http://www.seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/1e207652e2be491f749f22e8bd9f758a.PDF bd8d309f8d6dbbaafe2cfe1fd26f2776 PDF Text Text fT-ss li'i.-rrr -..? • ••. • •' • ..... .-.jv .y^'ai . .^','t? -a -,ij-&-;.:.-?^. •' 'V SEAEUSEMtS :... •, '' /'4 March 1992 Volume 54, Number 3 .',. ,'c ;• •<% • ---'m i'-im- '- f i:3fc ..|S? : i 'A: Pages Cong. Tauzin to Seek Ropeal I He'll Give it a Shot Page 3 Congressman Gerry Studds told MTD delegates he will be looking for creative and new solutions to help revitalize Americanflag shipping. Page 3. .{; 4.: •v;:?S:4-:?,:..i: '•^'N 't-.r^U -'-J' �vS"':- i./- i •.. • SEAFAHHtSUOG President's Report •l-v«: I • • • •• •;>V-^-- ivui- ?a V •• . li ; -• ;• s>'- "•• i'-I ..:i: •l ••^. j^-'; ti.-.,'•. ii.. e' "• .:,. ; '•• •• ^^:, -v-'-. it.?;'. - :••;••,-•/ 1- ,. 1 :'f '1 ' '<'-'• ••A'' ' Editor's Note: The following column contains the text of comments by SlV President Michael Sacco on economic growth. Sacco's remarks were delivered to the executive board of the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department meeting in Florida last month during a discussion on the state of the nation's economy. If you will allow me, this is a point at which I would like to add some comments. As bad as things are in this countty, with all of our mounting problems, the American labor movement can t^e pride in the fact that it has been trying to tell the people of this nation Michael Sacco that they should wake up. It is the labor movement which, more than any other grouping, has been ringing the alarm about runaway health costs and the need for a na­ tional program of protection for all citizens. It is the American labor movement which has been waming of the dis­ aster that will come from a trade agreement that will open Mexico as an official runaway shop for profiteers. It is the American labor movement which kept hammering at the in­ adequacy of unemployment insurance as the recession deepened. On and on it goes, in regard to every major social issue, the labor movement alone is alert to the problems that confront the mass of Americans. Unfortunately, our warnings are not always properly recognized. In fact, Americans—and polls have demonstrated this—hold unions partially responsible for the nation's economic plight. The rabblerousers, the union haters and union busters, the low-wage payers and chiselers, aided and abetted by a national administration that thinks this country should be run for the benefit of a few, have been deluding too many people that this country is better off when unions are weakened. And while I share the anger of most Americans at the Japanese criticisms of American workers, as "lazy," "stupid" and "uncompeti­ tive," I'm glad in a way that it happened. In the words of the old after­ shave lotion commercial: "We needed that." That Japanese misjudgment is serving to wake up the American people who, for some unknown reason, thought of themselves as separate from the working class. But they are taking the Japanese criticism personally and are examining the realities: For too long, the American worker has been taking the rap for our country's decline. For the past 10-12 years, unions, in an effort to halt the sliding economy, kept wages down, improved productivity and otherwise cooperated with management arid government to fight the stumbling economy. After all that effort, things kept getting worse, until even the President had to acknowledge the problem. And now the nation is beginning to un­ derstand that unions are not the problem they were made out to be. Much of the deep hole that we all find ourselves in was dug by inept, greedy management and lax and permissive government. Their stewardship of the people's welfare over the last dozen or so years can fittingly be described as the "creaming of America." While workers were accepting wage cuts and give-backs, manage­ ment was rewarding itself with enormous salary and perk increases that kept going up as sales and business declined and layoffs mounted. Al­ most without exception, top management of thousands of major corpora­ tions have been bilking their stockholders and companies as they and their appointed rubber-stamping directors skimmed millions and billions of dollars in profits through so-called stock option scams. Talk about violations of democracy and the rights of shareholders! You'd think that by now the victimized shareholders would be picketing the Securities and Exchange Commission demanding an end to this legal­ ized pocket-picking. But nobody beefs — except for the labor movement. All of this is finely getting the public's attention. It is beginning to understand the real causes behind this nation's dilemma. Just consider what the deregulated banking and investment businesses have cost this nation enormously as the country's workers pick up the tab for the wild period of leveraged buyouts, unsecured mortgage loans and in many cases—outright thievery by giant business. The latest calcula­ tions now are that the cost of this disgraceful episode alone to Ameri­ cans will be 450 billion dollars. It's still counting. All the while the national administration encouraged this kind of "competitiveness," if you'll pardon the expression. There has been case after case of federal administration insiders being involved in these scams, paving the way for set-ups, evading the law, cooking the books, and squeezing out millions for themselves that are now to be paid for by us, our children and grandchildren. Despite all of this, we still hear the tired, worn-out cries from those who sat on their hands when all of this was happening that "unions are the cause of all our problems." I am sure you've seen it in your own areas. We have one such example in our own shipping industry—another one of Bush's sony political appointments, a member of the Federal Maritime Commission named Rob Quartel. FMC is a regulatory agency which has the job of ensuring non-discriminatoiy rates and practices in ocean shipping. From what we observe, Quartel spends a substantial portion of his time flying around the coun^ at taxpayer expense, blasting maritime unions and calling on American shipping companies to pull down the stars and stripes from their ships and replace them with foreign flags and ^ foreign labor. In the couple of years since Bush found a spot for him on the public payrolls, we have never heard this cross-countiy gadfly offer one con­ structive suggestion as to how America could strengthen its shipping in­ dustry. When he leaves the commission, he'll no doubt return to his former business as a "private consultant" to "international firms" which find his anti-U.S. shipping activities right up their alley and a service to be rewarded. He will go right back through the revolving door along with the thousands of others who make some government connections and then turn right around and go to work for groups that are opposed to the interests of the American people. As President Bush pokes around for answers to the mess he's laid on this country, maybe he could begin by getting rid of some of the political hacks he has stacked his administration with and replace them with some creative thinkers who believe America should begin working for the good of all the American people. He could begin with the likes of Rob Quartel. Labor unions have always had their avowed enemies—and we probab­ ly always will. Mostly, they are people who believe in cheap labor and who would deny working people life's basic necessities and the better things of life. It is pretty obvious there is no shortage of challenges for the democratic trade union movement. More so now than ever. It is up to us to pull together harder than ever, to make the labor move­ ment the forceful factor in American life for which there is no substitute in the interests of working people. SlU Insists Work Tax issue Rates Court's Attention The Seafarers International Union has insisted that court action is needed at once to settle the mat­ ter of the work tax the Coast Guard is seeking to impose on American seamen and boatmen. The SIU's demand was filed in federal court in response to a Coast Guard legal move to side step the issue by asking the court dismiss the case. Attorneys for the Coast Guard are claiming that the plain­ tiffs, that is, the SIU and the five individual merchant seamen and boatmen who filed the lawsuit, face "no injury-in-fact" from the proposed regulations. The union, through its lawsuit, is attempting to block the so-called user fees the Coast Guard plans to collect for procedures associating with issuing marine licenses and documents. The SIU's lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia in December, charges the fees are in reality a tax on seamen for the privilege of working and, as such, are uncon­ stitutional. Further, the SIU suit claims the manner in which the Coast Guard deduced the fees was based on faulty data and gross in­ accuracies. It was in early February that the Coast Guard, through its govern­ ment attorneys, filed a motion to dismiss the SIU's lawsuit against the work tax, which, as described Volume 54. Number 3 by the Coast Guard in its rulemak­ ing last year, will be in the area of $135 for an AB or QMED en­ dorsed document and $330 for an upper level license. The Coast Guard court papers said the SIU's suit was "not ripe for review" and that there has been "no direct or indirect impact" since, among other reasons, "no fees have been imposed on any of the individual plaintiffs or any of the members of the union." The SIU's attorneys challenged the Coast Guard's assertions in their court papers filed in late February responding to the agency's move for dismissal. "Merchant seamen will have little choice but to pay the fees if they cannot obtain judicial review of the Coast Guard's decision before the fees are implemented. They cannot ply their trade without licenses and documents," the SIU brief argues. Additionally, the SIU court paper states that seamen and boat­ men "can ill afford these so-called fees, and should not be required to pay them unless and until this court finds that the Coast Guard is acting within its constitutional and statutory authority." The Coast Guard's plan for user fees came about as a result of a budget agreement made by the ad­ ministration and Congress. March 1992 The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 0160-2047) is published monthly by theSeafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth Way; Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Telephone (301) 899-0675. Second-class postage paid at MSC Prince Georges, Md. 20790-9998 and at additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, Md. 20746. Communications Department Director and Editor, Jessica Smith; Assistant Editor, Daniel Duncan; Associate Editors, Jordan Biscardo, Max Hall; Associate Editor/Production, Deborah Greene; Art, Bill Brower. IKV"! K �•:•: ' • • •r'.-i'-.-.'ji':*,, Hi ...,., .M ':V MTD Urges Firing of FMC Offlciai The Maritime Trades Department, consisting of 42 na­ tional and international unions representing 8.5 million American workers, called on President Bush to remove Rob MTD board of the labor Quartel from his job as one movement's efforts to ensure that of the five members of the the administration does not give Federal Maritime Commis­ away the store in upcoming trade sion (FMC). negotiations at the world level and The action was taken at the February MTD executive board meeting during a discussion on the state of the nation's economy. Quartel, while serving as FMC Commissioner, has contended that the United States does not need a privately-owned fleet operating under the American flag. In the two-day MTD meeting, which took place in Bal Harbour, Florida just prior to the AFL-CIO's executive board session, board members representing the department's affiliated unions, heard a call for "fresh" ideas to make American shipping competi­ tive from Congressman Gerry Studds. The Massachusetts repre­ sentative is expected to become head of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee next year. Two high-ranking members of the House of Representatives Democratic leadership. Con­ gressmen Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) and David E. Bonior (D-Mich.), called on trade unionists throughout the United States to reject the economic policies of the Bush administration by voting the president out of office in November's general election. AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Thomas R. Donahue advised the in talks with Mexico. Board mem­ bers whose unions represent in­ dustrial, transportation and construction workers reported on how the administration's lack of support for American industry had resulted in thousands of lost jobs and hundreds of company bankruptcies. Working People Blamed During the discussion of the economy, MTD President Michael Sacco, whose remarks prompted the executive board to call for President Bush to dismiss Quartel, noted that for too long, American working men and women had been "taking the rap for the country's decline." Sacco said that contrary to a public perception that labor unions have borne a disproportionate responsibility for the state of the economy, "for the past 10 to 12 years, unions, in an effort to halt the sliding economy, kept wages down, improved productivity and otherwise cooperated with management and government to fight die stumbling economy." Sacco, who is the president of the Seafarers Intemationd Union, observed that the American public is beginning to recognize that "unions are not the problem they Continued on page 9 Shidils Calls for Tresh' Ideas To Revitalize U.S. Shipping "•1 : i*--.<-A?.ti'* J' •• < -C'/ ' -.uL--'-5;; .s ,77"' /'.r" •::• -fvi -•.,-. Congressman Gerry Studds an­ nounced to the executive board of the Mmitime Trades Dep^ment he is ready to look for new ideas and fresh approaches to get American seamen back to work and the American maritime in­ dustry rebuilt when he takes over the helm of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee next year. Studds, a 20-year member of the House of Representatives as well as the committee, is expected to become its next chairman when Walter Jones (D-N.C.) retires at the end of this session of Congress. He addressed the gathering, which represents more than eight million trade unionists, at its winter execu­ tive board meeting last month in Bal Harbour, Fla. Studds, who was making his first public remarks about the com­ mittee chairmanship, said, "I don't have the answers, but they don't lie in the failed ideas of the past." The Massachusetts Democrat compared the nation's maritime in­ dustry with U.S. automakers to make the point that govemment must pay attention to key American industries. "Some in­ dustries are so important to our economy and to national security that we will intervene at the highest level of govemment to see that they survive. "Well, I say ships are important, too. And so are the people who build them and so are the people who repair them and so are the people who crew them. We have to renew our commitment." MTD executive board members dIscuSsed the current economic situation, upcom­ ing trade negotiations and the impact of those agreements on American jobs, among other issues, at a two-day meeting last month. •J • • I < SIU Attacks •Unfair' Tax, House Panel Pledges Repeal Three members of a House sub­ committee threw their support be­ hind an effort to repeal a work tax imposed on seamen and boatmen. The pledge to work for a repeal of the so-c^ed user fee on marine licenses and documents came from Congressmen W.J. "Billy" Tauzin, (D-La.), Herbert H. Batemart (RVa.) and Gene Taylor (D-Miss.) last month after hearing the tes­ timony of the SIU and other wit­ nesses representing marine labor. SIU Vice President Joseph Sacco, appearing before the Sub­ committee on Coast Guard and Navigation, which called the hearing, labeled the tax "dis­ criminatory" and "unfair" and called on Congress to work for its immediate repeal. Sacco noted that American seamen and boatmen were "shocked their govemment expects them to pay not only in­ come taxes, but now, on top of that, a work tax." After listening to the presenta­ tions of Sacco and three other panelists representing merchant seamen, Tauzin, who chairs the subcommittee announced that "Mr. Bateman and I have done some consulting and I think we need to move to repeal." Sacco noted that hundreds of seamen and boatmen—^both union and non-union—had contacted the , I' • SIU to find out what they could do to repeal the tax. He presented the subcommittee with petitions col­ lected by SIU member Anthony Primeaux that contained the signa­ tures of 438 boatmen working for 28 companies operating marine equipment in the Gulf of Mexico, llie SIU official also introduced "-s ii r want to thank the SIU for initiating the lawsuit. ' ''' "I —Cong. Billy Tauzin to the subcommittee the 44 Seafarers in the audience. 'These young men and women who earn their living by going to sea are deeply concemed about the work tax. They are all currently enrolled in our Lundeberg School of Seamanship where, after complet­ ing their course work, they will take Coast Guard tests to advance to higher ratings." Cong. Tauzin interrupted the hearings from the normal course of business to recognize the Seafarers and wel­ come them to the panel's session. SIU Moves in Court Sacco reported that the SIU was doing all it could to block the tax. Continued on page 9 ;j 'A.. Cong. Gerry Studds Studds said the maritime in­ dustry must be a part of the national debate on American competitive­ ness. "We obviously have to raise the fundamental question: Do we want, do we need a competitive Unit^ States merchant marine? If the answer is no, then we ought to Continued on page 25 '•7., SIU Executive VP Joseph Sacco presented Congress with petitions ur­ ging repeal of the tax. Asking mariners to pay a work tax is unfair, said Cong. Billy Tauzin. chair­ man of the House panel. V •• .r- • . :-m': • "f# mm �MS-a-SSa&ya •' i' ' ••-/• sfiiniffflisaN; 4 Pentagon Study Calls for More Sealift Capacity W$ik ' :'V'- ••.-i^' .-'•••V.'.'T-; 4)f..l; {MIT[. ti..' •••.•?' i R:I:K I: > , E; • iiS-^ Sg® --1! iVv;- • £ 7" ]' •' '• !' •' '•• '.V Based on protecting America's interest in a "turbulent" future, the Department of Defense has ad­ vised Congress that the military's transport needs require "prepositioning, sealift and airlift as^ sets linked to a transportation sys­ tem in the United States " According to a Pentagon report which was released last month, the U.S. needs more military cargo vessels as well as improved rail and port facilities in order to avoid the "considerable risk" of shortages that occurred early in the Persian Gulf war. The Mobility Requirements Study, of which an executive sum­ mary was made available to the public last month, calls for acquisi­ tion over a nine-year period of 20 large roll on/roll off ships and the chartering of two container ships for prepositioning around the globe. The report recommends assign­ ing to the Army nine preposition­ ing vessels and notes they would transport combat and combat sup­ port equipment. The Army is also to have 11 roll on/roll off vessels Andrew Card Succeeds Skinner As Transportation Secretary !, • iV' '•i' •, I-.:' •|! .' y;- Andrew H. Card Jr. I 4: ;i- for the rapid deployment of its heavy divisions. The eight fast sealift ships, which are crewed by Seafarers and which were used extensively in the Persian Gulf conflict, combined with the roll on/roll off ships re­ quested for the Army, should pro­ vide the nation with the ability to deploy rapidly from the continen­ tal U.S. in times of a regional crisis, said the study. The plan also calls for expan­ sion of the 96-vessel RRF to 142 ships by 1999 and an increase in the fleet's readiness. Expansion and modernization of the RRF would occur through acquisition of used ships or through build-andcharter arrangements or national defense features in new commer­ cial ships. At least 104 of the ships would have to be dry cargo vessels. Completion of this study set the stage for President Bush's budget proposal for an additional $1.2 bil­ lion to invest in sealift vessels. "In the future, the United States must be able to deploy its combat power more quicldy and with a Andrew H. Card Jr., who last year backed the buy Americanship American provision in the foreign aid debate while serving as a White House official, is the new secretary of transportation. He also attended the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy at King's Point for a year. The maritime industry is thus hopeful that the new DOT secretary will put a top priority on revitalizing the American-flag fleet. The Senate on Februaty 21 con­ firmed Card, 44, the White House deputy chief of staff who was chosen by President Bush to suc­ ceed Samuel K. Skinner. Skinner resigned in December to become Bush's chief of staff. Last year. Card supported the buy American-ship American provision of the cash aid bill, reports the Journal of Commerce (Feb. 24, 1992). In so doing he bucked Ae White House, which opposed the cash transfer provision and threatened a veto before the House unexpectedly defeated the bill due to another provision in it. Card pledged to start spending quickly the money from a six-year transportation bill passed last fall. That intention helped him breeze through a confirmation hearing before the Senate on February 7. He endured one inauspicious moment during the hearing, how­ ever. Card told senators that he had a "latent'- interest in maritime af­ fairs. Senator John Breaux (D-La.) responded, "What we really need is a secretary with a blatant inter­ est, because of all the programs in your department, this is the only one that is in major trouble." Also during that hearing. Card said, "1 support the Jones Act and its implementation. 