What’s going on with local 333? Is it now MMP Inland Group? Rumors are all over the place, anybody got any facts?
There is a vote coming up for Local 333 to become part MMP. They would not join the inland division, 333 would become its own division.
Word on the street is the 333 delegate Roura is telling 333 members to stop paying dues, Local 333 is defunct. The upcoming vote supposedly offers 3 choices; join SIU, AMO, or MMP.
How about a 4th choice? No union at all.
I havent heard anything about SIU or AMO. I was at the MMP meeting and it looks like a very great thing for the members of 333. Roura never said anything to me about not paying dues. MMP wants 333 and 333 needs to leave the UMD. Seems likes its good for both. Once MMP is voted in there would be elections for officials. Non union isn’t the way to go. Fuck that shit. MMP offers a lot of good things 333 could never provide. I say do it cause anything is better than what we have now.
Lookout, So nice that you are confident and independent to discount the value of unions. Hope that ObamaCare program is working for you and family. But of course you probably don’t have to support a family or worry about continuity of benefits between jobs and employers because you will never get laid off or have to work for another company.
And how’s that company defined benefit plan working for you? Oh, I forgot, it doesn’t exist and the 401 isn’t much to brag on.
Young person, many of these items may not seem important now, but as you grow older and the company people who you have ingratiated yourself with retire, and their appreciation for your loyalty dissolves like water in a colander, then you will understand why union membership for so many merchant seaman and waterman is valuable.
As a former mullet fisherman, I understand how lucky I am to have been able to provide for my family as a union member. Good luck to you.
[QUOTE=NYBoatman;137293]There is a vote coming up for Local 333 to become part MMP. They would not join the inland division, 333 would become its own division.[/QUOTE]
Interesting that 333 will be its own separate division within the MMP, instead of merged into MMP Inland. Given how badly MMP Inland sucks, that’s a very good thing. My impression is that MMP Deepsea is middle of the road (its certainly no MEBA, but its not the AMO either).
If you can really clean house and find a way to make MMP 333 perform more like MMP Deepsea, you may have something there.
What about everyone who’s already in MMP? I’ve never heard a kind word about 333, so what is MMP getting by absorbing them? Is MMP supposed to absorb all the corruption and cronyism that goes along with the name “333” as well?
[QUOTE=PaddyWest2012;137840]What about everyone who’s already in MMP? I’ve never heard a kind word about 333, so what is MMP getting by absorbing them? Is MMP supposed to absorb all the corruption and cronyism that goes along with the name “333” as well?[/QUOTE]
MMP (the guys who actually run and profit from it) are getting more dues paying members to better support their pay increases. Obviously a guy that collects dues from 10,000 other guys is worth twice as much as a guy that only collects from 5,000 other guys.
All unions and their members benefit from union mergers because there are are fewer inept union executives to support, and fewer unions trying to underbid each other to the employers.
Ive been in 333 for 12 yrs. Is it the best, no. Is it horrible, no. Basically your dues dont go far. Ive been hearing the MMP rumor and wanna know how its going to effect us. I hear nothing but bitching from guys, mostly broke ass green deckhands crying about paying dues, and why we dont have “paid schooling”. Shut up, bite the bullet and advance yourself like the rest of us did. Lets look at the cold hard facts. Im chief on a union boat, with a small license, making just over 500 a day. Our deckhands make almost 400. The boats doing the same work as us, work 2-1, and the deckhand makes 225. I recently met some guys decking on a boat, from a “tug company” run out of Tampa, we all know who, and they made 110-125 a day. If you wanna stay non union, fine. Im not going to advocate 333, just sick of the bitching.
[QUOTE=BargeMonkey;137843]Ive been in 333 for 12 yrs. Is it the best, no. Is it horrible, no. Basically your dues dont go far. Ive been hearing the MMP rumor and wanna know how its going to effect us. I hear nothing but bitching from guys, mostly broke ass green deckhands crying about paying dues, and why we dont have “paid schooling”. Shut up, bite the bullet and advance yourself like the rest of us did. Lets look at the cold hard facts. Im chief on a union boat, with a small license, making just over 500 a day. Our deckhands make almost 400. The boats doing the same work as us, work 2-1, and the deckhand makes 225. I recently met some guys decking on a boat, from a “tug company” run out of Tampa, we all know who, and they made 110-125 a day. If you wanna stay non union, fine. Im not going to advocate 333, just sick of the bitching.[/QUOTE]
Work union, live better.
The benefit of MMP getting 333 is having a foothold on the east coast. Ive been in 333 my whole career and its not the best but it isnt the worst. MMP with have real negotiators and lawyer for contract negotiations, lobbyist not to mention pension, medical and medical after retirement. Due will go up for everyone but u get what u pay for.
