Brothers and Sisters,
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.
Brothers and Sisters,
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).
Out-of-Pocket expenses (co-pays, co-insurance, deductibles, etc.)
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.
Brothers and Sisters,
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:
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.
HAMMER DOWN!!!
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.
HAMMER DOWN!!!!
Brothers and Sisters, I want you to know these very important negotiations for you, are front and center for our entire union.
Please know that you have the solidarity of myself, the entire IAM Executive Council and 600,000 Fighting Machinists from across North America.
I want to especially thank your IAM Local S6 Negotiating Committee, District 4 and Eastern Territory staff for all of the hard work you have done and will continue to do during these negotiations.
You have my commitment that the full resources at every level of our union will be available to you in order to get the best possible contract for our membership.
In these extraordinary times, it is imperative that we stay united.
Now more than ever, our solidarity is our greatest strength.
This union has persevered and emerged stronger through wars, depressions and pandemics because we have spoken with one voice.
You are the best in the world as your craft—building of state-of-the-art ships for our men and women in the US Navy.
Each and every day, you are living proof of your motto—“Bath built – best built.”
Together, we will emerge from these negotiations stronger and more resilient in our fight for your seniority rights, and economic and job security for all our members
God bless and God speed, Brothers and Sisters.