Organized 1885

Official Organ of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific

Volume LXIX No. 5 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, May 19, 2006 United States government Chevron Shipping to charter three tankers proposes new credentials Sailors’ Union in all unlicensed departments for all maritime workers n a remarkable and far- I reaching turnaround, Chev- fter long delay, a regulatory process that will drastically ron Shipping Company has change the credentials of all maritime workers in the United decided to acquire and operate A more ships. Company officials States has begun. The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) on May 10, informed the Sailors’ Union on released an advance copy of the rulemaking that will eventually May 5, that it had entered into a establish the “Transportation Workers’ Identification Card” or long-term bareboat charter ar- TWIC. The proposal will put new costs, constraints and limitations rangement to acquire three U.S.- on a mariner population that is already straining under the weight built Double Eagle class tank- of compliance with onerous domestic and international regulation, ers. An option on a fourth tanker training requirements, and recruitment and retention problems. will be decided later this year. The Company intends to oper- Under the proposal, TSA would collect at locations around the ate the ships in the Jones Act country a worker’s biographic information including, but not lim- trade with SUP crews in all three fleet from a peak, in 1946, of ited to, ten fingerprints, name, date of birth, address, telephone 14,000 horsepower enabling unlicensed departments. The 32 vessels including 15 ships, number, photo, employer, and job title. All individuals, includ- (for a tanker) an impressive op- MEBA will represent the engi- 10 barges and 7 tugs to just 3 ing U.S. merchant mariners, with unescorted access to secure erational speed of 17 knots. Her neers and mates. ships today. The Company in- areas of port facilities and vessels regulated under the Maritime length overall is 600 feet, 5 tends to continue operating those Transportation Security Act of 2002 (MTSA) would be required The ships were built in New- inches with a beam of 105 feet, ships, (the SUP-crewed Gas to have a TWIC. port News Shipyard in 1997 and 8 inches. Her loadline draft is 1998. The first to be delivered is Turbine tankers Arizona Voy- 40 feet and her deadweight ton- As part of the process all maritime workers will be subject to the Seabulk Mariner, expected in ager, Colorado Voyager, and nage is 46,069 metric tons. At new or repeated background checks, many for the first time. Mer- the first quarter of 2007. The Washington Voyager) at least ninety-eight percent full she chant mariners whose last background check was before Febru- Seabulk Courage is expected next through the delivery of the new carries 342,000 barrels of oil ary 3, 2003, will require a new background check for the TWIC. in the third quarter of 2008. The tankers and possibly beyond. A in seven pairs of cargo tanks. As is the present practice, the new checks would include a review third will be the Seabulk Energy, study on the future disposition All Double-Eagle class tankers of criminal history records, terrorist watch lists, immigration sta- expected in the first quarter of of the GT’s will be conducted are double hulled and have no tus, and outstanding warrants. 2010. The charters are for nine later this year. Oil Pollution Act of 1990 re- Although the search is essentially the same: it appears now that years with options to extend. The Seabulk Mariner is de- tirement date. TSA is proposing the use of a different standard for determining The decision comes after signed to carry both crude and/ For more information, see disqualifying criminal offenses. The MTSA required that any de- years of down-sizing reduced or refined product. She is a SUP President Lundeberg’s nial of credentials on the basis of past criminality (felonies) would the Company’s U.S.-flag tanker single screw diesel delivering report on page 9. be finally subject to the determination of Secretary of Homeland Security of whether or not those offenses “could cause the indi- vidual to be a terrorism security risk to the United States.” In Port security bill passed by House other words, past criminality was tied, however loosely, to the risk of terrorist activity. GOP rejects 100% screening of all U.S. bound containers In these regulations, however, that connection is gone. Using he House of Representa- House floor prior to the votes, list. The Republicans are basi- the Hazmat regulations for commercial drivers that were origi- Ttives, this month, passed, said that “this bill is OK, but it’s cally saying they’re going to put nally part of the USA Patriot Act by 421-2, the SAFE Port Act not going to matter much if we a beware of dog sign out on the after 9/11, the rule says that cer- (H.R. 4954), which provides don’t electronically scan every lawn but not purchase a dog. tain felonies committed in the $5.5 billion for port security container.” Never do the screening, never past seven (7) years, and incar- over the next six years. Markey, in particular, ex- do the inspection. Use a paper- ceration for those felonies in the “This bill represents an impor- pressed his dismay over the lack work inspection instead. This last five (5) years, shall be tant step in improving our port of a 100-percent screening pro- bill has a loophole big enough grounds for denial. The pro- security,” said Representative vision. The House Rules Com- to drive a cargo container filled Second class postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) posed rule does include meth- Peter King (R-New York), mittee denied an opportunity by with nuclear weapons material ods for appeal and waiver. Felo- chairman of the Homeland Se- Democrats to offer the amend- through it.” nies such as drug distribution, curity Committee. ment on the House floor. The Representative Don Young (R- unlawful possession of firearms, The vote followed contentious Massachusetts congressman Alaska), Chairman of the Trans- immigration violations, fraud, debate on a motion to recommit took the floor time during the portation and Infrastructure or robbery, to name only a few, offered by Representative Jerrod Democrats’ motion to recommit Committee, also had harsh words will be deemed an interim dis- Nadler (D-New York) and to lambast the lack of a screen- for Markey. “If you want to qualifying offense and will trig- strongly supported by Represen- ing provision. make headlines,” Young said in ger what the proposed rule calls tative Edward Markey (D-Mas- “The screening must be done reference to Markey, “you a “Notification of Interim Dis- sachusetts) and other House overseas and we must seal those should go outside and stand on qualifying Offense.” The indi- Democrats that would have sent containers,” Markey said. “We your head.” vidual will be notified and given the bill back to committee to must scan and seal overseas so Markey was one of two con- the opportunity to protest and insert language requiring 100 that we don’t have to duck and gressmen to vote against the bill. explain. If he/she does not re- percent screening of inbound- cover here in the United States. The other no vote came from spond, or the evidence is insuf- U.S. cargo. The motion to re- That is the risk that Al Qaeda Congressman Jeff Flake (R-Ari- commit failed, 222-202. has said they pose to us at the continued on page 5 Nadler, speaking on the very top of their terrorist target continued on page 5 ESU NEWS: Pages 6 & 7 CALIFORNIA PRIMARY ELECTION: Page 12 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006

SUP Quarterly Finance Committee Report

SUP QUARTERLY FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Accounting Expense ...... 5,000.00 FOR THE QUARTER ENDED MARCH 31, 2006 Subscription ...... 3,003.04 Total Expense: ...... $325,514.03 The Quarterly Finance Committee, duly authorized to act by the regular meeting at Headquarters on April 10, 2006, hereby submits the following report: BUILDING CORPORATION

SUMMARY OF CASH AND INVESTMENTS Income: General Fund ...... $1,191,465.11 Assessments ...... $3,288.00 Political Fund ...... $963.55 Rents ...... 104,598.51 Strike Fund ...... $1,293,730.99 Bldg. Utilities & Service Reimbursement ...... 1,799.96 Total Cash & Investments 1st Qtr. 2006 ...... $2,486,159.65 Total Income: ...... $109,686.47

GENERAL FUND Expense: Income: Building Services & Utilities ...... $28,124.98 Dues, Initiation, Assessments ...... $116,376.10 Repairs & Maintenance ...... 14,279.02 Interest ...... 30,623.96 Salaries & Payroll Taxes...... 13,948.11 Donations - West Coast Sailors ...... 2,796.00 Pension ...... 122.13 Tanker & Joint Committee, Hiring Hall ...... 76,892.87 Filing & License Fees ...... 362.00 Advertising & Promotion...... 985.00 Accounting Expense ...... 2,000.00 Miscellaneous Income, Reimbursements, Fines ...... 563.86 Insurance ...... 5,346.32 Reimbursed Administrative Expenses ...... 5,976.79 Total Expense: ...... $64,182.56 Contributions - General Fund ...... 2,967.00 Total Income: ...... $237,181.58 POLITICAL FUND Expenses: Income: Auto & Travel ...... $1,094.08 Contributions ...... $3,890.00 Rent ...... 15,762.66 Interest ...... 1.11 Postage, Printing & Office ...... 11,160.58 Total Income ...... $3,891.11 Telephone & Telegraph ...... 4,692.87 West Coast Sailors Publishing Expense ...... 7,084.95 Expense: Per Capita ...... 14,124.00 Contributions ...... $6,030.00 Salaries & Payroll Taxes...... 211,165.71 Office ...... 13.00 Office Workers’ Pension ...... 6,879.60 Filing Fee ...... 90.00 Insurance ...... 25,473.26 Total Expense: ...... $6,133.00 Field Expense ...... 314.31 Committee & Neg., Conference & Conv...... 2,506.04 Net Income 1st qtr...... $(45,070.43) Investment Expense ...... 1,523.49 Advertising & Promotion...... 1,020.00 /s/Arthur Thanash /s/Paul Fuentes Legal ...... 7,253.18 /s/David Larsen /s/Terrance O’Neill Lobbying ...... 3,444.10 /s/Romaine Dudley Contributions ...... 1,183.00 Election ...... 1,863.63 ACTION BY THE MEMBERSHIP May 8, 2006. M/S/C—That we concur Flowers ...... 162.37 in the report of the SUP Quarterly Finance Committee and, as per past Officials Pension ...... 803.16 practice, publish in the West Coast Sailors. Carried unanimously. Intoxicated bulker master arrested Whale killed by containership The captain of a Cayman Islands- the ship and notified authorities. An endangered sei whale was killed from such a policy. This particular strike flagged bulkcarrier was arrested in New Parish sheriffs and a Coast Guard in- last month when it was struck by a con- will have no direct effect on the proposal Orleans for being drunk on duty after a vestigator responded to a complaint from tainer ship between Boston and Baltimore but will be added to the information data- pilot smelled alcohol on his breath. the pilot and administered a chemical test —even as the U.S. government is con- base that shows 42 strikes along the At- Yuriy Roshkalyov, master of the to determine the captain’s state of sobri- sidering speed and routing restrictions to lantic Coast from 2000 to 2004. But de- 41,880-dwt Leeds Castle was charged on ety. According to the statement, avoid such incidents. spite a mandatory reporting rule, Barclay April 17, with operating a vessel under Roshkalyov tested .252 when the legal The 7.7 ton male cetacean arrived in says the true number of strikes is prob- the influence —a crime punishable by up limit for alcohol is .040. Roshkalyov, a Baltimore on the bulbous bow of the MSC ably much higher. The sei whale’s nor- to a year in prison— by the Coast Guard Ukrainian national, is being held pend- Johannesburg, according to state wildlife mal habitat is the deeper water of the and the federal attorney’s office, accord- ing the outcome of the charges. officials, who reported the whale had nu- North Atlantic and would be rarely found in Chesapeake Bay. ing to a statement from prosecutors. “The arrest of Roshkalyov emphasizes merous broken bones consistent with strik- ing a ship. National Oceanic and Atmo- The arrest stemmed from the ship’s our commitment to the American people spheric Administration spokesman Connie arrival on April 16, when a New Orleans to preserve the safety of the navigable Barclay said the agency is drafting a pro- Baton Rouge Steamship Pilots Associa- waters of the United States,” said Rear posed rule to institute the speed and rout- tion pilot asked to see the captain and Admiral Robert Duncan, USCG District ing restrictions and plans to publish it for was told by the first officer that Commander. “I particularly appreciate public comment early in the summer. She Published monthly by the Sailors Union of Roshkalyov was “not well.” The pilot the actions of the pilot in identifying the said the rule is primarily geared toward the Pacific (an affiliate of the Seafarers Interna- reported smelling alcohol when the cap- intoxicated state of the vessel master and protection of the endangered North At- tional Union of North America, AFL-CIO), Headquarters, 450 Harrison St., San Fran- tain did arrive on the bridge and refused promptly reporting it to the Coast lantic right whale, of which there are about to take control of the vessel. He then left Guard.” cisco, CA 94105. Phone: 415-777-3400. 300, but said all cetaceans would benefit FAX: 415-777-5088. Dispatcher: 415-777- 3616. Website: www.sailors.org. Second class postage paid at San Francisco. (USPS 675-180). Printed by Howard Quinn Co., a Final Departures Union shop. Gunnar Lundeberg, Erik “Whitey” Pettersson, Book No. Richard Theodore Costigan, Jr. Book President/Secretary-Treasurer 3663. Born in Sweden in 1922. Joined No. 4622. Born in Washington in 1930. Teresa Anibale, Editor SUP in 1945. Died in Auburn, Wash- Joined SUP in 1945. Died in Olympia, ington, April 11, 2006. (Pensioner) Washington, April 18, 2006. (Pensioner) BRANCH OFFICES SUP Meetings Seattle, WA 98106 Harvey Baker, Book No. 4172. Born Myles P. Yancey, Book No. 244. Born These are the dates for the regularly 2414 SW Andover St. (206) 467-7944 in Florida in 1908. Joined SUP in 1937. in New York in 1912. Joined SUP in Bldg. F, Ste. 105 FAX: (206) 467-8119 scheduled SUP meetings in 2006: Died in Seattle, Washington, April 14, 1951. Died in Connecticut, April 30, Wilmington, CA 90744 Hdqs. Branch 2006. (Pensioner) 2006. (Pensioner) 533 N. Marine Ave. (310) 835-6617 FAX: (310) 835-9367 June 13* 19 Jack Dalton, Book No. 2550. Born Arthur Mebus, Book No. 5771. Born July 10 17 Honolulu, HI 96813 in Texas in 1928. Joined SUP in 1947. in Oregon in 1915. Joined SUP in 1946. 