At least half of the members of the largest union at Maine's Bath Iron Works want to do away with a trusteeship imposed by the Machinists Union.

A petition bearing the signatures of 1,677 Local S6 members was mailed last week to the international union, which ousted the Machinists' Local S6 leadership over allegations of shoddy accounting, pornography on computers and problems with grievances.

Last month, a union committee decided to keep the trustee in charge but local union members have the right to appeal to seek reinstatement of local leaders.

The local union has been in turmoil ever since the allegations surfaced last March. Three union officers including Local S6 President Mike Keenan remain suspended.