SUP/MFOW WASTE of TIME 4 Newbies!

[QUOTE=Queenofthesea;97448]Ok the mfow in Wilmington has a graft system where the port agent sells Matson/APL jobs to the Philippine citizens through a bagman in the MEBA.

This is so obvious that many well meaning people have quit being in the hall realizing it is a total sham. The port agent fancies himself as some Mexican drug lord running his plaza confident that the administration in San Francisco will do nothing. The only hope for a new member is to ship military. Two sets of registration books are kept and the privileged people paying for the job and any attempt to dismantle it comes with the threat of violence. Hard to believe that a group of violent corrupt foreigners are allowed to dominate a union dedicated to American mariners and board our ships with barely a functional grasp of the required English language. The is a lawyer, I think his last name is Cavin, who is preparing a lawsuit against the union on a class action. He is a maritime law attorney celebrated for his outstanding damage claims against the APL line. He is aware of the problem and has a collection of depositions and witnesses to take to court when an A-book is ready to bring the union up on charges. Share your disgust with this transparent corruption by emailing the mfow president who seems in denial or simply uninterested in anything other than his own bite of the envelope of cash.[/QUOTE]

I brought this to everyone’s attention when running for Port Agent but the President libeled me during the election. The Port Agent does in fact give standby jobs to unqualified felons in exchange for lawncare and pool cleaning. These jobs are frequently removed is from the hands of people who waited in line at dispatch and given to hoods who at best intimidate new registrants and consume beer like bums in the parking lot. Usually the PA picks up the phone and calls the scum in for work (they don’t have credentials because they are felons) under the lie that APL wanted them. This lie of the company wanting certain people is repeated again when apprenticeships are given to friends/relatives of the “Meba bagman” who are not even on the registration list and never been in the hall like others who wait months for nothing being traditional patient applicants. The PA (POS) is so corrupt that he smiles and taunts the decent applicants who just discovered his/her apprenticeship was just sold to the highest bidder. To rid the hall of the justly angry applicant, the PA then gives standby work to the scum acting at the PA’s enforcers. I wish desperately us bookmen/bookwomen would bring the entire administration up on charges. It is business as usual on the waterfront.

I’m originally from Louisiana, I have been with SUP for about 3 years. Work has been sporadic and I am a B card. I have been waiting for too long and still no job. I decided to head home to work in the gulf. Got to pay my bills. You have to be an A book to work really steady with SUP. I am not wasting my time with them anymore.

Back in the day my local SIU hall was selling jobs. I saw a guy pull a gun on someone over an AB job that got sold out from under him. It was the same deal 20 years ago you needed an A book to work regular. I struggled to get out with my B book til I finally gave up and started working mud boats. It’s been a long time since the unions were on the working mans side. Now they are only out for themselves.

Especially SIU

I know on my last ship the MFOW couldn’t fill the reefer job and had to let an SIU guy take it on a pass. Seems that reefers and electricians are in need over there. Especially for the ships on the east coast since the jobs are called out of LA

[QUOTE=Fraqrat;98272]Back in the day my local SIU hall was selling jobs. I saw a guy pull a gun on someone over an AB job that got sold out from under him. It was the same deal 20 years ago you needed an A book to work regular. I struggled to get out with my B book til I finally gave up and started working mud boats. It’s been a long time since the unions were on the working mans side. Now they are only out for themselves.[/QUOTE]

It doesn’t sound like the unions have gotten any better since I gave up on them years ago. They are basically just a politically protected and an under-prosecuted area of organized crime. I’ve never been screwed by any employer as badly as I have been by screwed the unions that were supposedly “representing” me for a fee.

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Ok the mfow in Wilmington has a graft system where the port agent sells Matson/APL jobs to the Philippine citizens through a bagman in the MEBA

I HIGHLY doubt anyone in the MEBA Hall in Wilmington is involved in any of this. For one thing why would they be? The MEBA has nothing whatever to do with either the SUP, MFOW or the SIU as far as shippping jobs goes. We are a LICENSED OFFICERS Union. I was the MEBA West Coast Representative during 2011 and have shipped out of the LA Hall for years. Trust me that nothing like this could be kept a secret for long. Also we’ve had a revolving door of officials for years and no way could this be passed on from one adminstration to the next.

