Machinists S6 Legislative Committee meets with Legislative Leaders

Members of the Machinists Local S6 Legislative Committee met with state legislative leaders -- Speaker Ryan Fecteau, Senate President Troy Jackson, Sen. Eloise Vitelli and Sen. Mattie Daughtry -- on Wednesday to discuss key issues impacting union members at BIW including the need for more workforce housing, child care issues, transportation and funding the Labor Education bill (LD 1816). 

Members of the committee shared stories of IAM S6 members living in their vehicles, campgrounds and hotels because they cannot find housing anywhere close to the shipyard. The housing crunch has made it much harder to recruit and hire workers. Workers have accepted jobs at BIW only to have to let the jobs go because they could not find housing. Additionally, members of the Legislative committee shared the challenges for many members finding childcare for their kids. 

We heard updates from legislators on key bills related to housing and childcare and had a good discussion about potential solutions that would benefit union workers and their families. Members of the S6 Legislative committee are participants in a midcoast group of workers, employers and state and local officials working on regional solutions to housing, childcare and transportation.

IAM S6 Legislative committee chair, Tim Suitter, said, "It was a good meeting. We had a good discussion and learned a lot. It's important to share the perspective of shipyard workers and families on these issues. Legislators encouraged us to share those stories more." Suitter continued, "We came up with some interesting ideas to look into union built housing in the area and ways to connect childcare and transportation more directly to BIW and other local employers."  

S6 Legislative committee members are: Tim Suitter, Doug Hall, Brad Farrell, Steve Stewart and Ryan Ryder.