Neptune Orient Lines (NOL), the parent company of American President Lines, confirmed this month that it is in preliminary and separate negotiations with Denmark’s A.P. Moller-Maersk and France’s CMA CGM for the possible sale of the company.
West Coast Sailors
The maritime community is in mourning after the tragic sinking of the El Faro, a U.S.-flag roll-on/roll-off and lift-off vessel owned by TOTE.
The failure by Congress to renew the charter of the Export-Import Bank of the United States is costing American workers, including American maritime workers, jobs.
President Obama signed into law a bill renewing Trade Promotion Authority, known as "fast-track" which grants the administration the authority to negotiate trade pacts with other nations and present final deals to Congress without the possibility of amendment.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Temasek Holdings, a Singapore owned investment company, has put Neptune Orient Lines, the parent company of APL, up for sale.
Legislation that would gut the collective bargaining rights of maritime labor, both shoreside and seagoing, was introduced on June 4, by Senator Cory Gardner (R-Colorado).
Matson stated that since the transaction was a "merger" the company would honor Horizon’s existing collective bargaining agreements.
"If asked about the Jones Act – I am an ardent supporter of the Jones Act. [The Act] supports a viable ship building industry, cuts cost and produces 2500 qualified mariners. Why would we tamper with that?" said U.S. Air Force General Paul J. Selva, Commander, U.S. Transportation Command.
A milestone in the history of the American maritime labor movement was reached this month as the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific observed the 130th Anniversary of its founding and the enactment of the LaFollette Seamen’s Act marked its centennial.
Senator McCain’s attempt to gut the Jones Act turned into an exercise in futility as his amendment to the Keystone XL Pipeline bill was never brought up on the Senate floor for a vote prior to the final vote on the pipeline on January 29. The Arizona Republican’s amendment would have repealed the provision of the Jones Act.
Among the Union's objectives is "to support a journal which shall voice the sentiments of the seafaring class, and through its columns seek to maintain the knowledge of and interest in maritime affairs." The first issue of the West Coast Sailors, in June of 1937, noted that "Common sense, fearlessly applied, brings success to a Union."