Port bonuses under fire
McConnell says he's lost confidence in agency, is drafting legislation to alter practice
By Yvonne Wenger
COLUMBIA — With a bottomed-out economy and longshoremen looking for second jobs, Sen. Glenn McConnell says the State Ports Authority picked the wrong time to hand out bonuses.
The ports authority awarded $208,000 to its top managers and roughly $500,000 to the rest of its employees, and McConnell, R-Charleston and the president pro tem of the state Senate, said Tuesday he is trying to figure out a way to use legislation to change the practice in the future.
Sen. Glenn McConnell
McConnell said he has lost confidence in the SPA, which could potentially lose its biggest customer, Maersk Line, and which is struggling in a shrinking business climate to compete with other ports along the Eastern Seaboard, notably Savannah.
"They (SPA executives) are getting in one day what most working people in this community won't make in six months," McConnell said. "What kind of message does that send?"
Bernard S. Groseclose Jr., president of the ports authority, received a bonus of nearly $28,000 on top of his $264,000 salary. McConnell compared that with the average $41,000 salary for Charleston County workers in 2007.
Joe Bryant, vice president for terminal development, took in nearly $22,000. Peter Hughes, chief financial officer, and William McLean, vice president for operators, both received more than $19,000.
All the other 434 ports authority employees earned a bonus that averaged about $1,150. The money was distributed in September.
The plan
A summary of the SPA performance incentive plan, provided by the SPA
The bonuses were based on a pre-determined performance incentive plan triggered by earnings, said Byron Miller, director of public relations. Miller earned a $12,000 bonus.
The incentive plan is a more than 20-year-old program that is signed off on by the authority board chairman and is included in the SPA's annual budget. Funds are set aside in a special account during the year and distributed if financial goals are achieved.
About 25 ports across the country have similar incentive plans, Miller said. The difference here is that the SPA does not receive direct appropriations from the state for its operations or capital projects.
By comparison this year, the Port of Seattle is estimated to collect nearly $76 million in taxes for its operation and the Virginia Port Authority received $36 million in state tax dollars.
"We have earned a global reputation for productivity," Miller said.
A top pick
Charleston is named the 2007 star port in the February 2008 edition of Cargo Business News by its readers.
Revenue and earnings by the ports authority hit a record high during the last fiscal year, which ended June 30. The operating margin target set to trigger the incentives was 32.54 percent, which was exceeded with an actual operating margin of 34.28 percent.
The SPA is a quasi-public agency with a mission to contribute to the economic development of the state, and McConnell said basing incentive pay on earnings is rewarding the wrong successes.
"Their business is down, they are in danger of losing their biggest account; that's the record of the port at this hour," McConnell said. "There is no increase in economic activity for the community, but they reward themselves for a profit on a state monopoly."
McConnell said longshoremen are losing hours while volume is down here, like elsewhere. The majority of the SPA's business is container traffic, which dropped nearly 10 percent in the last fiscal year, and for the first five months of the current fiscal year is down by upwards of 4 percent.
Previous stories
Terminal takeover possible, published 12/24/08
All hands work to keep Maersk, published 12/23/08
Lawmakers, SPA and union reps meet with Maersk, published 12/22/08
McConnell said he is beginning to draft legislation that likely will require that any future bonuses be approved in a public meeting, along with other provisions that could change the way the port operates.
Ken Riley, president of International Longshoremen's Association Local 1422, said he is concerned that the SPA is becoming focused on profits.
"It's not a part of the ports authority's mission statement to earn profits but nurture economic development," he said.
Longshoremen are trying to find second jobs to supplement their work loss, Riley said. Full-time dockworkers do, however, qualify for container royalties that range from $16,500 a year for the most senior workers to $7,500. The royalties, generated by a tax on containers, were first negotiated about 30 years ago to offset hours longshoremen lost to modernization.
Miller said the SPA works hard to attract more business and recently cut rates for its customers. He also noted that the authority has reinvested more than $600 million into facilities since 1990.
With regard to Maersk, SPA officials contend that the Danish container carrier wanted no concessions from the agency but rather for the longshoremen to let the company out of its contract with the union so it could save money on labor.
