Organized 1885

Official Organ of the Sailors' Union of the Pacific

Volume LXXI No. 9 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, September 19, 2008 McCain and the economy Problems with TWIC outlined at ohn McCain spent Septem- Bush years and as a result, Jber 15 claiming, as he had American workers have taken a House Sub-committee hearing countless times before, that beating. the economy was fundamentally In clarifying his comments, t the request of the mari- Martin should specifically tailor obtain TWICs. TSA and sound. Had he missed the col- Senator McCain lavished praise time Unions —SUP, communications for workers Lockheed Martin should make lapse of Lehman Brothers or the A on workers, but ignored their MM&P, MEBA, ILA with criminal records, explain translations of vital documents sale of Merrill Lynch, which problems. That is the real insult. and ILWU— affiliated with the what the disqualification are, available and hire bilingual staff were announced the day before? For decades, typical Ameri- AFL-CIO’s Transportation assure workers with criminal or use a language interpretation Did he not notice the agonies of cans have not been rewarded for Trades Department (TTD) Laura records that they qualify, and telephone service at the enroll- the American Insurance Group? their increasing productivity with Moskowitz, staff attorney for the encourage them to utilize the ment centers and Help Desk. Was he unaware of the impend- comparably higher pay or better Oakland, California-based Na- TWIC waiver process. On behalf of the TTD Unions, ing layoffs of tens of thousands benefits. The disconnect be- tional Employment Law Project, · Due to inadequate screening, Ms. Moskowitz made the fol- of Wall Street employees on top tween work and reward has been testified on September 17 before TSA is disqualifying large num- lowing recommendations to the of the growing numbers of un- especially acute during the Bush the House Committee on Home- bers of workers whose criminal Committee: employed workers throughout years, as workers’ incomes fell land Security’s Subcommittee on records do not make them ineli- TSA and Lockheed Martin the United States? while corporate profits, which Border, Maritime and gible, in violation of the stan- should specifically tailor com- Counterterrorism chaired by The following day, he clari- flow to investors and company dards under the Maritime Trans- munications for workers with Representative Loretta Sanchez fied his remarks. The clarifica- executives, ballooned. For portation Security Act (MTSA). criminal records, explain what (D-California). tion was far more worrisome workers, that is a fundamental Before issuing an initial denial, the disqualifications are, assure than his initial comments. flaw in today’s economy. It is Excerpts from Ms. TSA should marshal its resources workers with criminal records He said that by calling the grounded in policies like a Moskowitz’s testimony follow: to track down missing informa- that they qualify for TWICs, and economy fundamentally sound, chronically inadequate minimum As the Transportation Worker tion that is critical to the deter- encourage them to utilize the what he really meant was that wage and an increasingly unpro- Identification Credential (TWIC) mination that someone has a dis- waiver process. qualifying felony conviction. American workers are the best in gressive tax system, for which program nears its one-year mark Before issuing an initial de- the world. He implied that if you McCain offers no alternatives. next month and the final com- · TSA is denying TWICs to nial, TSA should marshal its pliance date is only six months large numbers of foreign-born dispute his statement about the As for Wall Street, McCain resources to track down miss- away, it is not too late for Trans- U.S. citizens and other qualified economy’s firm foundation, you blamed the meltdown on “un- ing information that is critical portation Security Administra- workers due to poor training by are, in effect, insulting American bridled corruption and greed.” to the determination that some- tion (TSA) and Lockheed Mar- Lockheed Martin of its “Trusted workers. “I believe in American He called for a commission to one has a disqualifying felony tin to prioritize some key fixes Agents” and poor communica- workers, and someone who dis- conviction. find out what happened and pro- that will become critical as the tion with applicants regarding agrees with that - it’s fine.” Lockheed Martin must more pose solutions. His diagnosis compliance date nears and the necessary citizenship and immi- First, no one who is currently and his cure are misguided. The effectively train its Trusted number of applications grows. gration documents. Lockheed Agents to accept the necessary running for president does not crisis on Wall Street is funda- Our testimony focuses on the fol- Martin must more effectively “believe in American workers.” mentally a failure to do the documents during enrollment, lowing major problems facing train its Trusted Agents to ac- and TSA must take more proac- More to the point, the things that temper, detect and TWIC applicants and key rec- cept the necessary documents punish corruption and greed. It tive steps to ensure that docu- economy is stressed to the break- ommendations for improvement. during enrollment, and TSA ments needed by foreign-born was a failure to police the mar- ing point by fundamental prob- · Poor outreach and commu- must take far more proactive applicants are brought to the kets, to enforce rules, to heed lems —in housing, finance, nication by TSA and Lockheed steps to ensure that documents enrollment center and properly and sound warnings and expose credit, employment, health care Martin have resulted in work- needed by foreign-born appli- scanned and sent to TSA. and the federal budget— that questionable products and prac- cants are brought to the enroll- ers failing to apply for TWICs, TSA and Lockheed Martin have been at best neglected, at tices. In short, the Wall Street ment center and sent to TSA. including large numbers of eli- should make translations of vi- worst exacerbated during the crisis is capitalism run-a-muck. gible workers with criminal · TSA and Lockheed Martin tal documents available and hire In the wake of McCain’s re- records, which has contributed have not provided language-ap- bilingual staff or use a language marks, AFL-CIO President John to low enrollment. To maximize propriate services to the ports’ interpretation telephone service Sweeney stated: “The record is enrollment on the part of eligible diverse immigrant workforce, at the enrollment centers and clear. John McCain has voted workers, TSA and Lockheed thus hindering their ability to Help Desk. repeatedly for the same policies that brought us the financial ca- Periodicals postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) (USPS CA Francisco, San at paid postage Periodicals tastrophe, and he is surrounded Senator Obama on the financial crisis by the architects of financial de- “The era of greed and irrespon- sector so capital is flowing again ers some or most of its invest- regulation. Former Senator Phil sibility on Wall Street and in and we can avert an even ment over time, this initial out- Gramm, an early campaign ad- Washington has led to a finan- broader economic catastrophe. lay of up to $700 billion is so- visor whom McCain has de- cial crisis as profound as any we We also should recognize that bering. And in return for their scribed as more respected on have faced since the Great De- economic recovery requires that support, the American people economics than anyone else in pression. we act, not just to address the must be assured that the deal America, was the chief sponsor crisis on Wall Street, but also reflects some basic principles. of legislation that deregulated “But regardless of how we got the crisis on Main Street and “No blank check. If we grant the banking sector, legalizing here, the circumstances we face around kitchen tables across the Treasury broad authority to the risky investment practices require decisive action because America. address the immediate crisis, we that are at the root of the cur- the jobs, savings, and economic must insist on independent ac- rent crisis. This year Gramm has security of millions of Ameri- “But thus far, the Administra- countability and oversight. belittled working people who are cans are now at risk. tion has only offered a concept Given the breach of trust we struggling in the economic cri- “We must work quickly in a with a staggering price tag, not bipartisan fashion to resolve this a plan. have seen and the magnitude of continued on page 2 crisis and restore our financial “Even if the Treasury recov- continued on page 3 New APL Wage Scales: Page 11 ESU News: Pages 6 & 7 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008 Platforms show sharp difference SUP Honor Roll between Democrats and Republicans Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: In the wake of the Democratic party efficient cars and communications tech- and Republican party conventions, both nology. Organization/ West Coast parties’ platforms are now available, and · Preventing privatization of jobs and they illuminate key differences as the misclassification of workers. election approaches. General Fund Sailors The Republican platform touches on When Senator John McCain accepted Abraham Acosta ...... 20.00 Albert Abramson ...... 20.00 few, if any, of these issues. Only seven the Republican nomination on Septem- of the platform’s 60 pages focus on the Knud Andersen...... 100.00 Abraham Acosta ...... 20.00 ber 4, he signed on to a platform that economy. With somewhat veiled and Joseph Bracken...... 25.00 Isnin Idris...... 50.00 tilts far away from working families and very misleading language, it opposes the Gunnar Lundeberg ...... 50.00 Gunther Brummer...... 30.00 toward the corporate interests that have Employee Free Choice Act. The platform Jason Magi ...... 25.00 Gus Guzelian...... 25.00 been the beneficiaries of the Bush ad- promises to “aggressively” push inter- Robert Hampshire ...... 50.00 ministration. It stands in contrast to a national trade and calls for Fast Track Democratic platform that reflects Sena- Hannu Kurppa ...... 20.00 approval of trade deals without input tor Barack Obama’s strong commitment Political Fund Maca”Jay” Loe ...... 15.00 from Congress. The McCain camp’s to making the economy work for all. message on the economy is clear: It’s Charles Rafael ...... 25.00 Abraham Acosta ...... 20.00 Thea Lee, the AFL-CIO’s policy di- not a top priority, and they won’t fight Teo Rojas ...... 40.00 Knud Andersen...... 100.00 rector and a member of the committee to make sure workers can succeed. Eleanor Terrell in memory that drafted the Democratic platform, said James Bailey ...... 50.00 On health care, one of the most im- of Eugene Shultz ...... 50.00 she’s very pleased with the platform and Noel Balaguer ...... 50.00 portant issues facing working families Morris Thibodeaux ...... 200.00 the vision it sets out for the country. “I and the U.S. economy, the Republican David Connolly ...... 100.00 think that this is a strong, unapologetic, Richard Walsh...... 20.00 platform is built on a baffling contradic- John Drolla ...... 50.00 pro-worker document. This year, it’s tion. It says “radical restructuring of Earl Eastmark ...... 40.00 clear that the economy is going to be the health care would be unwise,” but then Edwardo Franco ...... 20.00 Dues-Paying centerpiece of the election, and the plat- lays out a plan for radical changes that form lays out a robust and comprehen- David Garcia ...... 20.00 would take our health care system in the Pensioners sive pro-worker economic policy. Dale Gibson ...... 20.00 wrong direction—increasing the power Robert Copeland Book #4763 If you look at the outcome, it’s a good of private insurance companies, leaving Robert Greene ...... 100.00 Romaine Dudley Book #2593 set of policies that we can be proud of.” millions of families on their own and Nabil Habid ...... 100.00 Duane Hewitt Book #5748 Lee said the Democratic platform changing the tax system to raise taxes on Kenneth Herzstein ...... 20.00 Knud Jensen Book #3940 shows, in specific language, the steps an those who get health benefits at work. Nick Hoogendam ...... 10.00 Obama administration would take to help John Jewett Book #4291 As scholars, Robert Gordon and James Isnin Idris...... 50.00 working families and strengthen the Kvaal point out today at The New Re- Tony Jones Book #4305 Knud Jensen ...... 35.00 economy. That includes: public, McCain’s health care proposal Kaj E. Kristensen Book #3120 Kaj Kristensen...... 100.00 · Passing the Employee Free Choice Act amounts to: “a tax agenda that costs tril- Eli Lalich Book #4062 to allow workers the freedom to form Maca “Jay” Loe ...... 15.00 lions of dollars yet delivers no benefit to Stanley Lane Book #4106 unions and bargain without employer tens of millions of middle-class Gunnar Lundeberg ...... 50.00 James K. Larsen Book #4055 intimidation. Americans. Before long, nearly all Brian McCarthy...... 50.00 John McKeon Book #6456 · Implementing a trade policy that pro- families would be paying higher taxes Richard Reed ...... 50.00 Keith Miller Book #6497 tects jobs and fights unfair trade prac- on their health insurance.” Dmitri Seleznev...... 30.00 Joseph Napier Book #2299 tices. Gregary Smith ...... 20.00 John Pedersen Book #3834 · Ensuring that everyone has access to Steve Swinton ...... 20.00 John Perez Book #3810 secure, high-quality health care. SUP Meetings Louis Urbano ...... 20.00 Alex Romo Book #3193 · Making equal pay for women a reality. These are the dates for the regu- William Williamson ...... 50.00 Cliff Rouleau Book #3144 · Protecting workers with paid sick leave, overtime protections and prevailing larly scheduled SUP meetings in Aaron Wong ...... 10.00 Ralph Senter Book #7323 wages. 