Wheelhouse Weekly, September 17, 2024

Volume 30… Number 38, September 17, 2024

STORIES COVERED

In This Issue:

• Administration Acts to Ensure All US-Funded Projects Include Strong Labor Standards
• New Federal Grants for Ferries in Alaska and San Francisco
• Mark Dickinson Elected President of Britain’s Trade Union Congress
• Federal Labor Relations Authority Back at Full Strength After Senate Vote
• St. Lawrence Seaway Releases New Figures Underlining Its Essential Economic Role
• 33,000 Boeing Workers Out on Strike
• Now Available: Updated SOCP Guide on Responding to Sexual Assault/Harassment in Maritime

Job Opportunities:

• Offshore Jobs Available
• Job Opportunities on the Great Lakes

And:

• MITAGS-East Academic Notes
• MITAGS–West Academic Notes

ADMINISTRATION ACTS TO ENSURE ALL US-FUNDED PROJECTS INCLUDE STRONG LABOR STANDARDS

President Biden has signed a landmark executive order that directs all federal agencies to adhere to “a clear list of labor standards” when awarding dollars for government funded-projects.

It calls for voluntary union recognition, neutrality with respect to union organizing, and prioritizing programs that have pro-worker, pro-union provisions.

It directs federal agencies to look favorably on projects that offer prevailing wage standards, project-labor agreements and other equitable compensation practices such as equal pay and pay transparency.

“President Biden and Vice President Harris continue to fight to make sure that investments in our country create good-paying union jobs with benefits that support our families and give us a path to the middle class,” said AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler.

“This executive order helps ensure that people who work on government-funded projects are fairly paid, have a safe workplace and the opportunity to join a union.”

The executive order gives government agencies the tools to make sure that federal investments in everything from clean energy to semiconductors come with high labor standards that benefit workers and taxpayers.

Biden signed his “Good Jobs Executive Order” at a union training center in Ann Arbor, Mich., just hours after the U.S. Labor Department reported payroll employment in the country had grown by 142,000 in August.

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NEW FEDERAL GRANTS FOR FERRIES IN ALASKA AND SAN FRANCISCO

The Federal Transit Administration on Monday announced nearly $300 million in new grants from the 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law to expand and modernize the nation’s ferry systems.

The largest single federal grant went to the Alaska Marine Highway System, which received $106 million.

The funds will be used to buy a diesel-electric newbuild to serve Southeast Alaska.

The San Francisco Bay Ferry system has won an $11 million grant to help purchase the first high-speed electric ferries ever built in the U.S.

The San Francisco Bay Area Water Emergency Transportation Authority (WETA), the operator of the ferry service, wants to buy two classes of high-speed electric ferries for new and existing routes.

The first phase of the plan calls for three 150-passenger battery electric ferries to serve downtown and the waterfront neighborhoods of Mission Bay and Treasure Island.

Together with other funds provided by state and local partners, WETA now has more than $130 million to build its battery-electric fleet and associated shoreside infrastructure.

The construction program calls for a charging float at the downtown terminal, a new charging station at the Treasure Island terminal, and a brand new electric-ready terminal for Mission Bay.

WETA already has a design for the 150-passenger vessel model and is soliciting quotes from shipyards.

It expects to take delivery of its first battery-electric ferry in 2026.

In phase two, WETA wants to buy two larger electric ferries capable of moving 400 passengers at a time.

It will then convert four of its existing 400-passenger ferries to battery-electric operation.

Members of the MM&P United Inland Group-Pacific Maritime Region operate the AMHS ferries and those of WETA.
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MARK DICKINSON ELECTED PRESIDENT OF BRITAIN’S TRADE UNION CONGRESS

Mark Dickinson, the general secretary of Nautilus International and the director of the Nautilus Federation, has been elected president of Britain’s 48-member Trade Union Congress.

He is the first seafarer to lead the Trade Union Congress since 1959.

A champion of workers’ rights throughout his career—including as assistant general secretary of the International Transport Workers Federation—he contributed to the development of the Maritime Labor Convention, which established minimum working and living standards for seafarers.

He is now serving his fourth term as general secretary of Nautilus International.

