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May 19, 2008

BIW union approves contract

Members of Local S6, Bath Iron Works' largest union, yesterday approved a four-year contract, amid criticism of the agreement by its suspended president.

The 3,400-member branch of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers voted in favor of the contract by a 2-1 margin, just hours before the current pact was set to expire, union spokesman John Carr told the Portland Press Herald. The contract includes pay raises of 3.5%-4% over the four years and increased pension contributions, while not increasing employee contributions for health insurance, according to the paper.

The contract was approved despite efforts by ousted union President Mike Keenan to convince Local S6 members to vote against it, saying it took away the union's authority to enforce the contract and allowed the IAM to make changes without member approval, according to a letter he sent to union members.

Keenan has been suspended since March, when the IAM took over control of Local S6 as part of an investigation into numerous allegations, including financial mismanagement. Keenan and three other Local S6 members have since sued the parent union.

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