What's next from Sam Norton?

Let us all remember how this organizing drive began last winter: OSG deck officers approached M.E.B.A. and asked about us conducting an organizing drive for the deck of ficers. Not long after OSG corporate of ficials learned of the deck of ficers’ dissension, OSG approached AMO and agreed to recognize AMO. Shortly thereafter , M.E.B.A. learned that OSG had entered into such an agreement. M.E.B.A. filed an unfair labor practice on behalf of the deck of ficers with the National Labor Relations Board. OSG of ficials issued written statements to the deck officers in which they coyly avoided admitting (or denying) the truth. Last week, the NLRB issued a written finding that OSG and AMO had indeed entered into an agreement to force you into the AMO. In short, Sam Norton misled his employees when he tried to ‘wordsmith’ his way out of the facts: He attempted a secret sweetheart deal with a willing accomplice (AMO). I am attaching the decision by the NLRB demonstrating that OSG had attempted to deny you your legal right to choose the kind of representation you wanted. If CEO Sam’ s subterfuge about his AMO alliance was just a ‘misunderstanding,’ then doesn’t it make sense he shares the agreement with his employees and let you decide? What is he hiding?

Sam Norton misled his employees when he tried to ‘wordsmith’ his way out of the facts. M.E.B.A. v. OSG – Two Opposing Visions for the U.S. Merchant Marine Workforce.

Last week, M.E.B.A. President Adam Vokac vigorously responded to comments made by OSG CEO Sam Norton to an audience of shareholders regarding OSG’s belief that hiring foreign mariners is the solution to fix the U.S. Merchant Marine’s compensation and crewing crisis. That might have been welcome news to profit-minded shareholders, but not to the men and women on OSG ships whose wages and benefits would be suppressed by foreign-workers if Norton got his way. Speaking on behalf of his membership —and, specifically, the M.E.B.A. members who work on OSG vessels—Vokac answered Norton’s greedy solution: "What self-respecting American college graduate would choose to work in this industry fully knowing your best-case return would be third-world wages and benefits? Mr. Norton’s ambitions would only suppress industry wages and the quality of work while driving away any hope of recruiting and retaining aspiring cadets and seaman who want to pursue a lifelong, prosperous career in shipping." Rather than seeing workers as a top-priority stakeholder group (whose value cannot be replaced), Norton’s comments imply an agenda common among highly compensated corporate executives regarding their workers: given any opportunity, cut labor costs to increase shareholder profit. Vokac was quick to recognize Norton’s hypocrisy:

It Is ironic that Mr. Norton, whose company receives tens of millions of American taxpayer dollars annually to ship cargo for the United States military, wants to benefit from government support while simultaneously exploiting cheap, foreign labor and further degrading our nation’s fourth arm of defense. In fact, by the end of 2021, Mr. Norton personally received over $2.3 million in annual compensation while his highest-paid mariners earn only a fraction of that number.

Vokac charted a different course for Norton:

Instead of looking to circumvent the employment ofAmerican labor, Mr. Norton would be better served using his time more wisely [by] making his company a desirable place to work by improving the wages, retirement and quality of life for the mariners that make his company profitable.

Even though this logic is clear for any mariner or patriot, this debate is not going to be resolved anytime soon. But one thing is for certain: M.E.B.A.’s vision reflects the reality that investment in the workers -- rather than de investment -- must be the primary part of the solution to the shortage of mariners. M.E.B.A.’s leadership has an unwavering commitment to improving the work-lives of all existing and future workers in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Vote M.E.B.A. and Safeguard an American Future!

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