Secretary of War Pete Hegseth to Speak at Bath Iron Works, Workers Offered Overtime
Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Maine is preparing for a visit from Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who is scheduled to tour the shipyard and deliver a speech on the new “Trump” class battleship. The event is set for Monday afternoon, just before a shift change, prompting management to offer overtime pay to workers who attend. However, initial interest among employees appears low, with many expressing reluctance to participate.
According to a worker who spoke anonymously to The Intercept, the management’s outreach for volunteers yielded minimal responses. “They issued a polling sheet this morning to see who would attend, and at least from my crew, there were no takers,” the worker stated. The speech’s timing means that those who choose to attend will need to stay beyond their regular hours, with the stipulation that they must remain until the event concludes.
Devin Ragnar, a spokesperson for the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 6, confirmed that overtime would be provided for those attending past their shift. However, he refrained from discussing the specifics of how this arrangement was established. Following the initial lack of enthusiasm, a subsequent survey clarified that overtime would indeed be offered, which some speculate may have been a strategy to boost attendance.
Mixed Reactions Among Workers
The prospect of Hegseth’s visit has generated a range of reactions among BIW employees. One worker expressed skepticism about the company’s motives, stating, “This company doesn’t pay out for anything they don’t explicitly have to.” Another worker echoed this sentiment, voicing concerns about the disruption the event could cause to their workday. “I’m sure it’ll interrupt the workday… and create a lot of discourse that I don’t want to have to listen to all day,” they remarked.
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Despite the offer of overtime, many workers remain apathetic or even hostile towards Hegseth. The same anonymous worker described a general sentiment of “apathy to disgust” among colleagues regarding the upcoming visit. “I hate Pete Hegseth to my core,” they stated, questioning his authority to discuss military matters related to their work. They acknowledged, however, that opinions on Hegseth may vary among the workforce, with some employees being staunch supporters of former President Trump.
The visit comes at a time when Bath Iron Works, a subsidiary of General Dynamics, plays a crucial role in building and maintaining U.S. Navy ships. The shipyard is one of Maine’s largest employers, providing well-paying union jobs in the region. Charles Krugh, the president of BIW, has previously expressed readiness to participate in the construction of the new battleships, emphasizing the importance of delivering advanced combat ships to support U.S. military efforts.
As the event approaches, the shipyard’s management has yet to respond to inquiries regarding the visit, and a Pentagon spokesperson declined to comment on the matter. The outcome of Hegseth’s speech and its impact on the workforce remains to be seen.
