AMO Currents - 'We have met the enemy and he is us'

AMO Currents - Posted: August 6, 2013

'We have met the enemy and he is us'

By Tom Bethel
National President

During one of the most difficult and dangerous periods for the U.S. merchant marine I can recall - a time when every essential aspect of U.S. maritime policy is under attack and every American seagoing union faces fleet reductions and job-base attrition - the leaders of three unions defied rational thought by publicly breaking ranks with the Maritime Trades Department of the AFL-CIO and firing off some unfounded cheap shots at several other maritime unions on their way out the door.

I have written extensively in this space about the threats now confronting all in our industry. At this moment, we are facing a new legislative threat to the Jones Act in the House of Representatives, the ongoing assault on PL-480 Title II Food for Peace by the Obama administration and its congressional allies, and funding shortfalls for the Maritime Security Program in this fiscal year, and possibly the next. Add to these the squeeze of sequestration on multiple elements of seagoing government program work, relentless attempts by foreign interests to gain access to the U.S. domestic energy transportation trades, the inability of Congress to convene a conference on the coming year's budget, and a drastic decline in cargo for U.S.-flagged ships operating in international trades as the drawdown in Afghanistan progresses, and as the one-third reduction in the U.S.-flag share of U.S. food-aid shipments continues to cut deeply into the merchant fleet.

I cannot imagine a set of circumstances under which it would be more important for all elements of the U.S.-flag maritime industry to band together in service to the common cause of survival. However, the misguided choices of the International Longshoremen's Association, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association and the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots have instead turned the comical adaptation of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry's famous report into an apt description of the developments in American maritime labor over the past month. "We have met the enemy and he is us."

The U.S.-flag maritime sector has always been distinguished in Washington, D.C. by one thing: unity. Whether we are acting to bolster the pillars of American maritime policy or to defend vital laws and programs from opportunistic assault on Capitol Hill, labor and industry work together. We speak with one voice. Our unity gives us strength, makes us unique and remains critical to our success.

If we are to survive the battles in which we are now engaged, if we are to secure a prosperous future for the U.S. merchant marine, unity is our only option. Most every maritime labor leader, and most every captain of industry in the maritime sector, understands this simple fact. Unfortunately, as the events of the past month made clear, some never will.

In a letter to the presidents of the ILA, MEBA and MM&P, Maritime Trades Department President Mike Sacco - a man who serves effectively as the recognized leader of American maritime labor, and has for more than 20 years - patiently pointed out the sole reason provided by these unions for disaffiliation "was that the MTD was permitting 'the dilution of the objectives and principles that are set forth in the MTD Constitution'. While it is impossible to address a vague and overly broad statement such as that one, the press release simultaneously issued by the International Longshoremen's Association contains many inaccurate and misleading statements relating to alleged raids and jurisdictional disputes between MTD affiliates."

Among the statements in the ILA press release was this bizarre and baseless remark about AMO: "MEBA and IOMM&P leaders cited numerous jurisdictional battles it has waged against American Maritime Officers (AMO), another affiliate of the MTD."

Poor grammar aside, MEBA is the only union of any mentioned here that is under sanctions from the AFL-CIO for raiding. The last jurisdictional dispute involving AMO and MM&P was brought before the AFL-CIO in the 1970s. That dispute was fully settled and resolved before AMO affiliated with the Maritime Trades Department through the Seafarers International Union of North America in 2003.

Nevertheless, Mike's letter to the leaders of these three unions concluded with an imperative sentiment, one which I share: "While the MTD regrets your decisions to disaffiliate, it is our hope that all of maritime labor will continue to work together towards the common goal of strengthening the industry that employs all of our members and provides them with wages and benefits that enable them and their families to enjoy the standard of living to which they have become accustomed. The MTD will continue to effectively promote and protect our industry and the jobs that it provides."

Particularly considering the dire developments now confronting the U.S. merchant marine, so too will AMO continue to work with all of maritime labor, and with our contracted employers, to protect the American maritime industry and the interests of all AMO members and families.

As always, I welcome your comments and questions. Please feel free to call me on my cell phone at (202) 251-0349.