BATH — With Machinist Union Local S6 at Bath Iron Works voting on a four-year contract Sunday in Augusta, union leaders and workers rallied Friday to voice their concerns.

One lone man, Michael Stacey Jr. from Woolwich, carried a sign up and down the sidewalk on Washington Street, urging workers to vote “no” on Sunday as workers let out for lunch gathered in the parking lot in front of the union building across the street.

Cars, trucks and delivery vehicles honked as they passed him in a sign of support.

He said that BIW, a defense contractor for the United States government, wants to take away the Veterans Day holiday from the workers in the proposed contract. Veterans Day and Martin Luther King Jr. Day would be deemed floating holidays under the proposed contract.

Stacey, a former Navy Seabee, said he sees Veterans Day as just one of many sticking points in the proposed contract, like making workers perform duties outside their field. He said he wouldn’t speculate as to whether or not the contract will pass on Sunday, but said he would be willing to bet that come Monday, not a single worker at BIW will admit to voting in favor of it.

In front of union headquarters, union President Jay Wadleigh attempted to answer questions and comments from workers — many of which were riddled with expletives. At one point, Wadleigh told a worker “we’re in a no-win situation,” saying that the Defense Department is demanding BIW drive down costs before it awards them any more contracts.

Wadleigh said BIW must win at least five of the upcoming Coast Guard cutter contracts in the works to keep workers on the job.

A man who identified himself only as “Pipefitter Harold” said management is not doing enough for the workers.

“They praise the DDG-1000 — this is the first ship of its capabilities in the world and it was made right here at the Bath Iron Works by some of the best, skilled craftsmen in the world,” he said.

“You can’t just jump under a hard hat or a welding hood and make it happen,” he said, saying management has demanded one concession after another, while they themselves don’t want to sacrifice anything.

However, he was optimistic that a better agreement can be hammered out in time, as the current contract is not due to expire until May.

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