Bath Iron Works Strike Ends: Navy Shipyard Workers Secure New Contract Agreement

PORTLAND, Maine – In a significant development for one of the U.S. Navy’s primary shipbuilding contractors, hundreds of workers at Bath Iron Works have voted to end their strike by approving a new agreement. This decision brings to a close a weeklong strike that had drawn considerable attention.

The members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association have ratified a fresh four-year collective bargaining agreement, which is now in effect, according to the shipyard. This approval came after an extensive union meeting held at a local high school, reflecting the importance of the decision for the workforce involved.

The Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association, part of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), represents a diverse group of professionals at Bath Iron Works. These include designers, nondestructive test technicians, technical clerks, laboratory technicians, and associate engineers, as outlined in a union statement.

Bath Iron Works, which proudly operates under the motto “Bath built is best built,” had initiated the strike several weeks after an encouraging visit from U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. During his appearance, Hegseth emphasized the importance of bolstering defense manufacturing, a sentiment that resonated amidst the ongoing U.S. military efforts in Iran.

As a key shipbuilder for the Navy, Bath Iron Works was awarded a substantial contract in 2023 to construct multiple Arleigh Burke-class destroyers. These guided missile destroyers are regarded by Navy officials as the “backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet.” The Navy had previously exercised an option to include an additional destroyer in this contract, further underscoring the shipyard’s pivotal role in national defense.