FROM THE PRESIDENT Arrival & Departure Union Sisters and Brothers, It is with a combination of regret and relief that I write this report. As you may have heard, we have had a major change of leadership in our Union. Our distinguished Union Brother Steve Werse has resigned his position as International Secretary-Treasurer. Reasons of health dictated his decision. Therefore, my feelings of regret are offset by relief that Steve should be able to enjoy many years of well-deserved retirement. Steve has been a source of great strength and stability at Masters, Mates & Pilots. With over thirty years at sea, including more than twenty as Master, his knowledge of our craft, his professionalism, his superb judgment and his years of seagoing experience with MM&P and sailing as dedication have been a great blessing to us all, and to none Master with Horizon Lines prior to assuming his duties as more so than me. Vice President-Atlantic Ports. Don will do an outstanding I have had the privilege of working side by side with job as Secretary-Treasurer. Steve in our Union for over ten years. I also had the good Tom Larkin has been selected by our General Executive fortune to work aboard ship with Captain Werse. He Board to fill the important and demanding position of treated the job ashore exactly as he did the work aboard Vice President-Atlantic Ports. Again, this was done in ship. Steve paid meticulous attention to detail, he was accordance with our Union’s Constitutional procedure relentless in pursuit of his mission and, what is most for filling vacancies during the term of an administration. remarkable, he was always unflappable. It often amazed Tom is an experienced Master Mariner. His most recent me how calm and steady Steve was under pressure at assignment was as permanent Master aboard the MV APL Headquarters—precisely as he had been during our time Gulf Express in the Persian Gulf. Captain Larkin is no together aboard the MV Green Bay! stranger to working under pressure! Steve: We all wish you well and know that you will be Tom graduated from Massachusetts Maritime Academy standing by to render assistance when needed! Thank you in 2004. He has sailed continuously with MM&P since for your outstanding service to our Sisters and Brothers. that time, earning his stripes aboard the MV Asphalt Voyage planner that Steve is, he did not leave the Commander and sailing off-the-board with many of our Union ship without a capable, enthusiastic and well- employers until landing his first Master’s job with APL prepared relief officer. That officer, appointed by our at the youthful age of 32. This is a notable achievement General Executive Board last month in accordance with and a testament to Tom’s abilities. He has an outstanding the provisions of our International Constitution, is Don track record and a reputation as a hard-working and 100% Josberger, formerly Vice President-Atlantic Ports, and now reliable shipmate. We are very pleased that he joined our Secretary-Treasurer. Captain Josberger has been appointed team. As with Secretary-Treasurer Don Josberger, Tom through the completion of the current administration at commenced his duties on July 1, 2019. the end of 2020. These General Executive Board changes will see us Don is well-known and highly regarded both by our through the immediate challenges ahead. These challenges membership and within the industry. He is vigorous, include: securing our future aboard the vessels currently intelligent and a tireless advocate for our membership. Like under construction by Pasha to replace the steamships Steve, he is also a consummate professional, having twenty continued on page 2 www.bridgedeck.org - The Master, Mate & Pilot 1 President’s Message continued which are aging out of service; supporting Patriot Contract these jurisdictional protections. To date, we have not received Services in submitting a winning bid for the renewal contract that support. for the Watson Class LMSRs; working closely with the When I spoke at the ILA Convention last month, I asked Alaska State legislature to secure the future of the state’s first- for the ILA’s assistance and stated that since the date of our class, publicly owned ferry system; and bringing McAllister affiliation, MM&P has always considered ourselves to be a Towing in the Port of San Juan to the realization that part of the ILA family. We have considered the relationship concluding a reasonable collective bargaining agreement with to be mutually beneficial and we want to keep it that their workforce is a more productive use of time and money way. MM&P has been grateful to be a part of something than bankrolling wasteful anti-labor litigation. McAllister larger than a single organization. In our view, additional Towing has been engaged