MEDIA ADVISORY, Sept. 16, 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.
This advisory covers the period of Friday, September 16 through Monday, September 19.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Sept. 16-19 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. The company will resume operations at its Gulfport Operations and Tallulah facility on Monday, Sept. 19. The shipyards at Pascagoula and New Orleans began shipbuilding production this week.
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. All employee requests to switch from direct deposit
to check or Western Union cash payment that are received by
close of business, Tuesday, Sept. 20 will be made effective
on the Friday, Sept. 23 payday. 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.
-- Employees may continue to experience difficulty accessing
direct deposit payroll at credit unions or banks in the
affected areas. Employees who use financial institutions in
the Gulf Coast region and are unable to access funds should
call (877) 744-7642.
DISTRIBUTION OF PAYCHECKS FOR THE WEEK ENDING SEPTEMBER 11
-- All employees are reminded the company advanced 40 hours
of regular pay for the Sept. 5 through Sept. 11 period in
the 80-hour paycheck distributed last week. For those
employees who worked the week of Sept. 5 through Sept. 11,
paychecks were distributed and direct deposits made Friday,
Sept. 16.
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 four-by-ten shift, Monday through Thursday.
-- 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.
Bus Transportation begins Monday, Sept. 19 from these two additional locations:
-- 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
Technical and support personnel assigned in Pascagoula are operating on different schedules, and in different locations, as follows.
-- Engineering and ILS departments:
-- FSO employees are asked to report to the EDC at 6 a.m.
Work shifts for these employees will be Thursday through
Saturday, 12 hours each day. Employees will need to
provide their own meals.
-- Sunplex employees are asked to report to Sunplex in Ocean
Springs at 6 a.m. Work shift at Sunplex will be a 4-by-10
schedule Tuesday through Friday.
-- Engineering employees in Administration buildings 1, 2
and 3 are asked to report to their previously assigned
work areas at 6 a.m. Work shift will be 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. Work shift will
be a 4-by-10 schedule, which started Monday and will
continue through Thursday.
-- CG 47 Planning Yard employees are asked to 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
should report tomorrow, at normal work locations. East
Bank employees should report to the CDI Building on
Telephone Road in Pascagoula. Work shift will be 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 will report
to the EDC (K-Mart building). Supervisors will contact
these employees for work shifts and times.
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
-- The workers compensation distribution of payments for the
period ending Sept. 9, 2005 will be handled in the
following manner:
-- For employees (or their beneficiaries) outside of the
areas impacted by Hurricane Katrina (or those personnel
for whom we have previously received a forwarding address)
the payment distribution will continue to be handled as a
check delivered by the U.S. Postal Service.
-- For the balance of employees (or their beneficiaries),
particularly those in the areas impacted by Hurricane
Katrina, payments are now available through Western Union.
-- Any 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.