I had 17 years with 333 and nothing but a pocket full of old union cards to show for it.
[QUOTE=NYBoatman;137845]The benefit of MMP getting 333 is having a foothold on the east coast. Ive been in 333 my whole career and its not the best but it isnt the worst. MMP with have real negotiators and lawyer for contract negotiations, lobbyist not to mention pension, medical and medical after retirement. Due will go up for everyone but u get what u pay for.[/QUOTE]
It does sound good i’m wondering about the pension plan or lack there of? MMP will defiantly bring in a lot more strength and that’s exactly what 333 needs.
Ebb tide, after paying dues for over 30 years to that sorry-assed 333 I took a job with a non union company. My pay increased 25%, I work equal time, my healthcare is the best I have ever had, plus dental, plus vision, short term disability, long term disability, matching employer contributions to my 401, uniforms, full days pay on crew change day coming and going, life insurance with supplemental benefits available, a real commitment to safety and no layoffs. I probably forgot a few items but you get the picture, it’s the best company I have had the pleasure of working for. Working union for me would require a major cut in pay, benefits, and working conditions.
Oh by the way, how’s that 333 pension working out for you. The way I see it, the SIU keeps pay low to insure company’s like Crowley are willing to cooperate with the SIU and continue to allow SIU leaders to stay in business. I don’t have any experience with AMO except they have a pretty good school in Dania Beach, Fl. I have heard rumors of alleged corruption at AMO but they are all rumor to me. MMP needs 333 to add dues-paying members to it’s dwindling membership rolls. What rank & file members of 333 gain by such a merger remains to be seen. Getting rid of the deadwood union officers and replacing them with real professional representation would be a major gain.
I put my time in unemployment lines, picket lines, lay offs, and drastic pay reductions Mr. Ebb Tide, probably while you were still pulling your mullet. I remember when working Union meant you were the best employee a company could hire. It meant you possessed the top skills to do the job safely and efficiently. Company’s made fortunes on the work of Union Men and Woman.
I once believed whole-heatedly in Unions. I still believe in the principle of Unions. However, due to human nature and the present union business-model, most unions will fail their members over time due to greed, corruption, and cronyism. Union leaders become entrenched in office and eventually their own interest come before the interest of the rank and file.
Remember Mr. Ebb Tide, all union members deserve whatever representation they get; good or bad.
I think all US mariners, union and non union, would be a lot better off if there were only one union for officers, and one union for unlicensed. The present system where several unions compete for employer contracts by underbidding each other is working great for employers and union leaders, but doing a horrible disservice to union mariners. The longshoremen have one union for the West Coast and one for the East Coast. They do not compete with each other. Look how well that is working out for them. The longshoremen are way overpaid relative to mariners. In Canada, they have just one union for officers, “The Guild.” SIU Canada is for unlicensed mariners.
I would like to see a MEBA/MMP/AMO merger for officers, and a SIU/SUP/IBU/Local 5000 merger for unlicensed. The MMP/Local 333 merger seems like a step in the right direction.
Ebbtide,
We all for the most part have families to support. If I get laid off, I can get COBRA insurance between jobs. Should I change jobs, my 401k goes with me which, by the way gets a return of 100%(Not too shabby hey?) I work on modern comfortable vessels filled with the latest technology unlike the old TURD ROLLERS you are stuck on. Here in the GOM tug captains have been making $500 a day or better since 2005. Tugs are becoming obsolete, everything is becoming self sufficient, ships with bow thrusters, DP tankers, etc. thats why I moved on to OSV’s, DSV’s, IMR’S, etc. I am not having to depend on a mafia like organization to keep me employed, I saw what was coming and kept myself up to date and qualified in case my present job should end. I don’t pay a middle man shiester just so i can have a job. AMO members got screwed on thier pensions, SIU only bargains for sweetheart deals , the crappy things your representatives do to you sucks. So if you are happy with your union, great and more power to you, but don’t disparage others who do not share your views. BTW have you ever work for a non union marine company?
Let’s hear more about that 100% return on your 401K investment…
[QUOTE=tugboatchief;137955]Let’s hear more about that 100% return on your 401K investment…[/QUOTE]
Let me clarify, dollar for dollar on your first 6% and a 2 year vesting period. You can invest in whatever Fidelity offers.
[QUOTE=Tugboater203;137860]I had 17 years with 333 and nothing but a pocket full of old union cards to show for it.[/QUOTE]
Nothing but a pocket full of old union cards? What about getting kicked in the dick by the boss with no way to do anything about it. I don’t care who comes in, MMP, SIU, or anyone else but representation and contract enforcement are much more important than rate of pay
If you honestly think SIU will represent their membership then you have probably never worked in the SIU.