Above photo: Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen Association are on strike after union negotiations fell through with Bath Iron Works (BIW). WGME.
BATH, Maine (WGME) — Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen Association are on strike after union negotiations fell through with Bath Iron Works (BIW).
Six weeks ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth visited BIW, encouraging workers to build warships as fast as they can.
Some of those workers are now on strike. Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen Association voted on Sunday to reject the proposed “best and final offer” from General Dynamics and BIW.
Time’s up! BMDA UAW Local 3999 members are on strike at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works in Maine ✊@uawregion9a pic.twitter.com/oMSsotI1Fg
— UAW (@UAW) March 23, 2026
The strike of more than 600 workers would also extend beyond BIW to other General Dynamics locations across the world.
The union says the offer does not sufficiently address wages that are lower than the national average, or affordable insurance and retirement income security.
The union president said: “We had hoped the company took to heart the statements made by Secretary Hegseth here at BIW on February 9, because our membership certainly did. General Dynamics continues to make record profits off our labor and gives away billions through stock buybacks and dividends, while many of our members live paycheck to paycheck.”
Bath Iron Works responded to the failed negotiations, writing that their proposed contract included “historic annual wage increases.”
