The Marine Fireman Official Organ of the Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association
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THE MARINE FIREMAN Official Organ of the Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association Volume 76 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 No. 9 MFOW endorses Approval of labor unions Biden-Harris ticket in U.S. remains high A recent Gallup poll shows that 65 current 83 percent approval of labor At its September 2 Headquarters Back in May, the general board of percent of Americans approve of la- unions is the highest on record since meeting in San Francisco, the member- the 12.5 million-member, 55 union bor unions. This is the highest approv- then. At the same time, 45 percent of ship of the Pacific Coast Marine Fire- AFL-CIO voted to endorse Joe Biden for al rating since 2003. Public support for Republicans and 64 percent of Inde- men, Oilers, Watertenders and Wip- President of the United States. The labor labor unions has been generally rising pendents approve of unions. In 2009, ers Association (commonly referred to movement sees a clear contrast between since hitting its lowest point of 48 per- 66 percent of Democrats, 29 percent as the “Marine Firemen’s Union” or the Biden and the current president, who cent in 2009. of Republicans and 44 percent of in- “MFOW”) formally endorsed Joe Biden has a record of slashing rules designed Gallup’s initial reading of the pub- dependents viewed labor unions favor- for President of the United States and to protect workers on the job, cutting lic’s support for labor unions was 72 ably. Since the Great Recession, union Kamala Harris for Vice President. workplace health and safety inspectors percent in 1936 and approval peaked at approval has recovered among all three “The MFOW is committed to sup- to their lowest level in history, and tak- 75 percent in 1953 and 1957. The lowest major party groups. porting political candidates who un- ing away overtime pay from millions of ratings to date have been recorded dur- Reported membership in a labor derstand the importance of maintain- workers. ing particularly weak economic times. union remains similar to recent years, ing a strong U.S.-flag merchant fleet and “The path to the presidency runs This includes the late 1970s and early to with 10 percent of Americans saying who fight for living wages, health care through the labor movement,” AFL- mid-1980s -- when support fell below they are a union member. Overall, 16 and retirement security for American CIO President Richard Trumka said. 60 percent for the first time -- and 2009 percent say there is a union member in workers,” said MFOW President Antho- “And with the full force and unmatched through 2012, when it hovered around their household. ny Poplawski. “Joe Biden-Kamala Harris reach of our political program, we are 50 percent. While the latest reading, A continued high approval of is the obvious ticket for U.S. maritime ready to pave that road for our friend Joe from a July 30 to August 12 poll, comes unions may result from a current focus labor.” Biden.” at a time of severe economic upheaval, on issues other than the economy. Gen- this has not had a negative impact on erally, when economic indicators have the public’s view of unions. been negative, the economy has been CMA CGM posts strong Americans’ support for unions is viewed as the most important problem politically polarized, as it has been facing the nation, but that is not the since 2001, when Gallup began track- case now. second quarter profits ing the measure annually. Democrats’ CMA CGM, parent company of nancial structure,” asserted CMA CGM APL, recently reported net income for Group CEO Rodolphe Saadé. He high- the group of $136 million for the sec- lighted the company’s agility, syner- ond quarter of 2020 versus a net loss of gies between shipping and logistics, and $109 million in the second quarter of “significantly reduced” costs. 2019. CMA CGM’s container-shipping Expect more positive news in the division carried 4,781,000 twenty-foot current reporting period. “Third-quar- equivalent units (TEU) of volume in ter results should mark a new improve- the second quarter. That was down 13.3 ment in our performance,” predicted percent year-on-year, bringing shipping Saadé. The company said, “The current division revenues down 10.9 percent to strong momentum of the shipping mar- $5.318 billion. ket, driven by both volumes and freight Revenue per TEU was $1,112, up rates, should allow the group to further 2.8 percent year-on-year. Unit cost per significantly improve operating margin TEU was $892, down 4.6 percent year- compared with the second quarter.” on-year. Unit cost fell due to “the decline Investor sentiment on CMA CGM’s in oil prices, cost-cutting initiatives and liquidity position has greatly improved. the reduction in vessels and contain- Less than six months ago, some mar- ers deployed,” said the company. Due ket watchers were worried about the to lower costs and higher revenue per carrier’s survival. In a research note on TEU, the division’s earnings before in- March 23, Stifel analyst Ben Nolan in- terest, taxes, depreciation and amortiza- cluded CMA CGM on his insolvency tion (EBITDA) came in at $1.052 billion, “risk list,” noting that it had debt trading up 30 percent compared to the second at 72 cents on the dollar. CMA CGM’s quarter of 2019. 