1 note that the president does as well." Regarding cargo preference, he stated, "1 do support the cargo preference provisions that Congress has im­ posed, and1will work diligently to see that the interests of Congress are respected throughout govern­ ment." Asked for his thoughts about foreign-built ships flying the U.S. flag. Card said, "My instincts would say that 1 would prefer to have them built in the United States and flagged in the United States and run by operations that are part of the United States. But 1 really would like to have an opportunity to further study that." Card has been deputy White House chief of staff since President Bush took office in 1989. He is a former Massachusetts state legis­ lator and managed Bush's 1988 New Hampshire primary cam­ paign. During the Reagan ad­ ministration, he was Reagan's liaison to governors, mayors, state legislatures and other state and local politicians. more robust level of support," the study said. Congress is reviewing the clas­ sified version of the report. Also, it is expected that the Department of Defense will ask Congress to ap­ prove legislation enabling the es­ tablishment of a "Sealift Fund" in the fiscal year 1992 defense bill. 0L5. S/i/p Gambling BBI Awaits ffifslr SImatmv A technical adjustment caused what is expected to be a minor delay in President Bush's signing of a bill that allows gambling on U.S.-flag passenger ships. The words "Soviet Union," which appeared in the original Cruise Ship Competitiveness Act, were changed to reflect the rejec­ tion of communism in the new Commonwealth of Independent States. The alteration meant the bill had to go through the House and Senate a second time; both branches quickly passed the legis­ lation late last month. Barring an unforeseen veto, the bill (H.R. 3866) could become law some time this month. The SlU and others in the U.S.- flag shipping industry strongly support this gambling legislation because, if enacted, the measure could provide sufficient incentive for investment in American-flag passenger ships. This would lead to thousands of new American jobs. Presently, two outdated federal laws prohibit U.S.-flag cruise ves­ sels from offering gambling. Foreign-flag ships are not subject to the same restrictions, though most sail from U.S. ports. Although more than 85 percent of all cruise passengers worldwide are Americans, only two of the more than 120 deep-draft cruise ships in the world fly die U.S. flag— the SlU-crewed Independence and Constitution. New Matson Vessel Christened Matson Navigation's newest ship, the R.J. Reiffer, will commence sen/ice in August. The MV R.J. Pfeiffer, the only large commercial ship under con­ struction in the United States, was christened February 15 at a shipyard in San Diego. The new 714-foot containership is owned by Matson Navigation Company and is named for the company's chief executive officer and chairman of the board. Delivery of the ship is scheduled for June, with service commencing in August. President Bush sent a con­ gratulatory letter which was read at the ceremony, conducted at the National Steel and Shipbuilding Company (NASSCO) shipyard. The letter read in part: "As part of our total domestic fleet, R.J. Pfeif­ fer symbolizes the continued im­ portance of our entire shipbuilding and repair industry —• an industry that boasts a long and impressive record of production. "The U.S. Jones Act Fleet, con­ structed under the Merchant • '"'/v. msm The fund not only would receive the $1.2 billion expected to be re­ quested in the '93 budget, but also may have transferred the pre­ viously appropriated $1,875 bil­ lion from FY '92. This fund would provide the resources to construct, convert and purchase ships for the DOD's sealift plan. Marine Act of 1920, has played and will continue to play an impor­ tant role in maintaining a viable U.S. Merchant Marine and U.S. shipbuilding and repair base....1 am pleased to reaffirm my support for a strong domestic maritime in­ dustry." Many speakers at the christen­ ing addressed the state of U.S. shipbuilding. Congresswoman Helen Delich Bentley (R-Md.), a longtime supporter of the American merchant marine, gave the keynote speech. Other speakers included Cap­ tain Warren Leback, maritime administrator, and NASSCO President Richard H. Vortmann. The vessel's projected crew complement is 21. Accomrnodations also are available for a riding crew, and there is an owner's cabin. The contract cost for the Pfeiffer is $129 million and does not in­ clude government subsidies. -.-.i'rr'-' �•m-- •#> - >/. Tellex Apiwtnied VP; Mangranig Hall Named J^sL VPs Augustin Tellez ' r ' 1- " ' V The executive board of the Seafarers International Union, At­ lantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District named Augustin "Augie" Tellez as the vice presi­ dent of collective bargaining effec­ tive inunediately. The move created an opening for assistant vice president for col­ lective bargaining. The board ap­ pointed Kermett Mangram to replace Tellez at that post. The board also announced Robert "Bob" Hall as the assistant vice president for government SCTvices, replacing George Ripoll who retired at the end of I>%ember. Under Article X, Sections l(j) and 13 of the AGLIWD constitu­ tion, the president has the power to fill openings created by retire­ ments between elections with the support of the executive board. Tellez, 37, takes over as the head of the union's contracts department from Angus "Red" , Campbell who retired December ' 31,1991. Lundeberg Graduate A native of Ponce, P.R., Tellez graduated in class 189 from the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship in 1975. He began his deep sea deck department career on the T.T. Brooklyn. Tellez came ashore in 1978 to work in the port of New York, first as an entry-rating instructor, then as a patrolman. He was appointed port agent for New York in 1980. In 1987, Tellez began working at the union's headquarters in Camp Springs, Md. as an assistant to the SlU president. He was elected a vice president of Seafarers Intemational Union of North America at the 1987 conven­ tion. In his roll as the assistant vice president for collective bargaining, Tellez has been an active member of the union's negotiating team for the last two standard agreements. He also serves as a vice president for both the Maryland and New Jersey AFL-CIO labor councils. Tellez is a second generation Seafarer. His father, the late Augustin Tellez, sailed as a bosun as did his brothers, William and David, who died last year. His brother-in-law is Chief Cook Ben Santos. Mangram, a native of Jackson­ ville, Fla., graduated with a bachelor's degree in business ad­ ministration from Florida A&M University before heading to the Lundeberg School. He graduated from class 259 in 1978 then sailed aboard the Sea-Land Seattle as a steward assistant. The 37-year-old started work­ ing for the SlU in 1980 as a union education instructor at the Lun­ deberg School. He was appointed apatrolman for New York in 1981, a position he held until being named port agent there in 1987 to replace Tellez. Mangram is involved with the Hudson County (N.J.) Central Labor Council and serv^ in 1988 as a vice president of the Hudson County A. Philip Randolph In­ stitute. Bom in New York City, Hall began sailing as a deckhand on tug­ boats along the Mississippi River. He also worked on the Great Lakes and aboard coastwise tug­ boats before being named a patrolman for the port of St. Louis in 1980. Hall worked in ports along the Mississippi and Gulf of Mexico handling inland beefs and disputes. He was appointed patrolman in the port of Jacksonville in 1985. ... ^ Kermett Mangram 14 • • f-'-: Robert "Bob" Hall Hall, 39, was named port agent of Seattle in 1988. Since then, he was appointed by Govemor Booth Gardner as the maritime labor rep­ resentative to the nine-person Washington State Labor Council. He also is a delegate to the Washington State AFL-CIO. Admiral Jackson Tug Crew Saves 3 Men Trapped by Fire • V _•" t Though the rescue occurred nearly two years ago, SlU tugboat Captain William Tucker readily recalls the smokey inferno he and his crew on the Admiral Jackson overcame to save the lives of three trapped men. Deckhands Fred Cooper and Jimbo Lee were "up top, squirting water and fighting the smoke." Tucker and Engineer Johnny JefTcoat did their parts to "get the boat close," and the Seafarers saved three men stuck on drydock. The blaze started when two 150gallon diesel tanks on board a grain barge exploded while undergoing repairs at Bender Shipbuilding and Repair Co. in Mobile, Ala. in June 1990. Responding to the emergen­ cy were five fire units, a hazardous materials unit, a special foam unit and privately owned tugboats in­ cluding the Admiral Jackson. At the time, a Coast Guard spokesman said, "1 would have hated to have seen what would have happened if those boats hadn't been there." For their courageous efforts. Tucker, Lee, Cooper and Jeffcoat, along with officials of Crescent Towing Co., which owns the boat, recently received the Coast Guard Public Service Award. Brother Cooper, who passed away this year, was honored posthu­ mously. Rear Admiral James L. Loy, commanding officer. Eighth Coast Guard District, New Orleans, presented the award during ceremonies conducted by the Port of Mobile chapter of the Propeller Club. Tucker and Port Agent Dave Carter accepted the award on be­ half of the Seafarers. Captain William Tucker (second from right) and Mobile Port Agent Dave Carter (right) accept the public sen/ice award on behalf of the honored Seafarers. Also present were Richard Murray, CEO of Crescent Towing (left) and Rear Admiral Loy. "It's great that the Coast Guard is showing their appreciation," said Tucker, a 25-year SlU mem­ ber who attended the ceremony. During the award presentation. Loy noted that if the fire "had not been dealt with very, very quickly, it had the potential of spreading to fiiel tanks, the ships next door and across the river. Clearly there could have been a loss of life, and there could have been extensive damage to property. That was eliminated by the good Samaritan kind of approach to things that is veiy typic^ of mariners." Tucker, 51, recently told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG, "The people who should get the most praise are my two wheelsmen—they were up top, fighting the smoke. ... It lasted a good hour or hour-and-a-half." Captain Tucker said he and his men didn't have time to be frightened. 'There's no use getting scared. You just do what you have to do, and maybe you can get scared later. But 1 fought one like that years ago, out in Houston on a tanker." The award noted that thecrew is being honored for their "decisive and selfless endeavors in providing firefighting assistance " •v ..i <i InlamlDiMon Seafarers Praised for'Flawless' Work SlU members received praise for their skillful execution in towing an LNG ship from one Vir­ ginia port to another. Inland division members from the ports of Norfolk, Va. and Bal­ timore crewed the four boats which successfully moved the LNG Gamma from Newport News, Va. to Norfolk. Seventeen Seafarers were involved in the operation which took place December 17 in crowded waters. George Flanagan, general manager of McAllister Towing of Virginia, Inc., which owns the four boats us^, conunended SlU mem­ bers in a letter. "The successful completion of this tow through a congested harbor could not have occurred without your combined expertise and cooperation, as well as that of your crews," Ranagan wrote to the tugboat captains. He also noted the Seafarers' "dedi­ cated support throughout the years." Similarly, the president of Gamma's parent company ex­ pressed his appreciation in a letter to McAllister. "The operation went flawlessly," wrote Thomas Alexander, president of Alexander, Starr & Kersey, Inc. The following SlU members took part in the move: from the ., •' -hfr'-'M • Nancy McAllister, Captain George Thompson, Mate Robert Brush, Deckhand Gary White and Engineer Glna Redditt; from the Isabel A. McAllister, Captain Richard McMuiien, Mate Richard Kirby, Deckhand David Ritch and Engineer George W. Thompson; from the Brent Mc­ Allister, Captain Charlie Ruperti, Mate Robert Walker, Deckhand Martin Meravy and Engineer George Noble; and from the Mark McAllister, Captain Gerry CifarelU, Mate B. Foltz, Deck­ hand L. Watts, Chief Engineer R. Rhodes and Assistant Engineer M. Wallace. '"i ^ J.'- - •V T ^ • " * ' �SEOPMBtSLOG ' ' ' • '.M ••' MTD Exec, Board Stresses Trade UusiBeneBt Nation -¥---v "Any trade agreement must keep the interests of the working people in the United States as its top priority." With those words, John J. Barry, president of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, captured the concern of the American labor movement in a speech to the Maritime Trades Department executive board meet­ ing last month. Barry and others—including United Auto Workers President Owen Bieber; Thomas R. Donahue, the AFL-CIO secretarytreasurer; Jack Otero, vice presi­ dent of the Transportation • Communications Union and a member of the AFL-CIO execu­ tive council; Robert McGlotten, AFL-CIO political affairs director; and Julius Isaacson, president of the Allied Novelty and Production Workers of America—enumer­ ated the dangers posed by the administration's international trade negotiations and agreements, particularly the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which started as a deal with Mexico and now also includes Canada. The speakers urged all trade unionists to join in the effort to save American jobs, in part by pur­ chasing U.S.-made goods. "We are not opposed to interna­ tional trade," said Barry. "But we are opposed to the stance taken by the^Bush Administration during the negotiating of international trade agreements. Particularly in the case of the NAFTA, we believe the direction such trade talks have been taking is not in the best inter­ ests of U.S. workers." Bany noted how the existing maquiladora program—which al­ lows U.S. businesses to set up operation in Mexico and send products to the U.S. without the customary tariffs—attracts U.S. companies because of duty-free benefits, cheap labor, lack of en­ forced safety and environmental laws and lack of political and labor rights. Bieber pointed out the Bush Ad­ ministration has—until this elec­ tion year—turned a deaf ear toward that industry's trade dif- UAW President Owen Bieber notes the Bush administration has paid little attention to automotive trade problems. IBEW President John Barry stresses the dangers of the North American Free Trade Agreement. Julius Isaacson, president of the Al­ lied, Novelty and Production Workers, says U.S. jobs must not be undermined. Bob McGlotten, AFL-CIO political af­ fairs director, calls for mobilization of every trade unionist in the country. Jack Otero, VP of the Transportation • Communications Union, says jobs loss "is a problem for all of us." AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Tom Donahue emphasizes possibility of na­ tions locking out U.S. goods. ficulties. 'The single biggest prob­ lem facing the U.S. domestic auto industry is trade and, more specifi­ cally, trade with Japan," Bieber said. 'The U.S. automotive trade deficit with Japan accounts for a jarger share of the overall U.S. trade' deficit than any other bilateral, product-specific category of trade. "Up until very recently, it's a colossal understatement to say that the Bush Administration has paid veiy little attention to our problems in the automotive trade." Bieber then shattered a few myths about the quality and con­ struction of U.S. cars. He gave detailed examples of how money spent on American products goes back into the U.S. economy. "Every time an imported car is pur­ chased here in the U.S., it costs an average of almost $3,400 in lost feder^, corporate and individual income tax revenues, state in­ dividual tax revenues, local property taxes and Social Security contributions," he said, using an example which also applies to other American-made goods. "UAW-made cars and trucks have features you can't get on imports —schools, roads, bridges, police and fire protection ... as well as jobs that create more jobs and generate even more tax revenues." "My union has already felt the sting of high unemployment as a result of the maquiladoras in Mexico," Otero said. "Since 1984, we have lost 25,000 jobs to Mexicans.... But it affects all of us, it is a severe threat for all of us, and I think that sometimes we are too passive. We say, 'Well, it doesn't impact me. That's a prob­ lem for the auto workers, that's a problem for the steel workers.' It is a problem for all of us." Donahue pointed out that no such thing exists as so-called free trade in other nations. He said many nations block exports from the U.S. by invoking laws that prevent their balance of payments with the U.S. from being tipped in favor of American products enter- ing their country. For example, if the U.S. had this kind of law with Japan, we would have halted bil­ lions of dollars worth of Japanese jroducts entering the U.S. market >ecause the current balance of pay­ ments with Japan is so skewed in favor of Japan. "Any nation which now declares to you, 'We have a balance of trade problems,' can now lock out our goods," Donahue noted. "And they will continue to have that ability. That is not fair." McGlotten emphasized the solution lies in effective political action. He said, "The time has come for us to understand that unless we mobilize every trade unionist across this country, then we are doomed to failure in terms of trying to execute legislative in­ itiatives. "We must redouble our efforts and say to whomever is in the White House, to whomever is in the Congress that they have a responsibility to workers across this country. We're the ones who built this country. We're the ones who keep it afloat. We're the ones who fight for this country—not the guys on Wall Street." Isaacson added, "We support increased world trade and want to help other nations increase their rate of economic development and their standard of living. But we do not believe these gains should come by undermining the jobs, in­ come security and standard of living of largesegments of the U.S. population." The MTD executive board adopted resolutions calling for a vyorkers-rights clause in all trade pacts to which the U.S. is a sig­ natory party. "The administration is urged to require compliance by our trading partners with the mini­ mum labor and safety standards required by U.S. law," stated a resolution passed by the board. Extra-Early Fiimit Begins for Lakes Seamen Because of unseasonably warm weather, some Seafarers began crewing vessels and sailing on the Great Lakes in late February al­ though fitout for most members is scheduled to begin in mid-March. Great Lakes members should be aware that fitout may take as long as a month, according to Algonac Patrolman Andy Goulet. "Fitout dates are very tentative at this time," Goulet told the Seafarers LOG. "Companies have given us fitout dates through April, but exact dates have been changing on almost a daily basis." The Paul Townsend, an Inland Lakes Management cement car­ rier, left its winter home of Mil­ waukee in the last week of February for two runs to refill 'JL Michigan cement silos. The Townsend soon will be joined on the Lakes by other cement boats, typically the first vessels out after winter. Because of mild weather condi­ tions in the area since November, none of the five lakes completely froze over. Ice floes in harbors and rivers are the only natural impedi­ ment to getting the ships out sooner. (The St. Clair River, which connects Lake Huron with Lake Erie, was jammed for almost three weeks beginning in mid-February near Algonac, Mich.) One reason for the varied dates to report to ships is the effects of the economic recession along the Great Lakes. Most ports reported a downturn in the amount of cargo handled in 1991 as compared to 1990 figures. Total tonnage carried by U.S.-flag carriers in the region fell by slightly more than seven percent to 104 million tons, ac­ cording to year-end figures com­ piled by Lakes Carriers Association. Almost half of all the cargo car­ ried aboard U.S.-flag vessels was iron ore at 49.2 million. Limestone and gypsum were next at 22.2 mil­ lion, followed by coal and coke at 18.6 million. Of all the U.S. harbors reporting their figures to the association, the "Twin Ports" region of Duluth, Minn./Superior, Wis. handled the most cargo at 39.2 million tons. �•• ^ .;•••.; i":-.S- Huutaiis^ ''•JfS/.<"\\:f- . AT&T Breaks Out the C/S fil0i»l Sentinel The Global Sentinel, AT&T's newest cable ship, is undergoing its shakedown operation off Ae coast of Hawaii after completing its in­ augural run last month. The American-flag cable ship has received its first prew comple­ ment—American seafarers from around the country in the rated positions and galley and officers from District 2 Marine Engineers Beneficial Association. The seamanship skills of the American crew did not pass un­ noticed. Even before leaving the shipyards, SIU crewmembers who boarded the cable ship in Sin­ gapore in January "impressed" U.S. Coast Guard inspectors as­ signed to witness the first lifeboat drills for the ship. The 479-foot cable ship arrived in Honolulu on February 4 after departing from the shipyard in Sin­ gapore in Januaiy for its inaugural voyage. The Global Sentinel joins the Charles L. Brown, Long Lines and Global Link as SlU-contracted vessels sailing for Transoceanic Cable Ship Co., an AT&T sub­ sidiary. Chief Steward Ken Rosiek, who was aboard the Global Link last year when it came out of the yards, echoed the words of Captain D. B. Neal when he said, "We have a great crew on board:" Speaking to a reporter from the Seafarers LOG, Neal could not stop praising the SIU members who brought out the Global Sen­ tinel: "I want you to know, I am impressed with this crew. It is one of the best that I have observed on a first-time fire and boat drill." Continued onpage 8 Global Sentinel just joined the AT&T U.S.-flag cable ship fleet. Si-'-# .. • i- f »• • • ''M 'ri .t- . •; 'V"' :"^§,i-: V- "• Bosun/Mate Tim McCormack lists the day's assignments. Working one of the two During a short break, cranes on the Global Sen- Shawn Young relaxes in the tinel is ABLindyBeth Wilkin, crew mess. OS Enio Aulelava positions a line in a cable hold. AB Sherman Hudson makes sure the line Is leaving its reel evenly. OS Erik Spearman inspects a line as it is unreeled. j:-' ' : L .,•'1 -vm I ' 41^' ,'.' -^v-v' ft. t':-: 1't t.-.. The cable ship utilizes the new encapsulated lifeboats. Laying a ship's line in a cable hold are (left to right) OS Kamin Raji, OS Henry Wright Jr. and AB Sam Tumala. .