SSA employees seek private audience with county leaders in the midst of contract talks
An effort by Island representatives of the Steamship Authority's (SSA) largest employee union to meet with members of the Dukes County commission in the Tisbury senior center last week fell apart at the doorway after commissioners learned it was to be a private get-together.
The overture to the county commissioners, the Vineyard boatline member's appointing authority, by the members of the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA), comes as the union and SSA are locked in efforts, unsuccessful so far, to negotiate a new contract. The two sides remain far apart.
With no advance warning, yesterday approximately 50 MEBA members, descended on the Woods Hole terminal handing out leaflets and picketing the boatline headquarters. The union claims boatline management is unwilling to pursue federal funds the boatline badly needs, a charge management described as groundless and meant to distract attention form the real issues which are high labor costs.
Fred Raskin, SSA chief executive officer, has said he wants to bring SSA manning levels more in line with current transportation industry standards and Coast Guard requirements. Mr. Raskin points out that SSA labor costs now approach 67 percent of total operating costs,
Mr. Raskin, hired two years ago partly on the strength of his labor negotiating skills, last month signaled he may be preparing to leave the boatline amid continuing disagreements with members of the board.
Union representatives insisted the invitation to the county commissioners had nothing to do with the current contract negotiations or dissatisfaction with SSA policies and management.
"All these guys wanted to do," said Bill Campbell, "is say we are the SSA, and we live in your community."
Play Ball
According to Winn Davis, county manager, the invitation to Thursday's 5 pm get-together came in the form of a telephone calls from SSA employees and union members Sean Burke and Jay Gallagher.
As union members set out cold cuts and soft drinks, the county commissioners began to arrive. Paul Strauss, of Oak Bluffs, said he did not know who else was invited and had only been told the employees wanted to address some issues of concern, perhaps including safety issues.
Speaking with a Times' reporter outside the senior center, Lenny Jason of Chilmark said it was his impression it was a public informational meeting.
Approaching The Times' reporter, the only member of the media present, Bill Campbell, MEBA representative, said no members of the media had been invited. He said the union members "just wanted to get to know" some of the people on the Island in a social setting. He said the reporter would have to leave. The reporter said he would not.
Mr. Jason told Mr. Campbell that in his view the meeting was not public. He said he had no intention of remaining, and gesturing to the arriving Robert Sawyer, county commission vice chairman, and Mr. Davis, he said, "I think you're going to lose them too."
As the county commissioners and union members discussed the impasse, Kathryn Roessel arrived with Steve Sayers, boatline general counsel. Ms. Roessel and Mr. Sayers were also not on the guest list.
Mr. Campbell said the intention was not to do anything inappropriate. Nelson Smith, Edgartown county commissioner, said, "I'm very concerned it is not a public forum."
After 20 minutes of discussion on the senior center porch, Mr. Campbell relented. Promising not to raise any boatline issues, he suggested the entire group, including The Times reporter, take advantage of the food.
"We're sorry to inconvenience everybody," said Mr. Campbell. "Have some food, and we'll talk about the Red Sox."
Once inside, the discussion inevitably strayed to boatline issues. The SSA employees said that, unlike SSA management, they could not rely on professional public relations firms to make their case and express their concerns.
The county commissioners invited the employees to the commissioners' regular meeting, or to call for a public forum.
Mr. Gallagher said the purpose of the meeting was only to meet outside the shadow of the media and management. He said, "We certainly don't want it to be reported as some sort of covert meeting."
Mr. Sawyer reassured them that most Islanders "believe that the SSA is extremely blessed" to have so many employees who really care about their jobs. "I think what you are trying to do is really excellent," he said.
The informal get-together ended with the union members agreeing to reassess their approach in favor of a more public effort.
Inappropriate
The only county commissioner who chose not to remain in the informal meeting was Mr. Jason.
"I heard one of the commissioners talking about setting up a subcommittee of county commissioners, and I did not even want to be a part of that, so I just left," he said.
Mr. Jason said the setting and subject was too informal.
"Off the cuff talk gets you in trouble, and I did not want to be part of that," he said.
Mr. Jason said the county commissioners meet twice a month. He said the SSA employees and union members are always welcome to attend.
"I thought the whole thing would be inappropriate," said Mr. Jason. "I told the union guy, we do not have a dog in that fight."
In later comments, Ms. Roessel said it spoke very well for the county commissioners that they refused to have a private meeting with the union reps.
"That would have given a very unfortunate impression," she said. "I think the whole thing begs the question, why if they have some information they think the commissioners should have they would not invite me at the same time."
Commenting on the meeting, Mr. Raskin said apparently the union representatives are trying to get their views out and wanted to meet with the county commissioners in private.
Mr. Raskin said he would be surprised if the county commissioners tried in any way to influence what management thinks is the proper approach in negotiating with the unions.
"They do not know any of the issues and are just not in the process," he said.
Mr. Raskin said that bypassing management will only prolong negotiations because ultimately only the bargaining units for both sides can reach a negotiated agreement.
"Without bringing labor costs down and without changing schedules and without ad revenues," he said, "this is by definition a cost-plus operation. In other words, whatever the cost increase, just add it on to the price of the tickets."
