Employers' conference is valued forum on matters of wide interest



Employers' conference is valued forum on matters of wide interest
By MICHAEL R. McKAY
I was pleased to host the 10th Annual American Maritime Officers Deep-Sea Employers' Conference in Washington DC March 31-April 1. This increasingly popular forum does not involve collective bargaining or the pursuit and settlement of grievances. It simply allows the ship operators and AMO officials and representatives to discuss a wide range of issues affecting all fleets and the AMO members who work aboard the vessels in foreign and domestic trades. The talk is open, often blunt and always mutually informative. The topics this time included competitive bidding for Military Sealift Command and Maritime Administration charters, commercial cargo opportunities, training, certification and upgrading, manpower and recruitment, legislation, law and regulation, taxes, the nationwide health insurance crisis, and port and ship security mandates and their impacts on vessel operations and personnel. Among the highlights: A briefing by Republican Sen. Trent Lott of Mississippi--one of the most influential lawmakers and a strong supporter of the U.S. merchant fleet and the American shipbuilding industry--on the strategy that led to legislation to renew and expand the Maritime Security Program for 10 years, beginning in October 2005. AMO represents the licensed officers on seven of the ships currently enrolled in the MSP, but there is a good chance for additional AMO work as the program grows to cover 60 ships. Sen. Lott also discussed the cargo preference laws that set aside specific shares of government-financed imports and exports for U.S.-flagged ships (100 percent of defense cargoes, 50 percent of all non-defense goods--including those financed through the Export-Import Bank--and up to 75 percent of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food aid exports) and the 1920 Jones Act, which holds all domestic waterborne cargoes for U.S.-flagged and crewed ships. Both the cargo preference laws and the Jones Act benefit ship operators that have collective bargaining agreements with AMO. Sen. Lott made a particular point of saluting U.S.-flag maritime industry and labor for uniting firmly behind the Maritime Security Program, the cargo preference laws and the Jones Act when these issues are before Congress, despite competition for cargoes and jobs. A presentation by Maritime Administrator William Schubert, whose duties at MARAD include oversight of the U.S. Ready Reserve Force sealift fleet. AMO mans 39 of the 68 reserve ships. Capt. Schubert, a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y., also discussed the potential for new Jones Act cargo services along the East, West and Gulf Coasts and the Great Lakes through what he jokingly referred to as "Schubert's short-sea shipping." Under an initiative promoted heavily by Schubert with significant support from vessel operators and seagoing unions, cargoes now moving by railroad or highway would be diverted to water routes to ease shoreside congestion. A report from Capt. Ernie Fink, commanding officer of the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center. Capt. Fink's presentation included a detailed explanation of what the Coast Guard is doing to promote uniform and efficient service at its 17 Regional Exam Centers, where U.S. merchant mariners must go to renew their licenses and Merchant Mariner Documents (MMDs--also known as "Z-cards") and be tested for license upgrading. Steve Nickerson, executive director of AMO Plans, detailed steps taken by the AMO Medical Plan to contain costs, including administrative measures resulting in greater productivity and efficiency. Nickerson also fielded questions about the AMO Pension, Vacation, and 401(k) Plans. Phil Shullo, director of training at the AMO Safety and Education Plan's RTM Simulation, Training, Assessment and Research Centers in Dania Beach and Toledo, updated the employers on the ongoing mission of the STAR Centers and their evolution in response to--and in anticipation of--new U.S. Coast Guard requirements for raise-of-grade engine and deck licenses and the continuing effect of mandates laid down by the International Maritime Organization. Karen Manos, an attorney specializing in the 1965 Contract Service Act, explained the 1965 law (which requires that prevailing wages and benefits be paid to employees of private sector companies doing work for the federal government) and its application to MSC and MARAD Requests for Proposals, or RFPs. Manos also discussed conditions that can cause civilian seafarers employed aboard government-owned or chartered ships to lose required security clearances--and how these clearances may be regained (See AMO Currents at www. amo-union.net). By all accounts, the two-day session was a real success. The ship operators appreciated the opportunity to hear Sen. Lott, Capt. Schubert and Capt. Fink, and they were impressed by the commitment and professionalism demonstrated by Nickerson, Shullo and Manos. They also enjoyed the give-and-take, the sharing of experience and the diverse perspectives on problem-solving at sea and in the company office. The consensus was that this particular tradition in AMO should continue--and it will.

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