SUP-Contracted Matson and Patriot Awarded 10 Ready Reserve Force
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Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXIX No. 2 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, February 19, 2016 Unions prevail SUP-contracted Matson over APL in ship and Patriot awarded 10 crewing dispute Ready Reserve Force Ships significant victory over the company’s announcement he Sailors’ Union gained A American President Lines in October, that would begin a new work last month was achieved by the SUP, U.S.-flag service from Yokoha- Twhen Matson Navigation MFOW, MEBA and MM&P ma to Saipan and Guam with a Company and Patriot Contract on February 9, when Arbitrator 1,100 TEU geared vessel to be Services were awarded contracts Margaret Brogan ruled that named APL Guam. to operate and maintain 10 ves- APL had “violated the Unions’ sels in the Ready Reserve Force. The SUP, MFOW, MEBA Seven of the ships are new for collective bargaining agree- and MM&P then contacted the SU P. ments when it refused to crew the company and asked if the The awards were announced the APL Guam with employees Maritime Security Program on January 22, by Secretary of represented by the Unions. Operating Agreement for the Transportation Anthony Foxx. “The contract language, past Cyprine was going to be trans- Matson was awarded three ves- practice and particular cir- ferred to the Guam. APL sels with a contract totaling $174 Pictured above is the MV Cape Horn. She and her sister ships Cape cumstances of this Company responded in the affirmative, million and Patriot seven vessels Henry and Cape Hudson carry up to 6,766 TEU’s with a 39-ton crane decision support the Unions’ stating that the Guam would for $227 million. to unload the containers. The Horn has a fixed 63.9-ton capacity vehicle position that this is bargaining be operated by APL Maritime ramp on the starboard/stern quarter which allows Ro/Ro operations to The contract awards are four the starboard side or aft only. The vessel has an overall capability of unit work. In line with that Ltd. instead of APL Marine years, including two, two-year carrying 180,000 square feet of cargo. The ship was built for Norway’s finding, I conclude that the Services which has agree- options. The Maritime Admin- Barber Steamship Company in 1979 and named Barber Tonsberg. She APL Guam is a replacement ments with the SUP and the istration (MarAd) contracts are was purchased by the Maritime Administration in 1986, and renamed vessel for the APL Cyprine other affected Unions. funded by the Department of De- Cape Horn (T-AKR 5068). The Horn, Henry and Hudson are managed within the meaning of the It must be noted, as Arbitra- fense Sealift Fund to support the by Matson Navigation Company. contract language.” tor Brogan did, that the SUP, nation’s strategic sealift mission. The vessels awarded to Matson supplies to support U.S. forces cludes eight Fast Sealift Support The dispute began in No- MFOW, MEBA and MM&P and to respond to national and vessels (FSS)) two heavy-lift or vember of last year when APL have been on APL vessels en- are the Cape Henry, Cape Horn and Cape Hudson. The Henry humanitarian emergencies. Two barge carrying ships, six auxil- notified the Unions that the rolled in the Maritime Security is homeported in Alameda and other vessels are used to support iary craneships, one tanker, and Maritime Security Program Program since its inception in the Cape Horn and Hudson are Missile Defense Agency opera- two aviation repair vessels. Two (MSP) enrolled vessel APL Cy- 1996. in San Francisco. The Patriot tions. RRF ships are homeported in the prine would be reflagged for- In response, the Unions vessels are the Admiral William The Ready Reserve Force NDRF anchorage in Beaumont, eign in December. This notifi- filed a grievance with the Callaghan and Cape Orlando (RRF) program was initiated Texas. The balance are berthed at cation followed in the wake of company, asserting that it was both berthed in Alameda, plus in 1976 as a subset of MarAd’s various U.S. ports. Layberth fa- violating the Union’s collective the Cape Taylor, Cape Texas, National Defense Reserve Fleet cilities are leased from commer- cial sources and by negotiating bargaining agreements which Cape Trinity, Cape Victory and (NDRF) to support the rap- for government owned facilities. ultimately led to expedited Cape Vincent –all homeported id worldwide deployment of in Beaumont, Texas. All the U.S. military forces. As a key These outported locations are arbitration (see the December coordinated with military plan- 2015 West Coast Sailors) and vessels are Roll-On/Roll-Off. element of Department of De- fense (DOD) strategic sealift, ners and chosen to minimize Arbitrator Brogan’s decision. More information is in President Lundeberg’s report on