Labor unrest deepens at Bath Iron Works

[Omaha Steve]

Source: bangordailynews.com

By Beth Brogan,

BATH, Maine — Efforts to cut shipbuilding costs at Bath Iron Works amid continuing uncertainty about federal defense budget priorities have led to labor-management conflict that the leader of the largest union at the shipyard called the worst since a strike 15 years ago.

“People are fed up with the way we’re being treated,” said Jay Wadleigh, president of Local S6 of the machinists union. “I haven’t seen labor relations this bad since 2000.”

Nearly 1,000 members of Local S6, which represents about 3,000 shipyard workers, marched the length of the shipyard at midday Tuesday to protest proposed changes, including one that triggered a 55-day strike in 2000, according to Wadleigh.

Union leaders say instituting the changes more than a year before a new contract is negotiated would violate terms of the existing contract. But BIW officials maintain that the changes are necessary to cut costs and remain competitive for future projects.

FULL story at link.



Troy R. Bennett | BDN
Bath Iron Works' dry dock floats on the Kennebec River in Bath in this December 2014 file photo.

Read more: https://bangordailynews.com/2015/03/25/business/labor-unrest-deepens-at-bath-iron-works/

[midnight]

1. Company needs to honor contract now,and when it is up, renegotiate.

[tinymontgomery]

2. My first ship was built there

My first ship was built there, USS Flatley, FFG 21. Was stationed up there during the winter waiting to commission her in June of 1981. Took her back for SRA in Jan of 82. Nice country but pretty desolate, the town it self had some cool bars to go to.

[happyslug]

6. The USS Flatley is now the Turkish "Gemick" Frigate.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/USS_Flatley_%28FFG-21%29

[tinymontgomery]

7. I knew they had sold it

Knew they had sold it but I never bothered to track where. Fun ship, loved the way she handled.
There's only two ships out of 6 that I served on left. The USS Mount Witney and the USS Ponce.

[RBInMaine]

3. They endorsed and voted for the REPUBLICANS. PISS ON THEM !

[JanT]

4. Voting does have its consequences n/t

[Calista241]

5. Republicans have, for decades, been known as defense hawks that spend more

Money on defense, like the ships built at BIW. Would you expect BIW to support candidates that want to give them less money?

Though this trend is probably changing with the rise of tea party douchebags that want everyone to take less money.