BIW, union extend contract for one month amid pandemic
BATH — Bath Iron Works and its largest union have agreed to postpone contract negotiations for one month as the state continues to combat the spread of coronavirus. The union’s major concern is negotiating annual wage increases for its members.
Chris Wiers, president of Machinists Union Local S6, which represents 4,300 of the shipyard’s 6,700 employees, said if the union isn’t able to negotiate an annual wage increase, it opens the door for a potential strike.
“The union doesn’t want to strike,” said Wiers. “It doesn’t benefit anybody to strike, but if we’re not given wage increases, I don’t know what will happen. It depends on how the contract negotiations turn out.”
The union’s current contract prohibits a strike during negotiations.
The four-year contract between BIW, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, and Local S6 was due to expire on May 17 but it will now expire on June 21. BIW announced Wednesday all terms and conditions of the current contract will remain in effect during the extension.
Read more: https://www.pressherald.com/2020/04/16/biw-union-extend-contract-for-one-month-amid-pandemic/#
(Portland Press Herald)