Organized 1885 Official Organ of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific Volume LXXXI No. 2 SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA Friday, February 23, 2018 TOTE scuttles plan to launch new West USA Maritime, food aid partners Coast-Hawai’i service urge support for programs that OTE Maritime, which yard for Matson Navigation’s announced last August Hawai’i service. employs U.S.-flag shipping T(see the August 2017 West “Due to the scope and timing Coast Sailors) that it intends to of the upgrades and improve- USA Maritime, which the Sailors’ Union is a member, has joined with a large and diverse establish a new domestic ship- ments, TOTE will not renew group of organizations urging the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) to sup- ping service from the U.S. main- the letter of intent with Philly port funding for the McGovern-Dole International Food for Education and Child Nutrition land to Hawai’i, is putting the Shipyard that expires on Janu- program and the Food for Progress program. As stated in the Coalition’s January 30 letter plan on hold indefinitely due to ary 1, 2018,” TOTE explained to USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue, “these programs improve livelihoods and educational the results of a technical review. in a prepared statement. “TOTE opportunities, while building the political stability and capacity necessary to grow future The company, which is a sub- continues to be open to working markets for U.S. agricultural products.” sidiary of Seattle-based trans- with the Hawai’i Department of portation Saltchuk, said last Transportation to update plans he following is the letter to pating in McGovern-Dole saw Zambia,Haiti and Honduras, month that the results of the first and a timeline for access to a TSecretary Perdue: attendance rates skyrocket by businesses supported by Food phase of its technical review of Honolulu deepwater terminal “As supporters and imple- about 40%. Young girls who tra- for Progress saw a 30% rise in to- Piers 1 and 2 in Honolulu Harbor that would allow commencement menters of the U.S. Department ditionally do not have access to tal employment and now support show that significant improve- of TOTE’s service to Hawai’i.” of Agriculture’s McGovern-Dole education have seen the greatest half a million jobs, a majority of International Food for Education gains in school attendance, and which provide an income above ments and upgrades would be TOTE has admitted that con- and Child Nutrition program, or as the Global Partnership for the poverty line and over half of required to accommodate the struction of the new ships and a new operations. the Food for Progress program, Education notes, “Educated girls which are filled by women. commitment for terminal space we, the undersigned organi- The Hawai’i Department of and women tend to be healthier, Food for Progress provides in Honolulu are critical for the zations, urge your support for Transportation had earmarked have fewer children, earn more U.S. agricultural commodities to new venture to move forward. these programs in annual budget income and provide better health private voluntary organizations, for TOTE access to Honolulu The Hawai’i-Mainland trade requests. We represent a diverse care for themselves and their which in turn sell these com- Piers 1 and 2 last September, as route is currently serviced by group of business, faith-based future children.” modities and use the proceeds well as exclusive use of an adja- two carriers, SUP-contracted and non-profit groups that have The McGovern-Dole pro- to fund programs. Food for cent 45 acres beginning in 2020, Matson and the Pasha Group. seen first-hand how these pro- coinciding with TOTE’s planned gram also promotes education, Progress helps small produc- Philly Shipyard last year ex- grams improve livelihoods and service to Hawai’i. educational opportunities, while child development and nutrition ers adopt modern agricultural plained its rationale for launching through complementary ser- practices and engage in the Philly Shipyard said last June the Hawai’i-to-Mainland trade building the political stability and capacity necessary to grow vices. Examples include admin- market so they can more fully that it had already begun con- venture by saying that the current future markets for U.S. agricul- istering deworming medicine, participate in both national and struction of four containerships carriers in the region are reliant tural products. providing greater access to clean international agricultural value for TOTE, which were to be the in part on a group of near end- continuation of the series of two The McGovern-Dole program water, and targeted teacher train- chains. As a result, individual of-life steamships, and that when ing and literacy interventions. In livelihoods are strengthened like similar 850-foot, 3,600-TEU stricter new MARPOL/ECA provides high-quality Ameri- “Aloha Class” containerships can-sourced commodities for