I’m just curious how the deep sea unions are doing job-wise right now. I would like to hear from people [B]currently rotary shipping[/B] with them about the availability of jobs.
I’m interested in the deck officer unions but all unions should chime in so we can all benefit from the information.
I’ve been an applicant with AMO since October, calling them weekly, as recommended, & haven’t been offered anything. I called them a couple weeks ago & the dispatcher said they didn’t expect any third mate jobs for several months. He sounded annoyed when I asked, too.
I don’t know if you’re expected to grease some palms with them or already know somebody high in the union, but neither of those are happening with me, so I’ve been trying to find work elsewhere.
Do you have your Tankerman PIC?
When you are an applicant do you have to pay the initiation fee? Do you just pay a portion of it and they take the rest from your first vacation check?
Having to know someone or grease palms doesn’t sound like any Union I’ve ever heard of.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;178967]When you are an applicant do you have to pay the initiation fee? Do you just pay a portion of it and they take the rest from your first vacation check?
Having to know someone or grease palms doesn’t sound like any Union I’ve ever heard of.[/QUOTE]
What Unions are you familiar with Fraq? I’ve never heard of a Union that did not operate like this. But then again, I am just an ignorant Southerner that lives in a Right to Work State, so what do I know?
I find it hard to believe that any union would fleece a potential member with an initiation fee like this. I mean especially when they know damn well jobs are tight at the moment. Why would an association representing the working man take money from his pocket knowing they have hardly any jobs to offer. I’m stunned… But not speechless 
Usually it’s a percentage of the initiation fee, MMP was 10%, plus a portion of annual dues. The rest is taken out when you start earning money.
Talked to a few recent graduates from CMA that are in mmp and it’s been hard to even get a night mate spot let alone ship out, granted they are fresh out of school as of 6months ago or so
Also spoke to a recent CMA grad, and have a friend who spoke to someone else as well. One waited in the Oakland/SF hall for about 5 months before getting a job (not sure if it was a relief job or not). The other apparently shipped out for a 120 day job out of Seattle. Spoke to an MMP rep the other day who said they might be securing some tanker jobs. Anyone heard about this?
Edit: also remembered I spoke to another applicant/recent grad who had some luck out of the NY/NJ hall.
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;178967]When you are an applicant do you have to pay the initiation fee? Do you just pay a portion of it and they take the rest from your first vacation check?
Having to know someone or grease palms doesn’t sound like any Union I’ve ever heard of.[/QUOTE]
You are a very funny man !
[QUOTE=Fraqrat;178967]Having to know someone or grease palms doesn’t sound like any Union I’ve ever heard of.[/QUOTE]
Your sarcasm appears to not be apparent to most people.
Most people on this forum already know Fraq and how much he loves Unions. If his sarcasm was lost on someone, they are either new to the board or more dense than a California Redwood.
My sarcasm replying to Fraqs statement might have been lost in my lack of eloquence. This is why John runs an internationally known website and I humbly work on whatever vessel Joe Boss deems me worthy of.
[QUOTE=txwooley;178988]My sarcasm replying to Fraqs statement might have been lost in my lack of eloquence.[/QUOTE]
No, it was my lack of reading comprehension. Sorry.
I was just doing a little drive by rambling I’ll refrain from anymore shots. I’m interested to see where this goes. I have some young shipmates who are struggling to make some life choices and this is one of them. Might be nice to see what the all ports feedback is so they have something to mull over.
great topic…would be interesting to hear from the unlicensed guys too such as maybe mfow, sup and such?
I’ve had two people PM me to say they’ve had months of no luck with MM&P, though one guy admitted he had a friend or two get work one he gave up going to the hall. (That’s NY and Norfolk halls.)
I was in the SIU NJ hall 2 weeks back. 34 all ports jobs available, ranging from WA to HI to FL to Korea to Dubai to Algeciras. The breakdown was 1 deck (AB), 9 Engine (mostly QEEs and a couple of OMUs) with the balance being Steward dept (mostly CCs or SAs). Pride of America for Steward, the AB job was on, IIRC, BBC Seattle, an engine job on MV Norfolk (Intership) and the balance all on MSC ships. Also, an engine requirement on a Maersk ship.
Hope that this helps. I’ll be going again on Monday 
[QUOTE=Ctony;179002]great topic…would be interesting to hear from the unlicensed guys too such as maybe mfow, sup and such?[/QUOTE]
I was in the SIU NJ hall 10 days back. 34 all ports jobs available, ranging from WA to HI to FL to Korea to Dubai to Algeciras. The breakdown was 1 deck (AB), 9 Engine (mostly QEEs and a couple of OMUs) with the balance being Steward dept (mostly CCs or SAs). Pride of America for Steward, the AB job was on, IIRC, BBC Seattle, an engine job on MV Norfolk (Intership) and the balance all on MSC ships. Also, an engine requirement on a Maersk ship.
Hope that this helps. I’ll be going again on Monday
people are fleeing from the unions. Bunch of them came back to the career fair for the MSC interview. All thats available right now.
[QUOTE=cali deckie;179008]people are fleeing from the unions. Bunch of them came back to the career fair for the MSC interview. All thats available right now.[/QUOTE]
I heard the same a few days ago. MSC was interviewing a lot of Licensed Engineers, quite a few from MEBA because they lost a lot of contracts recently.