WASHINGTON >> U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie is among lawmakers who say U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan could be at risk because of a labor dispute at the factory that produces bulletproof vests for troops. Labor dispute risks troops,
Abercrombie saysA bulletproof vest factory strike
is a threat to soldiers, he saysAssociated Press
Company officials and the Pentagon, however, say there are no problems with the quality of the vests produced by Point Blank Body Armor of Oakland Park in South Florida. And the New York City Police Department, which asked for further tests of similar vests after they failed to stop some bullets, has settled its dispute with the company.
The dispute played out yesterday on Capitol Hill. Leaders of the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees, which is trying to organize workers at the plant, have been backed by several lawmakers, including Abercrombie and Rep. Alcee Hastings, D-Fla. Workers have been on strike since Aug. 9 trying to organize a union.
"This is a crisis for the soldiers and police officers who have to wear these products," UNITE President Bruce Raynor said.
But Pentagon spokesman Jack Hooper said there have been no complaints about the vests' quality, and Paul Donofrio, an executive vice president of Point Blank's parent company, DHB Industries of Carle Place, N.Y., said a Defense Department employee is at the plant watching over the manufacturing. He said the company hired experienced workers to replace the strikers.
"These were qualified, experienced people that we put in," Donofrio said. "We're very confident as to the production quality and integrity of our products."
Abercrombie, D-Hawaii, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, said the quality of the vests, and therefore the safety of U.S. troops, will be hurt by having untrained replacements rather than veteran union workers on the job.
"We are going to follow through to see to it that this quality is maintained," Abercrombie said. "The only way that can be done is by having quality people produce the body armor. That can't be done with casual hires at minimum wage or less."