Below you will find some recent activity that’s been happening in the shipyard. The Local views this as more of the same unwarranted self-congratulatory behavior. The true workers of Local S6 accomplished the majority of these tasks and set up management and scabs to take credit for work order closure with no details of what actually took place. Lack of management skills somehow justifies more PR for BIW. We are of the opinion it is not worth the paper it’s printed on. Stay strong and stand united!
The LS6 Negotiating Committee sent a comprehensive package of offers and solutions to subcontracting and major production issues to Phebe Novakovic. These proposals were submitted to BIW before and during negotiations. We hoped that with her review/input it would bringing BIW management to the table to negotiate a fair agreement. Phebe forwarded this package to Dirk Lesko. His response is below.
Please note the highlighted paragraph. Remember when BIW said they weren’t attacking our seniority. We are of the opinion that they are and this letter is consistent with that viewpoint.
WASHINGTON, July 21, 2020 – As a strike of 4,300 IAM Local S6 members in Bath, Maine enters the fifth week, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is asking the U.S. Navy to shed some light on Bath Iron Works’ claims that the Navy has requested additional subcontracting at the shipyard.
Throughout negotiations with IAM Local S6, Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, has on numerous occasions said that the Navy has endorsed additional subcontracting at Bath Iron Works.
The IAM has countered with proposals to shorten the joint union-company review period for subcontracting and for Local S6 members to work more overtime to meet the Navy’s schedule. BIW management has instead remained insistent that the company has a blank check to subcontract work at the shipyard to out-of-state workers.
“It is unclear to the union whether these statements made by representatives of BIW accurately reflect the Navy’s position regarding the increased use of subcontracting and removal of the union’s valuable input form the outsourcing decision-making process,” wrote IAM Local S6 President Chris Wiers in a July 17 letter to Navy Secretary Kenneth Braithwaite. “We strongly believe the changes in subcontracting language which the company is pushing for will be detrimental to the skilled workforce at BIW and the Navy’s shipbuilding mission.”
The IAM cites numerous implicit and explicit communications between the company and the negotiating committee in which BIW claims the Navy is pushing for additional subcontracting. BIW also claimed the Navy supported more subcontracting at the shipyard in a June 11 letter to U.S. Reps. Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree.
“As a U.S. Navy veteran, I could not be more proud of our Local S6 membership for the work they do to support our servicemen and women,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “This company should be listening to its employees about how to solve problems at the shipyard, not trying to outsource their jobs during the middle of a pandemic.”
BIW has attempted to break the strike by calling in temporary workers to build U.S. Navy ships and ended health insurance for 4,300 IAM Local S6 families.
The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) is among the largest industrial trade unions in North America and represents nearly 600,000 active and retired members in the manufacturing, aerospace, defense, airlines, transportation, shipbuilding, woodworking, health care, and other industries. For more information, visit goIAM.org.
It is with great sadness that the IAM announces the passing of Wayne Camp, a longtime union officer and retired Grand Lodge Representative from the Southern Territory and former Great Lakes Territory. Camp, 73, the beloved father of IAM Research Analyst Gwendolyn Camp, passed away on July 15, 2020.
Camp, a U.S. Air Force veteran who served in Germany and Vietnam, was known throughout the IAM and the American labor movement for the passion he had for his union and for his family. He served as a mentor for many future IAM leaders before his retirement in 2009.
“Wayne was a true trade unionist,” said IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. “He was passionate about making life better for all working people. I was honored to work with Wayne for many years, and he will be missed by our union family. On behalf of our entire union and the IAM Executive Council, I extend our most heartfelt condolences to Wayne’s family during this difficult time.”
Camp served in a variety of leadership positions, including local president, business representative and directing business representative. In 1987, Camp was appointed a special representative in the Great Lakes Territory. He would become a Grand Lodge Representative in 1989, eventually moving to the Southern Territory where he honorably represented thousands of members over the years.
Camp also served for eight years as president of the IAM Representatives Association.
“Wayne’s commitment to the representatives of our union was unwavering,” said current IAMRA President Richard Johnsen. “He was a guy who was respected by all who knew him—a true legend among his peers. We will miss him and our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Camp family.”
Camp joined IAM Local 10 in August 1973 at Phillip Morris in Richmond, VA.
In lieu of flowers, the family has requested to please make memorial contributions to either Guide Dogs of America (13445 Glenoaks Blvd., Sylmar, CA. 91342) or the Richmond Fisher House Foundation, C/O Mr. Bret Wilkinson (300 Arboretum Pl., Suite 660, Richmond, VA 23236).
On July 18, 2020, more than 1,400 Local 778 bargaining unit employees working at Olin Winchester in Independence, MO overwhelmingly ratified a five-year agreement. The newly passed contract will go into effect on October 1, 2020.
“Our first goal was to strip the contract of redundant and unnecessary company language and get more control back to the employees so they can better balance work and life.” said Local 778 Business Representative Scott Brown. “The second goal was to get the language that not only improved the lives of our members financially but respected their time at and away from work.”
“Congratulations to the members of IAM Local 778 employed at Olin Winchester,” said IAM Midwest Territory General Vice President Steve Galloway. “The improvements achieved in this contract have set a new standard and have given our members an even stronger voice within the Lake City Ammunition Plant. This is what collective bargaining is about. Thank you to all the IAM members who came together in solidarity for the purpose of securing better language for themselves and their families within this contract. And most importantly, thank you to the members of the IAM Local 778 Bargaining Committee, Business Representative Scott Brown and Directing Business Representative Joe Capra on a job well done.”
The IAM was able to accomplish this by focusing on the issues most important to the membership. The committee was able to negotiate a more than 3 percent yearly wage increase over the lifetime of the contract.
Negotiators also reduced monthly premiums for the working men and women covered under this contract, keeping out-of-pocket expenses at 30 percent for employees. Now, for the life of the contract, medical coverage is a guarantee.
For the first time, this negotiating team was able to lock in a 4 percent match on 401(k) and a 5 percent retirement contribution. In addition, all employees will be fully vested on the first day of the ratified contract.
“I would like to thank the entire negotiation committee for the months of preparation and the solidarity the committee displayed as they worked long hours to get a favorable contract for the membership,” said IAM Local 778 Directing Business Representative Joe Capra.
