The need to get fair remuneration is among the objectives of the ALHWU. Seamen require physical strength and skills, and hard work resilience in their line of duty; however, historically it was characterized by poor remuneration and compensation policies. To this end, the union engages in comprehensive CBAs with employers meaning that the protection granted is not limited to specific areas in employees life only.
Negotiation Strategies:
To ensure its members are paid fairly the ALHWU use the following approaches:
- Market Analysis: It examines the general wages within the shipping industry in an endeavor to justify better paying scales.
- Contract Negotiations: In order to address issues of compensation, CBAs describe wage scales, provisions for overtime and annual increments following basic inflation and efficiency upgrade.
- Dispute Resolution: In the event that the employers deny agreed terms the union uses mediation and strikes to ensure the employers adhere to the negotiated terms.
Benefits Beyond Wages:
The ALHWU also guarantees that members are provided with proper packages in regard to benefits which consist of:
- Health Insurance: Major medical, dental, vision and prescription care.
- Retirement Plans: Offering pension schemes and 401 (k) solutions in order to assure clients a substantial amount of income after retirement.
- Paid Leave: Basic conditions in relation to time off includes: vacation, sick leave, and family bereavement.
Such measures together benefit workers, thus helping them keep a decent living as they also promote development in the maritime industry.
Promoting Safe Working Conditions
The welfare of employees is very important especially in the maritime sector since employees are exposed to risks daily. Berthing facilities are dangerous places; every kind of equipment is involved, including heavy equipment, volatile weather, and exposure to different kinds of hazardous substances. This means that the ALHWU understands its members’ safety and comes up with holistic approaches meant to eliminate workplace incidences.
Identifying and Addressing Risks:
The union cooperates with employers as well as regulatory agencies to recognize risks and initiate measures:
- Heavy Machinery Accidents: Awareness and training make the workforce know how to use cranes, forklifts and all other equipment to be used at the port safely.
- Hazardous Material Exposure: Evaluating health risks involve handling procedures and supply of personal protective equipment (PPE).
- Weather-Related Risks: More are policies for dealing with worst case scenarios of various types and the welfare of workers is given assurance.
Safety Training Programs:
To reduce the number of the accidental cases the ALHWU engages in the provision of education and certification annually:
- Mandatory Workshops: Training modules based on lessons learnt on extensive usage of equipment, ways and means for cargo carriage, and lessons on general emergency responses.
- On-the-Job Safety Drills: Stakeholder activities test the employees to be capable of handling real life incidence when it happens.
- Ergonomic Training: Advisory information on methods of lifting and use of the body to avoid putting pressure on specific body parts minimizes cases of MSIs.
Collaborative Efforts with Employers:
Below, the ALHWU seeks to ensure the safety of all workers and continually works with employers:
- Sharing safety experiences to find out about shared dangers in the workplace and taking moves to eradicate them.
- Promoting the adherence to requirement established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).
- Backing of changes in new technologies that improve the various aspects of safety techniques, for instance, in steering systems for cargo and modern meters.
- By these measures, the ALHWU guarantees that its members practice in places where hazards are reduced to the barest level, and safety is paramount.