BIW Workers: BIW Has The Capacity For Conversion To Happen Pretty Easily

I'm thrilled to publish a guest post today from a worker at General Dynamics' Bath Iron Works shipyard calling for conversion of the shipyard.

Thank you, Patsy, for sending this along for me to read at our news conference this Friday, June 21 at 11am at the Portland (Maine) Public Library,  Room 3.

Good morning all !!

I have been asked to say a few words, but work prevents me from being there in person, so Lisa is kindly stepping in for me. Thanks, Lisa!! :)

The goal here is to give testimony, my personal truth as I see it, for the BIW conversion to happen. I am a 70 year old women who is going to retire soon from working at Bath Iron Works for over 32 years and I have seen a few changes over the years. Sadly, that is mostly after the 9/11 tragedy.

And, of course, as people get older and wiser, personal changes are inevitable. You learn why it has been so difficult to provide the American Dream for yourself and your families. Why people and huge companies are denying income inequality, climate change, and racial injustice throughout the world. To me, it all boils down to greed. And to change that attitude is like turning a destroyer in the water. It takes patience, hope, and persistence to this task with the goal of making the economy work for all its peoples. It's that important to the whole world! 

I believe BIW has the capacity with all the equipment and/or people that are already there for the conversion to happen pretty easily.  

All it would take is the will by the people and that's where you come in. You folks are doing important work by protesting, please continue to stand up proudly because you are all heroes to me. Continue to engage BIW workers, show them that you are just like them and are protecting the same way of life.

Imagine wind turbine platforms, fast trains, or Ships of Peace (Mercy Ships) being built at BIW. I can just imagine the workers' pride then! 

Do the unexpected and keep those beautiful smiles on your faces. 

Peace, 

Patsy Messier

Retired BIW worker Peter Woodruff also thinks conversion could happen if the will was there.

Check out this interview he gave in 2012 discussing the possibility of wind turbines being built instead of war ships.


If the embedded video does not work for you, view it here on YouTube

Protesters at BIW war ship celebration on April 27, 2019 in Bath, Maine. Many will be on hand calling for conversion on June 22 at 8-10am as BIW again celebrates completing a carbon belching war ship for the Pentagon.