Ingalls Shipbuilding: What Union Workers Need to Know About Pascagoula

Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi is the largest private employer in the state of Mississippi and one of the most significant naval shipbuilding operations in the United States. HII operates the yard, which builds LPD amphibious assault ships, DDG Arleigh Burke destroyers in partnership with Bath Iron Works, and NSC National Security Cutters for the Coast Guard. The work is Permanent. Ingalls has been building ships in Pascagoula since 1938. Ironworkers Local 399 has the primary structural steel agreement at the yard. Per diem for craft workers runs at $158/day. Pascagoula is a small Gulf Coast city with an identity built around the shipyard and the broader petrochemical industrial presence in Jackson County. It is not a large city but it is not remote — Biloxi and the Gulf Coast casino corridor is about 35 miles west and Mobile, Alabama is about 45 miles to the east. Housing inventory in Pascagoula and Ocean Springs is workable and moderately priced. The Gulf Coast climate is what it is — hot and humid for a significant portion of the year. Members coming from northern climates should plan accordingly, particularly for the summer months. The hurricane season requires awareness if you are considering longer-term positioning in the area. Most shipyard employees who have worked through Gulf Coast storm seasons develop a matter-of-fact relationship with the seasonal weather risk. The craft mix at Ingalls covers the full range — structural iron, electrical, piping, HVAC, painting, and shipfitting are all active. Member reports on working conditions at the yard are generally positive. HII has a long institutional relationship with the craft unions at Ingalls and the labor relations history, while not without its tensions over the years, is generally functional. For members who want stable, permanent employment in naval shipbuilding and are open to the Gulf Coast, Pascagoula is worth serious consideration.