On May 17, 1996, Director John Calhoon Wells visited the largest unionized employer in Virginia, Newport News Shipbuilding. He was accompanied by Charles Richard Barnes and Richard Giacolone, both of whom became future Senate-confirmed Directors of FMCS.
The 19th FMCS Director, Richard Giacolone, is far left in the picture. Director Wells (13th) is second from the left, and Director Barnes (14th) is second from the right.
Newport News Shipbuilding is a Huntington Ingalls Company and the exclusive builder of US Nuclear Aircraft Carriers. The aircraft carrier in the background of this photograph is the USS Truman CVN-75.
Newport News employs more than 20,000 people in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia. Three unions represent the majority of the shipyard’s employees, including the largest unit covering the trades employees: United Steelworkers of America, Local 8888, the International Union, Security, Police and Fire Professionals of America, Local 451, and IAFF I-45.
The Shipyard and the Unions have requested assistance from FMCS numerous times, including labor-management cooperation training and mediation assistance for all three collective bargaining agreements.
The shipyard and its three bargaining units have not had a work stoppage since 2000 due to many factors, including FMCS assistance.