SIU boatmen employed at E.N. Bisso in New Orleans recently approved a contract extension featuring significant gains.The contract covers approximately 70 members who sail as deckhands and engineers. Bisso operates 14 boats in the New Orleans area – mostly involved in ship docking along with some offshore work.
What became an extension lasting through November 2010 at first was only supposed to be a wage reopener. However, as negotiations progressed over a period of about two months, both parties agreed to expand their scope. In the end, rank-and-file members overwhelmingly approved an extension calling for an across-the-board daily wage increase (retroactive to September 2007) including a boost to entry-level pay; a bonus for employees with at least 90 days of service at Bisso; an increase in the company’s matching contributions to the 401(k) plan; improvements to pension benefits; maintenance of Core Plus health benefits; and company reimbursement of up to $100 per year for safety shoes.
Representing the SIU during negotiations were Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey, New Orleans Port Agent Chris Westbrook, Deckhand Delegate Matt Marchand and Engineer Delegate Robert Jordan.
Voting took place aboard Bisso boats from mid- to late-October. The votes were nearly unanimous in favor of the contract extension. (The pact originally had been scheduled to expire in 2009.) Corgey noted, “Consistent with industry trends, the union and the company successfully negotiated a competitive compensation package that will help enable Bisso to attract and retain qualified personnel and provide a good standard of living for our members. The credit goes to the members at Bisso who showed a lot of union solidarity and brotherhood, and also to Bisso management for bargaining in good faith that allowed us to arrive at this fair agreement.”
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