BONUSES
The State Ports Authority awarded bonuses to its executives worth more than $200,000. All 434 other employees also received incentive pay, averaging $1,150. Here's a look at what the top managers took home:
• Bernard S. Groseclose, president — $27,720
• Joe T. Bryant, vice president — $21,620
• Peter N. Hughes, chief financial officer — $19,243
• William A. McLean, vice president — $19,091
• Philip L. Lawrence, chief legal counsel — $18,930
• Fred N. Stribling, vice president — $18,327
• Stephen E. Connor, vice president — $17,177
• Pamela A. Everitt, chief information officer — $16,991
• L. David Schronce, director — $13,107
• Peter O. Lehman, director — $12,620
• Byron D. Miller, director — $12,132
• Barbara L. Melvin, manager — $11,130
Allyson Bird contributed to this report. Reach Yvonne Wenger at 803-799-9051 or ywenger@postandcourier.com.
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firemike (anonymous) says...
Kudos Sen. Glenn McConnell for standing up the the ports. The sad thing is you can blame the ports. This bonus system was put into place before we went into this DEPRESSION. The more you look around this state the more your going to find out that there is poorly spent money everywhere! Oh and by the way which companies out their our paying their employees $41,000 or more. I'm middle age and worked in my trade for over 15 years. I have never made nor do any of my friend make (and I have a lot of friends) $41,000.00 a year in South Carolina. That number has to be from another incorrect survey. Maybe they took their survey in a gated community or and a wine and cheese tasting party on Frip Island.
December 31, 2008 at 5:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
spengler (anonymous) says...
So what is the issue? Mr. Politician did not get his 'piece of the action?'
December 31, 2008 at 5:22 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sig (anonymous) says...
I have never agreed with Sen McConnell, but I guess I have to with this one. He can be the one that institutes the changes through the senate. So will he? I doubt it even though he states he is drafting something.
I do not have a big problem with the workers receiving a bonus which averaged out at $1150.00. They probably earned it. But, the SPA is just like the banks, AIG, Auto makers CEO's, health benefits CEO's, etc. The Executives earn a lot of money and then receive big bonuses on top of that. McConnell did not say what other perks these guys receive.
I think every agency needs to list not only any salary of over 100K, but the perks that go with that position, to include if they have an executive assistant and how much it costs to run their office every year! Account for every nickle. They can't/won't do that.
December 31, 2008 at 5:50 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
Here is another Republican that has lost his way! It does not matter what the average pay is in the area, what the longshoreman's socialist union workers make, or "what seems fair" in this case! The SCSPA is a shinning example of what can happen IF THE GOVERNMENT STAYS OUT OF THE WAY and lets businesses operate! It is about to lose it's biggest customer because of the socialist union! If any legislation is needed here it is to legally ban unions in all jobs, especially in tax payed government jobs like police, fire fighters, water/sewer and garbage , and, TEACHERS! B. Groseclose and the entire staff have evidently done a tremendous job over the years, and, as long as they use the same formula for incentive bonuses every year, that is great! Just to put my comments in prospective, I earn about $45,000 more or less per year working my tail off in my own business! However, I AM PRO FREE MARKET, PRO CAPITALISM, PRO THE USA! IT IS NOT ABOUT WHAT SEEMS FAIR! WHAT A STUPID COMMENT FOR AN ELECTED LEADER TO MAKE!
December 31, 2008 at 6:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
JDHawg (anonymous) says...
zekemire sounds a lot jimslander.
December 31, 2008 at 6:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Posted by sig on December 31, 2008 at 5:50 a.m. (Suggest removal)
I have never agreed with Sen McConnell, but I guess I have to with this one. He can be the one that institutes the changes through the senate. So will he? I doubt it even though he states he is drafting something.
I do not have a big problem with the workers receiving a bonus which averaged out at $1150.00. They probably earned it. But, the SPA is just like the banks, AIG, Auto makers CEO's, health benefits CEO's, etc. The Executives earn a lot of money and then receive big bonuses on top of that. McConnell did not say what other perks these guys receive.
I think every agency needs to list not only any salary of over 100K, but the perks that go with that position, to include if they have an executive assistant and how much it costs to run their office every year! Account for every nickle. They can't/won't do that.
http://www.charleston.net/statesalary...
December 31, 2008 at 6:30 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
USC_Alumni (anonymous) says...
I hate when people compare the salaries of upper management to that of average workers or the average worker salary of a region.
