AMO Currents - Thank you ...

AMO Currents - Posted: December 9, 2010

Thank you ...

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2010 American Maritime Officers election. This was a long, difficult campaign, driven on both sides by one compelling and critical economic issue and by emotions -- factors reflected in the slim margins recorded in all but two cases.

But this election was also a testament to the democratic process in our union. The system worked fairly for all candidates and for all AMO members who chose to speak out through their ballots.

I am grateful to you who voted for José Leonard, Bob Kiefer, Joe Gremelsbacker, Don Cree, Charles Murdock, Mike Murphy and me. We appreciate your trust and support, and we will earn your continued faith in us as your elected representatives.

I understand and respect the choices made freely by you who voted for Jack Hearn and his AMO Membership Committee candidates and by you who voted for individuals from both slates. Like my administration and its seagoing supporters, you want only what is best for everyone in our union -- even as we disagree on how to achieve it.

On a personal note, I regret the outcome for my friend Don Cree -- a hard-working advocate of the professional interests of the engineers, mates and stewards sailing with AMO on the Great Lakes. Don accepted narrow defeat with quiet, characteristic dignity and an undiminished personal commitment to AMO as the nation's largest and strongest union of merchant marine officers.

Don joins me in congratulating John Clemons on John's election to the office of AMO National Vice President (Great Lakes). John will be tested professionally in ways I am sure he has not yet even imagined, but all AMO officials, representatives and employees are ready to provide whatever assistance John needs.

Throughout the long election season, my administration focused first on representing all deep-sea, Great Lakes and inland waters AMO members effectively, efficiently, honestly and openly. We put everything we had into sustaining our union's superior standing among the licensed seagoing unions, and into providing each and every AMO member with lasting opportunity and security.

These priorities stand, and we welcome your input -- regardless of how you voted. We remain committed to honest, constructive conversation with all seagoing AMO members in all domestic and international trades.

Meanwhile, I wish all AMO families a joyous, peaceful holiday season and a healthy, happy and more prosperous New Year.

Tom Bethel
December 9, 2010