BIW Maine Navy Shipbuilder Strike

On Monday, March 23, 2026, hundreds of Maine workers, in Maine, at Bath Iron Works (BIW), one of the U.S. Navy’s largest shipbuilding contractors, have chosen to strike.

BIW Strike

The Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association went on strike after members voted to reject the wage proposal from the shipyard. The union represents 627 workers at the historic shipyard that has built naval ships for over a century.

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an appearance at BIW several weeks ago to boost morale and discuss the need to increase manufacturing.

In a statement, the union said the offer from the shipyard did not address the concerns over wages, insurance options, or retirement income security. Members assert they are being paid less than the national average and are not offered affordable insurance options.

“We had hoped the company took to heart the statements made by Secretary Hegseth here at GD BIW of February 9th because our membership certainly did,” wrote union President Trent Vellelia, adding that General Dynamics “continues to make record profits off our labor and gives away billions through stock buybacks and dividends, while many of our members live paycheck to paycheck.”

The shipyard and the union have been in negotiations for three weeks but have not been able to reach an agreement, according to BIW spokesman David Hench. The shipyard’s proposal includes “historic annual wage increases” of 10 percent in the first year, and four percent each year over three years. BIW’s total workforce consists of 6,800 people, according to Hench.

The Union

The Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association is affiliated with the United Mobile, Aerospace and Agriculture Implement Workers of America, more commonly known as the UAW, one of the nation’s largest unions.

Members of the BMDA at BIW are designers, nondestructive test technicians, technical clerks, laboratory technicians, and associate engineers, according to a statement released by the union.

Members say they will continue to picket outside the Naval shipyard around the clock until an agreement is reached.

BIW was awarded a multiyear contract to construct several Arleigh Burke-class destroyers in 2023.

The Arleigh Burke is a guided missile destroyer Navy officials describe as the “backbone of the Navy’s surface fleet.”

The U.S. Navy accepted delivery of the future USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr., last year, and it will be commissioned next month, Hench says.

Strike Operations

The shipyard plans to use salaried personnel, subcontractors, and other employees who choose to work during the strike.

“The company is continuing to negotiate in good faith with the BMDA to explore opportunities to better align company and union objectives,” according to an email written by Hench.

Sources:

AP News: Hundreds go on strike at major Navy shipbuilder in Maine over wages and benefits
abc News: Hundreds go on strike at major Navy shipbuilder in Maine over wages and benefits
WGME 13: BIW union on strike after failed contract negotiations

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