Correction: The original story should have said employees whose jobs have been eliminated have until Nov. 15 to decide whether to accept reassignments.NAPLES, Italy — The U.S. Navy has finalized the number of Italian and U.S. employees who will lose their jobs as part of a service reorganization in Italy, Navy officials said.
In all, 39 Italian workers will lose their jobs, fewer than the 91 positions originally forecasted. In addition, 44 positions held by U.S. employees were eliminated, and 52 Italians will be reassigned to vacant positions, Navy officials said in a statement released Friday.
The cuts are in Naples and Sicily in public works, family readiness and Naval Facilities Engineering Command programs. The Navy has said the cuts were necessary because the number of facilities in Europe has declined over the years.
Some Italian employees are not happy with the Navy’s realignment plan, particularly because, labor union officials said, 12 Italian workers over age 65 were retained while some younger workers were let go.
“They are our colleagues, yes, but it has been scandalous that [the Navy] retained employees of retirement age and let go young workers,” said Gennaro Di Micco, a spokesman for one Naples labor union.
Employees have until Nov. 15 to decide whether to accept reassignments, which could mean relocating between Naples and Sicily. Laid-off employees have two years to be rehired if an eliminated job is re-established, or if an equivalent job becomes available, Navy officials stated.
Italian employees plan to meet Tuesday to discuss options, Di Micco said.
Navy Region Europe, Africa, Southwest Asia employs 9,000 military personnel, 5,000 local nationals, and 2,000 U.S. civilians at six bases on three continents.