• �SEAFARERS LOG 8 Luedtke Dredge SlU Men Hone Diesel Engine Skills • v-i: -n ' i" V' •' Fourteen Seafarers are return­ ing to their Great Lakes tugboats and dredges with up-to-dateengine troubleshooting information after completing a one-week course at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship. The group, all of whom work for Luedtke Engineering of Frankfort, Mich., received special training from school instructor Bill Foley on the use of the GM Detroit diesel engine, which is used on Luedtke vessels. During the classroom session, the members reviewed start-up and running checks and discussed fuel, cooling, air, lubrication and electric starting systems. In the shop, the group worked on fuel injector removal, testing and reinstallation, exhaust valve clearance setting and filter replacement. Karl Luedtke, company presi­ dent. Joined the students for a dayand-a-half at the school. Luedtke Engineering dredges are found during the sailing season all around the Great Lakes install­ ing marine breakwaters, pilings and underwater pipelines as well as dredging harbors. •^Ct..L:: ;• Great Lakes members (left to right) Joseph Kane, Kevin Hollenbeck, Tom Forgrave and Ken Chaser work with Instructor Bill Foley (second from right). A Luedtke dredge sails toward Lake Erie to begin another workday. AT&T Cable Ship Skipper Cites Crew's 'Expertise' Continued from page 7 Neal videotaped the crew's response in manning, launching, navigating and reattaching the ship's new-styled encapsulated lifeboats during the Coast Guard drills in Singapore harbor. "[The crew's] expertise even impressed the Coast Guard," Neal recalled. Neal's video showed that crewmembers handled the drills almost flawlessly. For many, it was their first experience with a covered lifeboat, required on all U S.-flag vessels built after 1990. Like its sister ship, the Global Link, the Global Sentinel is equipped with the most advanced technology in its field. The vessel has a full-load draft of 26 feet and can cruise at speeds of up to 15 knots. It can maintain a speed of 6 to 8 knots while laying fiber-optic cable and a speed of 4 knots when towing a sea plow and laying cable. To help the ship keep its position while working on cables, the Global Sentinel has a bow thruster. The Global Sentinel will be docked in Hawaii while it com­ pletes its shakedown operations. Transoceanic plans to put the ves­ sel into operation in April in the Pacific. The four Transoceanic/AT&T ships compete with foreign com­ panies which operate foreign-flag vessels to build, lay and maintain undersea fiber-optic cables. Among those receiving hands-on troubleshooting experience are (left to right) Paul Taylor, Don Holdsworth, Ken Garrett, Raridy Rice and Shannon Jensen. , i ;; : Karl Luedtke (left), president of Luedtke Engineering, visits the classroom where Great Lakes members are participating in a special diesel engine operation course at the Lundeberg School. ' .' ^k'h' Chief Cook Elston Tensley offers sandwich to hungry crewmember. SA Francisco Roy welcomes a crewmember to the galley. Posing in the officers' mess are SA Ismali Monassar, SA Joyce O'Donnell, Chief Steward Ken Rosiek and SA Ricardo Sebastian. Great Lakes members from Luedtke Engineering who attended the special diesel engine course include (left to right, front row) Tom Forgrave, Shannon Jensen, Ken Garrett, Paul Taylor, Ken Chaser, (center row) Instructor Bill Foley, Randy Rice, Kevin Hollenbeck, Joseph Kane, Jim Rider, Dale Leonard Jr., Don Holdsworth, (back row) Jim Gible, John Biondo and T.C. Zatkovic. - If; �jwri'A -- , * MARCH 1992 MTD Executive Board Urges Ouster of FMC's Quartel Continued from page 3 were made out to be" and that there is a growing realization that "much of the deep hole that we find our­ selves in was dug by inept, greedy management and lax permissive government. Their stewardship of the people's welfare over the last dozen or so years can fittingly be described as the 'creaming of America.'" He charged that the deregulated banking and investment busi­ nesses "have cost this nation enor­ mously as the country's workers pick up the tab for the wild period of leveraged buyouts, unsecured mortgage loans and in many cases—outright thievery by giant business." White House Responsible The MTD official held the White House responsible, saying, "There has been case after case of federal administration insiders being involved in these scams, paving the way for set-ups, evad­ ing the law, cooking the books, and squeezing out millions for them­ selves that are now to be paid for by us, our children and grandchildren." Despite these circumstances, there are still some "tired, wornout cries from those who sat on their hands when all of this was happening that 'unions are the cause of all our problems.'" "We have one such example in our shipping industry—another one of Bush's sorry political ap­ pointments, a member of the Federal Maritime Commission named Rob Quartel." 'Cross-Country Gadfly' He accused Quartel, whose job is to ensure non-discriminatory rates and practices in ocean ship­ ping, of spending "a substantial portion of his time flying around the country at taxpayer expense, blasting maritime unions and call­ ing on American shipping com­ panies to pull down the stars and stripes from their ships and replace them with foreign flags and foreign labor.' Sacco said, "we have never heard this cross-country gadfly offer one constructive suggestion as to how America could strengthen its shipping industry." Sacco said that "as President Bush pokes around for answers to the mess he's laid on this country, maybe he could begin by getting rid of some of the political hacks he has stacked his administration with and replace them with some creative thinkers who believe America should begin working for the good of all the American people. He could begin with the likes of Rob Quartel." Jack Otero, vice president of the Transportation • Communications Union and an MTD board member, following Sacco's comments, sub­ mitted a motion calling on Presi­ dent Bush to remove Rob Quartel from the Federal Maritime Com­ mission which was then adopted unanimously. Otero said that Quartel, who was being paid by the public treasury to regulate shipping, had overstepped his bounds. Quartel is a "loose cannon whose sights are aimed at the Jones Act, operating subsidies and all the other laws and programs that would help American ships sur­ vive against unfair competition from foreign operators with loose safety, manning and wage stand­ ards," Otero said. Additionally, said the TCU offi­ cial, Quartel has worked to scuttle the very maritime programs the ad­ ministration is on record as sup­ porting, such as the Jones Act and cargo preference. Otero ended his remarks by calling on President Bush to put in place a team of appointees that will support American industries. 1- Views Expessed by Quartel on U.S. Shipping • Before the Florida Customs & Brokers in Qriando on January 1992 in response to a joint initiative by SeaLand/American President Lines to bolster U.S. shipping: "My own personal response is— Why wait until 19951 Do it now! Start flagging out as soon as possible!" • Before the International Trade Club of Southem California in Long Beach in November 1991: "i am said to support the repeal of the Shipping Act of 1984, cargo preference laws, the Jones Act, the Merchant Marine Acts of 1920 and 1936, and large parts of the Shipping Act of 1916, and, in fact, I do." • Before the Bulk Expo '91 con­ ference In Houston, Texas in October 1991: "... you may no doubt be able to tell that I view the Jones Act—this most over-rated, over-expensive, ineffec­ tive, anti-competitive, anti-consumer, }rotectionist, archaic of all maritime egislation—as long overdue for elimination." • Before the Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders in January 1991: The union leadership fears mixed crewing because it may mean a decline in union dues and retirement contributions and officer compensa­ tion. Thecongressmen fear the decline of their special interest constituency and PAC contributions... And MarAd bureaucrats fear the loss of the programs on which their power—in­ deed their very existence—depends." SlU Calls on Congress to Repeal Seaman Tax Continued from page 3 including filing a lawsuit in federal district court. The SIU official said the union's court action seeks to prevent the implementation of the Coast Guard's proposed user fee for marine licenses and documents on the basis that the scheme vio­ lates the U.S. Constitution and was not determined in a manner that complies with federal guidelines. Cong. Tauzin, who chairs the subcommittee, commended the SIU for its legal action and thanked the union for initiating the lawsuit. "I think we must challenge [the user fee on mariners] and the court is a good place to do that," he said. A Move to Repeal Noting that the domestic marine transport sector competes directly with the airlines, railroads and trucking, Sacco said the fee on mariners "represents an unfair cost" to the maritime sector. The SIU official pointed to the fact that operators of trains, other rail employees, airplane pilots and other airline workers paid no com­ parable fees to the ones the Coast Guard is seeking to impose on seamen and boatmen. Trucking, unlike rail, air and marine transport, is largely regulated by state government, said the SIU statement. Thus, truckers are likely > •' The men and women who earn their living at sea and on boats oppose the work tax, was the message brought to Congress by a panel of union officials. From left: Mark Zalenski, who spoke in behalf of MEBA licensed officers; Joseph Sacco, executive vice president, SIU; Timothy A. Brown, president, MM&P; and J.P. Walters, who said he was representing the DeFries organization. to pay around $50 for a four-to-five year license. The SIU statement noted this amount is "a far cry from the $135 to $330 license, document and endorsement fees the U.S. Coast Guard has asked merchant seamen and boatmen to pay every five years." Cong. Taylor thanked the SIU for bringing this fact to the atten­ tion of the subcommittee. "It is grossly unfair to expect more of you than of the airline pilots, the truck drivers ... all the others in the railroads," he said. Cong. Bateman called the tes­ timony of the marine labor panel The house panel chairnian asked Seafarers attending the hearing to stand to be recognized. In front are SIU members Matthew Frentie and Raymond Marquis. v-k ^ V "compelling" and he said he hoped the tax "is something we can lift." He labeled it "a burden on the American merchant marine and its mariners." Bateman also told Sacco he hoped the SIU's lawsuit would succeed. Additionally, Bateman said, "This is a tax that ought to be repealed. It is grossly unfair and ill-conceived." • • • "f In the Public Interest All the marine union spokesmen before the panel pointed out that mariners are licensed and docu­ mented by the government in order to ensure the public's safety and the viability of the nation's navigable waterways. International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots President Timothy A. Brown said the work tax was not a user fee. True user fees, he said, are levied when the benefit can be identified as serving a specific "portion of the public which chooses to avail itself of the offered services." Mark Zalenski, director of public affairs for District 1 PCD MEBA, in behalf of his president, Gordon Ward, told the committee the tax is "doubly regressive." Zalenski pointed out that for en­ gineers, the licensing process is on a two-track path. "An individual could face eight separate license examinations in the first five years of his career" at a cost of $330 for each test, Zalenski noted. \ • . 2-.v« ^ 'i? VKV" �SEAFARERS LOG 10 r'vf-: Set Fair Tuna Tariff Now, SlU Tells Trade Pane/ fS:-®: • ' . i 1- • ' f '.".^.-fv-''-'' ••|. V:. ^.:. "-S''' The American tuna industry is on its last legs and only the immediate institution of a fair tariff fate can save what is left, Seafarers International Union of North America (SIU) officials told a federal agency last month. Representatives of SlU-affiliated fisherman and cannery worker unions, canning companies and American tuna vessel owners told the Inter­ national Trade Commission (ITC) that the U.S. tuna industry has been battered by a series of government initiatives. The so-called 1990 dol­ phin safe law and changes in the application of the exclusive economic zone regulations to fish­ ing are some recent laws that have made it dif­ ficult for tuna industry companies to survive. To a one, the various representatives of the U.S. tuna industry told the ITC panel conducting a hearing in San Pedro, Calif.- ^at a fair duty on imported tuna would save what is left of the industry and encourage growth in both the can­ ning and fishing sectors. "All the U.S. tuna indust^ has ever asked for is a level playing field," said Steve Edney, na­ tional director of the SIU's United Industrial Workers (UIW), in an opening statement presented to the ITC's five commissioners, who chose to hold the hearing in southern California, the heart of what was once a thriving center for American tuna canneries and fishing fleets. The SIU's UIW represents more than 600 workers of the only tuna-canning factory located in the con­ tinental United States. Theresa Hoinsky, president of the Fishermen's Union of America (FUA), an SIU affiliate whose members work as conunercial fishermen aboard U.S.-flag tunaboats, told the rrc that the Dolphin Protection Consumer In­ formation Act of 1990, as well as the lack of a fisheries agreement with Mexico, had drastically changed the nature of tuna fishing, making a fair tariff all the more necessary. Tariff 35 or 6 Percent The United States has a two-tier tariff on imported canned tuna—oil-packed tuna entering the country is subject to a 35 percent tariff while water-packed tuna is assessed a tariff between .--.TA" '••• In its testimony to a federal agency concemed with trade matters, the SIU endors^ a fair tariff on both water-packed and oil-packed tuna entering the United States. Appearing liefore the International Trade Cornfnission are Terry Hoinsky, president of theRshermen's Union of America (in photo right) and Steve Edney, national director of the United Industrial Workers (in photo left). Both the FUA and UIW are SIU affiliates. six to 12 percent. Given the American consumers' preference for water-packed tuna, this discrepancy in tariff levels has allowed the U.S. market to be inundated with canned tuna from Indonesia, Thailand and other nations in the Far East. The U.S. tuna industry has been seeking tuna tariff parity between the water-packed and oilpacked imported canned tuna. While the American industry has recommended bringing the water-packed tuna tariff up to the 35 percent level placed on oil-packed, it has suggested as an alternative establishing the tariff at the same rate imposed in Europe. The European Commission has set a flat tariff of 24 percent on imported tuna. The EC's tariff applies equally to oil-pack­ ed and water-packed canned tuna. Imports Are Subsidized Edney charged in his statement to the ITC, which is continuing an investigation begun in 1990 on the state of the American tuna industry, that foreign tuna is being dumped on U.S. markets. He noted that the nations in the Far East, in effect, subsidize their exports to the United States. SlU-affiliated tuna fisfiermen work aboard purse seiners fiome-based in southem California, such as the MV Margaret F pictured above. The vessels get their name from their purse-like nets. Tuna canning is a very labor intensive industry, particularly in the cleaning part of the operation. UIW members at Pan Pacific, the only tuna cannery located in the continental U.S., clean and inspect tuna. Edney pointed out that the SIU, in its com­ ments to the ITC in 1990, had supplied evidence to the commission that the Thai and Indonesian governments exempted their tuna industries from paying the national minimum wage— thereby allowing for wages in the tuna-canning industry of 19 to 50 cents an hour. The American industry also claims that Thailand and Indonesia, the two nations provid­ ing the bulk of imported tuna in the U.S. market, extend their tuna canners certain tax schemes, investment incentives, which combined with freedom from U.S.-style environmental laws and safety and health regulations, effectively allow these nations to export canned tuna at below-world-market costs. While imported tuna is on the rise, the number of people who make a living from the industry in the United States has drastically decreased. American canneries have gone out of business— in 1979 there were 14 such operations employing some 15,0(K) workers in the United States, all in Terminal Island, Calif. Today there is one—Pan Pacific Fisheries, where the UIW represents the company's employees. • Two decades ago, hundreds of U.S.-flag tuna boats sailed from the ports of San Pedro and San Diego; today there are only two dozen or so vessels left. Many businesses dependent on the tuna industry have closed—small vessel repair yards have gone out of business; restaurants and stores near the canneries have shut their doors permanently. Effects of Dolphin Safe Laws The dolphin safe law and other government measures have halted fishing in the tuna-rich Eastern Tropical Pacific. Tuna in these currents generally swim with dolphins. Consequently, American tunaboat operators either have sold off their vessels to foreign buyers or transferred fishing operations to the Western Tropical Pacific, several thousand miles from U.S. shores. Hoinsky told the FTC that the operation of vessels in the far western Pacific has meant that the United States' economy has "essentially lost" all the revenue generated by the fishing vessels. Those tunaboats "employ very few American nationals. They spend their millions of dollars for fuel, on repairs, on food, and so forth, and this all goes to foreign countries. And actually even their catches are benefitting the foreign canneries," said Hoinsky. Hoinsky said that for the few American fishermen employed aboard the tunaboats sail­ ing in the Western Pacific, the quality of life has substantially deteriorated. "These men are away fi-om home for much longer periods. They do not Continued on page 16 �Bosun Miller, Brother Exemplify Benefits of Fitness -. •' it V - Bosun Jamie Miller has a mes­ sage for all Seafarers. When it comes to getting in shape, adhering to a nutritious diet and losing weight, "anybody can do it. It makes you feel a lot better." Miller joined the SIU 12 years ago. On his first ship, the Sea-Land Panama, he reached his goal of losing 40 pounds in just two months. Nowadays, he still views shipping out as a chance to not only earn income but also concentrate on physical fitness. "Vou see the galleys leaning toward healthier menus, with lots of salads and things like that," said Miller, 34, who earlier this year completed the bosun recertification course at the Lundeberg School. "And there's no reason you can't work out when you're on a ship, regardless of whether or not the ship has exercise equipment." Miller is 6 feet and 250 solid pounds. He has the physique of a football player or powerlifter and a friendly, outgoing demeanor. Overcoming Obstacles The bosun also is modest, and he readily admits his brother. Dean, is the fitness expert in the family and the inspiration for his own workout program. Dean Miller is a full-time per­ sonal trainer based in Richmond, Va, where he and Jamie share a house. He has run the gamut of athletics and fitness (or lack there­ of), and at age 40 his chiseled physique is visible proof of the fruits of positive thin^ng. In high school. Dean's most ar­ duous activity was swinging a golf club. "I was lazy," he says. But he later took up k^ate "just on a whim," and that propelled him on an intriguing path. Among other things, he became: a black-belt; a bodyguard for Muhammad Ali; a national kick-boxing champion; winner of a Richmond area "Toughman" competition despite a crushed nose; and an associate of pro athletes like boxer James "Bonecrusher" Smith. He also flourished as a boxing and arm wrestling promoter throughout the U.S. and as a fitness consultant in Beverly Hills, Calif. In 1977 he opened a gym in Richmond, but it proved "ahead of its time in that area." 't Dean gives Jamie the thumbs up" sign for a good workout. Twenty to 30 minutes a day is the absolute minimum for a productive fitness program, according to Dean. Ten years later, after working in and out of the fitness business. Dean discovered a problem which hit him like a series of Ali com­ binations. He was stricken with severe asthma, resulting in more than 40 emergency room visits in the ensuing three years. Despite seeing specialist after specialist and trying a plethora of asthma medication. Dean didn't improve. He couldn't exercise, and the lack of activity plus the medica­ tion led him to gain 60 unwanted pounds. But on New Year's Eve 1990, while confined to a hospital bed. Dean "had a vision. I was sick and tired of making excuses. I was fat and out of shape, and it was time to practice what I had preached. I had been to the bottom." Within a year, he lost the 60 pounds. It wasn't easy, but he ex­ ercised without asthmatic incident, simply by refusing to succumb. Dean Miller hasn't been bothered by asthma since. Currently, he has a weekly television show in Richmond about fitness. He is ready to market an exercise videotape and weightloss video, and has published a cookbook which bears his registered trademark, "Fatbusters." Like his endless supply of one-liners, his fitness-related projects seem infinite. Seafarers: No Excuses! Jamie and Dean offer a number of things for SIU members to con­ sider, but the common denominator is: You have control of your fitness and your future. Fit­ ness isn't easily attained, but it is readily possible. Here are some basic guidelines, reminders and principles sug­ gested by Jamie and Dean: • Don't look at exercise as work. It is a means to an important goal. • If you associate with people who eat right and exercise regular­ ly, you will, too. • You don't have to dread being rickety and having serious health problems (such as heart dis­ • Smokers, be honest with yourselves. Think about what makes your machine run better. If you want to stop, take control and stop. f: "There is no such thing as a good excuse," Dean says. "Make fitness fun. There is always some- f Jamie Miller's Suggestions For Fitness Program at Sea Here is an outline for a ship­ board fitness starter program as suggested by Dean and Jamie Miller. Keep in mind you should consult a physician before em­ barking on any fitness program. • First, take into considera­ tion your current level of fitness. That level will dictate what you are able to do. Along those lines, do not "ego exercise" — do not attempt more than you are able. Keep repeti­ tions, weight and duration of ex­ ercise at manageable levels. • Begin your workout with five to seven minutes of cardiovas­ cular warm up, such as jumping rope, briskly walking or jogging. • After the warmup, find your training heart rate. First, subtract your age from 220 (we'll use a 30-year-old Seafarer for this example, so he starts at 190). Then count your beats per minute (or per 10 seconds and multiply by six). Finally, figure out what percoit of 190 is the beats-perminute number. The perc^tage should be a minimum of 60peicent to a maximum of 85 percent. 