San Diego shipbuilder announces layoffs

The last major shipbuilder on the West Coast began informing 700 employees Friday they may lose their jobs in January.

General Dynamics NASSCO, situated in Barrio Logan, sent letters to employees last week that should arrive in mailboxes this week. A layoff notice was filed Friday with the state Employment Development Department, the company said.

“We are working diligently so not all employees who were notified will be affected,” said a statement from the company provided by spokesman Dennis DuBard. “We regret the impact this will have on employees and their families.”

The shipbuilder is one of the biggest moneymakers for the Unified Port of San Diego, paying rent of $3.4 million in fiscal year 2015, and supports 3,500 jobs. In June, it was awarded a roughly $3 billion contract from the Navy to build six oiler ships and, in August, won a contract to build two container ships for San Francisco-based shipping company Matson.

Read more: http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/economy/sd-fi-general-dynamics-20161024-story.html