"Bath Built is Best Built" is how Navy officials and sailors in World War II described the battle ships that came out of Bath Iron Works due to their superiority over all other war ships. But if General Dynamics-Bath Iron Works management has its way, that slogan will be a fading memory.

Company management is trying to push a series of concessions to outsource jobs to out-of-state subcontractors, attack employee seniority provisions and dramatically increase employee healthcare costs. These subcontracting proposals would not only create a workforce of poorly paid subcontractors, but could also push more than 1,200 skilled mechanics with over 30 years of experience into early retirement, taking with them a wealth of shipbuilding knowledge and expertise.

This contract shouldn’t be about profits for General Dynamics shareholders, but about the livelihoods of the Mainers who are proud to come to work every day to build the most advanced Navy vessels in the world. We call on General Dynamics to come back to the table with an offer that honors experience, respects workers and provides career stability with a pathway to retirement. This about supporting good quality jobs for the economy. Mr Lesko, it's time for General Dynamics to listen to the men and women who actually build the ships.