707 Alakea St. (808) 533-2777 August 14 21 Died in Redondo Beach, California, Died in Portland, Oregon, April 17, FAX: (808) 531-3058 September 11 18 April 4, 2006. 2006. (Pensioner) October 10* 16 James R. Swift, Book No. 7428. Born Harry Lum, Book No. 3983. Born in WELFARE OFFICE (415) 778-5490 November 14* 20 in Missouri in 1911. Joined SUP in 1960. Hawaii in 1926. Joined SUP in 1951. December 11 18 PENSION PLAN OFFICE Died in Grass Valley, California, Died in San Lorenzo, California, May 4, (415) 764-4987 *Tuesday April 17, 2006. (Pensioner) 2006. (Pensioner) Friday, May 19, 2006 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 3 Dubai Ports World will again Coast Guard issues notice attempt to enter U.S. market Dubai Ports World vowed to take an- up to more congressional oversight. for “acceptable” waterfront ID other stab at breaking into the U.S. mar- Sharaf called the decision to back out The U.S. Coast Guard this month issued a notice informing the maritime commu- ket, describing a decision to relinquish of the fight for the U.S. port operations nity of acceptable identification credentials for access to U.S. waterfront facilities. operations at six American ports two “a temporary setback for us. It has maybe Operators of waterfront facilities are to restrict access to their facilities to persons months ago as a temporary setback. stopped outgrowth ... in the U.S. mar- with such acceptable credentials, which include: (1) a merchant mariner document; “Once (the) process is changed and new ket for a temporary period,” he added, (2) an armed forces identification card; (3) a federal law enforcement credential; (4) legislation comes in then we are ready to speaking at company headquarters in the ID credentials issued to public safety officers; (5) a state-issued commercial driver’s go back,” Mohammed Sharaf, the chief bustling container port of Jebel Ali, some license with hazardous materials endorsement issued after May 31, 2005; (6) a executive of the container-port operator 25 miles from Dubai’s center. “We were state-issued driver’s license or identification card or a personal identification issued controlled by the Dubai government, told disappointed, but again the government by the individual’s employer, union, or trade association, or a passport or commer- Agence France-Presse in an interview this supports us.” cial driver’s license issued by Canada or Mexico (for non-employees of the facility, month. “It all depends on the Americans, Sharaf said the company was in the excluding longshore workers); and (7) facility-issued employee identification cards, what sort of legislation they will come process of finalizing the sale of the U.S. a state-issued driver’s license, or a personal identification issued by the individual’s up with... This is the world’s largest port interests, being handled by Deutsche employer, union, or trade association, provided that the individual has been prop- economy. How can you just ignore it?” Bank and New York law firm Sullivan erly screened and has not been determined a threat (for employees of the facility Following the announcement earlier and Cromwell, but gave no firm date for and for longshore workers). this year of its $6.9-billion acquisition completion. Facility operators, longshore unions, and long-term contractors are also required, of British shipping giant Peninsular & The company said in mid-March that within the next 30 days, to provide the Transportation Security Administration Oriental Steam Navigation Company, the divestment of operations at the ports (TSA) with personal identifying information regarding each facility employee or Dubai Ports World and Dubai were of Baltimore, Miami, New Jersey, New longshore worker seeking to use as an identification credential, a facility-issued plunged into an unprecedented contro- Orleans, New York and Philadelphia employee ID card, a state-issued driver’s license, or a personal ID issued by the versy for the Arab Gulf state. In the pro- would be completed in four to six months. individual’s employer, union, or trade association. cess, they got a taste of deal-making the Asked if the controversy will have any American way compared with the rela- TSA will screen the submitted names for threats to national security (but will not impact on free-trade talks between the tively genteel and very low-profile style conduct a criminal records check). The names will also be screened to determine United States and the UAE, which re- at home. Citing security concerns and immigration status. Individuals believed to pose a security risk will be notified and sumed in Abu Dhabi, Sharaf said: “I am the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) poor provided an opportunity to challenge the determination. Individuals found, after not a government official...but as far as record in fighting terror, Congress op- such opportunity, to present a security challenge will not be allowed access to we are concerned, it will have not im- posed part of the deal that would have waterfront facilities. This announcement is effective as of April 28, 2006. pact.” The talks, which were launched in transferred the operation of six major March 2005, were postponed in March at U.S. ports to DP World, delaying the the height of the ports row with officials closing of the transaction. National archives celebrates maritime month on both sides saying it was unrelated. President George W. Bush backed the The National Archives will celebrate records in the diplomatic archives; mer- UAE Economy Minister Lubna al- deal, but ultimately the UAE’s prime Maritime Month in May. Using federal chant vessel searches; the Battle of Mid- Qasimi said on April 25, that although minister and Dubai’s ruler Sheikh records, the National Archives will high- way; overseas activities in World War her government was “dismayed” at the Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, light America’s rich maritime history II; the Panama Canal; the Mississippi U.S. reaction to the deal, there was no averse to any controversy with a major through special events, presentations, River; Custom House records; light- damage to the political relationship with ally, pulled the plug with a decision on exhibits, and films at various National houses and early maritime records. Washington. She said her country should March 9, to cede control of the ports to Archives facilities across the nation. have done a better public relations job in For details, check the Archives Mari- a US entity. Following the bitter row over pitching the transaction in the United Subjects include Civil War records; time Month web page at www. the ports deal, which made Dubai a States. “We did not explain ourselves in U.S. Navy and U.S. Coast Guard logs, archives.gov/calendar/maritime-month. household name, many American offi- the U.S.,” she said. muster rolls and photo records; maritime cials called for the reform of the Com- mittee on Foreign Investment in the But despite the U.S. setback, the P&O United States (CFIUS), a Treasury- acquisition catapults DP World to the chaired panel that approved the ports deal ranks of the world’s three largest con- End of alliance with APL causes profit before Congress reviewed it. Some in tainer-port operators. The company has Congress want to take CFIUS away from managed to transform itself within seven loss at Matson Navigation Company Treasury control and reconstitute the years to a global player operating in 12 committee as part of the Department of countries. It employs 10,000 people Matson Navigation Company a subsid- Guam/Commonwealth of Northern Homeland Security. Others want the worldwide. Still an unlisted firm, its turn- iary of the Alexander & Baldwin (A&B), Mariana Islands services from 18.5 to shadowy CFIUS vetting process opened over is unknown. experienced a 38 percent decline in op- 21.25 percent, effective June 4, 2006. erating profit in the first quarter of 2006, The company also announced that due due primarily to the end of its ten-year to the extreme volatility of the world oil Norwegian shipping tycoon takes alliance in the Guam/East Asia trade with market in recent months, it has decided American President Lines. to suspend its quarterly review process Cypriot citizenship to avoid taxes “We expect the gap between the loss and resume adjusting its fuel surcharge of APL-related earnings and earnings based on sustained trends. John Fredriksen, the richest man in Norway, and one of the biggest shipowners in generated by our new Guam and China “Fuel prices are a subject of concern the world, has become a citizen of Cyprus in order to avoid paying Norwegian services to moderate toward the second for virtually everyone today,” said Dave income taxes. half of the year,” said Allen Doane, presi- Hoppes, senior vice president, ocean Fredriksen’s move came after Norway changed its tax laws to require Norwe- dent and chief executive of A&B. services. “With bunker fuel prices hit- gians who reside abroad and who are in the country an average of 90 days a year A&B said revenue from Matson in- ting unprecedented record highs, trans- over three years to pay income tax. Previously Norwegians living outside the coun- creased six percent from $206.2 million portation companies have been particu- try could reside in Norway for up to six months without paying taxes. because of its China service, improved larly negatively impacted. Fuel consump- Fredriksen, who just bought a $52 million house in London, controls tankers, yields and increases in its bunker-fuel tion is an unavoidable and significant containerships and other marine assets worldwide. surcharge, which it implemented due to component of our operating costs, with every dollar increase per barrel adding Commenting on Fredriksen, Norway’s Labor Party Prime Minister Jens Stoltenberg a 64 percent increase in fuel costs. How- over two million dollars in annual ex- said, “It hasn’t crossed my mind to adjust the tax system so that John Fredriksen ever, Hawai’i automobile volume fell 11 penses. In the past month alone, bunker can avoid taxes, for it is exactly people like John Fredriksen that should pay.” percent because of competition from Pasha Hawai’i, while Hawai’i container fuel prices have risen 16 percent. Given volume was up one percent. the dramatic spikes in fuel prices in re- NOL profits dip 40% in first quarter ’06 Doane, who previously forecast lower cent months, Matson has decided to sus- full-year earnings due to Matson’s tran- pend its quarterly review program for Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), the parent company of American President Lines, sition, said he was pleased with the first- fuel surcharges. When the program was reported this month a 40 percent drop in net profit for the first quarter of 2006. quarter results. “We continue to benefit implemented in April 2005, the operat- “Our lower net profit reflects the continued pressure of high fuel costs and rates from strategies the company has under- ing environment was far more conducive in some key trades,” company chief executive David Lim said in a statement. Lim taken in the past several years that are to planning and determining our quar- noted that bunker costs were $77 million higher than a year ago. materially reducing, on a consolidated terly adjustments. With the current world NOL posted a first quarter net profit of $120 million, down from $195 million basis, the 2006 impact of Guam and situation, we need to have the flexibility last year and below the $164 million in the fourth quarter of 2005. China,” Doane said. “Our outlook for to respond to steep fluctuations in bun- Ron Widdows, CEO of APL, said the objective of cutting $100 million in costs 2007, while still formative, is positive.” ker fuel prices as merited. We will con- tinue to monitor fuel prices and make for 2006 is on track with savings of $21 million achieved in the first quarter. Widdows In other Matson news, the company adjustments, upward or downward, ac- added that the business environment for the line industry is anticipated to be “chal- announced on May 12, that it is raising cordingly.” lenging” over the next year. its fuel surcharge for its Hawai’i and Page 4 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006 Nuclear weapons detection scanners may be installed at American ports within a few years

The recent cancellation of a Dubai The Chronicle article explains: The developing scanners that employ differ- far enough along to submit it in the next company’s deal to take over several U.S. scientists say they’ve made very good ent techniques. year or so to the Nevada scanner com- ports has stirred anxiety over the larger, progress. If all goes well, the U.S. De- “I think we’ve got something that petitions, where it will compete against more haunting question: Could terrorists partment of Homeland Security plans to works,” said Dennis Slaughter, a top alternate scanners being developed at the sneak a nuclear weapon or radioactive field-test prototypes of the scanners — scanner developer at Lawrence other national labs. A refined descendant “dirty bomb” into a U.S. port, such as hopefully by next year — at its desert Livermore. could be scanning cargo imports at U.S. one in the San Francisco Bay Area? laboratory under construction near Las Until the super-scanners are in place, ports starting in 2009. The cost — not According to an article in the May 9 Vegas. The Radiological and Nuclear U.S. ports are not totally helpless to stop yet determined because the devices are issue of the San Francisco Chronicle, Countermeasures Test and Evaluation a hidden terrorist bomb. Since the Sep- still being developed — would be paid for several years, scientists at Lawrence Complex, as the lab will be called, is tember 11 terror attacks, the government by Homeland Security. Livermore National Laboratory and being built at the Nevada Test Site, where has pushed hard to equip and train offi- The Livermore-GE neutron scanner other national labs have been struggling the United States detonated nuclear test cials at Oakland and other U.S. cargo should be “not a fundamentally new tech- to prevent that possibility by develop- weapons until 1992, and is expected to ports with X-ray scanners and other gad- nique, but it’s a big step ahead. ... It ing new super-scanners to do what no be completed by September. gets that can detect radiation from nuclear will enable us to find a far smaller needle existing scanner can: detect with 100 With luck, the winning type of scan- bombs, their fissionable components in the haystack, so to speak-and to find