Teamwork and Solidarity at 81st Convention In the News: Maunalei ...

The 81st MM&P ConventionMM&P United Inland Group (UIG) Vice PresidentSteve Demeroutis told the group that the UIG has registereda number of important successes on the West Coast andin Alaska, and has concluded six of eight contracts on theGreat Lakes. He said UIG “stands ready to assist any MM&Pmember or group anytime and anywhere.”MM&P Pilots Membership Group Vice PresidentGeorge Quick briefed the delegates on a range ofdevelopments on the national and international scene. Theunion has been particularly active in Washington, he said,in response to federal agency proposals on the TWIC cardand the Merchant Mariner Credential. (Quick’s presentationwill be published in installments in The Master, Mate & Pilot,starting on page 24 of this issue.)Among the VIPs who addressed the convention wereInternational Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) PresidentJohn Bowers, Sailors’ Union of the Pacific (SUP) PresidentGunnar Lundeberg, Seafarers’ International Union (SIU)President Mike Sacco and Marine Engineers’ BeneficialAssociation (MEBA) President Ron Davis. Also among thespeakers were ILA Secretary-Treasurer Robert Gleason andILA International Executive Vice President Richard Hughes.Bowers applauded the continued unity among maritimeunions on matters of importance to the industry. He tolddelegates that MM&P could always count on the unyieldingsupport of the ILA, saying, “We’re all in this together.”Gleason focused his remarks on what he said are the twomajor challenges facing unions today: the need to adapt toMM&P President Tim Brown: “MM&P members raisedover $100,000 to help our union brothers and sisters whosuffered losses as a result of the hurricanes. I’ve neverbeen so proud to be president of this organization.”MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer Glen Banks: “Ourfinancial situation is strong, and the renovation of our buildingis allowing MM&P to generate a new stream of rental income.”International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) PresidentJohn Bowers: “If you don’t have a contract, we’re outon the street with you. We’re all in this together.”SUP President Gunnar Lundeberg: “There arebarbarians at the gate, salivating over our markets andour work, and they are chipping away at the JonesAct. These are threats to our existence that shouldbe immediately identified and fought back.”- 20 - September – October 2006 The Master, Mate & Pilot