IAM International President Brian Bryant led a delegation of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) leadership on a tour of Bath Iron Works (BIW) shipyard in Maine. The visit included Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, other General Vice Presidents, Chiefs of Staff from IAM’s Territories, and key staff from the organization’s headquarters.
At BIW, more than 4,000 members of Local S6 are engaged in constructing advanced battleships for the U.S. Navy. During the tour, the group visited major buildings within the shipyard, production areas, and boarded a U.S. Navy destroyer that is over 75% complete. The delegation also toured BIW’s training facility aimed at recruiting and preparing individuals 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.”
IAM leadership spoke with Local S6 members during their visit to observe their skills and teamwork 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.”