These executives are obviously in the positions they are in because of knowledge, skills, education, and abilities that the average worker does not have.
Put the avergae worker in those positions and see how long they last.
People make good money and good salaries because they place themselves in positions to achieve and obtain those salaries.
As for bonuses if they meet their performace objectives and it triggers extra pay then they should get what they deserve.
December 31, 2008 at 6:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firemike (anonymous) says...
OMG sorry but I said can and I meant to say can't. Spelling problem - sorry
December 31, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
he incentive plan is a more than 20-year-old program that is signed off on by the authority board chairman and is included in the SPA's annual budget. Funds are set aside in a special account during the year and distributed if financial goals are achieved.
About 25 ports across the country have similar incentive plans, Miller said. The difference here is that the SPA does not receive direct appropriations from the state for its operations or capital projects.
By comparison this year, the Port of Seattle is estimated to collect nearly $76 million in taxes for its operation and the Virginia Port Authority received $36 million in state tax dollars.
Sen. Glenn McConnel quick to point fingers at others.but the senate who does run off of your tax money wont disclose there spending or raises.if it was tax payer money he would have a legit gripe but its off there revenues which they made.how quickly he forgets.30 million to the bridge 20 million on interchanges to Daniel isl which they will never use.they should tear them down or put a toll on the interchanges to recoup their investment.the last thing i trust is a politician pointing fingers at anyone else before doing a self investigation of himself and his constitutes.
December 31, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firemike (anonymous) says...
Oh and just in case I didn't make myself clear. I don't care if the up management makes a zillion dollars next year. Just don't come sniffing around my tax dollars to help the port when there not willing to make sacrifices in their life's to help the ports. That's the problem with this country - if my business succeeds because I know what I'm doing and another person's does not. My tax dollars bail them out for their poor decisions. That's just wrong! There has to be checks and balances in this country if we want to succeed. Oh and zekemire I am for free trade and I also own my own business. I don't want bigger government, I just want better government.
December 31, 2008 at 7:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I have no problem with a bonus system. Test: Did anyone not receive a bonus for not meeting goals. Anyway, if it's private money, then it's none of my business. Most Americans have no idea, thanks to government school failures, how these things work. They are too caught up in the emotional envy created by the lies in the classrooms and textbooks. I do have a problem with a politician who all of a sudden is offended by a system that he had to have known or should have known existed long before now. Hasn't he been there for a good while and recently been put back in there. Now, folks, is the port bonuses the problem, is he the problem, or is the problem looking back at us in the mirror.
December 31, 2008 at 7:11 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
The port wont lose money if mearsk leaves it will lose employees the union will lose more jobs than the port.the local economy will surfer trickle down effect a lot of companies will have to lay employees off and will suffer some effect its not about the money its the effects on the loal economy.your tax dollars are safe.
December 31, 2008 at 7:15 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Theronce itis just for a public show he defiantly doesn't want you to look at how the state appropriated hunley money is spent or any of the pork he and his buddies slip in the budget.the hunley thats Glens baby he would be offended.
December 31, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
The problem is we have a state agency competing in a business- taking containers on and off ships- that private industry is more than capable of doing by itself- look at Maersk in Norfolk - or SSA trying to build a terminal with their own private funds in Jasper county.
If our state got out of the container business and focused on services private industry can not do( police, education, human health services etc) - then we would all be better off and our tax dollars would not be paying bonuses to a poorly run state agency that is sitting on over 160 million taxpayer dollars in the bank for a road to a new port terminal our state agency should not be building.
Our port model is outdated and it is time to privatize this business and return the money from the sale-lease of these terminals into our state treasury.
December 31, 2008 at 7:21 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
captivated (anonymous) says...
I think Glen McConnell should climb into his Hundley and let someone through it back in the ocean where they found it.
December 31, 2008 at 7:37 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Truthseeker mearsks port in nororfolk is automated and very slow and produces few jobs be it union or nonunion jobs.if record breaking profits is being poorly run i want a poorly run business.its about the union loosing jobs and the local economy period you can spin twist or whatever thats the bottom line.just curious do you work out there do you have any experience in running any part of a shipping terminal.
December 31, 2008 at 7:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Theronce summed it up best. Why the crying out now? And if the state isn't paying the bonuses because "The SPA is a quasi-public agency" why should he care.