In speeches at international forums over the years, Dickinson has called on western governments to reenergize their maritime industries and prioritize the safety of seafarers and seaborne trade

“The role of seafarers often goes under-appreciated within the maritime industry and by the general public,” he told Delegates to MM&P’s 90th Convention.

“This is what we call ‘Sea Blindness,’ from the schools that know nothing of the opportunities that exist [in our industry], to the systemic failings on show during the Covid years…”

“Utter ignorance and lack of understanding of our industry and its people that jeopardizes the maintenance of global supply chains.”

“There is no national defense, or deployment capability, without the men and women and ships of the mercantile marine.”

“We move the world. Let’s use that power for the good of all working people.”

MM&P is one of the 22 affiliates of the Nautilus Federation, which works to support member maritime unions in the global shipping industry.
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FEDERAL LABOR RELATIONS AUTHORITY BACK AT FULL STRENGTH AFTER SENATE VOTE

The agency that oversees labor-management relations in the federal government can take up controversial cases again for the first time in more than a year, now that the Senate has reconfirmed Republican Member Colleen Duffy Kiko.

Democratic Member Anne Marie Wagner was confirmed in July.

The FLRA governs labor-management relations at federal agencies. It has a three-member board that settles unfair labor practice complaints and other disputes between unions and management.

Its role is similar to that of the National Labor Relations Board, which oversees collective bargaining in the private sector.

Since January 2023, the FLRA has been deadlocked, with only two confirmed members, one from each political party, because Senate Republicans blocked President Biden’s first pick to fill the third seat.

For federal workers, it is essential that there be a functioning FLRA, says MM&P Government Fleet Representative Randi Ciszewski.

“Since federal workers can’t strike, the teeth in our federal contracts is our ability to file grievances and ULP charges against our federal employers,” she says.

“If management implements a unilateral change in members’ working conditions or denies our grievances, we are able to invoke arbitration and proceed to arbitration and ULP charge hearings conducted by the FLRA—an unbiased third party.”

If the agency’s operations are stalled or slowed, she adds, “our members remain aggrieved until the case is heard and adjudicated.”

The last 18 months of deadlock between Kiko and FLRA Chairwoman Susan Tsui Grundmann have meant that up to now, the board could only rule in noncontroversial cases.

Even with last Wednesday’s confirmation vote, the FLRA remains without a Senate-confirmed general counsel, which interferes with its ability to investigate and hear unfair labor practice complaints.

Biden’s pick for the post, Suzanne Summerlin, has been awaiting a floor vote on her confirmation for more than a year.
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ST. LAWRENCE SEAWAY RELEASES NEW FIGURES UNDERLINING ITS ESSENTIAL ECONOMIC ROLE

Yesterday, the St. Lawrence Seaway released new figures demonstrating its importance to the Great Lakes economy and that of the nation overall.

So far this navigation season, as of the end of August, 19.5 million metric tons of cargo have been shipped on the Seaway.

The consistency and reliability of the binational system makes it a key supply chain link, moving the goods that drive the North American economy.

The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway System supports over 350,000 jobs across the U.S. and Canada.

If the region were a country, it would be the third largest economy in the world.

“The Great Lakes-St. Lawrence Seaway continues to provide shippers a reliable route for a diverse range of commodities flowing in and out of the U.S. heartland,” says Adam Tindall-Schlicht, administrator, Great Lakes St. Lawrence Seaway Development Corporation.

“Cargo numbers continue to improve thanks to the dedicated workers at U.S. and Canadian ports and on the vessels who are keeping vital products like grain and steel moving efficiently through the Great Lakes maritime supply chain.”

Cargos which showed significant increases compared to the same period in 2023 are:

— Grain: 5.2 million metric tons of Canadian and U.S. grain, up by 277,000 mt or 5.6 percent;

— Potash: 849 thousand metric tons, up by 145,000 mt. or 21 percent;

— Petroleum products: 1.8 million metric tons, up by 385, 000 mt or 27 percent;

— Iron and steel: 1.3 million metric tons, up by 347,000 mt or 35 percent.

“Marine shipping on the Seaway is an environmentally friendly method for transporting goods,” says Jim Athanasiou, president and CEO of the St. Lawrence Seaway Management Corporation.

