Trending Now - Navy Shipyard Workers Ratify Contract, Ending Weeklong Strike

WHO:

AP News - Hundreds of employees at Bath Iron Works, a major U.S. Navy shipbuilding contractor.

AP News - Members of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association, affiliated with the United Automobile, Aerospace and Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW).

ABC News - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

WHAT:

AP News - Employees voted to approve a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, ending a weeklong strike.

AP News - The strike began on March 23rd, 2026, after three weeks of unsuccessful negotiations.

ABC News - The new contract goes into effect immediately.

WHERE:

AP News - Bath Iron Works, located in Portland, Maine.

AP News - The ratification vote took place at a local high school.

WHEN:

AP News - The strike began on March 23rd, 2026, and ended with the ratification vote on March 28th, 2026.

AP News - The Navy accepted delivery of the USS Harvey C. Barnum, Jr. in 2025, with commissioning scheduled for April 2026.

WHY:

AP News - The strike was initiated due to unresolved differences after three weeks of negotiations.

AP News - The union stated that while not all goals were met, the deal includes improvements that are a win for workers.

HOW:

AP News - The ratification followed an hourslong union meeting.

AP News - Bath Iron Works proposed a number of historic wage and benefit options during negotiations.

(UPDATED March 29, 2026 11:03 UTC)

Employees at Bath Iron Works, a major U.S. Navy shipbuilding contractor in Portland, Maine, voted to approve a new four-year collective bargaining agreement, effectively ending a weeklong strike that began on Monday. The ratification vote took place on Saturday at a local high school, following an hourslong union meeting, and while the union acknowledged that not all goals were met, they deemed the deal a win for workers. The new contract goes into effect immediately, and it follows three weeks of unsuccessful negotiations during which Bath Iron Works proposed several historic wage and benefit options.