The quality of life for members working aboard Crowley tugs and barges and at facilities in Philadelphia, Pa., Jacksonville, Fla., Lake Charles, La., and Wilmington, Calif., just improved as Seafarers overwhelmingly ratified a new four-year contract with Crowley Towing and Transportation.Negotiated with substantial input from the membership, the new contract calls for annual wage increases and also maintains medical and pension benefits. It protects SIU jobs – not a single one was lost.
The wage increases, like the contract itself, are retroactive to July 1, 2007.
In addition to maintaining medical benefits at the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan’s top level (Core Plus) and securing extra contributions to the Seafarers Pension Plan, the pact introduces the new employee-funded SIU 401(k) Plan to members employed by Crowley. Overall, the contract covers approximately 200 members.
Significantly, the contract solidifies transportation reimbursements for Seafarers.
“Many challenges needed to be overcome during the course of this negotiation,” explained SIU Vice President Contracts George Tricker. “But with the help of the membership, elected delegates and SIU officials who served on the negotiating committee, the union successfully secured a four-year agreement that delivers wage increases that have exceeded any Crowley agreement in the last decade.”
Member discussions, contract development and negotiations were conducted by a team of 11 in union halls but mostly on boats. The group included officials and rank-and-file members, spearheaded by Tricker who was assisted primarily by SIU Assistant Vice President Contracts Archie Ware and Wilmington Port Agent John Cox.
Bargaining committee member and rank-and-file participant Todd Smith said, “We went to the negotiations armed with questionnaires of items the members wanted. Company and union negotiators worked well together and hashed out the best package I’ve seen in a long time. Pay raises each year of the contract and especially reimbursement of travel expenses were important. We have a lot of people who travel from all parts of the country and reimbursement will save a lot of us some real money. Folks have to think long-term. A lot of people don’t have what we have – a pension, health care and security.”
Also serving on the union’s negotiating team were Seafarers Kyle Sweep, Roger Stewart, Craig Perry, David Lytle, Jake Jarrell, Nicholas Conway and Steve Mitchell.
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