Section Front Front Page |
 |
|
Hvide Tug, Tanker Jobs Go AMO
| |||
| Union To Bargain For Engine, Deck Employees On 15 Vessels | |||
Officers on three ocean-going tankers owned and operated by the same company, Hvide Marine Inc., also chose the union as their exclusive collective bargaining agent. Naming the union to represent them in the tug unit were the captains, engineers, mates, and deck hands employed by Hvide's Tampa Bay Towing. Tampa Bay Towing operates the tractor and harbor tugs St. Johns, Hawk, Condor, Eagle II, Reliant, Falcon, Winslow C, Kelsey, Tampa, Challenger, Ybor and Trooper. Delivery of a twelfth vessel, the Swanee River, was imminent as American Maritime Officer neared presstime. In addition, requests for AMO representation came from the engine and deck officers on the Hvide tankers Seabulk America, Seabulk Magnachem and HMI Trader, all of which operate in domestic oil and petroleum product markets. In April, the employers in both fleets, recognized the bargaining rights of AMO and agreed to begin negotiations. "AMO is pleased to bring the benefits of union representation to the Hvide employees in the tug and tanker fleets," said AMO National President Michael R. McKay. "We are proud to again uphold a fundamental labor principle--'organize the unorganized,' and we are grateful for the employees' support." McKay added: "Everyone in AMO benefits from such expansion of jurisdiction and employment opportunity. Our gains in the Hvide units enhance AMO's standing as the nation's strongest union of merchant marine officers. Our success reflects well not only on our organizing team, but on our entire membership, the men and women who perpetuate our tradition of growth, stability, and excellence." Meanwhile, AMO requested recognition by Hvide Marine Inc. as the bargaining agent for captains, mates, engineers, and deckhands employed on the company's tugs in Port Everglades and Port Canaveral in Florida. A card count showed overwhelming support for AMO among the vessel personnel in both ports. AMO's significant gains in the sprawling Hvide Marine operation resulted from an organizing campaign directed from union headquarters by McKay and in the field by AMO National Deep-Sea Vice President Thomas E. Kelly. Organizers were AMO National Executive Board Member At Large Richard M. LeClaire and AMO National Representatives Leroy Tanner and Timothy Dragone. At presstime, a majority of the employees on Hvide tugs in Mobile, Ala., and on three oilfield vessels operated by Hvide in the Gulf of Mexico had also requested AMO representation. AMO also represents the licensed officers on nine product and chemical tankers operated for Hvide Marine Inc. by Interocean Ugland Mgmt. Corp., of Voorhees N.J. Those ships are the newly built double-hulled HMI Cape Lookout Shoals, HMI Nantucket Shoals, HMI Diamond Shoals, HMI Ambrose Channel and HMI Brenton Reef, and the HMI Dynachem, HMI Petrachem, HMI Astrachem and HMI Defender. | |||
 | |||
|
