The preservation of medical plan benefits at the highest level (Plan G) for SIU members and their dependents is among the main features of a newly ratified three-year contract with Higman Barge.According to SIU Assistant Vice President Gulf Coast Jim McGee, members and their dependents will continue to enjoy the same levels of medical coverage they were entitled to under the previous agreement. The new accord also calls for the maintenance of pension contribution by the company as well as pay hikes in each year of the contract, McGee said.
The union was represented by Seafarers Capt. Grayson Skaggs and Tankerman Fred Forsythe during the contract negotiations. They were joined by SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey and McGee.
“In my view, negotiations went very well this time around,” said Skaggs, who donned the SIU colors some eight year ago. “Although a number of tough issues came to the forefront during our talks,” he continued, “both sides exhibited flexibility…and that was good because we did not have to go down to the last hour before hammering out an agreement which addressed the concerns of both sides.
“I can’t say enough about the role which the union leaders in this region (Corgey and McGee) played in the negotiation process,” Skaggs concluded. “They were with us all the way and fought hard to get this new agreement through.”
The new contract — retroactive to Oct. 30 — will remain in force through Oct. 30, 2006.
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