The Hawaii chapter of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE), Local 121 is protesting the implementation of furloughs for Naval Facilities Engineering Command’s (NAVFAC) employees without bargaining the terms with the union.

In a press release, local president Jamie Hiranaka said the union has filed three unfair labor practice charges against NAVFAC. The complaint alleges the command refused to meet with the union about the 11 furlough days facing employees. The union represents about 100 workers. The furloughs are set to begin July 8.

In an email, Hiranaka said Rep. Colleen Hanabusa has tried to intervene. Hanabusa in a statement, didn’t mention the labor dispute. She said instead the furloughs point to the continued effects of the sequestration budget cuts.

“This is the continuing impact of sequestration, demanding that our civilian employees shoulder the burden of our inability to work toward planned, meaningful reductions in federal spending,” Hanabusa said.

“The workers represented by IFPTE are dedicated employees who provide services vital to maintaining and building our national defense. Just as importantly, they have families that rely on them to put food on the table and keep a roof over their heads. When sequestration forces us to send these workers home for eleven days, the effects are felt by far more than the employees themselves,” she said.

The Navy did not immediate respond to a request for comment.

Credit: NAVFAC

— Kery Murakami