Your comment about the GOM wages is true (at the present time). I was down in the intersection. We pulled up to Stone. While there a AB from Chouest came over and chatted w my AB. I was surprised to learn that they both made within a couple dollars of each other. BUT, having heard all the info on the posts about layoffs, and changes in work volume, tie ups, oil patch changes, it all seems undependable. BUT, I know that 5 years ago the guys were flooding the northeast for work. Then, 20 years ago the scab strike wage in NY was high enough to attract the Oil patch crew, and that was 1/2 what was being made back then.
One of the industry mags ( I forget which one) has a regular column about rig usage and whether it is up of down. Coincidentally, the OSV, Tug, and crew boat work follows the rig usage too. The towing industry is NOT tied to this. So I am not sure that there is a direct correlation between the two wages. They each vary but independently of each other.
To get back to the topic of wages and Union influence.
When Crowley came over to the east coast a couple (5)? years ago all our wages got a huge boost. The word got out that Capts there got 800 a day. (and they were going to bring a dozen of the 300KBBL units over here) Remember when we heard the Bouchard rate of 600 a day seemed out of this world, and we doubted them? All of a sudden everyone on the east coast got a raise! I am getting conflicting info on which Unions represent Crowley, but it appears they are MMP on west coast and SIU on east coast. But the wages wouldn’t be what they are without the Union. Again, with pressure from a ‘nearby’ Union wage, it affected the whole east coast wage.
Others may doubt it. Some may not agree that the Union scale effects nearby wages. Some may loathe the Unions.
I personally SAW what happened when My company signed with the Union. My daily wage went UP by 18%. I started getting OT and Holidays, we stopped getting laid off when it slowed down for a day or two in the middle of the hitch. And the most amazing thing was the treatment of the crews by idiotic, lunatic, unprofessional captains almost entirely STOPPED!
Once the Union had an arbitration ‘say’ in disputes, all of a sudden we heard for the first time (for example)
‘Hey Cap, the next time someone leaves this boat, it will be YOU. 9 deckhands in 4 hitches is too many.’
All of a sudden the ‘stupid’ was eliminated and most (but unfortunately not all) Captains got a little more professional.
Now, with things tight, guys are desperate for work, anywhere. Things are cyclical, but traditionally the Northeast and West coast are where the highest wages have been set in the industry. Although I am guilty of it also, I wish guys could respond on here with facts, not the statement ‘Unions suck,’ or ‘I would never work for a Union company.’ The guys who HAVE worked at both companies have seen the pay and conditions. Those are the ones who should be piping up and commenting on here.
An interesting premise about the ‘professionalism’ and competence of any employee being called into question. I would put the query back to you in like form. Anywhere you have worked, hasn’t there been a core of employees who are totally useless? Another core who are ‘average Joe’s’ (no offense to anyone named Joe) and another percentage who think their shit don’t stink (but in reality they are just full of shit, and don’t know it)? And the amazing thing is, this paragraph applies to all positions, and ranks! Just don’t tell the Captain and Chief!
IMHO, it is NO different at any company, whether Union or non union; asea, or ashore. I simply feel if someone is not worth promotion, they aren’t worth the raise in pay. If they aren’t qualified, then they shouldn’t be promoted. If a company is promoting ‘less than qualified’ employees, then I am suspect of the companies business practice.
In this business you are either qualified to stand a watch, or you are the ‘third mate’ and are a babysitter! .
There is no ‘levels’ of advancement on deck other than BR/steward, OS, AB, Lead AB (Bo’sun), 3rd Mate, 2nd Mate, Ch Mate, and Master. Ok, on tugs we only have, OS, AB, Mate, Capt. Unless I am missing something, there has never been a promotion to AB for less (or more) than ABs pay. Same with Mate and Capt. A ‘really good’ AB doesn’t get ‘really good AB’ pay, they get AB pay.
The reward for excellence and a job well done is promotion! Plain and simple. Your companies wage,reward and promotion policy goes against everything I have been brought up with on the water since I started when I was 11. I am thinking THIS is the issue we have been debating. Not so much Unions, as the use of ‘substandard’ employees in a two or three tier pay system to make up for their desperation to keep the billets filled at any cost!