Posted:
June 13, 2014
American Maritime Officers in May finalized a new three-year agreement with U.S. Shipping Corp. that provides substantial across-the-board gains for AMO officers working in the company's fleet.
AMO members serving on the negotiating committee with AMO National Executive Vice President Bob Kiefer and AMO Contract Analyst Chris Holmes were James Arno, master on the M/V Charleston, and Jay Fernald, chief engineer on the ATB Freeport.
"The new agreement is a great success and addresses two very important issues - parity and officer retention," Kiefer said. "We were able to secure an agreement that achieves wage parity with other AMO tanker contracts and also replaces an outdated 'continuity incentive program' with increases in pay and vacation.
"The AMO members who served on the committee deserve a lot of credit for their work in achieving a labor package that includes significant wage and benefit increases throughout the life of the agreement," Kiefer said.
The new agreement incorporates all actuarially required increases in employer contributions to the AMO Plans, as well as an increase in the employer contribution to the Money Purchase Benefit for AMO members in the U.S. Shipping fleet.
"Another positive development with U.S. Shipping Corp. in May was the announcement that Moody's Investors Service raised ratings assigned to the company," Kiefer said. "The increase reflects the strong performance of the company's vessels in the Jones Act trades, and the positive outlook for domestic liquid cargo transportation markets."
AMO secures substantial gains in new agreement with U.S. Shipping
American Maritime Officers in May finalized a new three-year agreement with U.S. Shipping Corp. that provides substantial across-the-board gains for AMO officers working in the company's fleet.
AMO members serving on the negotiating committee with AMO National Executive Vice President Bob Kiefer and AMO Contract Analyst Chris Holmes were James Arno, master on the M/V Charleston, and Jay Fernald, chief engineer on the ATB Freeport.
"The new agreement is a great success and addresses two very important issues - parity and officer retention," Kiefer said. "We were able to secure an agreement that achieves wage parity with other AMO tanker contracts and also replaces an outdated 'continuity incentive program' with increases in pay and vacation.
"The AMO members who served on the committee deserve a lot of credit for their work in achieving a labor package that includes significant wage and benefit increases throughout the life of the agreement," Kiefer said.
The new agreement incorporates all actuarially required increases in employer contributions to the AMO Plans, as well as an increase in the employer contribution to the Money Purchase Benefit for AMO members in the U.S. Shipping fleet.
"Another positive development with U.S. Shipping Corp. in May was the announcement that Moody's Investors Service raised ratings assigned to the company," Kiefer said. "The increase reflects the strong performance of the company's vessels in the Jones Act trades, and the positive outlook for domestic liquid cargo transportation markets."