Hey I got a nice bonus too moron you got a problem with mine? Go back to your Hunley project. This guy has been in power long enough.
December 31, 2008 at 7:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoCares (anonymous) says...
Let me get this right: McConnel thinks executives running a SUCCESSFUL business operation should not receive these meager bonuses while fatcats on Wall Street receive huge (taxpayer) bonuses for running an UNSUCCESSFUL business operation?? He is just like all the other current politicians who care about nothing but their own special interests!
It's time we Americans start a grassroots movement for the next three election cycles...out with all the incumbents!!! Everyone hates the jobs the "other" politicians are doing, but think "their guy (or gal)" is doing fine. They're not...all of them stink...including yours and mine! I say we get rid of them all and start over!!!!
December 31, 2008 at 7:59 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
karmann (anonymous) says...
With their loss in revenues and the potential loss of one of their biggest customers, is the SPA still looking to expand? Maybe there needs to be an investigation as to how and why they may loose a potential customer in the first place. Can Charleston effectively compete w/ other ports in the first place?
December 31, 2008 at 8 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Girleygirl (anonymous) says...
Evergreen is going to be closing its doors soon as well. Maersk will be gone soon and now Evergreen...
December 31, 2008 at 8:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
stand_united_unemployed (anonymous) says...
"Full-time dockworkers do, however, qualify for container royalties that range from $16,500 a year for the most senior workers to $7,500. The royalties, generated by a tax on containers, were first negotiated about 30 years ago to offset hours longshoremen lost to modernization."
So I'm confused.. Does this mean that union workers are subsidized because of containerization/modernization?
December 31, 2008 at 8:46 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MyView (anonymous) says...
To All:
Bonuses for people who work hard and have a successful year in 2007, why are you questioning that. NO TAX Dollars! They do it the old fashion way, they earned it and set it aside. If the year had not been profitable then the money would probably go to the pot to get the hard working people through the rough times. Geez sounds like great business logic to me.....................
As for why are the ports drying up??? Try paying ILA $20 to $50 per hour to unload boxes. The union demands that pay, and won't allow anyone else but union to do it. When the ports tried to negiotate cheaper prices for Charleston, they wouldn't budge. Now they are out looking for 2nd jobs. What a shame...................The real shame is the people at Mearsk and Evergreen and the others that will now be in the unemployment line because we can't expand the ports because of the tree hugging idiots who believe the port expansion will detract from their home value..........well guess what a depressed economy detracts a whole lot more.
Bottom line you sow what you reap. God bless the hard working people who will suffer. Don't forget the truckers, and the trains, and the gas stations, and the restaurants that won't have anyone to serve or goods to transport when Savannah takes all of our ports away. Guess what Charleston we were built because of the port and now we will die because of it. No railways or roads needed when there are no goods to transport................think about it.
December 31, 2008 at 8:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bookworm (anonymous) says...
Thank you, MyView. Finally a voice of reason.
December 31, 2008 at 8:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
soulfullatina (anonymous) says...
"Most Americans have no idea, thanks to government school failures, how these things work. They are too caught up in the emotional envy created by the lies in the classrooms and textbooks."
Theronce: Your TRUTH made me shed a tear this morning.
I for one am sick and darn tired of this wealth envy. I don't make that type of money, at least not yet. And I don't envy those that do. I realize that if I want to be more successful I must do what it takes to get there.
Other than to learn how to duplicate their successes, I don't stand around worrying how others make what they make or do what they do.
Senator McConnell is simply grandstanding. These bonuses aren't new, but with the economy being front page news everyday, here's an opportunity for him to play "Robin Hood" and seem as if he's looking out for the 'little man'.
Other than his Southern accent and his CSA store, what is this man's appeal to South Carolinians & Charlestonians?
December 31, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
r_money (anonymous) says...
Evergreen is not pulling out of Charleston. It is closing its operational office and moving to a regional model. They are not the first carrier to do this. Most steamship lines that call Charleston do not have operational offices here, but have them in Atlanta or Charlotte that cover all the SE USA ports. I do not like people to lose their jobs, but this does not mean Charleston will be losing the Evergreen port calls. It is not total doom and gloom that others are suggesting.
As for Maersk, the SCSPA is bending over backwards to try and accommodate them. The issue is the ILA.
December 31, 2008 at 9:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
algorelost (anonymous) says...
