Numerous gains highlight a new four-year contract that last month was approved by Seafarers employed by Crowley Towing and Transportation.According to SIU Assistant Vice President of Contracts George Tricker, the new pact maintains the highest levels for medical benefits, prescription drug coverage for members and dependents and pension and death benefits. The contract also calls for wage increases in the second, third and fourth years.
Retroactive to July 1, 2003, the contract covers members who work at Crowley operations in Jacksonville, Fla; Lake Charles, La.; Philadelphia; San Diego; and Wilmington, Calif.
“This is a good contract for all parties concerned,” said Nicholas Conway, a member of the SIU negotiating committee. “Overall, I’d say that we (SIU members) are winners all the way around because we did not lose anything, especially in terms of health benefits or pensions.
“When you consider the fact that health care costs are escalating all over the country and that it’s a key issue at every bargaining table these days,” he continued, “we did extremely well. I can’t say enough about the job members of the negotiating team did during the negotiations, especially George (Tricker) and the port agents. There were quite a few tough issues that we had to deal with and they hung in there with us every step of the way. Every Seafarer who works for Crowley owes them a debt of gratitude.”
Also representing the SIU during the bargaining meetings at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Md., and at SIU headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. were Seafarers Robert Bergman, Wayne Barry, Steven Mitchell, Todd Smith, Michael Stein, Roger Stewart and Gary Hallenback. Joining them were Tricker, Philadelphia Port Agent Jim Malone, New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd, Jacksonville Port Agent Tony McQuay, and Wilmington Port Agent John Cox.
Crowley provides diversified transportation services in domestic and international markets by means of four operating lines of business: liner services; ship assist and escort services; oil and chemical distribution and transportation services; and energy and marine services. Crowley’s land-based facilities and equipment include terminals, warehouses, tank farms, office buildings, trucks, trailers, containers, chassis, cranes and other specialized vehicles.
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