2008: Richard Sexton Book #6986 · Investing in the renewable energy sec- Hdqs. Branch tor, infrastructure, innovations in fuel- October 14* 20 November 10 17 NOL set to navigate market turbulence December 8 15 Singapore’s Neptune Orient Lines, the *Tuesday self for a rough ride over the next 18 McCain and the economy parent company of APL, as the world’s months or so with pressure on margins continuned from page 1 seventh largest container shipping line, really expected to show in the second has long been the subject of speculation quarter of this year. sis by calling them “whiners”. when it comes to mergers and acquisi- NOL’s liner unit APL has cut back its McCain has done as much as any tions. When it was first rumored at the own capacity expansion plans in the face elected leader in Washington to harm the beginning of this year that Hapag-Lloyd of the slowdown in the industry. Planned living standards and futures of working could be up for sale, it was NOL to which capacity growth of around 16% this year people while building power for corpo- the German liner company was linked. has been scaled back to 8-9%. And NOL rate interests. He voted against repeal- Published monthly by the Sailors Union of When Hapag-Lloyd was finally put on remains one of the only top liner compa- ing tax breaks that encourage American the Pacific (an affiliate of the Seafarers Interna- the block, NOL was always expected to nies to have no ultra large container ton- companies to send jobs overseas and he tional Union of North America, AFL-CIO), be one of the bidders. The sudden de- nage on order. It has opted for tonnage voted repeatedly for unbalanced trade Headquarters, 450 Harrison St., San Fran- parture of president and chief executive which it believes is more flexible as at deals. He voted 19 times against mini- cisco, CA 94105. Phone: 415-777-3400. Dr. Thomas Held weeks before the dead- present the ultra large vessels can only mum wage increases and he voted against FAX: 415-777-5088. Dispatcher: 415-777- 3616. Website: www.sailors.org. Periodi- line for the preliminary offers caused be deployed on the Asia-Europe trade. removing hurdles for workers who want some to question if the bid would go cals postage paid at San Francisco. (USPS to organize unions to win better wages 675-180). Printed by Howard Quinn Co., a ahead. But go ahead it did but report- and benefits. Even today he supports Union shop. edly at a lower price than the market had making permanent President Bush’s tax Gunnar Lundeberg, expected the Singapore-headquartered Final cuts that give the lion’s share of relief to President/Secretary-Treasurer company to bid. According to sources the very wealthy, and he supports cut- Teresa Anibale, Editor close to the company, Held’s departure Departures ting corporate taxes by an amount that was linked to his overall performance would give immensely profitable oil com- BRANCH OFFICES Seattle, WA 98106 rather than any potential acquisition. panies a tax cut of $4 billion. McCain’s George MacGregor, Book No. 5780. 2414 SW Andover St. (206) 467-7944 A successful bid would create the Born in England in 1919. Joined SUP in proposed policies differ from the poli- Bldg. F, Ste. 105 FAX: (206) 467-8119 world’s third largest container shipping 1946. Died in Fresno, California, Au- cies of President Bush only in that they Wilmington, CA 90744 company. gust 9, 2008. (Pensioner) are more extreme and irresponsible.” 533 N. Marine Ave. (310) 835-6617 FAX: (310) 835-9367 Assuming the bidding process does Raymond Berntsen, Book No. 5130. Honolulu, HI 96813 reach its conclusion, NOL’s new presi- Born in North Dakota in 1921. Joined 707 Alakea St. (808) 533-2777 dent and chief executive, Ron Widdows, SUP in 1946. Died in Vallejo, Califor- FAX: (808) 531-3058 says that any acquisition of Hapag-Lloyd nia, August 4, 2008. (Pensioner) would be part of a long term growth strat- Chester Williams, Book No. 3615. WELFARE OFFICE (415) 778-5490 egy and would not necessarily depend Born in Tennessee in 1931. Joined SUP on current market conditions in container PENSION PLAN OFFICE in 1968. Died in Hawai’i, August 20, (415) 764-4987 shipping. As such, NOL is preparing it- 2008. (Pensioner) Friday, September 19, 2008 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 3 Philadelphia shipyard wins test Kudos for the SUP gang from case on Jones Act tankers President Adams skipper The Metal Trades Department of the AFL-CIO has lost a lengthy court battle last month to get Aker Philadelphia Shipyard’s new product tankers declared unlawful SUP President Gunnar Lundeberg re- tight door and inserts a pinch bar in the under the Jones Act. ceived the following email from Captain wheel. He then locks the inside security A 40-page ruling by Judge Gene Pratter of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern Dennis Carney, Master of APL’s m/v door, throws on the stern lights and pro- District of Pennsylvania, has handed a clear victory to the U.S. Coast Guard and President Adams: ceeds safely through the tunnel to the the shipyard, declaring that the practice of using equipment modules manufactured On August 29, 2008, the President bridge. There were many reports of small abroad but assembled in the United States, is not a violation of the Jones Act. Adams transited the pirate infested wa- boats harrowing merchant shipping dur- “Although at first blush this dispute may appear to demand diving into the special- ters of the Gulf of Aden. At approxi- ing our transit of the Gulf of Aden. The ized world of naval architecture, ultimately the rigorous grammar lessons of an mately 1814, Coalition warships in the events of August 29, make it evident that English teacher provide the ballast for the court’s decision,” Judge Pratter said in area issued a Security alert to all vessels merchant ships are pretty much on their an unusual introduction. that the motor tanker Bunga Melati 5 was own and must rely on themselves to avoid being attacked and hijacked. The best way The Metal Trades Department brought the lawsuit last year, after the U.S. Coast under attack by pirates in a position ap- to do this is to remain ever watchful and Guard rejected an administrative complaint filed against the new ships in 2006. proximately 14 nautical miles off the coast of Yemen. About an hour later the stern lookout is an integral part of The Metal Trades legal challenge was based on the premise that the tankers would Coalition warships in the area advised our first line of defense. I would like to contain large, foreign-built components. Under the Jones Act, only vessels built in the all shipping that the Bunga Melati 5 was acknowledge the following SUP sailors United States are eligible to operate in U.S. domestic trade. Judge Pratter accepted under the control of the pirates. We presently aboard the President Adams for Aker Philadelphia’s submission that vessels can be legally tagged “built in the U.S.” learned the following day that the Bunga the fine job they did maintaining a lonely as long as their major components of the hull or superstructure are fabricated domes- Melati 5, carrying 30,000 tons of petro- and vigilant watch throughout that long tically. Other components may be fabricated elsewhere, but all components must be chemicals with a crew of 41, had been night in the Gulf of Aden: Charles Duke installed, or added, within the United States. “For the purposes of the economic im- hijacked to Somalia. The Coalition war- (Bosun); David Sylstra (Delegate); Steven pact, this case represents the adage that the whole can indeed be greater —or at least ships had been unable to prevent the at- Thompson; Jose Angeles; Rodelio more coastwise— than the sum of its parts,” Judge Pratter wrote in his order. tack or to rescue the ship and its crew Santos; and Dave Munroe. The judge also upheld codefendant National Vessel Documentation Center’s de- even though it had to pass through a se- The entire crew of the President Adams cision in favor of the Coast Guard that the “macro modules” described by Aker curity corridor patrolled by the Coali- takes security very seriously but special Philadelphia as foreign-built, and disputed by the Metal Trades Department “will tion to reach Somalia. thanks are in order for the SUP sailors not result in a finding that the tanker is not built in the United States.” The ruling It is the practice of the President Adams who maintain shipboard security in port upholds the U.S. government defendants’ submission that “the plain and unambigu- to maintain a three man underway secu- when gangway guards are not available ous meaning of the Jones Act is that the vessel itself, not every individual part, must rity watch when transiting the Gulf of or are inadequate and at sea by standing be assembled entirely in the United States.” Aden during the hours from sunset to underway security watches when needed. sunrise. We post a lookout on the stern The professional manner in which they Obama on financial crisis continued from page 1 with a hand radio with orders to report to carried out their duties is a credit to them the taxpayer money involved, there can housing prices. We cannot have a plan the bridge any approaching small boats. and your Union. Job well done. be no blank check. for Wall Street banks that does not help Should they approach the ship with in- Respectfully submitted, “Rescue requires mutual responsibil- homeowners stay in their homes and help tentions of boarding, the lookout goes to Dennis Carney, Master the starboard tunnel, the only exterior ity. As taxpayers are asked to take ex- distressed communities. M/V President Adams traordinary steps to protect our financial “A global response. As I said on Sep- door open on the ship, closes the water- system, it is only appropriate to expect tember 19, this is a global financial cri- those institutions that benefit to help pro- sis and it requires a global solution. The Wall Street Journal columnist takes on corporate tect American homeowners and the United States must lead, but we must also American economy. We cannot under- insist that other nations, who have a huge “hypocrisy” over Employee Free Choice Act write continued irresponsibility, where stake in the outcome, join us in helping CEOs cash in and our regulators look the to secure the financial markets. Workers and supporters argue that the of course, is that most workplaces aren’t Employee Free Choice Act is necessary democracies at all. They are dictator- other way. We cannot abet and reward “Main Street, not just Wall Street. The to balance the coercive tactics employ- ships, of varying degrees of benevolence. the unconscionable practices that trig- American people need to know that we ers use to thwart employees’ freedom to Nor do most big employers really have gered this crisis. We have to end them. feel as great a sense of urgency about form Unions and bargain. Now comes anything against intimidation and coer- “Taxpayers should be protected. This the emergency on Main Street as we do support for that argument from the bas- cion during elections. These are the ev- should not be a handout to Wall Street. the emergency on Wall Street. That is tion of pro-business journalism, The Wall eryday tools of what is politely called It should be structured in a way that why I call on Senator McCain, President Street Journal. “Union avoidance,” and companies rou- maximizes the ability of taxpayers to re- Bush, Republicans and Democrats to join Writing in the September 4 Journal, tinely use them when their employees try coup their investment. Going forward, me in supporting an emergency economic columnist Thomas Frank calls the Cham- to organize: threats to move the opera- we need to make sure that the institu- plan for working families – a plan that ber of Commerce’s and corporations’ tion abroad if the Union wins the elec- tions that benefit from financial insur- would help folks cope with rising gas and ance also bear the cost of that insurance. “venomous backlash” against the Em- tion, compulsory meetings to listen to food prices, save one million jobs ployee Free Choice Act one of the anti-Union propaganda, termination for “Help homeowners stay in their through rebuilding our schools and roads, homes. This crisis started with “yawning hypocrisies that make up the select pro-Union employees.” help states and cities avoid painful bud- very substance of political life.” homeowners and they bear the brunt of get cuts and tax increases, help He cites the findings in a 2000 study America’s workers have made passage the nearly unprecedented collapse in homeowners stay in their homes, and written by Kate Bronfenbrenner of of the legislation an issue in the 2008 provide retooling assistance to help en- Cornell University and submitted it to election. If enacted, the Employee Free sure that the fuel-efficient cars of the the U.S. Trade Deficit Review Commis- Choice Act would allow workers to de- Timely Reminder future are built in America. sion: In 51% of Union organizing drives, cide freely how they want to choose a management made some sort of threat to Fourth quarter 2008 “Build a regulatory structure for the Union, including signing Union cards— close its operation down if the Union won dues are due 21st Century. While there is not time in a a method known as “majority sign-up.” the election; 92% of companies facing week to remake our regulatory structure and payable now! Across the country, heavily funded cor- Union elections made employees attend to prevent abuses in the future, we should porate front groups, such as the so-called “captive audience meetings;” 67% had commit ourselves to the kind of reforms I SUP Constitution Center for Union Facts, the Employee employees attend weekly “supervisor have been advocating for several years. Freedom Action Committee and the Coa- one-on-one” meetings; 70% sent out ARTICLE VI We need new rules of the road for the lition for a Democratic Workplace, are “anti-Union letters;” and more than 50% DUES AND INITIATION FEE 21st Century economy, together with the running ads that attack congressional can- showed “anti-Union videos.” Section 1. The initiation fee shall means and willingness to enforce them. didates who support the bill. Says Frank: “If American business was be Eight Hundred Dollars ($800.00) “The bottom line is that we must change Frank says the corporate arguments its own country, it would probably come payable in installments with the sum the economic policies that led us down against majority sign-up, claiming con- in for [human rights] sanctions from the of One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) this dangerous path in the first place. For cern for workplace democracy, don’t State Department.” being due and owing upon the the last eight years, we’ve had an “on hold up. “But why stop there? The busi- members’s admission into the Union your own-anything goes” philosophy in This business animus toward Unions ness community has opportunities every and the balance of Fifty Dollars Washington and on Wall Street that lav- also threatens the future of the middle day to stand up for a “democratic work- ($50.00) per month for each month ished tax cuts on the wealthy and big cor- class, Frank declares: “It’s more than the place.” Why don’t the Chamber’s mem- or part thereof in SUP-contracted porations; that viewed even common- hypocrisy that should concern us, and ber companies just let their workers vote vessels. sense regulation and oversight as unwise it’s even more than the ongoing viola- whenever management wants to increase The initial installment of One Hun- and unnecessary; and that shredded con- tion of people’s rights, human or civil. the deductible on their health insurance? dred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) shall ac- sumer protections and loosened the rules The destruction of the labor movement Why doesn’t the Employee Freedom company the application of member- of the road. Ordinary Americans are now by tactics like these is a big part of the Action Committee run indignant TV ship and the dues shall be One Hun- paying the price. The events of this week reason why wage-earners no longer rise commercials every time a company dred Fifty Dollars ($150.00) per have rendered a final verdict on that failed as the economy grows, and why some quarter, payable in advance. philosophy, and it is a philosophy I will moves a factory overseas without first day soon we will speak of the great end as President of the United States.” consulting its work force? The answer, middle-class nation in the past tense.” Page 4 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008 Piracy: Flag of inconvenience