If you have any proof of this please PM me with the particulars.

Yeah no shit what does the MEBA get out of selling jobs for MFOW? And who the hell in the MEBA administration has that kind of pull nowadays? I have only had one MFOW Philippino working in the engine room (a JR) in the last couple years and that was a guy who took an open board job out of Seattle. You think if this was going on I would see more and out of LA. Now I did work with a lot of Phillipinos when I worked with SIU unlicensed

[QUOTE=Ta2dsalr;98267]I’m originally from Louisiana, I have been with SUP for about 3 years. Work has been sporadic and I am a B card. I have been waiting for too long and still no job. I decided to head home to work in the gulf. Got to pay my bills. You have to be an A book to work really steady with SUP. I am not wasting my time with them anymore.[/QUOTE]

Do you have a rating?

Nothing with Chevron?

Nothing with SeaRiver?

I always said, if you really want to go to work, you will. I never had any problem shipping as a “Permit” with the SUP. I took whatever came in…standby work, Chevron, LMSR’s (when they first got them in the late 90’s) and every once in while, got lucky catching a 3 trip “steady” (permits can only stay onboard for 90 days) job on an APL or Matson ship.

It sometimes paid off by being the only guy standing on deck in the hall on Harrison Street for the afternoon job call.

[QUOTE=tugsailor;98288]It doesn’t sound like the unions have gotten any better since I gave up on them years ago. They are basically just a politically protected and an under-prosecuted area of organized crime. I’ve never been screwed by any employer as badly as I have been by screwed the unions that were supposedly “representing” me for a fee.[/QUOTE]

I still have a bad taste in my mouth after the tug strike of '87.

I thought I was going to retire from Curtis Bay, but that was not to be.

East coast ships (APL) are split between the halls. I just got off one the other day (I only did one trip that was extended vs 3 allowed) that MFOW guys were from Seattle, deck gang out of SF. Out of the last 15 months, I’ve managed to work 8.5. I’ve spent about 2 months total sitting in the SF hall, but about a month of that was my piss poor planning on timing. But, I got off my first ship in mid-Jan and needed to get back out and it was February/March which is never a good time to ship anyway. SUP/MFOW are certainly the best of the maritime unions, where SIU/AMO are the whoring backstabbers. The jobs ARE there, you just have to be there at the right time. As to the Filipino mafia? Sure it’s there. But, if you have the senior card, you get the job. I was in SF 3 days when I got this last job and beat out 2 Filipinoes. I also had an older card before I showed up. If you don’t get the job, don’t leave the hall until the doors are closed in the afternoon. A lot of days, there have only been a couple of us sitting in the hall at closing. And even more days, I’ve been sitting there alone. There are still private deep sea and tug companies, gov’t gigs and always the O&G biz. They all have their good and bad points.

[QUOTE=Queenofthesea;97448]Ok the mfow in Wilmington has a graft system where the port agent sells Matson/APL jobs to the Philippine citizens through a bagman in the MEBA. This is so obvious that many well meaning people have quit being in the hall realizing it is a total sham. The port agent fancies himself as some Mexican drug lord running his plaza confident that the administration in San Francisco will do nothing. The only hope for a new member is to ship military. Two sets of registration books are kept and the privileged people paying for the job and any attempt to dismantle it comes with the threat of violence. Hard to believe that a group of violent corrupt foreigners are allowed to dominate a union dedicated to American mariners and board our ships with barely a functional grasp of the required English language. The is a lawyer, I think his last name is Cavin, who is preparing a lawsuit against the union on a class action. He is a maritime law attorney celebrated for his outstanding damage claims against the APL line. He is aware of the problem and has a collection of depositions and witnesses to take to court when an A-book is ready to bring the union up on charges. Share your disgust with this transparent corruption by emailing the mfow president who seems in denial or simply uninterested in anything other than his own bite of the envelope of cash.[/QUOTE]
I have read this a couple times , I have to call total BS!! when i see it , and this is complete total BS! ! druglord threat of violence what a joke . i have spent my time at the hall im a c book were talking months of being at every job call for months ! seeing jobs called and filled exactly how they are supposed to be by seniority members , and applicants . im not saying its easy to get a lucky break , but thats what you need .you also must make your chances better by being there for ALL the job calls . you also need all your ducks in a row when an entry level job does come in . i spent over 5 months as an applicant in 2010 at the hall .11 weeks in 2011 , and 7 weeks in 2012 . so i do have an idea of what goes on there . to all the people reading this its not easy to get on a ship as an applicant , its being at the right place at the right time , and having all endorsements and certificates in order . there is no paying to get a job . a bonus to being at the hall for all this time is to have a grasp on reality on how jobs are filled !!!

