NORFOLK, Va. - A Florida shipyard has placed ads with radio stations in Virginia and is holding local job interviews in a bid to attract its rivals' workers.
"We know that the Virginia area has folks with some great work ethics, so we're hoping we will find some people with extensive experience who might want to think about relocating," said Walter "Joe" Hartley, president of Tampa Bay Shipbuilding and Repair in Tampa.
Hartley's company was recently awarded a large contract to build large, double-hulled barges.
As a result, it needs about 400 new workers, bringing the shipyard's employment to about 700.
The company is looking for workers in other cities, but Hampton Roads, Va., is its main target, Hartley said.
Tampa Bay Shipbuilding will pay workers between $9.45 and $17 an hour, Hartley said. The rates, however, do not match those offered by Northrop Grumman Newport News, a maker of aircraft carriers and submarines and this region's largest private employer.
The Newport News yard pays between $10.98 and $19.21 in its normal progression rates for production workers.
Hartley said Tampa Bay Shipbuilding might still provide opportunities for workers at other Hampton Roads yards or those who simply want a change of pace.
