Largest Union at BIW, Endorses Jared Golden for Reelection

Shipbuilders with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) Local S6 have voted to endorse Congressman Jared Golden for re-election. Members of the union, which represents 4,200 workers at Bath Iron Works, voted at their union meeting on September 17th to support Congressman Golden in his reelection bid, citing his strong advocacy for the shipyard and the working people who build the ships.

“Congressman Golden’s open-door policy and continued support of the Local S6 membership’s interests are key to the success of the shipyard,” the union wrote in a statement. “His efforts in securing future work for our members are valued, appreciated, and have not gone unnoticed. Having an ally like Jared fighting for us in Washington helps ensure the success of our shipyard and we are proudly sticking by our Congressman as he has stood with us.”

From the moment Congressman Golden was first elected, he made the Bath shipbuilders one of his main priorities, inviting former IAM S6 President Chris Wiers as his guest at the 2020 State of the Union Address to help highlight support for the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would strengthen collective bargaining rights and allow workers to more freely unionize without fear of retaliation.

Congressman Golden has also been a fierce advocate for the shipyard and has worked hard to ensure the shipbuilders there have plenty of work. Golden has served as the vice chair of the House Armed Services Subcommittee Overseeing Military Shipbuilding since 2021.

In 2021, Congressman Golden also secured an amendment to the FY 22 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that authorizes the Navy to enter into a multiyear contract to build up to 15 DDG-51 destroyers beginning in FY2023. The provision was a significant win for shipbuilders at Bath Iron Works, one of two shipyards that builds the destroyers, as BIW currently has no contracted work for its over 6,800-person workforce beyond the current contract, which ends next year. The committee also approved a Golden-led effort to reinstate planned DDG-51 destroyers for FY22.