MARITIME UNIONS: RETAIN OCEAN CARRIERS? ANTITRUST IMMUNITY

MARITIME UNIONS: RETAIN OCEAN CARRIERSÆ ANTITRUST IMMUNITY    The executive board of the Maritime Trades Department (AFL-CIO), has urged congressional leaders to retain ocean carriers’ antitrust immunity.
   The labor group’s statement comes about one month before House Judiciary Committee hearings on a bill to repeal antitrust immunity.
   The legislation is being spearheaded by smaller shippers and non vessel-operating common carriers who claim carriers have discriminated against them under the Ocean Shipping Reform Act, which retained antitrust immunity for ocean carriers.
   The NVOs and smaller shippers are especially opposed to ocean carriers setting voluntary rate and service guidelines under discussion agreements.
   The seafaring unions of the MTD urged Congress to leave the shipping reform act alone for a while, in order to give the law more time to work.
   OSRA “must be given an opportunity to work before further changes are considered,” the MTD said. “OSRA represents a compromise among shippers, vessel operators, port interests and maritime labor.”