[QUOTE=cappy208;63034] One would hope the new towing vessel inspection would clarify that… NOT![/QUOTE]
You’ll probably be remembered as a prophet!
Another thing to consider, Kirby has carte blanche for 2 years after 333 was voted out. No union can even talk to the guys for 2 years by law. The only vote they have now is with their feet.
Not sure that is true. They voted to decertify. The 2 yr cool down period only has to do with ILA or other organized Union. This self certified, company organized affiliation is good to go from here on in. Interesting to note it includes Captains! This is getting interesting!
I am having a brain fart here, but there is the issue of the cooling off period. I can’t seem to recall the actual phrase, but it had to do with the cooling off period had to do with organized labor, and an organization could not go from one to another (within the afl cio, ila system of labor) without the requisite period. But this is the benefit of a company association, since they are NOT allied with ILA, AFL/CIO, or teamsters they are not subject to the cooling off period. Of course Kirby’s lawyers are going to play havoc with this. And even though the RTBU will prevail as being the representation of the members, it will no doubt be gutted in strength. Just NOT the all powerful entity that Skip thinks they are/will be recognized as!
Working based out of NYC for 10 years, Im not going to claim 333 was the only way to go or was horrible, I personally have never had any trouble with 333. The only problem I can see with “RTBU” is it only weakens the members left in 333. One of our crew members onboard has close ties to Kirby-Sea so we get the the daily gossip update, and it doesnt sound good. The division has already started, mates feeling that they should be paid more and tankerman less, how new members feel that the dues are going to be to much for RTBU, on and on. What stops Kirby from bringing southern non union guys up, riding them extra man on the boats till they know the equipment, or have recency, and 1 year from now telling you that your no longer needed. NOTHING. If Tankerman will work 14on 7 off down south for 250-300 a day, what stops Kirby from taking the best from down there, offering them 50-75 more a day, and paid travel to come work 28-14 based out of NYC… NOTHING. The company will actually only need half the personel to run the boats, make the chiefs and deckhands get a tankerman ticket and have them pump ballast or cargo so they can cut a man off the ATBs, again, NOTHING. Im not a major union advocate, but would rather have one than not. All im getting at is that these guys should really stand together, because it would suck to hang seperately.
Rumor we got is Tim Casey resigned today ?
Thats always a topic of discussion on my boat. Give the guys in the GOM a 50$ a day pay raise and move them north. Its less than what guys up north make, but a huge pay raise to the other guys. Its gonna drive wages down, then we are all screwed.
UMD 3 - 3 - 3, down on your knees, scumbags! But hey, at least they offer…
benefits
vacation
pension
free training
USCG license renewal assistance
license insurance
dispute resolution assistance
seniority enforcement
an active and effective hiring hall…
and most importantly, they don’t need working guys to come from the boats to negotiate contracts with their own bosses directly, that’s what the union’s for, right???
Oh wait a minute, they don’t offer ANY of that!!! Why do we pay dues again, to pay the salaries of guys who collect dues, period, end of discussion!
[QUOTE=captmarcus;63205]UMD 3 - 3 - 3, down on your knees, scumbags! But hey, at least they offer…
benefits
vacation
pension
free training
USCG license renewal assistance
license insurance
dispute resolution assistance
seniority enforcement
an active and effective hiring hall…
and most importantly, they don’t need working guys to come from the boats to negotiate contracts with their own bosses directly, that’s what the union’s for, right???
Oh wait a minute, they don’t offer ANY of that!!! Why do we pay dues again, to pay the salaries of guys who collect dues, period, end of discussion![/QUOTE]
Thats what I dont et. The unions always make a big stink about membership and the annual vote and stuff but they dont do anything? Im non union but the guys I have talked to who are say they get next to nothing in return for their dues. And whats more is they dont like their money going to support liberal politicians. (but thats a whole other story) I know SIU has their school, but what do the rest have to offer??
And its not just SIU, 333, and the other maritime unions. My dad was a member of the IBEW for 35 years when the re-organization of the company came around (read budget cuts) he was unable to keep his job as a class A technician (he was a truck mechanic at Va Power) the only thing they could find him was a garage mans spot even though he had 15 years on the next guy in line.
WTF?
I have only been union for the past 6 months, but right after I got hired we had a contract renegotiation. About 80% of the company voted no on the contract, the union Rep went to all the boats, said “this is a fair contract and nothing is going to change. You boys need to revote”. I know the 8 guys on my boat all voted no, but funny enough it passed with 100% voting yes. Seems a little fishy to me. And to top it, I asked the union man about other companies that are part of this union, he told me “we don’t and wont help you find a spot with another company, and I cant even tell you what other tug companies are with SIU.” What the f**k are they for??? Oh yea, just to take my money and keep the mob financed. SIU sucks. Doing my best to get as far away from any union as I can. Oh yeah, cant forget that my wages are lower and benefits worse now than every non union outfit Ive ever worked for.
