Congress Hears from Maritime Labor
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Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXXII No. 3 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, March 22, 2019 Congress hears from maritime labor n a wide-ranging and de- Following the signing of an while the Senate Committee on tailed examination of the Executive Order by President Commerce, Science, and Trans- d r Icurrent state of the American Donald J. Trump to create an portation simultaneously held a 3 maritime industry, there were easier pathway for veterans to hearing titled “The State of the 3 1 two sets of hearings in both the transition into maritime careers American Maritime Industry.” House and Senate on Capitol Hill in the U.S. Merchant Marine, Chair of the House Com- in Washington D.C. on March 6. congressional and maritime mittee on Transportation and These hearings highlighted the leaders convened for two hear- Infrastructure Peter DeFazio critical nature of existing legis- ings exploring the state of the (D-Oregon) opened the hearing lation, government funding and domestic maritime industry and by addressing the recent Exec- program support for maritime the role of the Jones Act. These utive Order signed by President interests as both a vital Amer- hearings coincided with the re- Trump saying, “I applaud the 1885-2019 ican industry and a national lease of new economic data from President for signing an Exec- defense asset. At the same time, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) utive Order on March 4, to sup- maritime labor and other indus- which quantified that the Jones port the transition of active duty try representatives converged Act creates 650,000 jobs nation- service members and military on Capitol Hill and met with wide with an economic impact of veterans to careers in the U.S. lawmakers on funding for the more than $150 billion annually. Merchant Marine. That was the Maritime Security Program and On March 6, the House Trans- right thing to do. It would be a he Sailors’ Union rights. Under federal law they other issues. (See President’s portation and Infrastructure cruel irony, however, if the next of the Pacific was or- were serfs at the beck and call of Report on page 10.) Subcommittee on Coast Guard action taken by this administra- ganized 134 years ago the shipowner, the crimp, bucko T Yet the strong support for the and Maritime Transportation tion were to waive the Jones Act on March 6, 1885, on the masters and mates. Recognition, U.S. merchant marine from both gathered for a hearing titled and simultaneously eliminate old Folsom Street Wharf in San respect and improved conditions Congress and the Trump Ad- “U.S. Maritime and Shipbuilding future job opportunities for those Francisco. did not come easy. Men bled and ministration came as new Jones very same veterans and separat- In that era, organizing a Union some died for it. Industries: Strategies to Improve Act waivers and repeals were Regulation, Economic Oppor- was a bold move as there were no During World War I and par- considered. (See page 3.) tunities, and Competitiveness” continued on page 3 laws on the ticularly World War II, hundreds books that of SUP members faced enemy addressed attacks and went down with their collective ships. The SUP today continues bargaining to be a vital part of America’s Key maritime programs receive funding r ig hts for “Fourth Arm of Defense”. resident Trump signed into Title II, the primary source domestically and abroad. law last month the Con- w o r k e r s . With a militant membership P of food-aid cargoes for U.S.- The Act also provides $3 mil- solidated Appropriations Act, That would and the tenacious leadership of flagged vessels, is now funded lion for administrative expenses not occu r 2019, which provides funding Andrew Furuseth Andrew Furuseth (March 5, 1854) at $1.5 billion. In appropria- related to the Maritime Admin- u n t i l t h e for several federal agencies and and Harry Lundeberg (March 25, tions legislation enacted last istration’s Title XI shipbuilding passage of the National Labor programs through the close of 1901), tremendous obstacles were March, the program had been loan guarantee program, which Relations Act in 1935. the current fiscal year, including overcome and the Sailors’ Union funded at $1.6 billion for the eases access to commercial cred- programs crucial to the U.S.-flag For sailors, there were no developed an enduring legacy of previous fiscal year. it for the construction of mer- fleet and U.S. Merchant Marine. strength and integrity. Under U.S. cargo preference chant vessels in U.S. shipyards. In addition to the anniver- The Appropriations Act requirements, at least 50% The Chairman of the House sary of the provides full funding for the of U.S. government food-aid Committee on Transportation organization Maritime Security Program shipments must be carried and Infrastructure Peter De- of the Union (MSP) fleet, $300 million for by U.S.