“The St. Lawrence Seaway is a vital link in the supply chain that keeps our economies moving.”
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33,000 BOEING WORKERS OUT ON STRIKE

Thousands of Boeing workers walked off the job on Friday after rejecting a tentative contract offer negotiated by their union, the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), and company management.

Most of the striking workers are employed at Boeing facilities in Washington state and Oregon.

Almost all of them—96 percent—voted to reject the tentative contract. The vote to authorize the strike was 95 percent.

IAM members at Boeing last went on strike in 2008.

The contract that was signed when that strike ended had been extended several times before expiring at midnight on Sept. 12, after which the current strike began.

The workers have said the tentative contract did not compensate them for the toll inflation has taken on their wages or the concessions made in past negotiations, including the loss of their pensions about 10 years ago.

The pay of mid-ranking IAM workers at Boeing is now roughly the same as that of non-unionized Amazon delivery drivers—about $20 an hour.

Inflation has totaled almost 50 percent since the last contract was signed.

Boeing says it offered to raise wages by 25 percent on average for all jobs covered by the contract, with larger increases going to lower-paid workers.

IAM and the company are scheduled to restart talks on Tuesday, with the help of federal mediators.

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UPDATED SOCP GUIDE ON RESPONDING TO SEXUAL ASSAULT/HARASSMENT IN MARITIME

The Ship Operations Cooperative Program has updated its guide on the prevention of and response to sexual harassment and sexual assault in the maritime industry.

The new guide is available for download to the U.S. public at no charge on the SOCP SASH Prevention website at https://www.socp.us/sash-prevention-materials.

It was developed with industry input, under a cooperative agreement with the Maritime Administration, in partnership with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN).

The guide addresses a number of other prohibited behaviors, such as retaliation, bullying, hazing, coercion, and stalking.

SOCP encourages you to post the link to the guide on your own website to encourage others to download it and incorporate it into their own SA/SH Prevention and Response programs.

SOCP is a nonprofit organization of maritime professionals working to improve the safety, productivity, efficiency, security, and environmental performance of U.S. vessel operations.

Its members include ship owners and operators, unions, academies, training institutions, and government agencies.

You can contact SOCP by sending an email to: programadmin@socp.us www.socp.us 301-538-7627
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OFFSHORE JOBS AVAILABLE

2M Urgently needed for PAX, TPIC preferred, but if any interested candidates with Tanker Assist, please throw in for the job.

MARAD ROS CM and 3M positions open. No training required.  Pensioners may work Government Contracts.

CMs, 2Ms, 3Ms Needed for LMSR’s, please email jhope@bridgedeck.org with any questions or visit any Offshore Hall.
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JOB OPPORTUNITIES ON THE GREAT LAKES

There are job openings on the Great Lakes!

If you want more information about any of the listings that appear below, go to https://bridgedeck.org/job-opportunities/.

Interested candidates should reach out to Thomas Bell at the MM&P Cleveland office: tbell@bridgedeck.org.
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MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

For registration contact our Admissions Department: 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

Classes are 5-day unless otherwise noted

Class dates followed by an * are full
AB – Able Seaman (5-Day): 02/10/25

ARPA-OIC– Automated Radar Plotting Aids (4-Day): 11/04/24, 03/24/25

AZIPOD (2-Day): Contact Admissions

BRM – Bridge Resource Management (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

BRMP –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots (2-Day): Contact Admissions

BRMP-EMR –Bridge Resource Management for Pilots with Emergency Shiphandling – (Now also included in BRMP-Refresher) (3-Day): Contact Admissions

BRMP-Refresher (Now including Emergency Shiphandling for Pilots) (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

BT – Basic Safety Training (5-Day): not currently scheduled

BT-Revalidation (2-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years): *09/30/24, 10/28/24

BT-Refresher (3-day): *09/30/24, 10/28/24

CHS-OIC – Cargo Handling Basic (5-Day): 02/17/25

[CMM – Chief Mate and Master Courses]

ADVSTB-CMM – Advanced Stability (5-Day): 10/07/24, 12/09/24, 01/13/25, 03/24/25, 04/28/25

