IAM International President Brian Bryant, who began his career as a pipefitter at Bath Iron Works (BIW) and is a member of Local S6, led a delegation of International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM) leadership on a tour of the shipyard. The group included Eastern Territory General Vice President David Sullivan, also a former BIW shipbuilder and Local S6 member, along with other General Vice Presidents, Chiefs of Staff from IAM’s Territories, and staff from IAM Headquarters.
During the visit, the delegation toured major buildings within the shipyard, visited production areas, and boarded a U.S. Navy destroyer that is more than 75% complete. They also visited BIW’s training facility, which aims to recruit and train individuals from local communities—many without 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 tour provided an opportunity for IAM leadership to interact with Local S6 members at work and observe 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.”
