2020 Bath shipbuilders' strike explained

Place:Bath, Maine, United States
2020 Bath shipbuilders strike
Date:June 22 – August 23, 2020
Causes:
  • Labor contract disputes
Side1:
Side2:
Result:
  • Union agrees to a 3-year labor contract
Methods:

The 2020 Bath shipbuilders strike was a labor strike involving shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine, United States. The strike, which started June 22, involved 4,300 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers. The strike ended on August 23 with the approval of a new labor contract.

Background

Bath Iron Works (BIW) is a major shipyard and among the largest shipbuilders for the United States Navy.[1] The shipyard, located in Bath, Maine, is a major employer for the region, with approximately 6,800 workers, of whom approximately 4,300 are members of Local S6 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).[2]

In 2020, labor contract discussions between the union and company stalled as neither side could come to an agreement on the terms of the contract. The three-year contract proposed by the company would have included a 3% pay raise each year, but according to the union, there were over a dozen concessions that they took issue with.[3] Primarily, union members took issue with changes in seniority and policy regarding the hiring of subcontractors. Previous efforts by the company to bring temporary workers to the shipyard were blocked by the union in 2015.[4] On June 21, union members held a vote to approve a strike beginning at midnight, with 87% of the votes being to approve the strike.[5] [6] The strike is taking place during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has negatively affected operations at the shipyard, with production behind schedule by six months. The last time the union held a strike was in 2000, with the strike lasting 55 days.

Course of the strike

Following the announcement of a strike on June 21, about a dozen union members left the union hall waving signs and cheering for the strike. Shortly after the announcement of the strike, Assistant Secretary of the Navy (Research, Development and Acquisition) James Geurtz said, “my expectation is both sides will work aggressively and with a sense of urgency so we can get these programs [executed].” U.S. Representative Jared Golden and Democratic Presidential nominee Joe Biden both expressed their support for the strikers.[7]

On June 22, about 1,000 strikers picketed in front of the shipyard, with plans for smaller groups of people to continue picketing in four-hour blocks.[8] Several shipyard workers from two other unions that were not on strike showed solidarity with the strikers by taking lunch breaks and vacation time. To help alleviate financial difficulties caused by the strike, union members will receive $150 per week from a union fund. Police reported 30 overnight noise complaints stemming from supporters honking their car horns to show support for the strike.[9]

