Fake News Friday, 01/23/2026: Brian Bryant supports Minnesota protestors. New officers to be sworn in tomorrow, Negotiating Committee nominations, and contract surveys

The IAM’s International President, Local S6 pipefitter Brian Bryant, issued a statement regarding ICE operations in Minnesota yesterday. He voiced solidarity with the protestors, saying:

What is unfolding in Minnesota, and across our country, is a serious test of our democracy and our collective commitment to the Constitution. When government authority is used to intimidate communities, suppress dissent, or detain people without due process, the labor movement has a responsibility to speak with clarity and purpose.

The IAM Union stands in solidarity with the people of Minnesota, including union members and working families, who are demanding accountability and an end to actions that violate basic civil and constitutional rights. No worker should fear being targeted for speaking out, protesting peacefully, or simply existing in their community.¹

ICE has now launched Operation “Catch of the Day” in Maine.² ICE is already targeting people for simply existing in our community. What Bryant condemned in Minnesota is now happening in Maine. Although there are no undocumented immigrants working at Bath Iron Works, I have already received reports of members being targeted by ICE agents on their way to work. Local news agencies are already reporting the kinds of abuses Bryant described. I have shared several of these stories below.

The new officers elected in October will be sworn in at tomorrow’s general membership meeting. Only one incumbent won reelection to the same officer position, Marc Lindvall. Lindvall will remain a Trustee in 2026. Bath Chief Steward Tim Suitter will take Chris Williams’ place as President after defeating him by 167 votes. Ryan Ryder will also remain on the Executive Board. He will be taking over as Secretary Treasurer after the incumbent was promoted to International Auditor in September.

Scott MacDonald will take over Ryder’s previous position as Recording Secretary. His victory is noteworthy because he brought formal charges against the previous Executive Board on three separate occasions last year. MacDonald’s ascension to Recording Secretary promises tense Executive Board meetings. But members hope for more transparency, too.

MacDonald was also one of two second shifters who won election to the Executive Board. The other was Terry Frost. Frosty will be the new Conductor Sentinel. He will also remain in his role as second shift’s General Steward.

Don Bowen won the race for Bath’s Chief Steward. Bowen was previously the Chief Steward during the 2012 and 2015 contract negotiations.³ The composition of the 5-person Bath Grievance Committee remains almost entirely unchanged. Matt Dustin won the second highest vote share. This pushed Ryan Ryder to sixth place. The other four incumbents won their reelection bids by a comfortable margin.

The Harding Chief Steward Scott McFadden ran unopposed. Every incumbent won reelection to the Harding Grievance Committee.

Find a summary of these changes below:

Executive Board

President: Chris Williams → Tim Suitter
Vice President: Ray Orff → Nate Wallace
Recording Secretary: Ryan Ryder → Scott MacDonald [2^nd shift]
Secretary Treasurer: [vacant] → Ryan Ryder
Trustees
- Marc Lindvall [reelected]
- Josh Johnstone → Angela McCarren
- Clayton Reid [2^nd shift] → Matt Dustin
Conductor Sentinel: Dave Clukey → Terry Frost [2^nd shift]

Auditing Committee

Scott MacDonald → Katie Baker
Nate Wallace → Mike Carraway
Jason Ryder → Noah Jalbert

Bath Chief Steward and Grievance Committee

Chief Steward: Tim Suitter → Don Bowen
Ryan Ryder → Matt Dustin
Doug Hall [reelected]
Rick Sites [reelected]
Mark Cyr [reelected]
Tim Halle [reelected]

Harding Chief Steward and Grievance Committee

Chief Steward: Scott McFadden [reelected]
Todd Biswell [reelected]
Clayton Reid [reelected]
Rob Hale [reelected]
Tim Marquis [reelected]

Nominations for the 2026 Negotiating Committee will take place at tomorrow’s meeting, too. The union mailed contract surveys last week. Union representatives will be collecting them at the gates on February 5^th and February 6^th. You can also return surveys to your steward. The elections for the Negotiating Committee will be on February 19^th at 45 Floral Street in Bath.