Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association in On Strike!

The Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (BMDA), UAW Local 3999, is on strike this week after membership voted to reject the proposed General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works’ “Best and Final Offer” because it does not sufficiently address real member priorities with respect to wages that are lower than the national average, affordable insurance, and retirement income security.

“We had hoped the Company took to heart the statements made by Secretary Hegseth here at GD BIW on February 9th because, our membership certainly did.”  said Trent Vellella, President of BMDA. “General Dynamics continues to make record profits off our labor and gives away BILLIONS every year through stock buybacks and dividends while many of our members live paycheck to paycheck. With this Company proposal, General Dynamics is continuing to show that corporate earnings per share are more important than our members’ earning per pay period.”

If the Company refuses to come back to the table with a fair offer, the 627 BMDA members who work as Designers, Non-Destructive Test Technicians, Technical Clerks, Laboratory Technicians, and Associate Engineers at GD Bath Iron Works locations across the country (and world) will have no choice but to strike at midnight on Monday, March 23rd.

“The membership has shown an amazing strength, commitment, and solidarity with this contract campaign” said Vellella, “and they are willing to stand up to win an Agreement that acknowledges their worth.”