Vol. 54, No.6 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO Nov. | Dec. 2018 Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Best Wishes for 2019 The Master, Mate & Pilot is the Table of Contents official voice of the International Vol. 54, No. 6 November | December 2018 Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (International From the President 1 Marine Division of the ILA), International maritime unions: the future is now. AFL-CIO. © 2018 IOMMP. News Briefs 3 The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) is published bimonthly Giant new Matson containership makes first Honolulu port call; by the International Organization officers and crew of USNS Trenton, MV Edgar B. Speer and USNS of Masters, Mates & Pilots. MM&P Headquarters: 700 Maritime Blvd., Yuma receive awards for rescues, exemplary service; MM&P Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD Government Group members overwhelmingly approve dues 21090-1953. Phone: (410) 850-8700 increase; International Boatmen’s Union of the Pacific celebrates E-mail: [email protected] 100 years of progressive unionism; MM&P members save humpback Internet: www.bridgedeck.org Periodicals Postage Paid at whale; news from Maersk Seletar, USNS Wally Schirra, Maersk Elkridge, MD and additional Memphis, SLNC Goodwill and MV President Truman. offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Master, Washington Observer 13 Mate & Pilot, 700 Maritime Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum New Congress brings challenges and opportunities. Heights, MD 21090-1953 MM&P Health & Benefit Plans 16 Don Marcus Chairman, Editorial Board Increase in annual earnings limitations; a Quick Guide to Medicare. Lisa Rosenthal Communications Director News From MITAGS 20 Members prep for array of risks in CBR-D class; MITAGS-PMI INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS Don Marcus, President outreach includes volunteering at community food bank. Steven Werse, Secretary-Treasurer Pensioners 21 VICE PRESIDENTS Thomas Bell, Great Lakes & Gulf Stephen H. Doherty, Atlantic Maritime MM&P Directory 22 Don Josberger, Offshore Atlantic Klaus Luhta, Offshore Gulf & 2018-19 Offshore Scholarship Winners 25 Government Affairs George A. Quick, Pilots Randall H. Rockwood, Federal Cross’d the Final Bar 26 Employees Timothy Saffle, Pacific Maritime Region Thank You Contributors to the MM&P PCF! 28 Lars Turner, Offshore Pacific The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO Vol. 54, No.6 Nov. | Dec. 2018 Connect With Us! Official Voice of the International About the Cover [email protected] Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Holiday Greetings! MM&P Bridgedeck.org wishes all readers of The Master, Mate & Pilot, on land and at sea, Facebook.com/IOMMP and their families and friends, a happy holiday season. YouTube: MastersMatesPilots Best Wishes for 2019 Instagram: bridgedeck Twitter: @MMP_Union FROM THE PRESIDENT International Maritime Unions The Future Is Now Union Sisters and Brothers, he maritime industry is, of course, a global one. In the case of the U.S. Merchant Marine, however, a sort of American exceptionalism has served to keep a Tbaseline industry in existence. American maritime labor has been instrumental in keeping alive the small, but essential, deep-sea The positive achievements of the ITF with regard to enhancing U.S.-flag fleet. On the global scene, separate from, but bound the lives of flag-of-convenience mariners were celebrated at the to affect our government-sponsored industry, several events Congress in Singapore, in which I was gratified to participate over the last few months of 2018 demonstrate the role that the along with Offshore Vice Presidents Don Josberger and Lars international labor movement can play in determining the future Turner. Yet it was also recognized at the Congress that the effort of international shipping in the present era of neo-liberalism and to improve international seafarer compensation and quality of technological innovation. life is far from complete. This mission requires the relentless The 44th Congress of the 122-year-old International Transport efforts of ITF inspectors, dockers and seafarers around the world. Workers’ Federation (ITF) was held in Singapore Oct. 14–20. Also discussed at length, and the source of some controversy at Singapore was selected as the location as a salute to labor in East the Congress, was an equally important ITF mission: protecting Asia and because the city is at the leading edge of global trade the interests of workers as technology transforms the maritime and technology. While maritime workers make up only one workplace (along with those of other transportation sectors). sector of today’s ITF, the moral, industrial and financial strength Enhancing workers’ livelihoods, working conditions and quality of the ITF remains dependent on the integral relationship of life must be an indispensable part of the formula for shaping between “dockers,” that is, longshoremen, and seafarers. Without the future of work. In this critical discussion, the