We all know exactly which profession their rightful owners. Moreover, he soon larly from about the 1560s to the 1720s. drawn here. For a start, it is revealing to it is that is widely said to be the world’s got ideas above his station, after usurp- The name of the game, for many Brit- consider the longevity of the problem. We oldest, and none of us would wish our ing power and unilaterally declaring him- ish, French and Dutch pirates, was to have had pirates for as long as we have daughters to take it up. But piracy prob- self emperor of Britain and northern relieve the Spaniards of some of the vast had international maritime trade. Neither ably has fair claim to the number two Gaul. amounts of gold and silver they were carrot nor brutal stick —from military in- slot. However, most of the general pub- Some of history’s most famous pirates extracting from the New World. Famous vasion to the death penalty— has eradi- lic do think of it as being an issue from were, of course, the Vikings. Basically names in this connection include cated the problem. Pirates have controlled the long-distant past. they considered most of western Europe Blackbeard and Henry Morgan. plenty of states, too. So what we are see- While it is very much a present day as fair game for a spot of rape, loot and By the early modern period, it was even ing in Somalia right now is actually not problem, piracy is certainly well estab- pillage, and even made it as far as the possible to get a state licence to plunder particularly historically novel. lished as a crime. In fact, the oldest Black Sea and Persia. ships of enemy nations. Holders of such Piracy has been one of the historical record we have goes back to the second Back in the Balkans, a Slavic tribe official permission were known as priva- drivers in the development of modem millennium BC, with the frequent mari- known as the Narentines revived the hab- teers or corsairs. For example, the con- navies. If naval assets are now once again time robberies perpetrated by a bunch its of the Illyrians and from the seventh stitution of the United States specifically likely to become involved in anti-piracy that have gone down in history as the to the eleventh centuries terrorized the authorized Congress to issue letters of duties and we can see that happening with Sea Peoples. Adriatic, particularly when the Venetian marque and reprisal. Letters of marque the coalition declaring a Maritime Secu- The Sea Peoples, historians think, were navy was otherwise engaged. Interest- were recognized by international conven- rity Patrol Area off Somalia recently this a loosely-organized confederacy that ingly, they also gave the Vikings a taste tion, and holders could not be charged is in a very real sense a reversion his- sailed the Eastern Mediterranean and of their own medicine, being the only with piracy for going about his lawful torical type. Moreover, piracy has been Aegean in the late Bronze Age 33 centu- pirates to raid Scandinavia. business. The legal nuances did not al- a feature of all cultures, all over the ries ago, generally fomenting unrest and Meanwhile, in England during the ways save those captured from summary world. Europeans might have outgrown trying their hand at taking over Egypt. reign of Henry III, a man by the name of execution. The practice was only finally such behavior now, but largely because Modern scholars are not exactly sure who William Maurice became in 1241 the first outlawed by the Declaration of Paris in easier and more lucrative opportunities they were. person known to have been hung, drawn 1856. are available to the criminally inclined. By the time we get to classical antiq- and quartered, with the punishment One of the purposes of studying history, Poorer parts of the world are likely to uity, the Tyrrhenians and the Thracians meted out expressly for piracy offences. of course, is to look at the lessons for the follow suit once their inhabitants secure were both known to be partial to piracy. The Greeks —or at least the Maniots, present day, and there are a number to be a decent standard of living. By the first century BC, pirate states had as inhabitants of the Mani peninsula in sprung up along the coast of Anatolia, the southern Peloponnese are known— and their ships took their toll on Roman get in on the act at around this time, too. commerce. Given that their land was traditionally Acts of piracy this month In 75 BC, Julius Caesar was kidnapped poor, piracy was seen as a legitimate line by Cilician pirates and held prisoner on of business. These days their major September 15: the Dodecanese island of Pharmacusa. source of income is tourism. The 2,269 dwt chemical tanker Stolt Valor, with 22 crew onboard was seized by Even one of the greatest men in history, So far, this account has been markedly pirates on September 15. The 2003-built, Hong Kong-flagged vessel, which is on it seems, could be treated like hundreds eurocentric. But piracy, naturally, also time charter to Stolt Tankers, was heading south through the Gulf of Aden towards of ordinary seafarers are in today’s So- prevailed in other parts of the world. The Asia when it was boarded and hijacked. malia. The ransom demanded was ini- early Polynesians were prime exponents, The hijacking occurred just hours before 30 French special forces men from the tially 20 talents of gold, a sum which while the Haida and Tlingit tribes of Commandement des Operations Speciales stormed the yacht Carre D’as before seems to have offended the future em- southern Alaska and British Columbia dawn on September 16, to free two French tourists, who had been held by pirates peror. Surely, he argued, he had to be mounted raids as far south as California. after their 16 meters long sailing vessel was hijacked on September 2. One pirate worth 50 talents? So the pirates promptly The coastal cities of western India were was killed and six others were taken prisoner during the rescue. raised the price tag. After the money was also home to pirate bands, especially the paid and Caesar released, he immediately Stolt Valor which was on a voyage from the United States is managed by Hong Marathas, who thrived between Mumbai Kong’s Fleet Management. Fleet said all the crew were reported to be safe, which raised a fleet, pursued and captured the and Goa in the eighteenth century and pirates, and imprisoned them in is comprised of 18 Indians, including the masters, two Filipinos, one Russian and insisted that East India Company vessels one seafarer from Bangladesh. After she was hijacked, the vessel was headed to Pergamon. But the governor of Asia re- pay a tax for passing through their wa- Eyl, a stronghold for pirates operating from Somalia. fused to execute them as Caesar de- ters. Today’s Indonesian pirates are car- manded, preferring to sell them as slaves. rying on a tradition that goes back centu- The International Maritime Bureau said the Stolt Valor is the tenth ship now held So Caesar had them crucified on his own ries, while Japanese and Chinese pirates by pirates operating from Somalia. A dozen ships have been hijacked in the Gulf of authority, an outcome designed to have were once widespread throughout East Aden since July 20. a deterrent effect on others. Asia, often running protection rackets to September 18: Yet piracy continued to be a problem. extort money from coastal communities. The 19,500 dwt bulk carrier Centauri, crewed by 26 Filipinos, was attacked by So the Roman Senate, in 67 BC, invested Yet it was the Europeans —as they be- pirates aboard a speed boat armed with rocket launchers. The vessel was not captured. Pompey with powers to deal with the gan to circumnavigate the globe— that September 21: threat, in the shape of the Lex Gabinia, really internationalized the piracy phe- Capt. Stephanos was seized by pirates in the Gulf of Aden on September 21. A the world’s first written anti-piracy law. nomenon. Some even founded pirate colo- spokesman at the Philippines Foreign Affairs Department said the ship, owned by Perhaps this can be thought of as the nies. The most famous of them was Chartworld Charterwell Maritime, has 17 Filipinos, one Chinese and one Ukrai- ancient world’s equivalent to the United Libertatia, an anarchist pirate commune nian onboard. So far there has been no word about the condition of the crew. The Nations Security Council resolution on under workers’ control, situated in north- 74,000 dwt Capt. Stephanos was carrying a full cargo of coal when it was attacked piracy earlier this year. The Romans were ern Madagascar in the 1690s. Under the 250 nautical miles from the Somali coast. not people to do things by half. Realiz- white flag instead of the Jolly Roger, they ing that many of the pirates were based waged relentless maritime class war on in Illyria —basically that bit of the states and lawmakers of all stripes, attack- Balkans that until recently went by the ing ships, sparing prisoners and freeing California’s “Do Not Patronize” list name of Yugoslavia— they invaded and slaves. The only snag is, it is not 100% conquered the place, turning it into a di- certain that it is true. While there is some The following firms have been identi- Retailers rectly-governed province. contemporary documentation, it is pos- fied by the California Labor Federation, Farmer Joe’s Marketplace Next up as a threat were the Goth pi- sible that the accounts were fabricated. AFL-CIO as unfair employers and ad- 3501 MacArthur Blvd., Oakland versaries of the labor movement. All rates of the third century AD. They are History also tells us of the Black Sea Future Ford known have raided modem-day Turkey, trade Unionists and friends of organized pirate republic of Zaporizhian Sich, 2285 Diamond Blvd., Concord Cyprus and Crete, seizing huge hauls of populated from the sixteenth to eighteenth labor are urged not to patronize busi- Wal-Mart, Sam’s Club, K-Mart booty and taking thousands of captives. centuries by Ukrainian peasants that had nesses listed below: Britain’s first involvement in this story runaway from their feudal lords, escapee Law Firms and Consultants All locations statewide came in 286, when Carausius was ap- Turkish galley slaves, destitute gentry Marchese and Assoc. Reputation, LLC Other Vendors pointed as commander of the branch of and outlaws of every description. 1375 Sutter St., Suite 330, San Francisco Hornblowers Cruises the Roman navy, the Classis Britannica, The Barbary Coast which included Ziegler and Associates San Francisco, Los Angeles and and was tasked with taking on Frankish ports such as Tunis, Tripoli and Algiers 1215 K Street, Suite 1170, Sacramento San Diego and Saxon pirates by any means neces- served as a base for pirates from the days ABC Security sary. Unconstrained by the need to ob- Restaurants and Hotels of the Crusades until about 200 years ago. 1840 Embarcadero, Oakland serve International Maritime Organiza- On some estimates, they seized over a Mariani’s Inn and Restaurant Alta Dena Foods tion regulations or other diplomatic nice- million Europeans to be sold into slavery 2500 El Camino Real, Santa Clara 17637 Valley Road, City of Industry ties, his no-nonsense approach certainly in North Africa and the Ottoman Em- De Anza Hotel Valley Power, Inc. got results. But not all his methods were pire. Their leaders included the famous 233 W. Santa Clara St., San Jose 1755 Adams Avenue, San Leandro commendable. Sometimes, it appears, he Barbarossa. Emeryville Woodfin Suites Hotel demanded a hefty cut of the cargo be- The Caribbean constitutes the most fa- 5800 Shellmound, Emeryville fore returning the goods on a vessel to mous pirate stomping grounds, particu- Friday, September 19, 2008 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 5 Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) Enrollment Centers as of September 2008

You can pre-enroll online at www.tsa.gov/twic or call 1-866-347-8942. sary identity verification documents, provide a complete set of fingerprints, The enrollment process requires applicants to visit an enrollment center to sit for a digital photograph and pay the enrollment fee. For a complete list of provide biographic information, sign a disclosure form, provide the neces- disqualifying crimes and offenses, visit www.tsa.gov/twic.