-flagged vessels. These Fazio (D-Oregon) and Chair- and the the fiscal year. The Maritime cargoes help keep U.S.-flagged man of the House Subcom- birthdays of Security Program supports commercial vessels in service mittee on Coast Guard and former sec- a fleet of 60 militarily-useful and U.S. merchant mariners, Maritime Transportation Sean retaries Fu- U.S.-flagged ships, which are who are needed to man surge Patrick Maloney (D-New York) ruseth and crewed by U.S. merchant mar- and reserve military sealift applauded the signing, which Lundeberg, Harry Lundeberg iners and operate in interna- vessels in times of war and cri- includes critical funding for M a r c h i s tional commercial trades. The sis, employed and current on construction of the first Coast also the 104th anniversary of the ships and their corresponding their skills and certifications. Guard Polar Security Cutter. privately-owned intermodal Seamen’s Act which was signed The Appropriations Act “This funding for the Polar cargo systems and networks into law by President Woodrow provides the National Security Security Cutter will help to ad- are available to the Depart- Wilson on March 4, 1915, after Multi-Mission Vessel Program dress the need for future polar a 20-year struggle by Furuseth ment of Defense for military with $300 million, covering operations and improve polar Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ to free seamen from indentured sealift operations and in na- construction, planning, ad- icebreaking capabilities. Polar servitude. tional security emergencies. ministration and design of icebreakers enable the U.S. to The Sailors’ Union of the Pa- The Appropriations Act also maritime academy training maintain defense readiness, sup- cific is the oldest Union of sea- provides funding for U.S. food- ships, which could also be port the enforcement of treaties farers in the world in continuous aid programs through the cur- used in defense sealift and existence. rent fiscal year. Food for Peace humanitarian crisis missions continued on page 3 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, March 22, 2019 SUP Honor Roll Maritime Administrator reiterates Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: optimism regarding maritime industry Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby crisis or national emergency, and we have Organization/ Political Fund delivered an address to the Maritime to be able to depend on them.” Trades Department (MTD) Executive He also said RRF ships in the last three General Fund Jeffer Baguio. 100.00 Board last month, expressing his opti- years have been activated and used more Stephen Rydberg. 200.00 Rogelio Berioso. 25.00 mism regarding the maritime industry. than during any other peacetime stretch. Dennis Belmonte. 50.00 Eugene Castano. 20.00 Buzby reiterated the unwavering sup- Buzby has spent lots of time visiting Dave Connolly. 100.00 port of his boss, Secretary of Transpor- vessels in the past year. Reflecting on Rico Ecalnir. 30.00 tation Elaine L. Chao, another longtime those trips and interactions, he said. “A West Coast Joseph Eckert . 10.00 friend of the U.S.-flag maritime industry. real bright spot in all this work that’s Joseph Ginez. .10.00 Buzby detailed many of the obstacles being done to maintain these ships is our mariners. They are doing a tremendous Sailors Matt Henning . 50.00 the industry is dealing with, including a manpower shortage and an urgent need job. They totally understand the role they Herminio Huavas . 50.00 Dennis Belmonte. 50.00 to recapitalize the Ready Reserve Force play in national security. They know that John Dacuag . .10.00 Noel Itsumaru. 50.00 (RRF) vessels and other sealift ships. when they go out there and tear a pump Matt Henning . 100.00 Vince O’Halloran. 100.00 “I really am optimistic. We’re making apart or chip rust on deck to make sure Nick Manessiotis. 50.00 Charles Rafael. 100.00 some real headway in getting our mer- that ship is ready to go, they are actually Charles Rafael. 25.00 Stephen Rydberg. 200.00 chant marine strengthened. All of my making a vital contribution to our nation’s energy and focus and that of my staff is security, should the call come – and it will to ensure that the U.S. Merchant Marine come at some point. ... They work their Dues-Paying Pensioners continues to move forward that our story butts off. Their spirit is good, and there is told forcefully and truthfully. 1 can are smiles on their faces, and to a man Donald Cushing Book #4777 Duane Nash Book #2437 also promise that we’ll continue to work they understand the importance of what Diane Ferrari Book #2251 John Perez Book #3810 shoulder-to-shoulder with all of you for it is they do, and are happy to be doing Kaj E.