Hundreds join strike
at Navy shipbuilder
PORTLAND, Maine — Hundreds of designers, clerks and technicians went on strike Monday in Maine at one of the U.S. Navy’s largest shipbuilding contractors.
The Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association went on strike at General Dynamics Bath Iron Works after members voted to reject the shipyard’s proposed wage offer over the weekend. The union represents 627 workers at the historic shipyard, which has built naval ships in Bath for more than a century.
The strike arrived several weeks after a morale-boosting appearance in which U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth touted the need to boost defense manufacturing. It is also taking place as the U.S. intensifies its war effort in Iran.
The union said the shipyard’s offer does not address the members’ concerns about wages, insurance coverage and retirement income security.
“We had hoped the company took to heart the statements made by Secretary Hegseth here at GD BIW on February 9th because, our membership certainly did,” union President Trent Vellella said in an emailed statement that also said General Dynamics “continues to make record profits off our labor.”
— The Associated Press
DoorDash touts gas
relief program in US
DoorDash is offering extra compensation to U.S. and Canadian drivers as part of a temporary program to help offset rising gas prices.
The San Francisco-based delivery company announced the program Monday as the national average price for gas hit $3.96 per gallon in the U.S., according to AAA. That’s 35% higher than one month ago.
DoorDash said U.S. drivers with a DoorDash debit card will earn 10% cash back on any gas purchase, up from the usual rate of 2%. More than half of DoorDash drivers have the card, the company said.
The company said drivers who travel 125 miles or more while making deliveries will also receive a weekly fuel payment, starting at $5 and up to a maximum of $15.
In Canada, DoorDash drivers will receive up to $36 Canadian dollars per week based on the miles they drive.
Both programs will remain in effect through April 26. It announced a similar gas price relief program in Australia late last week.
It’s not yet clear if rivals will match DoorDash’s payments.
— The Associated Press
Arkansas index drops
14.52, ends 1,004.01
The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, closed Monday at 1,004.01, down 14.52 points.
“Stocks surged on Monday after President Trump announced a potential delay in attacks on Iran based on discussions over the weekend,” said Chris Harkins, managing director at Raymond James & Associates.
The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.
