BIW ignores union concerns, orders workers to make their own masks

General Dynamics on Sunday {April 5} informed their employees that they should begin reporting to work at Bath Iron Works’ shipyard wearing homemade masks to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Two weeks ago, the first employee at BIW tested positive for the virus and in response many shipyard workers began staying home from work. In the weeks prior to that positive test, General Dynamics only offered their workers unpaid leave.

The shipyards’ biggest unions warned at the time that forcing workers to choose between a paycheck and coming to work sick had the potential to stoke a state-wide outbreak.

“Almost 8,000 people work collectively for BIW, 16 counties in this state,” Chris Wiers, president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Locals S6, said on March 17. “You know what’s going to happen if this hits Bath Iron Works? The outbreak will be huge.”

Read more: https://mainebeacon.com/biw-ignores-union-concerns-orders-workers-to-make-their-own-masks/