Alabama 300 Long Beach Blvd #2A 3602 Northgate Ct. Ste. 37C 396 N. State St. 401 Broadway Ave. #D, West Gulf Maritime Assoc. New Albany Ofc. B Tenn. Valley Trng. Ctr. Stratford St. Ignace 1717 Turning Basin Lorain 115 Woodall Rd. Ste. 105 Delaware Kansas 1020 Hastings St., Ste. 105 Houston 444 W. Perkins Ave. Decantur 102 Quigley Blvd. Commerce Plaza 1, 7th Flr. Traverse City Gulf Gate, Ste. 314 Ste. 102 250 North Water St. New Castle 7300 West 110th St. Minnesota 2900 Woodridge Dr. Sandusky Mobile 1 Hausel Road Overland Park 1310 Port Terminal Rd. Houston Star Center Alaska Wilmington Kentucky Duluth-Superior 621 W. Main St. 619 E Ship Creek Ave. One Maritime Pl. Florida 322 Harrison Ave. Holiday Inn, 1500 Hwy. 71 LaPorte Anchorage 720 Water St. Port Everglades Badging Ofc. Paducah International Falls Brazos Mall, Ste. 1039 Native Village of Eyak Toledo 1030 Taylor Rd. 34 13th Ave., NE 100 Hwy 322 West 110 Nicholoff Way Louisiana Oklahoma Dania Beach Safety Council for Louisiana Minneapolis Lake Jackson Cordova 5350 Cimarron Rd. 955 Tallyrand Ave. Capital Area, 8180 Siegen Ln. 2161 University Ave. 3800 Highway 365 Ste. 123 3200 Hospital Dr. #202 Catoosa Jacksonville Baton Rouge St. Paul Port Arthur Juneau Oregon Habana Plaza (rear) 1300 N. Bertrand Dr. #306 Mississippi 411 West Main St. KPD Shelikof, Lafayette 800 Dr. Martin Luther 400 Virginia Ave. Port LaVaca 405 Marine Way 3125 Riviera Dr. 1340 W. Tunnel Blvd. King, Jr. Blvd. Ste. 112 301 Highway 146 N. Kodiak Key West Ste. 550 Greenville Coos Bay Texas City 50097 Kenai Spur 975 North America Way Houma 1223 30th Ave. 7025 North Lombard 1750 FM 1432 Nikiski Miami 700 W. McNeese St. Gulfport Ste. 100 Victoria 223 Harbor Way Manatee County, Port Auth. Lake Charles Ergon Refining Portland Petersburg 3604 Reeder Rd. Vermont LaPlace Shopping Center 227 Industrial Dr. Pennsylvania 145 Pine Haven Shores Rd. Harrigan Hall, Palmetto 1933 West Airline Hwy. Vicksburg 50 West Powhattan Ave. Shelburne 330 Harbor Dr. 707 Mullet Road, LaPlace Chester Virginia Sitka Stes. 117/118 New Hamphsire 512 Roderick St. 1723 Woodbourne Rd. 501 E. Bremner St. 30 Mirona Rd. 814 Greenbrier Cir. Ste. F Port Canaveral Morgan City Levittown Valdez Portsmouth Chesapeake 2051 Dr. Martin Port Fourchon Harbor Police 601 Upland Ave. Wrangell Harbor Ofc. New Jersey 11815 Fountain Way King, Jr. Blvd. Ste. 303 108 A.O. Rappelet Road Ste. 120D Ste. 300 Rm 359 Shakes St. 33 Wood Ave. S, Ste. 665 Riviera Beach Port Fourchon Marcus Hook Newport News Wrangell Iselin 2604 E. 7th Ave. 170 James Dr. E. Ste. 104 Philadelphia Regional Port American Samoa Quality Inn Conf. Center Washington Tampa St. Rose 3460 N Delaware Ave. Clarion Tradewinds Hotel 531 Route 38 W 8327 Summit Park Rd., Georgia Maine Philadelphia Ste.D Main Road, Ottoville Maple Shade Georgia Power Plant 163 Hildreth St. North 701 North Point Dr. Anacortes Pago Pago 89 Beuning Street, Ste. G McManus Bangor Ste. 104 Port of Everett Marina South Hackensack Arkansas 1 Crispen Island Dr. 236 Oxford St. Ste. 12 Pittsburgh Marina Conf. Ctr. 2005 E 17th St. 400 Grove Rd. Brunswick Portland Puerto Rico 404 14th St. Little Rock Thorofare 5214 Augusta Rd. Maryland Prima Piso, Everett New York California Garden City 2200 Broening Hwy., Salon de Conf. Ave., Red Lion Hotel 102 Smith Boulevard 2050 Park Road Guam Ste. 220 Santiago de los Caballeros 510 Kelso Dr. Benicia Baltimore Albany final, Edifico Turismo Kelso Hose D. Leon Guerrero 301 E. Ocean Blvd. 213 W. Main St. Ste. 204C 2680 Grand Island Blvd. Playa Ponce Read Lion Hotel Commercial Port #201 Ste. 9 Navy Frontier Base Ste. 1 Rm 2110 Ste. 500 1026 Tabras Highway Salisbury Grand Island 408 Ave. Fernandez Juncos 2515 N. 20th Ave. Long Beach Piti 3225 Old Washington Rd. San Juan Pasco 2000 Marina Vista Dr. Hawai’i Ste. 2106 Sheraton Long Island Martinez 110 Motor Parkway Rhode Island Fraternal Order of Eagles Kahului Shopping Center Waldorf Hauppauge 17 Virginia Ave. Ste. 105 AERIE #1 1830 Embarcadero Ave. #104 65 W. Kaahumanu Ave. Massachusetts Providence 205 Carson Ave. S. Oakland Unit 14 28 Damrell St. Ste. 104 178 W. Hoffman Ave. Seattle Oakland Maritime Kahului, Maui Boston Lindenhurst Saipan 5009 Pacific Hwy. E Support Svcs. 970 Kele St., Ste. 102 300 Tremont Street, Unit #5 Whitehall Ferry Terminal CTSA Plaza Ste. 17 11 Burma Rd. Lihue, Kauai Carver 4 South St., Room 210 Beach Road, Garapan Fife Business Park Oakland Hilo Hawaiian Hotel Michigan New York South Carolina Tacoma 2102 W. Vineyard Ave. 71 Banyan Dr. 200 W. Erie St., Ste. 1 One East 2nd St. 4600 Goer Dr., Ste. 112 1421 SW Tech Ctr. Dr. Oxnard Hilo Oswego Calcite North Charleston Rm. 114/116 13201 San Pablo Ave. #300 1347 Kapiolani Blvd. 800 West Ave., Ste. 323 Delray Mechanical Tennessee Vancouver Richmond Ste. 204 Rochester 667 S. Post St. 5959 Shallowford Rd. 33rd Place Bldg. Ste. 107 1025 W. Laurel St. Honolulu 700 Hummel Ave. Detroit Ste. 427 3305 Main St. Ste. 103 Southold Illinois 906 Ludington St., Ste. 1 Chattanooga Vancouver San Diego 8741 South Greenwood Howland Hook Escanaba 3865 Viscount Ave. West Virginia 1900 Bendixsen St. Dixon Building Marine Term. 863 North Pine Rd. Ste. 2 241 Western Ave. Tri-State Fire Academy Bldg 12 Chicago Memphis Essexville 4200 Ohio River Rd. Samoa 111 W.Washington St. Staten Island 3200 West End Ave. 430 S. Water St. Huntington 500 Sansome St. Ste. 202 Ste. 346 North Carolina Marine City Ste. 510 Wisconsin San Francisco East Peoria 311 Atlantic Beach Nashville Old City Hall Bldg. 220 425 South Military Ave. 1931 North Gaffey St. 1635 W. First St. Causeway W Washington St. Ste. 120 Texas Green Bay Ste. B Granite City Atlantic Beach Marquette Ford Conv. Ctr 3073 South Chase Ave. San Pedro Three Rivers Safety Council 5704 Oleander Dr. 800 E. Ellis Rd. Ste. 122 Tyler Room Ste. 620 17 Fyffe St. 1615 W.Jefferson St. Ste. 107 Norton Shores 5155 IH-10 So. Bldg. 28 Fl. 1 Stockton Ste. TWIC Wilmington Amer. Inn of Silver City Beaumont Milwaukee 1401 Halyard Dr. Joliet Ohio 120 Lincoln Ave. 1000 Foust Rd. Virgin Islands West Sacramento Indiana 4830 State Rd. Brownsville Ontonagon 8000 Niksy Ctr, #202a Connecticut 4849 University Dr. Ashtabula 7433 Leopard St. 115 N. First Ave. Charlotte Amalie 850 Grand Ave. Evansville 8044 Montgomery Rd. Corpus Christi Presque Isle Renaissance Park New Haven 200 Russell St. Ste. 110 Stes. 754/755 511 Ashmun St. 6000 Broadway Ste. 103 Estate Anguilla Hammond Cincinnati 75 Crystal Ave. Sault Ste. Marie Galveston Kingshill New London 3100 E 45th St., Ste. 226 Cleveland Page 6 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008

ESU Office Assignments For the month of October, John Straley ESUESU NEWSNEWS will be in the Seabrook office and Leo DeCastro will be in the Benicia office. SEPTEMBER 2008

Official Publication of the Exxon Seamen's Union SeaRiver to assist employees Seabrook ESU office impacted by hurricane flooded by Hurricane Ike Shortly after Hurricanes Ike and Gustav swept ashore in Texas and Louisiana, SeaRiver announced a plan to help those employees who were severely impacted by Hurricane Ike swept into the Houston- that the office will be a total loss. Luck- the storm. The Company is offering to advance up to two months salary (up to a Galveston area on the night of Septem- ily, the ESU keeps nearly all our impor- maximum of $15,000) to be repaid by payroll deduction for up to 24 months with ber 12, causing severe damage to the tant records, including personnel, finan- no interest. A promissory note available from the office explains the eligibility ESU Seabrook office. Two days before cial and ongoing issue information on our requirements and must be executed prior to disbursement of any funds. The loan is the storm, ESU Vice President John computer hard drives and on data stor- tax exempt if you attest in writing, using the promissory note, that the proceeds of Straley, who was assigned to the office age devices. John took all these items the loan will be used to pay personal family expenses incurred as a result of the was notified that a mandatory evacua- with him to Waco and the computer natural disaster, including property losses (such as residence, home furnishings, tion order was in effect. He secured the equipment was saved and the records vehicles etc.) or living expenses, but excluding any expenses reimbursed through building as best he could, loaded up our preserved. We expect, however, that our insurance. It is important to note that if the loan is greater than $10,000 and it is non computers and electronic gear and what- office furniture, reference books and tax-exempt, one will owe taxes on the imputed income resulting from the loan. ever else he could fit into the union se- paper files will for the most part be lost. There is no tax impact if the loan is less than or equal to $10,000 or the loan is dan and evacuated to Waco, Texas. Just as soon as is practicable John will greater than $10,000 and it is for tax exempt use. To determine if a loan will be Reports from the area indicate that the return to Seabrook to assess the damage taxable or tax exempt and to obtain a promissory note and more information contact storm caused extensive damage. As of first hand and to speak with our land- either Fleet Manning or Chris Matteson in Human Resources at 713-656-2746. press time the authorities had not given lords and the authorities to determine the go ahead for anyone to return to when we might be able to get back to Seabrook and we expect that it will be at normal. Higher ground transportation least a day or two before people are al- We also do not know as of yet the sta- lowed to return. The power is out and tus of our apartment in Seabrook but rates now in effect there is no clean drinking water. Amaz- since it is a second floor apartment and ingly enough, the next day a television the windows were fairly well protected Effective with the implementation of $75 with receipts. news channel aired a report from the base we are hoping that it sustained only mi- our new Contract the rate for local trans- Article VII, Section 2B states that when of the bridge to Kemah, Texas on High- nor damage. Being that there will be no portation increased to $30 automatically traveling home to paid leave from a ves- way 146, which is nearly directly in front power or clean water in Seabrook for an and up to $75 if receipts are submitted sel at any time of the day the employee of our office. The pictures showed exten- unknown period of time we are not sure for expenses exceeding $30. is also entitled to the new dinner subsis- sive flooding and damage to all the build- when we will be able to move back in. Ground transportation is addressed in tence rate of $22 in cash from the Cap- ings in the vicinity. Most significantly the In the meantime we ask all members to Article IX, Section 4 of our Contract tain. This is an increase of $2 over the pictures showed our office sitting in ap- direct their calls and mail to the Benicia which states that in most circumstances previous rate and is in addition to any proximately four feet of standing salt wa- office and try to limit them to important a member will receive a single payment ground transportation monies which are ter. Since these pictures were taken hours business only. Once the Seabrook apart- of $30 or a reimbursement of up to $75 paid via payroll. after the height of the storm surge we as- ment is livable again we will temporarily for local transportation between his or The automatic $30 ground transporta- sume the water level in the building was do our Gulf Coast business out of there her home and the airport. No payments tion payments are taxable and paid via much higher the night before. until we can find and rent a new perma- are due however if the employee chooses payroll. They are listed as “Marine Misc John has not been able to get back to nent office. We will keep the member- to use company provided transportation. Pay” in the payments section on the up- see the damage first hand but we assume ship informed as things develop. Paragraphs A and B of Article IX re- per left hand side of our pay vouchers. fer to the most common situation which Reimbursements however, are non tax- is, when a member is joining or depart- able but will also be paid via payroll and ESU looking for candidates ing a vessel that is located outside his or listed as “Marine Misc Pay” on our pay As reported in last month’s edition of Recording Secretary to be combined into her home base. In these situations the vouchers. the ESU News, elections for the two new the single new position of President/Re- member will receive $30 for transpor- When submitting receipts for reim- Executive Board positions of Board cording Secretary and for the Vice Presi- tation from his or her door step to the bursement the accepted procedure is to Member at Large as well as the Ship Rep. dent and Secretary Treasurer offices to airport nearest his or her home when notify Fleet Manning prior to traveling positions on the Baytown, Sierra, Kodiak be combined into the single new position joining a ship and $30 for transportation to or from the vessel. Reimbursements and Wilmington will begin in late Octo- of Vice President/Treasurer. The Board from the airport to his or her home when will not be posted to payroll until Fleet ber. As of press time the ESU Seabrook Members at Large were added to make returning from a ship. In cases where Manning has received all verifying re- office has received nomination forms up for the two positions that were lost transportation costs exceed $30, a mem- ceipts. In the event an individual does from the incumbents Joe Bernavich on when the previous four positions were ber is entitled to submit receipts for re- not inform Fleet Manning prior to travel the Baytown, Thor Floreen on the Sierra combined into two. The Board Members and Tim Williams on the Kodiak. On the imbursement up to $75. This reimburse- and a $30 reimbursement is paid via the at Large will be assigned to