Surprise, Relief Sweep Workers as Long Beach Shipyard Wins Reprieve : Defense: Panel’s 4-3 vote spares the base for another two years. The Navy had recommended keeping it open; more than 4,000 jobs were at stake.

For a few interminable moments Friday, it seemed to hundreds of anxious Long Beach Naval Shipyard employees that all was lost.

The federal base closure commission had quickly decided the fate of three East Coast shipyards and a Northern California base, but was haggling over what to do with Long Beach. Hundreds of men and women in hard hats and coveralls milled near the yard’s main gate pensively waiting for word, while others huddled in front of television sets watching the seven commissioners cast their votes.

“Three-three,� shouted a union leader, holding up three fingers on each hand. “(Commission Chairman James) Courter’s the deciding vote.�

“That’s it,� said a nearby employee, shaking his head. “Courter won’t go with us. It’s over. We’re done with.�

But before he and his fellow employees could turn their backs, shouts of incredulity filled the air. “Courter voted yes!� the union leader whooped. “It’s 4-3. We did it.�

Pandemonium erupted.

For the second time in two years, city officials, local representatives, union leaders and hundreds of employees who attended hearings managed to persuade the base closure commission that the Long Beach Naval Station was too valuable to close. City officials had predicted dire consequences for the region if the shipyard were shut down. More than 4,000 people work at the yard, and it pumps more than $300 million a year into the local economy.

“It certainly was touch and go,� said City Manager James C. Hankla. “I have to say, I probably would have lost a lot of money had someone asked me to bet when it came down to the final vote. We are just delighted . . . I hope it’s the beginning of a series of good economic news for our region.�

At the shipyard’s main gate, most employees were just happy to keep their jobs--at least until 1995, when the third round of base commission hearings convenes.

“I feel a lot better now,� said a tearful Barbara Phipps. “That was awful close, and just like everybody else I worried about my livelihood. I’m too old to start over and I didn’t really want to go back to being a waitress.�

The 53-year-old Westminster resident smiled broadly: “I have to go back to work now.�

Union representatives and city officials said the commissioners could not ignore that the Navy ranked Long Beach as the third highest in military value and recommended that it stay open. “The Navy knows what the Navy needs,� was a frequent refrain of shipyard employees.

The issue of whether there is enough work for the shipyards also was crucial. Beginning in 1995, the Navy anticipates that there will be fewer ships to repair, and consequently less demand for Long Beach Naval Shipyard. The workload is not expected to increase until the late 1990s when larger ships are due for repairs. For this reason, some shipyard workers believe that they are likely to face another tough fight when a new base closure commission meets in two years.

J.B. Larkins, president of the Long Beach Naval Shipyard Employees Assn., praised workers and local representatives for persevering in the fight to keep the station open, but warned his jubilant colleagues that they do not have the luxury of relaxing.

“We won by the narrowest of margins,� he said. “Make no mistake about it, they are after us.�

“The only thing we can do is keep doing good work and hope they will stick by us like they did today,� said one worker, who had been worried he would lose his job and his two daughters would have to drop out of college.

But in the euphoria of the moment, several employees predicted that the base would survive the third round of closings, likening their situation to the Chicago Bulls’ third straight basketball championship.

“Three-peat! Three-peat! Three-peat!� a group of grinning men chanted before they headed off to their jobs.

Times staff writer Rick Holguin contributed to this story.