BATH (AP) — The largest union at Bath Iron Works is suing over an arbitration decision allowing the shipyard to outsource some work to subcontractors.
The lawsuit filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court accuses of the arbitrator of being biased in favor of the shipyard after being shut out of hearing such cases for six years because a ruling that favored the union had angered shipyard officials.
The union’s grievance was rejected in February.
Shipyard spokesman Matt Wickenheiser said Friday that the arbitrator’s ruling was proper. He also said it’s necessary for the shipyard to buy some ship components instead of building them to be on “equal footing” with others in the industry as it competes for shibuilding contracts.
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