the fleet simi- Wilmington we have nomination forms ment provision is most commonly used payroll system, only the remainder of lar to the department trustees, but unlike from both Aaron Rathbun and Jeff Har- when one takes a taxi or a shuttle to the the trustees, can come from any depart- the payment (up to $75) will be paid as ris. We have received no nomination airport but may also be used when a per- ment. They will also serve on the Union a non-taxable reimbursement. Reim- forms from anyone for either of the two sonal vehicle is used if the mileage rate negotiating committee thus maintaining bursements will only be paid with veri- Board Member at Large positions and the Union’s seven member negotiating is greater than $30. These payments are fying documentation; phone calls and we are actively seeking candidates to fill strength and can fill in for the President/ also applicable when travelling between individual statements will not be ac- those positions. the vessel and the airport but in most Recording Secretary or the Vice Presi- cepted. Members are responsible for The Executive Board Member at Large dent/Treasurer in the event of illness or cases the company provides this trans- mailing the receipts to Fleet Manning positions were created by the recent disability. They will attend the bi-annual portation via a service such as DavEl, but may request that the Master forward changes to the Constitution and By Laws Ship Rep. meetings and all meetings Fife Transport or Moran. Members are them via company mail. which call for the offices of President and allowed to “opt out” of the company pro- where the entire ESU Board is convened. vided service when going home, how- Nomination forms for the Ship Rep. ever, and if they do, are entitled to re- Three-year contract signed positions are due into the Seabrook of- ceive $30 via payroll. This provision is On September 9, the ESU Executive Board met with SeaRiver management fice by October 1, and require 15 signa- useful for those members who do not in Galveston, Texas, to sign and review the changes to the new Collective tures from members in good standing. wish to go directly to the airport when Bargaining Agreement which were approved by the membership in the recent The forms for Board Member at Large leaving the ship. The Contract also pro- MOU ratification vote. A final review of the changes is necessary before the are due October 21 (60 days from when vides that if the company provided trans- new contract books can be printed and distributed to the membership. Upon the Contract passed) and require 25 sig- portation is unavailable within one (1) completion of the review, the ESU and management formally signed the new natures. We strongly urge anyone inter- hour after the requested time of depar- three-year contract. The ESU will try to get temporary photocopied versions of ested to run. Candidates will find that ture from the ship, a member can ar- the new contract to all Ship Representatives by the end of September. We ex- serving the Union provides an enormous range for his or her own transportation pect the permanent printed and spiral bound contract books to be ready within amount of self-satisfaction from assist- and be eligible to be reimbursed up to the next couple of months. ing fellow members. Friday, September 19, 2008 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 7 ESU News Review of Weingarten Rights S/R Baytown in Norfolk during investigatory interviews A vital function of a Union steward (who is the Ship Representative on our ships) is to prevent management from intimidating employees. Nowhere is this more im- portant than in closed-door meetings when supervisors attempt to induce employees to confess to mistakes or wrongdoing. The National Labor Relations Act gives employees the right to assistance from union representatives during investigatory interviews. Although not explicit in the Act, the right was declared by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1975 in NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc. The rules the Court announced are known today as Weingarten rights. The ESU strongly encourages members to assert their Weingarten rights should the situation arise regarding investigative interviews. An investigatory inter- view occurs when management questions an employee to obtain information or when the employee has a reasonable belief that discipline or other adverse conse- quences may result from what he or she says. The presence of a Union representative can help in many ways: · The Ship Rep. can serve as a witness to prevent supervisors from giving a false account of the conversation. · The Ship Rep. can object to intimidating tactics or confusing questions. · The Ship Rep. can, when appropriate, advise an employee against blindly denying everything, thereby giving the appearance of dishonesty and guilt. · The Ship Rep. can help an employee to avoid making fatal admissions. The S/R Baytown docked at lay berth in MHI Norfolk for her periodic CAIP survey in · The Ship Rep. can warn an employee against losing his or her temper. early September, 2008. This was the first time a SeaRiver vessel had used this facility. · The Ship Rep. can raise extenuating factors. According to company sources, the inspection report was positive and the vessel is in The employee may request union representation before or during the interview. good shape. Upon completion she sailed to New York to take a load of mogas to the After the request, the employer must choose from among three options: 1) Grant U.S. Gulf Coast. the request and delay questioning until the union representative arrives; 2) Deny the request and end the interview immediately; or 3) Give the employee a choice of: a) having the interview without representation (usually a mistake) or b) ending Company: “Internet access for unlicensed to the interview. If the employer denies the request for union representation, and questions begin soon.” the employee, it commits an unfair labor practice and the employee may refuse After literally years of beseeching by the ESU and delay after delay the company to answer. has finally said that shipboard internet access for unlicensed will begin soon. While there has still not been any firm date announced, company sources have told the Final Departure ESU that the program should be rolled out some time in September 2008. Darrell Jones It is anticipated that the system for the unlicensed will be the same as that which is presently available to the officers. Although nothing has been finalized, the way it The ESU was saddened to learn that Mr. Darrell Jones, 53, of Port Arthur, was described is that each crewmember will be given a password that will allow him Texas, passed away on August 29, 2008. Darrell, who was an ardent supporter of or her to log on to the company’s and shipboard networks. There will be both shared the ESU throughout his career, sailed as Fleet Chef on our ships and will be remem- computers which are hard-wired to the connection and also a wireless WI-FI type bered as a good friend and shipmate. Mr. Jones retired from SeaRiver due to a connection throughout the house which will allow crewmembers to log on with their disability on September 1, 2003 with 19 years of service. We extend our heartfelt personal computers in their rooms. It is expected that the shared computers will be condolences to Darrell’s family. located in the cargo control room, on the bridge and in the crew’s recreation room but this may differ from ship to ship. The Sierra does not yet have the hardware for Ship reports the system but it will be installed during her upcoming shipyard period this fall. The company has emphasized that access to the system is not an entitlement nor S/R American Progress will it be an open ended. In order to protect company controlled information, IT Long Beach at the Valero Dock in systems and help maintain legal standards, strict controls will be in place. Usage The vessel has experienced loading Benicia on September 2. Ship Rep. will be monitored and there is no right to privacy. Access to the system is provided delays and a change to her load port Wayne Dyment was aboard and re- for both the conduct of ship’s business and as a quality of life enhancement for due to Hurricane Ike. After waiting out ported everything running smoothly. crewmembers. The intent is to allow crewmembers to access appropriate internet the hurricane in the Bay of Campeche The vessel is due back into Benicia the sites such as web based email accounts, on-line banking, and sites which contain the vessel received orders to load in week of September 22. such things as news, weather, sports and airline information. New York for discharge in Ft. Lauder- It will be strictly prohibited to access any site containing gambling or sexually dale. Ed Stoeckel is filling in as Tem- Sierra explicit content or chat rooms, instant messaging or real time social networking porary Ship Rep. and reports that other The Sierra was heading back north sites. It will be prohibited to download or install any software from the internet to than rough weather all is well. to Prince William Sound at a slow bell the company owned shared-use computers but some approved downloads will be as the ESU News went to press. QMED S/R Baytown available on the ship’s network. Eric Bush is filling in as Ship Rep while Following her recent CAIP survey in Thor Floreen is on paid leave. Eric has Being that the system is not secure it will be important for all users to remember Norfolk (see photo) the vessel loaded reported no problems from the vessel to protect their personal information and identity. One should use removable stor- mogas in New York for delivery to Ft. as she continues in her regular Valdez age devices such as flash drives to store information. Personal information should Lauderdale. Ship Rep. Joe Bernavich to Puget Sound circuit. Final word on never be stored on company computers and the “Remember Me” or password sav- stays in frequent contact with the ESU when and where her next shipyard pe- ing features of websites should not be used. office. A recurrent question on the riod will be held is expected soon. A more detailed policy statement will be promulgated when the system is rolled Baytown as well as other vessels is, S/R Wilmington out. Violations of the policy will be investigated and inappropriate use may lead to “When is the internet and e-mail going disciplinary action and restriction or withdrawal of future use and access by all fleet to become operational for the unli- A Union visit was conducted on Au- personnel. censed?” Please refer to the article in gust 30, at the ExxonMobil dock in this month’s edition of the ESU News. Baytown, Texas. Regular Ship Rep. Kodiak Jeff Harris was on board. Jeff reported that the vessel experienced delays on The Kodiak continues in her Valdez EXXON SEAMEN'S UNION the East Coast due to Tropical Storm to Puget Sound trade. Regular Ship Rep. Founded March 28, 1941 Hanna. Denny Houston, ExxonMobil Tim Williams is aboard and reports no Affiliated with the Sailors' Union of the Pacific Executive VP of Supply and Transpor- beefs. The Kodiak departed her usual tation and SeaRiver President, Will 1320 5th Street, Suite A P.O. Box 792 Puget Sound run for to at call the Rich- Jenkins toured the Wilmington in Seabrook, TX 77586 Benicia, CA 94510 mond Long Wharf in San Francisco Bay Baytown on August 29. During the Tel (281) 474-2430 Tel (707) 746-5713 recently. She was due in around Sep- Fax (281) 474-2463 Fax (707) 746-7859 visit Mr. Houston presented the ves- tember 19 and will be visited by a Board E-Mail: [email protected] E-Mail: [email protected] sel crew with a memento recognizing Officer when she arrives. their many years of environmental President Kevin Conroy S/R Long Beach safety and all-around safe operating Vice President John Straley Deck Trustee Pat Campbell An ESU Board officer visited the performance. Secretary/Treasurer Leo DeCastro Engine Trustee William Ackley Recording Secretary Thomas Thompson III Steward Trustee Kurt Kreick The ESU News is written and edited by the Exxon Seamen’s Union. Page 8 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008

Welfare Notes September 2008

WELFARE and SIU-PD PENSION PLAN NOTES

