M.E.B.A knows OSG

As the union election continues, I wanted to discuss one of the largest benefits of choosing M.E.B.A. as your bargaining representative – M.E.B.A. has experience with OSG. ATC mates continue to wait for OSG to set bargaining dates, and there does not seem to be a clear picture as to when they intend to begin.

On the other hand, M.E.B.A. has successfully negotiated a contract for the engineers. Having an existing bargaining relationship makes it more likely that M.E.B.A. and OSG will be able to reach agreement on a labor contract in a timely manner. In our labor contract for the engineers, M.E.B.A. and OSG have agreed on many terms and conditions that can be used as a baseline for your labor contract – we do not need to start from scratch. More importantly, OSG is already a signatory to the M.E.B.A. benefit plans. That means OSG is familiar with how the Plans operate and the costs of the Plans. These two facts provide us with a tremendous advantage when it comes time for us to bargain with OSG for your labor contract.  Without these advantages and experience, negotiating a labor contract would be significantly more difficult.

By choosing M.E.B.A., you benefit from our experience and the advantages only we can offer.

Less than 50 percent of all successful organizing drives do not lead to ratified contract within a year and a third of successful organizing drives still do not result in a ratified contract after two years. As we go on 6 months with ATC, and no contract in sight, it appears this may be the most recent example of how difficult it is to achieve a first contract after a successful organizing drive.  

M.E.B.A. is in a unique position to use its existing relationship with OSG and its role as the bargaining representative for the engineers as leverage to get OSG to the bargaining table and secure a fair and equitable contract in a timely manner. This will allow access to the training school, access to a wide variety of other jobs available to you if you decide to go anywhere else, the best pension in the industry, and the strongest representation sooner rather than later.

When making your final decision on union representation you should consider who offers the best chance to deliver you a labor contract after the votes are counted. It is undeniable the M.E.B.A. has the clearest path forward to getting a contract done and we look forward to the opportunity to represent you.