If they hit their performance and profit goals for last year then they deserve their bonus. If looking forward into next year, if it is down they probably will not get a bonus. It is a good plan reward those who have success. Also for the average employee, a big part of this bonus is based on production. Try going to a union run port and see if you can pay a bonus based on production.
December 31, 2008 at 9:09 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
truthseeker (anonymous) says...
One very business like approach to monitoring how well our port performs is total dollars returned to our state treasury each year. What is the value of all the SPA's property and equipment and why shouldn't we expect to get a decent return on our investment and have that that capital flowing into our depleted state coffers each year?
Everyone agrees our port is a major asset for our state.The trouble is the taxpayers receive no revenue from it as it operates today. It drains money from our state treasury as evidenced in the 160 million plus dollars for the port access road.
Why not let a private company run it and pay taxes while doing so?
Why are we using an outdated socialist model that is clearly not working?
December 31, 2008 at 9:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
A ploy by MR McConnell to look like a stewrad of the people's money and he is not. As posted by "theronce" he knew prio that these were coming down and have been standard for a while.
December 31, 2008 at 9:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
firemike (anonymous) says...
When unions began they were at the forefront of the battle for decent wages, benefits, job security (or at least where workers had some sort of internal redress when discharged), work safety, reasonable work week, women suffrage and child labor. What unions accomplished in these areas far exceeds what Congress did and we all are indebted to these struggles.
But today South Carolina has numerous laws protecting workers in all the above areas and then some. Laws govern the amount of hours that can be worked, over time, breaks, lunches, age restrictions, various laws on all forms of discrimination: and even though some states are still "at will" for employment, that has been substantially chipped away.
So what do unions do for employees? For a fee, they negotiate wages & benefits and to a much lesser degree, look out for work safety. I think it can be safe to assume that in the majority (but not all) cases, negotiate a higher wage is good in some trades and bad in others.
Do they need a union to figure out how to unload boxes. I don't know. I just know my cousin works at the ports and he makes more money than two school teachers salaries combined. What does he do at the ports? He mostly catches up on his reading, sorts his mail, and sleeps. Why is this my business? If they are competitive to other ports so we don't lose business and they don't destroy the environment it's not my business at all.
Well maybe, do other local companies that have the ability to unload cargo have to use unions? If so who enforces that? If another company wanted a deeper water way does the government pay for the dredging? I know they pay for the ports dredging. If everyone doesn't have the same opportunities and the government only caters to a hand full of companies than that's not fare. All or none! Hopefully the answer is none.
A lot of people on this post are correct. As for me - the more I think about it, the more I think at this time I'm not informed enough to make a wise decision.
I do know this big government bad, smart government good.
December 31, 2008 at 9:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SC_Native_ElCid07 (anonymous) says...
MyView is spot on!!!
Unions had their place many years ago but I believe they have gotten out of control and way too powerful now, influencing strategic business decisions with a "whats good for me now" mentality and not a "whats good for the business later" mentality.
Unions are proving to be detrimental to businesses everywhere. They were once useful and neccesary but are now obsolete and a real drag on profitability.
The ports losing Maesrk and now apparently some of Evergreen's business is a real crying shame and it's really sad that the ripple effects of the ILA's short sighted positions are going to effect so many sub-industry jobs around here put many of the common, non-union folks out of work as MyView said. With the largest companies pulling out of Charleston ports it is only a matter of time now before the smaller companies start to follow suit.
It's really time to stop this tail waging the dog union BS.
December 31, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zmysticman (anonymous) says...
If the ILA is the problem, how come Charleston moves the most boxes per hour and is the most efficient port in the nation with the LOWEST PAID UNION??
December 31, 2008 at 9:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
iceman1978 (anonymous) says...
The company that I work for gives a bonus at the end of the year. The amount that we get is based on profitability, so it creates an incentive for all employees to help the company make more money throughout the year. The only difference is that everyone gets the exact same amount.
I actually agree with giving a bonus each December since a lot of people depend on it as a part of their income, and they will often use it to provide a good Christmas for their families. I just think that bonuses need to be allocated equally. Everyone from the upper echelons of management, right down to the front-line employees are vital in the day-to-day operations of a business.
December 31, 2008 at 9:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
icbmman (anonymous) says...
Quite a few good posts here about the obtuse state senator that has long outlived his usefulness in office and the situation at the port.
