Kathleen O'Brien

Times Record

Kathleen was born and raised in Portland. She studied at Marist College in Poughkeepsie, New York, before moving back to Maine to begin her journalism career at The Times Record in June 2019. She covers Bath & Bath Iron Works, along with Arrowsic, Georgetown, Harpswell, Phippsburg, West Bath, Wiscasset and Woolwich. In her free time, Kathleen likes to read, listen to live music, and spend time with family and friends.

Latest

Published
August 11, 2020

Trump aide: White House ‘didn’t micromanage’ Bath shipyard negotiations

Peter Navarro, assistant to the President for trade and manufacturing, said Trump instructed him to contact professionals to help BIW and Local S6 reach an agreement to end the ongoing strike, “but all the hard work was done by the negotiators.”
Published
August 10, 2020

Striking BIW workers helped by local food banks

Many union members using the food bank said they’re feeling the pressure of two months of lost wages, but the lack of health insurance during the strike has been more financially and emotionally taxing.
Published
August 8, 2020

Union negotiators, BIW agree on contract proposal after seven weeks on strike

Union members will vote on the new contract proposal via telephone Aug. 21-23, according to the union. If approved, the contract would last until Aug. 20, 2023.
Published
August 7, 2020

Two foxes attack, bite Woolwich man doing yard work

James Collins, 79, said he was attacked by two young foxes and bitten five times in his backyard Thursday.
Published
August 6, 2020

BIW, union negotiation makes steady progress in seventh week of strike

Bath Iron Works and its largest union had reached an agreement on eight contract articles as of Thursday, including one of the “main issues” of the ongoing strike.
Published
August 5, 2020

Two more BIW workers test positive for coronavirus

The BIW employee and contractor were last at work on Aug. 3 and Aug. 1, respectively, and have since been quarantined.
Published
August 5, 2020

Striking BIW union says rekindled negotiation has stalled

Details on the second meeting between Bath Iron Works and its largest union are murky, but union leaders said some progress was made before ‘bigger issues’ caused negotiations to ‘break down.’
Published
August 4, 2020

Bath-area schools announce reopening plan

Full-time distance learning will be available for families who are uncomfortable with in-person classes. Families must commit to either the district’s plan or remote learning by Aug. 17.
Published
August 4, 2020

BIW, striking union make some progress in first meeting since June

Contract negotiations between Bath Iron Works and Machinists Union Local S6 will continue Tuesday.
Published
August 3, 2020

No answers yet after BIW, striking union meet together with mediator for first time

The last time union and company officials spoke was during negotiations in June, but communication stalled after BIW delivered its “last, best and final” contract to the union, much of which union officials roundly rejected.