Many of the positions
will be turned over to
mainland contractors

By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Hawaii's job crunch has reached into the military following another round of cutbacks in civilian jobs, with the Navy making the biggest hit of 334 positions, according to a union official.

More than 20,164 civilians work for the military here.

Ben Toyama, vice president of the Hawaii Federal Employees Metal Trades Council, said a total 378 positions -- many of which will be replaced by active-duty military personnel -- are being targeted.

The Navy also will turn over many jobs to mainland contractors,which, Toyama said, will mean an untold loss of revenue to the state's economy at a time "when it can least afford to lose jobs."

According to Toyama, 334 are Navy civilian positions; 29 are civilian guards employed by the U.S. Army Military Police Brigade; and 15 are positions at Barbers Point Naval Air Station and the Pacific Missile Range Facility at Barking Sands on Kauai.

Toyama noted that Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard, which was considered the state's largest industrial employer, has steadily lost civilian positions, dipping from 5,400 employees in 1996 to 2,700 in 1998.

The Navy, with 8,809 civilian workers, currently is the largest civilian employer among the uniformed forces.

Cmdr. Kevin Wensing, Pacific Fleet spokesman, said, "A number of the positions that have been identified are already vacant, and the majority of the remaining reductions would be made through separation incentives, voluntary early retirement and attrition."

Wensing said attempts will be made to try to find these civilians other federal jobs.

Among the Navy civilian jobs listed by Toyama are:

Fleet Industrial Supply Center, 31.
Management Analysis Team, 7.
Pearl Harbor Naval Base, 11.
Lualualei Naval Magazine, 38.
Pearl Harbor Naval Station, 52.
Navy Exchange Command, 115.
Pacific Fleet Command, headquarters, 65.
Submarine Forces, 15.