UAW Endorses Local 3999 Member Trent Vellella for Maine House of Representatives

UAW Region 9A local unions in Maine unanimously voted to endorse our fellow UAW member Trent Vellella for the Maine House of Representatives in District 49. Vellella, who serves as President of the Bath Marine Draftsmen’s Association (UAW Local 3999), says he is running to “be a thoughtful, steady voice—someone who shows up, does the work, and focuses on leaving things better than I found them.”

Vellella said his priorities if elected will be to improve accessibility and lower the costs of housing, child care, elder care, and health care. “In my work as an elected union official, I’ve spent years representing people, solving problems, and navigating tough conversations where there aren’t easy answers,” he said. “That experience has taught me how to listen, how to find common ground, and how to make steady, practical progress on issues that make a real difference to people’s lives.”

A lifelong Mainer, Vellella grew up in Bath and Bowdoinham and currently lives in West Bath with his wife and two daughters. Both of his parents and one grandparent worked at Bath Iron Works, where he has also worked for 19 years after starting in the apprenticeship program. While working at the shipyard, he decided to get more involved with his union and has served in many elected roles.

During the most recent round of BMDA’s contract negotiations that culminated in a week-long strike this spring, Vellella decided he wanted to make a run for the seat his representative was leaving due to term limits.

“I realized that even if you have the most favorable conditions for negotiations, the best negotiating committee, and the strongest membership, there's only so much that you can achieve even with a really good collective bargaining agreement, particularly around things like the cost of health care,” he said. “I realized, 'wow, there have got to be other levers.'”

“We know Trent will fight for Maine workers, because he’s one of us,” said UAW Region 9A Director Brandon Mancilla. “Workers all over Maine were inspired by BMDA’s strike, and Trent’s experience is exactly what we need more of in government to deliver the change the working class demands.”