A spokesperson for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works said the Maine company (BIW) announced Monday that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (BMDA), whose workers went on strike Monday morning.The BIW spokesperson said BMDA members will vote to ratify the contract Saturday morning at Brunswick High School.The company had announced Sunday night that it was unable to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining deal after three weeks of negotiation.More than 600 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3999 walked off the job on Monday because union leadership said BIW’s offer — which was initially described as “best and final” — did not sufficiently address member priorities, such as competitive wages, affordable insurance and retirement income security.”We’re trying to address the livable wage issue in Maine,” union president Trent Vellella said on Monday. “I think everyone knows that prices have increased, and the cost of living in Maine has increased.”BIW presented the BMDA with a new contract offer Monday night, which the company said was a four-year deal with annual wage increases of 10.5%, 5%, 5% and 5%. The company also said the deal would raise total pay by about 28% over the life of the contract with top-scale designers earning more than $95,000 annually in base pay by the end of the agreement. According to BIW, that proposal also maintained flexible schedules, remote work options and the ability to purchase additional vacation time. The company said it would continue offering a choice of three health care plans, maintain contributions to health savings accounts and limit premium increases to 5.75%.The BIW spokesperson did not share details of the tentative agreement the company reached with the union on Friday.There was concern that the strike could significantly impact BIW operations in Maine, across the country and overseas, potentially affecting production on critical naval contracts.

BATH, Maine —

A spokesperson for General Dynamics Bath Iron Works said the Maine company (BIW) announced Monday that it has reached a tentative agreement on a new contract with the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (BMDA), whose workers went on strike Monday morning.

The BIW spokesperson said BMDA members will vote to ratify the contract Saturday morning at Brunswick High School.

The company had announced Sunday night that it was unable to reach an agreement on a new collective bargaining deal after three weeks of negotiation.

More than 600 members of the United Auto Workers (UAW) Local 3999 walked off the job on Monday because union leadership said BIW’s offer — which was initially described as “best and final” — did not sufficiently address member priorities, such as competitive wages, affordable insurance and retirement income security.

“We’re trying to address the livable wage issue in Maine,” union president Trent Vellella said on Monday. “I think everyone knows that prices have increased, and the cost of living in Maine has increased.”

BIW presented the BMDA with a new contract offer Monday night, which the company said was a four-year deal with annual wage increases of 10.5%, 5%, 5% and 5%. The company also said the deal would raise total pay by about 28% over the life of the contract with top-scale designers earning more than $95,000 annually in base pay by the end of the agreement. According to BIW, that proposal also maintained flexible schedules, remote work options and the ability to purchase additional vacation time. The company said it would continue offering a choice of three health care plans, maintain contributions to health savings accounts and limit premium increases to 5.75%.

The BIW spokesperson did not share details of the tentative agreement the company reached with the union on Friday.

There was concern that the strike could significantly impact BIW operations in Maine, across the country and overseas, potentially affecting production on critical naval contracts.