Susan Collins Won’t Stand Up For Union Workers in Maine in Their Contract Dispute with General Dynamics General Dynamics is Susan Collins’ Single Biggest Campaign Donor
Portland, MAINE — In the latest example of Maine Senator Susan Collins putting corporate interests over those of working Mainers, Senator Collins has refused to stand up for union workers at Bath Iron Works (BIW) during their contract dispute with General Dynamics, which also happens to be Collins’ single largest campaign donor.
“The workers of BIW have been put in a corner by corporate special interests working to undermine union jobs that are the lifeblood of many Maine families and communities. But instead of standing up for Mainers, Susan Collins is hiding in the deep pockets of her biggest donor — the management of General Dynamics,” said Willy Ritch, executive director of 16 Counties Coalition. “We need a leader who will stand up for Maine’s working families who depend on these union jobs to put food on the table, not do the bidding of her corporate donors.”
In addition to taking hundreds of thousands in campaign contributions from General Dynamics, Senator Collins has worked behind the scenes to undermine the strength of labor unions at BIW for years, including voting for the appointment of Eugene Scalia, who was directly involved in efforts to reduce pension benefits for BIW employees as Secretary of Labor. Collins also recently held a campaign fundraiser hosted by disgraced former Republican “senator-turned-lobbyist” Trent Lott, whose clients include BIW’s biggest non-union competitor.