In early July, BIW announced that they would be hiring additional subcontractors to avoid falling further behind schedule with their projects.[10] On July 7, the company began to temporarily lay off workers from non-striking union Local S7, citing a lack of work caused by the strike.[11] That same week, union representatives from Local S6 began to meet with a Federal mediator, with company representatives expected to meet with the mediators the following week.[12] [13] On July 21, Local S6 President Chris Wiers criticized the company for hiring out-of-state contractors from several Southern states that were experiencing an increase in COVID-19 cases, such as Alabama and Mississippi. He alleged that this could lead to higher cases of infection in Bath and argued that BIW should "provide proof of testing with negative results for all out of state subcontractors immediately.”[14] On July 25, President Robert Martinez Jr. of the IAM spoke to strikers outside the union hall, calling for strikers to remain strong and calling the strike "the largest strike in the United States of America right now.”[15] On August 3, union and company representatives held their first meeting since June, where they agreed to points relating to company holidays and merit pay.[16] On August 8, it was announced that the union and company had reached a tentative agreement to end the strike, with union members slated to vote on the agreement between August 21 and August 23.[17] The 3-year labor contract was officially approved by union members on August 23, officially ending the strike, with union members returning to work the following day.[18] [19]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: June 21, 2020. Bath Iron Works shipbuilders vote to strike. The Boston Globe. Associated Press. live. July 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200807100745/https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/talking-points/2020/06/21/bath-iron-works-shipbuilders-vote-strike/dWnXRXjXpQVRYiOemGTvsO/story.html. August 7, 2020.
  2. Web site: Thompson. Loren. June 19, 2020. With Potential Strike Looming At Bath Iron Works, Fat Order Book Masks Long-Term Threats To Its Survival. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201202042142/https://www.forbes.com/sites/lorenthompson/2020/06/19/restive-workforce-aggravates-competitive-challenge-at-bath-iron-works-a-key-navy-supplier/. December 2, 2020. July 2, 2020. Forbes. en.
  3. News: June 23, 2020. Production workers strike against Bath Iron Works, major Navy shipbuilder. Fox Business. Fox Corporation. Associated Press. live. July 2, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201122143610/https://www.foxbusiness.com/lifestyle/production-workers-strike-against-major-navy-shipbuilder. November 22, 2020.
  4. Web site: LaGrone. Sam. June 24, 2020. Bath Iron Works on Striking Union: 'Ball is in Their Court'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220080511/https://news.usni.org/2020/06/24/bath-iron-works-on-striking-union-ball-is-in-their-court. December 20, 2020. July 2, 2020. United States Naval Institute. en-US.
  5. Web site: June 22, 2020. Production Workers Strike at Bath Iron Works in Maine. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201231001947/https://www.necn.com/news/local/production-workers-strike-at-bath-iron-works-in-maine/2288926/. December 31, 2020. February 19, 2021. New England Cable News. en-US.
  6. Web site: O'Brien. Kathleen. Overton. Penelope. Wolfe. Rob. June 22, 2020. Bath Iron Works' largest union votes to strike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201229213402/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/06/21/bath-iron-works-largest-union-votes-to-strike/. December 29, 2020. July 2, 2020. Portland Press Herald. MaineToday Media.
  7. Web site: Mannino. Gabrielle. June 25, 2020. Biden weighs in on BIW strike, urges company to 'make a fair offer'. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210108213434/https://www.newscentermaine.com/article/news/politics/biden-weighs-in-on-biw-strike-urges-company-to-make-a-fair-offer/97-a529254a-f66b-45c2-bf6f-e74a4d4bd391. January 8, 2021. July 2, 2020. WCSH. Tegna Inc.. en-US.
  8. Web site: Valigra. Lori. June 22, 2020. BIW union official says 'it's their move' on first day of strike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20210105074953/https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/22/business/biw-union-official-says-its-their-move-on-first-day-of-strike/. January 5, 2021. July 2, 2020. Bangor Daily News. en-US.
  9. Web site: Valigra. Lori. June 23, 2020. Overnight noise complaints pile up at BIW picket line, but strike peaceful on Tuesday. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201214084103/https://bangordailynews.com/2020/06/23/business/overnight-noise-complaints-pile-up-at-biw-picket-line-but-strike-peaceful-on-tuesday/. December 14, 2020. July 2, 2020. Bangor Daily News. en-US.
  10. Web site: Sharp. David. July 2, 2020. Bath Iron Works hiring temporary workers amid strike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200822211132/https://bangordailynews.com/2020/07/02/news/midcoast/bath-iron-works-hiring-temporary-workers-amid-strike/. August 22, 2020. July 2, 2020. Bangor Daily News. en-US.
  11. Web site: O'Brien. Kathleen. July 7, 2020. BIW to temporarily lay off workers during strike. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20201105004921/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/07/07/biw-to-temporarily-lay-off-workers-during-strike/. November 5, 2020. July 13, 2020. Portland Press Herald. MaineToday Media.
  12. News: July 6, 2020. Union meets with mediator as shipyard strike enters 3rd week. Times Union. Hearst Communications. Associated Press. live. July 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200714160405/https://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Union-meets-with-mediator-as-shipyard-strike-15388284.php. July 14, 2020.
  13. News: July 6, 2020. Union Meets With Mediator as Shipyard Strike Enters 3rd Week. U.S. News & World Report. Associated Press. live. July 13, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200713204043/https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/maine/articles/2020-07-06/union-meets-with-mediator-as-shipyard-strike-enters-3rd-week. July 13, 2020.
  14. Web site: Macias. Amanda. July 23, 2020. Workers continue strike at key Navy shipbuilding yard amid missed deadlines and fight over contractors. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200828065724/https://www.cnbc.com/2020/07/23/workers-continue-strike-at-key-navy-shipbuilding-yard-in-fight-over-contractors.html. August 28, 2020. July 25, 2020. CNBC. NBCUniversal Television and Streaming. en.
  15. News: July 25, 2020. Machinists union president rallies striking shipyard workers. The Washington Times. Associated Press. live. July 25, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200728193929/https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/jul/25/machinists-union-president-rallies-striking-shipya/. July 28, 2020.
  16. Web site: O'Brien. Kathleen. August 4, 2020. BIW, striking union make some progress in first meeting since June. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20200818003908/https://www.pressherald.com/2020/08/04/biw-striking-union-make-some-progress-in-first-meeting-since-june/. August 18, 2020. August 4, 2020. Portland Press Herald. MaineToday Media.
  17. Sharp. David. August 8, 2020. Navy Shipbuilder and Union Reach Tentative Agreement to End 6-Week Strike in Maine. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20200920110547/https://time.com/5877802/bath-iron-works-union-deal-end-strike/. September 20, 2020. August 9, 2020. Time.
  18. Sharp. David. August 23, 2020. Maine Shipbuilders Approve 3-Year Pact, Ending 63-Day Strike. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20201128110649/https://time.com/5882752/us-navy-shipbuilders-strike/. November 28, 2020. August 24, 2020. Time.
  19. News: August 24, 2020. Shipbuilders Approve 3-Year Pact, Ending Monthslong Strike at Bath Iron Works. Military.com. Monster.com. The Canadian Press. live. February 19, 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210111194847/https://www.military.com/daily-news/2020/08/24/shipbuilders-approve-3-year-pact-ending-monthslong-strike-bath-iron-works.html. January 11, 2021.

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