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IAM International President Brian Bryant, a former pipefitter at Bath Iron Works (BIW) and proud member of Local S6, recently led a delegation of IAM leadership on an in-depth tour of the historic shipyard. More than 4,000 IAM-represented members of Local S6 are building some of the U.S. Navy’s most advanced battleships at BIW.
Bryant was joined by Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, also a former BIW shipbuilder and proud Local S6 member, as well as numerous General Vice Presidents and Chiefs of Staff from across the IAM’s Territories, and key staff from IAM Headquarters.
The group toured the shipyard’s major buildings, visited production areas, and boarded a U.S. Navy destroyer that is more than 75% complete. The delegation also visited BIW’s state-of-the-art training facility, designed to recruit and train individuals from surrounding communities, many with no prior 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 visit also allowed IAM leadership to speak with Local S6 members on the job and witness firsthand the depth of their skill and solidarity.
“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.”
