Bath Iron Works strike ends after draftsmens union approves four-year agreement

Hundreds of employees at Bath Iron Works voted to approve a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, ending a weeklong strike. The Bath Marine Draftsmens Association, affiliated with the UAW, said members including designers and technical staff ratified the deal after an extended union meeting. The agreement takes effect immediately, the shipyard said.

Hundreds of workers at Bath Iron Works, one of the U.S. Navy’s largest shipbuilding contractors, voted on Saturday to accept a new deal. The decision ended a strike that lasted for a week. The shipyard said a four-year collective bargaining agreement was approved and took effect at once.

Union members ratified the agreement after an hours-long meeting held at a local high school. The vote was carried out by the Bath Marine Draftsmens Association. Bath Iron Works confirmed the approval and said the contract started immediately following the ratification.

Bath Iron Works strike vote and union details

The Bath Marine Draftsmens Association is linked to the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America. The union is commonly known as the UAW. The UAW is one of the largest unions in the United States, according to the report.

In a statement, the union said BMDA members at Bath Iron Works hold several technical roles. These include designers and nondestructive test technicians. The statement also listed technical clerks, laboratory technicians and associate engineers among the jobs covered by the agreement.

Bath Iron Works Navy contract and Arleigh Burke destroyers

Bath Iron Works is a major Navy shipbuilder and received a multiyear contract in 2023. The award covered the construction of several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. The Arleigh Burke is a guided missile destroyer, and Navy officials have called it the backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet.

The report said the Navy used an option last year to add one more destroyer. The strike took place as the US war effort in Iran continued. It also followed a morale-boosting visit in which US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth spoke about increasing defence manufacturing.

Bath Iron Works is also known for the slogan Bath built is best built. With the contract now in effect, the weeklong walkout has ended. The agreement applies to BMDA members working across design, testing and support roles at the shipyard.

With inputs from PTI