Unions Secure Settlement That Puts Money in CIVMARS' Pockets
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VolumeVolumeVolume 11 1 • 1 ISSUE • ISSUE 31 1 October-DecemberFebruaryFebruary 20202012 2012 Unions Secure Settlement That Puts Money in CIVMARS’ Pockets Although 2020 has been a year filled focus of our grievance: COMSC-di- “I am in agreement with you when it federal mariners have been restricted to with pandemic-fueled uncertainty, eligi- rected, CIVMAR-only shipboard liberty comes to payment of gangway-up,” said their respective vessels during the pan- ble SIU CIVMARS at least can count on restrictions effected arbitrarily and ca- AB Delores Franklin. demic. At that time, Hunt stated, “Our compensation for restrictions to vessels. priciously which left CIVMARS dispa- “The offer that MSC has agreed to members have made many sacrifices That’s the outcome of a late-Septem- rately impacted. Considering the current is fair,” said mariner Roger Felton. “I because of their role as essential work- ber settlement secured by the SIU and anti-union/anti-federal worker adminis- would take the settlement.” ers. They deserve fair treatment, and two other unions. The agreement means tration in place at this time, we chose not “Thank you and the union for every- the union will do everything possible to that qualifying CIVMARS are being paid to risk losing this grievance before an thing,” stated Seafarer Joseph R. Guth- ensure it.” $100 per day – retroactively to March arbitrator which would have forever pre- rie. “I am appreciative of all the hard Since the settlement was reached, 21, 2020 – for each day “liberty was re- cluded us from grieving any shipboard work the union does to help CIVMARS. the SIU, along with the MEBA and the stricted in port or at anchorage or secured liberty restriction with such an unfavor- The $100-a-day settlement is fair.” MMP, have been working with MSC to mooring when liberty transportation was able precedent.” Member Matt Trow, who’d been re- ensure prompt payment of all monies available.” The settlement also means They added, “In addition to securing stricted to the Fall River, said he’d “had owed to CIVMARS under the terms of CIVMARS will be paid for restrictions guaranteed payment retroactively and for a sinking feeling we were all going to get the agreement. On Nov. 4, 2020, MSC for the foreseeable future (while the Mili- future restrictions in accordance with the [mistreated] and not get a penny. Thank issued a human-resources advisory to tary Sealift Command’s “gangways up” terms of this MOU, we maintained the ex- you so much for all your hard work. We all ships providing guidance on the order remains place). isting terms of CMPI 630 and our negoti- really do appreciate you.” proper procedures for submitting liberty SIU Vice President Government Ser- ated MOUs governing liberty restrictions; Steven Elliott, a CIVMAR from the restriction payment requests beginning vices Kate Hunt, along with officials which management attempted to modify USNS Pecos, wrote, “Thank you for all Oct. 1, 2020. Correctly calculating the from the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial which would have undoubtedly harmed of your efforts. This is why I’m a union retroactive payments back to March Association (MEBA) and the Interna- your interests.” member, and I also come from a union 21, 2020, is a more complicated proj- tional Organization of Masters, Mates In communications to Hunt, SIU mem- family. The $100 a day can help me tre- ect. MSC assures the SIU that the ac- and Pilots (MM&P), said in an October bers expressed support for the settlement. mendously.” counting work is ongoing. The SIU is email to crews which included a copy “The CIVMARS on the Frank Cable As reported earlier this year, the monitoring this effort closely and will of the settlement, “We sincerely believe give you a big THANK YOU!” wrote unions in April filed a grievance to keep the membership informed of all that we favorably settled the primary YNSK Casey A. Beckford. formally protest the manner in which progress. SIU-Backed Candidates Fare Well on Election Day While there were still a number of As of press time, Joe Biden and Ka- single race. That’s a win percentage of middle class built this country. The basic races too close to call at press time, the mala Harris are the presumptive winners 100%. building blocks of a good life – middle- SIU’s political department has completed for the White House. The Electoral Col- SPAD supports candidates of both par- class jobs at union wages, a 40-hour work its review of the preliminary results of lege votes on Dec. 14 to confirm the final ties and also supports challenger and open week, health insurance, retirement bene- Election 2020. As always, until these results. seat candidates as well. fits, a voice in the workplace – resulted races are certified by their respective