Jul 21, 2020 | Local S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
Brothers and Sister,
The Local S6 Negotiating Committee spoke with the Federal Mediator for around 2 ½ hours today, discussing several debatable topics. Understanding BIW gave the Union their position on a contract proposal in their last, best, and final, they are willing to consider Union proposals.
The Local S6 Negotiating Committee has been examining additional solutions to BIW proposals that do not violate seniority or subcontract our work. We suggested a meeting in person with BIW’S team, with the suggestion that BIW brings someone with production knowledge and a decision-maker. The Mediators’ will be video linked in due to travel restrictions if BIW is agreeable.
Nothing specific was discussed from the Company’s perspective due to the Mediator’s confidentiality agreements with both parties. We have consistently been ready and willing to get back to the bargaining table to negotiate a fair contract for our members. We want the State of Maine to prosper. We want to deliver the best built ships as always for the US Navy. We should be hearing something in the next few days as to the next step of the process. We are hopeful and anticipate some form of a meeting with BIW by next week.
In Solidarity,
Local S6 Negotiating Committee
Jul 21, 2020 | COVID-19, Local S6 Leadership Alerts
Brothers and Sisters,
Please find the below correspondence sent to Maine State Legislators and the CDC.
As always, we encourage our members to follow CDC Guidelines while picketing.
In Solidarity, Local S6 Leadership.
Jul 20, 2020 | Local S6 Leadership Alerts, Local S6 Upcoming Events
Attention Local S6 members, family, friends and supporters!
IAM International President Robert Martinez Jr. will be at the Local S6 union hall on Saturday, July 25 at 9 a.m. to address our brave membership. Hear from our International President as we deliver a strong message of solidarity to our members and tell Bath Iron Works to negotiate a fair contract NOW!
Please, wear a mask and maintain social distance at all times.
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday morning!
Jul 20, 2020 | Local S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
Brothers and Sisters,
Please find the recent correspondence sent to the US Navy asking for their stance on subcontracting at BIW.
Additionally, we will be in talks with the Federal Mediator tomorrow. More updates to follow.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Leadership
Jul 16, 2020 | Local S6 Leadership Alerts, Negotiations
In case you’ve been living under a rock and think BIW values any of us, the proof lies in this recent post from CTS on Facebook.
(see below)
For all those who attended Christenings’, remember when BIW, State/Federal Legislators, and representatives from the US Navy would take turns speaking to us from a microphone behind a podium. They would echo one another on the value of BIW’s manufacturing employees and how through the hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice, all the men and women contributed to BIW in building the most sophisticated warships in the Naval fleet.
The praises of honor and legacy that are synonymous with Local S6 built ships are a testament to our history and more importantly our future.
It is apparent that all those speeches were for not. We are clearly not valued or appreciated and are just a number on a faceless badge. BIW management will certainly go down in the history books for providing the playbook on how to destroy one of the fundamental foundation blocks of Naval defense in the United States.
Crippling shockwaves of economic downfall will certainly plague the State of Maine for decades to come.
For more than nine (9) months, Local S6 has been working diligently with State and Federal representatives and the IAM National in DC to provide reasonable options on how to manage our shipyard successfully with no acceptance from BIW. BIW was persistent in its need for scabs.
It’s obviously BIW’s playbook and strategic plan that will be the inevitable demise of our shipyard if they’re not corrected with a common-sense change of course.
We have a saying in the shipyard, HERO TO ZERO. That’s exactly what we are in BIW’s eyes. From essential employees with a critical mission during COVID-19, to now greedy shipbuilders on the picket line as BIW continues scab our work.
#LS6ISBESTBUILT #DITCHDIRK
