After many arduous sessions of hard bargaining between the union and company over a nine-month period, on March 9, 2021 the SIU reached a tentative agreement with American Steamship Company (ASC) on a new four-year contract (2021-2025), which was subsequently ratified by the SIU membership employed by ASC.
The union successfully fought off repeated attempts by the company to enact major, unprecedented concessions.
The new agreement provides a modified manning nomenclature and wage-scale model, with significant increases to all wage rates varying by position (averaging 14%), effective immediately, and annual increases to all wage rates in each subsequent year of the contract term. The pact maintains the current Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan and Seafarers Pension Plan benefits at the top level (Core Plus), and the current level of the Seafarers Money Purchase Pension Plan benefit. The agreement also provides for increased room and board allowance, shipwreck compensation, and other enhancements.
The SIU bargaining committee consisted of Assistant Vice President Bryan Powell, Associate General Counsel Stan Dubin, Port Agent Todd Brdak, Port Agent Chad Partridge, Safety Director Gerret Jarman, Patrolman Tyson Little, Recertified Bosuns Paul Gohs, Foaad Saleh and Salah Ahmed, and QMED Ricardo Frederick.
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