Heavy Metal: A Book Talk on the Labor Behind America's Shipbuilding Industry

The American labor movement experienced a renaissance over the last two years as worker shortages and a growing economy gave employees more power. However, since then growing opportunities and pay throughout the economy have hit the U.S. military industry hard, where long hours and difficult working conditions make trades like shipbuilding less attractive compared to white-collar jobs in the knowledge sector. Regardless of economic trends, shipbuilding is essential to the U.S. national security, and its impact is best displayed at the Newport News shipyard where the Navy builds the largest warships in the world, nuclear-powered aircraft carriers.

Please join Hudson Institute Senior Fellow Bryan Clark for a discussion with author Michael Fabey about his new book, which explores the more than 100-year history of Newport News Shipbuilding and its workers to highlight their sacrifice and contribution to the nation’s needs in the midst of wars, the civil rights movement, and political upheaval.