If anyone is lucky enough to get on a ship as an applicant . if your trying for MFOW wiper make sure to have all your assessments to take with you . take the time to know how to advance . i waisted no time getting my oiler , qmed, reefer , elec., JR . endorsements and EPA certificate . i still wait at the hall for a job , but not as long as before .in 2010 there was a whole group of us who were at the hall everyday in Jan to june all newbe’s except me i had wiper time but no longer in good standing so i started over . we all went to San Diego together for training . a bunch of us shipped out on the Martin , by the time i got home i think everyone out of 12 guys were all c books . to anyone trying to go to sea for the first time its tuff not impossible btw there are some new wiper jobs and oiler jobs opened up by displacing jr jobs at APL change in contract .Good luck RFR Mike .

[QUOTE=rfr mike;100632]I have read this a couple times , I have to call total BS!! when i see it , and this is complete total BS! ! druglord threat of violence what a joke . i have spent my time at the hall im a c book were talking months of being at every job call for months ! seeing jobs called and filled exactly how they are supposed to be by seniority members , and applicants . im not saying its easy to get a lucky break , but thats what you need .you also must make your chances better by being there for ALL the job calls . you also need all your ducks in a row when an entry level job does come in . i spent over 5 months as an applicant in 2010 at the hall .11 weeks in 2011 , and 7 weeks in 2012 . so i do have an idea of what goes on there . to all the people reading this its not easy to get on a ship as an applicant , its being at the right place at the right time , and having all endorsements and certificates in order . there is no paying to get a job . a bonus to being at the hall for all this time is to have a grasp on reality on how jobs are filled !!![/QUOTE]

Well experience speaks here too. In Honu the port agent told us that we are heading for the SIU anyways. The policies/costs of our superior leadership and the healthcare plan makes it come up for a vote soon. I will be voting a big NO!!!

[QUOTE=Queenofthesea;97448]Ok the mfow in Wilmington has a graft system where the port agent sells Matson/APL jobs to the Philippine citizens through a bagman in the MEBA. This is so obvious that many well meaning people have quit being in the hall realizing it is a total sham. The port agent fancies himself as some Mexican drug lord running his plaza confident that the administration in San Francisco will do nothing. The only hope for a new member is to ship military. Two sets of registration books are kept and the privileged people paying for the job and any attempt to dismantle it comes with the threat of violence. Hard to believe that ait group of violent corrupt foreigners are allowed to dominate a union dedicated to American mariners and board our ships with barely a functional grasp of the required English language. The is a lawyer, I think his last name is Cavin, who is preparing a lawsuit against the union on a class action. He is a maritime law attorney celebrated for his outstanding damage claims against the APL line. He is aware of the problem and has a collection of depositions and witnesses to take to court when an A-book is ready to bring the union up on charges. Share your disgust with this transparent corruption by emailing the mfow president who seems in denial or simply uninterested in anything other than his own bite of the envelope of cash.[/QUOTE]