SUP Money Purchase Pension and 401(k) Plans Quarterly Statements In the interest of providing you with your account information as quickly possible following the end of the last calendar quarter, your Retirement Plan Statement Contribution Summary only included the contributions reported to MasterPlan through July 18th, 2008. Any contributions reported after July 18, will be reported to you in the Contribution Summary of your next quarterly statement. SUP and MFOW members train for work in the USNS Hayes and USNS Waters. Back Please keep the SUP Welfare Plan informed of any address changes. Our row from left: SUP members Gib Wilson, Dan O’Neill, Harold Uriarte, Richard Lindeman, office frequently receives statements returned for bad addresses. Kenji Hoffman, Mike Staley. In front: an MFOW member, SUP members Cory Burton, James Hall, two MFOW members and SUP member Ken Hertzstein. Seafarers Medical Center When possible, members should use the home office in San Francisco for annual physical exams, sign-ons and drug screens. No appointments necessary Danger aloft: Coast Guard and quick turnaround. The San Francisco office is for mariners only. 730 Harrison Street, Suite 100 (Ground Floor) issues marine safety alert San Francisco, CA 94107 (Between 3rd and 4th Street) The U.S. Coast Guard strongly encourages that operators of vessels establish Telephone 415-392-3611 Fax 415-392-3614 clear written guidelines and procedures for working aloft, require the use of safety Open Monday through Friday harresses, discourage and prohibit “rites of passage” such as described below. Going aloft to any height on any type of vessel is very serious and dangerous business, can 8:00 AM-12:00 PM and 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM be deadly and leaves no room for acts of daring or joking around! We’re sadly reminded of that fact by the death of an 18 year old crewmember SIU-PD Pension Plan Benefit Increases onboard a New England sailing vessel. This tall ship had embarked a group of Benefit increases effective July 1, 2008 for qualified SIU-PD Pension Plan students and set out for a beautiful day of sailing. About an hour into the cruise a participants will be implemented with the October 1, 2008 monthly benefit crewmember slipped from the rigging and plummeted about 30 feet to the deck payments including a three-month retroactive reimbursement. below sustaining terrible injury that resulted in his death. Michelle Chang, Administrator [email protected] Evidence in the casualty investigation indicated that this young man went aloft Patty Martin [email protected] without permission, was unsupervised and alone and was participating in an infor- Virginia Briggs Claims [email protected] mal rite of passage referred to in the tall ship community as “laying across the Michael Jacyna Eligibility [email protected] spring stay.” This involves crossing from one mast to another while hanging by your hands and feet on a wire called a “spring stay.” Training Representative Berit Eriksson 415-957-1816 The resultant Coast Guard casualty investigation concluded in part that, “The Telephone: 415-778-5490 or 1-800-796-8003 Fax: 415-778-5495 practice of laying across the spring stay is an extremely dangerous and unnecessary SIU-PD Pension Plan 415-764-4987 evolution, especially while the vessel is underway, and without a safety harness. Supplemental Benefits Fund 415-764-4991 Although crewmembers were not directed to use the spring stay, it appears the practice was not discouraged and was considered by some crewmembers as a daring accomplishment or rite of passage.” Further, the investigation concluded that: · The policies regarding crew training for going aloft in the rigging onboard the vessel appeared to be “unstructured and loosely defined” relying primarily upon Record of SUP Shipping on-the-job type training with no written guidelines or procedures. August 2008 · The crewmember was not wearing any type of safety harness. This piece of safety equipment was neither required by regulation or by company policy and was Hdqs..... Seattle ...... Wilm ...... Hono ...... Total not onboard the vessel at the time of the casualty. Bosun ...... 2...... 1 ...... 1 ...... 0 ...... 4 Maint. Man...... 3...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 2 ...... 5 Watchman ...... 0...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 1 ...... 1 Tugs & barges in urgent need of Coast A.B. Dayworker 0...... 0 ...... 7 ...... 1 ...... 8 A.B ...... 8...... 5 ...... 7 ...... 0 ...... 20 Guard regulation, says key Congressman O.S...... 1...... 1 ...... 2 ...... 0 ...... 4 The collision between a barge and a tanker that shut down the Mississippi River Standby ...... 12...... 2 ...... 54 ...... 20 ...... 88 earlier this summer is evidence of “a significant deficit in the regulation of the Cook ...... 1...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 0 ...... 1 towing industry,” according to Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Maryland), TOTALS ...... 27...... 9 ...... 71 ...... 24 ...... 131 chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transporta- tion. The collision caused a 300,000 gallon oil spill. Cummings said the Coast Guard’s failure to issue towing vessel inspection rules or limits on the number of Sailors apparel hours towing vessel crew can work without rest is evidence of a failure to exercise “effective leadership” and “act with a sense of urgency” to regulate the significant 100% Made in the USA by New Edge Thread risks inherent in the towing industry. New Edge Thread offers a wide “It is unfathomable to me that the same company would be involved in two ma- range of embroidered and silk screened rine casualties within two weeks while illegally operating towing vessels,” Cummings SUP apparel: embroidered hats, wind- said in an official statement. “Worse yet, this is not the first instance in which this breakers, hooded sweatshirts, heavy company has been caught operating towing vessels with improperly licensed per- work jackets, coveralls, leather varsity sonnel. It is simply unacceptable that a company with such a history would be jackets, vests, fleece pullovers and two allowed to continue its illegal-and, frankly, unsafe-practices.” styles of high quality silk screened “In 2004, the Coast Guard was ordered by law to create a rule that would require T-shirts. They also offer custom logo the inspection of towing vessels. Additionally, it was authorized to set limits on the embroidery. number of hours that crewmembers work each day. Neither set of rules has been New Edge Thread issued. And, here we are, four years later, discussing a catastrophic incident that 3062 Castle Rock Loop may very well have been prevented had the Coast Guard taken action,” Cummings said. He added that he is “concerned that there is a lack of motivation within the Discovery Bay CA 94505 Coast Guard to complete its backlog of rulemakings, including those related to the Phone: (925) 634-7067 towing industry.” Mobile: (925) 202-4984 A representative of the Coast Guard, Rear Admiral Brian Watson, told Cummings Fax: (925) 634-5617 and other legislators during the course of a hearing this month that in the spring of 2009, the Coast Guard would respond to the accident by issuing a Notice of Pro- E-mail: [email protected] posed Rulemaking for towing inspections. Website: www.companycasuals.com/newedgethread Friday, September 19, 2008 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 9 It’s the economy, stupid, not lipstick Panel finds TWIC The dramatic worsening of the nation’s cent data are the latest reminder of how unemployment rate from 5.7 percent in college degrees, long seen as a path to July to 6.1 percent in August isn’t the only the middle class, no longer guarantee program riddled recent economic indicator starkly contra- fatter paychecks every year.” dicting John McCain’s repeated statements · One in three homeowners who pur- that the “fundamentals of the economy are chased homes since 2003 now owe more with problems strong.” Take a look at this data: than what the property is worth, accord- · With millions of America’s workers ing to Zillow.com, an Internet service that The Transportation Workers Identification Credential program continues to be out of a job, unemployment rose among values more than 80 million homes. The plagued by performance shortcomings, technical glitches, poor communications almost all demographic groups, hurting numbers are even more dismal for those and other problems, according to a report from the National Maritime Security women the worst. Black women saw their who bought in 2006, with 45 percent now Advisory Committee’s TWIC Working Group. unemployment rate worsen by 1.6 per- experiencing negative home equity. The panel, chartered to advise the Homeland Security Department on implement- centage points to 9.1 percent. The un- · Inflation-adjusted median household ing the new ID cards, has identified more than a dozen problems the panel says are employment rate for African Americans income has declined by $1,175 since causing the program to fail, according to a July 22 report obtained by the publica- overall rose to 10.6 percent and that of 2000. Meanwhile, prices for many goods tion Federal Computer Week. Hispanics to 8 percent. are rising rapidly, according to Elizabeth “Unresolved problems help to foster the sentiment among stakeholders that the · More than 1.4 million of America’s Warren, a Leo Gottlieb professor of law TWIC program is broken,” the 17-page report states. The “Coast Guard and TSA workers are employed in part-time posi- at Harvard Law School. Testifying be- must address the issues identified in each of these areas if they hope to generate higher tions for economic reasons, not by fore a Senate committee recently, War- rates of enrollment, sustain stakeholder cooperation and meet compliance dates.” ren put it this way: “Seven years of flat choice. TWIC is a biometric identification card being produced for about 750,000 mari- or declining wages, seven years of in- · An additional 109,000 individuals time workers under supervision of the Transportation Security Administration. A creasing costs and seven year of mount- hold multiple jobs. $70 million contract for TWIC card production and enrollment was awarded to ing debts have placed unprecedented · Incomes are declining across the Lockheed Martin Corp. in February 2007. Port workers initially were supposed to stress on the ordinary families. By every board—unless you’re extremely wealthy begin using their cards for entry to secure port facilities by September, but the critical financial measure, these families or work in a professional job, like doc- deadline was pushed back to April 2009 for much of the country. tor or lawyer. Every other group, includ- are losing ground. Without changes in critical economic policies, the strong Meanwhile, goals for delivering the cards are not being met, according to the ing those with college and doctorate de- working group. grees, saw income declines. The infla- middle class that has been the backbone tion-adjusted median salary for a person of the American economy and the Ameri- “Though we recognize that steps have been taken to improve card production and with a bachelor’s degree fell about 3 per- can democracy is in jeopardy.” delivery times, after nine months of operation, TSA is still not delivering cards cent, adjusted for inflation, to $47,240 With seven years of failed economic within the seven to 10 days after enrollment, which was the time frame industry last year from 2000. Median master’s- policies under the Bush administration required and which TSA agreed was a target goal; and the agency is not even reach- degree salaries fell about 4 percent, to resulting in the nation’s current disaster, ing the 30 days after enrollment as outlined in the final regulation,” the report said. $56,707. Salaries for high school gradu- no wonder McCain—whose economic Technical problems continue to slow enrollments, the group said, especially the ates fell about 3 percent to $28,290. As proposals would replicate those of Bush— inability of the biometric scanners to accurately record and process enrollee finger- the Wall Street Journal puts it: “The re- prefers talking about lipstick. print templates. For example. at the Port of Long Beach, of more than 200 enroll- Source: AFL-CIO ments attempted, seven were unsuccessful due to fingerprinting failures. In some ports, as many as 8 percent of enrollees cannot complete enrollment due to finger- San Diego port plan questioned by MarAd printing issues, the panel said. The Maritime Administration has weighed in on a proposal to build a construc- Other technical problems that affect implementation of the program include in- tion platform piggyback above the Port of San Diego, which is pitting backers of correct information on the card; darkened photos; expiration date errors; and secu- more recreational facilities against commercial shipping interests. rity features failing to print, the report added. Under the proposal, which will be on the city’s ballot in the November election, Some applicants report waiting for several hours at enrollment centers, while a deck would be built 40 feet above the port’s 10th Avenue Terminal which stretches others report having to visit an enrollment center repeatedly for as many as six over 96 acres. A hotel, sports arena, stadium and expansion of the city’s conven- visits. The TWIC enrollment systems on the East Coast tend to slow down around tional center are among the developments proposed to rise on the platform. noon, when the West Coast systems are getting started, the report said. Maritime Administrator Sean Connaughton wrote to the port recently that the Communication and customer service also present difficulties, the report said. Department of Transportation “is concerned about the Freight Preservation and These include the TWIC Web site being down for maintenance; complicated pass- Bayfront Redevelopment Initiative.” The initiative would affect its status as a com- word creation processes; difficulties in Web site navigation; enrollment center sched- mercial port and one of the Pentagon’s list of strategic ports, he warned. ule changes not reported; and people failing to be notified, or being notified incor- Two developers secured 60,000 petition signatures to force a vote on the pro- rectly, when their cards are available. posal. The port sought to block the vote, but a California appeals court ruled earlier The group also listed numerous concerns regarding extending facility access privi- this month that the referendum would go forward. leges to rail workers, utility workers and other critical infrastructure employees; accessing information on lost, stolen and revoked cards; poorly chosen enrollment center locations; and failures to communicate information to enrollees, port opera- tors and other stakeholders. According to the TSA Web site, about 490,000 workers have pre-enrolled for the TWIC, 460,000 are fully enrolled and 283,000 cards have been issued. However, the extension of the compliance date actually may have had the unintended result of keeping initial enrollments low, according to the report. “Of major concern to all stakeholders are the low enrollment numbers. The Na- tional Maritime Security Advisory Committee suggests that extending the compli- ance date may not necessarily have helped in this regard and in fact may have provided an additional excuse for those who have purposely delayed enrolling,” the report said. The panel recommended providing an extra year’s enrollment at no cost to people who met the original deadline of September 2008. Article by: Alice Lipowicz Federal Computer Week Mariner shore leave roadblocks still prevail in U.S. ports The Seamen’s Church Institute (SCI) of New York and New Jersey reports that shore leave restrictions of questionable legality are still widespread at U.S. port facilities and terminals. In July, seafarers’ centers in 34 U.S. ports and one Canadian port participated in a survey focused on the problem of access limitations. The seafarers’ welfare orga- nizations in 23 terminals and port facilities reported mariners were being denied access to shore leave or that restrictions were being levied on chaplains’ and seafar- ers’ ability to transit terminals. The survey reported that on approximately 20 per- cent of the ships visited, at least one seafarer was not allowed shore leave. They said U.S. visa requirements remain the greatest obstacle to shore leave in the United States. Other obstacles were high fees charged by terminals for transportation or escort service and restrictions imposed by vessel operators. Page 10 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008 SUP President's Report

