Study Finds Base’s Layoff System Is Fair

Despite a perception of discrimination against older and minority workers, a layoff system at the Point Mugu base is fair and does not unduly affect one segment of worker, a federal study released Friday found.

Critics, however, said the study missed a segment of the population it should have been studying--employees who retired early--and is therefore not reliable.

According to the study by the National Academy of Public Administration, the 20-year system of awarding bonuses and raises did not put older workers at a disadvantage when the Navy dismissed employees a year ago, and they were actually laid off at lower rates than their percentage of the work force.

The study did find that women and Asians were laid off in higher proportions, but said that many were often hired more recently.

The academy is a congressionally-chartered organization that reviews government programs.

The study also found that workers perceived the system as unfair. Navy officials said they would try to dispel that belief.

“We’re going to do some work on those perceptions,” said Rear Adm. Bert Johnston, who heads the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division. “We recognize that issue is important to the work force.”

Jack Futoran, the attorney for a former employee who believes he was dismissed because of his age, said the study fails to take into account employees who were encouraged to retire early, whether they wanted to or not.

“What I saw was that they got the pieces of the puzzle, but never put it together,” he said. “All the people they wanted to get out left” before the layoffs began.

Futoran said the study would not affect his lawsuit.