1. ': ; 'A With willpower, a goal and hard work, Dean turned himself from this... ease) in your old age. Those types of things come about because of improper body maintenance. • Your body is just like a ship or a car. If a ship's engines aren't maintained, what happens? If a car gets only low-quality fuel, what happens? • Eat healthy as a crew. Have fitness goals. Better health means increased productivity. • Have willpower and HAVE A GOAL. Obstacles are what you see when you take your eyes off your goal. • The three keys to a success­ ful fitness program are: frequency, duration and intensity. ' • Some psychologists say, "Accept how you are." But being overweight affects more than your looks. • The absolute minimum for a productive fitness program is 20 to 30 minutes per day, three days per week. • Don't starve yourself in an attempt to lose weight. Rather, eat wisely and you will teach your body to bum fat more efficiently. • Think positive. If you can only do 10 situps, that's still 100 percent better than doing five. This doesn't mean be complacent, but don't get down on yourself, either. • You don't have to bea health nut to be physically fit. As a general mle, eat and drink healthy 90 percent of the time, splurge 10 percent of the time. ... into this chiseled form. "Anyone can do it," says his seatering brother, Jamie. J^ai • Take several minutes for slow, methodical muscle stretch­ ing. For example, from a standing position, keep your legs straight and try to put your hands flat on the floor. It doesn't matter how far down you can go; just keep your legs straight and hold the position for about 30 seconds. • If there is no equipment on board, do exercises such as pushups, situps, pull-ups, free squats and calf raises. Do four sets of each exercise, with as many repetitions as possible on each set. Rest one minute be­ tween sets and between stations. Concentrate on these muscle groups: back, chest, shoulders, neck, biceps triceps, forearms, thigh muscles and calves. Bosun Jamie Miller recom­ mends improvising on ships which do not have exercise equipment. For example, curls can be done using containers such as paint buckets or by wrapping a towel behind your back (resulting in an isometric pull). Unlimited free squats may be done when standing at the wheel at sea. • -i- S'/(A „ -V;-' . • ' i-.'f A-< z#® �IWWCCTTTT* If: • :;| mw: Steelworkers Will 'Last One Day Longer than Ravenswood' t ^-ym./vvx;; "y: •-• li"!- : p'^SfeS- fejifSfSP^ The Steelworkers Union is in the midst of a pitched battle to save the jobs of its members who have been locked out at the Ravenswood Aluminum Company in West Vir­ ginia, reported George Becker, a vice president of the union. -"'y'f .,5j... -.-vi-U-: ^-fi'ls- i:, |tf5 •' .f I*' ' • •. p^y:py • George Becker tells MTD of threeprong attack against Ravenswood. In the fight against Ravenswood, the United Steel­ workers of America (USWA) has discovered it is up against one of the world's richest men who also happens to be a fugitive from the U.S. justice department, Becker told the MTD executive board meeting in Florida last month. After hearing Becker's report, MTD President Michael Sacco pledged the full support of the department in the USWA's cam­ paign to get its members back to work at Ravenswood. Becker outlined to the board the three-prong approach the union is taking: 1; ^J^:•'. '•>•"-:-y; > SEAFARBtSLOG 12 "We've got to get the company back to the bargaining table," Be­ cker said. 'There are three dif­ ferent ways we can do this. One is to attack the ownership. Another is through political means. And the third is to take it directly to the consumers." Becker announced the USWA had commitments from Miller, Budweiser and Stroh breweries to no longer use Ravenswood Aluminum in any of their products. Becker noted the USWA has been careful not to hurt other trade unionists in their efforts to get at Ravenswood. "One last line on the consumer bid is the AFL-CIO is working really hard with us. We are going over all the end-users and we're going over the unions in­ volved with the end-users so that we are not at odds with ourselves, so that we're all pulling together on this." The Steelworkers have been working hard on Capitol Hill, Be­ cker stated. "Politically we've been able to get the West Virginia political delegation active. There are congressional hearings being held on what has happened to Ravenswood." Concerning the company itself, the USWA has discovered the former Kaiser Aluminum plant was purchased by U.S. tax fugitive Marc Rich in 1989. "He's the second largest commodity dealer in the world," Becker announced. "He's the largest oil dealer in the world. He deals in metals. He deals USMS Audacious fhmstemd For OpmUon to Private Co. The USNS Audacious is the 18th and final oceanographic sur­ vey vessel to be taken over for operation by U.S. Marine Manage­ ment, Inc. from the Military Sealift Command, reports the vessel's master, Kent D. Howell, in a recent communication to the Seafarers LOG. Captain Howell also provided the LOG with the photos appearing on this page of Seafarers SUchard Weyandt and Brad Eckmeder, who sail as bosun and chief steward respectively. The mission of the vessels has remained the same: exploring the ocean for U.S. Navy research. Be­ sides its regular maritime crew, each ship can carry up to seven research technicians. The vessels are state of the art with private rooms for each crewmember and an exercise room. The complete fleet of monohulled T- AGOS vessels were built between 1982 and 1989. Nine sail in the Atlantic Ocean; the others serve in the Pacific theatre. After the USNS Stalwart was completed in 1989, the Navy switched to a twin-hull design. in grains. You name it, he touches it. "But we also found out very quickly that he is a fugitive from justice in the United States. He was involved in what was determned to be the largest tax scam in the United States" and left the country in 1983, Becker added. Becker told the MTD that the Steelworkers "haven't won yet, but we pledge to last one day longer than RavenswOod." The Ravenswood plant opened for business in the late 1950s as a part of Kaiser Aluminum. It had a history of a good working reiationship with the USWA local and the Congressmen Urge Ueters: Give Bush the Pink Slip Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.), speaking at the Maritime Trades Department executive board meeting last month, said Americans must "send a message" on election day this November. "I hope that on November 3 we send a pink slip to this administra­ tion that has stood by for eight months now and said, 'Things will get rosy tomorrow,"' said Hoyer, chairman of the House Democratic caucus and a member of the ap^ propriations coimnittee. Hoyer, who serves as the House Democratic Caucus chairman, and Rep. David E. Bonior (D-Mich.) each detailed the American economic downfall which began in the Reagan administration. They called for sweeping changes rather than the "gimmicks" President Bush outlined in his state of the union address. Bonior and Hoyer pointed out numerous flaws and omissions in the president's plan as outlined in his state of the union speech. "There was nothing for jobs, noth­ ing for health care, nothing for tax cuts for working people, nodiing for trade," said Bonior, who holds the third-highest Democratic posi­ tion in the House as whip. "What we needed was something more than tinkering around the economy. What we needed in that speech was a serious look at where we want to be in 10 years." Referring to 12 years of Reagan, Bush and Quayle, Bonior said, "They blocked our bill to get rid of Showing off his prize catch after an aftemoon off to fish is Chief Steward Brad Eckmeder. Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-Md.) urges voters to 'send message.' Bosun Richard Weyandt handles rescue boat during a safety drill conducted by the Audacious crew. USNS Audacious is in the background. community. Kaiser sold all of its plants in 1988 in a leveraged buyout. A year later, the new owners, attempting to rid themsel­ ves of debt, sold the West Virginia plant to a group headed by Rich. The new ownership made no at­ tempt to negotiate a contract with Local 5668. It advertised for and hired replacement workers (scabs) before locking the doors on the union workers Halloween night 1990. Since then, the local has main­ tained a picket line at the plant, and the USWA has won every legal case and appeal to return its mem­ bers to the plant. striker replacement loopholes. They've tried to strip workers of pension benefits. When it came to [maritime] industry, they have tried to cut the industry with policies that saw U.S.-flag fleets shrink almost 50 percent, private shipyards shrink from 110 to 60, and 40,000 production jobs disappear." Rep. Bonior notes flaws in Bush's state of the union address. The Michigan congressman added that the recession is far worse than many people believe. "We are in the 18th month of a deep, long and protracted reces­ sion. The officii number is 7.1 percent of people out of work. That is baloney," he said. "That is propaganda. Ten per­ cent of the American people either are out of work, aren't looking for work anymore or are under­ employed, (a total of) 15 million people in this country. And those 15 million sit at home in households that incorporate an ad­ ditional 25 million. So you have 40 million people feeling the impact of this unemployment. And the problem isn't just pink slips. Work­ ing families have been squeezed fiom almost every angle." Hoyer explained, "The deficit comes from the fact we've added $1.3 trillion of deficit spending by a tax cut program we adopted in 1981. Who are we borrowing that money for? The richest one percent of America. . . . America in 1980 was the largest creditor nation in the world, with $180 billion owed to us by the rest of the world. By 1990 we had a $1 trillion tumaround—we owe $786.4 billion to the rest of the world. "Send a message not on paper , but on a ballot on November 3," he reiterated. "The message we need to send is not FSX overseas, but technology and training and education and health care and competitiveness right here in America." .'.."'t.,; y •> jyi'y ' '.'f' ••'' �r?«:-in»" t ''1' • 'K^. ;, • macH 1992 r<S GroVt Services Members Bid a Fond Farewell To Decommissioned Oiler ¥ \:,V' • 'i-i! V. -. . ,;, .T' •• '•&-• Government Services Division members of the SIU are in the final stages of gutting the USNS Ponchatoula before it is decommis­ sioned later this month. The 36-year-old oiler has been docked at the Oakland Navy Base since January when her final crew signed on to salvage equipment that can be used on other Military Sealift Command Pacific Fleet (MSCPAC) vessels. "It's a shame," Bosun/Mate Art Fennell told a reporter for the Seafarers LOG. Fennell is serving his third and final tour aboard the Bosun/Mate Art Fennell has served AB/Maintenance Jerry Joseph Kroutchic MSCPAC oiler. "This is a good packs wire on the ship's deck. alsoard the Ponchatoula three times. ship. I wish they had taken o^ers out of service instead of her." His views were echoed by another SIU member. Deck En­ gineer/Machinist Gerald C. Ben­ nett. "A lot of us hate to see the old girl go out," Bennett said during a farewell ceremony aboard the ship February 12. 'There are a lot of good memories on here that are about to fade away." Bennett was part of the original 1980 civilian crew that boarded the Ponchatoula when the Navy turned it over to MSCPAC. Government Services members are expected to complete their work by the end of this month and to be off the vessel by the end of April. Since Kaiser-class oilers started coming out of shipyards in the late 1980s, older Neosho-class vessels, like the Ponchatoula, have been phased out of service. Only the USNS Kawishiwi, also manned by SIU Government Services Division members, remains active. Captain R.W. Addicott, com­ mander of MSCPAC, stated he had mixed emotions about the Ponchatoula's departure. "Ships like Ponchatoula have done a great job for us and we'll remember the service she provided to the fleet," he said at the farewell ceremony. "We must now look to the future and make room for the new fleet oilers that are coming on line and operating well. The crew that made Ponchatoula the special ship that she was are now doing the same for the oilers that replaced this class of hull." /:ym ijiisr' • ' 't'-. V*. a- '•m: •ii. v:?pv -J.KVT;' , v/ss SIU Representative Raleigh Minix (left) explains a claims form to AB/Maintenance Binjce Regan (center) and galley gang member Carlos Tamayo. »%'•? M ;:v ;;5-. if •'«!' v.: •i v"^ 'I ; I ^:,v> jii) i; !^-:! ->. if." mf •- - cfrald^C^Ben'Sltt^^a'GwemS ^errlfor&sforThf™ One of the members aboard the oiler in her ABMatchman Joseph Jordan greets a final days is Pumpman Donald Levi. v.s.tor to the Ponchatoula. I'. •' • vi;,v. —• V �. •• .-"r: ••^•' •• V.-. . / "••i!- .•'"- r,'.-; •.^'• ^•."; '•• •:;;W^''-''-fi!v''V-- • .i^.< 'C.- '-i:' •_v- - ' 'ytr ". -3^^^ : vv'\p^' • ,- •;•' • "'••''nr T; -^'V-i-' •f.Vv • - I"'--' ':•; •I'C-^a'.ll'''----^•^/^-' AAA:AI^MA.A• AA':':A l^l^K '• i"',--.'." W "•., •"'i'"'" ".. T. .' ftij:. ,/ :'-A';Vi ' • -... •• -"'w-p'iv^; •-»•'> "Ci,'J 4 .t; - , UAJ'-" %" fr-' ' f^" J.. - ^ •" ••',' •. .._-;yH!! «S6®i»aiivSS LJIPJIL ,//. I, ^ ,' • •-v ••;. ••' '''cf^'^^-ih i_i f- ' '._.?".-l.--v^JA.'_.- ..v,_ " ••" •i{-i '-\'.-^'A--\ SBVARBIStOG T!' '/ ' * I .LXi-asX MARCH 1992 i„,_J!s' " ' '€1 • • xV;^^''^V";4X'''' •" ' ^ V' v. • A,.-' CACCTVIS MORE THAN A wMl CI 1 word aboard the two SlU-contracted cruise ships that sail around the Hawaiian Islands. It is a way of life. While passengers are lounging in the sun on the deck, visiting ports of call or sleeping in their cabins, crewmembers of the SS Independence and Constitution, operated by American Hawaii Cruise Lines, are in constant motion making sure the vessels run smoothly. , • •'-•lAi-ii"'"" • if,'.! i •; .VV."!' -rr:,, s-,!, y |.yfi • A&Ar' A, \iC'4'../'-.4. •-A, 1 ,;•- • \'v..- . "I' . " :'-'• 'y'' •'WF AA' U I;' A0:AA' : v. • • •|M? &.rs-^vtas5it?„.p'P p, I. • #s; <• •I -.J: -• :•- •••• > • V-- •• A III:::.: RRSTAID&CPR Seafarers working aboard the cruise ships receive the latest in first aid and safety training from Lundeberg School instructors who hold special classes aboard the vessels. Because an accident can happen any time while at sea, members review basic first aid and safety procedures as set by the American Red Cross. They also are trained in cardiopulmonaiy resuscitation (CPR). All this is done to make sure pas­ sengers and fellow crewmembers are sta­ bilized until shipboard or shore-based medical help can arrive. WEEKLY UFEROAT DRILLS Lifeboat drills are held on the first full day of the ships' seven-day voyages. Everyone aboard the vessels is re­ quired to don life vests and report to the lifeboat berth listed in either the passengers' cabins or crew's station bills. Once on deck, crewmembers use a checklist to verify attendance, then explain the drill to the passengers. While the passengers may view the drill as part of the cruise entertainment, crewmembers realize how serious the weekly function is. Deck and engine departments are joined in these drills by all members of the steward and hotel department. It is not unusual for passengers to see the person who served them drinks the night before in the lounge releasing a block on a lifeboat. "The Coast Guard requires us to see if the blocks and falls release at the same time, if it is in sync," Inde­ pendence Bosun Mike Rivera pointed out. "Every six weeks .(the Coast Guard) holds a drill for ^1 lifeboats. Every three months, they have quality inspections." While at sea, deck department mem­ bers constantly check the lifeboats making sure they are ready for duty should they be needed. WEEKLY RRE DRILLS Crewmembers on both U.S.-flag cruise ships receive constant fire fight­ ing and rescue training. Every Sunday morning, crewmembers go toough a mock fire and missing man drill. Bosun Rivera explained to a reporter for the Seafarers LOG the reason sUch practices are held. "You can never do this enough. There are so many com­ partments and areas where a fire could start or a member could be trapped. We want all of the crew to be prepared and familiar with the ship, to know where the (fire fighting and safety) equipment is kept and to be ready if we have to fight a fire." Although the U.S. Coast Guard does not mandate weekly fire drills on board the vessels, the Independence and Con­ stitution go through them to stay alert and prepared, added Constitution Bosun Louie Zizzo. MAINTEIIANCE OF SAFEIY GEAR Whether it is putting down new anti­ skid strips on outdoor ladders, or ensur­ ing that all fire fighting equipment is properly stored. Seafarers aboard the Constitution and Independence are continually mindful that a safe and sound operation is dependent on a wellmaintained ship. Seafarers in every department aboard the two cruise ships are trained to operate lifeboat, fire fighting and communications equipment that might be necessary to use in an emergency. It is not unusual to find the deck lounge stewardess who served passengers a shack the day before up on the deck the next morning assisting in the deploy­ ment of a lifeboat. ASSISnNG PASSENGERS During every one-week trip the In­ dependence and Constitution make around the Hawaiian Islands, the first day aboard for all passengers is dedi­ cated to instruction on safety proce­ dures. Crewmembers work with the passengers to ensure each and every cruise ship guest is completely familiar with his or her muster station. Seafarers working aboard the two U.S.-flag ships pointed out to a LOG reporter that die safety drills are a good foundation for a passenger's good vacation. "When a guest feels knowledgeable about what to do in case there is some kind of emergency and when he has confidence in the crew, then he can relax and really enjoy his time at sea," noted one Seafarers aboard the Constitution. In addition to working with the cruise ships' guests during the regular­ ly-scheduled safety drills, crewmem­ bers assist passengers as they embark and as they leave, help others who may not have fully developed their sea-legs, and answer ^ "what if" questions. NIGHRY FIRE WATCH Another assignment for deck department members of the American Hawaii Cruises vessels is the nightly firewatch between 2200 and 0600 hours. "This is probably the most important job on the ship," said OS/Firewatch 'Bobby Freer of the Independence, pissing one stop could justify dis­ missal and could lead to a disaster." On both vessels, four crewmembers walked the whole ship on specified routes every hour during the eight-hour shift looking and smelling for hot spots. Each person carries what looks like a large compass that records on paper the time each security point was checked on each round. Travelers watching the procedure for the first time wonder what a crewmember is doing shoving a key dan­ gling from the bulkhead into a round plastic box so late at night in the pas­ senger section. They appear relieved when the crewmember explains his job and what it means to the passengers. Even crewmembers look forward to the clanking sound of the fire watch in their living section. "My room has a key just outside the door," Cabin Steward Patti Ballance explained. "I don't fall asleep until I hear the first watch come by." A Bosun Mike Rivera (center) receives es­ cape instructions for fiis Independence fire Crewmembers receive an explanation on crew from SlU hawsepiper Junior Engineer fire fighting equipment from Bosun Mike Rivera. Darrell "Papi" Bass in the engine room. While AB/Maintenance Howard Albersbn (left) holds the brake, AB/Maintenance AS Branko Misura checks attendance Wayne Langston cranks a lifeboat into Greasing a lifeboat tumbuckle is Inde­ place. during an Independence lifeboat drill. pendence AB Ann-Ann Cabasag. AfA Jy' ' Seafarers receive extensive train­ ing in the procedures necessary to deploy and operate lifeboats. Many SIU members go through this kind of training while attending courses at the union's Lundeberg School of Seamanship in Piney Point, Md. Others working on the cruise ships go through the two-week lifeboat procedures training course while they are aboard one of the two U.S.flag passenger ships sailing around the Hawaiian Islands. The Lundeberg School peri­ odically dispatches lifeboat course in­ structors to Hawaii to conduct the training on board the two cruise ships. Recently, Instructor Jim Moore con­ vened the lifeboat course aboard the Independence and following that, aboard the Constitution. The training is invaluable say Seafarers. "Once we finished, I felt a lot more confident," says steward department member Danelle Har­ vey. "I know that if something hap­ pens, I'll be able to help the passengers and myself." During Moore's three-month stint in Hawaii, 92 Seafarers work­ ing aboard the two cruise ships com­ pleted the two-week lifeboat course. Moore conducted classes while in five different Hawaiian cities that are ports of call on the cruise ships' itineraries. Moore, recalling his schedule which included traveling to four islands every seven days, said he held classes in the morning, after­ noon and evening. Seafarers took part in lifeboat and davit drills, raft drills, signal training, written exams and miscellaneous safety training. Frank Bakun, who sails in the engine department, said he did not mind spending 20 hours per week taking the course, which he did above his regular working duties. "I found it enjoyable ... we worked from 8 a.m. until noon, then from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m. I had lifeboat train­ ing. I enjoyed being in the sun, learn­ ing, but if you don't work hard at it, you won't do well. The Coast Guard cooperated fully with the program, reports Moore. Once the Seafarers aboard the vessels completed the two-week course conducted by Moore, Coast Guard representatives put the stu­ dents through the final written exam and deployment exercise. A • Ai • ..V• • WMA "Wyssi. yv A* '.