Pearl Harbor shipyard workers returning to jobs

All 2,765 civilian workers furloughed from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard will return to work Monday, a shipyard official confirmed.

The news came after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel announced Saturday that he was recalling most of the Defense Department’s approximately 350,000 civilians laid off as a result of the government shutdown.

"As a result of the secretary of defense’s decision …and in accordance with guidance received, the shipyard is returning to normal operations as of the first shift Monday, 7 October," shipyard spokeswoman Jensin Weng Sommer told the Star-Advertiser.

That shift starts at 6:30 a.m.

Sommer added that the guidance is that "all shipyard employees" should report to their usual worksites.

"I think this is definitely welcome news for our employees, as well as the shipyard," she said. The shipyard is the state’s largest industrial employer.

Work will resume on three nuclear submarines in drydock — the Texas, Buffalo and Cheyenne — that was idled with the furloughs that sent home 63 percent of the shipyard’s approximately 4,400 civilian employees.

Some other commands, including the Hawaii National Guard and Navy Region Hawaii, were waiting on guidance Saturday for the return of some of their staffs.

About 1,000 federal technicians with the Hawaii Guard and 360 Navy Region Hawaii employees were furloughed, officials said.

"We should know more definitively by (Sunday)," Guard spokesman Lt. Col. Chuck Anthony said.

Undersecretary of Defense Robert Hale said during a press briefing Saturday that his guess was that "most or maybe all" of the federal technicians will be brought back to work.

The state estimates there are about 25,500 federal defense civilian employees and about 9,000 nondefense employees in Hawaii, but not all are furloughed. U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz previously estimated 25,000 federal workers could be laid off in the government shutdown.

The decision announced by Hagel is based on a Pentagon legal interpretation of a law called the Pay Our Military Act. That measure was passed by Congress and signed by President Barack Obama shortly before the partial government shutdown began Tuesday.

"Before the government shutdown began, the United States made a statement that it would not allow our brave men and women in uniform, as well as the civilian employees who support their efforts, to be burdened by Congress’ inability to do its job," said U.S. Rep. Colleen Hanabusa.

Hanabusa said it is her understanding that most civilian defense workers will be back to work by Monday.

Hale, the defense undersecretary, said he expects 90 percent or more of the furloughed workers to be recalled, with "no more than a few tens of thousands" or far less remaining on furlough.

The Defense Department previously pegged its civilian furloughs at just under 400,000. Hale said 350,000 "is a more accurate assessment right now."

In a written statement explaining his action, Hagel said the Justice Department advised that the law does not permit a blanket recall of all Pentagon civilians.

But government attorneys concluded that the law does allow the Pentagon to eliminate furloughs for "employees whose responsibilities contribute to the morale, well-being, capabilities and readiness of service members."

Hagel said he has told Pentagon officials, including leaders of the military services, to "identify all employees whose activities fall under these categories." He said civilian workers should stand by for further word this weekend.

Hale said he expects commissary workers to return and the grocery stores to reopen this week.

Among those who will remain on furlough are auditors and some legislative and public affairs staffers.

Hagel had made clear earlier in the week that Pentagon lawyers were trying to determine ways for some of the Defense Department’s furloughed civilians to get back to work.

Hale was questioned about furloughed federal workers in other branches who have asked, "What about us?"

He said the law covers defense and Coast Guard support employees.

"So, unfortunately, there’s no legal basis for employees in other agencies," Hale said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.