6.5 percent coupon bonds due in 2022 “CMA CGM demonstrated its abil- actually hit a low of 55 cents on the dol- ity to rapidly adapt its deployed capaci- lar on March 20. On September 3, they ty to demand, in line with the discipline closed at 99 cents — all the way back to seen more generally across all industry par. For someone who timed it perfect- operators,” the company said. “Despite ly, that’s a return of 80 percent over five COVID-19, our group reported excel- and a half months. lent results, thus strengthening our fi- Judge voids Trump rule that states called unfriendly to labor A federal judge on September 8 Gregory Woods in Manhattan said the struck down a Trump administration Department of Labor failed to justify rule narrowing the definition of a “joint narrowing the rule or accounting for its employer,” which the attorneys general costs, making the rule arbitrary and ca- of 17 states and Washington, D.C. said pricious. He also said it conflicted with would eliminate important labor pro- the broad definitions within the federal tections for workers. U.S. District Judge Fair Labor Standards Act. Led by New York and Pennsylvania, Halls to close the mostly Democratic-leaning states Columbus Day – The MFOW said the rule would make it harder to hiring halls will be closed on Mon- hold companies liable for violations by day, October 12, 2020, in observance franchisees and contractors of mini- of Columbus Day, which is a contract mum wage and overtime laws, resulting holiday. in lower pay for lower-income and mid- Electrician Ramonchito Cruz, #3904, aboard the MV Daniel K. Inouye pictured dle-income workers. working on the main engine bearing monitoring system. Page 2 THE MARINE FIREMAN FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2020 Marine Firemen’s Union The Marine Fireman Directory Published Monthly By www.mfoww.org The Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association HEADQUARTERS ORGANIZED 1883 240 Second Street Affiliated with the Seafarers International Union of North America, AFL-CIO San Francisco, CA 94105 Tel: (415) 362-4592/4593/4594 Yearly subscription rate: $20 first class, $25 overseas air Fax: (415) 348-8864 Postmaster: Send address changes to The Marine Fireman, 240 2nd Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 Dispatcher-Tel: (415) 362-7593 Dispatcher-Fax: (415) 348-8896 PATRIOT CONTRACT SERVICES WAGE RATES General Email: [email protected] Watson-class Vessels Anthony Poplawski Effective October 1, 2020 President/Secretary-Treasurer Email: [email protected] Full Operating Status Deyne Umphress 56-Hour 56-Hour Supplemental Supplemental Supplemental Money Vice President Base Wage Base Wage Overtime Benefit Base Benefit Benefit Purchase Email: [email protected] Rating Monthly Daily Hourly Monthly Monthly Daily Daily QMED-Electrician $8,265.83 $275.53 $35.84 $5,732.40 $2,866.20 $95.54 $30.00 Robert Baca QMED-Oiler $6,442.62 $214.75 $28.66 $4,495.20 $2,247.60 $74.92 $30.00 Wiper $4,888.22 $162.94 $21.27 $3,441.60 $1,720.80 $57.36 $30.00 Business Agent Email: [email protected] The supplemental wage benefit shall be computed on the basis of fifteen (15) days supplemental wages for each thirty (30) days worked or pro rata thereof at each rating’s respective daily supplemental benefit rate. Manita Li, Controller Email: [email protected] Reduced Operating Status or Repair Availability Status Supplemental Money Sandra Serrano, Secretary/Training Base Wage Base Wage Overtime Benefit Purchase Email: [email protected] Rating Weekly Daily Hourly Daily Daily QMED-Electrician $1,536.03 $219.43 $35.84 $10.98 $30.00 MFOW TRUST FUNDS QMED-Oiler $1,204.38 $172.05 $28.66 $8.60 $30.00 240 Second Street Wiper $922.25 $131.75 $21.27 $6.59 $30.00 San Francisco, CA 94105 During periods of Reduced Operating Status or Repair Availability Status, unlicensed personnel shall earn one and Tel: (415) 986-1028 / 986-5720 one-half (1-1/2) days of supplemental wages for each thirty (30) days on the payroll or pro rata thereof. Supplemental Fax: (415) 546-7340 wages in ROS or RAV shall be administered directly by the Company. Optical/Death Benefits/Accounts Payable Is maritime piracy in Mexico a ticking time bomb? General Email: [email protected] Esther Hernandez Communication equipment, div- In three years, there have been at the port captaincy of the Secretariat of Medical/Dental Coverage: ing equipment, tools, wiring, metal least 351 recorded assaults by pirates of Communications and Transport to the caps, navigation instruments, watches, the sea.