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March 4, 2014

BIW union, leaders compromise on hiring plan

Union representatives and company leaders at Bath Iron Works have agreed on a plan for hiring new electricians, backing away from President Frederick Harris’ plan to bring in workers from a General Dynamics shipyard in San Diego.

The Bangor Daily News reported union officials opposed bringing in subcontractors to fill the need for electricians. Jay Wadleigh, president of Local S6 of the Machinists union, told the newspaper the company plans to hire around 30 electricians per month for the remainder of 2014 to keep up with new work.

Instead of bringing in outside workers, the union and company agreed that the current work force of 200 electricians would work six days per week, with eight hours on Saturdays. Wadleigh said as long as union members fulfill that agreement, no outside electricians will perform work for BIW.

With the new hires, Wadleigh said that every worker laid off during a series of cuts in 2013 has been recalled or offered a new job.

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