August was filled with unpleasant news for the Bay Area maritime community.
By Patrick Burnson
Published: September, 2009
August was filled with unpleasant news for the Bay Area maritime community.
Captain Fred Henning, general manager of Baydelta Maritime, a major San Francisco-based tugboat company, died in early August at the age of 41 after an apparent heart attack. Henning began his career in 1996 at Baydelta as a mate and operator in training shortly after graduating from the California Maritime Academy. In a matter of a few years, he became a tugboat skipper and then general manager of Baydelta’s operations.
Among his many achievements, Henning served on board of directors of the Marine Exchange of the San Francisco Bay Area and of the California Maritime Academy Foundation. He was also a member of the harbor safety committee for San Francisco Bay.
A memorial service was held at the California Maritime Academy in Vallejo. A memorial fund in support of his children has been established. It is the Fred Henning Children’s Fund, c/o Borel Private Bank, 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104.
34 Lose Jobs at Port of Oakland
The Port of Oakland has laid off dozens of workers as part of its effort to pay off more than $1 billion in debt.
According to industry sources, 34 employees were laid off at Oakland’s port and airport, most of whom were members of SEIU, the service employees union. One other was from IBEW Local 1245.
The layoffs came after the two unions rejected concessions that would have frozen future pay hikes. Two other unions—the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers Local 21, which represents middle managers, and the Western Council of Engineers, which represents employees in scientific jobs—accepted the concessions, and their members were not laid off.
Port management, which did not wish to comment on the union actions, noted that revenues are way down because of the recession. They also admitted that ambitious infrastructure projects launched earlier in the decade have cost them dearly.
And that was not the only disappointing employment news from the Port of Oakland. Management has also announced that it plans to recover more money by furloughing many other workers for up to 11 days next year. According to an industry report, the Port of Oakland is now $1.3 billion in debt—five times the port’s operating revenue of $277 million.
Port of Oakland Wants Exemption From Federal Requirements
Meanwhile, the Port of Oakland’s Board has recently passed a resolution encouraging the U.S. Congress to “expand the exceptions to [federal] preemption to include environmental, security and congestion programs” so that the Teamsters may replace owner-operators of drayage trucks with unionized workers.
In something of a paradox, say industry analysts, the port is seeking a “national” goods movement policy while at the same time seeking local exceptions from the benefits of federal standards. Among those most resistant to this action are agricultural exporters and intermodal shippers that the port is reliant upon for any competitive advantage it has against other West Coast cargo gateways.
Another wild card here, say industry analysts, is the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Their members have been impacted by the declining levels of containers moving in and out of the port.
