The negotiating committee would like to extend a tremendous thank you to all our members for standing up for our rights and future. There was a great turnout and show of support from all who could attend our most recent rally, including retirees who know the importance of this fight. We showed everyone that Union pride and support lives on forever. The importance of solidarity grows more and more every day with the continuing onslaught of despicable company proposals passed across the table.
The committee met with many state legislators yesterday morning, explaining just how important it is to stand behind us. We showed them the actual proposals provided by BIW to the Union that will surely gut seniority and allow for subcontractors to enter our state and steal our jobs. These proposals will give BIW the ability to continue to fall further behind schedule, potentially putting an end to the proud heritage of shipbuilding that has aided in allowing Maine to thrive. BIW corresponds with these legislators regularly, trying to create a narrative that we are making good progress and we will be coming to an agreement by the end of the week.
We thought we would set the record straight with the very people who represent various communities across the state. They needed to know just how imperative this contract will be for the future of Bath, its surrounding communities, and the state of Maine. To say they we extremely concerned would be an understatement. They were upset by the fact that the information being put out by BIW was misleading and dishonest.
The tax break was a topic of discussion which was brought up by the very legislators who worked on the bill that granted BIW a $45 million tax break. Its intention was toward Maine jobs and its economy, not out of state subcontractors stealing from the State of Maine, our proud shipbuilders, and their families.
We went back to the table yesterday, only to continue to receive a list of wants, with little to no movement on loans, subcontracting, and schedule D; which will surely erode the cornerstone of our Union, seniority. We continue to bring facts, data, and well thought out reasoning as to why they don’t need what they’re asking for. What they need is to listen to the very people who actually build ships. Surprisingly, they continue to provide no actual proof that what they want and are asking for will actually work.
We have passed counters proposals on:
Article 10, Shift Changes, ensuring that seniority is a priority in any and all shift changes.
Article 11, Overtime, again keeping seniority a priority when polling in all aspects.
Article 17, Holidays, we proposed the need to get Veterans Day back as a holiday and Christmas shutdown be code 14s, with any day that was a holiday, and worked be paid at double time, plus holiday pay.
Article 21, Employees’ Benefits, we proposed in all plans that we stay at current premiums, copays, deductibles, and out of pocket for the length of the contract with no increases.
The position from the company on most of these was that “it was overly burdensome to manage”. What a joke!
We tentatively have 2 days left with little to no movement from the company. The writing on the wall is clear, buckle up brothers and sisters. Continue to stand strong and united, the fight is approaching our front door.
These updates will continue to be posted on the Local S6 Facebook page as well.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee.
Please review the below correspondence from our Congressional Representatives Jared Golden and Chellie Pingree regarding BIWs recent proposals. Local S6 is exceedingly grateful for the support Congressman Golden and Congresswoman Pingree are providing us. The negotiating committee extends its thanks and appreciation for the continued support.
As stated in our most recent negotiations update; day 11, we want to provide you with more details from the economic package we received. Specifically, on Medical Insurance Premiums and Out of Pocket expenses.
Upon received the economic package, the negotiating committee forwarded the information to Neil Gladstein; IAMAW Director of Strategic Resources, for a deep dive analysis. Please review the below information based on his results.
Medical Premium Share Proposal
Health insurance shows that the weighted average increase in total premiums went up by 8.4% from 2017 to 2020. So, I don’t see how an 8.4% three-year increase could justify three 7% increases over the proposed contract (that’s 22.5% over three years compounded).
BIW is proposing very large increases in out-of-pocket expenses. Changes in premiums from 2017 to 2020 do not justify these huge jumps (such as doubling deductibles). These would be very large cost increases for those who get sick or injured. Given the physical wear-and-tear from working in a shipyard, this is a problem for many of our members.
These updates will continue to be posted on the Local S6 Facebook page as well.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee.
Days 8, 9, and 10 were pretty uneventful for us due to an issue we never should have had to fight. BIW was attempting to disrupt our ability to show solidarity through protected concerted activity. In the end, our Union negotiating committee was able to come to an agreement with BIW that insured our rights were no longer going to be infringed on. Our members were brought back to work and all discipline was removed, allowing our members to continue to fight for their future united and be heard. Today, our committee walked into the shipyard and thanked some of our members everywhere we could, stopping in PO2 at 11:00 AM to put the hammer down with some of you. We had to get back to the table by 1:00 PM to finally resume negotiating.
We came to a tentative agreement on the following:
Article 5 in which we were able to recognize more committees’- women’s, veterans, and education.
Article 8, Apprentices, we were able to reach an agreement to better the program.
Article 12, Second, and Third Shift Premiums.
Article 35, General Dynamics Stock Savings and Investment Plan (SSIP).
Article 51, Duration of Agreement which will be a 3-year agreement.
We had general discussions on a few other Articles and MOA’s. The company passed its first economic proposals which included below industrial average wage increases, no wage increase for the M03’s with continued $1000.00 lump sums for each year, 21% increase in healthcare over 3 years with increased deductibles, co-pays, and out of pockets. We will provide all the details very soon, there is a lot to go through and we want to make sure we are putting out accurate information.
That is a quick rundown of day 11 with much more to come.
The committee is incredibly thankful for all our brothers and sisters support, especially all of those who stood strong and did not get intimidated by BIW for standing up for yourself and each other.
These updates will continue to be posted on the Local S6 Facebook page as well.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee.
On BIW’s website, the question was asked, “Is BIW attacking seniority?” BIW’s answer was, absolutely not. In fact, the seniority article of the contract (Article 16) was agreed to by the Company and the Union earlier this week. First of all, whoever is answering these questions for the company is as out of touch as BIWs negotiating committee.
Article 16 speaks to your length of service from date of hire, occupational and nonoccupational leave of absence, the term of healthcare coverage if you’re laid off, leave of absences, and yard Injury.
BIW straight up lied to you. The fact of the matter is, under BIW’s proposal for Article 44- Manning/Demanning, where they are trying to steal your seniority.
No short-term loans, they want to pick anyone they want, loan you into any trade they chose, and assign you to any shift or facility for as long as they want. That’s attacking our seniority!
Nice try BIW, this is precisely how they try to manipulate the membership, with sly/underhanded tactics.
This is just one example of why your negotiating committee is fighting for you and the Company doesn’t like it one bit.
BIW is trying to create a false narrative that makes them look good through lies and broken promises. All we want is a fair contract and the Company just wants to create stall tactics and play games with our members.
The Union believes they don’t want to negotiate a fair contract and wish to take the coward way out by offering us a last, best, and final.BIW hates that we are so united and will not cower to their predictable antics. We must fight on brothers and sisters, our future counts on it.
These updates will continue to be posted on the Local S6 Facebook page as well.
In Solidarity, Local Lodge S6 Negotiating Committee.
