June and he credits organized labor for his election victory. Courtney, greeted by cheers and shouts of "Joe for President" was elected by the closest margin in America, a mere 83 votes against the three term Republican incumbent.
The reception was arranged by the AFL-CIO and the Metal Trades Council.
