Posted:
January 21, 2010
To the editor: Please publish this on AMO Currents or in the AMO newspaper. Thank you.
I participated in the AMO–Maersk Line LTD tanker contract negotiations at the AMO headquarters in Washington DC, 05-08 Jan., and I wanted to let everyone know about the experience.
I wish to thank National President Tom Bethel, National Executive Vice President Robert Kiefer, National Vice President at Large Mike Murphy and Legislative Director Paul Doell for their time, knowledge sharing and hospitality. I had an opportunity to speak with each of them on varying subjects with regard to the current issues facing our union. I walked away feeling educated and pleased with the direction our current union leadership is undertaking for the membership.
Bob Kiefer was instrumental in attaining a fair and balanced contract for the MLL tanker officers, a contract that provides parity with other AMO tanker contracts over the next three years. Bob was persistent and knowledgeable on all the pertinent negotiable points which resulted in a considerable increase in our pay and benefit contribution package. It is being well received by the officers within the MLL tanker fleet.
Mike Murphy made himself available to me despite his busy schedule. Not only is Mike involved with issues inside the DC beltway for our membership, but he is also chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (MSC/ITF), which works closely with IMO. At the time of my visit, Mike was preparing for an IMO meeting in London to be held on 11-15 Jan. to discuss global STCW standards. I have always been impressed with Mike’s integrity, congeniality and graciousness as a person but I am struck by his keen ability to make detailed and convoluted issues clear and understandable. We are fortunate to have Mike Murphy as National Vice President at Large working for our causes.
The national and international initiatives the AMO union is currently facing are somewhat daunting, certainly unprecedented but at the same time exciting. There is a sea change of events taking place at a very high level that will affect each of us as mariners in the near future. Considering the IMO/ITF/MSC docket, MSP funding, Title XI Loan Guarantees, Jones Act legislation, Cargo Preference Laws, EPA changes and PL-480 cargoes to name a few. That said, I have a deeper appreciation for the value of the Voluntary Political Action Fund after discussing first hand the complicated issues confronting our union that have far reaching consequences for the entire membership.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent the MLL tanker officers in the negotiations, and I appreciate the hard work, service and dedication of the administration to our union during this time of change. Making the difficult, sometimes unpopular but necessary decisions to keep our union moving forward, solvent and competitive on a global level is what defines leadership.
Respectfully,
Captain Michael Ross
Membership report from Washington, D.C.
To the editor: Please publish this on AMO Currents or in the AMO newspaper. Thank you.
I participated in the AMO–Maersk Line LTD tanker contract negotiations at the AMO headquarters in Washington DC, 05-08 Jan., and I wanted to let everyone know about the experience.
I wish to thank National President Tom Bethel, National Executive Vice President Robert Kiefer, National Vice President at Large Mike Murphy and Legislative Director Paul Doell for their time, knowledge sharing and hospitality. I had an opportunity to speak with each of them on varying subjects with regard to the current issues facing our union. I walked away feeling educated and pleased with the direction our current union leadership is undertaking for the membership.
Bob Kiefer was instrumental in attaining a fair and balanced contract for the MLL tanker officers, a contract that provides parity with other AMO tanker contracts over the next three years. Bob was persistent and knowledgeable on all the pertinent negotiable points which resulted in a considerable increase in our pay and benefit contribution package. It is being well received by the officers within the MLL tanker fleet.
Mike Murphy made himself available to me despite his busy schedule. Not only is Mike involved with issues inside the DC beltway for our membership, but he is also chairman of the Maritime Safety Committee of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (MSC/ITF), which works closely with IMO. At the time of my visit, Mike was preparing for an IMO meeting in London to be held on 11-15 Jan. to discuss global STCW standards. I have always been impressed with Mike’s integrity, congeniality and graciousness as a person but I am struck by his keen ability to make detailed and convoluted issues clear and understandable. We are fortunate to have Mike Murphy as National Vice President at Large working for our causes.
The national and international initiatives the AMO union is currently facing are somewhat daunting, certainly unprecedented but at the same time exciting. There is a sea change of events taking place at a very high level that will affect each of us as mariners in the near future. Considering the IMO/ITF/MSC docket, MSP funding, Title XI Loan Guarantees, Jones Act legislation, Cargo Preference Laws, EPA changes and PL-480 cargoes to name a few. That said, I have a deeper appreciation for the value of the Voluntary Political Action Fund after discussing first hand the complicated issues confronting our union that have far reaching consequences for the entire membership.
I appreciate the opportunity to represent the MLL tanker officers in the negotiations, and I appreciate the hard work, service and dedication of the administration to our union during this time of change. Making the difficult, sometimes unpopular but necessary decisions to keep our union moving forward, solvent and competitive on a global level is what defines leadership.
Respectfully,
Captain Michael Ross