Bath Marine Draftsmen's Association (BMDA - UAW 3999) Supports UAW Local 571 Workers Fighting for a Fair Contract at Electric Boat

PHOTO: BMDA executive board members at a rally for Electric Boat workers in Groton, Connecticut.

Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen's Association (UAW 3999) at Bath Iron Works attended a rally in Groton Connecticut on Monday to support their brothers and sisters who design submarines at General Dynamics' Electric Boat shipyard. Prior to the rally, a large majority of the 2,500-member Marine Draftsmen's Association (UAW) Local 571 approved a strike authorization. Local 571's contract expired on April 4.

“This company has a simple choice. They can get back to the table and get serious about the demands, or they can keep messing around,” UAW President Shawn Fain told 1,200 rally attendees in Groton Monday night. “The choice is theirs, and the clock is ticking.”

The workers'  demands include a restoration of pensions, cost-of-living adjustments that keep up with inflation and withdrawal of the company's demand to sharply increase weekly health insurance costs.

"I’m really glad that we went to the rally. I think that the workers are very, very serious and well prepared for a potential strike," said BMDA President Trent Vellella, whose represents about 625 workers at BIW. "The membership was really fired up about Fain’s speech. They had some really compelling stories about why the issues are important to them."

Despite raking in over $13 billion in profits over the past three years, General Dynamics is pushing for 52 percent to 161 percent increases in weekly medical insurance costs.

BMDA 3999 members met with UAW 571 negotiating committee members the next day to learn more about their contract campaign and strategies. Participants described it as an awesome learning experience across the two UAW locals. BMDA's contract expires in less than a year.

General Dynamics has hired a well-known anti-union firm, employing intimidation tactics and engaging in bad faith bargaining. The company is currently facing numerous unfair labor practice (ULP) charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB).'