Fellow Shipbuilders,

While the first quarter of this year has been about understanding and assessing our efforts and performance, our second quarter needs to be about bolder action based on the work we have done so far. In addition, with our most recent contract award, the Navy is demonstrating their commitment to us and the important work we do and, in turn, we need to work together to step up our performance and renew our commitment to supporting the needs of our nation.

The previous update identified three areas to focus on to unlock our highest potential. In the area of Team Performance, we’ve made progress on aligning our phase management process across all areas of the business to ensure everyone is working on the right things that enable our waterfront shipbuilders. Regarding Team Communication, we are finalizing the plan for a formal feedback process that provides a mechanism for any shipbuilder to identify opportunities on how we best perform as a team. In the area of Team Accountability, we are driving through all delinquent work packages across the business and have already unlocked hundreds of thousands of hours, making them executable on our deck plate. Shipbuilding excellence is a team sport and we are accountable to one another in support of the mission.

On to the business of leadership…

In the last message, I mentioned that I hold the belief that every shipbuilder is a leader regardless of title. We each have the ability to make good (or bad) decisions, set good (or bad) examples for others, and positively (or negatively) influence the performance of our entire team. As such, as a team we need to address five specific things:

• Wages. We are increasing the majority of non-senior executive shipbuilder wages. Shipbuilders do the work of the nation and the Navy is investing in us to support national security. Details will be forthcoming as we work with our partners to finalize the execution of this plan.
• Shuttle Service. To better address parking frustrations, we have added additional shuttles to our routes to ensure services are more readily available. We will continue to monitor this and adjust as needed, consistently communicating any changes.
• Premium Pay. We are adjusting the administration of premium pay. While premium pay is leveraged appropriately in many areas, we cannot allow it to become an enabler for complacency or entitlement in any part of our business.
• Work From Home. While we will always work to provide flexibility for our shipbuilders to deal with what life brings, we are no longer in a pandemic. What we do requires teamwork, tenacity and being present. Welcome back to the shipyard…we need all hands on deck.
• Personal Cell Phones. Personal cell phones at NNS can jeopardize shipbuilder safety, distract us from our mission, and pose a risk to national security. We are in the process of updating our policies and how we do this depends upon the decisions we all make in using our phones over the coming weeks. Our mission has never been more important. Please do your part to keep personal cell phones at NNS by following the existing rules on usage. If not, we will return to the time when personal smartphones were not allowed and we survived and built ships.

The intent behind each of these changes is the same: to position us to be everything we are capable of being. We are fortunate to have thousands of American service members – many right here in our shipyard – who have chosen to stand up and be counted in the defense of our freedoms. The question is, will we? For those of you who have, my hard hat is off to you. For those who have not fully committed yourself to this, please do…we need everyone on the team in order to fulfill this mission.

With much respect,

Kari Wilkinson
President, Newport News Shipbuilding