Posted:
February 24, 2016
By Captain Willie Barrere
I attended the AMO National Executive Board meetings and the meetings of the AMO Plans Board of Trustees during the first week of February. I was truly surprised at what transpired - there is a lot going on behind the scenes for the members and their families.
Here is a brief summary.
The week-long series of meetings, many of which are required by law, involved our AMO executive board members, legal counsel, AMO Plans administrators, AMO-contracted company executives who serve as trustees of the AMO Plans, STAR Center representatives, our AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program attorney (Mike Reny), AMO and American Maritime Officers Service lobbyists, our newspaper and website editor, and three AMO member observers - one each from the Great Lakes, inland waters, and deep sea. Most of the people in our AMO Port Directory (at the back of the newspaper and on the website) were present. At the same time the executive board meetings were being held, AMO and STAR Center representatives were in London attending an International Maritime Organization conference discussing topics pertaining to STCW issues and others affecting mariners on a global scale.
As a member observer, a number of aspects impressed me - the amount of effort all the people present, and those they represent, expend on our behalf - the drive and desire these people have to create shipping jobs for us, keep the jobs we have, and manage the large financial trust on our behalf is admirable. These companies are building ships in US yards, creating millions of dollars in income for us and our countrymen. With thanks to them, our future is looking better.
There is a large sum of money 'out there' that has been collected, saved, and invested, for us - to be spent on us, invested by us, and given to us by the Plans administrators. Shipping companies are paying into the Master Operating Trust for each day we work, and the Trust then pays out money to our various plans - vacation, medical, safety and education, retirement, administration, as well as others. I am writing this as I attend a Gap Closing class at STAR Center - the room, food, instructors, lessons and tools are all provided for by one of the plans, and this includes the pool where the smiling children of AMO members are playing outside my room.
The Master Operating Trust is similar to our home budgets - first we must pay our mortgages, our car payments, electric bills, school for the kids, food, clothing, and gifts to our mother in law - the necessities. What is left over becomes our discretionary income.
With our Master Operating Trust, what is left over after the necessary expenses goes into our Defined Contribution Plan - our retirement plan.
Many of us have invested in our individual accounts through the 401(k) Plan, but the MPB Plan and the Defined Contribution Plan are funded entirely by AMO-contracted companies.
In speaking with many members over the years, the retirement plan is one that we are all very concerned about - or if not, we should be. The government's ruling years ago put our defined benefit pension plan in the 'Red Zone' and our plan was frozen; we began another - the Defined Contribution Plan.
Our AMO administration has worked with the company trustees and the AMO Plans administrators to cut costs and increase contributions to the Defined Contribution Plan. The AMO Plans staff was reduced. We've switched to Blue Cross/Blue Shield with our Medical Plan and anticipate savings of about $2.5 million dollars. The $200 scholarship was suspended. At the same time, we are having to get all of our members through the USCG required Gap Closing training, creating a full school with overflow - an additional expense for the AMO Plans.
AMO members with any questions about our retirement plans can call or e-mail the Executive Director of the AMO Plans, Steve Nickerson.
On the union side, our executive board instituted pay cuts for officials post-election, the AMO staff has been reduced, and other cost cutting measures have been made. AMO is now operating with a budget surplus and recently deposited $500,000 into the union's investment accounts for the first time in a long time.
While this has been going on, our member companies and executive board members are fighting an even bigger fight - that with Senator John McCain, who is trying to lead another challenge of the Jones Act. Without the Jones Act, our jobs are in danger.
Politics costs money - and I watched our legislative consultant and federal advocacy representatives discuss the present day culture in Washington DC and throughout the country. They are working hard to not only maintain the Jones Act, but to secure the MSP funding as well as the PL-480 cargo; and they were successful in re-funding the Ex-Im Bank. Who is going to be our nation's next President? Who's going to be voted in and out in the House and Senate? We need national leaders to understand our industry's importance to our nation and national security. We need their support.
And yet while all of this is going on, just to keep things interesting, there just happens to be another union or two out there trying to take our jobs away from us.
During the meetings, presentations were given by various Plans representatives, and others that contribute to the overall management of the world we know as AMO.