September 8, 2008 Overall the briefing by MSC was informative. Hope- Participation in the program is voluntary, but there fully, the dialogue will continue. is a benefit to both your health and pocketbook. The MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND financial incentive to enroll in the program is a APL “Wellness Credit” which is an additional Chevron con- At the request of Rear Admiral Robert Reilly, Jr., tribution to the cost of an employees medical cover- Commander of the U.S. Navy’s Military Sealift Com- age. The value of the Wellness Credit is equivalent to Pension Increase mand, attended a meeting with other representatives of what an employee would normally pay for the month, maritime labor at the Washington Navy Yard on Au- On August 26, at the request of APL, met at com- up to $100. gust 12, to receive an update on the activities of MSC. pany headquarters in Oakland to discuss the pension SUP members employed by Chevron can qualify for In addition to Admiral Reilly, other members of MSC’s increase recently negotiated with Matson. Represent- a Wellness Credit by completing specific Cardiovascu- senior leadership team included Deputy Commander ing the Unions were MFOW President Anthony lar Health Program requirements by the program dead- Rear Admiral Rob Wray, Executive Director Richard Poplawski, SIU-A&G West Coast Vice President Nick lines. If an employee completes the cardiovascular risk Haynes, and Prepositioning and Strategic Sealift Di- Marrone, SUP Vice President Dave Connolly and your assessment by November 15, he/she will qualify for rector Chris Thayer. The Unions were represented by secretary. In attendance for the company were Tim one Wellness Credit which will be reflected on the MM&P President Tim Brown, MEBA President Don Windle, APL Vice President and General Counsel; Bob February 2009 paycheck. The second Wellness Credit Keefe, MM&P Atlantic Coast Vice President Rich May, Stephens, APL Vice President for Labor Relations; will be paid in September 2009, if an employee enrolls SIU-A&G Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Captain Bill Mahoney, APL Maritime Ltd.’s Director in the recommended educational and risk reduction MEBA Baltimore Branch Agent Tom Suneson, AMO of Labor Relations; Jerry Carbiener, Senior Labor program and completes the midway milestone of the Representative Ed Kelly and your secretary. Jean Relations Consultant; and Charles Storke, who repre- recommended program by June 30, 2009. McKeever, the Maritime Administration’s Associate sents the employer trustees on the SIU Pacific District Pension Plan. Administrator for Business and Workforce Develop- SUP OFFICER’S WAGES ment, was also in attendance. As a participating employer of the Plan, APL Ma- In the briefing, Admiral Reilly and his colleagues rine Services, Ltd. must agree with what was negoti- Article XV, Section 1(a) of the SUP Constitution gave a comprehensive overview of MSC including new ated with Matson for the benefit improvement to take states that “The salaries and supplemental pay [of Union ship programs, shipboard cyber-security issues, gov- effect. After some discussion, the Unions and the com- officers] shall be adjusted automatically on the same ernment policy issues, environmental issues and up- pany reached tentative agreement on pension issues, percentage basis whenever the membership has a per- coming operating contracts. subject to the drafting of a mutually agreeable Memo- randum of Understanding which will mirror the one centage adjustment in wage and vacation pay from the Currently the Military Sealift Command has a fleet agreed to by Matson. offshore agreements.” of 181 vessels: 117 are in Full Operating Status and 64 Due to the financial condition of the Union, wages are in Reduced Operating Status. Most of these vessels Attorneys for the Plan have drafted an amendment for officers were frozen between 1992 and 2000. Wages are crewed by civil service mariners (CIVMARs) who to the pension trust agreement incorporating the agreed were again frozen in 2005 due to the fact that those are employed by MSC, the remainder of the fleet is upon increases. The draft Memorandum and amend- sailing in APL’s fleet did not receive a wage increase. operated —after going through a competitive bidding ment are under review, but it is anticipated that docu- In 2006, wages were also frozen when the membership process— by commercial carriers. By any standard this ments will be in order so that the benefit improve- voted in the 2005-2006 election to amend the Constitu- is one of the largest non-warship fleets in the world ments can be implemented by October 1, retroactive tion to provide for a $100 per week car allowance for and certainly dwarfs any fleet in the commercial U.S. to July 1. officers, but failed to pass a dues increase to pay for it. merchant marine including the 60 vessels enrolled in Wage Increases the Maritime Security Program. In accordance with the 2005-2015 offshore collec- In 2007, despite the continuing General Fund defi- cit, SUP officers received a 2.5% increase which was In the judgment of your secretary, the size and na- tive bargaining agreement with APL Marine Services, consistent with the APL and Matson increases. Out of ture of the government’s fleet is a direct competitor to Ltd. wages and wage-related items (overtime, Supple- that increase $3.00 per manday was allocated to the U.S. commercial operators in the foreign trades in mental Benefits, etc.) are scheduled to increase by 2.5% SUP Welfare Plan’s Special Pensioner Medical Ben- that cargo that could and should be carried by com- on October 1. In addition, Supplemental Benefits in- efit, which was also consistent with the allocation voted mercial operators is instead being transported in gov- creased from 15 to 16 days per month. Under the Main- by the membership from wage increases in the APL, ernment-owned vessels. Indeed, the expansion of the tenance and Extra Maintenance Agreements, wages and Matson, Ready Reserve Fleet and San Francisco Bar MSC fleet “grows” the merchant marine, but to the wage-related items are scheduled to be increased by Pilots agreements. detriment of commercial operators and to Union mari- 3% effective October 1. ners, such as those represented by the SUP. Raised Recommend that the increases be allocated to wages This year, despite the long overdue (10 years) dues this issue with MSC and intend to raise this issue with and wage-related items. New wage scales will be pub- increase that was passed by the membership in the 2007- members of Congress. lished in the September West Coast Sailors. 2008 election, and the efforts of all officers to mini- mize costs, the General Fund continues to reflect a On upcoming operating contracts to be awarded to Under the Offshore Agreement, contributions to the deficit. From January 1, of this year, until August, commercial operators, there are several. First and fore- SUP Welfare Plan’s Training Plan will increase by 2.5% expenses topped income by $150,000. The cause of most is the contract to operate eight Watson-Class Large effective October 1. this can be traced to overall increased costs of basic Medium Speed Roll-On/Roll-Off (LMSR) vessels. SUP- Also effective October 1, the rates of the company’s goods and services that the Union needs to function contracted Matson Navigation Company and Patriot contribution to the SUP Welfare Plan shall be increased plus the legal fees and other costs associated with the Contract Services both submitted final bids in late July by the medical care component of the Consumer Price Bane & Tulenkun case. but as of this date, MSC has not made an award. Index (United States City Average for Urban Wage In order to retain and interest members to run for Request for Proposals (RFP) to operate the USNS Earners and Clerical Workers), or its agreed upon suc- Union office, wages should increase as stipulated by John McDonnell, USNS Bruce, USNS Heezen, USNS cessor, during the most recent 12-month period for the Constitution. Therefore, I reluctantly recommend Pathfinder, and USNS Bowditch, USNS Henson, USNS which such index has calculated by the Bureau of La- that wages and supplemental pay for SUP officers be Mary Sears were to be issued in August but still have bor Statistics of the Department of Labor. The per- increased by 2.75% effective October 1. This number not been made public. centage increase should be available from the govern- reflects the difference between APL’s 2.5% and ment by mid-September. This month MSC is scheduled to issue an RFP to Matson’s 3%. operate the USNS Martin, USNS Stockham, USNS If the financial situation does not improve by next Wheat, USNS Bobo, USNS Williams, USNS Lopez, PATRIOT CONTRACT SERVICES October, will recommend that the officers of the SUP USNS Lummus, M/V Button, S/S Kocak, S/S Obregon take a wage freeze for the good of the Union. and the S/S Pless. In accordance with the agreement between the SUP, In October, an RFP will be issued to operate the ten MFOW and SIU-Marine Cooks and Patriot Contract LMSRs (USNS Benavidez, USNS Britten, USNS Fisher, COLUMBUS DAY Services covering the Military Sealift Command ves- USNS Bob Hope, USNS Pilaau, USNS Seay, USNS sels USNS Hayes and USNS Waters, there is scheduled Gilliland, USNS Gordon, USNS Shugart and USNS a 2% in Total Labor Costs (TLC) effective October 1. All SUP halls will be closed for Columbus Day, Yano), formerly operated by Patriot and crewed on deck TLC affects all rates of pay and contributions to the Monday, October 13, a holiday under all SUP agree- by the SUP. various benefit plans. New wage rates will be published ments. Due to the holiday, the Headquarters meeting Patriot indicates it will submit bids on all vessels of- in the October West Coast Sailors. will be on Tuesday, October 14. fered while Matson has not responded to a query on this subject. ACTION TAKEN With all the ships mentioned up for grabs, it is hoped CHEVRON SHIPPING COMPANY that MSC takes into consideration the mariner pool nationally in making its awards, not just to the handful Chevron Corporation this month started a new Car- M/S for the APL increase to go to wage and wage- of East Coast-based companies —particularly Maersk— diovascular Health Program to help company employ- related items. Carried unanimously. that seem to monopolize MSC’s business. Your secre- ees, including the SUP-represented personnel working M/S to concur in the President’s report. Carried tary emphasized this point at the meeting. for Chevron Shipping Company, recognize risk fac- unanimously. tors and to take action to avoid them. Gunnar Lundeberg Friday, September 19, 2008 WEST COAST SAILORS Page 11 APL Wage and Overtime Rates Effective October 1, 2008

Maritime Security Program Vessels Maintenance and (C-10 Class & C-11 Class) Extra Maintenance Rates Money Purchase Money Rating Purchase Plan Rigging-Splicer and Sail Maker Supp. Pension Straight Time ...... $29.77 ...... $25.00 Wages Benefit Base Supp. Benefit Plan Overtime...... $48.84 Rating Monthly Daily Monthly Daily Monthly Daily Rigging-Wire Splicer's Helper Bosun $4,693.23 $156.44 $4,836.54 $85.98 $2,579.33 $25.00 Straight Time ...... $27.37 ...... $25.00 A.B. $3,325.39 $110.85 $3,631.77 $64.56 $1,936.82 $25.00 Overtime...... $45.36 AB Watchstander/ Rigging-General Maintenance Work Daystander $3,325.39 $110.85 $3,631.77 $64.56 $1,936.82 $25.00 Straight Time ...... $26.20 ...... $25.00 O.S. $2,563.06 $85.44 $2,864.48 $50.92 $1,527.63 $18.51 Overtime...... $43.52 Spray Painting, Sandblasting, Steam Cleaning and Welding OVERTIME RATES Money Straight Time ...... $28.47 ...... $25.00 The hourly overtime rate for all ratings Purchase Overtime...... $46.94 except the Ordinary Seaman ...... $26.69 Pension Storekeeper-General Maintenance Plan Straight Time ...... $27.63 ...... $25.00 Ordinary Seamen ...... $20.02 Daily Overtime...... $45.57 CARGO RATES Bosun The hourly cargo rate for all ratings: Straight Time ...... $31.83 ...... $25.00 Straight Time Hours ...... $20.02 Overtime...... $51.66 Overtime Hours ...... $32.97 Bosun's Mate or Leaderman Straight Time ...... $29.77 ...... $25.00 SHORTHANDED (Section 7 SUP Work Rules) Overtime...... $48.84 Bosun ...... $45.55 Carpenter A.B...... $34.33 Straight Time ...... $29.14 ...... $25.00 STOS ...... $25.75 Overtime...... $48.04 STANDBY RATES (Section 43 SUP Work Rules) Spraying, Sandblasting enclosed spaces additional per hour .... $1.65 Bosun Straight Time Hours ...... $25.48 ...... $25.00 Overtime Hours ...... $41.90 SUP Officers’ Wages A.B. In accordance with Article XV, Section 3, of the SUP Constitution: “Every Straight Time Hours ...... $24.41 ...... $25.00 time the new wage scale is printed in the West Coast Sailors showing the Overtime Hours ...... $40.23 seagoing [dry cargo-offshore] members and standby gang wage scale, the SHIFT SHIP GANGS (Section 44 SUP Work Rules) benefits and wage scale of the Union officials shall be printed right along Bosun with, and in the same issue, of the West Coast Sailors.” Straight Time Hours ...... $22.57 ...... $25.00 Weekly Wages for SUP officers effective October 1, 2008*: Overtime Hours ...... $37.53 President/Secretary-Treasurer ...... $1,601.67 A.B. Vice President/Assistant Secretary-Treasurer .... $1,266.28 Straight Time Hours ...... $21.28 ...... $25.00 Branch Agent ...... $1,266.28 Overtime Hours ...... $35.88 Business Agent ...... $1,243.60 DECK PORT WATCHES (Section 55 SUP Work Rules) Benefits: Medical and dental coverage (SUP Welfare Plan); four weeks va- Bosun cation per year, participation in the SIU-Pacific District Pension Plan and a Straight Time Hours ...... $30.38 $100 per week auto allowance. SUP officials are not participants in the SUP Overtime Hours ...... $45.57 Money Purchase Pension Plan. A.B. and STOS *Reflects the $3.00 per manday allocation to the Special Pensioners Medical Benefit. Straight Time Hours ...... $22.88 Overtime Hours ...... $34.32 FUEL OIL SPILL CLEANUPS Straight Time, all ratings ...... $15.57 Attend your Union meetings Vice President's Report

