BIW starts layoffs amid strike

Bath (Maine) Iron Works' President Dirk Lesko announced layoffs were imminent in an employee message July 7 noting production was below typical operations due to the strike by Local S6 of the Machinists Union. In the message, Lesko said since the strike began, BIW has taken steps to continue critical production tasks - such as redeploying hundreds of salaried employees - into the shipyard while working with contractors to procure additional workers. “... (A)ll of these efforts still leave our production levels well below typical operations, and even further below where we need to be." As a result, some functions that directly support production is starting to run out of work to do. BIW is starting temporary layoffs this week for Surveyors and Trades Inspectors, with members in the separate Local S7 union. Layoffs will proceed in accordance with Local S7’s collective bargaining agreement. If voluntary layoffs are not sufficient, BIW will begin involuntary layoffs based on seniority. BIW is starting to work with contractors to get more temporary workers to supplement the yard since the strike. Lesko argued that negotiations with the union has sought more efficient access to subcontractors “because the focused and timely introduction of skilled people on a temporary basis can help break bottlenecks to the flow of production through the yard.” (Source: Defense Daily 07/09/20) https://www.defensedaily.com/bath-iron-works-starts-layoffs-amid-strike-admits-production-well-typical/navy-usmc/