San Diego, California News Station - KFMB Channel 8 - cbs8.comHuge San Diego shipbuilder planning 900 layoffs

Huge San Diego shipbuilder planning 900 layoffs

SAN DIEGO (AP) - The West Coast's last big shipbuilder, a major employer in San Diego County, is planning at least 900 layoffs because of a prolonged industry slump.

General Dynamics NASSCO says it has sent letters to about a fourth of its 4,100 workers about possible layoffs in mid-July. Half of NASSCO's 500 subcontractor jobs might also be cut.

NASSCO spokesman Karl Johnson on Wednesday blamed the downturn in commercial and government shipbuilding as well as fluctuations in the Navy's repair schedule.

NASSCO builds logistics ships for the Navy and commercial container ships and tankers.

The layoffs would be the largest in 15 years for the Shipyard Workers Union Local 1998, which has about 2,300 members.