Additionally, SPAD participated In a letter to SIU President Michael from workers who organized unions and state governments, these are preliminary in 153 House of Representatives races Sacco earlier this year, former Vice fought for worker protections. This is results only. around the country. Of those races, the President Biden wrote in part, “As a life- the history of the Seafarers International Unlike most federal political action SIU-backed candidate won in 144, lost long advocate for working families and Union. And at a time when our country committees, the Seafarers Political Activ- in two, with seven races too close to unions, I write to assure you of my strong is facing unprecedented challenges, our ities Donation – SPAD, the union’s vol- call. That’s a win percentage of 93.46%. and unwavering support for the Seafarers economic future today depends on unions untary fund – is bipartisan, and the union SPAD participated in 13 Senate races International Union, its members, and the like yours – just as it did in the past. contributes to incumbents, challengers around the country. Of those races, the U.S.-flag Merchant Marine fleet. Labor and candidates running in open seat races. SIU-backed candidate won in every unions built the middle class and the Continued on Page 3 CIVMAR-Crewed USNS Yukon Conducts Arabian Sea Rescue The USNS Yukon may have made his- water, and they remained on station until tory on Aug. 7 by performing a rescue in naval forces from nearby Oman arrived the Arabian Sea. to provide further assistance. Throughout While there’s nothing new about Amer- the rescue, the Yukon’s crew maintained ican-flag ships aiding fellow mariners, this social distancing, including following particular operation included a component face covering requirements, in order unique to 2020: social distancing. to prevent the possible transmission of The Yukon’s crew includes members COVID-19 between the two crews. of the SIU Government Services Division. “The duty to help each other when According to news reports, the Yukon in need is something that all mariners received notification that the dhow Wadi share, civilian and military alike,” said Karan was adrift and required assistance. Navy Capt. Michael O’Driscoll, com- The Wadi Karan had experienced engine mander of Task Force 53, to which the failure 10 days earlier, and the crew had Yukon is assigned. “The sailors and ci- run out of food and water. vilian mariners aboard MSC ships are Sailors aboard a rigid hull inflatable boat assigned to the USNS Yukon transit from the After assessing the situation, the Yu- trained and ready to answer this call distressed motor vessel Wadi Karan after rendering assistance in the Arabian Sea. kon’s crew provided them with food and whenever possible.” (Photo courtesy U.S. Navy) 51864 SEAFARERS Federal Mariner 2020 Q4 V1.indd 1 11/19/2020 2:40:03 PM President’s Column Bright Future for Maritime With Election Day finally behind us, I’m looking forward to fully refocusing on the never-ending effort to promote and expand the U.S. Merchant Marine. Regardless of how the presidential election would have turned out, I was confident that our industry has a very real opportunity to grow, including through the creation of a new Tanker Security Program. That’s something we’ve worked on for a while, and it needs to come to fruition in the next Congress Michael Sacco – for the benefit of U.S. national, economic and homeland security. Some of you may know that President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris are longtime friends of the SIU and unwavering backers of the Jones Act. They really know our industry and they’ll be allies when it comes to protecting workers’ rights, too. We have a lot of friends in the outgoing administration as well, and if that seems odd or unlikely in any way, remember that maritime is a historically bipartisan issue. We’ve always had friends from both major political parties, and we’ll always work with anyone and everyone who’s willing to stand up for the U.S. Merchant Marine and for The U.S. Navy recently accepted delivery of its newest expeditionary fast transport vessel, the USNS New- port. The ship, pictured in Mobile, Alabama, will be crewed by CIVMARS from the SIU Government Services America’s working families. Division. (Photo courtesy Austal USA) Regardless of how you voted and for whom, I hope you share my encouragement at the record turnout across our great nation. This happened despite a pandemic that’s unprecedented in modern times. Pre- and post-election polls also showed widespread EPF USNS Newport support for workers’ rights and for an economy that boosts the middle class. This is firmly in line with our union’s work since our founding in 1938. Additionally, and as reported elsewhere in this edition, the SIU had great interest in many elections, not just the race for the White House.