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

from the PRESIDENTPresident’s Report to the 81st MM&P ConventionIt has been two years since we last met. In the interim,MM&P has faced many challenges and seized manyopportunities, and this without any tangible help from thecurrent Administration, with one exception which I willcover later.Matson Navigation CompanyIn early June of this year, MM&P concluded a new contractfor the Moku Pahu, a sugar carrier operated by MatsonNavigation Company. Prior to this, we were able to improvewages and working conditions on all the new Matson vesselsbuilt in Aker-Kvaerner Philadelphia Shipyard. Thanks for thisaccomplishment go to MM&P Pacific Ports Vice PresidentDon Marcus and his negotiating committee on the WestCoast. They were able to improve wages and benefits not onlyfor the fourth new Matson ship, but also for the three shipsthat previously had been launched at Aker.Maersk Lines LimitedSince our last convention, the three Offshore Vice Presidentshave finalized an eight-year contract with Maersk Lines.The prototype for the contract was the Horizon contractsigned in June 2004. The Maersk contract was extendedalmost immediately for two more years after it was signed bythe Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA). Thecontract calls for modest raises for each of the 10 years andensures Maersk will be a participant in the MM&P Plans.We look forward to a long and successful partnership withMaersk. Again, the three Offshore Vice Presidents did anexcellent job here.American Heavy LiftShortly after our last convention, Gulf Ports Vice PresidentBob Groh and Atlantic Ports Vice President Rich May,assisted by members of the rank and file, concluded a newfive-year contract with American Heavy Lift (AHL) forwages and benefits for both licensed officers and unlicensedpersonnel. The contract included modest raises for each ofthe five years. In addition, effective Jan. 1, 2005, licensed andunlicensed personnel received an additional day of vacation.Another day of vacation will be implemented on Jan. 1, 2009.Martin Luther King’s Birthday was included as a holiday,effective January 2005. The company also agreed to continuepayments for licensed and unlicensed personnel in all MM&PTrust plans. Unlicensedpersonnel received anadditional 1 percent IRAPcontribution effectiveJan. 1, 2005. Thingsseem to be going well atAmerican Heavy Lift andthere are rumors that theremay be additional work inthe future for MM&P members.Timothy A. BrownAmerican Ship ManagementIn January 2005, a contract with American Ship Managementwas concluded after Congress voted to continue the MaritimeSecurity Program (MSP). The contract is for the entireduration of the MSP. Don Marcus and his negotiatingcommittee, which included delegate Mark Remijan, did theheavy lifting on this contract.In July 2005, American Ship Management was not ableto extend its contract with American President Lines tocontinue to manage their shipping assets. However, later inJuly, APL Marine Services informed MM&P that they wouldbe managing the assets that ASM had managed and wouldtake over the contract that had been negotiated with MM&Pthrough ASM.Sargeant MarineIn December 2005, Bob Groh, Rich May, MM&P Agent GulfPorts Wayne Farthing and their negotiating team concludeda three-year contract for the Asphalt Commander which callsfor a sizable pay increase along with increases in the numberof days of vacation per month and increases in contributionsto the IRAP.E-ShipsIn January of this year, Rich May and his negotiating teamconcluded a new contract with E-Ships for the duration ofthe MSP. The contract has modest increases for its duration,and additional days of vacation for the second and thirdmates in year two and in year five. The master is guaranteedtwo hours of overtime each day. A one-year contract was alsosigned for SS Argonaut. It provides for a 4 ½ percent increasein wages and wage-related items and an additional day ofvacation for each rating aboard.The Master, Mate & Pilot September – October 2006 - -