percent reliability a nuclearweapon con- ner or scanners could be installed in U.S. (uranium or plutonium), or radioactive it faster” than existing scanners, said Joe cealed within one of the roughly 10 mil- ports within a few years. Experts say a “dirty bombs,” composed of materials Krisciunas, program manager for secu- lion huge cargo containers that enter the typical busy port will probably have more such as americium. rity programs at GE Global Research in United States every year. Of crucial im- than one type of scanner to increase the Slaughter recalled a visit to the Port of Niskayuna, N.Y. portance, they want one that can do all chances of spotting a bomb. Oakland when “all of the (radioactivity) Other scanners are being developed of that without generating so many false Over the past two years, researchers scanners went off simultaneously.” They elsewhere by researchers including Chris alarms that port cities are repeatedly at Lawrence Livermore have made sig- had sensed radioactivity from “a big con- Morris of Los Alamos National Labora- thrown into panic and international com- nificant progress in developing a scan- tainer labeled ‘Cobalt 60’ on the outside.” tory in New Mexico and James Jones of merce grinds to a halt. ner that emits neutron beams to scan As it turned out, it was a legal shipment Idaho National Lab in Idaho. cargo containers. Other national labs are — from Shanghai to Toronto — of a ra- Morris and his colleagues have devel- dioactive element used in medical scan- oped a scanner that indirectly detects hid- ners and therapies. In other words, it was den bombs by taking advantage of natu- a false alarm — exactly the kind of inci- ral background radiation known as cos- dent that developers of the new scanners mic rays, which are high-speed sub- SUP Honor Roll hope to avoid. atomic particles continually raining down Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: Officials and experts also want a scan- from the sky. When cosmic rays pen- ner that can’t be fooled by terrorists, etrate Earth’s atmosphere, they bash at- something they worry about with today’s oms and generate subatomic by-products Organization/ West Coast security systems. For one thing, cargo such as muons, which zip through solid containers are huge: Weighing up to 27 matter. By scanning how many muons General Fund Sailors tons, they’re the truck-size objects, pass through various parts of a container, stacked like shoe boxes, atop the freight- the Morris device can detect suspiciously Bob Anderson...... 20.00* Takayuki Asai ...... 25.00 ers that cruise daily into San Francisco dense materials inside cargo containers. Paul Barbour ...... 20.00 Mike Binsky ...... 20.00 Bay. Inspectors couldn’t possibly exam- For example, it can detect sheets of ine each one physically. Lee Dancer ...... 50.00 Calvin Browning ...... 25.00 lead that terrorists might have placed Even if they could, containers’ con- Ed Drake ...... 20.00 George Castege in memory around uranium to shield it from detec- tents arc so densely, irregularly packed- tion so that inspectors’ handheld radia- John Drolla ...... 50.00 of Frank Castige ...... 100.00 French wine here, South Korean tennis tion detectors can’t sense the element’s Diane Ferrari ...... 80.00* Joseph Castege in memory shoes there — that any machine scan- natural radioactive emissions. A bomb Brent Fitzgerald ...... 10.00 of Frank Castige ...... 100.00 ning them detects all kinds of confusing shielded in that manner would be visible Monte Kalama ...... 20.00 Cal Cunningham ...... 25.00 signals. Some product components, such to Morris’ scanner. Gary McDevitt...... 40.00 Lee Dancer ...... 20.00 as wood, are rich in hydrogen atoms, “If a person has a nuclear weapon sur- which tend to absorb neutrons and, thus, Joseph McShane ...... 100.00 John Hamann ...... 25.00 rounded with lead, we’ll see it” in less might confuse a neutron scanner or acci- William Henneberry ...... 15.00 than a minute, Morris said. Whitey Secrest ...... 50.00 dentally shield a hidden bomb. Ralph Senter ...... 20.00* Henry Holzberg ...... 25.00 Clever terrorists might try other op- Still, “at international seaports, every tions, like shipping a bomb aboard an Bruce Thompson ...... 20.00 James Kumis ...... 25.00 cargo container should be both passively oil tanker. Jonathan Medalia, of the Con- Joseph McShane ...... 50.00 Patrick Weisbarth ...... 20.00 and radio graphically scanned,” said Vayl gressional Research Service at the Li- William O’Connor ...... 25.00 Oxford, director of the Domestic Nuclear brary of Congress, wrote in a February *In lieu of dues increase. William Ofsthus ...... 50.00 Detection Office at the Department of 2005 report titled “Nuclear Terrorism” Barbara Shipley ...... 25.00 Homeland Security, in testimony before that neutron scanners would have trouble a Senate committee on March 28. detecting a bomb aboard an oil tanker Political Fund The potential horrors defy the imagi- because “neutrons sent into the oil and nation, say experts. “A nuclear attack Karl Andersen in memory any (neutrons) produced by fissioning of by terrorists against the United States has of Erik Pettersen ...... 50.00 Dues-Paying uranium (in a concealed bomb) would the potential to make the terrorist attacks be absorbed ... or scattered by the hy- Dave Connolly ...... 50.00 Pensioners of September 11, 2001, look like a his- drogen atoms in crude oil, and the large Lee Dancer ...... 50.00 torical footnote,” warns a report by the volume of oil would attenuate any gamma John Drolla ...... 50.00 Rafael Cooper Book #4687 Council on Foreign Relations, an East rays produced, defeating this form of Coast think tank. Dan Gabaree ...... 60.00 Romaine Dudley Book #2593 detection.” The report points out that “a 6-foot- Thomas Gustin ...... 80.00 Duane Hewitt Book #5748 Experts told The Chronicle they’re re- long improvised nuclear device could John Hamann ...... 20.00 Knud Jensen Book #3940 luctant to discuss the oil tanker problem easily fit inside a 40-foot-long standard Tim Hill ...... 60.00 John Jewett Book #4291 for fear of giving terrorists any ideas. One shipping container, probably the deliv- top expert who asked not to be identified Jan-Peter Johnsson ...... 20.00 Tony Jones Book #4305 ery vehicle of choice for many nuclear said he believes the problem is technically Monte Kalama ...... 50.00 Kaj E. Kristensen Book #3120 terrorists.” Yet “the U.S. government solvable, “and we’re working on it.” David Larsen...... 100.00 has yet to elevate nuclear terrorism pre- Eli Lalich Book #4062 But will it be solved in time? Gunnar Lundeberg ...... 100.00 Gunnar Larsen Book #3516 vention to the highest priority,” the re- port claims. As Morris points out, even a small Joseph McShane ...... 50.00 John McKeon Book #6456 nuclear weapon could cause a disaster Nonetheless, in interviews, scanner William Ofsthus ...... 100.00 Joseph Napier Book #2299 akin to the destruction of the World Trade scientists at several U.S. national labs Danilo Perez...... 30.00 John Pedersen Book #3834 Center in 2001. sounded upbeat about their research Emmanuel Rezada ...... 30.00 John Perez Book #3810 progress since the 2001 terrorist attacks. “It’s a scary thought — and someday Greg Schauf ...... 20.00 Cliff Rouleau Book #3144 Slaughter and his colleagues, including it’s going to happen,” Morris said. “All Ralph Senter ...... 100.00 Ralph Senter Book #7323 Rick Norman, a pioneer in the field, are you can do is to make it less probable. If you make the problem go from (a prob- Martin Smith ...... 15.00 Jack Stasko Book #7430 now working with a General Electric Co. subsidiary to build a prototype neutron ability of) once every 10 years to once scanner. They hope to have the project every 1,000 years, that’s a good thing.” Friday, May 19, 2006 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 5

U.S. targets North Korea ship register California board approves port smog plan The United States has bolstered eco- North Korea. However, some experts see The California air resource aboard on April 20, unanimously approved a plan for nomic sanctions against North Korea by it as a relatively minor matter not neces- reducing the state’s port pollution. The plan, modeled in large part on the Port of making it illegal for an American citi- sarily related to the present government’s Los Angeles’ No Net Increase task force, proposes rolling back pollution levels zen or company to own, lease, operate stand on North Korea’s alleged nuclear and from the movement of freight to at least 2001 level by the year 2010. or insure any ship flagged by the pariah terrorist links. A news report from East It is estimated the plan would cut the number of premature deaths statewide nation. Asia suggested Washington wanted to “in- caused by emissions from trucks, trains, ships and other cargo-handling equipment The Department of Treasury’s Office vestigate” the North Korean register and to 880 annually in 2020, down from 2,400 in 2005, even as cargo volume triples. of Foreign Assets Control issued the “make the list public”. About half of the deaths are in the region which includes the Ports of Los Angeles amendment in early April and it came The motivation was said to be to and Long Beach. into effect on May 8. It does not apply to staunch the flow of cash into North Ko- The cuts would come through a board combination of stricter regulations, finan- foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies. rea through registration fees paid by ship- cial incentives, pollution-trading programs and other measures. The $6 billion to All U.S. economic sanctions against owners. The United States was asking $10 billion cost of the program would be borne primarily by supply-chain stake- North Korea apply to U.S. citizens and South Korea, Australia and New Zealand holders including shipping lines, terminal operators, trucking companies and re- permanent residents wherever they are to cancel any North Korea registrations, tailers/importers. in the world as well as all people and the report said. Among other measures, the board plan seeks to make the use of state ports by organizations —including local offices of According to the Lloyd’s Marine In- vessels dependent on their burning low-sulfur fuel. While environmental and com- foreign companies— physically located telligence Unit database, North Korea has munity groups criticized the plan as not aggressive enough, representatives of rail- in the United States. According to a 470 ships on its register. roads, shipping lines and other port-related businesses are calling for the board to Washington source, this provision im- Deep sea fishing vessels and trawlers allow trading of pollution credits and other flexible measures in developing specific plies that the U.S. subsidiary of a non- seeking to circumvent international trea- pollution-reduction strategies to meet the goals set by the plan. U.S. protection and indemnity club ties on salmon interception and driftnet would be in breach of the law if it in- fishing by registering in North Korea could sured North Korean ships although the be another target of the tightened U.S. law, Port Security Bill continued from page 1 head office might do so. according to experts. The Washington zona), who offered an amendment prior to the final vote on the bill that would The Treasury Department’s guidelines expert said the Treasury Department’s have eliminated what he called a “redundant” $400 million homeland security prescribe criminal penalties for violat- normal policy was to make sanctions and grant program for port security. ing the sanctions of up to 10 years in amendments effective immediately or even Following the vote, House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) prison, $1 million in corporate fines and retroactively. He surmised that the month said that “I simply do not understand why House Republicans refuse to $250,000 in individual fines. allowed in this case could plausibly be to join Democrats in demanding that 100 percent of the shipping containers The announcement cuts back on Presi- allow U.S. companies with North Korean- destined for the United States be scanned for radiological, biological and dent Bill Clinton’s 1999 decision to ease registered ships to “back out” in time to chemical agents before being loaded onto ships bound for our ports. If the sanctions in order to improve relations with avoid a breach of the law. United States of America can put a man on the moon and send exploration rovers to Mars, then surely we can devise a practical process to check all containers coming into our country.” New credentials for maritime workers Congressman Dan Lungren (R-California), a co-author of the legislation continued from page 1 along with Representaitve Jane Harman (D-California), said, in regard to 100 ficient to convince TSA of the need for a waiver, then the individual will be issued percent screening, that “we would all hope for that day,” but said it “wasn’t a “Notification of Permanent Disqualifying Offense.” At this point the individual feasible” with the current technology. He says better equipment is needed that would have the right to appeal. will scan faster. TSA proposes that the program be entirely funded by user fees with costs esti- Republican Hal Rogers (R-Alabama), though, said the bill “safeguards our mated to be between $105 and $139 per person. The TWIC would utilize Smart ports without disrupting commerce,” and Democrat Bill Pascrell (D-New Jer- Card technology and include the individual’s photo, name, and biometric informa- sey) called the bill “a step in the right direction.” tion and would include multiple fraud protection measures. The program is ex- Young said port security should not be a partisan issue. “This legislation pected to cover 750,000 individuals initially but would grow over time to cover meets the security needs of our nation in a timely manner,” Young said. “A lot many more. Port facilities and vessels would be required to implement the TWIC of what is in this bill is already being implemented through the Maritime Trans- into their existing access control systems and operations, purchase and utilize card portation Security Act. The ports are more secure than what people are saying readers, and update their approved security plans. and than what we read in the newspapers, but we can do much better. The The advance copy is not TSA’s actual proposal. That will be published in the question we are faced with is how do we secure our ports and still continue to Federal Register as a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) on May 22, 2006. maintain our flow