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MTD Unions Credited as Valued Partners

April 2008

“Partnership” is a word that surfaced time after time during the most recent meeting of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department’s executive board, as guest speakers from different segments of the industry expressed appreciation for the important work performed by unions and their rank-and-file members. MTD President Michael Sacco, who also serves as president of the SIU, said he has received exceptionally positive feedback about the meeting, which took place Feb. 28-29 in the San Diego suburb of Coronado, Calif. A number of attendees observed that the guest speakers’ respective comments went far beyond courtesies. Instead, representatives from the military, the administration, Congress, the private sector and the labor movement not only detailed the vital roles played by the MTD and its affiliated unions, but also voiced genuine thanks for their reliable, often patriotic performance. The MTD consists of 24 international unions (including the SIU) and 19 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing more than five million working men and women. In order of appearance, the following people addressed the executive board on Feb. 28: Thomas Barrett, deputy secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation; Vice Admiral Ann Rondeau, deputy commander, United States Transportation Command (TRANSCOM); Sean Connaughton, U.S. maritime administrator; Gen. Ken Wykle (USA ret.), president, National Defense Transportation Command; Fred Harris, president, National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO); and Paddy Crumlin, national secretary, Maritime Union of Australia. A day later, the following individuals spoke to the board: Major General Kathleen Gainey, commander, U.S. Military Surface Deployment and Distribution Command; Thomas Crowley, CEO, Crowley Maritime Corp.; Admiral Thad Allen, commandant, U.S. Coast Guard; Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer; and U.S. Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-Hawaii). The board approved a number of statements, which reflect much of the meeting’s content. Those resolutions covered topics including cargo preference, support for the troops, the Title XI shipbuilding program, LNG shipping to the U.S., the need for an industrial policy, U.S. Naval shipbuilding, grassroots political action, and health care. Also adopted were statements on the U.S. Maritime Security Program (MSP), cabotage laws including the Jones Act, the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program, port security, the Employee Free Choice Act, and the Re-Empowerment of Skilled and Professional Employees and Construction Tradeworkers (RESPECT) Act. During his opening remarks, Sacco recapped some of the industry highlights and challenges since the prior year’s meetings. He also welcomed two new board members: ILA President Richard Hughes and MEBA President Don Keefe. ###