Fire-Fighting Training at MM&P
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Vol. 41, No. 4 The International July – August Marine Division 2005 of ILA/AFL-CIO Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Fire-Fighting Training at MM&P Manulani Christened Contracts With Sulphur Carriers, Shaver The Master, Mate & Pilot July – August 2005 - 1 - Vol. 41, No. 4 July – August 2005 Table of Contents The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) is the official voice President’s Letter 1 of the International Organization of Why your PCF contribution is so important Masters, Mates & Pilots (International Marine Division of the ILA), Company News 3 AFL-CIO. Published bimonthly at MM&P Headquarters, 700 Maritime Boulevard, MM&P vice presidents at Manulani christening; Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941. arbitration win for MM&P; contracts with Sulphur Telephone: (410) 850-8700 E-mail: [email protected] Carriers, Shaver; updates on APL, McAllister Internet: www.bridgedeck.org Periodicals postage paid at Linthicum Heights, News Briefs 5 MD, and additional offices. MM&P’s Glen Banks meets with Rep. Ben Cardin; POSTMASTER—Please send changes to: The Master, Mate & Pilot elegant watches are new PCF gift; Horizon Hawaii port 700 Maritime Boulevard Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941 call; maritime union consensus on TWIC card; NSPS Timothy A. Brown update; Moment of Remembrance on E-Ships Endurance Chairman, Editorial Board Lisa Rosenthal Communications Director Washington Observer 8 MM&P-supported bills make progress in INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS Timothy A. Brown. President 109th Congress; U.S. Coast Guard has controversial Glen P. Banks. Secretary-Treasurer new credentialing proposal VICE PRESIDENTS Steve Demeroutis. United Inland Into the Fire 12 Bob Groh. Offshore Gulf The advanced fire-fighting course at MITAGS Don Marcus. Offshore Pacific Richard May. Offshore Atlantic Health & Benefit Plans 14 George A. Quick . Pilotage Medicare Part D; Board of Trustees meeting highlights Pensioners 19 Photos from MM&P’s 125th anniversary cruise 20 Directory of MM&P offices 26 Remembering the Mayaguez 30 Cross’d the Final Bar 32 The Navy Jack, a symbol of resistance which dates MM&P PCF Contributors 34 back to the American Revo- lution, flies today on the MITAGS News 37 jack staff on the bow of all naval vessels. In accordance Portrait of Dee Dee Lazik; MED-PIC training to the rescue with a resolution made by the delegates to the 75th About the Cover Convention of the Interna- tional Organization of Mas- Professional mariners battle a flammable liquid fire as part of the ters, Mates & Pilots, every advanced fire-fighting course taught at MM&P’s Maritime Institute for issue of The Master, Mate & Pilot includes a photo- Technology & Graduate Studies (MITAGS). (Photo by Sara Glik.) graph of the historic flag. PRESIDENT’S LETTER The Importance of Contributing To the MM&P PCF This time each year, I ask the membership to make a contribution to MM&P’s Political Contribution Fund (PCF) to support our friends in Washington, D.C. A contribution to the PCF is a direct investment in your future. Let me show you why this is so. This year there is a battle brewing over who should lead the AFL-CIO and what its strategic direction should be. Andrew Stern, president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), is among those who argue that the AFL-CIO should focus its resources on organizing. He also believes that the 60 or so member unions should consolidate into a more manageable number. Stern’s union has been one of Timothy A. Brown the most successful at organizing: the SEIU devotes a substantial share of its budget to organizing and is now the largest union in the AFL-CIO. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney has a different approach. Sweeney and his supporters are in favor of organizing but believe that labor’s dollars are more wisely spent in supporting politicians who will legislate so that unions can organize more successfully. Today, in fact, many successful organizing drives ultimately end with no contract being signed because an employer can stall the process until the workers grow disillusioned or are fired. One challenge for us is that MM&P, as a supervisory union, is not covered by the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA). For this reason, we can’t compel an employer to conduct an election. Our organizing successes must come through working with employers and supplying the industry with professional mariners who perform efficiently and safely. This is where your political contributions become essential. The legislative climate for our activities must be improved if we are to be successful in increasing employment opportunities for our members and strengthening