• • 'i'-i i ABs Steve Marwin (left) and Nelson Poe assist a passenger walk across a floating barge to reboard the Constitution. 11. OS/Firewatch Mike Monahan inspects a passenger section on the Independence. •;:fi The training included morning, afternoon and evening classes so that as many SIU members as possible could participate. 1 "^S*" p. - • A- • ' mA -I*;® The Constitution clocks in Honolulu, Hawaii between voyages. The Independence lies at anchor off of Kona, Hawaii. The Constitution's lifeboats are fully Checking in on the Constitution's Promenade Deck is OS/Firewatch Ken prepared in the event they are needed. Chinn. Among the Independence crewmem­ bers who completed the course were (kneeling, from left) Pam White, Danelle Harvey, Pam Uyeunten, (back row) Sanjay Gupta, Jose Pedroza, Chuck Bollinger and Gerry Laporte. Instructor Moore is at far right. Seafarers take a breather after finishing upgrading course. Kneeling (from left) are Roman Zarkiewiez, Eddie Thomas, John Flannagan and Amador Molina. Back row: Mike Thomas, Bob Stonier, Glenn Galpin, Dale Sierra and Instructor Jim Moore. ':yy:Ayy': iyy•-; /A' �;'v"^-^: f,;-- .... SBlWWfl^A®®, n •'•:.'•• American-T^ 16 now W Continuedfrom page 10 . „ see their families in some eases for s. Amelo?^^^ months." "leWAhastnopose^i^^^^ will uMp allowing domestic ^hin-safe 5y .,". V'''. ning plant. V 't#SP •" T^tdaPanPaW^^ ^ another good reason to Q^^he Hd of each can of tuna. -rSC^-fcW 3»..-».««'Sf.S«~. commissioners in respOT ^ agreement that the l vigorous multi-nation would include M tuna vessels would inspectionprogramsotha^aU^^^^^ be placed under a rg concerning mandated by U-S. «' stock when only 5€ifv ": , • panPacificcansformoW^^^ AiiJ's Fishermen s urn S.tS.iKn--»K;s>£S Light Tuna ^^cKXiaob So6d tight Tuna » nn fLoins .oinS Put n..«« Duty on ;,; y •• • "•- I-»• ". -i V s®??' ;L?.*;:c-.- :i ,-. ^V:v=--3!av;>' • liiW I / «-r41S Since the advent of do'P]Ji"S'^^5ie slu-wmhaoted Sy^;;eoalS,SS;e.rS«shmuch.a.ther.romhome in the Western Pacific. owned mna Pf»™S®s^^^™^e°UW°Sfi^ loins to thP"»"S^im^'Sdioins be subject to ••f^; E-Viive v:- ; the same tariff as imp Edney pointed out ^^hichisa very sivepartofthec^nm^r__. cleaning labor intense® die United States with nery in the Far East. ^ findings HorWays^^T"^ Budget Committee m Jul^ to iunaserial numpersuut, ; vsiSiytCvv};;,. -i\r r -V- itd home suci^vise As the ^'"^\?^yerseas Washington conSeafarers me fifth-grade class from tinne their rap^rt ^^^^" them last fall. .ynnsylvaniawluen^^oF Pennsylvania wte ^ ^ ^e corBosun •l»'"'®Jl^hich brought together respondence P^f^ojents from his crew and , . Conception School Pennsylvania's hnroa j^jtic sailors here Is proving from the ta^, in Alaska read the nou^j families at home, and think ^'?°"'iS^totheSeafarersV3G.'^s ^CTSuScreetesaboostm morale each holiday. ^vrVianeed photos, Ctewmembers h^^ ^Ignafswiththe videotapes, hohdaygiw^ Pittsburgh. KmtraSJlnrems such as maps and teacherwhopursue navs her students have aware of an m^ay have 5u All Buhid, St^td,^®^'SI^SS)ereaS made grace class tromltwin. ^ Pa. _ "sfSSI"^«" » ? SK."S4Sr^"« iS LOG^a^d'tS® appearing in articles ^^%tandard-Obtown's newsw^s^the general correspon^c more inquisitive, Mr - ^ removal. -:-:•% , ;„fvi„ae a list of r«rr^Gvrb.essyou,Th^ 5th grade." _ j -'. S^ mz ^ �•>N|;K47->• •'" ^ •;vJ,;f?f®:S,;,i;:Vf:je^ MARCH 1^ April i Hay Membership Meef/n^s Deep Sea, Lakes, Inland Waters Piney Point Monday, April 6 Monday, May 4 New York Tuesday, April 7 Tuesday, May 5 Philadelphia Wednesday, April 8 Wednesday, May 6 Baltimore Thursday, April 9 Thursday, May 7 Norfolk Thursday, April 9 Thursday, May 7 Jacksonville Thursday, April 9 Thursday, May 7 Algonac Friday, April 10 Friday, May 8 Houston Monday, April 13 Monday, May 11 New Orleans Tuesday, April 14 Tuesday, May 12 Mobile Wednesday, April 15 Wednesday, May 13 San Francisco Thursday, April 16 Thursday, May 14 Wilmington Monday, April 20 Monday, May 18 Seattle Friday, April 24 Friday, May 22 San Juan f Thursday, April 9 Thursday, May 7 St Louis Friday, April 17 Friday, May 15 Honolulu Friday, April 17 Friday, May 15 Duluth Wednesday, April 15 Wednesday, May 13 Jersey City Wednesday, April 22 Wednesday, May 20 New Bedford Tuesday, April 21 Tuesday, May 19 Each ports meeting starts at 10:30 ajn. Notice FORMER MEMBERS OF THE NAVAL FLEET AUXILIARY FORCE The Public Affairs Office of the Militaiy Sealift Command is getting ready to celebrate the 20th anniver­ sary of the Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force (NFAF). They would like to locate as many living former NFAF sailors as possible. Any assistance or information would he welcome. Call Sylvia Rosas at (202) 433-0331. Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea JAPWARY16 — FEBRUARY 15,1992 JAiNUAKY 10 — PKHKUARY 15, 1992 Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston 5 SL Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore i Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals Port NewYorif^^l Philadelphia ^ Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point J Algonac Totals Port New York Philadelphia Baltimore Norfolk Mobile New Orleans Jacksonville San Francisco Wilmington Seattle Puerto Rico Honolulu Houston St. Louis Piney Point Algonac Totals *TOTAL^GISTEREb ^Groups Class A Class B Class C 17 18 j TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C Trip Reliefs DECK DEPARTMENT 16 13 13 25 V ^ 1 U 191 140 80 74 ENGINE DEPARTMENT 13 8 5 7 0 4 1 0 • 5 1 , ,„.,^.i ••REGISTERED ON BEACH AH Grouos Class A Class B OassC 59 21 23 : .L.- ynm^. y 0 1 405 231 3 2 240 35 9 4 3 9 10 8 18 15 30 13 20 V'^ll'vO ga5-..^: 20 13 23 3 9 2 4 15 15 I 5 17 1 8 6 16 13 20 19 10 1 10 13 - Mffm- *2 u 1 0 0 0 1 0 V'V-Sv-. 102 78 50 39 STE^RD DEPARTMENT n iO ? 1 « r-.. n 0 < .U^.• ^ 0 « ; U • ' •:' U 1 u 60 25 93 ENTRY DEPARTMENT 58 9 6 10 10 10 7 8 3 6 5 r 4 26 25 49 ^ • i 9 3 49 18 1 45 1 1 3 0 157 4 0 3 0 204 225 7 2 5 21 34 48 0 58 16 18 16 49 39 4 48 5 454 78 27 ;l 21 10 184 1 . . 5 :! 0 614 Totals All Department 591 743 649 468 482 380 206 1,055 977 1,077 * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. A total of 1,536jobs were shipped on SlU-contracted deep sea vessels. Of the 1,536jobs shipped, 468jobs or about 30 percent were taken by seniority members. The rest were filled by **B'' and C seniority people. From January 16,1992 to February 15,1992, a total of206 trip relief jobs were shipped. Since the trip relief program began on April 1,1982, a tot^ of 15,807jobs have been shipped. ' '''IB- �18 XAFARERSLOG Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes JANUARY 16 - FEBRUARY 15,1992 CL-Compiny/LakM L^ba NP-Non Priority *TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups QassCL Class L QassNP Port \ TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups OassCL Class L Class NP ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class CL Class L Class NP DECKI^PARTMENT ENGINE DEPARTMENT ST^ARD DEPARTMENT Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT Totals All Departments 0 43 10 0 G O 0 89 • 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. ** "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. O 18 Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters JANUARY 16 — FEBRUARY 15,1992 •TOTAL REGISTERED All Groups OassA Class B Class C Region ^ Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland Wai West Coast Totals Region ^antic^oast Gulf Coast Lakes & Inland.Waters West Coast Totals Region TOTAL SHIPPED All Groups Class A Class B Class C DECK DEPARTMENT ••REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups Class A Class B Class C ENGDffi DEPARTMENT ij, 0 0 '' 12 0 0 0 1 0 .• 1 • • ' 0 0 0 J. 0 J 0 2 0 0 0 0 o'" 0 49 0 "• 0 0 2 " 0 4 2 STEWARD DEPARTMENT Gulf Coast |La^;;&' West Coast Totals Totals All Departments 0 4 42 6 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 1 25 0 3 0 1 2 18 10 5 5 168 10 25 0 * 'Total Registered" means the number of men who actually registered for shipping at the port last month. •* "Registered on the Beach" means the total number of men registered at the port at the end of last month. Personals A Clean Sweep for SlU Steward Department Members BOBBY GENE McMICHAEL Please send your mailing ad­ dress to your sister June. Important news she needs to send you! Write to June Renfrow, 139 Meadowpark Drive, Hattiesburg, MS 39401; or call (601) 582-0675. JAMES KUGEL You are invited to attend your St. Alphonsus (Chicago, 111.) 50th elementary school class reunion on May 17,1992. Please write Joe Ferstl, 9109 Belleforte, Morton Grove, 111. 60053; or call (708) 965-3987. At the Annual Christmas Cook/Bake-Off held In Diego Garcia, the SIU brothers made a clean sweep. All ships in the lagoon and shoreside facilities were invited to compete in this event, sponsored by the Military Sealift Unit and the Diego Garcia USS Club. Winners in the entrde division were (first place) William Bunch, chief cook aboard the Cpl. Louis Hauge Jr.; (second place) Bryan Blackwell, ACU aboard the James Anderson Jr., and (third place) David Cunningham, chief steward on the Lawrence H. Gianella. In the dessert and pastry division, the winners were (first place) Bernie Tyler, steward/baker on the James Anderson Jr.; (second place) George Kolouris, cook/baker aboard the Cpl. Louis Hauge Jr., and (third place) William Bunch (who came in first in the entrde division). Pictured above are (from left) Bunch, Tyler, Kolouris, Cunningham and Blackwell. Mfa Seafarers International Union Directory Michael Sacco President John Fay Secretary-Treasurer Joseph Sacco Executive Vice President Augustin Tellez Vice President Collective Bargaining George McCartney Vice President West Coast Roy A. "Buck" Mercer Vice President Government Services Jack CafTey Vice President Atlantic Coast Byron Kelley Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters Dean Corgey Vice President Gulf Coast * HEADQUARTERS 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD 20746 (301) 899-0675 ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Dr. Algonac, Ml 48001 (313)794-4988 BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St. Baltimore, MD 21202 (410) 327-4900 DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building Duluth, MN 55802 (218)722-4110 HONOLULU 606KalihiSt. Honolulu, HI 96819 (808)845-5222 HOUSTON 1221 Pierce St. Houston, TX 77002 (713)659-5152 JACKSONVILLE 3315 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206 (904) 353-0987 JERSEY CITY 99 Montgomery St. Jersey City, NJ 07302 (201)435-9424 MOBILE 1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy. Mobile, AL 36605 (205)478-0916 NEWBEDFORD 50 Union St. New Bedford, MA 02740 (508)997-5404 NEW ORLEANS 630 Jackson Ave. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 529-7546 NEW YORK 675 Fourth Ave. Brooklyn, NY 11232 (718)499-6600 NORFOLK 115 Third St. Norfolk, VA 23510 (804)622-1892 FHILADELPHIA 2604 S. 4 St. Philadelphia, PA 19148 (215)336-3818 PINEY POINT P.O. Box 75 Piney Point, MD 20674 (301)994-0010 SAN FRANCISCO 350 Fremont St. San Francisco, CA 94105 (415) 543-5855 Government Services Division (415)861-3400 SANTURCE 1057 Fernandez Juncos St. Stop 16 Santurce, PR 00907 (809)721-4033 SEATTLE 2505 First Ave. SeatUe,WA 98121 (206)441-1960 ST. LOUIS 4581 Gravois Ave. SL Louis, MO 63116 (314)752-6500 WILMINGTON 510 N. Broad Ave. Wilmington, CA 90744 (310) 549-4000 �. • '% : T he Seafarers Pension Plan an­ nounces the retirement of 19 members this month. Twelve of those signing off sailed in the deep sea division, while three sailed in the inland division. Three sailed in the Great Lakes division, and one sailed in the Atlantic Fishermen's division. Engine department member George McDanlel, 81, is the oldest of the new pensioners. Brother McDaniel joined the union more than 25 years ago. Brief biographical sketches of McDaniel and the other new pen­ sioners follow. DEEP SEA JOHN CHEELY, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1947 in his native New York. He sailed as a QMED. Brother Cheely has retired to San Francisco. WELLIAM FEH., 66, joined the SIU in 1949 in the port of New York. He upgraded fre­ quently at the Lundeberg School and in 1975 completed the bosun recertification program. Brother Fell lives in Las Vegas, Nev. ISAIAH GRAY, 65, joined the union in 1971 in the port of Hous­ ton. Bom in Louisiana, he sailed in the steward depart­ ment. Brother Gray lives in Houston. JAMES GRINNELL,56, joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of New York. A native of Vir­ ginia, he sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Brother Grinnell has retired to Mathews, Va. MILTON HAVENS, 65, joined the Seafarers in 1951 in his native Mobile, Ala. He sailed in the en­ gine department. Brother Havens lives in Houston. ALCADIO HERNANDEZ, 66, joined the union in 1961 in the port of Hous­ ton. Bora in Ok­ lahoma, he sailed in the deck department. Brother Hernandez has retired to Houston. GRANT MARZETT, 62, joined the union in 1948 in the port of Mobile, Ala. An Alabama native, he completed the steward recertifica­ tion course at the Lundeberg School To Our New Pensioners ... Thanks for a Job Weil Done Each month in the Seafarers LOG, the names of SIU members who recently have become pensioners appear with a brief biographical sketch. These Seafarers have served the maritime industry well, and the SIU and all their union brothers and sisters wish diem happiness and good health in the days ahead. in 1984. Brotiier Marzett calls Prichard, Ala. home. RUEL LAWRENCE, 67, joined the SIU in 1962 in the port of New Orleans. The na­ tive of Mobile, Ala. completed the bosun recertiEcation course at the Lundeberg School in 1979. Brother Lawrence served in the Navy from 1942 until 1961. He resides in Chickasaw, Ala. TOM MARSHALL, 68, joined the Seafarers in 1955 in the port of San Francisco. He was bora in Elm Grove, La. and sailed in the steward department. Brother Marshall Upgraded at the Lundeberg School in 1982. He has retired to Shreveport, La. sailed as a captain. Boatman Bigham served in the Army from 1953 to 1955. He resides in Monroe, N.C. GEORGE McDANIEL, 81, joined the Seafarers in 1964 in the port of St. Louis. A native of Sunnyside, Pa., he sailed in the engine department. Boatman Mc­ Daniel lives in Hamersville, Ohio. GREAT LAKES JOHN ANTICH,63, joined the SIU in 1963 in his native Chicago. He sailed as a deck hand for Great Lakes Towing for •. ':t 5- -;i • • :t W?-. • more than 30 years. Brother Antich served in the Army from 1951 to 1952, including a tour of duty in Korea, where he worked as a demoli­ tion operations sergeant. Brother An­ tich has retired to Niles, 111. ^ SHELDON GILBERT, 65, joined the union in 1954 in the port of Elberta, Mich. The Michigan native sailed in the deck department. Brother Gilbert served in the Army from 1946 to 1947. He has retired to Lorain, Ohio. JEROME ZAWADSKI, 62, joined the SIU in 1959 in the port of Windsor, Canada. He was bora in Plymouth, Pa. and sailed in the deck department. Brother Zawadski served in the Army from 1951 to 1953. He lives in Exeter, Pa. ATLANTIC FISHERMEN SALVATORE LOVASCO, 65, joined the union in 1980 in the port of Boston. The Massachusetts native sailed in the deck department. Brother Lovasco resides in Gloucester, Mass. STANLEY PALFREY,67, joined the SIU in 1958 in the port of Houston. Bora in Louisiana, he sailed in the en­ gine department. Brother Palfrey has retired to New Orleans. BOB SCARBOROUGH, 71, joined the Seafarers in 1966 in the port of Houston. A native of Cameron, Texas, he completed the steward recertification course at the Lundeberg School in 1980. Brother Scarborough served in the Coast Guard from 1942 to 1945. He lives in Garden Grove, Calif. PETE VASQUEZ, 65, joined the union in 1961 in his native Houston. He sailed in the engine department and in 1973 upgraded at the Lun­ deberg School. Brother Vasquez served in the Navy from 1944 until 1946. He still calls Houston home. INLAND GEORGE BALLEW, 62, joined the union in 1959 in the port of Norfolk, Va. The Virginia native sailed in the deck depart­ ment. Boatman Ballew has retired to Hampton, Va. HENRY BIGHAM, 65, joined the union in 1957 in the port of Philadel­ phia. Bora in North Carolina, he most recently Don't forget - April 15 Is the last day to submit your application for the 1992 Seafarers scholar­ ship program. All required paperwork must be received by that date. For further Information, see an SIU official at any union hall - or contact the Scholarship Pro­ gram, Seafarers Welfare Plan, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Time Is running out to be considered for this year's scholarship. Don't let that happen to you! April 15,1992 is the deadline for scholarship applications. fy ^ •J.tof'i. L.M �B9WBB 20 Steel Ships and Iron Men: Part II " -i y ' • :.}• •: .'.. '•' ' ..' / ift' i 'A i' -r/'- v-X;'' f T. . , '. •HI SEAFARERS LOG BY SINCLAIR OUBRE I said to myself, "All you have to doing something that I now forget, but whistle was when there was an emer­ when supper came we went into the gency. Third, no running. There was have is faith that God will take care of galley. By this time the two ABs from nothing so important that one had to you, and He will keep you from getting Piney Point had arrived and with them run. There were padeyes and heel seasick. Just have faith." With these a 19-year-old ordinary from Texas. blocks all over the deck and it would words prayed, I continued to get more They were all green, but the ordinary not be very difficult for one who is queasy and sick to my stomach. I held the most. He seemed to incarnate the running to injure himself and others by my cookies and did my work all day. anxiety of all the deck members. We miming. but felt less than chipper. At the end of each had our own fears and self doubts, These three little mles set the work the day we returned to Cameron. By but he showed them most. Not that he tone for the rest of the time we were that time I had learned an important knew u j less than most ^of us. •Rather, i-r .Lhe^ together. There was a peacefiilness on lesson; God works through the deck and safety was stressed over dramamine. If there is some type of allows a man to hide how traly scared speed or production. I do not mean to medication which cures the symptoms, " " *"" and incomplete he may feel and be. give the impression that we did not then stop bothering God with my The rest of us had all come to some produce or diat the bosun sometimes tough-guy image. proficiency in this endeavor. did not push us to get moving a bit. The next day [November 9 aboard At supper, Joel got his stuff and sat Rather, doing the Job carefiiUy and the Cape Chalmers] I felt the gentle offto one end ofthe galley. The bosun well was more important than doing rolling while I was still in my bunk and got his dinner and sauntered right the job with speed. When E.K. thought reached over the roll bar into my shavacross from the young man. "Well, that we were not going fast enough, he ing bag and got my handy b( bonine what is going to happen here?" I would call out for the offending party tablets. Chewable, orange flavored, I thought. Mr. E.K. Bryan leans over his dinner and asks him who he was and where did he come from. Joel The Bosun responded by saying that he was one of My vacation [from the church] the ordinaries and that he had just come started on October28,1991.1spent the from Piney Point, day getting things in order and in the This is a dangerous type of state­ afternoon headed to Houston to go to ment to make. First, it is the truth. the union hall. I noticed that there was Second, it reveals your whole maritime a whole recrewing taking place on this career in two little words. What Piney vessel called the Cape Chalmers. They Point translates out to in layman's jar­ were looking for one bosun, four ABs, gon is, "This is my first ship. I have two ordinary seamen and a steward never sailed before. I know only what assistant. My heart leapt when I saw they taught me and I may have forgot­ those two ordinary jobs. When the next ten most of that. I may get seasick, but call came, one of them was mine. I don't know until it happens, and The surprise was that after riding to please don't let anyone else know my Houston to catch a ship, I had to turn secret." around and go back home to get on it. or E.K. at that point leans back for The ship was docked at the Houston all to hear and says, "You must be Ship.Repair in Orange, Texas. That is pretty damn smart. First, you have just less than 30 minutes from my apart­ come out of Piney Point and second, ment. you're a member of the SIU. You're The Cape Chalmers ties up at the Jacksonville shipyard. I lugged my bag full of too many going to do real good, hear." Then he possessions up the gangway. After launched into a long discourse on how reaching the top, I entered the house he, too, is only an ordinary and that it to "stop romancing it." This turn of the only have to take one every 24 hours id I am transformed into a hurricane and asked the first person I saw where is the messmen and the ordinary phrase first appeared when my 8-12 and counterpart was struggling to remove killer. I may be part of the wimp patrol, the captain was. I figured iff could find seamen who are the most important a cotter pin that was locking the nut of but I am proud of it. I don't like the him I would discover where I was sup­ members of the crew. a shackle in place. After struggling experience