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Accusations of
racism continue
at Pearl Harbor

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By Gregg K. Kakesako
Star-Bulletin

Accusations of racial discrimination continue at Pearl Harbor with a union leader charging that special job incentives are not available to local workers seeking top civilian posts at mainland shipyards.

"In fact, the Navy does not allow Pearl Harbor employees to apply for jobs in other shipyards," said Ben Toyama, Western area vice president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers.

Jason Holm, Pearl Harbor spokesman, said Toyama is wrong. "It is our policy to allow employees to transfer between shipyards to foster the development of a broad range of skills."

Holm said he didn't know whether they are offered special incentives.

Toyama maintains that despite statements by Vice Adm. George Nanos, commander of the Naval Sea Systems, whose jurisdiction includes Pearl Harbor and three mainland shipyards; and Rear Adm. William Klemm, Pacific Fleet deputy chief of staff for maintenance, selection of Pearl Harbor senior civilian positions is discriminatory.

Nanos has said his policy is "to strongly encourage development of a broad range and managerial skills and experiment" by allowing Pearl Harbor and Pacific Fleet officials to recruit senior management personnel fom the three mainland shipyards.

Toyama said consideration for senior civilian positions at naval shipyards in the Puget Sound, Norfolk and Portsmouth "are confined to the respective yards."

"Pearl Harbor is the only one that is required to hire from other shipyards," Toyama added.

"That isn't true," Holm said, adding that in recent years Pearl Harbor civilians have taken department level jobs at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in New Hampshire, Norfolk Shipyard in Virginia and Puget Sound Shipyard in Washington.

The furor was created a couple months ago when Capt. Jeffrey Connors, commander for the past three years at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Intermediate Maintenance Facility, said he wanted to "broaden the gene pool" at his facility by turning to the mainland yards.

Conners and Klemm privately suggested incentives to lure senior mainland management civilian personnel to Pearl Harbor. The incentives that were suggested included a signing bonus, advancing the prospective candidate to the top of the pay scale at $110,000 and guaranteeing rights to return to his old job.