of commerce. Without commerce this county will fail.” Public hearings will be held in Newark, New Jersey; Tampa, Florida.; St. Louis, The following are the provisions of H.R. 4954 Missouri; and Long Beach, California, in late May and early June. · Requires the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to deploy nuclear and In a related rulemaking, the Coast Guard plans to issue its own proposal on radiological detection systems at 22 U.S. seaports by the end of FY07, which will a new mariner credential and describe how it fits into the development of the cover 98 percent of incoming maritime containers, and to establish standard oper- TWIC. That proposal is expected to become available at the same time as the ating procedures for examining containers; TSA NPRM. Until the Coast Guard document is published in the Federal Reg- · Provides $400 million per year in risk-based funding through a dedicated ister the details are uncertain, but it appears that the proposal is for the TWIC Port Security Grant Program to harden U.S. ports against terrorist attacks. to replace the z-card (Merchant Mariner’s Document) and for a new consoli- · Sets deadlines for DHS implementation of the Transportation Worker In- dated Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC), possibly issued in certificate form, formation Credential (TWIC) program, a biometrically-enhanced identifica- to replace the STCW. The MMC will cover all endorsements, licenses, etc., and the TWIC will be the primary document for identification and security tion card for access to secure seaport facilities; in the interim, requires DHS to clearances. Mariners will be able to renew their MMC’s by mail, but will be conduct terrorist watch-list and immigration status checks of all port employ- required to visit an enrollment center to apply for a TWIC. ees with access to secure areas within 90 days of enactment; The TWIC has been in the regulatory pipeline since the passage of the Maritime · Requires the Secretary to enhance port security coordination between fed- Security Transportation Act of 2002, but it has been hampered by indecision, ven- eral, state, local, and private sector partners by establishing an integrated net- dor problems and technology testing. Partly as fall-out from the Dubai Ports World work of virtual and physical command centers; debate, the Department of Homeland Security put the rulemaking on a fast track. · Requires the Secretary to establish port security training and exercise pro- After the publication of the NPRM, the public has 45 days to comment. After the grams to ensure that our nation’s first responders, longshoremen and port final rule is issued, TSA is planning between 12 and 18 months for implementation. management possess the skills necessary to prevent, prepare for, respond to Commenting on the proposed TWIC, SUP President Gunnar Lundeberg and recover from threatened or actual acts of terrorism, natural disasters, or stated, “As we did in the commentary and hearings leading up to the regula- other emergencies. tory implementation of the MTSA, the Sailors’ Union will post comments to · Requires the Secretary to develop protocols for resuming trade after a the docket and participate in the public meetings. transportation security incident through planning, improved government and “In addition to the changes in the treatment of criminal records, of immediate private sector coordination, and prioritization of vessels; concern to merchant mariners is the cost, which will disproportionately impact · Requires DHS to establish a secure communications system to provide and lower income workers. Moreover, the security threat assessments and back- receive threat information to and from the private sector related to supply ground checks are by this rule mandated by the government because it is re- chain security; sponsibility of the government to the keep the nation’s ports safe from terrorist · Fully-funds the recently-established Office of Domestic Nuclear Detection attack. Accordingly, the cost of that enterprise should be borne by the govern- at DHS to coordinate the Federal Government’s global nuclear detection archi- ment. Furthermore, the TWIC card and the associated background checks are tecture and carry out research and development; Requires DNDO to conduct new government-imposed conditions of employment that will benefit employers: operational testing of next-generation nuclear and radiological detection sys- therefore employers should fund the TWIC if the government refuses. There tems and a deployment timeline for completing installation of such equipment are obvious privacy concerns, including the use of the TWIC in employment- at all U.S. seaports; related matters. Additionally, although the streamlining of mariner documents is welcome, the timing of new documents and the integration of the different · Codifies the recently-established Office of Policy at DHS, which will im- and multiple expiration dates could add to the already burdensome renewal prove the consistency of policy and regulatory development across the Depart- process. We urge the TSA to defer to the special status of merchant mariners, ment and include a Director of Cargo Security Policy. according them the respect that their proven reliability deserves.” Page 6 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006

ESU Office Assignments ESUESU NEWSNEWS For the month of June, Tom Thompson will be in the Seabrook office and Leo MAY 2006 DeCastro will be in the Benicia office. Official Publication of the Exxon Seamen's Union Contract talk: Local transportation Secretary Treasurer Leo DeCastro back at The Union will present on a recurring Paragraphs A and B pertain to joining work in the ESU Seabrook office on May 2 basis articles dedicated to providing the and departing a vessel that is in one’s home members information that will aid them base. These paragraphs read as follows: in gaining a better understanding of the “When joining (departing) a vessel from labor agreement between SeaRiver Mari- (to) paid leave in the employee’s home time and the Exxon Seamen’s Union (an base, $20 for ground transportation shall affiliate of the Sailors’ Union of the Pa- be paid via payroll as taxable.” This cific, AFL-CIO). means for example, that if you live in Subject: Baytown and the ship you are joining is docked at ExxonMobil Baytown you will Local Transportation be given twenty dollars taxable for get- Contractual Language: Article IX, Sec- ting yourself to the ship. You will also be tion 4, Paragraph A-G (Ground Trans- entitled to twenty dollars taxable to get portation pages 30-31) yourself to your house in Baytown if you In most circumstances a member has a depart the ship to paid leave in Baytown. contractual right to receive a taxable pay- Unfortunately, a member is not entitled ment of twenty dollars or a non-taxable to the reimbursement of up to fifty dol- reimbursement of up to fifty dollars for lars in this situation. local transportation when joining or de- Paragraph G states that when the com- parting a vessel. There are some situa- pany provides ground transportation from Leo DeCastro returns to ESU Board tions however, where only the twenty- the vessel to the airport or from the air- After having returned to the ocean fleet for nearly a year and a half, AB Leo dollar payment is applicable and the con- port to the vessel and the member chooses DeCastro was voted back on the ESU executive board on April 17. Leo received the tract should be read carefully to avoid to use this transportation he will not be most votes in the special election for Secretary Treasurer that was held as a result of misinterpretation. entitled to any local transportation pay- Bob Knight’s resignation from that position for health reasons last fall. The ESU Paragraphs C and D of Article IX on ment or reimbursement. Although mem- Constitution and By-laws stipulate in Article V section 4A “if a vacancy occurs in a page 30 of our contract books refer to bers are not entitled to any payment when Union Executive Board office position due to resignation or for other reasons and the most common situation which is, they use company provided ground trans- more than one year remains of the unexpired term, the Executive Board shall call a when a member is sent to join a vessel portation between the vessel and the air- special election to fill the vacancy”. that is located outside his home base or port, Paragraph G does allow for the The election for Secretary Treasurer fielded three very qualified candidates that, departs a vessel that is located outside crewmember to “opt out” of the com- besides Leo included former board members Charlie Pollard and Pat Campbell. his home base. In these situations the pany provided service and instead pro- The results as announced by the American Arbitration Association in New York member will receive twenty dollars for vide his own transportation and accept and which were mailed to each ship showed Leo having received 49 votes or 39.2 transportation from his doorstep to the the $20 taxable paid via payroll. This percent of the votes cast, Charlie with 43 votes or 34.4 percent and Pat with 33 airport nearest his home when joining a provision may be of use to a member votes or 26.4 percent. On the same ballot Michael Harrison won the contest for ship and twenty dollars for transporta- who does not wish to go directly to the Deck Trustee by receiving more votes than Frank Omalia. The Deck Trustee posi- tion from the airport closest to his home airport when traveling to paid leave. It tion became available when Pat Campbell resigned to run for Secretary Treasurer. to his doorstep when he departs a ship. is important to note that this “opt out” The ESU membership heartily thanks all the candidates for stepping up to run for These twenty dollar payments are tax- language does not provide for reimburse- these important positions. able and listed as “ Marine Misc Pay” in ment up to $50 with receipts. This same Leo assumed office in Seabrook on May 1, less than two weeks after the votes the “payments” section on the upper left paragraph does go on to provide how- were counted. He hit the ground running with an ESU/management communica- hand side of our pay vouchers. If in ei- ever, that if the company provided trans- tions meeting the very next day and a visit to the S/R Wilmington soon after. Leo ther of the above cases the transporta- portation is unavailable within (1) hour will be completing Bob Knight’s original term of office that ends on December tion costs exceed twenty dollars a mem- after the requested time of departure, a 31 2007. Another full-term election for this position will be held toward the end ber is entitled to submit receipts for re- member can then arrange for his own of 2007. imbursement up to fifty dollars. This is transportation and be eligible for the $50 provided for in paragraph E which states reimbursement with receipts. The Secretary Treasurer position carries with it many important duties as outlined in our Constitution and By-laws. The Treasurer is responsible for keeping all the in part, “ if the ground transportation When submitting receipts for reim- financial books and membership rolls and keeping those records up to date. He exceeds $20, the employee will be en- bursement the accepted procedure is to prepares a financial statement annually and provides a copy of that statement to the titled to be reimbursed for reasonable notify Fleet Manning prior to traveling Executive Board and to each ship for the rank and file to review. He is responsible actual cost up to a maximum of $50 upon to or from the vessel. Reimbursements for maintaining the grievance filing system in the office and making sure the status the submittal of proper receipts.” This will not be posted to payroll until Fleet of each grievance is denoted. The Secretary Treasurer is also in charge of all union provision is most commonly used when Manning has received the verifying re- elections. His duties include certifying that each candidate is qualified to run, noti- one takes a taxi or an airport shuttle or ceipts. In the event an individual does fying the prospective candidates of the appropriate cut-off dates and making the rents a car to go to or from the airport. not inform Fleet Manning prior to travel arrangements for the election with the Triple A. When ground transportation is required and a $20 reimbursement is paid via the for an employee to transfer between ves- payroll system, only the remainder of the Leo is 40 years old and lives with his wife Janet in Southern California. Mem- sels the same twenty dollars taxable and payment (up to $30) will be paid as a bers will recall that Janet formerly worked at SeaRiver as a mate in the ocean fleet. up to fifty dollars with receipts provision non-taxable reimbursement. Reimburse- The ESU wishes him well in his new term in office and welcomes him back to the applies and is stated in Paragraph F. The ments will only be paid with verifying ESU board. Union is not aware however, of this situ- documentation; phone calls and indi- ation ever having occurred. If a member vidual statements will not be accepted. Another grievance settled were to find himself in the highly unlikely The member is responsible for the deliv- The ESU has accepted a company proposal to resolve grievance 2006-02, which situation where he is required to transfer ery of his receipts and documentation to was filed as a result of a licensed officer doing unlicensed work onboard the Kodiak from one vessel to another and the com- Fleet Manning. It is appropriate to re- in March of this year. pany has not provided him with trans- quest that the Master forward the docu- portation to do so, it is recommended he mentation to the proper Fleet Manning By agreeing to pay the Pumpman five hours of overtime for this infraction, the contact the Union for assistance in mak- coordinator via the vessel’s company Union and SeaRiver put to rest another issue in a string of amicable settlements ing satisfactory travel arrangements. mail or by U.S. mail. reached since the beginning of the year. The grievance arose from an incident on the Kodiak where a Chief Mate insisted on replacing a butterfly valve in the pumproom himself while the Pumpman was Reid Decker thanks the membership assigned to other work. The Union has held that the valve replacement was work Fleet Chef Reid Decker has sent a note to the ESU office asking that his warmest that is “customarily required only of unlicensed personnel” and a violation of Ar- thanks be sent to all those members who sent cards, flowers