Financial advisors from Morgan Stanley spoke and brought with them some of the fund managers that direct money in some of our portfolios. They were questioned by trustees and board members as to fund performance and forecasts. Are you watching your investments? Have you talked to your advisor? The sooner the better.
The AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program - Mike Reny is our attorney. If you have a Coast Guard legal problem or concern, or have had an incident where you will be questioned by the Coast Guard, it is your right to contact Mike prior to answering any questions from investigators.
Legal Counsel Joel and David Glanstein are also available to members. All of the above contacts are in our newspaper's Port Directory and on the AMO website.
Along with the normal union business and concerns, it was announced that contributions to the El Faro Disaster Relief Fund have totaled about $110,000 from members, the union, and companies, in support of the families of our lost mariner brothers and sisters.
Long-time AMO National Executive Vice President Robert Kiefer retired. A ceremony was held for Bobby and he was recognized for his many years of service by President Paul Doell, as well as shipping company executives. We all wish him the best in his retirement. Danny Shea replaces Bobby as our contract negotiator.
The week went quickly and I, along with my fellow observers, witnessed an extensive program in place concerned with the positive progress and future of the American Maritime Officers Union. The companies we work for depend on us to maintain their vessels and we depend upon them for our jobs.
Our AMO leadership's goal is to balance the economic impacts to the members and to the companies and expand our Union. Anyone that has been in the industry for a decade has seen the loss of shipping companies, the loss of ships, and the loss of jobs. At the same time, we are seeing companies investing heavily in our future with newbuilds and new jobs, believing as we do, that we here at AMO are the backbone of the US Merchant Marine and the future is ours. We need to fulfill our part to keep our union and our industry strong.
These meetings are open to the AMO membership. I encourage any AMO member who can to attend the executive board and trustee meetings. Contact any union official for more information on attending in the future. Deep-sea members can contact Joe Gremelsbacker, Great Lakes members can contact John Clemons and inland waters members can contact Dave Weathers.
Report on meetings of AMO National Executive Board, AMO Plans Board of Trustees
By Captain Willie Barrere
I attended the AMO National Executive Board meetings and the meetings of the AMO Plans Board of Trustees during the first week of February. I was truly surprised at what transpired - there is a lot going on behind the scenes for the members and their families.
Here is a brief summary.
The week-long series of meetings, many of which are required by law, involved our AMO executive board members, legal counsel, AMO Plans administrators, AMO-contracted company executives who serve as trustees of the AMO Plans, STAR Center representatives, our AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program attorney (Mike Reny), AMO and American Maritime Officers Service lobbyists, our newspaper and website editor, and three AMO member observers - one each from the Great Lakes, inland waters, and deep sea. Most of the people in our AMO Port Directory (at the back of the newspaper and on the website) were present. At the same time the executive board meetings were being held, AMO and STAR Center representatives were in London attending an International Maritime Organization conference discussing topics pertaining to STCW issues and others affecting mariners on a global scale.
As a member observer, a number of aspects impressed me - the amount of effort all the people present, and those they represent, expend on our behalf - the drive and desire these people have to create shipping jobs for us, keep the jobs we have, and manage the large financial trust on our behalf is admirable. These companies are building ships in US yards, creating millions of dollars in income for us and our countrymen. With thanks to them, our future is looking better.
There is a large sum of money 'out there' that has been collected, saved, and invested, for us - to be spent on us, invested by us, and given to us by the Plans administrators. Shipping companies are paying into the Master Operating Trust for each day we work, and the Trust then pays out money to our various plans - vacation, medical, safety and education, retirement, administration, as well as others. I am writing this as I attend a Gap Closing class at STAR Center - the room, food, instructors, lessons and tools are all provided for by one of the plans, and this includes the pool where the smiling children of AMO members are playing outside my room.
The Master Operating Trust is similar to our home budgets - first we must pay our mortgages, our car payments, electric bills, school for the kids, food, clothing, and gifts to our mother in law - the necessities. What is left over becomes our discretionary income.
