AUGUSTA — Bath Iron Works machinists overwhelmingly ratified a four-year agreement that includes a signing bonus, raises and increased pension contributions from the company.
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Out of nearly 2,000 members of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace workers who voted at the Augusta Civic Center on Sunday, 82 percent voted to ratify the deal, union spokesman Dan Dowling said. The union represents about 3,200 mechanics, fitters, welders, painters and electricians.
All members will receive a $3,000 bonus this year. Annual wage increases will begin in the second year for most members and will range between 2.25 percent and 2.75 percent. Bath Iron Works also will increase contributions to pensions from $2 per hour to $2.50 per hour during the life of the contract.
Bath Iron Works has 5,400 employees, making it one of the largest employers in Maine, and depends on defense contracts. Spokesman Jim DeMartini said the new union agreement will help the company prepare a bid to build the nine DDG-51 destroyers the Navy will buy in the next five years.
“The negotiating teams did just an excellent job hammering out what we think is a fair agreement for employees and that will improve our competitive position to secure future work,” DeMartini said.
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