2 1/2 years ago when I retired from the SIU, the AB/tankermen on the contract I was on made over $400 @ day. 28/28, paid transportation, top tier medical, 2 for 1 contributions on wage related pension (fully funded),Money Purchace Plan. Several of them earned their 3rd mates license through Piney Point. (room, board and transportation paid)
I spoke with a couple of guys a few days ago that left the SIU. They’re paying over $500 @ month (with after tax dollars) for insurance that is not quite up to the same level they had with the SIU.
Dosen’t take much effort to weigh the benifits to see if your money ahead.
Who did you work for? Crowley?
That is the essence of business, refine the process and improve efficiency. Like it or not. Look at it this way, you have 2 others in your department that you have to pick up the slack for, in essence you are giving them part of your paycheck. Would you rather earn money for working your but off, or give your pay to a slacker?
[QUOTE=BargeMonkey;63157]Working based out of NYC for 10 years, Im not going to claim 333 was the only way to go or was horrible, I personally have never had any trouble with 333. The only problem I can see with “RTBU” is it only weakens the members left in 333. One of our crew members onboard has close ties to Kirby-Sea so we get the the daily gossip update, and it doesnt sound good. The division has already started, mates feeling that they should be paid more and tankerman less, how new members feel that the dues are going to be to much for RTBU, on and on. What stops Kirby from bringing southern non union guys up, riding them extra man on the boats till they know the equipment, or have recency, and 1 year from now telling you that your no longer needed. NOTHING. If Tankerman will work 14on 7 off down south for 250-300 a day, what stops Kirby from taking the best from down there, offering them 50-75 more a day, and paid travel to come work 28-14 based out of NYC… NOTHING. The company will actually only need half the personel to run the boats, make the chiefs and deckhands get a tankerman ticket and have them pump ballast or cargo so they can cut a man off the ATBs, again, NOTHING. Im not a major union advocate, but would rather have one than not. All im getting at is that these guys should really stand together, because it would suck to hang seperately.
Rumor we got is Tim Casey resigned today ?[/QUOTE]
How ever you look at the “union” idea there is always people with different opinions, personally Ive never had an issue with 333, never said it was wonderful but Ive never been on the bread line. Being at Reinauer since spring 06 Ive seen the good and the bad over here, from an awesome contract when they needed people to the last one when we took 0-3-3 because everyone was scared for a job. As far as CajunTugsters post of having 2 other guys here who Im picking up the slack for I cant agree 100%. After the lay offs here the dead weight was basically gone, for the most part everyone knows thier job and things function like a well oiled machine over here, I cant speak for other ATBs but we have NO issues. Honestly speaking I come back here for a vacation, this job finances my business at home, pays my mortgage and provides medical for my wife and kids, this isnt really hard work, just manditory attendance.
Unions in america are unfortunately a sore subject, from corruption, to nothing in return for its members dues. I worked for a non union tug-barge company for a season outside of NYC which has a very bad reputation here on G-Captain. The company was not horrible to work for, and by work I mean actual work, not sitting in the galley picking your nose for 12 hours a day. Grub and living on the boat was actually the best Ive ever gotten as far as boat companys go, crew was great to work with. But when it came to doing things, dont question it, didnt matter if it was safe or not, because you would be gone or life would become miserable instantly. I watched guys on the cement side of the company get treated like trash, while doing one of the worst jobs out here, saw fellow employees “jedi-mind-trick” themselves out of wages because of thier own greed, because they felt they could do more with less people working more time, and in the end it back fired on them and the company saved themselves an assload of money. That sealed the deal for me, was looking for a job before I found that one and down the road I went. Alot of union members, and especially NYC guys forget the fact that these jobs exist.
We can have this discussion till the end of time, and nothing will change without some form of solidarity and commitment from all the poor bastards working out here. Geographically I think having a union discussion with someone who is anti union and from the GOM is like pissing into the wind. We make the money we do based out of NYC because of the union, period. I made 90K for 6 months last year, the dues I have paid to 333 are nothing for the job I have, sure I could go work for a southern company tomorrow for “almost” the same money, 2-1, GOM crew changes, deal with the yankee jokes and all the drama that come with it.
North or south, doesnt matter how you wanna compare guys there is always morons in the bag. From southerners who claim to load everything out there but cant read a guage tape, to maritime grads who cant change a racor filter or keep a clean engine room. Seen guys go from making 200 a day for kirby, get hired here for almost double that and cry because they couldnt live on the boat. The idea of union strength is a dead issue, just doesnt exist anymore. 100% of your crew members would tell you that they will strike if things go bad out here, and half of them would be back tomorrow. Just the way it is, familys to support and bills to pay.
