At a recent meeting of the AMO Executive Board at the end of October, the board agreed that it was in the best interest of the union moving forward to raise dues at four percent. This was announced at the November 6 union membership meeting at AMO headquarters with more than 45 members in attendance. The dues increase, effective January 1, amounts to less than $80 per year ($20 more per quarter) and brings captains and chief engineers to a dues rate of $2,000 per year (see table below).
While the dues increase is incremental, the Executive Board believes the added revenue will go a long way in expanding the services provided by the union to every member. We are the largest union of United States Coast Guard-licensed officers and have by far the lowest dues rates. And as our job base expands, with new companies continuously approaching AMO about manning their fleets, the services our members require must also be enhanced.
For years, the union has been understaffed while previous administrations took a bare-bones approach to member services. Penny-pinching sounds great as political rhetoric, but it does little to improve a modernizing and growing union. Some of the goals of the Executive Board going into next year include strategically adding new union staff and representatives to visit more ships and address AMO members needs as they are onboard doing their jobs as professionally as possible. One of our biggest initiatives has been expanding our recruiting efforts to increase membership to ensure AMO members will have a relief when they need it. Enhancing our technology at the union to make it easier to upload documents, apply for jobs and communicate with your representation and other members is another dedicated area we plan to make strides in 2025.
These are just a few examples of how the AMO Executive Board plans on making your money work better for you – the AMO member. As we expand our membership and our fleet, we will need to keep up. AMO is going to get bigger and better for our membership.
As always, we value your feedback. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with any questions or comments.
Have a blessed holiday season,
Captain Willie Barrere
AMO National President
New Dues Rates Starting January 1, 2025:
Captain/CE $500 per quarter $2,000 per year
*1AE/CM $475 $1,900
**2AE/2M $450 $1,800
***3AE/3M $425 $1,700
*Includes Electronics Officers, Electro-Technical Officers (ETOs)
** Includes Radio Officers
*** Includes Great Lakes Stewards
Furthermore, Electronics Officers, ETOs and Great Lakes Stewards who do not achieve 200 days of covered employment in a calendar year shall pay the non-sailing dues rate of $122 per Quarter or $488 per year.