BIW Marine Draftsmen Ratify Contract with Improved Wages & Benefits

Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (BMDA), Local 3999 of the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW), voted on Saturday to ratify a new contract, with 72 percent approval, at Bath Iron Works including raises, cost of living adjustments, improved insurance benefits, and additional work scheduling options.

“The BMDA Negotiating Committee worked diligently to achieve the membership’s stated priorities,” said Trent Vellella, President of the BMDA. “With the support and solidarity of the membership, we were able to engage in positive, direct, and transparent negotiations with BIW — resulting in a contract that provides several significant improvements without any concessions.” 

Under the new four-year contract, the marine design and technical workers will receive:

• A 3 percent general wage increase in each year of the collective bargaining agreement.

• Protection against future inflation with language for cost-of-living adjustments.

• Stable health insurance premiums and co-pays along with an improved company contribution to health savings accounts.

• An improved accident & sickness (short-term disability) plan to provide 50 percent of the employee’s base wage per week.

• Improved financial security in retirement with increased company contributions to the 401(k), a new Roth 401(k) option, and an additional company contribution to the 401(k) of members not in the pension plan.

• Substantial improvements to work schedule flexibility along with language to provide options for Work From Home and Part-Time Work.

“Over the past year, the BMDA and BIW have both focused on improving the Company and Labor relationship, and I believe this contract shows what is possible when both sides truly come to the table in good-faith to work through difficult issues,” said Vellella. “We look forward to administering this contract with that same approach. When we are able to work through labor issues more effectively and focus on the engineering, design, production, and support of US Navy ships, we all do better.”

The BMDA represents approximately 680 members, the majority of which are in Maine but some are also located out-of-state at other permanent BIW office locations, who perform the design/configuration & data management/test & evaluation/non-destructive testing/laboratory testing and production support for US Navy surface combatants.