Fellow Shipbuilders,

On May 1, our strategy update included news that we are increasing shipbuilder wages with a promise of details to come. I am proud of the incredibly fast work the team has done with our partners to finalize these increases in record time. As a result, shipbuilders – not including president and vice president roles – will receive higher pay effective June 16. This means that the increases will appear in represented shipbuilder paychecks on June 27 and in salaried shipbuilder paychecks on July 4.

Wage increase amounts will vary based on several factors – market assessments, critical skills and levels of proficiency, hiring and retention rates – and are intended to help us improve our collective performance.

With reward comes responsibility. The Navy is investing in us to do the work of the nation. In return, we must step up our performance by keeping one another safe, reaffirming our commitment to first-time quality, and by acting with urgency in everything we do. Our nation needs us, and we will only rise to this challenge if we remain shoulder-to-shoulder in this mission. As I said in our last message, it is time for bolder actions. We cannot continue to do what we have been doing and get better results.

We win or lose as a team, and I know we can win.

Kari Wilkinson
President, Newport News Shipbuilding