Bottomline: the union is the primary reason for Maersk's decision, and hopefully the SPA and some of the state legislatures can get Maersk to stay. McConnell will continue to drive wedges in the port situation with his statements. Like many of you have said, he already knew about the bonuses since the program is 2 DECADES old.
The guy is a freak, really. He has created laws that circumvent the state constitution in order to allow a pseudo-town to be created (James Island) which actually hurts many of his constituents who live in the city. He wants the state to spend millions of dollars on his pet project (i.e., PORK) called the Hunley while he gripes about bonuses in an agency that receives no public money directly. Hey McConnell, have you ever vetoed pay raises that the legislatures vote for themselves every year?
What a putz.
December 31, 2008 at 10:12 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Posted by SC_Native_ElCid07 on December 31, 2008 at 9:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
MyView is spot on!!!
Unions had their place many years ago but I believe they have gotten out of control and way too powerful now, influencing strategic business decisions with a "whats good for me now" mentality and not a "whats good for the business later" mentality.
Unions are proving to be detrimental to businesses everywhere. They were once useful and neccesary but are now obsolete and a real drag on profitability.
The ports losing Maesrk and now apparently some of Evergreen's business is a real crying shame and it's really sad that the ripple effects of the ILA's short sighted positions are going to effect so many sub-industry jobs around here put many of the common, non-union folks out of work as MyView said. With the largest companies pulling out of Charleston ports it is only a matter of time now before the smaller companies start to follow suit.
It's really time to stop this tail waging the dog union BS.
Nope evergreen is consolidating its off terminal offices clerical and such. the ships and containers are still coming and going with no change.they are not pulling out from the port.
December 31, 2008 at 10:25 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
If the bonuses were not funded via taxpayer funds, but rather off business proceeds, what business is it of anyone other than the affected employees?
Oh, and "people in glass houses", Senator. Ring a bell?
December 31, 2008 at 10:38 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
edwardh1 (anonymous) says...
SPA and all the trucks and noise they make do not care about people here in SC. They jump back and forth over the public private fence
December 31, 2008 at 10:51 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amembersid (anonymous) says...
Go to THESTATE.COM>news>politics> (scroll halfway down page)>salary database. That is just those that make over $50,000 a year, not those who don't but do most of the office work. It used to be our money. They (SPA)look out the window at the port workers working. They new Maersk was leaving. No big deal to them. They will still get paided. I work for the state and I see it everyday.
December 31, 2008 at 11:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
smun003 (anonymous) says...
Bernie Groseclose and his staff have done a wonderful job with the port. The problem is because our state politicians including the senator do not support the port. Look at Georgia, their state politicians work hand in hand with the GPA to attract new business.
If people want to complain about the port management, then do something about it. VOTE!!!!!! It is our state leader who appoints the positions. You want to complain about the management, let start with those who are in office managing our state.
And in regards to the Maersk situation, there are more jobs at stake than just the 30 positions the ILA will loose. It will effect the truckers who pull the boxes, the warehouse who load the containers and brokers/forwarders who clear the containers. The ILA should think about this decision.
As their decision will effect more people than just the ILA.
December 31, 2008 at 11:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dockworker (anonymous) says...
Hey people Maersk made a proposal about 10 years ago to the SPA to make Charleston it's south East regional hub, the SPA turned them down. Maersk said o.k and went on to Norfolk and built a $450 million new port. Their new port is 33% full and Maersk is doing everything possible like breaking exisiting contracts with Charleston to put containers on their new port. The SPA and Maersk are now conspiring together so that Maersk can fire their last 28 company employee's and 33 ILA employee's and consolidate to the SPA managed common use yard, if so the SPA will drop Maersk's $6-8 million fine to them. Union or non union the Government was not designed to compete against it's tax paying, private sector citizens. The SPA pays no taxes or rents to S.C and has $191.7 million cash in their bank accounts. The greedy SPA closed the year on a 34.28% margin, this ran off lot's of business. The SPA is a government monopoly and I congratulate Sen Mcconnell for exposing it. Maersk is going to Norfolk no matter what the SPA or ILA does. By the way ILA longshoremen work all ports across America so don't blame it on the Charleston ILA.
December 31, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
voxpopuli (anonymous) says...