our organization. I urge all members to make a direct investment in MM&P’s future by contributing to the PCF through payroll deduc- tions or periodically as part of a scheduled contribution plan. Visit the MM&P website, www.bridgedeck.org, for details. Snug Harbor Snug Harbor, the retirement home for mariners in Sea Level, N.C., is one of the best kept secrets on the waterfront. A short history may be in order here. Four days before his death in 1801, Captain Robert Richard Randall, a ship’s master and former privateer, signed a will which provided that his mansion and 21-acre farm be used to maintain and support “aged, decrepit and worn old sailors.” It is said that Alexander Hamilton drew up the original trust document for the transfer of the property to the State Chancellor of New York. When land values soared in the 1820s, the legislature was asked to modify the documents so that Sailor’s Snug Harbor (as it was now called) could be built somewhere other than the Randall farm. In May 1831, a 130-acre farm overlooking Upper New York Bay and the Kill van Kull was purchased on Staten Island for $10,000. Construction continued until there were 55 major structures on the farm. Snug Harbor produced its own electricity and steam, and grew it own food. It also had its own church, cemetery, hospital, theater and library. At the start of the 19th century, more than 1,000 retired sailors were in residence. During the next hundred years, the number of sailors at Snug Harbor declined from the high water mark registered at the beginning of the 19th century. When maintaining Snug Harbor on Staten Island became too costly, a decision was made to relocate. Sea Level was selected as the new site. The relocation of the sailors began in July 1976. The residents of Snug Harbor were offered a choice between a bus and a plane and 30 hearty souls braved the 14-hour scenic bus The Master, Mate & Pilot July – August 2005 - 1 - PRESIDENT’S LETTER (continued) trip to Snug Harbor. A physician, a nurse and three aides accompanied them. Four days later, You have worked all your life—let us help you 75 additional seamen and their medical team with retirement... flew to North Carolina. A half dozen Harbor Rich in history, The Sailor’s Snug Harbor has been providing care to “aged, residents refused to leave the New York area decrepit and worn out seamen” for more than 171 years. This organization can offer and two of them refused to leave the Harbor assistance to merchant seamen in two forms: The Mariner’s Outreach Assistance Program (MOAP); or Snug Harbor on Nelson Bay, a comprehensive retirement grounds for several days. center with space, service and amenities for seamen. Review below what each has to offer you, our Mariner. In the mid-1990s, the trust document was changed again to take into account the fact that, Snug Harbor on Nelson Bay MOAP offers: while money was still coming into the trust, the offers: number of sailors being cared for had continued x Over 171 years in the Long x Age in place to decline. An outreach program was introduced Term Care Industry x Program is designed x Financial Assistance for around individual needs which allowed sailors living outside the Sea qualifying seamen x Possible assistance with rent, utilities, financial Level facility to receive a stipend or help with x Luxury living x All inclusive package, including obligations and paying bills. three meals served daily Supplemental Health Insurance Coverage I visited Snug Harbor in the late 1990s with x Tranquility in a picturesque surrounding x Stipend paid directly to the Captain Robert Darley, former Offshore Atlantic x Security of your medical care; vendor, avoid tax liability x Family is close by so Ports Vice President. At that time there were 64 including three levels of care; Independent Living, Assisted moving is not a necessity. sailors in residence. What Captain Darley and Living, Skilled Nursing Care x Stress free, worry free & I found was a revelation to both of us. Snug maintenance free living Harbor is extremely well kept up. It has medical personnel on site round the clock. Most medical For more information call: 1-800-257-5456 procedures, except major ones, can be carried out on site or in nearby Morehead City or 272 Hwy 70 East Sea Level, NC 28577 Beaufort. Each sailor has his own room. Meals are served three times a day. There are wood- www.snugharborhome.com working shops, hobby shops, libraries, movies and other creature comforts. Wives are encour- aged to join their husbands in residence. Early this year, the complex was sold to an outside entity which has pledged to maintain the same admission policy. The residence is open to sailors and non-sailors. Seamen are at the top of the list. If there is no room because the residence is at capacity, the seaman goes to the head of the list for the next opening.