ADVWX-CMM – Advanced Meteorology (5-Day): 09/23/24, 12/16/24, 01-06/25, 03/17/25, 06/02/25

CHS-CMM – Advanced Cargo Operations (10 Days): 10/14/24, 01/20/25

CM-OPS 1 – Chief Mate Operations (5-Day): 12/09/24, 02/10/25, 05/12/25

CM-OPS 2 Maersk – Chief Mate Operations II Maersk Specific (5-Day): 12/16/24, 02/17/25, 05/19/25

ECDIS – Electronic Chart Display Information Systems (5-Day): 11/11/24, 03/31/25

LMS – Leadership and Managerial Skills (Management Level – Formerly MCL-CMM) (5-Day): 11/18/24, 03/10/25

MPP-CMM – Marine Propulsion Plants (5-Day): 09/30/24, 03/03/25

(DCS-1 available on request – contact Admissions)

SHMGT-CMM- Ship Management (5-Day): 10/28/24, 02/17/25

SHS-ADV-I-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 1) (5-Day): 09/30/24*, 11/04/24, 12/02/24, 01/13/25, 02/03/25, 03/10/25, 04/07/25, 05/05/25,

SHS-ADV-II-CMM – Advanced Shiphandling (week 2) (5-Day): 10/07/24, 11/11/24*, 12/09/24, 01/20/25, 02/10/25, 03/07/25, 04/14/25, 05/12/25

**SHS-ADV-I & II are now approved to include SAR-CMM assessments at MITAGS**

VPEN-CMM – Voyage Planning & Electronic Navigation (5-Day): 04/28/25

WKP-CMM – Advanced Watchkeeping (5-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

WX-HW-PAC – Heavy Weather Avoidance Routing: Pacific Ocean (2-day) – 11/16/24

CIW-DPA/IA – Continual Improvement Workshop: Designated Person Ashore & Internal Auditor (3-Day) ** This course is NOT covered by the MATES Program **

Online: Not Currently Scheduled

CIW-SMS – Continual Improvement Workshop: Successful Safety Management (2-Day) – Online: Not Currently Scheduled

CNAV-OIC– Celestial Navigation (15-Day): 05/05/25

CRISIS-COMMS – Crisis Communications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CRSMGT – Crisis Management and Human Behavior (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CDMGT – Crowd Management (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE – Confined Space Entry (3-Day): Not currently scheduled

CSE-AWR – Confined Space Entry Awareness (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

DDE – Great Lakes (20-Day): 01/27/25

ECDIS for Pilots (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

ERM – Engine Resource Management (5-Day): 12/09/24, 03/17/25

FF-ADV – Advanced Firefighting (4-day): Not currently scheduled

FF-BADV – Fire Fighting Combined Basic & Advanced (5-Day): Not Currently scheduled

FF-ADV-Rev (1-day) (Must have 1 year of sea service in last 5 years) – Advanced Fire Fighting Revalidation: 10/02/24, 10/30/24

FF-ADV-REF (2-day) – Advanced Fire Fighting Refresher: 10/03/24

FSM – Fatigue, Sleep, & Medications (1-Day): Not currently scheduled

Online: Not currently scheduled

GL-Pilot – Great Lakes Pilotage Familiarization (2-Day): 02/07/25

GMDSS – Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (10-Day): 01/06/25

HAZ – Hazardous Materials (5 day): 12/02/24

LAP – License Advancement Program for Mate to Master (20-Day): 10/07/24, 03/10/25

LAP-Great Lakes – License Advancement Program – Great Lakes (15-Day): 02/10/25

LAP-ORG3rd – License Advancement Program for Original 3rd Mate, Oceans, Any Gross

Ton License (15-Day): 06/03/25

LEG – Legal Aspects of Pilotage (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

LNG-BADV – Basic and Advanced IGF Code Operations (3 Day): 10/21/24*, 10/28/24, 12/16/24, 01/13/25, 03/12/25, 05/05/25, 06/04/25

LTS –Leadership and Teamworking Skills (Formerly MCL-OIC) (1-Day): 02/24/25

MEECE – Management of Electrical and Electronic Control Equipment (Assessments /not included): 12/02/24, 03/24/25

