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BIW's Largest Union Takes Issue With Company's Coronavirus Response

Robert F. Bukaty
/
Associated Press
In this Wednesday, Aug. 29, 2018 photo, welder Neal Larsen works on the hull a Zumwalt-class destroyer being built in the shipyard at Bath Iron Works in Bath, Maine.

The owner of Maine's Bath Iron Works is offering employees of the shipyard two weeks of unpaid leave to help them deal with the state’s growing spread of the new coronavirus, according to a statement posted on the company’s website.  But General Dynamics’ offer isn't going over well with BIW’s largest union, Local 6, which issued its own media statement Monday saying the company’s policies don’t conform to the emergency recommendations Maine Gov. Janet Mills laid out Sunday.

“Bath Iron Works should be protecting their Employees and the State of Maine by heeding their warnings and not trying to protect their wallets,” union officials say.

Company officials say workers can take paid vacation and sick time – and in some cases medical leave - to cope with any effects of the outbreak. For those who need more time than that, “BIW is granting all employees the option of unpaid leave during the two week period of 3/16/20 to 3/27/20,” the statement reads.

But Local 6 officials say the company is falling short of what’s needed to help stem the spread of COVID-19 in Maine, pointing out that BIW’s approximately 8,000 workers live in all 16 of Maine’s counties, and many make the daily commute to the Bath shipyard together in vans or buses.

“The large gatherings coming to and from, along with working throughout the shipyard, creates major effects that are now being discouraged throughout the country,” union officials say. “Social distancing isn't much of an option as we are now seeing this virus already starting to spread in the State of Maine."

As of Monday morning, Maine had identified 17 confirmed and presumptive positive cases of the new coronavirus.