Even for a union that’s accustomed to having a lot on our plate, this is an extremely busy and important time.I’m especially concerned about the proposed federal rules for implementing new credentials for mariners and other transportation workers in the United States. In this case I’m referring to the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) and the separate Merchant Mariner Credential (MMC).
The SIU has gone through the proposed regulations with a fine-tooth comb. We have submitted our formal comments to the Transportation Department, and along with other maritime unions we also submitted joint testimony to Congress last month. Details are included in a separate article in this issue of the LOG.
Let me make perfectly clear that the SIU supports strong, comprehensive security policies for our ships and our ports. We want the same things that any concerned citizen would want—safe, productive operations and security that’s tight enough to protect people while also being fair to all concerned. That means striking a balance between letting commerce flow while keeping our guard up at all times. It also means taking a practical, logical approach to implementing the requirements of the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002, which is the law behind these new credentials.
On that last point, our union’s position is that the current merchant mariner document (MMD) essentially meets or exceeds the proposed requirements for a TWIC, pending the addition of a biometric identifier such as a fingerprint. As we told Congress and the Transportation Department, there’s no need to reinvent the wheel. Mariners are already closely regulated and, in the context of a TWIC, we’re ahead of the game. The government should look elsewhere within the transportation industry to begin instituting this new ID. We’re already using a proven one, and we’re already jumping through enough hoops.
Similarly, the MMC for individual mariners is largely unnecessary, and the format itself (a paper document) is a step backwards.
This is a vital development not only for the SIU but in fact for our entire industry, and we will stay on top of it every step of the way. Speaking of this particular issue, I’ll close with a line from a July 3 editorial in the Houston Chronicle which discussed (among other points) the Jones Act and security policies for U.S. crews, and which, in my opinion, also applies to the TWIC: “U.S. mariners and the owners of their vessels are required to get high-tech ID cards and file reams of documents…. Treating the U.S. Merchant Marine as if it were the prime threat just doesn’t make sense.”
New Contracts
Congratulations to our negotiators and our rank-and-file membership for the new standard freightship and tanker agreements, which were ratified in July. Even the most skeptical individual would have to agree that it’s quite an accomplishment in this day and age for a union to secure a five-year contract that increases wages while keeping health benefits. Our standard agreements should be a source of pride, and I believe these new contracts live up to that description.
On a personal note, I have always felt that our members stay informed on the key issues. They have reinforced that belief once again by understanding that the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan Trustees had to make changes in our benefits structure. We all know what’s happening to our fellow workers in other industries when it comes to health coverage. We want to make sure that we can continue to provide for our members—the best mariners in the world.
Printer Friendly Page