The AMO National Executive Board has approved a union-wide membership dues increase of 9 percent, effective January 1, 2024.
The board also approved an initiation fee increase of 9 percent charged to applicants for AMO membership, effective January 1, 2024. This fee will rise from $5,500 to $6,000 for engine and deck officers working in Deep-Sea and/or Great Lakes fleets and from $3,500 to $4,000 in the Inland Waters sector.
Applicants for AMO membership already at various process points will be held to the initiation fee in place when they signed on.
These increased dues and initiation fee rates were agreed to in compliance with Article V (Finances) of the AMO National Constitution.
This 9-percent increase equates to additional expense of $40 a quarter for Deep-Sea and Great Lakes Chief Engineers and Captains, $38 a quarter for First Assistant Engineers, Chief Officers and Radio-Electronics Officers, $36 a quarter for Second Assistant Engineers and Second Mates and $34 a quarter for Third Assistant Engineers, Third Mates and Stewards.
These AMO members comprise “Group 1” as specified in Article V (Finances) of the AMO National Constitution.
The annual Group 1 dues rates effective January 1, 2024 will be:
- $1,932 for Chief Engineers and Captains ($483 per quarter)
- $1,824 for First Assistant Engineers, Chief Officers, First Officers in the Subcom fleet and Electronics Officers ($456 per quarter)
- $1,724 for Second Assistant Engineers, Second Officers and Radio-Electronics Officers ($431 per quarter)
- $1,624 for Third Assistant Engineers, Third Officers and Stewards ($406 per quarter)
Group 2 dues rates – $488, or $122 per quarter – apply only to Inland Waters engine and deck officers as specified in Article V of the AMO National Constitution.
The non-sailing membership dues rate in the Deep-Sea and Great Lakes fleets will remain at $888 a year. The annual non-sailing membership dues rate in the Inland Waters sector will remain at $448. Electronics Technicians, Radio-Electronics Officers and Stewards who do not secure 200 days of AMO covered employment in a calendar year will pay the increased non-sailing dues rate of $488 a year, or $122 per quarter.
When the AMO National Executive Board met on October 18 to address the dues rate issue, six board members voted to approve the 9-percent increase. AMO National President Paul Doell abstained to further consider an alternative compromise dues increase rate of 7.5 percent.
One week later, Doell endorsed the 9-percent increase as “absolutely essential,” given the evolving economic circumstances driving the lengthy discussion.
January 1, 2024 will mark nine years since the last membership dues increase was applied in our union. AMO dues rates remain the lowest among the three U.S. merchant marine officers’ unions.