INSUFFICIENT SHIPBOARD MANNING FUELS FATIGUE, BOOSTS RISKS U.S. MARITIME OFFICERS CALL ON CONGRESS TO TAKE ACTION

Cuts in manning levels and burgeoning paperwork loads are increasing the risk of maritime accidents worldwide. MM&P International Secretary-Treasurer Don Marcus presented Congressional testimony on the manning shortfall on April 26. The testimony was presented on behalf of members of MM&P, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and the American Maritime Officers. To read the testimony in its entirety, click here.

BIPARTISAN CALL FOR FULL FUNDING OF THE MARITIME SECURITY PROGRAM

In contrast to the partisan gridlock that has dominated this session of Congress, a bipartisan group of 34 legislators is urging the House of Representatives to approve full funding for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) for fiscal year 2013. President Obama has asked Congress to fully fund the program. To read the complete text of the Congressional letter supporting full funding for MSP, click here.

MARITIME AND AGRICULTURE INDUSTRIES JOIN FORCES IN SUPPORT OF FOOD AID PROGRAM

The maritime and agriculture industries have joined forces to urge Congress to approve funding for the PL 480 Food for Peace Program. MM&P, MEBA and MIRAID are active participants in this effort, which is now focused on maximizing the domestic job creation potential of food aid programs and opposing proposals that our country send cash--rather than commodities--to countries in need of U.S. assistance. To read the joint maritime-agriculture industries statement and to see a complete list of the organizations that have signed on so far, click here.

MEMBERS OF CONGRESS TO EX-IM BANK: “SUPPORT U.S.-FLAG SHIPPING”

In a strongly worded letter to the president and chairman of the Export-Import Bank of the United States, three Republican congressmen have urged the bank “to be mindful of its charge to promote U.S. services, including U.S.-flag ocean transportation services.” To read the entire statement, click here.

BLUE & GOLD FLEET WINS OPERATING AND MAINTENANCE CONTRACT FOR BAY AREA FERRIES

The Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA) has awarded a contract for the operation and maintenance of San Francisco Bay Area ferry services to Blue & Gold Fleet, which employs members of MM&P’s United Inland Group (UIG). Routes include the existing Alameda/Oakland and Harbor Bay services, planned South San Francisco ferry services and an option to operate Vallejo ferry service beginning in July 2012. In total, this represents four service routes covering approximately 50 nautical miles and approximately 1.3 million passenger trips annually.

Blue & Gold Fleet has 14 years of experience successfully operating 30-knot vessels and 19 years of experience providing water transit services in the Bay Area. The company has operated the Vallejo service for 17 years and the Alameda/Oakland route for the past 19 years. Staffers for the WETA Board also noted that Blue & Gold’s maintenance and management teams “have extensive experience and are highly qualified” and that the company is “extremely responsive and positive to work with.”

In a memo to Blue & Gold staff, company President Taylor Safford described the award as “the culmination of the excellent, safe and reliable service that each member of the staff has provided for years to the people of the Bay Area.” He also recognized the importance of what he termed “the partnership” that has evolved between Blue & Gold, MM&P’s United Inland Group and the Inland Boatmen’s Union.

“I want to thank everyone who has worked so hard on this project over the course of the past five years,” said MM&P UIG Vice President Mike Murray. “Invaluable contributions have been made by many MM&P members who work at Blue & Gold, such as Capt. Ezra L. Hunter.  I also want to recognize the efforts of MM&P Regional Representative Ray Shipway and of Veronica Sanchez, who works to preserve and create jobs for MM&P members in the San Francisco area. Without their help, this result would not have been possible.” 

DRAMATIC YOU TUBE VIDEO DEPICTS HUMAN COST OF PIRACY

A powerful short film, posted to You Tube by the international “Save Our Seafarers (SOS) campaign,” campaign, features a moving interview with a mariner who was held hostage for eight months by Somali pirates. The six-minute video uses a mixture of interviews and dramatizations to create a frightening, realistic sequence in which a ship is captured and hostages taken. The re-enactment is followed by a compelling report given by a former hostage and interviews with the European Union Naval Forces chief of staff and a member of the SOS Steering Group.

“Seafarers have been constantly under threat from Somali pirates for the last five years, with at times more than 800 innocent seafarers being held hostage for months on end in appalling conditions and facing mental and physical torture at the hands of their captors,” said SOS spokesman Bill Box. “Piracy costs the global economy as much as 12 billion pounds a year and continues to threaten key transport routes through the Indian Ocean. The aim of our video is to take the campaign message to a wider audience and to gain support outside as well as inside the maritime industry, calling for more determined government action against Somali piracy.”

The campaign, which was launched in March of this year, is made up of the largest ever grouping of international seafarers’ organizations, shipping companies and shipping industry associations. It has already received backing from the British, Philippine and Georgian governments and has seen support from 180 countries.

To watch the video and sign a petition in support of concerted government action to end piracy, go to www.saveourseafarers.com.

PLEASE SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS!

To promote the use of the most immediate and cost-effective communications tools, the MM&P General Executive Board (GEB), at its July meeting, gave MM&P headquarters staff the go-ahead to rely increasingly on e-mail communications.

Examples of the type of material that could be e-mailed to members in the future include news alerts on Congressional action, news stories involving the Jones Act, breaking union news, and communications related to the MM&P collective bargaining agreements and benefit plans. MM&P officials will also use e-mail to communicate with individual members and applicants about grievances filed by or affecting the individual members or applicants and to gather information in aid of contract enforcement proceedings.

As a first step in this process, MM&P staff is asking all MM&P members---including applicants, members, permittees and pensioners---to send us their e-mail addresses. Except to the extent required by law, the e-mail addresses will not be shared with any entity outside of MM&P and e-mail communications will be used only for union-related business. Thus, e-mail addresses will be handled by MM&P with the same level of privacy as MM&P now handles your postal mailing address.

If you would like to receive some MM&P communications electronically, please contact us at emailaddress@bridgedeck.org. In your message, please tell us: your full name, your MM&P membership group, your e-mail address and the last four digits of your social security number.

Please note: The distribution list for The Wheelhouse Weekly is separate from the union’s database. The Wheelhouse Weekly is a comprehensive source of news, distributed free of charge to union members and others with an interest in our industry. The Wheelhouse Weekly database is separate because many non-members subscribe to The Wheelhouse Weekly. Therefore, the fact that you are receiving The Wheelhouse Weekly does not mean that you will be on the union e-mail list.

MM&P applicants, members, permittees and pensioners who want to be on the union e-mail list (as distinct from The Wheelhouse Weekly distribution list) should still make sure that headquarters staffers have their current e-mail address on file. If you do not already receive The Wheelhouse Weekly but would like to check it out, please send an e-mail to communications@bridgedeck.org requesting that we add your e-mail address to the Wheelhouse Weekly distribution list.

Phone Service Discounts for Union Members and Union Local Offices

The AFL-CIO has entered into a series of agreements with vendors of telecommunications services covering phone equipment for union local offices, as well as a discount on wireless service for union members and their families. To read about the equipment union locals can purchase, as well as the discounts for union members and their families, click here: AFL-CIO newsletter.