NLRB FAVORS MORAN TOWING’S IN SIU DECERTIFICATION VOTE

NLRB FAVORS MORAN TOWING’S IN SIU DECERTIFICATION VOTE    The National Labor Relations Board ruled in favor of a recent vote by Moran Towing Corp.’s Baltimore crewmen to break with the union.
   Ten of the company’s 15 crewmen voted to decertify the Seafarers International Union on Aug. 28. Two days later, the SIU filed an objection with the NLRB.
   The union cited in its protest that Edmond Moran, a senior vice president of Moran Towing, told the Baltimore crewmen 24 hours before the vote that the company would be forced to reduce its operations to two-man crews to remain competitive.
   “The conduct set forth … seriously interfered with the election process,” said Ellen Silver, associate counsel for the SIU. “The employer’s threats were not ‘phrased on the basis of objective fact to convey (the) employer’s belief as to demonstrably probable consequences beyond his control.'”
   The NLRB disagreed. “I find that the statement attributed to Moran did not constitute a threat of job loss and does not rise to the level of objectionable conduct. Rather, I find it was a reasonable prediction as to what might occur if the union were to continue to represent the Employees,” said Wayne R. Gold, regional director for the NLRB’s Region 5 in Baltimore.
   The SIU could file an appeal to the NLRB in Washington, but only about 10 percent are heard.
   Paul Swensen, vice president and general manager of Moran Towing of Maryland, said in an interview Wednesday that the company can provide a better welfare and pension package to its crewmen than the SIU.
   Moran Towing is no stranger to non-union crews. In 1987, its Norfolk operations decertified the SIU. “I think it’s a trend we’re going to see in our industry with employees who are dissatisfied with their union representation,” Swensen said.
   The SIU called the vote against the union a mistake. “Our strong suspicion is that by giving up the protection of union representation, the workers will lose out,” a SIU spokesman said.