Inlandboatmen's Union member Anne Whalen spoke with the media yesterday after IBU ratified the new agreement to settle the strike.
Barge strike ends
Tugboat workers ratify an
agreement settling the walkout
that held up interisland cargo
Interisland barges were set to return to sea today after tugboat operators ratified a new contract with Young Brothers Ltd. and sister company Hawaiian Tug & Barge.
Barges were scheduled to sail today to Kawaihae on the Big Island as well as Kahului, Maui, and Nawiliwili, Kauai to clear the backlog of cargo. The barges will arrive tomorrow.
Back to work
Here is a sailing schedule for Young Brothers Ltd. and Hawaiian Tug & Barge starting today:
Today
Barge departs Honolulu:
>> To Kawaihae, Big Island, arriving tomorrow. Additional barges are going to Kahului, Maui, and Nawiliwili, Kauai.
Tomorrow
All ports are open during normal business hours.
Barges depart Honolulu:
>> To Kahului, arriving Wednesday.
>> To Kawaihae, arriving Wednesday.
>> Special scheduled barge to Nawiliwili, arriving Wednesday.
Wednesday
Normal sailing schedule resumes
Barges depart Honolulu:
>> To Kamalapau, Lanai, arriving Thursday.
>> To Kaunakakai, Molokai, arriving Thursday.
>> To Hilo, arriving Friday.
Thursday
Normal sailing schedule
Barges depart Honolulu:
>> To Kawaihae, Big Island, to arrive Friday.
>> To Kahului, Maui, to arrive Friday.
>> To Nawiliwili, Kauai, to arrive Friday.
Workers approved a four-year contract 49-1 yesterday morning, winning more paid time off and keeping a six-member crew on interisland trips.
"The company made a good offer for us," said Jonathan Lono Kane, regional director of the Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific. "I'm very glad that we're back to work."
The ratification ended a four-day strike that cut most sea shipping to the neighbor islands. Residents, particularly on Molokai and Lanai, bought stores out of supplies like rice and toilet paper.
Farmers around the state faced not getting their produce to market or having to pay for more expensive air shipping.
Some tugboat workers returned to work soon after a contract was ratified yesterday.
"Thank God it's over," said mate Lafoga Alovao. "We got more than what we expected."
The union and management reached a tentative agreement at 12:45 a.m. yesterday, and union members began voting about eight hours later. The previous contract expired at midnight Wednesday.
"We're very glad that we've reached an agreement," said Glenn Hong, president of Young Brothers Ltd. "I think both sides worked very hard. Both sides recognized the need to get service going again."
Under the agreement, tugboat operators will receive six hours' paid time off for every eight hours they work. The union had sought eight hours' paid time off for every eight hours worked. The previous contract included four hours' paid time off.
Tugboat operators who take barges between the islands do not have vacation time or weekends off, Kane said. Their accrued time off will allow them to recuperate and spend time with their families, he added.
The union also maintained a six-member interisland crew. The company had sought to reduce the crew to five, citing the increased costs of the additional paid time off.
A separate group of employees who work only at the harbors will get a 50-cent hourly pay increase for each year over the four-year contract along with increases in pension, medical benefits and vacation benefits.
The last strike by tug workers was in 1986.
"We should be back to our normal schedule by midweek," Hong said. "Everybody is committed to making sure that we get back to a high level of service that our neighbor islands really deserve."
The Inlandboatmen's Union of the Pacific represents 60 of the companies' 360 employees, including cooks, ordinary seamen, deckhands, first and second mates, engineers, dispatchers and operators.
"We can all go back to work and do what we gotta do," said cook Fred Omura.
Young Brothers provides interisland cargo service. Hawaiian Tug & Barge provides contract towing service, ship assists, barge charters and related marine services.