of puking my pasta on my posed to be and then get there. The effect of all this was to allow with it for over five minutes, things had fellow crewmates, and I am sure that I knocked on the door, and I heard Joel to relax. I could see the not progressed much. He was trying to they feel much the same way. So if I the call to enter. As I stood in the psychological exhalation go out of both straighten the pin and preserve it am a sea wimp, I wear the tide proudly. captain's office, he asked me what I Joel. He had been accepted by the most for the next time the shackle would be At least I am out of the closet. None of needed. I told him that I was his ordi- important member of the deck depart­ used. Pulling, turning, straightening, this denial of what God made me. A napr seaman. He seemed thoroughly ment. He was all right to the person hammering and then starting all over, sea wimp I am, and a sea wimp I will unimpressed and asked me, "So?" This who was going to be his boss and men­ he was unable to get it going. always be. was a little disconcerting, but I did not tor for the next few weeks. As Joel Over everyone's suggestions rang Now a word for all those macho want to get this relationship off on a relaxed, the rest of us did also. We the words, "Stop romancing it and just guys who like to tell their favorite sea bad start, so I continued. "I am your knew that if we were who we were and cut the SOB off." What a profoundly tales abbut how the ship was in 180 ordinary se^an. I have^just gotten not trying to put on airs of fabricated simple lesson. Don't waste a great ded degree rolls, how everyone was up­ here from ,T Houston, and .J IT wantedJ to knowledge and false confidence that of energy and time and thereby money chucking everything they had ever check in and find out where you want we could all be accepted by the bosun. in an effort to preserve something that eaten in their lives, praying that God me to stow my gear." This seemed to The next morning, E.K. brought us is of little value, which can be replaced would kill them quickly and end the relax him. I had not come to tell him all together and we began to untangle slow torture. The sea machos just easily and could possibly be of no use that I was quitting, or that the ship was the booms and guys. When the ship laugh at the pitifulness of the sea once it is removed anyway. sinking. Instead, he said that there was was in the shipyard, new wire rope was wimps that surround them. The sea A bosun can make or break the very little going on and that the steward installed on the booms. The shipyard uu^uii c<tii uic«^ uic machos eat. They eat as a sign of their was not around at that moment. I could men had done an adequate job but Uiey pPey«ions of a vessel, ^d OI E K. did power over the wimps and nature itstay on the ship or I could spend failed miseiably in pW the booms ^ green guys, and with wisdom, patience self. They eat eggs and bacon, borscht another night ashore. I explained that back in their carriages. and boudain, and liver and onions. This trained them to be and expenence, it was neitiier here nor there for me. I With each one the routine was the is done not because of hunger or any seafarers. lived in Port Arthur and could stay one same. We would gather on deck- The craving for these delicacies, but to more night in my apartment It was con­ bosun would go to the control box and watch those around them tum green cluded thatI should stay home and come begin to analyze the mess. He would Wimps On Board and push their stomachs into their back to the ship in the late morning or in look to us who were watching him and November 8, 1991—As we were throats. the early afternoon. I did just that he would begin to point to different into Jacksonville, a cold front Really though, who is the mutant in When I got back the next morning, ones of us and send us in different coming was moving in. The seas that day had this picture? Is it the wimp who cannot I checked back with the captalin. He directions. After a few moments, slack kicked up to six feet. This made the stand rough seas? Or is it the macho had the third mate take me to what from this boom would begin to be empty ship ride a little rough. It also who laughs as he bounces from would be my room and told me to get taken up. We would hook or unhook forced the wimps in the crew to pull out bulkhead to bulwark? God made men some lunch. I asked him what I should the necessary blocks or shackles and their ear patches and take their bonine. and women to walk on land, terra do after lunch and he said to get with then do whatever was necessary. OK, it's confession time. I'm a sea firma. When we begin to bounce In the midst of all this, one of the the bosun and he would assign me wimp. around too much, we are also given this some task. "But what does he look members of our crew hollered out his Back in 1978,1 was working for a gift of dizziness so that we can stop like?" I asked. The third said he had companion's name to get his attention. workboat company out of Cameron, bouncing around before we hurt our­ Suddenly the bosun stopped, looked gray hair and a mustache. La. on their workboats. I had selves. So when we go out to sea and After I finished eating, in walks this around and then called us together. At dramamine to take but I thought I could get sick, we are only following our man with silver hair and a mustache. I this moment the bosun gave us "E.K. do without it. It was during my faith God-given tendencies. Those who asked with feigned confidence if he Bryan's Three Rules of Seam^ship.' was the bosun. He responded that his First, no yelling. Second, no whistling, healing days. We went out one mom- doii't get sick really have to question name was Bryan—E.K. Bryan—and The first two mles go together because ing, and once we clewed the jetties, th^ the^ relatirmship to the Creator, that he was the bosun. Well, this guy they both affect the general working tumed the helm oyer to me. To all of you sea wimps who read • • conditions. E.K. pointed out to us that Th® ?oas weren t too bad, but they were this, realize that you are the ones whom seemed interesting already. God has created correctly. the only time he wanted us to yell or making me feel a little nauseated. We messed around after lunch Father Sinclair Oubre is Port Chaplain in Beau­ mont, Texas and an SIU member. He sails during his time off. During his lasi trip—as an ordinary seaman aboard the Cape Sinclair Oubre Chalmers—he jotted down his thoughts regarding the voyage and the profession of seafaring. Father Oubre's first contribution to the Seafarers LOG appeared in the May 1991 issue in the form of a diary. Whatfollows are excerpts from a jour­ nal Brother Oubre kept during his days aboard the Cape Chalmers, an RRF ship operated by OMl. V �Vi'X .. •• ..'• .-"-• '.. vjX • "•'•' AH-:: MARCH 1992 21 . -u -•fi.A--'..'-••'.^>•'.•.<3' ; or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed importance of donating to SPAD. Crew discussed need for new movies on board. Next port: Newport News, Va. ' "*c' • •••''" "'•''ft ' ' r^• The Seatarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some win be omitted. Ships minutes first are reviewed by the union's amhact deparhnent Those Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the sh/ps minutes. The minutes are then forwanied to the Seafarers LOG. SEA-LAND INNOVATOR (Sea-Land Service), September 21 — Chairman Claude J. Dockrey, Secretary Jose Bayani, Educational Director Rickey Cavender, Deck Delegate J.R. Picciolo, Engine Delegate PrentissSmith, Steward Delegate George Bronson. Chairman reported everything running smoothly. He announced payoff due on arrival in Long Beach, Calif. He thanked steward department for goodies being served. Secretary thank^ deck and en­ gine departments for keeping ship clean. Educational director urg^ memters to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. ITB JACKSONVILLE (Sheridan Transportation), November 10 — Chair­ man G. Diefenback, Secretary Edward M. Collins, Educational Director S. Perdikis. Steward Delegate Calvin Sewell. Chairman requested union official for ar­ rival in New York. He reported disputed OT in deck department. He thanked crew for good job keeping ship clean. Engine delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by steward delegate. Wiper asked contracts department for clarification on weekend work. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on company's medical requirements. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. OVERSEAS BOSTON (Maritime Overseas), November 30 — Chairman Carrol Heick, Secretary Barbara Steveniwn, Engine Delegate C. Herrington, Steward Delegate Wilton Domingue. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed possibility of purchasing videotape rewinder. Crew noted rooms are too cold. Chairman ex­ plained proper laundry procedures. /?OVEB(Vulcan Carriers), November 11 — Chairman D. EUette, Secretary E. Harris, Educational Director J. Rott, Deck Delegate A.Saeli, Steward Delegate E. Hensley. Chairman in­ structed members to register at union hall upon arrival in U.S. He noted job will be on the board when ship crews up. He reminded crew to not let vendors in house. Educational director urged mem­ bers to take advantage of opportunity to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No brofs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed possible changes in contract. Crew noted Coast Guard random drug testing in ef- Feeding the Crew feet. Crew noted importance of writing to congressmen and voicing displeasure with proposed user fees. Next port: Sin­ gapore. AMERICAN COHAfOHA/Vr (Pacific Gulf Marine), December 22 — Chair­ man C. Davis, Secretary D. Goggins, Educational Director J. Quinonez, Deck Delegate B. Williams, Engine Delegate L. Parker, Steward Delegate D. Slack. Educational director stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew ex­ tended vote of thanks to galley gang for good food and to GSU E. Aperto for keeping house extra clean. ITB MOBILE (Sheridan Transporta­ tion), December 29 — Chairman Fred Jensen, Secretary Pedro Sellan, Educa­ tional Director J. Pazos, Deck Delegate S.E. Drafts, Engine Delegate P. Daven­ port, Steward Delegate Oliver Keen. Secretary noted pleasant trip with great OMI COLUMBIA (OMI Corp.), Decem­ ber 26— Chairman Robert Edwards, Secretary C.R. Moss, Deck Delegate Michael Levan. Chairman reported payoff set for San Francisco. He reminded members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for Thanksgiving and Christmas diimers. Crew noted repair list posted. OMI HUDSON(OMI Corp.), December 22 —• Chairman C. Miles, Secretary C. Scott, Educational Director K. Miles, Deck Delegate Tan Joon, Engine Delegate Felix Durand, Steward Keeping the Leader Ship-Shape CAPE CATOCHE(AMSEA), Decem­ ber 23 — Chairman L. Baker, Secretary K. White, Educational Director G. Curzen. Deck Delegate D. Steinberg, En­ gine Delegate S. Hoskin, Steward Delegate K. Jobnson. Educational direc­ tor encouraged one and all to upgrade skills at Lundeberg School. Treasurer reported $100 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Con­ cord, Calif. CAPE HORN (lOM), December 22 — Chairman J. Sosa, Secretary David E. Banks, Educational Director Gerasimos Ballas, Engine Delegate S. Nolan. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Next port: Chariestoh, S.C. CHARLESTON(Westchester Marine), December IS — Chairman Paul Dornes, Secretary R. Bright, Educational Director R. Gracey. Chairman an­ nounced payoff due in Charleston, S.C. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward depart­ ment. Crew asked contracts department for clarification on payoff procedure. CHARLESTONCWestchester Marine), December 29 — Chairman Paul Dornes. Secretary R. Bright, Educational Director R.Gracey. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for good work. GALVESTON BAY (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), December 29 — Chairman David Manson, Secretary D. Brown, Educa­ tional Director M.Scinto, Engine Delegate Rashid Ali, Steward Delegate John Padilla. Chairman noted captain is pleased with work accomplished by crew. Educational director urged mem­ bers to upgrade at Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman reminded crew about random drug testing. Crew re­ quested microwave for lounge. Crew thanked steward department and four-toeight watch. Crew wished everyone a happy new year. Crew observed one minute of silence in memory of departed brothers. Next port: Boston. GROTON (Sheridan Transportation), December 27 — Chairman Neil MatIhey, Secretary M. DeLoateh, Educa­ tion^ Director R. McKinzie, Deck Delegate Phil Poole, Engine Delegate Abraham Diaf, Steward Delegate Ahdul Aziz. Chairman aiuiounced payoff scheduled for Stapleton, N.Y. He suggested members donate to SPAD. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave steward department vote of thanks for good food. Chief Cook Charies N. Ratcllff com­ pletes a meal for hs shipmates at)oard the Sea-Land Crusader. NEDLLOYD HI/DSOA/(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), December 7 — Chairman J. Bertolino, Secretary A. HoUand, Educational Director C. Tsipliareles, En­ gine Delegate T. McArdle. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew would like refrigerators in all rooms. Crew thanked SIU President Michael Sacco and other officials for their efforts to thwart proposed user fees. SAM HOUSTON (Watermsm Steam­ ship), December 29 — Chairman Jim Haiaam, Secretary C. Rooks. No beefs AB David Hestand (left) and AB John O'Ferrell are getting ready to remove the valve cover on board the OMI Leader. crew. He urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. Delegate Ernest Polk. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to seek increase in crew sizes and improved dental benefits. MAYAGUEZ(Puerto RicoJVIarineX December 9 — Chairman Al Canlder, Secretary Joel Lechel, Educational Director R. Smith, Steward Delegate Angel O'Neill. Crew requested safety meetings be conducted once per month, noted the meetings have not been con­ ducted regularly. Chairman discussed retirement benefits and mentioned $500 . bonus for retirees. He thanked union for watching out for members. Secretary reported 14 movies and a VCR were pur­ chased by crew. Educational director reported ship's committee requests more information about which ratings are sub­ ject to random drug testing exemptions. Deck delegate reported beefs. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew discussed dis­ pleasure with longshoremen being al­ lowed to assemble in lounge. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department, in­ cluding Steward P. Batayias and Chief Cook Ruperto Rivera. Crew thanked staff of Seafarers LOG for job well done. Next port: New York. OMI SACRAMENTO (OMI Corp.), December 8 — Chairman Charles' Parks, Secretary John Darrow, Deck Delegate Kenneth Park, Engine Delegate James B. Long, Steward Delegate A. Fachini. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew noted rec room needs new couch and chairs. Next port: Houston. NUEVO SAN JUAN (Puerto Rico Marine), December 22 — Chairman Manuel Silva, Secretary Jospeh F. Miller, Educational Director James Roberts, Deck Delegate Angel Camacho, Engine Delegate Robert Lee Grace HI. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for fine food and holiday meals. Next port: San Juan. BUYER (OMI Coip.), December 29 — Chairman James Blanchard, Secretary T. Dansley Jr., Educational Director B. Wayne Carver. Secretary thanked crew for its excellent performance and reminded everyone to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT, which later was resolved at payoff. No b^fs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward rtelegates. OMI STAR (OMI Corp.), December 8 — Chairman Robert E. Allen, Secretary E. Bagger, Deck Delegate Vernon W. Huelett, Engine Delegate Ben Adams. Chairman noted good crew and smooth trip. He relayed praise from captain. Educational director voiced encourage­ ment for members to upgrade at Lun­ deberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang! OVERSEAS MARILYN (Maritime Overseas), December 22 — Chairman J.L. Bass, Secretary K. Segree, Deck Deiegate Craig Pare, Engine Delegate R. Holmes, Steward Delegate Charles LaScola. Chairman urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew noted delays in delivery of vacation checks. PONCE (Puerto Rico Marine), Decem­ ber 29 — Chairman J.D. Foster, Secretary R. Evans, Educational Direc­ tor K. Katsalis, Engine Delegate Dennis Davidson. Deck delegate reported dis­ puted OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew asked contracts department to seek increase in dental, optic^ and dependent benefits. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment for job well done. RALEIGH fi4 Y(Sea-Land Service), December 8 — Chairman D.W. Plummer. Secretary J. Cruz, Educational Continued on page 22 if:vw"- • IS ZmSy-:,;, * ./I r• ' • '-.V • : �SBVAKBIStjOe 22 l^psDigest union books against shipping cards of new crewmembers signing on. Next port: Long Beach, Calif. Contimtedfirom page 21 a,*-. •' -V •! o... •. = -- ^ %i.'' 'v ••"•••A-: • •• •'.- :jk: N.\: • ••• (!•.';- . SEA-LAND ACHIEVER (Sea-hand Ser­ vice), December 17 — Chairman Kadir Amat, Seaetary L. Winfidd, Educational Director A. Quinn, Engine Delegate Leroy WflUams. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lunddrerg School as soon as possible. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked steward departmoit forjob well done. SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE(Sea-Land Service), December 27 — Chairman William Mullins, Secretary E.M. Douroudous, Educational Director J. Ortiz. Chairman announced upcoming drug test. He recommended members upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Guide for 1992 upgrading courses has been posted. Crew thanked steward department for special dinners on holidays. C'V^' ' W:'- m '-A !,f •:S'' •:/ J-.. , ' , •••:'• H . SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), December 15 — Chair­ man Roy Williams, Secretary H. Scypes, Educational Director J. Wil­ liam, Deck Delegate James Walker, En­ gine Delegate S. Padilla. Chairman reported everything running smoothly. He noted crew received new washing machine, and asked everyone to use old machine for work clothes. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew extended vote of thanks to galley gang. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. t + :•. Director D. Greiner, Deck Delegate C.D. Brown, Engine Delegate Joseph Negron, Steward Delegate Dwayne Carter. Chairman thanked crew for smooth trip. He reminded everyone to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Education­ al director advised members to stay in­ formed by reading LOG. Deck delegate reported ^sputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Next port: Elizabeth, N.J. SEA-LAND £XPED/r/OA/(Sea-Land Service), December 22 — Chairman Carlos DeGracia, Secretary E. Vaz­ quez, Deck Delegate Eric Perez, Engine Delegate Jose Ortiz, Steward Delegate R. Cosme. Chairman reported every­ thing running smoothly. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (Sea-Land Service), December 15 — Chairman C. LoPiccido, Secretary R. Fiuker, Educa­ tional Director Daniel Famenia, Deck Delegate Larry Thompson, Engine Delegate All Mohamed, Steward Delegate Inocenco Fontelera. Chairman reported crew enthusiastically supports its union in opposing the proposed worker tax. He emphasized each member's responsibility to take part in opposing worker tax. Eteck delegate thanked steward department for outstand­ ing Thanksgiving dinner in Japan. Steward delegate thanked crew for keep­ ing rec room and messhall clean at all times. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew discussed having delegates check Keeping Warm Ekow Doffoh, chief steward aboard the Sea-Land Crusader, serves his meals straight from the oven. mm SEA-LAND INDEPENDENCE(SeaLand Service), December 24 — Chair­ man Francis Adams, Secretary Nancy Heyden, Educational Director Irwin Rousseau, Steward Delegate Samuel Concepcioa Chairman noted impor­ tance of SPAD. Educational director urged meml)ers to read LOG and upgrade at Lundeberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked Samuel Concepcion for great job, wished him good luck with baby. Crew discussed ap­ propriate conduct for meal hours. SEA-LAND INTEGRITY(Sea-Land Service), December 15 — Chairman Carlton Hall, Secretary P. Laboy, Educational Director M. Rivera, Deck Delegate A. Ware, Steward Delegate B. Santos. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Boston. ITB JACKSONVILLE(Sheridan Transportation), January 12 — Chair­ man J. Caruso. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward depart­ ment for goodfood. Next port: Staten Is­ land, N.Y. ITB NEW YOI7IC(Sheridan Transporta­ tion), January 2 — Chairman Sonny Pit­ kin, Secretary Ed Dunn, Educational Director A. Macardo. Chairman an­ nounced payoff. He advised members to apply for scholarships available through SIU. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for excellent job and good holiday meals. LIBERTY SEA (Liberty Maritime), January 5 — Chairman Peter Victor, Secretary Ralph Edmonds, Deck Delegate Scott James. Educational direc­ tor advised members to upgrade at Lun- No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew asked contracts department to revise SlUETC agreement so that ship's committee consists of chairman, recording secretary and educational director, with those members elected by majority vote after 60 percent crew turnover or when two full members call for an election. LNG TAURUS (ETC), January 11 — Chairman Carlos Pineda, Secretary Doyle E. Cornelius, Educational Direc­ tor Tracy C. Shaddox, Deck Delegate Paul Jagger, Engine Eielegate David Veldkamp, Steward Delegate Frank Martin. Chairman discussed importance of SPAD and upgrading at Lundeberg School. Secret^ thanked everyone for cooperation in helping keep lounge clean and noise level down. Treasurer reported $530 in ship's fund. