The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the federal agency tasked with prosecuting unfair labor practices, has issued a complaint against The Pasha Group and certain of its subsidiaries for labor violations associated with two new containerships being built at Keppel AmFELS in Brownsville, Texas, the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) … [Read more...]
West Coast Dockworkers, Shippers ‘Far Apart’ on Contract
By James Nash (Bloomberg) -- West Coast dockworkers and their employers remain far apart in contract negotiations that have stretched over seven months and no settlement is imminent, a spokesman for shippers, stevedores and terminal operators said. The Pacific Maritime Association that represents port employers made the assessment in a statement a day after 90 leaders of … [Read more...]
Union Task Force Aims to Replace U.S. and European Mariners Working Offshore Africa
A multi-national labor union group announced a special task force this month aimed at cutting the number of U.S. and European citizens working aboard offshore service vessels active in African waters. The unions want to boost the numbers of African nationals employed, reducing reliance on foreigners to crew the boats vital to the continued operation of the offshore oil … [Read more...]
Maritime Labor Alliance Formed as Waterfront Strike Looms
- by Bruce Vail As anxiety over the possibility of a major U.S. dock strike rises, shipping unions here and abroad are responding with a show of solidarity that could help the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) win its current war of nerves with waterfront employers. Meeting in Washington, D.C., last week, leaders of several unions announced the … [Read more...]
Hidden in New Highways Bill, ‘Stealth Attack’ Stuns Maritime Unions
By Bruce Vail, contributing writer at Working In These Times Unions representing the crewmembers aboard U.S.-flag cargo ships are reeling from a stunning setback in Congress that threatens to idle as many as 16 vessels and eliminate up to 2,000 maritime jobs. One of the unions described the move by Congress as a “stealth attack” because it took place in … [Read more...]