Hundreds of shipyard workers at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works (BIW), Bath, Maine, went on strike this week after rejecting the shipyard’s proposed wage agreement, while the company continues negotiations and has presented a revised contract offer.
Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (BMDA), which represents over 600 workers at the shipyard, began the strike after voting down the company’s proposal over the weekend. The union said the offer did not adequately address concerns related to wages, health insurance costs and retirement benefits. BMDA represents workers responsible for drafting and implementing designs for a range of U.S. Navy ships built at BIW.
Bath Iron Works said it has continued negotiating, and on Tuesday presented an updated proposal that includes a 10.5% wage increase in the first year followed by 5% increases in each of the next three years, which the company said would amount to roughly a 28% wage increase over the life of the contract.
Earlier company proposals included annual wage increases of approximately 10% in the first year and 4% in each of the following three years, according to company statements.
Bath Iron Works said shipyard operations are expected to continue during the strike using salaried staff, subcontractors and other employees who continue working. The shipyard employs about 6,800 workers in total.
The strike comes as Bath Iron Works continues work on U.S. Navy shipbuilding programs, including Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers. The Navy awarded the shipyard a multiyear contract in 2023 for additional destroyers, and the yard delivered the future USS Harvey C. Barnum Jr. last year, with the vessel scheduled for commissioning this year.
Union members began picketing outside the shipyard earlier this week and said they will continue until a new contract agreement is reached.