Gee Senator McConnell this has been going on for 20 years and is figured in the SPA budget and you are just realizing this. Give me a break with all your grandstanding. It looks like you are trying to get rid of the SPA executive staff and these are your excuses.
December 31, 2008 at 12:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
My Backside.....!!!
At least McConnell is swingin'....!!! Where is TOM DAVIS...!?!
Where is Henry Brown......!?!?!
Where is Andre' Bow WOW....BAUER...?!~?!? He's OUR next Governor?!?!
Where's McMaster....?!?!
Where is....A.P. HUTTO...?!?!?
Where is ....SCARBOROUGH...?!?!
WHERE is RILEY....?!?!
MARY CLARK....??
TIM...SCOTT...?????
Roberto FOrd-ASA...?!?!
Bobby Harrel-asa...?!?!
MY BACKSIDE......?!?!?!
No wonder SC is where....?!?!
December 31, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
TRODI (anonymous) says...
Posted by dockworker on December 31, 2008 at 12:18 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Hey people Maersk made a proposal about 10 years ago to the SPA to make Charleston it's south East regional hub, the SPA turned them down. Maersk said o.k and went on to Norfolk and built a $450 million new port. Their new port is 33% full and Maersk is doing everything possible like breaking exisiting contracts with Charleston to put containers on their new port. The SPA and Maersk are now conspiring together so that Maersk can fire their last 28 company employee's and 33 ILA employee's and consolidate to the SPA managed common use yard, if so the SPA will drop Maersk's $6-8 million fine to them. Union or non union the Government was not designed to compete against it's tax paying, private sector citizens. The SPA pays no taxes or rents to S.C and has $191.7 million cash in their bank accounts. The greedy SPA closed the year on a 34.28% margin, this ran off lot's of business. The SPA is a government monopoly and I congratulate Sen Mcconnell for exposing it. Maersk is going to Norfolk no matter what the SPA or ILA does. By the way ILA longshoremen work all ports across America so don't blame it on the Charleston
True but i still think they will have some presence in charleston.the oversight by our local and state chamber of commerce to not do everthing possible to get walmart and home depots warehouses hurt the cause.while georgia supported theirs ours turned their collected backs on the waterfront for tourism which has crapped out because of the economy.personaly id like to see enough work for all behind the names of ila, port.mearsk are real people with real families that have to put supper{dinner not the checker bad analogy} on the table.
December 31, 2008 at 12:51 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Posted by zoomru on December 31, 2008 at 12:36 p.m. (Suggest removal)
My Backside.....!!!
At least McConnell is swingin'....!!! Where is TOM DAVIS...!?!
Where is Henry Brown......!?!?!
Where is Andre' Bow WOW....BAUER...?!~?!? He's OUR next Governor?!?!
--------------------------------------
I think I read somewhere that they're all at a conference this week... something to do with garbage, plasma and why it's bad for South Carolina.
December 31, 2008 at 12:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dockworker (anonymous) says...
Trodi, very well said and true to the point. SC has dropped the ball as fas as infrastructure, railways, distribution centers and overall forward thinking. Maersk will still keep a small portion of it's business here but the majority will be moving to Norfolk. Charleston has a reputation of being the 1st or 2nd fastest port in the world for loading and unloading containers, this is a big bragging point that will help more than the average person knows about. Savannah will be facing problems when the larger post Panamax ships come on line in a about 2 years because the Savannah river is not deep enough to handle them and they can't dredge any deeper because of the water table. This could be Charleston's gain if the State and private developers up date the rail access and distribution centers. Happy New year everyone!
December 31, 2008 at 1:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
palmettotree (anonymous) says...
Posted by TRODI on December 31, 2008 at 6:49 a.m. (Suggest removal)
he incentive plan is a more than 20-year-old program that is signed off on by the authority board chairman and is included in the SPA's annual budget. Funds are set aside in a special account during the year and distributed if financial goals are achieved.
About 25 ports across the country have similar incentive plans, Miller said. The difference here is that the SPA does not receive direct appropriations from the state for its operations or capital projects.
By comparison this year, the Port of Seattle is estimated to collect nearly $76 million in taxes for its operation and the Virginia Port Authority received $36 million in state tax dollars.