and prayers at the ticle XII Section 19 when the Chief Mate performed this work himself. The ESU recent passing of his mother Joyce. Enclosed in the note was a photograph of the hopes this settlement discourages other such incidents in the future. We continue to flowers sent by the ESU Board on behalf of the membership. Reid is currently feel optimistic however, with the positive new dialogue and spirit of compromise sailing aboard the S/R Galena Bay. that has developed in union–company relations of late. Friday, May 19, 2006 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 7 ESU News ESU alarmed over “undetermined status” The ESU Board is currently spending keep them on paid leave until it is used a great deal of time and effort negotiat- up. After their paid leave has expired they ing with the company and conferring with put them off pay (“undetermined status” our lawyer on a practice the ESU finds they’re calling it) until the evaluation of objectionable. We have already filed two their fitness for duty has been completed. grievances on related instances of the The company so far has rejected our same practice and a third is pending. grievances on the grounds (they contend) What is happening is that in some cases that the matters are ones concerning the our members have gone to company short term disability provision of the ben- physicals or have seen their own doctors efit plan and that the benefit plan is not and have discovered some health prob- subject to the grievance process (Article lem such as blood in the urine or another XVIII Section 1 page 74). A very recent abnormality. SeaRiver is then sending court ruling on a related case may yet them letters saying they cannot be as- influence how these cases are decided, signed to a vessel until the medical de- but in the meantime the ESU Board in partment can assess their being fit for conjunction with our attorney is looking duty and then, instead of putting them into our legal alternatives on this impor- on sick leave (short term disability), they tant issue. The engine gang aboard the S/R Long Beach on April 16, 2006. From left: QMED Dave Pope, Pumpman Jeff Straley, and QMED Chuck Carroll. New Ship Representative appointed to the S/R American Progress S/R American Progress and S/R Chuck Bell has been appointed as the new Ship Representative on the S/R Ameri- Galena Bay return to the Gulf Coast can Progress. The position came open for the second time in less than a year after On April 22, the S/R American Progress once she gets back into the Beaumont to the sudden and unexpected resignation of John Munich in late April. The position docked in Nederland, Texas, completing Fort Lauderdale run. was vacated the first time when Eddie Caldwell, who was elected in the fall of 2004 her journey from the West Coast where At the time of writing, the S/R Galena quit the company in late 2005. John has informed the ESU that he will be out due to she had been sent along with the S/R Bay had just arrived into Balboa, Panama health reasons for the unforeseeable future. He had just been appointed in January Galena Bay to help move San Joaquin on her way back to Texas. She was sched- and had made only one trip on the American Progress as Ship Rep. before going out Valley Crude from the ExxonMobil Tor- uled to transit the canal on May 15, and sick. Chuck was chosen from the same list of candidates who had put their names in rance, California Refinery. Both ships then arrive into the Houston area on or the hat the first time when John was appointed. They included, Don Hatch, Billy were sent to Torrance, which is an in- around May 21. According to company Wayne Kendrick, Rowen Mallet, Waverly Moore, Don Picou, Tim Williams and dustrial suburb of Los Angeles in late sources she is now approaching the end Martin Sanderson. Tim Williams was appointed Ship Rep. on the Kodiak at the February of this year. of her tenure as a SeaRiver vessel. The same time John Munich was appointed to the American Progress. The decision was The hydrocracker unit at that refinery ship is not owned by SeaRiver but on long- a difficult one as all the candidates were well qualified but Chuck won out based on was shut down for about two months ef- term bare boat charter from Overseas several factors including his past experience as Ship Rep. on the Progress. Mem- fecting production capabilities and, there- Shipping Group (OSG) and it appears they bers will recall Chuck had done a fine job as Ship Rep. on the Progress earlier when fore, making it necessary to move ex- now want her back. he served in that capacity from 2002 thru 2004. The ESU thanks John, Chuck and all the members who have stepped forward and volunteered to serve their union. cess crude to other facilities. The Ameri- SeaRiver officials have indicated that can Progress and the Galena Bay filled the former Chesapeake Trader will be that roll by each taking several loads from returned in the very near future. Just how Ship reports Torrance to different docks in the San soon is still uncertain but when asked by Francisco Bay area. By mid May the an ESU board officer, a SeaRiver man- S/R American Progress Kodiak American Progress was back in the Gulf ager said it would most likely be “sooner of Mexico preparing to move a load of A board officer visited the vessel on The Kodiak continues in her regular rather than later”. Asked how the loss of flush oil between Houston and Baton May 8, at the ExxonMobil Dock in Valdez to Puget Sound trade. Regular this ship might affect manning and sea Rouge to facilitate tank cleaning before Baytown. Newly appointed Ship Rep- Ship Rep. Timothy William is onboard tours the ESU was told it should not have returning to the cross-gulf gasoline trade. resentative Chuck Bell reported every- and staying in touch with the ESU of- too great of an effect as the Sierra was thing going well (see related article this fices via his personal e-mail. An issue The crew has had a rough go of it af- due to be crewed up in Singapore soon issue). The current plans were for the involving who gets the dayworker po- ter having sat in Panama for nearly ten and that would help alleviate any man- vessel to take on a load or two of flush sition when four QMEDs are assigned days awaiting transit and then being de- ning surplus caused by the loss of the Ga- cargoes before cleaning tanks and re- was resolved onboard. What code to nied shore leave at Sun Oil in Nederland lena Bay. The ESU will keep the mem- turning to her Texas to Florida gaso- use when QMEDs brush paint on due to draconian security measures. bers informed on this subject as develop- line run. watch was also addressed. Hopefully things will be back to normal ments arise. S/R Baytown S/R Long Beach The Baytown was alongside the Ship Rep. Joe Graca reports that ev- Exxon Valdez “reopener” hearings held in Alaska Amorco Dock in Martinez when a board erything is running routinely on the officer visited her on May 10. Regular Long Beach. The ship continues her Alaska Attorney General David W. Márquez has been conducting hearings to Ship Rep. Joe Bernavich was onboard and Valdez to LA to San Francisco Bay discuss the criteria for the “reopener” clause of the 1991 Exxon Valdez oil spill reported everything running smoothly. run. She was due into Long Beach on settlement agreement and to obtain public input on natural resource injuries and Her trip to the yard in Singapore has been May 17, where a significant crew ideas for restoration projects. delayed until one or two more trips to change was scheduled. In a 1991 civil settlement, Exxon agreed to pay $900 million over a 10-year Valdez were completed. With the long Sierra period ending in 2001. A “reopener” provision created a window from 2002 to trans Pacific voyages coming up the calls 2006 in which the state and federal governments could claim up to an additional Work has begun on the extensive re- for e-mail and internet access were again $100 million. Exxon Mobil has said the company has paid the compensation it fitting of the Sierra in Singapore. At renewed. Nearly all other major U.S.- owes and the company’s studies show that Prince William Sound is healthy, robust the time of writing only engineers were flag shipping companies provide this ser- and thriving. The reopener provision in the settlement expires September 1, and assigned but company sources indicate vice to their crew but not SeaRiver. The the state and federal governments must file a claim 90 days before that date. To unlicensed crewmembers maybe sent union continues to work this long-stand- claim the money, the governments have to prove that a population, habitat or as soon as early June. The ESU hopes ing issue. species had suffered loss or decline in the area of the spill, and that loss can be to get Steward Trustee Joe Pereira over linked to the spill. S/R Galena Bay there in the beginning to help insure The Galena Bay had just arrived into the galley gets fitted out properly. Thor Balboa Panama as the ESU News went Floreen will be ship’s rep. when the to press. AB Rudy Benavides filling in ship comes out. EXXON SEAMEN'S UNION as Temp. Rep called to report that shore S/R Wilmington Founded March 28, 1941 leave was granted and no major beefs. Affiliated with the Sailors' Union of the Pacific The vessel was visited at the The crew has been tank cleaning since ExxonMobil Dock in Baytown, Texas 1320 5th Street, Suite A P.O. Box 792 her departure from LA/Long Beach. She on May 5. Bob Ross was filling in as Seabrook, TX 77586 Benicia, CA 94510 is expected into Texas some time around Temporary Ship Representative and Tel (281) 474-2430 Tel (707) 746-5713 May 21. It looked like she will be re- reported everything going well. The Fax (281) 474-2463 Fax (707) 746-7859 turned to OSG soon after that. The crew vessel continues in her regular routes E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] wished to thank Kurt Kreick and Wilbert between the Gulf and East Coast. The “June Bug” Jackson for doing an ex- President Kevin Conroy crew was staying busy as usual. cellent job stepping up last month. Vice President John Straley Deck Trustee Michael Harrison Secretary/TreasurerLeo DeCastro Engine Trustee William Ackley Recording Secretary Thomas Thompson III Steward Trustee Joe Pereira The ESU News is written and edited by the Exxon Seamen’s Union. Page 8 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006 Panama unveils canal expansion plan The Panama Canal Authority (ACP) nal uses a series of parallel locks 108 feet Welfare Notes on April 24, unveiled its plan to double wide to move ships from the Atlantic to the canal’s capacity at a cost of $5.25 the Pacific on a 50-mile route that rises to May 2006 billion by 2025. 105 feet above sea level at its highest. In Panamanians will decide, through a 2005, 13,000 ships passed through, pay- Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the pancreas does not referendum that could take place before ing $1.2 billion to Panama in canal fees produce enough insulin or when the body cannot effectively use the insulin the end of the year, on the fate of the and for maintenance and other services. it produces. Hyperglycemia and other related disturbances in the body’s project, which includes the construction The canal, which the United States re- metabolism can lead to serious damage to many of the body’s systems, of a new lane with two or three-step locks. turned to Panamanian control on Decem- especially the nerves and blood vessels. “We aim to be at the center of global ber 31, 1999, handles about five percent Diabetes has become one the major causes of premature illness and death trade and become a great maritime hub,” of international trade each year, the mainly through the increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Diabetes is also ACP board chairman Ricaurte Vasquez United States remains the number one a leading cause of blindness, amputation, and kidney failure. said as he submitted the project to user of the route, followed by the South People with type 1 diabetes require daily injections of insulin to survive. Panama’s President Martin Torrijos. American countries as a group and China. People with type 2 diabetes can sometimes manage their condition with life If the referendum is approved in 2006, The idea of widening the canal is popu- style measures alone, but oral drugs are often required, and less frequently construction for the project will begin in lar among Panama’s 2.8 million people, insulin, in order to achieve good metabolic control. 2007. The execution of the project will with polls saying about 55 percent favor Although the onset of type 1 diabetes typically occurs in childhood, it may last up to eight years, between 2007 and expansion, 19 percent oppose it and the also first occur in adults. People with a family history of type 1 diabetes are 2014. ACP plans to fund the expansion rest are undecided. at an increase risk. Blood tests may also identify those at high risk. by gradually increasing the tolls over the Critics say the project will be too ex- Adults and children who are overweight or obese and are physically inac- next 20 years depending on the market pensive and is risky because of uncer- tive have an increased risk to develop type 2 diabetes. segment and adjustment in inflation. tainties about the growth of maritime Studies have shown that many complications of diabetes can be prevented trade and the world’s economy. Fernando Administrator and Chief Executive or delayed. Lifestyle changes can help. A healthy diet consisting of eating Manfredo, a former administrator of the Alberto Aleman Zubieta confirmed that the more fruits and vegetables and less sugar and saturated fats can help in canal, argues there are better ways for tolls could double by 2025 and could in- controlling weight. Physical activity is important. Thirty minutes of moder- Panama to bolster its role in shipping. crease at an average of 3.5 percent a year. ate exercise a day five times per week promotes good health. Smoking ces- “Our most important natural resource is A provisional external financing of $2.3 sation is also highly recommended. For more information, please consult not the canal, but our geographic posi- billion will be used during the period of your physician. construction and paid off by 2025, by tion,” Manfredo said. He favors build- which time the current capacity will be ing a megaport on the Pacific shore, SUP Welfare Plan doubled. Canal authorities said they will where the big ships would transfer loads continue to consult with customers on the to small vessels that would carry them 730 Harrison Street, Suite 415 future toll pricing system and “will take through the canal and on to ports on the San Francisco, CA 94107 into account their specific needs.” Built Atlantic. He says there are only about 415-778-5490 or 1-800-796-8003 300 ships too large for the canal. by U.S. engineers a century ago, the ca- Fax 415-778-5495 China faces mariner shortfall Michelle Chang, Administrator Patty Martin China has admitted it is facing a seri- A study last year by Dr. bin Wiu of Virginia Briggs ous shortage in the supply of ships’ of- the Seafarers International Research Cen- ficers as expansion of its own fleet is ter in Cardiff, United Kingdom, found Michael Jacyna outstripping demand. Despite 10,000 wages for skilled Chinese seafarers were Training Representative, Terry O’Neill 415-957-1816 graduating each year from the country’s soaring, with rises of 20 percent for se- SIU-PD Pension 415-764-4987 76 maritime colleges, officials say they nior officers. He also identified a new are still 13,000 short and will have to class of seafarer in “freemen” (shihui SIU-PD Supplemental Benefits 415-764-4991 boost recruitment by getting engineering chuanyuan in Chinese), self-employed students to switch to seafaring and by officers independent of state-controlled targeting young people in rural areas in shipping companies or manning agencies. western rather than from eastern China. The latest manpower report by the In- AFL-CIO and Change to Win agree There are around 130,000 officers in ternational Shipping Federation estimated China’s total seafarer population of total demand for officers, including to coordinate election year efforts 500,000, Liu Gongshen, deputy direc- backup, in 2005 at 476,000 against sup- AFL-CIO President John Sweeney and Change to Win Chair Anna Burger an- tor-general of the Maritime Safety Ad- ply of 466,000, leaving a shortage of nounced May 9, that they have reached a tentative agreement on a plan for coordi- ministration, told a forum in Shenzhen. 