BATH, Maine — Bath Iron Works officials told members of its largest union on Friday that the layoffs of nine machinists had been canceled and 39 pipefitters still scheduled to be laid off on Jan. 21 would likely be offered other shipyard jobs to tide them over.
Jay Wadleigh, president of Local S6 of the machinists union, which represents about 3,500 Bath Iron Works employees, confirmed the news early Friday afternoon.
“They told them today that they will, in all likelihood, be offered a job as long as they don’t mind doing something other than pipefitting — if somebody needs a week-to-week paycheck and they don’t mind doing electrical work or painting,” Wadleigh said.
“The company and Local S6 have come to an agreement that allows us to loan the nine inside machinists who were to be laid off into the electrician trade, instead,” BIW spokesman Matt Wickenheiser said in an email Friday. “We are working hard to find positions in other trades for the 39 pipefitters through a short-term, 30-day recall. And we continue to pursue other options with the union, such as a loan to other trades, but there are no guarantees other than the short-term recall, as spelled out in the joint labor agreement.
BIW announced Tuesday that the layoffs would take effect Jan. 21, with an additional 30 days of work in other trades to follow.