No extra picket indications outside Bath Iron Works after nera 10-week lon strike ends
Members of IAM Local S6 are back at the workplace at shipbuilder GD Bath Iron Works, Bath, Maine, after electing 87% to validate a three-year cumulative negotiating arrangement. Union participants drew back at the workplace starting with the 3rd change on Sunday, August 23.
The union states that the accepted agreement consists of solid task securities versus increased subcontracting as well as protects standing civil liberties, both leading concerns that compelled participants to turn down the firm’s previous deal as well as start the strike almost 10 weeks back on June 22.
“IAM Local S6 has shown the world that together working people can stand up and win for themselves, their families and their communities,” stated IAMInternational President Robert Martinez Jr “This fight for dignity, justice and good Maine jobs will go down in the history books of the Machinists Union and all of organized labor. I could not be more proud of our IAM Local S6 membership and negotiating committee, District 4 representatives, Eastern Territory staff and everyone who stood with the IAM and the best shipbuilders in the world. We are also grateful for the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service and Director Richard Giacolone for helping us get this agreement resolved.”
Federal conciliators assisted both sides get to a tentative arrangement onAug 7. IAM Local S6 participants obtained the agreement in the mail as well as elected online as well as by telephone from 12:01 a.m., Friday,Aug 21 to noontime, Sunday,Aug 23.
“This strike was a testament to the culmination of Local S6 leadership, our negotiating committee and the incredible power of solidarity shown by our membership,” stated IAM Local S6President Chris Wiers “Now that we successfully protected our contract language with respect to subcontracting and seniority, we need to get back to work and continue to prove to the U.S. Navy that ‘S6 built is best built.’”
“We are pleased to welcome back our valued manufacturing employees and get back to the important work of building ships on schedule for the U.S. Navy,” stated a Bath Iron Work declaration. “This contract reflects the commitment of all BIW employees to improve schedule performance and the economic package ensures that manufacturing careers at BIW continue to be among the very best in Maine. As we move forward to deliver on our commitments to the U.S. Navy and meet our obligations as part of this nation’s critical infrastructure, we must do so together, on time, every time.”
