IAM International President Brian Bryant led a group of union leaders on a tour of Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard and its training center in Maine. The visit included Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, other General Vice Presidents, Chiefs of Staff from various IAM Territories, and staff from IAM Headquarters.
The delegation visited key areas within the shipyard, including production zones and a U.S. Navy destroyer that is over 75% complete. The tour also included BIW’s modern training facility, which aims to bring in individuals from local communities—many without prior mechanical experience—and prepare them for work as union shipbuilders.
“This facility is more than a training center – it’s a gateway for working people in Maine to enter a proud trade and build a better life,” said IAM International President Brian Bryant. “It strengthens the shipyard, our union, and the communities we call home. That’s what the IAM is all about.”
During their visit, the IAM leadership met with Local S6 members while they worked and observed their skills firsthand.
“There’s a deep sense of pride and unity here that you can feel the moment you walk through the gates. Local S6 members are carrying forward a tradition of excellence,” said IAM Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, “Now they’re bringing in new talent to strengthen that foundation.”
More than 4,000 members of Local S6 represented by the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers are currently building advanced ships for the U.S. Navy at Bath Iron Works.
