BIW criticized for offering only unpaid leave to workers

 
Maine Beacon

Early Monday morning, Bath Iron Works, one of the state’s biggest employers, issued a statement informing their nearly 6,000 workers in Maine [living in 16 counties across the state] that they could begin to take unpaid leave without fear of losing their jobs.

The announcement came on the heels of Governor Janet Mills signing a civil emergency proclamation on Sunday.

“BIW will continue operations, however, we understand the challenges coronavirus creates,” the shipyard posted on its Twitter account Monday. “Any employee wishing to take unpaid leave for the next 2 weeks can do so without penalty. We’ll issue call-in procedures today.”

The offer of unpaid leave made by BIW, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, the U.S.’s fifth-largest defense contractor, was immediately condemned on social media.

BIW’s parent company made $3.5 billion in 2019. The yard gets up to $3 million in tax breaks from the state and more from the City of Bath. And the best they can do is offer their workers *unpaid* leave?? #mepolitics pic.twitter.com/xoLMDhZA2S

— James Myall (@JamesxMyall) March 16, 2020

“Corporate greed and cold-heartedness at its finest,” Lisa Savage, an independent challenger to Senator Susan Collins, tweeted. “Better idea: your fat cat executives donate 2 weeks’ salary to keep paying workers who should STAY HOME immediately.”

Addendum:  During the 1918 influenza pandemic the two most explosive places in Maine were Bath, where the shipyard then on a war footing was not shut down, and Lewiston where greedy mill owners, who were also city selectmen, refused to shut down despite being asked to by the state.