Guest speakers at the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive board meeting in Las Vegas today emphasized the U.S. Merchant Marine’s vital role in helping protect America’s national and economic security.Addressing the board were General John W. Handy, commander, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); John Jamian, acting administrator of the U.S. Maritime Administration; U.S. Rep. Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada); Steven Blust, chairman of the Federal Maritime Commission; and U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.).
MTD (and SIU) President Michael Sacco chaired the meeting, which continues Feb. 25 with scheduled appearances by U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta; U.S. Reps. Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), William Jefferson (D-La.) and Loretta Sanchez (D-Calif.); AFL-CIO President John Sweeney; and Sheila McNeill, president of the Navy League of the United States.
On Feb. 24, General Handy thanked everyone involved in the maritime industry for their efforts in supporting the movement of materiel in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. He cited the vast amount of cargo moved during the past three-plus years for those missions and described the country’s union maritime workers as “incredible Americans.”
General Handy stated that America’s merchant mariners “stand tall and make you proud as Americans. We couldn’t do it without the incredible support of the nation’s unions.”
He noted that 85 percent of the tonnage moved by TRANSCOM goes by sea. “The contribution of our commercial partners and the people you represent is dramatic. We don’t get these jobs done without that very strong tie,” he observed.
The general pointed out that the carrying capacity of one LMSR is equivalent to 420 C-17 airlifts. “That is incredible capability, and I wish every single American could understand and appreciate what this nation can do when we team together. But we can’t rest on those laurels. We need to modernize our shipping. We need to modernize our airlift capability.”
He specifically pointed to the fast sealift ships as needing modernization.
“We need to do that because it ultimately means that as Americans we’ll be able to defend ourselves around the world and we can help people around the world.” For example, he noted that the civilian-crewed Navy hospital ship USNS Mercy is deployed for tsunami relief.
He offered to the MTD executive board members “a dear and deep-felt passionate thanks for what you do for us as a military and what you do for us as Americans and, importantly, what you do as union leaders and members who sustain this great country in so many ways.”
Acting Administrator Jamian said that through the years since World War II, some people forgot the history lessons that taught us the great value of the U.S. Merchant Marine. However, that began to change for the better during the first Persian Gulf War.
“Today, the importance of these mariners – represented by these labor organizations here in the room – is being reinforced every day in the war in Iraq. More than 8,000 mariners and thousands of longshoremen at our ports have made certain that equipment and supplies for our armed forces in the field arrive safely, where they are needed and when they are needed,” Jamian said.
He pointed out that the tragedy of September 11 also underscored the importance of maintaining a viable U.S. fleet. “I believe that we must have a strong U.S. Merchant Marine, crewed by Americans loyal to our nation’s interests, as they have always been, and ready to serve as they have always been.”
He described the importance of the Ready Reserve Force and the Voluntary Intermodal Sealift Agreement to national security.
Jamian called the MSP, the Jones Act and cargo preference laws “the fundamental triad of our nation’s maritime policies,” and said that those programs are “proven essentials” which are critical to U.S. national and economic security.
He said the administration is working to expand and not simply maintain the U.S. fleet, through initiatives such as SEA21 and in other ways. He described SEA21 as “the first systematic effort to improve and integrate marine transportation as part of our national intermodal transportation system.”
Rep. Berkley said the nation’s cabotage laws are “true national security. I am a supporter of the Jones Act, and I support the Maritime Security Program Fleet.”
FMC Chairman Blust discussed the U.S. Merchant Marine’s history of supporting America’s national defense, from the country’s earliest days to the present. “The maritime trades are essential to helping support our country and guarantee our freedom. I thank all of you for your patriotic efforts,” Blust said.
Rep. Thompson emphasized the need for unions to continue organizing new members and pledged his continuing support to America’s working families.
He also said he is concerned about the potential negative impact that the Transportation Workers Identification Card (TWIC) background checks will have on maritime workers.
“As a member of Congress who represents a state with coastal and river ports, I understand your important role in protecting our ports from terrorism and look forward to working with you to make our country safer,” Thompson said.
MTD President Sacco pointed out that during the past three years, “at least 20,000 union members have been called up as reservists in the war in Iraq. At the same time, thousands of members of our maritime unions have loaded and transported materiel to support our troops in the Persian Gulf.
“No matter one’s individual feelings about the political aspects of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I know that all of you join me in supporting our troops and particularly supporting our union brothers and sisters who are serving overseas.”
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