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Updated Lundeberg SIU Ships Together In Port Everglades SEALIFT ANTARCTIC (International Marine Carriers), December 1 — Chair­ man Evan Bradley, Secretaiy John Holtschhlag. Educational director reported life rings need to be replaced. Treasurer reported $320 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported ship had only hot water for an entire week. SEALIFT ANTARCTIC(International Marine Carriers), December 29 — Chair­ man George Schuj, Secretaiy John Holtschhlag, Steward Delegate M. Cousins. Chairman stressed importance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. New toaster needed for messhall. SILAS BENT(Mar Ship Operators), December 15 — Chairman R. Vazquez, Deck Delegate R. Holt, Engine Delegate C. Coots, Steward Delegate Richard Hokanson. Treasurer reported $150 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Christmas gift exchanges with $20 limit will go on as planned. Next port: Oakland, Calif. i/SAfS I7E6I/LI/S (Mar Ship Operators), December 30 — Chairman M. Roper, Secretary L. Gaines, Steward Delegate Arnold Jadtson. No beefs or disputed OT reported. DSNS WILKES (Mar Ship Operators), December 12 — Chairman Robert Rus­ sell, Secretary Ben Henderson, Educa­ tional Director Charles Whitfield. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SIU offi­ cial Russ Levin answered various ques­ tions, including some regarding union representation while ship is in foreign ports. He reminded crew of imporiance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. Next port: Oakland, Calif. CAPE FAREWELL antemational Marine Carriers), January 26 — Chair­ man J. Deano, Secretary Mohamed Abdelfattah. Chairman noted exceptionally good trip and excellent steward depart­ ment. No beefs or disputed OT reported. CO£//7/E/? (Vulcan Carriers), January 5Chairman S. Yaras, Secretary Richard Brumage, Deck Delegate Jim Flood. Chairman urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. He thanked galley gang for fine salad bar and homemade desserts and cookies. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. GULF TRADER (All Marine Services), January 1 — Chairman Steve Casde, Secretary Steve Parker, Educational Director George Wallls, Steward Delegate Russel Bartnett. Chairman reported ship still awaiting clearance from customs while at anchorage off Sunny Point, N.C. Educational director stressed need to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or engine delegates. Crew thanked steward department for improved menus, meals and service. Galley gang thanked all hands for cooperation, esp«;ially con­ sidering lack of stores. Ship is carrying full load of high-yield explosives. Two SIU ships, the OMI Leader and the Falcon Duchess, are side by side in Port Everglades, Fla., unloading petroleum products. deberg School. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or steward delegates. Crew thanked port of New Orleans for resolving disputes during December 18 payoff. Crew also gave vote of thanks to crewmembers for show of solidarity during beef over contract violations. LNG AQUARIUS(ETC), January 12 — Chairman J. Japper, Secretary W. Justl. Educational director urged mem­ bers to take advantage of upgrading op­ portunities at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for job well done. Crew discussed OT cuts, asked contracts department if officer pay has been cut L/VG JIH/ES (ETC), January 20— Chairman R. Suy, Secret^ Dana Paradise, Educational Director Riley Donahue, Deck Delegate Salim Ibrahim, Engine Delegate Kevin W. Conklln, Steward Delegate Albert A. Fretta. Chairman noted ship running smoothly. He advised all eligible mem­ bers to upgrade at Lundeberg School. Secretary reminded crew to put plastics in separate containers. No bwfs or dis­ puted OT reported. Steward department received thanks for fine holiday meals and pool parties. Deck gang was thanked for cleanup efforts. Special thanks went to Steward D. Paradise and Chief Cook A. Fretta for good menus and excellent meals. LNG GEMINI (ETC), January 6 — Chairman B.B. Darley, Secretary Kris A. Hopkins, Educational Director Mar­ cos Hill, Deck Delegate R. Perelra, En­ gine Delegate R. Rosario, Steward Delegate Alonzo Belcher. Educational director urged all new members to upgrade at Limdeberg School as soon as possible. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Steward delegate mentioned ex­ cellent SA Malcolm Poe will be missed. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. LNG LEO (ETC), January 17 — Chair­ man J. Gamer, Secretary L. Achmad. School schedule was posted. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang for job well done. OMI COLUMBIA (OMI Corp.), January 26 — Chairman Robert Ed­ ward, Secretary C.R. Moss, Educational Director A.D. Bomblta, Deck Delegate S. Kllllam, Engine Delegate Michael LeVan, Steward Delegate Nasar Alfaglh. Chairman noted financial rewards gained from upgrading at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Repair list is posted. Crew thanked steward department. All mem­ bers were thanked for keeping rec room and pantry clean. OMI SACRAMENTO (Vulcan Car­ riers), January 26 — Chairman Ray Gorju, Secretary J. Darrow, Education­ al Director V. LImoh, Deck Delegate Charies Foley, Engine Delegate E.M. Welsh, Steward Delegate Doima DeCesare. Chairman reported QMED upgrading poster has been posted. No b^fs or disputed OT reported. Crew reported sofa and lounge chairs still n^ed for recreation room, have been re­ quested during every mating in past eight months but no response from com­ pany. Next port: Mobile, Ala. OVERSEAS NEW ORLEANS (Maritime Overseas), January 23 •— Chairman M. Zepeda, Secretary A. Todd, Educational Director C. Castro. Chairman atmounced payoff. He reported minor OT dispute had been set­ tle with captain. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew congratulated galley gang for preparing great meals and keep­ ing areas clean. PRIDE OF TEXAS (Seahawk Manage­ ment), January 18 — Chairman Henry Jones, Secret^ F. Robertson, Educa­ tional Director P. Hoover, Deck Delegate Spencer Lyle, Engine Delegate Craig Croft, Steward Delegate Frandesca Rose. Secretary noted im­ portance of upgrading at Lundeberg Continued on page 24 �MARCH 1992 23 Final D^aitureS DEEP SEA JOHNCOYLE Pensioner John Cbyle, 87, passed away Novem­ ber 23 due to heart failure. Bom in Ireland, he joined the SIU in 1955 in the port of New York. Brother Coyle sailed in the steward department. He retired in January 1970. KNOWLTON ALLEN Pensioner Knowlton Allen, 67, passed away January 8. He was bom in Georgia and joined the SlU in 1957 in the port of San Francisco. Brother Allen sailed in the en­ gine department. He served in the Navy from 1942 to 1946. Brother Allen began receiving his pension in January 1990. RICHARD FUNK Pensioner Richard Funk, 65, died Decem­ ber 27 as a result of heart dis­ ease. He joined the Seafarers in 1951 in his native Philadelphia. Brother Funk sailed in the steward department. He served in the Army fi^om 1944 to 1945. Brother Funk began receiving his pension in July 1980. WILLIAM ASHMAN William Ashman, 39, died Decem­ ber 31. A native of Philadel­ phia, he graduated from the Lundeberg School in 1969. Brother Ashman shipped in the deck and engine depart­ ment. He upgraded at the Lun­ deberg School in 1984. Brother Ashman was an active member at the time of his death. ROBERT GRAF Pensioner Robert Graf, 71, died December 27. The native of Gloucester, NJ. joined the SIU in 1945 in the port of Bal­ timore. Brother Gr^ sailed in the engine department. He retired in January 1987. i, . JESSE BARTON Pensioner Jesse Bar­ ton, 87, died Decem­ ber 29. He was bom in Jefferson City, Mo. and joined the Se^arers in 1946 in the port of Galveston, Texas. Brother Bar­ ton sailed as a bosun. He retired in March 1970. WILLIAM HURD Pensioner William Hurd, 66, died October 24. He was bom in Texas and joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1968 in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Hurd began receiving his pension in July 1986. LEiSLIE BECKER WILLIAM JUNE Pensioner William June, 81, passed away December 12 due to a heart attack. Bom in Mas­ sachusetts, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco in 1958, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother June retired in April 1975. Leslie Be­ cker, 37, passed away Novem­ ber 16. The North Platte, Neb. native joined the SIU in 1982 in the port of Honolulu. Brother Becker sailed in the steward department. VINCENT COSCARELLI Pensioner Vincent Coscarelli, 71, died January 20. The Bos­ ton native joined the Seafarers in 1963 in the port of New York. Brother Coscarelli sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in January 1986. BERNARD GABOR Pensioner Bemard Gabor, 65, passed away January 26. He was bom in Philadelphia and joined the union in 1945 in the port of New York. Brother Gabor sailed in the engine department. He retired in Febraary 1982. ^ » 'v *'•' deck departments. He retired in May 1979. wart sailed as a bosun. He retired in July 1983. INLAND JAMES R. PARKER James R. Parker, 62, died January 12. Bom in Birmin­ gham, Ala., he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1977 in Louisiana, the same year that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Parker served in the Army from 1947 to 1948. JAMES SLAYTON Pensioner James Slayton, 66, passed away December 28. He was bom in Georgia and in 1948 joined the SIU in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Slayton sailed as a bosun. He served in the Navy from 1941 to 1947. Brother Slayton retired in August 1981. JOHNBULASKI Pensioner John Bulaski, 77, died December 27. He joined the union in 1961 in his native Norfolk, Va. Boatman Bulaski sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He served in the Army from 1944 to 1946. Boatman Bulaski retired in November 1973. NICHOLAS PIZZUTO Pensioner Nicholas Pizzuto, 60, died January 13 as a result of liver failure. He was bom in New Orleans and joined the Seafarers in 1961 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Pizzuto sailed in the deck department. He served in the Navy from 1948 until 1952. Brother Pizzuto retired in March 1987. HECTOR RODRIGUEZ Hector Rodriguez, 37, passed away January 18. He joined the SIU in 1971 in his native New York. Brother Rodriguez sailed in the steward department. He upgraded frequently at the Lun­ deberg School. WACLAW ROZALSKI Pensioner Waclaw Rozalski, 73, died Decem­ ber 31. He was bom in Bayonne, N.J. and in 1944joined the Seafarers in the port of New York. Brother Rozalski sailed as a bosun. He began receiving his pension in December 1967. ROBADOJUNIEL Pensioner Robado Juniel, 72, died October 26. He was bom in Arkansas and in 1946 joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in the port of San Francisco, before that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Juniel began receiving his pension in Febmary 1984. TRIFINORUIZ Trifmo Ruiz, 32, passed away January 10. A native of Hon­ duras, he joined the union in 1991 in the port of Wil­ mington, C^f. Brother Ruiz sailed in the steward depart­ ment. BERNARD OVERSTREET Pensioner Bemard Overstreet, 75, passed away Decem­ ber 9. A native of Whatley, Ala., he joined the SIU in 1954 in the port of Mobile, Ala. Brother Overstreet sailed in the engine and REUBEN SIGWART Pensioner Reuben Sigwart, 73, died Decem­ ber 24 due to bone mar­ row failure. The native of Colorado joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Sig­ i r •- f , MICHAEL STEFANICK Pensioner Michael Stefanick, 74, died January 11, 10 years to the day after he retired. Bom in Windber, Pa., he joined the SIU in 1967 in the port of New York. Brother Stefanick sailed in the steward department. He served in the Arniy from 1937 to 1945. PETER UCCI Pensioner Peter Ucci, 81, died Decem­ ber 30 due to lung can­ cer. The Buffalo native joined the SIU in 1946 in the port of New York. Brother Ucci completed the bosun recertiflcation course at the Lundeberg School in 1975. He began receiving his pension in August 1976. WARD WALLACE Pensioner Ward Wallace, 70, passed away December 22. Bom in Virginia, he joined the Seafarers in 1947 in the port of New York. Brother Wallace completed the bosun recer­ tiflcation program at the Lun­ deberg School in 1974. He served in the Army from 1939 to 1945. Brother Wallace retired in March 1986. JAMES W. WASHINGTON Pensioner James Washington, 74, died January 6. He joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1978 in his native New Orleans, after that union merged with the AGLIWD. He served in the Army from 1942 until 1945. Brother Washington began receiving his pension in June 1983. WHEELER WILLIAMS Pensioner Wheeler Williams, 63, passed away Sep­ tember 25. Bom in Bal­ timore, he joined the Marine Cooks and Stewards in 1979 in the port of San Francisco, after that union merged with the AGLIWD. Brother Williams retired in November 1979. ROSCOE CAREY Pensioner Roscoe Carey, 69, passed away January 5 due to Parkin­ sons disease. The native of New York joined the Seafarers in 1967 in the port of Norfolk, Va. Boatman Carey sailed as a niate and tankerman. He served in the Army ftx>m 1942 to 1945. Boatman Carey began receiving his pension in April 1985. „ 4M:' W'pi• i,' i • • ••• • J'- ••".-.••-•I. ' ' RUSSELL HENDRIXSON Pensioner Russell Hendrixson, 74, died December 22. Bom in Jamestown, Kan., he joined the union in 1959 in the port of Houston. Boatman Hendrix­ son sailed in the engine department. He retired in July 1985. CHARLES MOORE Pensioner Charles Moore, 73, passed away Decem­ ber 15. He was Kjm in Florida and in 1974 joined the union in the port of Mobile, Ala. Boatman Moore sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He served in the Army from 1936 to 1937. Boatman Moore retired in November 1982. CHESTER VOVAK Pensioner Chester Vovak, 72, passed away January 11. A na­ tive of Pennsylvania, he joined the Seafarers in 1956 in the port of Baltimore. Boatman Vovak sailed in the deck department. He served in the Amy from 1941 to 1945. Boat­ man Vovak began receiving his pension in March 1982. S »''/ •" *-• r STEPHEN WEST Pensioner Stephen West, 65, died December 6. He joined the union in 1971 in his native Philadelphia. Boatman West sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He served in the Amy from 1943 to 1946. Boatman West retired in Febmary 1988. Continued on page 25 m "vAv. • ' �SEAFARERS IM Ships Digest thanks to galley gang for job well done, particularly during holidays. Next port: San Juan. ConiUmedJrom page 22 i" 4f -...i,^ ylW0ff'X'' ;:; •^•.(^p5"ir ; ;(«>•?,, •?.'V " •'•4 • School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Entire crew got sick from dirty water while sailing overseas. Crew said fountains need filters and fresh water tanks must be cheeked. Next port: New Orleans. Payoff Can't Wait 4^44^44,;,::'4: '' .. SEA-LAND MARINER(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 1 — Chairman R. Ramirez, Secretary S. Call, Deck Delegate Richard Bynum, Engine Delegate Gene Speckman, Steward Delegate Rob Costello. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew commended steward department. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. • v> Attending the payoff meeting straight from his work on board the OMI Wabash is Bosun J. Moore. RALEIGH BA Y (Sea-Land Service), January 11 — Chairman D. Plummer, Secretary J.Speller, Educational Direc­ tor D. Grelner, Deck Delegate J.C. Biavat, Engine Delegate J. Negron, Steward Delegate C.L. Willey. Chair­ man urged all members to make volun­ tary SPAD donation. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed •OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department for job well done. SEA-LAND ACHIEVER(Sea-Land i'Vyte;;} SEA-LAND ENTERPRISE (Sea-Land Service), January 30 — Chairman Wil­ liam Mullins, Secretary E.M. Douroudous, Educational Director Joseph Ortiz. Chairman thanked crew for separating plastics. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. SEA-LAND EXPEDITION (Sea-Land Service), January 22 — Chairman Paul Flores. No beefs or disputed OT reported. kiv3 r: "4- •' •, • ' 4^:4-^4") SEA-LAND ENDURANCE (Sea-Land Service), January 4 — Chairman Lance Zollner, Secretary J. Samuels, Educa­ tional Director G. Evosevich. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Los Angeles. Service), January 19 — Chairman K. Amat, Secretary L. Winfield. Chairman announced payoff. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew gave vote of thanks to galley gang. Crew was reminded to keep lounge clean. SEA-LAND ATLANTIC (Sea-Land Service), January 12 — Chairman E.K. Bryan, Secretary Roily Saguinsin, Educational Director E.E. Smith, Deck Delegate J. Jones, Engine Delegate W. McCants, Steward Delegate R. Kotecki. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Port Everglades, Fla. SEA-LAND CHALLENGER (SeaLand Service), January 12 — Chairman S. Rallo, Secretary K. Jones, Engine Delegate J. Guaris, Steward Delegate William Campbell. Chairman reported smooth sailing, encouraged SPAD dona­ tions. Educational director stressed im­ portance of upgrading at Lundeberg School. No b^fs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND CRUSADER (Sea-Land Service), January 7 — Chairman Osario Joseph, Secretary Ekow Doffoh, Educa­ tional Director Oswald Bermeo, Deck Delegate B. Babarina, Engine Delegate Ramon CoUazo, Steward Delegate Charles RatclifT. Educational director reported new TV and VCR needed for crew lounge. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Letter from SIU headquarters was read. Crew discussed importance of SPAD and how it helps provide job security. Crew gave unanimous vote of SEA-LAND TRADER (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 22 — Chairman Mike Willis, Secretary Lois Ware, Education­ al Director R.E. Clock. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported, although penalty time for Guam may be disputed by all three departments. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND VOYAGER (Sea-Land Service), January 19 — Chairman P.M. Glennon, Secretary J. Weed, Education­ al Director W. Hatehel, Steward Delegate G. Loffin. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEALIFT ARABIAN SEA (Internation­ al Marine Carriers), January 3 — Chair­ man T. Koebel, Deck Delegate P. Madden, Engine Delegate D. Smith, Steward Delegate Claxton Davis. Chair­ man read letter from contracts depart­ ment. He urged members to contribute to SPAD at vacation time. He said SIU legislative team in Washington, D.C. far Three Men and an Eagle SEAW TO/? (Crowley Caribbean Transport), January 27 — Chairman Patrick Ray, Secretary Richard K. Ward, Educational Director Jeff McCranie, Deck Delegate Daniel Gaylor, Engine Delegate Roy Jackson, Steward Delegate Fidel Thomes. Rec room needs new chairs and VCR. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for good service, ex­ cellent chow and job well done. USNSCHAUVENET (Mar Ship Operators), January 3 — Chairman Jeff Paul Focardi, Educational Director Al Mates, Deck Delegate James Keevan, Engine Delegate Dan Taggart, Steward Delegate Matt Schilling. Chairman wel­ comed new crewmembers aboard, ex­ plained various rules and nuances. Educational director reminded crew to wear hard hats and steel-toed shoes around cargo and boat operations. Steward delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or en­ gine delegates. Crew wishes rest of SIU good luck and happy new year. #4' SEA-LAND PATRIOT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 9 — Chairman S. Evans, Secretary L. Martin, Educational Direc­ tor A. McQuade, Deck Delegate Rus­ sell Haynes, Engine Delegate Hubbert Lee. Chairman reminded crew to separate cans and bottles from other trash. He thanked crew for keeping ship clean. Educational director reminded members to watch shipboard videotapes about emergencies and to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked steward department for job well done. SEA-LAND PERFORMANCE (SeaLand Service), January 5~Chairman R. Newly, Secretary L. Ewing, Educational Director D. Johnsmi. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Crew asked contracts department for clarificatioii on who pays for transporta­ tion for temporary reliefs. Crew gave vote of thanks to steward department. SEA-LAND RELIANCE (Sea-Land Service), January 5 — Chairman R. McGonagle, Secretary W.G. Lombard, Educational Director G. Fredrickson. Chairman announced payoff. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Crew thanked galley gang for good job. Next port: Tacoma, Wash. SEA-LAND SPIRIT(Sea-Land Ser­ vice), January 5 — Chairman John Schoenstein, Secretary S. Apodaca, Educational Director Charles Henley. Treasurer reported $372 in ship's fund. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Next port: Honolulu. Joining three SIU men in posing for a photograph is an American bald eagle perched appropriately below the American flag. Aboard the USNS Wilkes while docked in Adak, Alaska are (from left) Bosun Tom Jensen, Cook/Baker Donald Thomas and Chief Steward Ben Henderson. and away carries largest load of maritime unions' interests. Educational director urged members to upgrade at Lundeberg School. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Chairman addressed crew regarding ship's OT policy. Next port: Jacksonville, Fla. SEALIFT CARIBBEAN (International Marine Carriers), January 27 — Chair­ man W. Steele, Secretary Benny Wil­ liams. Educational director recommended upgrading at Lundeberg School. Deck and steward delegates reported disputed OT. No beefs or dis­ puted OT reported by engine delegate. SEALIFT INDIAN OCEAN(Interna­ tional Marine Carriers), January 13 — Chairman R. Dennis, Secretary J. Ludy, Educational Director E. Hanvey. No beefs or disputed OT reported. SEA-LAND EXPLORER (Sea-Land Service), February 2 — Chairman Cris Loplccolo, Secretary R. Fluker. Deck delegate reported disputed OT. No beefs or disputed OT reported by engine or stewani delegates. SEA-LAND EXPRESS (Sea-Land Ser­ vice), February 1 — Chairman C. Daw­ son, Secretary M.K. Mueller, Educational Director M.W. Phillips, Deck Delegate J. Kelley, Engine Delegate A. Hussain, Steward Delegate C. Atkins. Educational director pointed out letter received from headquarters clarifying QMED upgrading require­ ments. Engine delegate reported beef. No beefs or disputed OT reported by deck or steward delegates. Deck and steward departments received votes of thanks for jobs well done. Bringing in the New Year Aboard the Cape Farewell Captain David T. Downs, his family and crewmembers on the Cape Farewell help celebrate the new year with a shipboard cookout. This photo was sent to the LOG by Mohamed Abdelfattah, steward/baker, on board that vessel. 