March-April 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Vol. 55, No.2 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO March | April 2019 Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Great News: Coast Guard Finalizes Terminal Access Rule Maersk Alabama Hijacking 10 Years On: Could It Happen Again? Unions Fight Plan to Build Stadium at Port of Oakland New Bill Introduced in Congress to Repeal the Jones Act The Master, Mate & Pilot is the Table of Contents official voice of the International Vol. 55, No. 2 March | April 2019 Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots From the President 1 (International What makes a true labor union special? Respect for tradition and Marine Division of the ILA), AFL-CIO. © 2019 IOMMP. the determination to pass on to future generations the benefits that union members have fought so hard to achieve. The Master, Mate & Pilot (ISSN 0025-5033) is published bimonthly News Briefs 3 by the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. MM&P Coast Guard finalizes seafarer terminal access rule; Maersk Alabama Headquarters: 700 Maritime Blvd., hijacking 10 years on; maritime labor unions fight plan to build Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD stadium at Port of Oakland; new bill introduced in Congress to 21090-1953. Phone: (410) 850-8700 repeal the Jones Act; Matson’s second new Aloha class ship sets E-mail: [email protected] sail; North Ferry contract finalized; MM&P joins South Carolina Internet: www.bridgedeck.org Maritime Association; Morgan McManus appointed master of Periodicals Postage Paid at TS Empire State IV. Elkridge, MD and additional offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Master, Interview 18 Mate & Pilot, 700 Maritime Meet Captain John McDonnell of the MM&P Offshore Membership Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum Group. He says the most rewarding part of his career has been Heights, MD 21090-1953 sailing as an officer aboard humanitarian relief ships. Don Marcus Chairman, Editorial Board Lisa Rosenthal MM&P Health & Benefit Plans 19 Communications Director Medicare Part D update; Penobscot Bay and River Pilots, Reinauer office staff, join the MM&P Health and Benefit Plan; increase in INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS Don Marcus, President earnings limitations for pensioners and spouses in 2020. Steven Werse, Secretary-Treasurer News From MITAGS 21 VICE PRESIDENTS Thomas Bell, Great Lakes & Gulf Karen Gibis retires after 34 years at MITAGS; Maritime Stephen H. Doherty, Atlantic Maritime Conference Center recognized for excellent service. Don Josberger, Offshore Atlantic Klaus Luhta, Offshore Gulf & Government Affairs MM&P Directory 22 George A. Quick, Pilots Randall H. Rockwood, Federal Pensioners 25 Employees Timothy Saffle, Pacific Maritime Region Cross’d the Final Bar 26 Lars Turner, Offshore Pacific Thank You Contributors to the MM&P PCF! 28 The International Marine Division of ILA/AFL-CIO Vol. 55, No.2 March. | April 2019 Connect With Us! About the Cover [email protected] Official Voice of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots Maersk Kentucky docked in Bridgedeck.org Houston earlier this year. The Facebook.com/IOMMP photo was taken by MM&P YouTube: MastersMatesPilots member Ernie Caponegro, who was sailing as second Instagram: bridgedeck Great News: Coast Guard Finalizes Terminal Access Rule mate aboard the ship. Maersk Alabama Hijacking 10 Years On: Could It Happen Again? Twitter: @MMP_Union Unions Fight Plan to Build Stadium at Port of Oakland New Bill Introduced in Congress to Repeal the Jones Act FROM THE PRESIDENT Through the Generations Union Sisters and Brothers, MM&P participated in March in the 7th Quadrennial Convention of the International Longshoremen’s Association Great Lakes District Council. For MM&P, as the marine affiliate of the ILA, the event was special for several reasons. The Convention coincided with an important meeting of the Maritime Labor Alliance (MLA), the cornerstone of cooperation between MM&P and five like-minded maritime unions: the ILA, the International Longshore and Warehouse He spoke of overcoming personal adversity to devote his Union (ILWU), the Inland Boatmen’s Union (IBU), the life to seeking economic and social justice for farm workers. Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA) and the The need “to be resolute, to be willing to make personal American Radio Association (ARA). sacrifices and to be ‘all-in’ for life” is, in his words, what is During the meeting, the constituent unions of the MLA required not only in the trenches of the labor movement but reiterated their commitment to maintaining industry in any battle aimed at improving people’s lives. Baldemar standards, upholding their fundamental, hard-earned labor Velasquez has lived such a life. The reward he has received is jurisdictions and defending the jobs of their collective the improvement in the working conditions of many farm membership. workers and their families. The Maritime Labor Alliance also agreed to engage in An equally powerful speech was given by our own Captain a more aggressive program to publicize and advance these Richard Phillips. His theme was duty: a captain’s duty to objectives. Coming off the ILA’s tremendously successful his crew. His is the story of one man’s ability to find within contract extension campaign, President Harold Daggett himself the personal strength and courage to rise to the was outspoken regarding the union’s determination to resist occasion when faced with the ultimate test. Captain Phillips’s automation’s encroachment on jobs by means of forceful story was the perfect parallel to that of Baldemar Velasquez: collective bargaining and by maintaining the highest level of both accounts demonstrate what is best and strongest in labor productivity on the docks. The ILA has committed to mankind. a benchmark of thirty container moves an hour, a rate higher There was another important moment for MM&P during than can be achieved with robotics. the ILA Great Lakes District Council Convention: the formal “The future of work” is a topic that impacts us all: as passing of the MM&P/ILA torch to our United Inland workers, mariners and members of society. The theme was Group-Great Lakes & Gulf Vice President Tom Bell. Tom was repeated in meetings throughout the Great Lakes District elected to the Great Lakes District Council as Vice President. Council Convention. It was also discussed at length earlier This is an unpaid position that, similar to MM&P’s unpaid during the same week at the Executive Board meetings of the positions on the ILA’s Atlantic Coast District Council and AFL-CIO Transportation Trades Department (TTD). In fact, International Executive Council, underscores our connection the AFL-CIO has established a commission on the future of to the ILA. This is a connection that may be subject to review work composed of representatives of all major sectors of labor. in the future, but that has endured since 1971. Two particularly inspiring speakers addressed the It was gratifying to see Tom assume the role, particularly Convention. One was our own Captain Richard Phillips, who in light of the contributions of two members who preceded told of his experiences aboard the MV Maersk Alabama. The him: Jack Duff and Charles Malue. Both made tremendous second was Baldemar Velasquez—co-founder and president of contributions to our organization and to our profession on the AFL-CIO Farm Labor Organizing Committee—who gave the Great Lakes. a moving description of his life as an immigrant, a migrant farm worker, an occasional longshoremen and, in more recent years, a labor organizer. continued on page 2 www.bridgedeck.org - The Master, Mate & Pilot 1 President’s Message continued advocate for our Great Lakes members. After retiring from MM&P, he remained with the ILA on the Great Lakes District Council. To this day, in his 90th year, he mans the barricades at the ILA’s Cleveland offices. For his dedicated and passionate service, Jack was given a standing ovation at the Convention. Charlie Malue, Jack’s spiritual successor as MM&P representative on the Great Lakes, rose from a coal passer aboard a Lakes steamer to a ship’s master by the time he came ashore. Like Jack before him, Charlie had tremendous insight. He recognized in Tom Bell (another talent that Jack had cultivated and encouraged) a professional ready to take on the job of MM&P’s Great Lakes representative that had previously been held by these two outstanding men. Tragically, Charlie passed away last year, so he could not be there to enjoy the moment. But, for MM&P members at the Convention, the rousing salute to Jack Duff and the knowledge of the generational continuity and tradition passed down from Jack to Charlie to Tom Bell was heartfelt. These Union brothers all have the qualities described by Baldemar Velasquez: resolution, sacrifice and commitment. And, like Captain Phillips, they know, or in the sad case of Charlie, knew, full well the true meaning of the word duty. In the end, it is the passing down of commitment, service Captains Charlie Malue (standing), with Tom Bell (seated left) and tradition from one generation to the next that makes a true and Jack Duff. As MM&P’s Representatives on the Great Lakes, labor Union special: not for profit, nor the accumulation of the three have shared a commitment to duty and service that wealth for anonymous investors, but for the betterment of the exemplifies the meaning of union solidarity. lives of working men and women and their families. Whether it is passing the torch of union service from Jack Duff to Charlie Malue to Tom Bell or passing the torch of employment in our time-honored and honest profession from a father or mother to Captain Duff got his start aboard escort carriers during World his or her son, daughter, niece or nephew—or simply from one War II, then aboard tugs on the Ohio and Monongahela rivers, Union Brother/Sister to another—it is truly gratifying.