page 10. the RRF primarily supports sailing time to strategic load out As the West Coast Sailors ports. Outported RRF ships are Five other companies were transport of Army and Marine went to press, the Unions and also used as training platforms also awarded contracts: Crowley Corps unit equipment, combat for cargo handling by Navy and the company have agreed that Technical Management, Key- support equipment, and initial Army units and for homeland the SUP, MFOW, MEBA and stone Shipping Services, Ocean resupply during the critical surge security training by various law MM&P shall crew the APL Duchess Inc., Pacific-Gulf Ma- period before commercial ships enforcement agencies. Guam along with the SIU-Ma- rine Corporation and TOTE can be marshaled. The RRF rine Cooks. Other remedies Services, Inc. provides nearly one-half of the RRF ships are expected to be government-owned surge sea- fully operational within their including contributions to the All companies are responsible lift capability. Management of assigned five and 10-day readi- various Union benefit plans for maintaining the ships in good the RRF program is defined by ness status and sail to designated during the time the vessel working order and ensuring that a Memorandum of Agreement loading berths. Commercial U.S. operated without the affected crews are available to sail them between DOD and Department ship managers provide systems Unions onboard still need to when needed. Forty-six of the Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ of Transportation (DOT). maintenance, equipment repairs, vessels are part of the Ready be discussed. logistics support, activation, Reserve Force – including those The program began with six If the Unions and APL can- manning, and operations man- awarded to Matson and Patriot. ships in 1977, peaked at 102 in not arrive at appropriate rem- agement by contract. Ships in This fleet is managed by MarAd 1994, and now consists of 46 edies, Arbitrator Brogan will priority readiness have Reduced to provide rapid mass move- ships including: 35 Roll-On/Roll make the determination. ment of defense equipment and Off (RO/RO) vessels (which in- continued on page 3 Surge LMSR Wages: Page 6 ESU News: Pages 7 RRF Wages: Page 11 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, February 19, 2016 SUP Quarterly Finance Committee Report SUP QUARTERLY FINANCE COMMITTEE REPORT Advertising & Promotion ......................................................................... 1,115.90 FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER, 2015 Misc ...........................................................................................................728.83 Total Expense: ..............................................................................$320,097.21 The Quarterly Finance Committee, duly authorized to act by the regular meeting at Headquarters on January 11, 2016, hereby submits the following report: BUILDING CORPORATION Income: SUMMARY OF CASH AND INVESTMENTS Rents ................................................................................................$124,482.79 General Fund.....................................................................................$1,779,837.18 Bldg. Util. & Service Reim. ......................................................................... 0.00 Political Fund ...........................................................................................$9,854.93 Total Income: ............................................................................$124,482.79 Strike Fund .......................................................................................$1,293,730.99 Total Cash and Investments 4th Qtr. 2015 .................................... $3,083,423.10 Expense: Building Services & Utilities ................................................................ $33,239.79 GENERAL FUND Repairs & Maintenance ........................................................................ 15,635.91 Income: Insurance ................................................................................................6,834.32 Dues, Initiation, Assessments .......................................................... $134,865.80 General Taxes ......................................................................................18,418.90 Interest .................................................................................................12,484.05 Salaries & Payroll Taxes ....................................................................... 22,950.59 Donations - West Coast Sailors .............................................................. 1,025.00 Pension .....................................................................................................198.00 Tanker & Joint Committee, Hiring Hall ...............................................