MED-PIC – Medical Person in Charge (10-Day): 09/30/24, 12/02/24, 01/20/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25

MED-PIC-REF– Medical Person in Charge Refresher: 11/18/24, 01/06/25, 03/03/25, 04/28/25

MED-PRO – Medical Care Provider: (5-Day): 02/03/25, 04/07/25, 05/12/25

MED-DOT-DA – Dept. of Transportation Drug & Alcohol Testing (1-Day): 10/05/24, 11/17/24, 12/07/24, 01/11/25, 01/25/25, 03/08/25, 04/12/25, 05/03/25, 05/17/25

[MSC – Military Sealift Command Courses]

MSC-ATO-II – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer II (5-Day): 01/20/25

MSC-ATO-III – Military Sealift Command Anti-Terrorism Officer III (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

MSC-CBRD-OFF – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Officer (5-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-CBRD-1 – Military Sealift Command Chemical, Biological, Radiological Defense Orientation (Basic) (1-Day): 10/31/24, 01/09/25, 03/13/25, 05/08/25, 06/12/25

MSC-DC – Military Sealift Command Damage Control (2-day): 11/01/24, 01/10/25, 03/14/25, 05/09/25, 06/13/25

MSC-ENVPRO (1-Day – Evening Class): 11/01/24, 01/12/25, 03/16/25, 05/11/25

MSC-FF-HELO (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

MSC-SMA – Military Sealift Command Small Arms Qualifications (4-Day): 11/04/24, 01/13/25, 02/11/25, 03/17/25, 04/15/25, 05/12/25, 06/16/25

MSC-Security Watch Basic (1-Day/ 8-hour): 11/02/24, 01/11/25, 03/15/25, 05/10/25, 06/14/25

MSC-Security Watch Advanced (1-Day):, 11/03/24, 01/12/25, 02/10/25, 03/16/25, 04/14/24, 05/11/25, 06/15/25

MSC-Ship’s Reaction Force (3-Day): 11/08/24, 01/17/25, 03/31/25, 05/13/25, 06/20/25

NSAP-MMP – Navigational Skills Assessment Program-MM&P (2-Day): 12/09/24*, 12/11/24*, 01/07/25, 01/09/25

PSC – Personal Survival Craft (Lifeboatman) (5-Day): 09/23/24

PSC-REF – Personal Survival Craft Refresher (2-Day): 09/26/24, 02/17/25

RFPNW – Ratings Forming Part of a Navigational Watch (3-day): 01/29/25

ROR-1 – Radar Observer Renewal (1-Day): Not Currently Scheduled

ROR-1N – Radar Observer Renewal Evening Classes (1-Night): 10/02/24

ROU-OIC – Radar Observer Unlimited: 10/28/24, 03/17/25

SAR – Search & Rescue – (Now with OIC and CMM assessments) (3-Day): 02/26/25

SHS-BAS-OIC – Basic Shiphandling: 03/07/25, 04/14/25

SHS-EMR5 – Emergency Shiphandling (5 Day): 10/14/24*, 12/16/24*, 01/27/25, 04/21/25, 06/23/25

STB-OIC – Ship Construction and Basic Stability: 02/10/25

TCNAV/CO – Terrestrial Navigation and Compasses (15-Day): 01/20/25

TPIC – Tankerman Person in Charge: 10/21/24, 11/11/24

TRAC-TUG-2 (2-Day): Not currently scheduled

TTT – ** NOT covered by the MATES Program **: 10/07/24

VSO – Vessel Security Officer (3-Day): 12/04/24

WKP-OIC – Watchkeeping (Operational Level) (10-Day): 01/20/25, 04/21/25

WX-OIC –Meteorology (Operational Level): 03/10/25
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MITAGS–WEST ACADEMIC NOTES

You can enroll online at www.mitags.org or contact our Admissions Department 866.656.5568 or admissions@mitags.org

September 2024

23-26 ARPA

23-27 Advanced Meteorology
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The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots, 700 Maritime Blvd., Suite B, Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1953. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973. All rights reserved. The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly©2023. Articles can be reprinted without prior permission if credit is given to The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly.

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