Organizing

We all know opportunities and growth are hard to find in the US Maritime Industry. We must focus on maintaining and strengthening the contracts we have while looking for new areas to grow. Our greatest asset is having skilled Engineers, ready for work, in every corner of the country. This is a resource we can leverage for gains.

New Contracts, Higher Rates, and Benefits

For instance, I just finalized a contract with MAN to supply day labor in their shop and on the ships they attend, at rates greater than our current West Coast Port Relief rates and including ALL MEBA Plan benefits: medical, training, and full 11.7 coverage by the company. MAN is going to use our West Cost Labor for jobs from 2 days to 2 months, onboard ships pulling a piston, or in their shop rebuilding fuel pumps. These day jobs pay $50/hr with full 11.7 covered by MAN, plus overtime. This is jurisdiction we never should have given up in the past, as port stays became shorter and shorter and crews smaller and smaller.

In 2014, I worked with Christian Yuhas to get a new employer, CTS, to also sign onto our benefit plans, which is no easy task. The CTS work is stationary engineering at buildings. The work has been consistent, keeping 1 member permanently employed and offering relief stints.

Growth Opportunities

Whether MAN, or stationary engineering, we must continue to look outside our wheelhouse for growth opportunities, tapping our resource of skilled hands on Engineers that live everywhere.