'i' ' �MMCH1992 Final Departures Continued from page 23 GREAT LAKES ROYBOUDREAL Pensioner Roy Boudreal, 66. passed away Decem­ ber 29. He joined the Seafarers in 1946 in his na­ tive Detroit. Brother Boudreal sailed in the deck department. He retired in July 1977. GEORGE FITZGERALD Pensioner George Fitzgerald, .85. passed away January 19 due to a heart at­ tack. He joined the Seafarers in 1961 in his native Ohio. Brother Fitzgerald sailed as a linesman. He retired in Septem­ ber 1972. LEEGARNETT Pensioner LeeGarnett.83. died Januarys due to heart dis­ ease. Bom in Crystal. Maine, he joined the union as a charter member in 1938 in Cleveland. Brother Gamett sailed in the engine department. He retired in February 1975. FELIX KNETCHEL Pensioner FeUx Knetchel. 88. passed away Decem­ ber 21 due to a heart attack. He was bom in Al- pena. Mich, and in 1961 joined the Seafarers in the port of Toledo. Ohio. Brother Knetchel sailed in the deck and engine departments. He retired in June 1968. NORMAN MORRISON Pensioner Norman Morrison. 89. died January 16. A na­ tive of Scotland, he joined the SIU as a charter member in 1939 in the port of Detroit. Brother Morrison sailed in the deck department. He began receiving his pension in January 1969. RALPH SWIERCZYNSKI Pensioner Ralph Swierczynski, 66. passed away Decem­ ber 10. A native of Milwaukee, he joined the Seafarers in 1954 in the port of Chicago. Brother Swierczynski sailed in the en­ gine department. He served in the Marine Corps from 1943 to 1945. Brother Swierczynski retired in June 1983. CORRECTION JACOB ROMAN If In the Janu- ' ary issue of the Sea­ farers i an in­ correct photo was publish­ ed with the obituary of pen­ sioner Jacob Roman. The proper photo appears here. Boatman Roman passed away last November. An active Seafarer for 26 years, he sailed in the en­ gine department. He retired in 1976. SbMse^brVompOilive'US.nea Continued from page 3 stop kidding oiirselves. But if die answer is yes, we're going to do some things very, very differently. "We had better step back from the way we have been doing business in the past around here. . . . It's not going to do us any good to fight the old fights." Upon becoming chair­ man, Studds said he would meet with maritime labor and business repre­ sentatives together to "put aside all the ways we've argued in the past... and let's think fresh. American labor is eveiy bit as good as foreign labor and skilled." The congressman, whose district includes the area of New Bedford where hundreds of SIU fishermen live and work. President recalled Reagan's promise to build up America's armed for­ ces. However, the Persian Gulf war demonstrated sealift was not included in those effforts, he said. "One of the areas we didn't spend enough on is the one we ended up need­ ing the most for the kind of enterprise that we're most likely going to be called upon to do again. We are going to be pulling back troops from foreign bases all over the world which makes the sealift capacity even more important." To a standng ovation from the representativesof the MTD's 42 affiliated unions, Studds promised the demise of the U.S.-flag merchant fleet "won'thappen on my watph. Know Your Rights FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atlantic. Gulf. Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision for safeguarding the membership's money and Union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit by Certified Public Accountants every year, which is to be sub­ mitted to the membership by the SecretaryTreasurer. A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file members, elected by the membership, each year examines the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf. Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agreements. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds shall equally consist of Union and management repre­ sentatives and their alternates. All expenditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust fund financial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member's shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the Union and the employers. Members should get to know their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If members believe there have been violations of their shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the Union and the employers, they should notify theSeafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt request^. The proper address for this is: Augustin Tellez, Chairman Seafarers Appeals Board 5201 Auth Way Camp Springs, MD. 20746 Full copies of contracts as refened to are available to members at all times, either by writing directly to the Uruon or to die Seafarers Appeals Board. CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and conditions under which an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship or boat Membersshould know their contract rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (Of) on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If. at any time, a member believes that an SIU patrolman or other Union official fails to protect their contractual rights properly, they diould tontact the nearest SIU port agent EDITORIAL POLICY—THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any articleserving the political pur­ poses of any individual in the Union, officer or rnember. It dso has refrained from publishing ar­ ticles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaf­ firmed by membershipaction at the September 1960 meetings in all constitutional ports. The respon­ sibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an editorial board which consists of the Executive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in the SIU unless an official Union receipt is given for same. Under no circumstances should any member pay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a receipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to Union headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU constitution are available in all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time a member feels any other member or officer is attempting to deprive him of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods, such as dealing with charges, trials, etc.. as well as all other details, the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in thecontracts which the Union has negotiated with the employers. Consequently, no member may be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, sex. national or geographic origin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify Union headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATION-7-SPAD. SPAD is a separate segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its; objects and purposes including, but not limited to.. furthering the political, social and economic interests of maritime workers, the preservation and furthering of the American Merchant Marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen and the advancement of trade union concepts. In coiinection with such objects. SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or received because of force, job dis­ crimination, financial reprisal, or threat of such con­ duct. or as a condition of membership in the Union or of employment. If a contribution is made by reason of the above improper conduct, the member should notify the Seafarers International Union or SPAD by certified mail within 30 days of the con­ tribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if involuntary. A member should sup­ port SPAD to protect and further his economic, political and social interests, and American trade union concepts. If at any time a member feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or that he has been denied his constitutional right of access to Union recordsor information, he should immedi­ ately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at head­ quarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. The address is 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Safe Work Habits a Must Brent Sullivan (left) and James Strickland are in the ninth week of training at the Lundeberg School where they are preparing for entry level shipl}oard positions in the engine department. The union's training center places a heavy emphasis on safety practices and procedures in the use of hand and power tools. • .Cl" • .•' • 'f'M r "• • •V I'/.-:. ' • ' -• A' .. •'hr-' : -v r' f:-. • r. ;•:$ ••to •VA �T'I' 28 •«i •::-:^•^v:•• !r% • I'r;' SEAFARBtSLOe Luttdebeiy Si^ool Graduates Eight Classes ri, •t!.'- • : • •,. - -o Trainee Lifeboat Class 490—Graduating from trainee lifeboat class 490 are (from left, kneeling) Instructor Ben Cusic, Jon LInvllle, James Strickland, Angela Robertson, Steven Teel, Brent Sullivan, NIcfiolas Jayo, (second row) Ed Jeffery, Lawrence Powell, Larry Anderson, Tim Kacer, Dustin Dickens, Denlel Butler, Gregory Howard, (third row) David FInley, Charles Brockhaus, Alexia Gonzalez, Damon Presnell, Steven Dollhlte, Andre Graham, (back row) Paul Russell and Greg Smith. Upgraders Lifeboat—Completing the upgraders lifeboat dass on December 16 are (from left, kneeling) Instructor Ben CusIc, Colleen White, Julio Morales, Robert Allen, (second row) Robert Jackson, Doug Metiill, Mark O'Neal and Eric Cole. Trainee Lifeboat Class 491—Recently graduating from trainee lifeboat class 491 are (from left, kneeling) Doug Smith, Paul DIFrenna, Larry Lappin, Sean Fournler, Jeffrey Hockfeld, Robert Fredrlckson, Brandon Taylor, Chris Maher, William DIze, Steve Voss Jr., Steven Lunsford, James Pace II, Domlngue Bush, Steven Dickey, (second row) Instructor Jim Moore, Chad Johnston, Andrew Green Jr., Paul Bleckman, William Holllngsworth, Andrew Kruse, Bryan Husman, Brian Sailer, Darrin Pettaway, Christopher Periine and Daniel Orzechowskl. Upgraders Lifeboat—Certificates of training were received by the January 13 class of upgraders. They are (from left, kneeling) Jesus Torres, Aamir NagI, Gamal Ahmed, Ken Strong, George Campbell, Vincent D'Amella, Juan Campbell, (second row) James Woods, Paul Beshers, Chris Altleri, Reginald Muldrow, Donnle McKlnley, Don Smith, Tomothy Jones, Instructor Ben CusIc, (third row), Charlie Bearman, Robert Du Fossat, Robert Haggerty, Jonathan Davis, Ron Marchand and Matt Flentle. w -#S: Fireman, Oiler, Watertender—^Working their way up the engine depart­ ment ratings are (from left, kneeling) David Klnard, Andre Morrisette, Richard Riley, Brandon Greaux, Robert Feltus, Nell Carter, (second row) Amett Ware, Al Farrington, John Fleming, JImmIe Robles, Brian Bates, John Kasbarian, Steve Perham, Ernesto Shanklln, (third row) James Furby, Ben Never, Robert Hermanson, Tim Perkins, Scott Sevret, John Morrison, Arsenio Cortez, Jason Trickett, Scott Roberts, Daniel Wise, Andrew Derry, Jesse Canales Jr., All SIdek, Peter Murtagh, Instructor J.D. WIegman, (fourth row) James Tolan, HalvorSllcott, Willie Slan, Steve Hoffman, Daniel Blackwell, Paul Hayes, Robert Muscato, (fifth row) Chris Hem'ng, Stan Gamett, Charles Allred, Charles Thompson, Jason Frazee, Jon Benson, Michael RIbeIro, Bernard Pogue, Wayne Driggers, sixth row) Dion Papas, Phil Golgano, Shane Cassldy, Grant Schuman, William Rodegeb and Juipen Gottschllch. Radar Observer—Completing the course of Instruction leading to a radar observer endorsement are (from left, front row) David Queepo, Don Peterson, Manuel Conchinka, (second row) Carl Letlzia, Charles Booher, Bob Bochester, Clarence Tyler, Martin TIghe, (third row) Instructor Jim Brown, Joe Fortune, Ed Smith, Raymond Zacke, Earl Hanson and Julio Perez. Shiphandling Simulator—^Successfully completing this Coast Guard ap­ proved course are (from left, seated) Ray Lewis, Raymond Zacke, (second row) Jessie Holmes (simulator computer operator). Instructor Jim Brown, Milton Caballero, Ross Dodson, J.W. Clement, Martin TIghe, Sam. Lesky, Julio Perez, Raymond Austin and Charles Booher. r QMED—Upgrading members of the engine department completing the QMED course are (from left, kneeling) William Irvine, Harold H. Gage, Dave Plumb, Victor Mull, Gary Dahl, Joseph Laguana, (second row) Cory CIdade, Ben Jagliano, Green Hosklns, Theron Skewls, Sidney Stratos, Ron Sharp, Thomas Martinez, Shane Moore, (third row) David St. Onge, John Flood, Joseph Jay Arnold, Matthew MIslan, Michael Waz, Patrick Coriess, Frank KalanI, Gregory L. Johnson, Larry S. Edgell, (fourth row) Lee Sherwood, Ralph KurpeskI, Arthur Holmes, William Harris, Edmond Hawkins, Robert Warren and Bob Rudd. �HumHim LUHimeite SCHOOL MecerUlktaUonPngnuns « the cui^nt course schedule for April-August 1992 at the Lundeberg^School of Seamanship located at the Paul Hall Center for MantiincTiaming and Education in Piney Point, Md. All programs are geared to improve job stalls of SIU members and to promote the American maritime industry. Tlie course schedule may change to reflect the needs of the membership, the manttme mdustry and—m times of conflict—the nation's security. Btewai^i^^ ChectaDi Dtote May 4 May 15 June 29 July 10 August 31 September 11 Radar Observer Unlimited May 18 May 22 July 13 July 17 Celestial Navigation April 6 Mayl Aiqgtad3 August 28 Third Mate ® May 4 August 14 , Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must be taken. i- ' 'j s " Tankerman Julyl6 July31 Sai0SiHMHattyCmines A" ,; Sg;iy:/ Check-In Completipn Date Date April 13 April 17 AprU27 Mayl June 22 June 20 July 6 July 10 August 17 August 21 August 31 September4 Upon completion, the Sealift Operations course must be taken. Course Oil Spill Prevention & Containment Lifebioaiinan 1-, April 13 April 27 May 11 May 25 June 8 June 22 July 6 July20 August 3 August 17 JunelO . -''.I.; ' ,» Basic/Advanced Fire Fighting (Fint) (Middle) (Slieet) (aty) (SUIB) Deep Sea Member D (ZipCode) Lakes Member D Montli/Day/Year .Telephone _L (AreaCode) Date available for training Primary language spoken — ^ • -yl- • Mayli July 6 August 31 SV,. July 3 August 28 October 23 With this application COPIES of your discharges must be submitted showing sufficient time to qualify yourself for the course(s) requested. You also must submit a COPY of each of the following: the first page of your union book indicating your department and seniority, your clinic card and the front and back of your Lundeberg School identification card listing the course(s) you have taken and completed. The Admissions Office WILL NOT schedule you until all of the above are received. RATING DATE DATE OF VESSEL HELD SHIPPED DISCHARGE •••I'; • - .%' Pacific D If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed. Book#. Social Security #. . Department Seniority • U.S. Citizen: •Yes • No Home Port. Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held ' • Yes Are you a graduate of the SHLSS trainee program? If yes, which program: from to. Last grade of school completed •Yes Have you attended any SHLSS upgrading courses? If yes, course(s) taken Have you taken any SHLSS Sealift Operations courses? •Yes If yes, how many weeks have you completed? Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boatman Endorsement? •Yes • No Firefighting:•Yes •No CPR:• Yes Check-In Completion Date 'Date"' May 11 July 31 jilrenmnAVaitertender and Oiler May 11 June 19 JtiiyO Augustl4 AugustJl October^ All students must take the Oil Spill Prevention and Containment class. ^ PumprcMMn Maintyk Operations May 11 June 19 August31 October 9 Maivie Electiica^ Maihtanance April 27 June 19 August 17 October 9 Refrigeration Maint & Operations May 11 June 19 Refrig. Containers-^Advanced Maint. June 22 July 31 Marine Electronics—Technician! May 11 June 19 Marine Electironics—Tech^ June 22 July 31 Basic Electronics April 13 May 8 August 31 September25 Hydraulics June 22 July 17 August 17 September 11 Diesel Engine Technology July 6 July 31 A// students in the Engine Department willhave a two-week Sealift Familiarization class at the end of^their regular course. •Cbiiii^-; FULL 8-week scions ' Date of Birth _ Inland Waters Member D y. The following courses are available through the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School. Please contact the admissions office for enrollment information. Chedt-In Completion aCourse Itate Date High School Equivalenrty (GED) All opon-euded (contact Adult Basic Education (ABE) admissions Office forstarting Engl&h asa Second Language (ESU) dates) April 24 May8 May 22 June 12 June 19 July 2 July 17 July 31 August 14 August 28 June20 ' yJi-- 1992Mutt BduMtion Schedule mtRADIHBJUmCAJWH Name (Uit) Address. f--.' yj". iyr Ship Handling l. ; VA%:;SrA,& Check-In Comptetlon Course Date Date Assistant Cook, Cook and Baker, All open-ended (contact adndssions Chief Cook, Chief Steward oflSce for starting ^tcs) Uppn con^letion, all spidents will take a Sealift Pdmiliarization class. C^mpletfo^ Date Julys May 25 July 20 Aa^t28 All st^ents must take the 0il Spill Prevention and Containment class prior to the Sealift Operations and Maintenance course. ^ Completion Date July 6 . I t-M • 'u.''f-®. <•? Cdurse Chcek-ln Date Juml ^lins6 W 7*® SIGNATURE '•''f'i.y I am interested in the following course(s) checked below orin£cated here if not listed •NO GNO GNO .DATE DECK AB/Senlift 1st Class Pilot Third Mate Radar Observer Unlimited Master Inspected Towing Vessel D Towboat Operator Inland D Celestial Navigation • Simulator Course • • • O • • Marine Electrical Maintenance O Puihproom Maintenance & Operation • Refrigeration Systems Maintenance &Operation • Diesel Engine Technology Q Assistant Engineer/Chief Engineer Motor Vessel Q Original 3rd EngineerSteam or Motor CH Refrigerated Containers Advanced Maintenance D Electro-Hydraulic Systems • Automation • Hydraulics D Marine Electronics Technician ALL DEPARTMENTS • Welding Q Lifeboatman (must be taken with another course) • Oil Spill Prevention & Containment G G G G G ADULT EDUCATION DEPARTMENT Adult Basic Education (ABE) High School Equivalency Program (GED) Developmental Studies (DVS) English as a Second Language (ESL) ABEmSL Lifeboat Preparation : -x; • -•"4 » '-M 'I STEWARD • Assistant Cook Utility • Cook and Baker • FOWT • CaiiefCook D QMED—^Any Rating G Chief Steward COLLEGE PROGRAM • Variable Speed DC Drive G Associates in Arts Degree G Towboat Inland Cook Systems (Marine Electronics) Transportation wlil be paid in accordance with die scbeduling letter only if you present origkial receipts and snccessAiIly complete the coarse. If you hare any questions, contact your port agent before deparUng for Piney Point RETURN COMPLETED APPLICATION TO; Seafarers Hany Luidebeig Upgrading Cenler, P.O. Bo* 75, Piney Point, MD 20674. ENGINE •No — . 3/92 Jk". —5 f' �Scholarship Program ^'RS" - •• I'Si'" IfA'i! l>5':.5-,'-' • Vojume^l^Ni^^ March 1992 The SlU scholarship pro­ gram application deadline Is fast approaching. Applications are due April 15,1992. I'' ' \i • '• • ."a :?;C l';' : - ^v'Hv •• '• . r'l' •'• • -:•'( .• • . >i . -^r ILA President Emeritus Teddy Gleason (left) and President Jotm Bowers MTD Vice President William Zenga TCU President Robert Scardelletti (left) and Vice President Jack Otero Help Find Seafarer's Daughter Canadian Marine Officers President Albert Robillard (left) and lAM Vice President Justin Ostro SlU of Canada President Roman Gralewicz Glass, Molders President James E. Hatfield SEIU Secretary-Treasurer RIcfiard Cordtz Carpenters President Sigurd Lacassen Seafarer Tom Campbell has aisked his fellow members to help locate his daughter, Elizabeth Ann Campbell. A $5,000 reward is offered for information leading to her location. Ms. Campbell was last seen at the 7-11 convenience store on Highway 190 in Copperas Cove, Texas, at 11:10 p.m. on Monday, April 25,1988. She was wearing new bluejeans, white tennis shoes, a white T-shirt, a faded yellow jacket and carried a maroon purse. Now 24, she has a one-inch scar on top of her head. Ms. Campbell is 5 ft. 2 in. and weighed 97 pounds when last seen. She has brown eyes and long brown hair and wears glas­ ses. She was a student at Central Texas College. She speaks English, some Spanish and a few Korean words. She may smoke Virginia Slims or Marlboro Ultra Lights. Her complexion is medium to fair. Her case has been featured on the television programs Un­ solved Mysteries (November 22, 1989) and America's Most Wanted (September 25,1988). Anyone who has information should contact Sgt. Rene Martin of the Copperas Cove Police Department at (817) 547-4273, or Tom Campbell at (512) 5565350, or the local police. Ellzabetli Ann Campbell •' """V" '''V � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1990-1999 Description An account of the resource Volumes LII-LXI Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993; Seafarers Log Scanned Issues 1984-1988, 1994-Present Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource March 1992 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES SIU INSISTS WORK TAX ISSUE RATE COURT’S ATTENTION MTD URGES FIRING OF FMC OFFICIAL STUDDS CALLS FOR ‘FRESH’ IDEAS TO REVITALIZE U.S. SHIPPING PENTAGON STUDY CALLS FOR MORE SEALIFT CAPACITY U.S. SHIP GAMBLING BILL AWAITS BUSH SIGNATURE ANDREW CARD SUCCEEDS SKINNER AS TRANSPORTATION SECRETARY TELLEZ APPOINTED VP; MANGRAM, HALL NAMED ASST. VPS ADMIRAL JACKSON TUG CREW SAVES 3 MEN TRAPPED BY FIRE INLAND DIVISION PRAISED FOR ‘FLAWLESS’ WORK MTD EXEC. BOARD STRESSES TRADE MUST BENEFIT NATION EXTRA-EARLY FITOUT BEGINS FOR LAKES SEAMEN AT&T BREAKS OUT THE C/S GLOBAL SENTINEL LUEDTKE DREDGE SIU MEN HONE DIESEL ENGINE SKILLS SET FAIR TUNA TARIFF NOW, SIU TELLS TRADE PANEL BOSUN MILLER, BROTHER EXEMPLIFY BENEFITS OF FITNESS STEELWORKERS WILL ‘LAST ONE DAY LONGER THAN RAVENSWOOD’ CONGRESSMEN URGE VOTERS: GIVE BUSH THE PINK SLIP USNS AUDACIOUS TRANSFERRED FOR OPERATION TO PRIVATE CO. GOV’T SERVICES MEMBERS BID A FOND FAREWELL TO DECOMMISSIONED OILER AMERICAN HAWAII CRUISE SHIPS HOW TO BUY AMERICAN TUNA FIFTH GRADE PEN PALS BOLSTER OVERSEAS WASHINGTON CREW’S MORALE STEEL SHIPS AND IRON MEN: PART II Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 03/01/1992 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. 54, No. 3 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text 1992 Periodicals Seafarers Log