Boatline and Key Union Find Accord on Contract

By MIKE SECCOMBE

After a standoff lasting four years, the Steamship Authority and one
of its major maritime unions are expected to have a new workplace
contract within a month.

Agreement between boat line senior managers and the Marine Officers
Beneficial Association, which represents some 230 unlicensed deck hands,
was reached last Friday night, after two days at the table with a
state-appointed fact finder.

Contract details are yet to be made public, and the precise language
of the agreement now is being put together by attorneys on both sides.

But the Boston area representative for the union, Bill Campbell,
said a final written agreement would go out to members early next month
in preparation for a vote.

"The membership ratification vote will be held on July 10 and
11. The membership will have copies of the contract at least a week
before the vote," Mr. Campbell said.

The previous agreement between the SSA and the union expired in
April 2003, and the parties have been negotiating a new deal since
August of that year.

After four long years with little or no apparent progress, both
sides said agreement came surprisingly quickly after the introduction of
fact finder John Hanson into the process.

"We had scheduled the first two days of hearing for last
Tuesday and Friday, and we had scheduled additional days in July,"
said Steven Sayers, general counsel for the SSA.

Mr. Sayers gave much of the credit to Mr. Hanson and the fact
finding process.

"With a mediator who is simply a mediator, they carry no
stick. A mediator never really comments on his or her views of what the
outcome should be," he said, adding:

"In this situation, with a fact finder, you know that if you
are unable to reach agreement, he or she can give a view on what they
think the final outcome should be. It's a very different
dynamic."

But Mr. Campbell had another view, claiming that the SSA had simply
finally decided to negotiate.

"Finally the Steamship Authority came to the table looking to
collectively bargain the contract. After over 70 meetings [general
manager] Wayne Lamson put in an appearance on Friday," he said.

Mr. Sayers said the agreement will be considered for ratification by
boat line governors at their next meeting on July 17.

The contract also was discussed in executive session at the monthly
SSA on the Island this week.

Held in the Oak Bluffs library Tuesday morning, the public portion
of the meeting began with the presentation of an award of appreciation
to state police Lieut. Robert W. Moore, stationed at Oak Bluffs, for
defusing a physical disturbance at the Woods Hole terminal on June 10.

"He was off duty and returning to the Island and he really
helped to control the situation," Mr. Lamson said.

In other business, Mr. Lamson reported on traffic and revenue
numbers.

The business summary for April showed passenger traffic down 6.9 per
cent compared with the same month last year, and off 2.3 per cent for
the year to date.

"April this year was cooler and wetter than last year,"
Mr. Lamson said.

Car traffic also was down 3.5 per cent for the month and 2.3 per
cent for the year. The greatest decline was trucks, down 10.8 per cent
for the month. This continued the trend for the year, which boat line
management has attributed to the slowing in building activity on the
Island.

While operating revenues were off some $207,000 against budget
projections, operating expenses also were lower in almost every major
category, including maintenance, depreciation, vessel operating
expenses, terminal operating expenses, the cost of operating the two
reservation offices, insurance and rent.

The year to date net operating loss at the end of April was $6.8
million, some $1.6 million lower than projected for the first four
months of 2007.

"So we're still in pretty good shape and looking forward
to the summer," Mr. Lamson said.

Management also presented a draft operating schedule for next winter
and spring, which incorporated only minor changes: the winter schedule
will be extended five days to April 2, and the spring schedule will be
extended to May 20.

Both changes result from the introduction of the ferry Island Home,
which has allowed greater flexibility because of its greater capacity
and the extra reserve capacity of the new ferry's lift decks.

Governors voted to award a bid for improvements to the Fairhaven
maintenance facility to AGM Marine Inc. of Mashpee for $4.5 million.

They also heard there had been strong interest among bidders for the
contract to rebuild the Oak Bluffs terminal. Eighteen companies had
requested bid packages. Bids are due to be opened on July 10.