Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/452408
The Growing Spectrum of USMX Activities while US~J('s primary responsibility is the negotiation and administration of the Master Contract, a review of the USMX Mission Statement makes it dear that USMX's purpose is not limited to the collective bargainin8 arena. Rather, when USMX was created, it was dearly the intent of the founders that USMX should represent the interests of the carrier and longshore industry wherever and whenever it was appropriate to do so. Following the mandate of the Mission Statement, USMX, together with the ILA and other i n d u s t r y o r g a n i z a t i o n s s u c h a s t h e P a c i fi c M a r i t i m e A s s o c i a t i o n , t h e N a t i o n a l A s s o c i a t i o n o f Wa t e r f r o n t Employers and others, has represented the interests of the industry in a variety of forums. TRAINING Produced the highly successful Powered Industrial Truck (PIT} program. Is currently working on the creation of a training program for rubber-tired gantry cranes and regular cranes, H a s w o r k e d w i t h t h e M I TA G S s t a ff i n Linthicum Heights, Maryland on the crane training program. LEGISLATIVE MA'['rERS REGULATORY ISSUES Has taken a leading rote with respect to t h e H o m e l a n d S e c u r i t y l e g i s l a t i o n t o protect the industry from having to bear an undue burden. Registered as a lobbyist in Washington, D.C. and related states. Sponsors annual events like "Port Day On The Hill." Monitors state legislation to protect the industry from undue regulation. U S M X h a s c o n t i n u e d t o p r o m o t e t h e a c c e p t a n c e o f Ve r U c a [ Ta n d e m L i f t s (VTLs) by working with the Internationa[ Organization For Standardization, the International Cargo Handling Co-Ordina- tion Association, the Maritime Advisory Committee for Occupation Safety and Health, and the Occupafiona[ Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). fi S M X a n d C C C l e d t h e i n d u s t r y ' s o p p o s i t i o n t o t h e A m e r i c a n Tr u c k i n g A s s o c i a t i o n ' s a t t e m p t t o a m e n d t h e Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regu[afions so that the liability for the operation of unsafe intermodal equipment over the road would be shifted from the truckers t o t h e c a r r i e r s w h o p r o v i d e t h e equipment. T h e D e p a r t m e n t o f Tr a n s p o r t a t i o n created the Marine Transportation System LITIGATION * National Advisory Council (MTSNAC) in January 20go, with USMX as a charter m e m b e r, a n d w i t h i t s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e , Chuck Raymond, elected as Chairman. MTSNAC's rote is to advise the Secretary of Transportation on matters relafing to the marine transportation system, which i n c l u d e s w a t e r w a y s , p o r t s a n d t h e i r intermodat connections. USMX and CCC submitted an industry position statement to OSHA opposing OSHA's attempt to adapt regulations that w o u l d h a v e r e q u i r e d t h e c a r r i e r s a n d stevedores to pay for their employees' Personal Protection Equipment. USMX and CCC submitted an industry position statement to OSHA opposing OSHA's attempt to impose an ergonomics program on the maritime industry, Working with the ILA, PMA, and the ILWU, USMX negotiated a settlement with OSHA t o p r o t e c t t h e i n d u s t r y a g a i n s t a n attempt to over-regulate the training of powered industrial truck operators. USMX intervened in a Federal Maritime Commission proceeding brought by a cruise ship operator against the South Carolina State Ports Authority after the SCSPA claimed that its decision denyin~ t h e c r u i s e s h i p o p e r a t o r a l i c e n s e could not be chaBen~ed before the FMC. USMX and CCC, in anticipation of major disruptions in port operations that migbt be caused by non-union independent truckers seeking to be recognized, were prepared to seek injunctive relief through t h e c o u r t s b y p r e s s i n g a n t i - t r u s t complaints. USMX and CCC, in response to the threat of major work stoppages in the Ports of Charleston and Savannah because of the criminal trial of the Charleston 5, put in p l a c e a s t r a t e g y t o o b t a i n i m m e d i a t e injunctive relief in both ports. U S M X h a s c o n t i n u a B y m o n i t o r e d t h e status and progress of the West Coast n e g o t i a t i o n s t o i n s u r e t h a t a n y l a b o r unrest on the West Coast does not spread t o t h e A t l a n t i c a n d G u l f C o a s t s . I n addition, USMX council has held a series o f m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e N a t i o n a l L a b o r Retafions Board General Counsel to insure t h a t t h e N L R B w i l l s e e k i m m e d i a t e injunctive ~e[ief if the need at ises. Page 5