We've been here before...

As you know from the many current battles going on between workers and corporate billionaires, companies and the CEOs who serve them will go to great lengths to ensure that you do not organize so they can continue to do as they please and line their greedy pockets at your expense. As you can see below, the battle you are in now is only the most recent example. Now, it’s our turn to keep the fight going.

On May 9th, 1934, maritime workers on the West Coast of the United States went on strike to demand better pay, working conditions, and union recognition. The strike was met with brutal repression by the police and shipping companies, who hired goons to beat and intimidate the workers. On Bloody Thursday, July 5th, the strike reached a tipping point and police opened fire on a group of striking workers in San Francisco, killing two and injuring dozens more. The events of Bloody Thursday galvanized the maritime labor movement and led to a wave of new organizing and militancy.

The sacrifices the workers made on the West Coast then brought about significant gains in pay, working conditions, and union recognition. Before the strike, only a small fraction of maritime workers were unionized. But in the aftermath of Bloody Thursday, workers flocked to join unions to protect themselves from exploitation and abuse as many recognized this was the only way to stifle the corporate greed and secure a fair share for the worker.

Another significant benefit that arose from the aftermath of Bloody Thursday was the passage of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) in 1935. The NLRA guaranteed workers the right to organize unions and to bargain collectively with their employers, something Sam Norton clearly has forgotten about, as seen with his attempt to silence the Chief Mates and remove them from the election process. This legislation was a major victory for the labor movement, but it was essential for maritime workers, who had been historically denied these rights.

The NLRA led to new organizing and collective bargaining in the maritime industry. As a result, maritime workers could negotiate further improvements in their wages, working conditions, and benefits. For example, in 1936, maritime workers won the right to overtime pay, again something OSG has stripped away from the licensed officers on board since the deck officers have been left without Union representation. Might they be inclined to move to a minimum 12-hr day? We all know the answer to that question.

When the vote to Unionize finally comes for OSG and you vote to be a part of M.E.B.A., you will choose to become part of the oldest Maritime Labor Union in the country. Like the dockworkers of 1934, M.E.B.A. engineers organized almost 60 years prior to Bloody Thursday to ensure safer working conditions, better pay and benefits. This is an opportunity to tell OSG Management that you are worth more and that you demand they recognize that. A vote against organizing will be seen as weakness by OSG and they will continue to exploit your labors. Make the change you deserve when it comes time.

As you consider such an important decision, remember that you should vote for what is best for you and your family. This is a vote for you and them. In almost all situations (and certainly the one here) an organized work force fares better than non-union labor. Remember it was M.E.B.A. that ensured that OSG engineers remained employed during Covid. This is why most every company is dead set against their employees organizing. They know it will cost them more. Here, voting to organize and join the

fight means that Sam won’t be able to continue with his bloated compensation at your expense.

Consider the above and consider your career now while asking yourself: Do I want to be in control of my future? A vote to organize with the M.E.B.A. is a vote for taking control from those that plan to profit off the fruits of your labor.

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