Jackson Renews Vow to Help Long Beach Shipyard Workers

The Rev. Jesse Jackson on Tuesday rallied the spirits of hundreds of Long Beach Naval Shipyard workers demoralized by a shortfall in funds promised by the federal government to help them prepare for the September 1997 closing of the facility.

“I promised I would be with you to the end and I will come see you again and again and again until you have new jobs,” Jackson told the gathered crowd after leading it through a chorus of “I AM--somebody.”

“If they can find the money to build jails, then they can find the money to sustain you in your transition,” he said.

Laying off workers without retraining them for other jobs is the real family values issue, said the Rainbow Coalition founder. He urged his listeners to take advantage of the election year and become a strategic force in the fight for California, wondering aloud why neither GOP candidate Bob Dole nor President Clinton has visited the yard.

Earlier, while shipyard workers lunched on free hot dogs in a parking lot and waited for the civil rights leader to speak, Jackson met privately with union officials who explained their concerns and asked him to exert whatever political pressure he can in Washington.

Foremost among their concerns is the budget process, said J.B. Larkins, president of the Employees Assn. Without the full $207 million promised to fund the shipyard through its closing, he said, there will be layoffs by Christmas. About 60% of the 2,000 shipyard workers are minorities, he noted. He also pointed out that Long Beach is the most cost-effective shipyard in the world, averaging $17 million in profits a year.

Also at the meeting was Bill Gurzi of Build Up Long Beach, which submitted one of 17 reuse proposals to the City Council.

Representatives of the Federal Employees Metal Trades Council took Jackson on a tour of empty classrooms at the retraining facility. So far, the program has received half of a $6.1-million grant, which will expire in June 1998. Of the 800 employees enrolled, only about 50 are receiving services, said FEMTC Vice President DeAndre Young.

“Nothing’s going on here. That’s the problem,” he said. “We are running out of time.”