The Wilmington morning star., 1945-01-11

the Superintendent of the division
who confers on the subject with
the Personnel Director.
The Personnel Director then in
structs the Employment Manager
to gather together all of the EN-
ployment Office records Of the de
partment involved, showing the ap-
plication for employment, service
record, attendance record, occupa
ton card. shipyard police card,
clinic record, etc.
A meeting is then called, con-
sisting of the Foreman of the de-
partment, his Personnel Supervisor
the Superintendent of the Division
involved, the Employment Manag-
err and the Personnel Director. It
sometimes happens that we have
an excess of good workmen on a
particular job but we are unable
to retain all of them because they
are not qualified for some other
job where men are or will be need
ed. In this meeting the records are
again analysed with all informa-
ton at hand. At this point consid-
Grafton has to be given to the mini
mum requirements in job classifi-
cation. In number of cases, in
dividuals may be found who have
undesirable attendance or police
records which are not included in
the Foremans records. These en-
ployees are discussed and substi-
tutions may be made. These met
ings are designed to insure careful
investigation, to avoid favoritism,
and to be sure that all employees
are fairly and justly considered.
The recommendations for release
or transfer of those on the final
list are determined in this meeting
and turned over to the Foreman
for his action. A copy is also given
the Employment Manager, who
processes all transfers and terni-
nations. Therefore, by this process
some employees a re terminated
and some transferred, depending
on their value as employees of the
Company. This PROCEDURE has
been used on numerous occasions
at least twice in a major way when
complete change in the type of
ship to be built has occurred, and
on several occasions when minor
changes were involved.
10y Ch1p1a fyrov,, 7 az
to C Vessels.
The first major change occurred
in the change over from the con-
struction of Liberty vessels to the
c type. This change constituted
big shift in the interdepartmental
ratios, since the Liberty ship was
for the most part large steel job
with relatively small amount of
Quitting work. This relationship
is approximately shown by the rel
alive period of time on the Ways
and Quitting for these vessels,
representing an average of about
twenty six days and six days,
respectively.
The c type is long-range cargo
carrier, with thoroughly up to date
and efficient equipment, and h e
ratio changed to about fiftN.six
days on the Ways and forty-four
days for Quitting. This meant a
large shift in employment from the
Steel trades to the Quitting trades
that is, the Steel trades, represent
ed by the Welders, Riveters, Drill
ers, Filters, Lay Off, Ship Shed,
Anglesmiths, Shipwrights and Erec-
tors, would be reduced and the
Quitting trades, represented by
the Yard Riggers, Pipe Coverers,
Electricians, Pipe Shop, Sheet Met
al Shop, Boiler and Blacksmith
Shop, Painters, Steam Engineers,
Plumbers and Ship Carpenters,
would be increased.
When it was clear that a major
employment change would have to
be made, plans were worked out to
make it as easy as possible. The
change over, with corresponding
changes in employment, was large
ly made during June, July, August,
and part Of September, 1943,
with examinations and transfers in
about 5000. In addition to
those transferred or terminated,
many others at this time who were
Of unsettled mind quit to 60 else
where. This period was the result
Of the following events:
The keel of the last Liberty to 60
on Shipway No. L., for the last
circuit of the shipways, was laid
June Is, 1913. This vessel was
launched July IT, 1913, and the keel
OF the first c. was laid on July
20, 1943. The keel of the last Liber-
ty was laid Puly Is, 1913, and the
last Liberty was launched August
81, 1943. The last Liberty was de-
livered August 81, 1913.
Employment in the Steel trades
started to decline substantially
about the middle of June, or at
about the time work on the platens
was beginning to decline on the
Liberties. Employment in the Out
fitting trades began to decline SLOW
" at about the same time, starting
with the Pipe Shop and Plumbers
who prepared and installed piping
in the doublebottoms during SUBJ
assembly on the platens and the
decline was fastened by the COM
pletion of the last Liberty on Ship
way No. l. Decline in the Quitting
trades continued until about Sep
TENDER IS, 1943, or about the time
of the launching of the first c.,
which was the main starting point