BATH
Bath Iron Works will lay off 81 shipyard workers effective Nov. 22, the company confirmed Thursday.
The company notified union leadership Thursday it will lay off 81 workers across multiple trades in order to balance its workforce with the current amount of work at the shipyard, according to Jim DeMartini, BIW’s spokesman.
The layoffs will occur among insulators, outside machinists, preservation techs, shipfitters and metal preparation technicians, DeMartini said.
As of Nov. 1, BIW employed approximately 5,450 people, according to DeMartini.
The lag in workforce needs comes in the wake of the shipyard’s recent launch of its first Zumwalt-class destroyer.
“This balancing of the workload with the workforce is a constant act we go through,” DeMartini said. “We’re doing everything we can to get more work in the shipyard, but with fewer ships being built and competition being tighter, it complicates the already complicated process of trying to maintain that balance between work and resources.”
He added, “We hate to do this. We know it affects people, especially at this time of year. It’s not pleasant for any of us.”
DeMartini said the company will do everything it can before the layoffs take effect to determine if any of the affected workers have the necessary skills to fill other open positions within the company. However, he didn’t know how many open positions exist at the shipyard, or whether any of the affected workers would be qualified to fill those positions.
The shipyard has made a number of layoffs over the last several months. It laid off 42 insulators and pipe coverers last month, and on Nov. 1 announced it would lay off 39 pipefitters effective Nov. 18.
FOR MORE, see the Bangor Daily News at bangordailynews.com.
The Times Record Sustaining Sponsor
We believe a community must be informed to thrive. bowdoin.edu
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less