Seafarers who are employed by Starlight Marine Services recently approved a new three-year contract that calls for substantial wage increases and other gains.The agreement currently covers 22 SIU members working at the California-based company. Seafarers voted overwhelmingly in favor of the pact.
Serving on the SIU negotiating team were SIU Vice President West Coast Nick Marrone, Assistant Vice President Nick Celona and Seafarers Bryan Wynn and Justin Rogers.
“I want to thank the delegates for a job well done in tough negotiations,” Celona stated. “The rest of the membership at Starlight also deserves credit for their hard work and continued outstanding safety record.”
The contract stipulates wage increases in each year of the agreement. It includes a new transportation benefit and, for the first time, brings Starlight crew members into the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan (SMPPP).
The contract maintains benefit levels in the Seafarers Pension Plan and also allows for individual participation in the new Seafarers 401(k) Plan. (The SMPPP, Seafarers Pension Plan and Seafarers 401(k) Plan are three completely separate plans.)
Additionally, the contract specifies that the company will pay for continued medical coverage (known as COBRA) in the event of a layoff.
This is the second SIU contract at Starlight. The first was an initial five-year agreement ratified in 2003, the year Starlight Marine boatmen unanimously chose SIU representation.
The company operates a fleet of seven state-of-the-art tugs and four barges in the San Francisco Harbor. They provide ship assistance and also perform bunkering and lightering operations.
According to the company, “Starlight’s professional operators and deck crews are among the finest and most experienced in the harbor. Safety for employees and protection of the environment is always number one at Starlight. The company has extensive safety programs and systems that ensure a safe environment for the care and custody of cargo.”
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