September 2008 notice about use of expired milk. Calilfornia Voyager: Bosun Thor President Jackson: Delegate Gerry Ships Checked Cape Jacob: Delegate Ben Hulsey. Ship Erikson. Formerly the Brenton Reef op- Marshall. Clarification of gangway USAV Worthy: Delegate Emani Vili. returned Saipan after another successful erated by Seabulk with SIU and AMO watchstanding. Crew called back for at least one addi- load and discharge in Southeast Asia. The crews, this newest addition to the Chev- APL Korea: Delegate Dale Gibson. tional mission before sailing from Pearl continuous professional performance of ron fleet is in better shape than the Mis- Clarification of trip off procedure. Mem- Harbor to lay up in the Marshall Islands. this break-bulk ship despite the heavy de- sissippi at turnover. bers who will experience their 170th day All crew returned on call-back. mands of the U.S. Navy is remarkable. Arizona Voyager: Delegate John during the voyage must get off at the last USNS Hayes: Delegate Dennis Some issues still under investigation. McAuliffe. Running smooth and from U.S. port or take a trip off prior to sail- Belmonte injured, relieved by Dave Colorado Voyager: Delegate Jenn hurricanes down in the Gulf. ing on that voyage. Hoffmann. Clarification on lodging and Corner. Email from the yard in Portland President Adams: Delegate David Lurline: Delegate George Simpier gangway watchstanding duties. Ship in indicates things going well. Delegate Sylstra. Made her in New York. Clarifi- injured relieved by Noel Itsumaru. good shape for what is apparently her fi- organized a generous donation to the lo- cation on watchstanding in and out of China restriction no good since the ship nal voyage. Layup in East Coast boneyard cal YWCA. new port Salalah on the homebound leg. had sailed, was not in a recognized an- likely by mid-November or sooner. Mem- Washington Voyager: Delegate Earl APL agreed that Salalah would be treated chorage. bers did an outstanding job fulfilling the Eastmark. Filling in for the Colorado on just as Jebel Ali on the outbound leg— Manoa: Delegate Walter Harris. Meal interesting but demanding mission of this the Columbia River run. No problems. with a one-man watch maintained the relief counts as a component of weekend now unfortunately obsolete ship. entire time. If the Captain requires addi- Mississippi Voyager: Delegate Rob- overtime guarantee for daymen. USNS Waters: Delegate Joel Schor. tional sailors assigned to the watch that’s ert Turner. John Svane bosun. Clarifi- Moku Pahu: Delegate John Sulujian. Bosun Paul Harsany. Some interpersonal fine, but they’ll be paid like daymen for cation on contract term and vacation in- Delegate injured in Costa Rica. Union issues resolved as the ship transited in the entire port call, i.e., straight time for creases. Chevron now at 21 for 30. An- assisted on medical care analysis. As a and out of Port Hueneme and San Di- work between 0800 and 1700 and over- other day is added in 2010 to 22 for 30. seaman, you have a right to adequate ego. Made the ship in Pt. Hueneme be- time for work after 1700 and before Permanent bosuns are bad for morale: medical care for your injury or condi- fore she sailed for Pearl Harbor. Good 0800. Crew on pirate watch in Gulf of issue raised with the company. Disrup- tion no matter where you are. crew doing important work. Further pres- Aden. Time back for security watch on tion of launch service in El Segundo un- San Francisco Bar Pilots: Delegates sure put on the Company to resolve the the hook awaiting Suez transit no good. wheelhouse chair issue. Company put on der investigation. continued on page 12 Page 12 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, September 19, 2008 SUP Branch Reports

USCG and we will continue to advise to the ship the crew was told they were Seattle and participate in their efforts towards restricted to the ship. Still looking into San Francisco saving lives and protecting the environ- this one. I was told that our West Coast ment. Sailors is read by members of Congress. Business Agent August 18, 2008 National and state elections are right Well if that’s the case then let’s ask them Shipped during the period: 1 Boatswain around the corner. Here in Washington why there are foreign mercenaries on September 9, 2009 job filled by an A-card; 8 Able Seaman State Governor Christine Gregoire as American ammo ship. Also why they are berths shipped to 6 A-cards and 2 B- been a staunch advocate for working exempt form drug and alcohol tests. Oh Visited and paid off the following cards. families. Her opponent states that work- yes on other question do the foreign mer- ships: Registered during the period: 9 A cards ers are overpaid and have too many safe- cenaries have to have a TWIC card. Kauai— Mike McLavy, delegate: In for a total of 28; 9 B cards for a total of guards if employers want terminate them. Yours in struggle from Seattle; no disputes. Good gang. 25; and 2 C cards for a total of 7. Senator McCain, running for President, Paul Calais Made twice. Ships Checked brags about taking on “big labor bosses’ Branch Agent Lurline— Paul Fuentes, delegate: Vis- Matson vessels Maui and Kauai called in his campaign speeches and has con- ited the ship at the Howard Street Ter- twice in Seattle with little or no prob- sistently voted against working family minal. Discussed two disputes with the lems. The President Polk called in New legislation during his over twenty five captain. I agreed that the two disputes York with minor clarifications for the years in Congress. Please vote for poli- Honolulu were not payable. returning crew members. These ships ticians who vote for workers. Vote for Mahimahi— Manny Roxas, delegate; make few port calls during the 56 day the Democrats. August 18, 2008 Mark Hurley, bosun: Ship running voyages but it is a fair weather run so Vince O’Halloran Shipped during the period: 1 ABW, 1 smoothly. No disputes. Put aboard clari- the overtime is there; but you definitely Branch Agent ABD, 1 ABD return, and 3 AB maint., fication on relief trip procedure. Made need more than a couple of good novels filled by 4 A cards and 2 B cards. Also twice. in your sea-bag. shipped 21 standbys to 1 A card, 12 B Maui— John Linderman, delegate: I represented the SUP at the following Wilmington cards, 7 C cards and 1 D card. Second trip here since break out. No dis- meetings: the Puget Sound Harbor Safety Registration for the period: 6 A cards putes, Frisco gang. Made twice. Committee meeting; a Port of Seattle August 18, 2008 for a total of 12, 10 B cards for a total of Mokihana— John Hamann, delegate: meeting concerning the proposed fund- Shipped during the period: 1 bosun, 3 14, and 4 C cards for a total of 4. Car carrier. No disputes. Made twice. ing of State Route 519 which has been ABs, 3 ABDs, 2 OSs and 68 standby for Ships Checked APL Korea— Dale Gibson, delegate: approved by the state legislature and will a total of 77. Registered 42 A cards, 23 Manukai, Manulani, Maunawili, Voyage pay off. No disputes, clean pay greatly enhance freight mobility in and B cards and 4 C cards. Maunalei, R.J. Pfeiffer, Manoa, off. off the Seattle docks; a USCG Port Re- Ships Checked Mokihana, Mahimahi, Matsonia, Maui, siliency meeting; and the King County APL Singapore— John Kerlin, del- Manulani, Philippines, China, Kauai, and USAV Worthy. Also visited Labor Council meetings. egate: Voyage pay off. Good gang no Maunawili, Manukai, Singapore, the Paint & Rigging gang. disputes. A sailor got hurt in L.A.; came The SUP attended the Sector Seattle, Pfeiffer, Thailand, Korea, Mahimahi, As an Executive Board member, I at- shorthanded; shipped a replacement. Captain of the Port, Change of Command Maunalei, Matsonia tended the Hawai’i State AFL-CIO meet- ceremony. Outgoing COTP Captain APL Thailand— Jim Bailey, delegate: Had trouble with a captain. It seems ing. We discussed the upcoming Novem- Steve Metrock was relieved by Captain Voyage pay off. Had a problem with a he and his two children spent the whole ber election, and the candidates vying for Sue Englebert. The SUP has enjoyed an sailor’s trip off in Wilmington. Gave the day on the beach. But when they got back the AFL-CIO endorsement. It should be excellent working relationship with the delegate a copy of the trip-off procedure. noted that some of the candidates that Also visited the steam rack at APL. received endorsements from the AFL- Worked in the front office. CIO did not get unanimous support from Vice President’s Report continued the body. Specifically the Unions repre- Bill Berger Steve Ross and Louie Urbano. Vacation cash-out only an option “due to an senting maritime interest due to flip-flop- New absentee unforeseen scheduling shortfall.” Evaluations of deckhand trainees are an im- ping, or outright oppositions to the portant part of the operation. Hawai’i Superferry. voter website I attended the Hawai’i Port Maritime Foss Maritime Company: Delegates Sean Gaddis, Mel Jackson, Tom Tynan All Union members and their fami- Council meeting. We discussed the cur- and Mike Worth. With the swift and expert intervention of the SUP delegates, lies should vote in November’s federal rent affairs with the associated Unions especially Mike Worth, a member’s job that was in grave jeopardy was saved. elections. If you anticipate being out of of the Council. That there was any discipline at all was not welcomed by the gang, since it was town on Election Day, or if you would clear that equipment failure could happen to anyone in spite of the precautions. Hit the picket line twice in support of simply like to vote by absentee ballot to The responsibility for the incident could be spread far and wide and included the fired workers of the Pacific Beach avoid the rush, how-to information is management. To put the issue to rest however, our man “took one for the Hotel. The first was coordinated by the available on a public website: team,” and was temporarily suspended. After considerable investigation the Port Maritime Council, the second by the www.longdistancevoter.org. The site company admitted that tractor tug Lynne Marie is the fifth boat under Section 26 ILWU Local 142. HTH Inc. is the owner features an easy-to-use, state-by-state and requires a bid for a steady job under Section 25. Much interest and inquiry of the Pacific Beach as well as the Pa- breakdown of dates and procedures for into the status of the new tractor tug America and the manning plans of Foss goda Hotel. The injustice and intimida- obtaining an absentee ballot. with regard to the rest of the fleet. Due to the continuous work of her delegates, tion these workers have suffered since the Union at Foss has never been more united, more proactive, or more aggres- 2002 could fill a book. I would like to Dispatcher's sive in the enforcement of the contract. thank Tommy James, Art Kardinal, John Report Dave Connolly Kelly, Dave Mercer and Dave Rowland for taking the time to support these op- Headquarters—Aug. 2008 pressed Union Brothers and Sisters. I Deck would also like to thank Randy Swindell Bosun ...... 2 (MM&P Rep.) for the post picket refresh- Carpenter ...... 0 ments. I have heard that some of our MM...... 3 members may have been staying at the AB ...... 8 sister hotel: the Pagoda. Please do not OS ...... 1 stay at the Pagoda! Standby ...... 12 Total Deck Jobs Shipped ...... 26 The Labor United Picnic was a great Total Deck B, C, D Shipped...... 5 success. There was great entertainment Engine/Steward all day, a carnival for the kids, and lots QMED ...... 0 of free stuff given out by the Unions in Pumpman ...... 0 attendance. A big Mahalo goes to Brother Oiler...... 0 Clifford Lopes and his Ohana for help- Wiper ...... 0 ing me set up and take down our booth. Steward ...... 0 I couldn’t have done it without their help, Cook ...... 1 Mahalo! Messman ...... 0 Finally, our Branch Agent, Brother Total E&S Jobs Shipped ...... 1 Mike Duvall, is doing well and is await- Total E&S B, C, D Shipped ...... 1 Total Jobs Shipped - All Depts. ... 27 ing word from the doctor to begin physi- Sailors’ Union members at the Pacific Beach Hotel picket line in Honolulu, August 7, Total B, C, D Shipped-All Depts. .. 6 2008: From left, first row: Acting MFOW Agent Mike Ching, SUP member Art Kardinal, cal therapy. He sends his thanks to all Total Registered “A” ...... 50 Acting Honolulu Branch Agent Patrick Weisbarth, SUP members Tommy James, and well wishers. Total Registered “B” ...... 44 Dave Mercer; second row: MMP and SUP member Tony Mendez; third row: MMP Shipping is slow. Total Registered “C” ...... 5 Members Neil McMannis and John Schmidt. Patrick Weisbarth, Acting Branch Agent Total Registered “D” ...... 5