ITF is the that relationship and the collective power that these two groups primary advocate for labor on the international level. of workers have in affecting world commerce, the ITF would Strong differences of opinion marked the discussion have never developed into the positive force that it is today. of technology at the Congress. In fact, the International While the ITF has unquestionably been the most Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) boycotted the event due successful global federation of trade unions in improving to what appeared to be the ITF’s collaborative approach the wages, benefits and working conditions of one of its core on this subject leading up to the Congress. The question constituencies—flag-of-convenience mariners—it has been of the appropriate use of technology, or the “embrace” of singularly unsuccessful in another of its key missions. That technology, was a major theme during the week-long event. mission, which dates back to the ITF’s 1948 Congress in Oslo, Like globalization, which began with the first modern flags of Norway, is, to raise international labor standards for mariners so convenience nearly 100 years ago, automation has the potential as to drive flag-of-convenience shipowners back to the flags of to completely transform our industry and the work we do. In their nations of beneficial ownership. countless ways, of course, it already has. For proof, one need Given that the 70-year campaign has not yielded the desired look no further than the immense changes that have taken place result, no one anticipates that the traditional maritime nations aboard ship during the relatively short professional lives of many will again be the source of the mariners who once brought the MM&P members who began their careers in the mid-1970s. riches of the world to their shores and fueled their economic Indeed, a key reason for our commitment to the ITF is to growth. The international maritime industry was the first to have a voice with regards to the effects of technological change. outsource its labor. The situation will not change as long as less As part of the ITF Maritime Safety Committee and other expensive labor markets are available. The survival, at a very committees that deal with the operational and legal aspects of baseline level, of U.S. mariners as the labor force of the U.S.- technological change, MM&P has a seat at the table through flag merchant marine is almost entirely due to a fortuitous the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in London. We combination of military necessity and effective political action by have a chance to affect the speed and direction of change through those whose jobs are at stake: U.S. maritime unions. continued on page 2 www.bridgedeck.org - The Master, Mate & Pilot 1 FROM THE (CONTINUED) PRESIDENT the IMO regulatory process. As we go to press, two members of our seafarers (facilitated by the ILO at its headquarters in Geneva), the administration, Pilot Vice President George Quick and Offshore minimum international standard wage for an AB was established. Gulf and Government Affairs Vice President Klaus Luhta, are in The rate will be $618 per month effective July 1, 2019, $625 as London as part of the ITF delegation to the IMO. We are honored of Jan. 1, 2020 and $641 as of Jan. 1, 2021. The rates for other that Captain Quick is chairman of the Ship Automation Working unlicensed ratings and licensed personnel are extrapolated from this Group. baseline. It is MM&P’s commitment to remain engaged in the technology I quote these rates because U.S. mariners should be aware of debate both internationally with regards to regulatory development the very modest baseline that we are competing against on the at the IMO and nationally at the ground level of collective international level! This is a sobering fact that should make every bargaining. U.S. mariner grateful for trade union political action and collective bargaining. American maritime labor has fought decades for what it has achieved. To keep it, we must continue to fight. If we falter, the international standard will become the U.S. standard, and seafaring will no longer be an occupation for American citizens. “American maritime labor The achievements of maritime labor unions were brought has fought decades for what home to me while I attended the 100th Anniversary and National Convention of the Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific (IBU) it has achieved. To keep it, in Seattle Nov. 11–14. The IBU is a democratic trade union that we must continue to fight.” has weathered 100 years of turbulence. Like MM&P, the IBU has remained true to its mission of improving the lives of its members. Sometimes maligned by reactionary employers, the IBU hasn’t wavered in its commitment to progressive unionism, the theme of its Convention. The success of the IBU’s commitment is evidenced The International Labor Organization (ILO) also plays an by the fact that the two senior positions in the union are held by important role on the international stage for maritime labor.