Unions warn of the consequences of executive order
Union representatives said the move could diminish safety at one of the Navy’s critical submarine shipyards (Source: US Navy)
The US Department of Defense has terminated collective bargaining agreements for two unions at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, following an executive order issued by President Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Union representatives said the decision will affect safety, pay, and working conditions.
Workers from the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners and the American Federation of Government Employees said they were notified of the move, which the Administration stated was intended to prevent interference with national defence operations.
“It's really going to cause material harm to the people who are fixing the machines that are enabling us to execute the mission of national defence,” said Nate Proper, president of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners Local 3073. “President Trump and Pete Hegseth do not have any idea how unions interface with the facility.”
Union leaders warned that their removal could lead to changes in scheduling, overtime, and workplace procedures at Portsmouth Naval shipyard, which remains a key facility for maintaining the US Navy’s submarine fleet.
Meanwhile, at Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, a fire broke out aboard the aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, injuring three.
The vessel is undergoing a protracted post-deployment maintenance operation, having been at the yard since January 2025. Though the three injured crew were promptly treated and have been returned to duty, it is unclear whether the fire will prolong USS Dwight D. Eisenhower’s maintenance period at the shipyard.
