MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 21, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) --
Note to Editors and News Directors:
Northrop Grumman and its employees greatly appreciate your continued assistance in sharing these updates. These announcements change slightly each day, so we ask that you carefully review the information before broadcasting it or printing it to ensure your broadcasts or print materials coincide with what we are sharing with you.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Northrop Grumman Update for Gulf Coast Employees
RETURN-TO-WORK NOTICE FOR NORTHROP GRUMMAN SHIP SYSTEMS EMPLOYEES
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems has resumed shipbuilding production on a limited basis at all its facilities: Gulfport, Pascagoula, and New Orleans operations, and the Tallulah facility. All Northrop Grumman Ship Systems personnel should report to work.
NEW ORLEANS OPERATIONS BUS SCHEDULE FOR EMPLOYEES
All employees who can do so are encouraged to report to work at 6 a.m. for a 4-by-10 shift, Monday through Thursday. Bus Transportation is provided from the following locations:
-- Thibodeaux -- Winn Dixie, 375 North Canal Blvd. The bus departs
at 4:45 a.m.
-- Raceland -- Winn Dixie Shopping Center, 4560 Hwy 1. The bus
departs at 4:45 a.m.
-- Baton Rouge -- Target, 6885 Siegen Lane. The bus departs at 4:15
a.m.
-- Slidell -- Target, 61121 Airport Road. The bus departs at 4:15
a.m.
PASCAGOULA OPERATIONS EMPLOYEES
HR CENTER TO OFFER DISASTER RELIEF ASSISTANCE TO EMPLOYEES, STARTING MONDAY
-- Effective Monday, September 26, the Northrop Grumman Ship
Systems Human Resources Department will expand its HR Service
Center to include a "one-stop shop" to aid employees who have
not had the opportunity to register with FEMA or the Red Cross
for disaster relief assistance. The following new services will
be offered in addition to the leave requests, vacation requests,
address changes, and miscellaneous services already being
offered by the HRSC:
-- Assistance with FEMA registration (if employees do not
already have a claim number)
-- Assistance with requesting temporary housing (on the
employee's property) with FEMA
-- Registration of employees for the Red Cross relief fund
-- Assistance for employees who have not had the opportunity
to file for Federal Disaster Relief Unemployment Benefits.
-- The HR Service Center is located in the CDI Building at 3500
Telephone Road (corner of Telephone and Jefferson Street) in
Moss Point. The hours of operation will be expanded to 7 a.m.
to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday, for two weeks starting
Monday, September 26, and ending Saturday, October 8. Employees
are requested to check with their supervision for visits during
working hours. Employees may call 228-935-6400 if they are
unable to visit the Human Resources Center.
HR DISASTER AID FOR EMPLOYEES WORKING IN PRODUCTION AREAS
-- A tent in the southeast corner of the West Bank shipyard, near
the safety store, now houses a special assistance office for
employees working in the yard. The special office will provide
the same services listed above. The in-yard service will be
provided from Monday, September 26, through Wednesday, September
28. Trades management will provide employees with a scheduled
time take advantage of these services.
All employees who can do so are requested to report to work. Technical and support personnel assigned in Pascagoula are operating on different schedules, and in different locations, as follows.
-- Engineering and ILS departments:
-- FSO employees: Report to the EDC at 6 a.m. Work shifts are
Thursday through Saturday, 12 hours each day. Employees
will need to provide their own meals.
-- Sunplex employees: Report to Sunplex in Ocean Springs at 6
a.m. Work shift at Sunplex is a 4-by-10 schedule Tuesday
through Friday.
-- Engineering employees in Administration buildings 1, 2 and
3: Report to previously assigned work areas at 6 a.m. Work
shift is a 4-by-10 schedule Tuesday through Friday.
-- Expeditionary warfare programs management, surface combatant
programs management, Deepwater program management:
-- Report to previously assigned work areas for a 4-by-10
schedule, which started Monday and will continue through
Thursday.
-- CG 47 Planning Yard employees: Report to the CDI Building
on Telephone Road in Moss Point at 7 a.m. until further
notice.
-- Business Management (finance, contracts, estimating and EVMS):
-- West Bank employees who have not previously reported to
work: Report to normal work locations.
-- East Bank employees: Report to the CDI Building on
Telephone Road in Pascagoula. Work shift is a 4-by-10
schedule, Tuesday through Friday.
-- Planning department employees, including industrial engineering,
production planning, scheduling and manpower planning:
-- Report to work at normal work times at Pascagoula
locations.
-- Supply Chain Management -- all office personnel:
-- Report to work at normal Pascagoula work locations and
times.
-- Sourcing and material cataloging employees: Report to the
EDC (K-Mart building). Supervisors will contact these
employees for work shifts and times.
SPECIAL PAYROLL INFORMATION FOR EMPLOYEES USING DIRECT DEPOSIT
-- Employees using direct deposit for their pay who have had
difficulty accessing their net payroll amount can call (877)
744-7642 and authorize the company to make the next payroll
payment either by check (if they are able to pick up a check at
the Ingalls or Gulfport shipyards) or by Western Union cash
payment, in lieu of direct deposit. This authorization is not
retroactive; it only applies to future payrolls. At the
employee's request, the election to suspend direct deposit will
remain in effect until the employee notifies the company to
return to direct deposit.
-- At Pascagoula, employees can authorize a check or Western Union
payment instead of direct deposit by completing a form. This
form will be made available at the completion of each shift.
Employees should submit their completed authorization forms to
their supervisors or leave completed forms at any security
checkpoint. Ship Systems Finance (payroll) personnel will
collect these forms.
-- Beginning with the Sept. 30 paycheck, pay will be made either by
direct deposit or by actual check. The company no longer will
utilize the emergency Western Union method.
TOLL-FREE EMPLOYEE CONTACT LINE
-- Northrop Grumman continues to request that every employee from
its Gulf Coast facilities contact the company via the new toll-
free number, (877) 744-7642, to ensure that all employees are
accounted for and their needs are being addressed.
WORKERS COMPENSATION PAYMENTS
-- Any workers compensation questions regarding whether payment
will be made by check or Western Union "Quick Cash" should be
referred to the F.A. Richard (FARA) Hotline at (888) 560-2562.
MEDICAL COVERAGE
-- Special arrangements have been made to ensure no lapses in
coverage occur for Northrop Grumman employees during the
hurricane recovery period. The company Benefits Center can
assist with health issues, including prescription refills,
medical pre-certifications and guidance for use of physicians
and hospitals outside the network areas. Call (800) 894-4194.
SAVINGS ACCOUNT LINE
-- Company representatives can respond to questions regarding
savings plan loans or hardship withdrawals. Call (800) 676-
7211.
NORTHROP GRUMMAN EMPLOYEE DISASTER RELIEF FUND AVAILABLE
-- Direct assistance to employees impacted by Hurricane Katrina
will be provided through the new Northrop Grumman Employee
Disaster Relief Fund. Affected employees should call (888) 642-
5645 between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. PDT to apply.