IAM International President Brian Bryant led a group of union leaders on a tour of Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard, where more than 4,000 members of Local S6 are involved in constructing advanced U.S. Navy battleships. The delegation included Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan and other senior officials from the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM).
During the visit, the group toured key production areas and boarded a nearly completed U.S. Navy destroyer. They also visited BIW’s training center, which aims to recruit and train people from local communities—many without previous mechanical experience—to become skilled 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.”
The leadership team spoke with Local S6 members at work 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.”