Mozambique, more than 8000 we saw in Bolivia, where the emissions regulations take effect people graduated from accred- income of participating farmers under construction at the ship- in 2020, several of the older steam nutritious school lunches for millions of vulnerable children ited teacher training colleges, rose 142%. Farmers who have powered vessels now serving the while in Honduras there was been supported through Food route will be out of compliance. in 24 countries across Africa, Asia and Latin America. A lack a 22% increase in literacy for for Progress productively add Therefore, the company said, of education is directly tied to participating primary school to the global economy and are the circumstances provided an poverty, and according to one children, and in Guatemala contributing to products sold by opportunity for a new Jones teachers report that 40% more major international brands such Act carrier to enter the Hawai’i study if all students in low-in- students are focusing on their as GAP, Pizza Hut, and Jollibee. containership trade. Unless new come countries learned basic studies because they are no lon- ships enter the Hawai’i trade reading skills, there would be Both McGovern-Dole and ger hungry. route starting in 2020, local 171 million fewer people living Food for Progress also directly commerce could be adversely in poverty. McGovern-Dole is Food for Progress is an equally contribute to important U.S. impacted by the new emissions designed to support increased impactful program that strength- interests beyond helping other standards, the shipyard ex- school enrollment, attendance, ens and modernizes agricultural countries. For instance, in Fis- plained at the time. and achievement, and thus com- sectors in developing countries. cal Year 2015, these programs Last August, Matson CEO bat poverty through education. This growth is especially im- together purchased and shipped Matt Cox warned that TOTE’s In poor communities that portant given that, according 428,288 metric tons of com- extra vessels were unneeded suffer from chronic hunger, to a study by the World Bank, modities grown by U.S. farmers. and would lead to “uneconomic” McGovern-Dole lunches are a gross domestic product (GDP) The provision of commodities overcapacity in the U.S.-Hawai’i powerful incentive for parents growth originating in agricul- is a lifeline to people living in trade lane. “The severe losses ture is nearly three times more poverty, and it is not lost on Periodicals’ postage paid at San Francisco, CA (USPS 675-180) postage paid at San Francisco, CA Periodicals’ to send their children to classes experienced over time in Puerto regularly, particularly since effective in reducing poverty them that this aid is provided Rico and trans-Pacific trade these lunches are often the only than GDP growth originating by the American people, which lanes provide examples of the meal these children receive each outside this sector for the world’s raises our country’s stature and detrimental impact that overca- day. In countries like Burkina poorest people. In countries like reputation around the world. As pacity can have in this business,” Faso and Mali, schools partici- Georgia, Tanzania, Malawi, he cautioned in a call with media. continued on page 2 RRF Wage Rates: Page 6 ESU News: Page 7 Page 2 WEST COAST SAILORS Friday, February 23, 2018 USA Maritime, food aid partners SUP Honor Roll continued from page 1 Voluntary contributions from the membership to the following funds: urge support for programs these people begin to prosper economically, thanks in part to our efforts, trade op- portunities for American businesses will increase. Since both McGovern-Dole and Organization/ Political Fund Food for Progress give large numbers of people and businesses in developing coun- General Fund Chris Bunheirao. 60.00 tries the opportunity to use and familiarize themselves with high quality American Dave Connolly. 100.00 commodities, U.S. agriculture is particularly well placed to capitalize on increased trade in the future. Ronildo Dimatulac. 50.00 Ronildo Dimatulac. 50.00 In explaining the Trade Title of the 2014 Farm Bill, the title that created the import- Marc Dulay. 25.00 Marc Dulay. 25.00 ant Undersecretary for Trade and Foreign Agriculture position, the bill’s Managers Stephen Rydberg. 200.00 Matt Henning . 25.00 “affirmed the importance of maintaining strong development programs in support of Jill Holleman. 50.00 building resilient communities and reducing dependency on foreign assistance.” We Isnin Idris . 100.00 agree with their statement and know it is imperative to millions of people that the West Coast Michael Koller. 50.00 important work of McGovern-Dole and Food for Progress continue. James Linderman. 25.00 We appreciate the ongoing work of your dedicated staff at the Foreign Agriculture Sailors Gunnar Lundeberg . 50.00 Service and we look forward to working with you on these critical and impactful programs.” Sincerely, Philip Howell.