10,000 or two percent. The report fore- nation of member mobilization activity for the 2006 election year. The newly-trained seafarers will be de- cast that by 2015 demand for officers “The entire labor movement is united by the desire to make working people’s ployed on China’s own ships before be- would increase to 499,000 against a pro- issues the country’s priorities this election year, and we are taking all the necessary ing made available to foreign owners who jected supply of 472,000, a shortfall of steps to effectively coordinate our efforts toward this end,” said Sweeney and Burger. currently employ around 40,000. How- 27,000. It also listed China’s “active The AFL-CIO and Change to Win will create a National Labor Coordinating ever, Efthimios Mitropoulos, secretary supply” of seafarers at 42,709 officers Committee (NLCC) to be chaired by Gerald McEntee, AFL-CIO political commit- general of the International Maritime and 79,504 unlicensed “ratings”, com- tee chair and president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Organization, told the forum the English pared with 46,359 and 74,040 respec- Employees, and vice-chaired by Edgar Romney, secretary-treasurer of Change to language skills of Chinese seafarers tively, for the Philippines, the world’s Win and executive vice president of UNITE HERE. Political directors and staff would have to improve. leader in supplying mariners globally. from the organizations will work in close collaboration on every aspect of the pro- gram, and the organizations will share the costs of joint activities. Fake captain collared in the Philippines As part of the agreement, Change to Win releases its affiliates to participate in state and local central labor bodies, and AFL-CIO President Sweeney will recom- The fight against ship-crewing scams sel, only for the job never to materialize. mend to the AFL-CIO Executive Council that the United Farm Workers be eligible which have rocked the shipping industry The government agency had been trail- to participate in state and local bodies. recently has seen some success with the ing Blanco, a native of the area, for some “Change to Win” in comprised of the Service Employees International Union arrest on April 11, of a suspected fake time and a previous attempt to apprehend (SEIU), UNITE HERE, United Food & Commercial Workers, International Broth- ship captain in the Philippines. him with a sting operation had failed only erhood of Teamsters, Carpenters, Labors and the United Farm Workers, who dis- The Provincial Anti-Illegal Task Force when the suspect failed to appear at the affiliated from the AFL-CIO last year. (PAITF) caught the suspected ship-re- agreed location. The arrest recalls nu- cruitment fraudster in a sting operation merous incidents in which international at a fast-food restaurant in Bacolod City shipping companies have been unwit- on Negros Occidental. tingly embroiled in internet scams. Record of SUP Shipping Jose Rene Blanco, a 44-year-old Fili- One fake cruiseship company, Starline April 2006 pino, stands accused of posing as a cap- Cruises, offered attractive job opportu- tain of a ship in order to lure potential nities at sea on board cruise vessels. In- Hdqs..... Seattle ...... Wilm ...... Hono ...... Total seafarers into the promise of a job at sea. terested parties were invited to pay a han- Bosun ...... 5...... 1 ...... 2 ...... 0 ...... 9 When the suspect was arrested, he had dling fee upon application for a job which Maint. Man...... 3...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 3 ...... 6 passports and documents of many of his then never existed. Another bogus com- A.B. Dayworker 0...... 0 ...... 2 ...... 3 ...... 5 victims together with a sum of cash paid pany, Canadian Cruiseline, which ap- A.B ...... 4...... 10 ...... 10 ...... 1 ...... 25 as retainers for non-existent jobs. peared to be based in Malaysia, claimed O.S...... 0...... 1 ...... 1 ...... 1 ...... 3 One victim of Blanco’s schemes had to operate three cruiseships whose names Standby ...... 18...... 15 ...... 38 ...... 42 ...... 113 closely followed those of a genuine cruise been tricked into paying a $390 process- TOTALS ...... 30...... 27 ...... 53 ...... 50 ...... 160 ing fee to secure employment on a ves- outfit Seabourn Cruise Line. Friday, May 19, 2006 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 9 SUP President's Report

safety can sometimes fall through the cracks. May 8, 2006 review the new provisions of the Coast Guard bill and that MSC and contractors that operate its vessels would The Union at the outset of the meeting expressed its comply with the law. concern that the incidents might indicate a fleet-wide FOREIGN MARINER PROVISION While in Washington, also attended an event honor- lack of attention to safety issues. As expected, Matson IN COAST GUARD BILL ing Congressman Abercrombie, who has been a cham- declined the accept this assertion but did acknowledge pion of the U.S. merchant marine for the nearly two the need for a more comprehensive understanding of decades he has represented metropolitan O’ahu. Had the importance of safety. To that end, the company As reported last month, the onerous provision to al- the opportunity to discuss maritime and labor issues renewed its commitment to maintaining a safe working low an unlimited number of foreigners to perform main- with Senator Daniel Inouye (D-Hawai’i), Senator Daniel environment and vowed to implement new, as well as tenance and repair work aboard U.S.-flag vessels in Akaka (D-Hawai’i), Representative John Larson (D- existing, practices and procedures to further that ob- the international trades was struck from the Coast Guard Connecticut), Representative Marty Meehan (D-Mas- jective. and Maritime Transportation Act (H.R. 889) by con- sachusetts), Representative Richard Neil (D-Massachu- Specifically, Matson has initiated a new policy of ferees from the Senate Commerce, Science and Trans- setts), Representative Gene Taylor (D-Mississippi) and assigning additional personnel to monitor sea conditions portation Committee and the House Transportation and Representative Don Young (R-Alaska) who were also in any situation where sailors are assigned to work in Infrastructure Committee after intense lobbying by the in attendance as well as representatives of APL, Matson heavy weather on deck in light of the Matsonia inci- SUP, MEBA and many other maritime Unions. This and the Marine Resources Group, the parent company dent. The modified Stokes litter, that was used in the issue was reported on in full in last month’s West Coast of Foss. Matsonia, has now become standard equipment through- Sailors. out the fleet. The so-called “Stryker” chair, which fa- However, the bill has not yet passed Congress. To CHEVRON SHIPPING COMPANY cilitates the transport of incapacitated personnel up and ensure that Maersk Line and other shipowners were down ladders, etc., will also be in every vessel. Medi- not attempting to circumvent the process and reinsert cal supplies in all vessels have been overhauled and the provision, your secretary was in Washington, D.C., The SUP received good news on May 5, when rep- enhanced, for example, with advanced pain medications. on May 1, 2 and 3, and met with various members of resentatives of Chevron notified the Union that the com- While the company refused, at this time, to provide Congress and their staffs to confer on the issue. Ap- pany has entered into a long-term bareboat charter the SUP with the documents related to the incidents, it parently, Maersk and its cohorts have dropped their agreement with Seabulk International, Inc., a subsid- was agreed that once the Coast Guard completes its assault on U.S. merchant mariners —at least in this iary of SEACOR Holdings, Inc., to operate three U.S.- investigations, the parties would meet again to review session of Congress. The only objections to the Con- built, Double Eagle-class tankers in the Jones Act trades. the “lessons learned.” ference Report on H.R. 889 is a provision dealing with Chevron also indicated that it has an option for a fourth All hands need not be reminded that it is not only a energy producing windmills on Nantucket Sound in vessel. company’s obligation to maintain safe gear and work- Massachusetts. It is assumed that this problem will be The first vessel, the Seabulk Mariner, built in 1998, resolved and the bill will pass. ing conditions, but every sailor’s personal responsibil- is expected to be delivered to Chevron in the first quar- ity to work in a safe manner, report immediately any While in Washington, also met with the following: ter of 2007. The Seabulk Courage, built in 1999, is and all deficiencies to those in command through the Maritime Administration scheduled for delivery in the first quarter of 2008 and delegate and to the Union and to refuse to jeopardize Met with Julie Nelson, Acting Deputy Maritime Ad- the Seabulk Energy, built in 1999, in the first quarter life and limb if directed to perform a task where safety ministrator, to discuss projected reductions of the Ready of 2009. The charters for each vessel is for nine years is absent. Reserve Force fleet from 58 to 34 vessels. On behalf with options to extend. The Newport News Shipyard- of the Union, told Administrator Nelson the deactiva- constructed vessels are double-hulled and have no man- In other Matson news, the company reported that the tion of the RRF vessels Cape Fear and Cape Florida, datory retirement date under the provisions of the Oil m/v Maunalei, currently under construction at Aker managed by Patriot Contract Services, and possibly the Pollution Act (OPA) of 1990. Philadelphia Shipyard, is projected to be delivered deactivation of the Meteor and Comet, managed by Chevron intends to continue operating its gas turbine around June 30. However, after the vessel is deliv- Matson, would hurt the West Coast pool of trained tankers (Arizona Voyager, Colorado Voyager and Wash- ered, her galley will be retrofitted for cafeteria-style mariners by reducing job opportunities. While sympa- ington Voyager) at least through the delivery of the feeding which will take approximately 30 days. It is thetic, Ms. Nelson said the move to reduce the RRF new vessels and possibly beyond. A study on the fu- estimated that the gang will be called in late July and originated with the Defense Department’s U.S. Trans- ture of these vessels, built in the mid-1970’s at that her first port of call on the West Coast will be portation Command (TRANSCOM), not MarAd. Portland’s Swan Island Shipyard, will be conducted by Oakland. In a related development, Congressman Neil the company later this year. Since these tankers are Abercrombie (D-Hawai’i) introduced on May 2, an also double-hulled, there is no OPA mandated phase- amendment to the National Defense Authorization out date. AMERICAN PRESIDENT LINES Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122) that would The Seabulk Mariner is designed to carry both crude direct the Secretary of Defense in consultation with and/or refined petroleum products. The 46,069 dead- An April 11, and 25, Vice President Dave Connolly the Secretary of Transportation to submit a report weight ton vessel is 601 feet, 5 inches in overall length, and your secretary, met with Brian Constable, Chief to Congress by no later than March 1, 2007, de- with a beam of 105 feet, 8 inches. At 98 percent capac- Operating Officer of APL Maritime Ltd., Norman scribing a five-year plan for maintaining the Ready ity, she can carry 342,040 barrels of oil in seven pairs O’Shaughnessy, Director of Operations & Labor Rela- Reserve Force. The amendment also calls for main- of cargo tanks. The other vessels are of similar design tions, and labor consultant Jerry Carbiener to discuss is- taining the RRF at 58 vessels until 45 days after the and capacity. sues related to standby work in Seattle and the company’s report is submitted. In accordance with the 2004-2007 collective bargain- desire to employ SUP riding gangs to accomplish spe- Also discussed with Administrator Nelson the possi- ing agreement with Chevron, the Sailors’ Union will cific projects in the fleet. No conclusion was reached on bility of RRF vessels operating in support of the Fed- crew all three unlicensed departments in the vessels. It these issues and anticipate further meetings. eral Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in case is anticipated that the Union and the company will meet The Union was also informed definitively that the C- of national disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and in the near future to discuss manning scales for the ships. 