BATH – Bath Iron Works broke with the past practice of consulting with the machinist union beforehand when it announced the layoffs of 30 workers, the union president said.

The union is disappointed that it was not consulted, Local S6 President Mike Keenan said. In the past, discussions have sometimes helped to avoid layoffs, Keenan said. “Now, there are no conversations,” he said. “There’s no anything.”

News of the layoffs surfaced last Friday when shipyard management notified the union as required by the local’s contract with the shipyard. The workers, who are painters and cleaners, will lose their jobs a week from today, on Sept. 22.

The company did not immediately return a call from The Associated Press seeking comment.

The layoffs come at a time when workers in other parts of the shipyard are being asked to put in overtime. “They’re looking at paper,” Keenan said. “They’re not looking at jobs.”