SaltChuk Hawaii firms sign labor pact with island sailors

SaltChuk Hawaii firms sign labor pact with island sailors Two Hawaiian-based subsidiaries of SaltChuk Resources have reached a labor agreement with the union representing the firms' merchantmen employees.
   The Inlandboatmen’s Union of the Pacific, which represents more than 100 tugboat, barge and ferry merchantmen in Hawaii, ratified a new three-year contract with Young Brothers Ltd. and Hawaiian Tug & Barge on Saturday. The previous contract was to expire June 30. Terms of the new contract have not yet been released.
   Seattle-based SaltChuk acquired the two firms, which are headquartered in Honolulu and provide inter-island barge and ferry service to the various Hawaiian Islands, in 1999.
   The IBU, which also represents tug, barge and ferry merchantmen in six additional West Coast regions, is part of the Marine Division of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. However, the contract ratified Saturday only covers IBU members and does not cover general ILWU dockworkers employed by the two firms.
   ILWU, which represents more than 26,000 dock workers at 29 West Coast ports including Hawaii, has been negotiating its own labor contract with the association representing West Coast employers since March.
   In a deal separate from the main dockworkers negotiations, Young Brothers and the ILWU have agreed to extend their current contract past the June 30 expiration date if negotiations require more time.