10 class vessels Presidents Jackson, Polk and Truman Rita. Ms. Nelson said that the proposal is under dis- will resume calling Seattle. The ships will rotate on a cussion by the Bush Administration. MATSON NAVIGATION COMPANY 42-day basis and will only call two ports on the West Military Sealift Command Coast: Seattle and Vancouver, British Columbia. The Met with Rear Admiral Robert D. Reilly, Jr., Com- President Adams, currently shuttling between East Asia In response to the Sailors’ Union’s request (see the mander of the Military Sealift Command, and his staff and the Middle East, is slated to be deployed to the April West Coast Sailors) that Matson meet to discuss at the Washington Navy Yard. Rear Admiral Reilly East Coast in late July. The Adams is covered under the recent incidents aboard the Matsonia, where sev- relieved Vice Admiral David Brewer as head of the SUP Shipping Rule #8 regarding “shuttle ship” vessels eral sailors were severely injured enroute to Honolulu MSC, in March. now, and when she starts running off the East Coast. in late December, and the death of Brother William Explained to Admiral Reilly the necessity of main- McAndrew in the Moku Pahu last month, the parties taining a diverse mariner pool when MSC awards con- met at company headquarters in Oakland on May 5. SUP WELFARE PLAN tracts. While the Admiral stated that MSC does not Representing the SUP were Vice President Dave consider the Union affiliations of companies submitting Connolly and your secretary. Matson’s representatives The skyrocketing costs of health care in this country bids, he did acknowledge that it was an important fac- were Captain Gary Fleeger, Senior Vessel Manager; continue to put pressure on the funding status of the tor that should be considered vis-a-vis the mariner pool. Paul Londynsky, Vice President of Safety, Quality & SUP Welfare Plan. Your secretary also recounted the loss of the LMSR Environmental Affairs; Tom Percival, Offshore Labor contract by Patriot to AMSEA, as a case in point. Ad- Plan Administrator Michelle Chang, relying on in- Relations Manager, and Dale MacGillivray, Labor miral Reilly was not aware that the Government Ac- formation provided by Plan actuary and consultant Relations Manager. countability Office (GAO) issued a statement that said Kirsten Schaffer of the firm of Rael & Letson, has in- the contract should have remained with Patriot. As the membership knows, the company is obligated formed the Plan Trustees that there is an ongoing defi- under Section 9 of the General Rules of the collective cit in the Regular Account of the Plan. This account The issue of foreign riding gangs was also discussed. bargaining agreement to maintain safe gear and work- carries the burden of paying for medical premiums for While Admiral Brewer was a proponent of using for- ing conditions. But as all realize, going to sea for a active members and their dependents. eigners to perform maintenance and repair work in living is an inherently dangerous occupation where government vessels, Admiral Reilly stated that he would As the membership will recall, part of the dispute Page 10 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006

President’s Report continued Vice President's Report with Matson in 2005 over the previous of necessity, have been implemented by May 2006 deficit, resulted in the company agree- other Union Trust plans across the coun- ing to pay the Plan over $1 million. In try, facing the same funding problems. To support a journal which shall voice the sentiments of the seafaring class That eloquent line from the SUP Constitution, listed in the Preamble as one of the return, the Union Trustees (Dave If these issues are not confronted now essential aims of the Union, is packed with powerful relevance today: it deserves Connolly and your secretary) reluctantly they will only get worse, ultimately re- closer examination. agreed to a change in eligibility require- sulting in more drastic measures. In the ments for Plan benefits for active mem- meantime, the membership should rec- To support There are many forms of support. You can support by donating bers which was intended to stop the fund- ognize that the high-quality benefits pro- labor, or by promoting and distributing. You can support by the dissemination of a ing shortfall on an ongoing basis. As part vided by the SUP Welfare Plan come at message or by defending that message from attack. But when this language was of its obligation to the Plan, American a price, and that price is not fixed. To crafted in the 1880’s, the context clearly indicates that the form of support most President Lines also made a lump sum protect those benefits, future changes to necessary was financial support. The same is true today. The earliest members and payment to the Plan of $1,468,564 in the structure of the Plan are unavoidable. founding fathers of the SUP had no way of knowing that American politics would become completely dominated by money, but they clearly saw money as critical to September of last year. Will keep all hands fully informed. Despite the aggressive nature of those the ability to fight in ways that were then available, which was to persuade voters to changes, and the payments that were support maritime reform legislation by exposing the brutality common at sea through made, the outrageous cost of health care HOLIDAYS a printed journal. Political action is also necessary today, and the necessary support continues to put pressure of the Plan. is also financial. If the language were crafted today the Preamble might read “To Given the situation, more steps must be All SUP halls will be closed on Mon- support a journal and political action fund ” taken to reduce costs to stem the nega- day, May 29, in observance of Memo- A journal Known then as the Coast Seamen’s Journal—“For the Seafaring tive tide. The other unpalatable course rial Day, a holiday under all SUP con- People of the World”—and becoming the West Coast Sailors in the 1930’s, there is to cut benefits. tracts. can be no doubt that this is the specific commission of the Union’s official organ and record of information, news and opinion. It is interesting that with all the media The Union Trustees have repeatedly All SUP halls will also be closed on outlets available today, a newspaper “by seamen, of seamen, for seamen” is still warned the employer Trustees (Tom Monday, June 12, in observance of just as relevant today. That’s because trustworthy sources so dedicated to the issues Percival for Matson and Bob Stevens for Kamehameha Day, which this year falls of working mariners are extremely rare. And there is reason for that: much of the APL) of their responsibility to properly on Sunday, June 11. Due to the holiday, maritime press is directed at or produced by shipowners. fund the Plan to cover benefits. The the Headquarters’ meeting will be held Which shall voice the sentiments The word “sentiments” is here used less in Union Trustees have also directed the on Tuesday, June 13. Plan to cut expenses in every area and to the sense of “a thought colored by or proceeding from emotion,” often associated In accordance with the Matson agree- make other improvements. Recently, with or leading to sentimentality, and more in the older sense of a “specific view or ment, Kamehameha Day is a paid holi- Plan staff has been reduced, and cash notion based on personal experience, i.e. opinion.” To “voice the sentiments,” day for all company vessels at sea (ex- flow processes have been improved. then, is to necessarily view the world through the eyes of seamen. cept for the Manukai, Manulani, However, the cost of monthly premi- Of the seafaring class. The daring coup de grace of the sentence. What is the Maunawili and Moku Pahu) and all mem- ums to the Plan’s health care providers seafaring class? Mostly we hear about the middle- or upper class, sometimes the bers employed under the Maintenance (Kaiser, Health Net, ULLICO, etc.) are working class. And the concept of the working class was well-understood by sea- and Extra Maintenance agreements. If the more than $50,000 per month in the ag- men in the late 19th century, so the use of that term was familiar and available. But Manukai, Manulani, Maunawili or Moku gregate with more increases on the hori- the earliest members and founding fathers of our Union consciously avoided using Pahu are in a Hawai’i port on June 12, zon. ULLICO, in particular, has experi- it, choosing instead to ascribe to seaman a class all their own. Later on, the Indus- the holiday is observed as per the ILWU enced enormous increases, especially for trial Workers of the World would famously carve up the occupations of the world the cost of dependent care. Local 142 agreement. and assign international unions to them all, most notably, I.U. 510 for all workers Accordingly, the Trustees will meet in engaged in marine transportation including dockworkers. But the earliest members early June to discuss options to keep the ACTION TAKEN and founding fathers of the SUP were more specific—the seafaring class. Obviously Plan and the benefits it provides on an they wanted to distinguish themselves from the great mass of workers, declaring even keel. Among the possibilities sug- their calling distinct from occupations. No mere trade, theirs was a way of life, M/S to concur in the President’s re- same as it is today. gested by the consultant are increased co- port. Carried unanimously. pays, deductibles, etc.—all which, out But there is much more than that in the phrase. The Hungarian philosopher George Gunnar Lundeberg Lukacs, refining and expanding on Karl Marx, argued in History and Class Con- sciousness that awareness of class is not some individual psychological conscious- American President Lines named best ness, but rather a mental achievement that is built into each social class. The class that is in power then forces its awareness of class, or lack thereof, on the other classes in the form of ideology, or false consciousness. The dominant ideology, it TransPacific carrier by industry group should be no surprise, today as it has been throughout most of history, is that of the Global container transportation leader APL has been named the Best Shipping very wealthy. It is in their interest to deny class consciousness and to assert that all Line—Transpacific at the 20th Asian Freight & Supply Chain Awards (AFSCAs). moral, political and social values are based on the individual alone, and that by the virtues of self-reliance anyone can succeed at anything. Lukacs said that the prole- The annual awards are organized by leading shipping and logistics publication tariat or the working class was the only class capable of attaining true class con- Cargonews Asia. The awards, which are based on readers’ votes, recognize the sciousness because of its specific position to understand the falseness of all ideology. outstanding achievers in all major transportation and logistics sectors in Asia, Eu- rope, the Middle East and North America. APL and sister company APL Logistics To declare the existence of the seafaring class is to understand that the game is were finalists in a total of four categories. rigged, that false consciousness was oppressing seamen. The awareness of class was something they had earned, something they had won. “To support a journal Before casting their votes, the 12,500 Cargonews Asia readers are asked to con- which shall voice the sentiments of the seafaring class” is a bold, proud statement of sider a range of criteria, including schedule integrity; effectiveness of IT; effi- a self-aware group of seamen who saw themselves on the cutting edge of all work- ciency; comprehensive port calls on the trade; and competitiveness of freight rates ers: “the lookout of the labor movement,” as the SUP was once called. In that for service delivered. statement it is evident that they understood that the political, economic and ideo- Collecting the award at a gala ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, APL’s Vice President logical deck was stacked against them, but knowing that would not prevent them for the Transpacific trade, Eric Eng, said: “I’m proud to be receiving this award on from taking up, as Hamlet said, arms against a sea of troubles. behalf of everyone at APL. It shows that our transportation solutions continue to In this election year, we would do well to build on our recent political victories, meet and even exceed our customers’ expectations in what is an increasingly chal- make contributions to the SUP Political Action Fund, and follow the example of our lenging operating environment.” departed brothers. APL previously won the Best Shipping Line—Transpacific Award in 2003 and was named best Intra-Asia shipping line at the 2004 AFSCAs. Ships Checked Cape Jacob: delegate Mike Henderson. Ship leaving Japanese ship yard for usual deployment. Kudos to bosun Dale Gibson and the gang for changing out all the Flag-of-convenience tanker ordered to leave country running rigging and every block, sheave and shackle. A Marshall Islands-flagged tanker was determined safe for Coast Guard person- APL Philippines: delegate John Kerlin. OT disputes presently pursued by Wilm- ordered to leave Port Canaveral, Florida, nel” and in accordance with policy, dis- ington Agent. Repair problems, as well as C/M attitude problem, brought to the last month after a U.S. Coast Guard in- embarked the vessel. attention of the Company. spection team found a multitude of safety The United Product Tankers-operated APL China: delegate Dave Sylstra. Clarification on the use of foreign labor. violations aboard. vessel was immediately issued a Captain Colorado Voyager: delegate Rocky Zwieba. Researched available launches for The Aral Wind had just come along- of the Port order to leave Port Canaveral Kelly Pt. cleanup in Portland at the request of the delegate. In at Oleum, no beefs. side at Tanker Berth 1 at the South Cargo on April 22. The vessel will not be al- Cape Gibson: delegate Danny Foster. Ship hired standby’s for cosmetic im- Piers when the Coast Guard team boarded lowed to return to the United States until provements before RIMPAC exercises. This is important work that the government on April 20. A spokesman for the agency it meets minimum safety and environ- will readily outsource. It requires dedicated hard-working sailors: please do not said they found that the vessel did not mental standards. take these jobs if you are not ready to work. have valid compliance certificates and The 17,430-dwt Aral Wind, built in San Francisco Bar Pilots: delegate Louie Urbano. Training program develop- that high-level gas alarms in the ship’s 1988, is owned in New York City by ment underway with the help of operators. With Frank Walsh and Roy Bradshaw on holds, explosive gas meters and the ship’s Eastwind Maritime. The ship has been the binnacle list, continuous training is more important than ever. oil discharge monitoring system had all inspected by the Coast Guard on four Foss Maritime Company: co-delegates Mike Worth and Tom Tynan. These been disable. The inspectors also encoun- other occasions since 2002 with no de- delegates continue to devote vast amounts of personal time and effort representing tered benzene levels “exceeding those tentions or violations noted. the membership. Dave Connolly Friday, May 19, 2006 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 11 SUP Branch Reports Seattle Wilmington Honolulu San Francisco Business Agent April 17, 2006 April 17, 2006 April 17, 2006 Shipped the following during the pe- Shipping during the period: 2 bosuns, During the month of March, dispatched riod: 2 Boatswains shipped to 1 relief 10 ABs, 4 ABD, 1 OS, and 80 standbys the following: 2 bosuns, 1 bosun relief, May 8, 2006 and 1 return, both jobs went to A-cards; for a total of 97 jobs shipped. 