Ports of the Delaware River Marine Trade Association

PMTA HISTORY, PURPOSE AND GOALS

Now in its 52nd year of service to the Delaware River port community, the Philadelphia Marine Trade Association was incorporated in 1947; its purpose, to promote the interest of the ports of Delaware, Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania. The PMTA now represents all of the International Longshoremen's Association employers operating at Delaware River facilities.

While promotion of the region's port is at the heart of the association, its activities center around maritime labor and its periphery. These activities include:

assisting the membership in solving maritime problems, particularly those involving the hiring of waterfront labor;
maintaining harmony between management and labor;
fostering just and equitable principles and practice between labor and management in the maritime industry;
assisting in labor disputes and in the negotiation of collective bargaining contracts by management, as well as in the interpretation and administration of labor contracts;
promoting safety in the working of cargoes at the ports and to generally work for the betterment, expansion and prosperity of the port with the emphasis on labor relations;
contributing to not-for-profit organizations that would further the interest of the membership, and of the Ports of Delaware, Southern New Jersey and Southeastern Pennsylvania.

Late last year, the PMTA brought new meaning to the phrase labor relations when it helped negotiate a local ILA contract designed to bring about cost reductions and work rule modifications for a five year period.

The PMTA's efforts may have also brought new meaning to the phrase port promotion: the contract is being heralded as one of the Delaware River port community's best drawing cards. The favorable aspects of the contract are geared to maintaining existing business, attracting new customers to the region, and increasing, the ILA's share of market there as well.

THE CONTRACT

With the goal of attracting cargo to the region, but mindful of the need for employees to make a decent living to support their families, labor and management parties were able to negotiate a wage increase and reduce the fringe benefit costs while maintaining and in some cases, increasing, the fringe benefit coverage. The trustees of the PMTA-ILA Pension Fund put a freeze on the defined benefit program, which in essence eliminated future withdrawal liability for ILA employers.

In addition, the parties negotiated a user friendly contract that allows for placing orders for longshore labor, 365 days a year, Container vessels can start from 0700 to 0100 on the hour and 1700, 1800, 1900, Midnight and 0100 hour starts. Non-containerized vessels allow for nine hour straight time day for 0700 and 0800 hour starts. Many other work rule modifications were made and information about them can be obtained by contacting the PMTA or one of its employer members.

Since negotiating this contract, many outside entities have started considering the PMTA in a new light. In addition, the Association has gained the respect and confidence of the port agencies in Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. All have held meetings with the PMTA. Recently, The Port of Philadelphia and Camden and the Port of Wilmington attended the press briefing that launched the Association's aggressive new marketing campaign. The campaign will promote the new and innovative PMTA-ILA contract.

AN INVITATION

Through teamwork and cooperation the PMTA and the ILA have been working to meet the needs of their customers:

In Wilmington, the parties negotiated a commodity contract based on productivity to handle Delmarva Poultry through the Port of Wilmington.
In Philadelphia, the parties negotiated an on dock warehouse contract that allows the hiring of skilled ILA labor at a reduced cost with complete flexibility.

Many changes have taken place in the ports serving the Delaware River region. If you're here and are our current customer you can see and feel these changes. If you're not a current customer you should pay us a visit. We think you'll like what you see, hear and save.