On March 22, 2026, SMART Local 23 filed its third unfair labor practice charge against JAG Ketchikan. The latest claim alleges that JAG took away “dirty pay” and changed shifts without first notifying and bargaining with Local 23.
A copy of Local 23’s latest ULP charge can be found here.
“Dirty pay” is an industry term. It refers to extra compensation for employees engaged in exceptionally unpleasant tasks, such as work on the ship’s septic systems. The collective bargaining agreement between Vigor and Local 23 set a dirty pay rate of 1.5x what workers were otherwise entitled to. If the work exposed workers to human waste, which is not uncommon, the rate jumped to 2x.
Since JAG took over the Ketchikan Shipyard, workers report they are no longer guaranteed dirty pay.