4 ABW, 2 ABD, and 1 OS. These jobs Visited and paid off the following 6 Able Seaman billets filled and taken Registration: 34 A cards, 41 B cards, were filled by 5 A members and 5 B ships: by 2 A-cards to returns, 3 B-cards to re- 8 C cards and 3 D cards. members. Also shipped 54 standby jobs Kauai— Jon Goodwin, delegate: Is- turns and 1 B-card to a steady; 1 Utility Ships checked taken by 13 A members, 20 B members, land run. No disputes on lashing cargo to Chevron shipped to a B-card; and 9 and 21 C members, for a total of 64 jobs Thailand, China, Matsonia, Manulani, this trip. Made twice. standbys shipped to 7 A-cards and 2 B- shipped. APL Singapore, APL Philippines, Lurline— John Gabourel, delegate: cards. Mahimahi, President Truman, R.J. During the month of March, registered Car and van carrier on the Island. Good Registered during the period: 7 A cards Pfeiffer, President Jackson, Manukai, the following: 5 A members, 7 B mem- gang, no disputes. Made twice. for a total of 23; 6 B cards for a total of and President Polk. bers, 4 C members, and 1 D registrant. Mahimahi— Charlie Duke, delegate: 26; 2 C cards for a total of 5. To date, registered are: 14 a members, Attended the funeral of Jack Dalton. Island run; new captain and mates finally 15 B members, 7 C members, and 6 D Ships checked Jack will be remembered for his fore- running smoothly. No disputes. registrants, for a total of 42 members reg- Kauai and Manoa in twice with little sight and humble spirit that created years Manoa— Jose Angeles, delegate: No istered. or no trouble. The Maui activated after of employment for many sailors. The day disputes. Paid disputed time for carpen- several weeks lay-up and we reshipped of the funeral, there was peace and calm. Ships checked ter work. most of the gang to return. The sun was warm and the air was cool, Manoa, Mokihana, Mahimahi, Kauai, Maui— Rhonda Benoit, delegate: Van President Gunnar Lundeberg attended as it drifted in from the sea. We were all Maui, Lurline, Matsonia, Manulani, R.J. carrier on Island run. First trip out of the April Seattle Branch meeting and touched by the testimonies of Jack’s son Pfeiffer, Maunawili and Manukai. All yard; no disputes; running smoothly. presented his report. We had a packed and daughter. Via con Dios, Bro. with few or no beefs. Paint and rigging APL China— Dave Sylstra, delegate: house with both active and retired mem- Visited many ships and found harass- gang running smooth with Monte Kalama Clean pay off and sign-on. as bosun. bers coming from all points within Wash- ment and back stabbing mates doing sail- APL Korea— Diane Ferrari, delegate: ington, Idaho and Oregon. After read- ors work. On April 19, attended the Hawai’i Voyage pay off and sign-on. In good ing his report, the president then fielded Brothers, I am requesting that you read Ports Maritime Council meeting. Dis- shape. No disputes. and answered questions from the mem- cussed the importance of the re-election the Preamble in your book at your next APL Thailand— Louis Frazier, del- bership. Many of the questions that were of U.S. Senator Dan Akaka for the mari- Union meeting. egate: Voyage pay off and sign-on. No asked concerned the Unions’ efforts in time trades and to stress to our member- Paul Calais, Branch Agent disputes; good gang; new relief bosun. defeating the “Foreign Mariner Provi- ship the magnitude of this election. We sion” in Congress and the current state all want Ed Case out of here! Also wait- Also worked in the front office. of the Pension Plan. After answering ing for a final list of 2nd Congressional ======these questions to everyone’s satisfaction, Bulk carrier sinks off District candidates for council review as As a former Branch Agent in Wilm- a motion was made by Randy Coady to South Africa—27 to their stand on the Jones Act/Passen- ington, attended the funeral of Jack give the president a “vote of confidence” ger Services Act. Dalton. There was a good SUP turn out, for his tireless efforts on behalf of the sailors feared lost Jim Savage was transferred out of the including Agent Paul Calais, Tom Riley, membership. This was immediately sec- Ernie Jalomo, Harry Naeole, Tom Efforts to find the survivors of the St. Rehab Hospital to a private apartment. onded by Tony Jones and then passed Larkin, Duane Nash, Mike Freng and Vincent & Grenadines registered bulk Still has extensive rehabilitation to con- unanimously. many others. Pall bearers were Jack’s carrier Alexandros T, which sank 280 tinue and is improving. son, brother Steve, Mark Hurley, Dave During the month, I have attended the miles off Port Elizabeth, South Africa Had a special “Minute of Silence” for Kaupiko, Keith Miller and Garry Puget Sound Area Maritime Security on May 3, were called off on May 10. Brother Billy McAndrew at our branch Committee; the King County Labor Gelfgren. The crew of the 17-year-old 171,875 meeting. His wife and children stopped Council’s Executive Board and delegates It was thanks to Jack that LA/LB deadweight ton vessel was comprised of by the hall later that week. Sad times. meetings; the Washington State Labor standby program is what it is today. His four Greeks, 24 Filipinos, four Roma- Mike Duvall, Branch Agent Council’s political action Round Table work ethic and professionalism will, nians and one Ukrainian. Rescued were meeting. hopefully, stay with us for many years five Filipinos and one Romanian mari- Crowded field vies to come. Jack got along with and was I represented the SUP in the King ner. The remaining 27 members of the respected by sailors. He will be missed. County Labor Council’s COPE (Com- crew are assumed to have drowned. for vacated Hawai’i mittee On Political Education) interviews Thanks for everything, Jack. The Alexandros T sailed from Ponta with Congressman Jay Inslee; Congress- Bill Berger Da Maderia, Brazil, on April 14, bound Congressional seat man Adam Smith and Congressman Jim for China loaded with 155,000 tons of One-fifth of the 25-member Hawai’i McDermott who all pledged continued iron ore. It had diverted to Cape Town State Senate is running for the 2nd Con- support for the Jones Act. We also inter- with the intention of conducting a vessel gressional District seat to be vacated by viewed and educated many Washington inspection. However, on May 3, the ves- Representative Ed Case. State legislators on working family is- sel sent out a distress call over 300 miles sues and the importance of “Organized On May 5, Senator Clayton Hee (D- Dispatcher's off Port Alfred on the Eastern Cape coast. Labor” within the maritime industry and Kahuku-Kaneohe) joined the race that Report how that relates to the economy of Wash- The vessel’s operator, Overseas Marine already includes Senators Ron Menor (D- ington State. Enterprises of Greece, says it contracted Mililani), Colleen Hanabusa (D- Headquarters—April 2006 salvors but the vessel’s situation deterio- Nanakuli-Makua), Gary Hooser (D- The Sailors’ Union stood in solidarity Deck rated rapidly. Lying 300 miles off Port Kauai) and Bob Hogue (R-Kaneohe- with the International Brotherhood of Bosun ...... 5 Elizabeth, well beyond the reach of res- Kailua). Carpenter ...... 0 Teamsters Local 174 at a rally in Tukwila cue helicopters, it says Captain Blismas MM...... 3 in support of sanitation workers and their Other politicians running include state Banagioti ordered the ship abandoned. Representative Brian Schatz (D-Tantalus- AB ...... 4 fight for family wage jobs and afford- OS ...... 0 able health care against the Allied Waste The Alexandros T had been inspected Makiki) and former Republican Repre- several times for deficiencies. A U.S. sentative Quentin Kawananakoa. Standby ...... 18 Management Company. Total Deck Jobs Shipped ...... 30 Coast Guard report filed in Norfolk, Vir- Vince O’Halloran, Branch Agent The Democrats will face each other in Total Deck B, C, D Shipped...... 3 ginia, in November 2003, said it appeared Hawai’i’s September 23 primary election the vessel had been “neglected”. The Engine/Steward to then face the winner of the Republi- QMED ...... 0 SUP members join cause of the sinking remains unknown as can primary to fill the seat for the rural Pumpman ...... 0 the West Coast Sailors goes to press. pension ranks Oahu-neighbor island district. Oiler...... 0 Wiper ...... 0 The following SUP members joined Steward ...... 0 the rank of pensioner, bringing the to- Bush extends tax cuts for the wealthy Cook ...... 0 tal number of SUP members to 721: Messman ...... 0 On May 17, President Bush signed legislation that will cut taxes by $70 billion. Robert Darcy, 66, Book No. Total E&S Jobs Shipped ...... 0 18274, joined SUP in 1994. Passed by the Republican-controlled Senate and House, the bill according to AFL- Total E&S B, C, D Shipped ...... 0 Dean Smith, 67, Book No. 7445, CIO President John Sweeney is President Bush’s latest gift to the rich. “While those Total Jobs Shipped - All Depts. ... 30 joined SUP in 1957, 30 years seatime. making more than $1 million a year will receive a whopping $42,000 in tax breaks, a Total B, C, D Shipped-All Depts. .. 3 family making $40,000 and $50,000, the cuts will mean a cut of $46,” Sweeney added. Total Registered “A” ...... 74 Bruce C. Thompson, Book #3276, Total Registered “B” ...... 68 joined SUP in 1967, 25 years seatime. “The Republican tax cuts do little for middle-class American families, and widen the gulf between the rich and poor,” said Representative Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland). Total Registered “C” ...... 9 Total Registered “D” ...... 3 Page 12 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, May 19, 2006

California Labor Federation, AFL- CIO Endorsements for the June 6 Primary Election

U.S. Senate State Assembly State Constitutional Offices Phil Angelides Dianne Feinstein 1. Patty Berg 41. Julia Brownley 2. No endorsement 42. Dual: Mike Feuer; for Governor 3. Mickey Harrington Abbe Land 4. Rob Haswell 43. Frank Quintero 5. Doris Matsui 44. Anthony Portantino 6. Pamela Torliatt 45. Kevin deLeon 7. Noreen Evans 46. Fabian Nunez 8. Lois Wolk 47. Karen Bass 9. Dave Jones 48. Anthony Willoughby 10. Jim Cook 49. Mike Eng 11. Mark DeSaulnier 50. Hector de la Torre 12. Open 51. Open 52. Mervyn Dymally 13. Mark Leno 53. Ted Lieu 14. Loni Hancock 54. Betty Karnette 15. Terry Coleman 55. Warren Furutani 16. Sandre Swanson 56. Tony Mendoza 17. Cathleen Galgiani 57. Ed Hernandez 18. Mary Hayashi 58. Charles Calderon 19. Gene Mullin 59. Chris Lancaster (R) 20. Alberto Torrico 60. Van Tamom 21. Ira Ruskin 61. Nell Soto 22. No endorsement 62. Dual: Jeremy Baca; 23. Joe Coto Lieutenant Governor U.S. House Wilmer Amina Carter John Garamendi 24. James Beall, Jr. of Representatives 63. No endorsement 25. No endorement 64. Paul Rasso Insurance Commissioner 26. Kenneth Goeken Cruz Bustamante 1. Mike Thompson 28. Howard Berman 65. Rita Ramirez-Dean 27. John Laird 2. No endorsement 29. Adam Schiff 66. Laurel Nicholson Attorney General 28. Ana Ventura-Phares 3. Bill Durston 30. Henry Waxman 67. Ray Roberts Dual: Jerry Brown, Rocky Delgadillo 29. No endorsement 4. Charlie Brown 68. John Paul Lucas 31. Xavier Becerra 30. Nicole Parra 69. Jose Solorio Secretary of State 5. No endorsement 32. Hilda Solis Debra Bowen 31. Juan Arambula 70. Mike Glover 6. Lynn Woolsey 33. Diane Watson 32. No endorsement 71. Charlie La Chance Treasurer 7. George Miller 34. Lucille Roybal- 33. No recommendation 72. John MacMurray Bill Lockyer 8. Nancy Pelosi Allard 34. No endorsement 73. Kimberly Clark Controller 9. Barbara Lee 35. Maxine Waters 35. Pedro Nava 74. Roxana Folesca Triple: John Chiang, Joe Dunn, Dario Frommer 10. Ellen Tauscher 36. Jane Harman 36. Dual: Bo Bynum; 75. No endorsement 11. Pete McCloskey (R) 37. Juanita Millender- James Ledford(R) 76. Lori Saldana Superintendent of Public Instruction Jerry McNerney McDonald 37. Ferial Masry 77. Chris Larkin Jack O’Connell 12. Tom Lantos 38. Lyn Shaw 78. George Gastil 38. Grace Flores Board of Equalization 39. Richard Alarcon 79. Mary Salas 13. Fortney “Pete” Stark Napolitano District 1 Betty Yee 40. Lloyd Levine 14. Anna Eshoo 39. Linda Sanchez 80. Steve Clute District 2 No endorsement 15. Mike Honda 40. Florice Hoffman District 3 No endorsement 16. Zoe Lofgren 41. Open State Senate District 4 Dual: Judy Chu, Jerome Horton 17. Sam Farr 42. No endorsement 18. Dennis Cardoza 43. Joe Baca 2. Pat Wiggins 20. Cindy Montanez 4. Paul Singh 19. T.J. Cox 44. Louis Vandenberg 22. Gil Cedillo 6. Darrell Steinberg California Ballot 20. Jim Costa 24. Gloria Romero 45. David Roth 8. Dual: Mike Nevin; 26. Mark Ridley-Thomas Propositions 21. No endorsement 46. Jim Brandt Leland Yee 28. Jenny Oropeza 22. No endorsement 47. Loretta Sanchez 10. Triple: 81. YES — California Reading and Literacy 30. Rudy Bermudez Improvement and Public Library 23. Lois Capps 48. Steve Young Ellen Corbett; 32. Dual: Joe Baca, Jr.; Construction and Renovation Bond Act John Dutra; 24. Jill Martinez 49. Jeeni Criscenzo of 2006 Johan Klehs Gloria Negrete-McLeod 25. Roberto Rodriguez 50. Francine Busby 34. Tom Umberg 82. YES — Preschool Education. Tax on 12. Wiley Nickel incomes over $400,000 for individuals; 26. Dual: Cynthia Matthews 51. Bob Filner 36. Mark Hanson 14. No endorsement $800,000 for couples. Initiative Consti- Russ Warner 52. John Rinaldi 16. Dean Florez 38. No endorsement tutional Amendment and Statute 27. Brad Sherman 53. No endorsement 18. No endorement 40. Denise Ducheny

CALIFORNIA RESIDENTS: VOTE JUNE 6