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ADVISORY, Sept. 22, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- SPECIAL NOTE ON HURRICANE RITA
Northrop Grumman Ship Systems sector's New Orleans operations currently is monitoring the path of Hurricane Rita and will close today, Thursday, Sept. 22, at 2 p.m. CDT. All employee buses will depart the shipyard at 2:30 p.m. CDT. The facility will be closed Friday, Sept. 23.
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, as well as 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. - Hammond - Harvest World Wide Ministries, 17197 North I-12 Service 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. PASCAGOULA WORK SCHEDULES AND LOCATIONS - 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 by check (if they are able to pick up a check at the Ingalls or Gulfport shipyards). 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 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.