U.S. Shipping CEO Calls for Foreign Seafarers Amidst US Merchant Marine Pay

I agree it goes beyond unlikely. From a MEBA mate perspective none of us would want to merge with the MMP or AMO and increase job competition.
We like the mix of permanent and relief jobs. (More permanent jobs than MMP but more relief positions than AMO).
If MEBA mates wanted to be MMP or thought it was worth while- you would see a lot more MEBA Mates using the passthrough list. (Very few use it and last I looked there were open spots). That’s why a lot of MEBA mates including myself are for letting the Express ship agreement/ list expire in 2025. This is also probably why MMP is fighting so hard the ATC ships in order to replace the 4 containerships MEBA currently lets them call in their halls.

The unions shouldn’t merge but agree to more tripartite agreements like on the MARAD FOS ships! Have a standard tripartite agreement/ contract depending on the type of ship. One industry standard contract for containerships, roros, tankers etc.

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But If they merged, the one voice would have way more power in negotiating better contracts, in larger quantity…right? In their current form they are all undercutting one another basically in a race to zero. The tripartite agreements will not happen as they stand now. It would definitely suck merging for a bit, there would absolutely be pains that people would freak out about. But in the long run it would help the USMM in my opinion. (I acknowledge I could be wrong I do not speak in absolutes)

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Immigrants were meant to be exceptional and not just running across the border. The current breed are closer to refugees or JUST PLAIN ILLEGALS pandered and legalized by DEMS …
Seafarers? are a below 2.5 GPA workforce. Anyone can do their job.
Replace the entire workforce at ILW with Philips (literal lambs) and give them that 250 grand wages for truck driving/fork lift riding/crane ops etc … Is that an argument by an AMERICAN BUSINESSman or a crony looking to take millions in stock options and bonuses.
I agree with him being allowed to chose his hires and totally against the PERMANENT BOAT concept and should be up to the COMPANY.
Capitalism is a choice business but then the people’s govt should reduce freight rates on his tankers to 5,000 TCY per day or less and allowed to pick carriers. Let us see how long his PREMIER TANKER COMPANY status lasts. When it hurts him, that’s when it works for us.

For argument sake ask any C/M or Cap here if they would prefer PHILIPS and all would say YES - best bang for your buck (lambs)

I wish I could agree but having spent time at MEBA halls , have seen such billets up there. I know of one company that does not pay overtime to Stewards with MEBA - a flat 8 hr work day.
Like a rat said, it is all about the money - unions are managers managing labor even if the endorsement says FH. AFAIK, the fine print is in the contracts that you and I are really not paying a lot of attention to … else who would load or fix the engines.
The bigger cancer IMHO is the disparity in JOB roles.
Airline pilots are all pilots - essentially all DECKIES (don’t airlift stmt). The result a STRONGER LABOR UNION.

You are certainly living up to this.

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To retreat or withdraw from a position. My position still stands.
Catch the bull by the horns… not the tail.
Not a big fan of group think and the likes/Dislike thing… SWIPE RIGHT.

Don’t really address anything starting with a YOU… Discuss facts. Swipe right.

Stewards with the MEBA? What are you talking about?

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These companies work in a regulated and subsidized sector with cabotage laws (by their own choice…) there is nothing near free market capitalism about US shipping so what are you going on about?

If they want foreign labor pools they should operate under a different non subsidized flag

Look up the Academy requirements and admission stats…
UMich 4.3, Ivy (Columbia) : 4.5, GLMA : reqd 3.0. Acceptance less or 2.5.
Facts… stay with them
Broke my own rules. STARTED with a YOU… Swipe right.

I fully agree. The argument of this dick CEO is we will pay the foreign pool the same. How is that Cabotage? They prefer free market when it suits them and want regulated revenue.

BTW I heard Nancy Pelosi’s stock portfolio out beat WB’s by a thousand percent… She is worth millions in just the last years of public service… lol. Nikkie Haley the same - worth millions on govt contracts.

My reason for not subscribing to PERMANENT positions set up thro’ unions is because the permanency affects the overall boat’s condition. PERMANENT Unlic guys feel like owners, sit a lot, talk a lot and hold quirks close to their chest without documenting them - job security.
I once ran into a Chief who said he was the only one who knew how to start the emg gen. 65 and chair bound, there was a reason for the word emg in that title is all I said.

The guy working on the shit tank and the generators should get paid better than the guy checking fire extinguishers.

The guy moving tons of fuel and keeping the purifiers running should get paid more than the guy who corrects charts and plans routes.

The guy rushing around with contractors in port should get paid more than the guy who calls the bosun to do everything.

Have you ever worked on a ship?

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The guy maneuvering a ship through a fleet of fishing boats in heavy shipping lanes should get paid better than the guy who passes out blue juice to get flushed down the toilet.

The guy who makes sure navigation equipment is up to standard and is in charge of the entire ships medical wellbeing should get paid better than the guy who takes some soundings and watches numbers change on a screen.

The guy making sure all cargo coming aboard is up to spec and the stability is safe should get paid more than the guy who throws down a weld now and then.

Sounds stupid doesn’t it?

Have YOU ever worked on a ship? We all have our own jobs to do, and by negating the other department all you do is drive a wedge that many have worked to remove. Be cohesive with your shipmates. Sounds like you should get a job shoreside since you hate working with others.

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Did you see who I was replying too? Did you not pay attention to the quote?

I know it’s a ducking team operation. I don’t want to hear how some dipshit checking extinguishers should be paid more than a 3a/e changing of injectors on a DG

Your comparisons do sound stupid. Do you really think the jobs are equivalent in skill/effort?

Yeah that dudes a nutter. But by “management” I assume he means company management. Your comment makes it seem like “management” is any deckie. Fuck no do I think company management should be making what they are, taking bonuses each year without raising wages aboard the ship. But your comment, and your edit, are why there is so much division between departments.

What’s next, 3AE should make more than captain? Because the third changed an injector and all the captain did was answer an email from crewing? Every example you do, you negate the deck side officers down to a low position, while raising the engine officer up on a pedestal.

In your words, I don’t want to hear how some dipshit passing out some chemicals I flush down a toilet should be paid more than a 3M making sure a foreign flagged bulker who doesn’t know COLREGS doesn’t kamikaze into us inbound to Korea

Don’t be a dick.

EDIT: He did equate deckies to only managers. Like I said, dudes a nutter. My comment on company pay stands.

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Why so dramatic? I didn’t say that. I said the guy touching poop should make more than the equivalent license who checks extinguishers on OT. Same with 2a/e , 1a/e

Yes that guy is a nut.

The first is touching poop? Like literally touching it with his bare hands?

Seen it firsthand. Maybe not full on turds but the mash in the MSD tank. Usually the 3a/es priority but sometimes shit happens.

Depends on nitrile glove availability of course.

They do get paid more for that, it’s called dirty work and it gets penalty pay.

I’m not saying just a penalty rate I’m saying for everything. The job needs a higher rate of pay. Don’t get hung up on the poops. Work on your reading comprehension. The whole point of this was replying to a guy trying to say that all deck officers were “managers” and that managers should make more than the “workers”.