I think I can suggest what happened here. There is a MEBA engineer (Sonny) who picks up stand-by work from the MFOW. He seems decent when I worked
around him although he does seem to have a “shot-caller” mentality when telling applicants their order on the apprenticeship list. I did in fact witness him telling
one such applicant on a Matson ship that his brother in law was to get an apprenticeship before others due to his “recommendation”. The port agent is guility
of bumping applicants sitting in the hall on at least three occassions resulting from this in-house nepotism system. There was a big fuss made over this and
the wronged applicant quit in disgust and sought legal representation. The MFOW backtracked and pretended it was all a mistake but the applicant felt so wronged
he joined another union. Later after the coast was clear the special treatment of apprenticeships resumed and no administrative careers were ruined as a result
of the obvious corruption in the hall. Sonny continues to pick up MFOW standby jobs and channel his preferred customers to the jobs available including
apprentiiceships. The applicants for apprenticeships stand by white nuckled in the hall knowing that their time of registration means nothing if Sonny needs
to give his relatives a job. Business as usual indeed. God bless.

I been sitting in the hall for two years watching and listening. Clearly the unions act as an agencies for the companies. Business agents
look at you in shock for asking for a copy of a contract. These same Business Agents do not enforce the contract in the field with the lie
of “we will get back to you”. Clear violations of union rules and spirit are laughed off by Business Agents who would rather serve the companies
and socialize in mock labor associations.

In one particular union, it seems as though fallen yuppie wannabes are gambling that taking over a working man’s union will make them
the talk of town. For example one business agent is still smarting after his less than honorable removal from California Maritime Academy.
He really wants to be in an ascot at the yacht club sharing stories of prep school antics but his act does not impress the working man. His
boss thinks he should be on the cover of Wired Magazine as the smartest man in the room. He is so smart that we are to take on faith
the brilliance of his contracts because none are to be found apparently outside of his email. It seems he is the grand designer of jobs not
going to the board to make the ignorant forget they are not in a democratic union on election day. I hope the golden parachutes are adequate
for the life and adoration these frauds seem entitled to after they do a dance on the grave of trade unionism. These creeps are a disgrace.
When will they realize that the honest working man who wants to join a real union will give no quarter when enough is enough?

Yeah I said it

Partly true. A lot of us were sticking up for this guy. He chose not to follow up and did join another union. Every time I see him I still encourage him to go engine. (He’s a technical type) There will he new blood in office soon from elections. I hope things change in Pedro.

Sorry for that experience. I know you wouldn’t believe me but not all unions operate in the same manner. Do some real homework, talk to people. Not just feed back from here. I hope you find something.

[QUOTE=MFOWelectrician;131682]Sorry for that experience. I know you wouldn’t believe me but not all unions operate in the same manner. Do some real homework, talk to people. Not just feed back from here. I hope you find something.[/QUOTE]
"P
I thank you for the kind positive words. I am pursuing this trade no matter what because it is a dream worth fighting for. Not all unions are the same but
there does seem to be an evil cross pollination occurring in union management that emphasizes the “me” and not the union. For instance why do us honest
union folk spend money living near the hall when others (because of their willingness to please outside union boundaries) get their jobs on the phone? All
sailors should be given such treatment. Some of these contracts which are for the entry-level sailor teach union busting. They actually teach a sailor that
butt kissing is better than hard work. Don’t take an unpopular stance against the business manager or you are not on the hire list. A strong man with integrity
is not welcome by union management. Why do we pay these clowns a salary to pretend? I say we take our unions back from the central casting. Again
I will never give up on the honor of being an American Seaman.

CareerOS, that has to be SIU. When I shipped there in the 90s, I saw one contract and that was an old tanker agreement. I was working for TOTE on a freight ship contract. Had to use the tanker to even have a clue as to what I was entitled as the bos’n wasn’t going to help out much, and there sure as hell wasn’t any delegate to cover bases. SIU is a bunch of crooks and represent nearly everything bad about unions. Throw AMO into that category as well. When I started with SUP, I was given an APL and Matson contract before going to my first ship. The SFrisco office agent Andy, RIP, told me in no uncertain terms to learn the contracts as it affects everyone as a whole, thus the word union. And the agents have no issue in going toe to toe against captains in regards to contract violations, but they will also educate you when there is no legitimate beef citing chapter and verse. Unfortunately, gone are the days of being able to educate OSs by having full deck gangs that had 3 OSs on board.