Machinist Union Local S6 and Bath Iron Works are entering week three of a strike 87% of union membership called June 21. Union members have been picketing at the Bath shipyard’s north and south gates demanding a fair contract since 12:01 a.m. June 22. Local S6, part of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, represents over two-thirds of BIW’s employees. The last strikes were in 2000 and 1985 lasting 55 days and 99 days.

The Boothbay Register and Wiscasset Newspaper attended the picket twice seeking comment from Local S6 members on what a fair contract means. Five members shared their concern over BIW’s practice of outsourcing some of its work and how, those members said, proposed rules could dismantle the long-held system of seniority.

With BIW six months behind on work, BIW spokesman David Hench said subcontracting is key to catching up, and moving workers to a different area where they are needed more is common practice to keep layoff numbers low.

“Being able to temporarily move people to where they are most needed is not an 'attack on seniority',” Hench said in an email. “This (allows) the Company to select or skip employees for long term loans … and the ability to loan employees while continuing to hire.”

The union’s negotiating committee released a statement June 3 suggesting filing early retirement to nearly 1,300 members eligible for union pensions before December 2021. “… The company will not survive with their plans for the future. We have continued to fail as a shipyard as a result of decisions made by disconnected engineers. We do not want members to plan for a future at BIW that will not exist. If this group waits beyond 2021 and something happens at BIW prior to their full retirement age they will take a significant financial loss …”

According to the statement, all retirement paperwork can be withdrawn up to the date of retirement.

On June 29, BIW lost a $936 million contract to the Mississippi-based Huntington Ingalls Industry, its only competitor for the Arleigh- Burke class destroyer.

Hench said the union’s objections are puzzling for BIW leadership since the last, best and final contract offer does not really affect seniority or push for any more subcontracting than is necessary considering the supply and demand of labor.

“Most seniority provisions like layoffs/recall, vacation time, etc. remain untouched in the company's final offer, (so it) has been really difficult trying to understand their objections since they usually boil down to things like 'They're going to replace us with subcontractors' regardless of what's actually in the contract proposal.”

Members who would not be named said the union would stay out as long as needed for a fair contract; and said BIW has historically moved people to different shifts, facilities and trades, but under a system based on seniority and volunteerism; the members said the rejected contract would allow BIW to move people at will. Hench said that is not true, that the contract would require five days’ notice in long-term changes in assignment. “We also would grandfather employees at off-site facilities hired before 2016, giving them greater ability to stay at their current location … The ability to temporarily loan employees between job classifications has been in the contract for many years and helps manage fluctuations in work … The company's offer also ensures that there will not be loans into a classification with layoffs without union agreement, and the total amount of loans allowed each month and year is unchanged from the current contract.”

If any members would like to be interviewed on the strike, including giving their names and towns for publication, please email josephcharpentier@boothbayregister.com