Machinists Local S6 Veterans Committee Helps Veterans in Need

PHOTO: IAM Local S6 President Chris Williams & Veterans Committee members Brandt McCollett, Bill Phillips, Luke Delong, Joseph Jackson, and Erick Ryder at a demonstration commemorating 9/11 this year.

The Machinists Local S6 Veterans Committee is participating in a number of upcoming Homeless Veterans Stand Downs to assist fellow military veterans in need of a little solidarity. Homeless Veterans Mobile Stand Downs connect homeless and at-risk veterans to housing resources, benefits, healthcare services, employment and training opportunities, personal care items, winter clothing, haircuts, food, and other community resources. The Local S6 Veterans Committee was up in Bangor on Wednesday this week cooking sausages, hamburgers and hot dogs for homeless veterans. They will also be participating in upcoming stand downs in Lewiston on Oct. 15, Portland on Oct. 29 and in Augusta on November 5.

Veterans Committee Chairman Brandt McCollett said you don’t have to be a veteran or union member to volunteer for the program. You can find details on stand downs happening in your community by visiting the Maine Bureau of Veterans’ Services.

The Local S6 Veterans Committee does a range of activities throughout the year. It recently accepted a donation of ten cords of firewood, which it has been delivering to veterans in need. The group also helps veterans suffering turmoil in their lives.

“We just recently had a veteran who was in crisis so we got him some help and into a facility,” said McCollett. “We got some upgrades done on his house that he needed done and got some food in his cupboard so when he gets back he's got all kinds of food."

There are about 1200 veterans working at Bath Iron Works and about half of them are members of Local S6. McCollett and the Veterans Committee were instrumental in passing state legislation last year that requires businesses with more than 50 employees to display posters with information on veterans' benefits, crisis support, mental health and substance abuse treatment, legal services and veterans' educational, workforce and training resources.

The Veterans Committee also typically does an event for Veterans Day. Last year they made a challenge coin for all of the Local S6 veterans. They have made bracelets for PTSD awareness and help connect veterans to resources and benefits. In addition, the Veterans Committee has done raffles to benefit organizations like Operation Reboot Outdoors, which helps veterans find healing by going into nature and doing outdoor recreational activities.

“I think having a union Veterans Committee is important because not everybody is going to be able to understand what veterans are going through,” said McCollett, who served in the National Guard. “We’re a group of veterans who understand what they're going through, what they need and how to approach them cautiously.”

McCollett encourages other unions to start veterans committees and he is willing to answer any questions they have about how to get one off the ground and various resources out there. For more information email Brandt at mountainmanmusic20@gmail.com