in a multi-year union-busting affiliations—provided that they are mutually beneficial— effort to destroy our bargaining unit: engaging in bad-faith would be a step in the right direction. That has been the bargaining, unilaterally changing terms and conditions concept behind our Maritime Labor Alliance: mutual of employment, discriminating against union supporters, support and solidarity. and sponsoring unsuccessful decertification petitions. Our While we have been affiliated with the ILA since 1971, members are holding strong. They will not give in. And we have been affiliated with the American Federation of neither will our Union. Labor (subsequently the AFL-CIO) since 1916. Samuel A notable event that took place recently was the Gompers himself, founder of the AFL, convinced MM&P to International Longshoremen’s Association’s (ILA) 55th become a part of the Federation well over 100 years ago. That Biennial Convention in Florida. ILA President Harold relationship—and working within the rules and regulations Daggett and his entire leadership team were re-elected during of the Federation—remain paramount to our Union. the proceedings. The ILA’s outstanding success last year If our essential interests within the AFL-CIO’s House of in securing a six-year extension to their master agreement Labor are not addressed by the ILA, it may be necessary for was deservedly celebrated: It is a milestone achievement my administration to ask MM&P members for authority that protects ILA members from the immediate threat of to review and possibly revise our relationship with the ILA. replacement by automation. While any decision will be shaped by many inter-related The threat of automation is real for all maritime workers. events, a letter on this important subject is expected to go out However, for most MM&P members—unlike for ILA to our membership soon. members—it is more of a long-term threat than a short- In the meantime, our Union is prepared for the term one. The more immediate threat to MM&P is, and uncertainties of the future. Our membership and our for the last seventy years has been, that of jurisdictional leadership are solid. We know our mission. We know where attack by other organizations claiming to represent licensed we came from. We know whose interests we serve. We are deck officers. Maintaining the jurisdictional protections of pledged to advance the interests of our members who earn the American Federation of Labor–Congress of Industrial their living working day and night aboard vessels of all types, Organizations (AFL-CIO) has been a critical part of our in all waters. strategy. As Labor Day approaches, let us all celebrate the bonds As an ILA affiliate, MM&P has requested for the past that have held our membership together since 1887. We will several years that the ILA support our jurisdictional interests remain true to our mission, come what may. at the AFL-CIO. MM&P’s interests have been put at risk by developments within the ILA. MM&P must receive the Sincerely & fraternally, maximum jurisdictional protection offered under the AFL- CIO Constitution and regulations. Since MM&P is an Don Marcus affiliate of the ILA, we need the ILA’s assistance to achieve MM&P President 2 The Master, Mate & Pilot - July | August 2019 NEWS BRIEFS MM&P Officers On Hand As Matson’s Lurline Christened and Launched Matson’s new ConRo Lurline was christened and launched at General Dynamics NASSCO shipyard in San Diego in June. Photo Credit: Kip Carlson At 870-feet in length, the Lurline is the largest ship ever built in San Diego. It is the most recent ship in the Matson fleet to be named in honor of Lurline, the ocean goddess revered in native Hawaiian culture, and follows a long line of illustrious predecessors. MM&P licensed deck officers crew all the ships in the Matson fleet. Attending the christening and launch were several of the MM&P officers who will crew the ship, along with MM&P Pacific Ports Vice President J. Lars Turner, Coast Agent Jeremy Hope and the union’s West Coast Pilot Membership Group Representative Kip Carlson, a San Francisco Bay pilot. “It was an honor to join brothers Paul Schulman and John Bloomingdale in welcoming Matson’s newest U.S.-flagged ship,” said Turner. “It is ever impressive to see our brothers and sisters leading the next generation of Matson ships with MM&P pride and professionalism.” “This was a banner evening for every part of maritime in the United States,” Carlson said, adding that the event underlined “Matson’s commitment to Hawaii and [to] all the members of the labor family who keep the company’s mission focused and on point.” The Lurline is the first of two Kanaloa Class vessels commissioned by Matson. The second vessel, now under construction at NASSCO, is named Matsonia.