Administration Reaches Tentative Agreements With MEBA And MM&P
Ketchikan, AK - The Murkowski administration announced that it has reached tentative agreements with the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association and the Masters, Mates and Pilots Union, two of the three Alaska Marine Highway System bargaining units. The third Marine Highway System bargaining unit, the Inlandboatmen's Union is still in negotiations with the state.
"I am very pleased that after intense negotiations, we have reached tentative agreements with two of the three marine unions," said Governor Frank H. Murkowski. "All sides came to the table in good faith and engaged in productive, positive negotiations. The agreements we have reached will benefit the employees, the State of Alaska, and the traveling public. I want to thank MEBA and MM&P for their hard work throughout this process and for their dedication to the Marine Highway System. I also want to thank the state's negotiating team for their hard work in achieving these agreements."
The contracts will provide significantly increased management flexibility for the Marine Highway System that will lead to increased efficiency at reduced cost and will provide more responsive service to the public. The agreements, which expire June 30, 2007, require ratification by membership and approval by the Legislature. The specific terms of the agreements will be made public after the contracts have been reviewed and ratified by union membership.