With our Master Operating Trust, what is left over after the necessary expenses goes into our Defined Contribution Plan - our retirement plan.
Many of us have invested in our individual accounts through the 401(k) Plan, but the MPB Plan and the Defined Contribution Plan are funded entirely by AMO-contracted companies.
In speaking with many members over the years, the retirement plan is one that we are all very concerned about - or if not, we should be. The government's ruling years ago put our defined benefit pension plan in the 'Red Zone' and our plan was frozen; we began another - the Defined Contribution Plan.
Our AMO administration has worked with the company trustees and the AMO Plans administrators to cut costs and increase contributions to the Defined Contribution Plan. The AMO Plans staff was reduced. We've switched to Blue Cross/Blue Shield with our Medical Plan and anticipate savings of about $2.5 million dollars. The $200 scholarship was suspended. At the same time, we are having to get all of our members through the USCG required Gap Closing training, creating a full school with overflow - an additional expense for the AMO Plans.
AMO members with any questions about our retirement plans can call or e-mail the Executive Director of the AMO Plans, Steve Nickerson.
On the union side, our executive board instituted pay cuts for officials post-election, the AMO staff has been reduced, and other cost cutting measures have been made. AMO is now operating with a budget surplus and recently deposited $500,000 into the union's investment accounts for the first time in a long time.
While this has been going on, our member companies and executive board members are fighting an even bigger fight - that with Senator John McCain, who is trying to lead another challenge of the Jones Act. Without the Jones Act, our jobs are in danger.
Politics costs money - and I watched our legislative consultant and federal advocacy representatives discuss the present day culture in Washington DC and throughout the country. They are working hard to not only maintain the Jones Act, but to secure the MSP funding as well as the PL-480 cargo; and they were successful in re-funding the Ex-Im Bank. Who is going to be our nation's next President? Who's going to be voted in and out in the House and Senate? We need national leaders to understand our industry's importance to our nation and national security. We need their support.
And yet while all of this is going on, just to keep things interesting, there just happens to be another union or two out there trying to take our jobs away from us.
During the meetings, presentations were given by various Plans representatives, and others that contribute to the overall management of the world we know as AMO.
Financial advisors from Morgan Stanley spoke and brought with them some of the fund managers that direct money in some of our portfolios. They were questioned by trustees and board members as to fund performance and forecasts. Are you watching your investments? Have you talked to your advisor? The sooner the better.
The AMO Coast Guard Legal Aid Program - Mike Reny is our attorney. If you have a Coast Guard legal problem or concern, or have had an incident where you will be questioned by the Coast Guard, it is your right to contact Mike prior to answering any questions from investigators.
Legal Counsel Joel and David Glanstein are also available to members. All of the above contacts are in our newspaper's Port Directory and on the AMO website.
Along with the normal union business and concerns, it was announced that contributions to the El Faro Disaster Relief Fund have totaled about $110,000 from members, the union, and companies, in support of the families of our lost mariner brothers and sisters.
Long-time AMO National Executive Vice President Robert Kiefer retired. A ceremony was held for Bobby and he was recognized for his many years of service by President Paul Doell, as well as shipping company executives. We all wish him the best in his retirement. Danny Shea replaces Bobby as our contract negotiator.
The week went quickly and I, along with my fellow observers, witnessed an extensive program in place concerned with the positive progress and future of the American Maritime Officers Union. The companies we work for depend on us to maintain their vessels and we depend upon them for our jobs.
Our AMO leadership's goal is to balance the economic impacts to the members and to the companies and expand our Union. Anyone that has been in the industry for a decade has seen the loss of shipping companies, the loss of ships, and the loss of jobs. At the same time, we are seeing companies investing heavily in our future with newbuilds and new jobs, believing as we do, that we here at AMO are the backbone of the US Merchant Marine and the future is ours. We need to fulfill our part to keep our union and our industry strong.
These meetings are open to the AMO membership. I encourage any AMO member who can to attend the executive board and trustee meetings. Contact any union official for more information on attending in the future. Deep-sea members can contact Joe Gremelsbacker, Great Lakes members can contact John Clemons and inland waters members can contact Dave Weathers.