Sen. Glenn McConnel quick to point fingers at others.but the senate who does run off of your tax money wont disclose there spending or raises.if it was tax payer money he would have a legit gripe but its off there revenues which they made.how quickly he forgets.30 million to the bridge 20 million on interchanges to Daniel isl which they will never use.they should tear them down or put a toll on the interchanges to recoup their investment.the last thing i trust is a politician pointing fingers at anyone else before doing a self investigation of himself and his constitutes.
Trodi, I like the way you talk. I think the city or county should pay the port back for the ramps on Daniels Island. Some of you are complaining that the port workers got a bonus. Take a chill pill. What you don't know is that the port workers took a pay freeze for a year or two a few years back to help pay for the Ravenel bridge also I believe there was a hiring freeze on at the time too unless they really needed the personnel. You don't hear about stuff like this on the news. OT from what I have heard has been cut back to bare bones. So unless you work there you really don't know what goes on.
I usually yell "go McConnell, go get'em." But this time he is off the mark. If it was not approved by a board why would the bonuses be given out, why would they have signed it off? Here at the port the bonuses are not given out every year. Yeah, I am a port worker (proud of it) and each and everyone of the workers here work real hard and deserve it.
December 31, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
princeleo (anonymous) says...
some of your opinions sounds personal.as a longshoreman, you don't know the half as to the dangers we face day by day working these docks and ships. for the issue at hand between Maersk,SPA,& ILA, your're commenting on a one-sided story beacause the papers and tv news only print and reports what they feel is worthy of telling the public.not all the truth nor the whole story as told to who so ever is doing the interview. glad to know that you're paying attention to the economic disaster going on in Charleston. you the people failed to mention of and to your local mayors!!
December 31, 2008 at 5:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Reticle (anonymous) says...
Explain this to me. Maersk wants the ILA to let them out of their contract so that they can be more competitive with other port. Correct?
Maersk uses ILA labor under the EXACT SAME CONTRACT in these other ports! How can it be the ILA 's fault that Maersk is not competitive when the ILA charges the EXACT SAME WAGE in every port they work?
These negotiations started with Maersk Line approaching the SCSPA and asking for a break on $5,000,000 in fees for equipment from the SCSPA THAT THEY DID NOT USE! The only option offered by the SCSPA was to drop the union compound and the fees would be dropped. NOTHING ELSE! This isn't a negotiation, this is an ultimatum! The State of South Carolina going into negotiation with one business (Maersk Line) in direct competition with another business (APM Terminals, Maersk's terminal operator) should be enough to make you want to gag. Isn't it illegal for government to compete with private industry? Why doesn't this apply to the SCSPA?
There is MUCH more involved here than 90% of the people posting these comments seem to understand. No one wants to see Maersk leave Charleston, but placing the sole balme on the ILA is just ridiculous. They were just put into a position by the SCSPA where they had nothing to lose or gain by Maersk staying and now are being played as the great scapegoat that unions always seem to make.
December 31, 2008 at 7:13 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dockworker (anonymous) says...
Again Maersk wanted to lease the entire Wando terminal and invest hundreds of millions of dollars for long term contracts, the SCSPA said NO and now Maersk is moving the majority of it's operations to Norfolk to their new port. It's past due time for a new SPA direction and management team that will not compete against private sector,tax paying SC citizen's, union or non union. And yes there are many wonderful, talented SPA employee's that work on the dock and operate the container cranes, transtainers and raygo's, sadly many of these folks are overlooked and under paid by SPA top level management. Governor do us a favor and say good bye Bernie Groseclose once and for all.
December 31, 2008 at 7:42 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
superbrain1 (anonymous) says...
Sen. McConnell and his friends should have done something when the bonuses were given. It is a typical politician to jump on the wagon when something goes wrong.
The union at the port needs to be grateful they have jobs. Because of their greed they may not.
A union was great when workers were injured and were not protected by laws. Now they are typically fat layered organizations that kill business.
December 31, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BPFROM843 (anonymous) says...
i wonder if the "good ol boy" had a problem when congress gave themselves a raise in this depression
December 31, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
amembersid (anonymous) says...
Glenn do something. This happens in almost every state agency and even more in a modified state agency (AUTHORITY). I know, I work for a state agency and talk with others. They build "Ivory Towers" with our> thats right> our money; OURS and YOURS. Don't just hug the HUNLEY, for THEY knew,bless THEIR SOULS,right from wrong. THEY fought for OUR harbor.
December 31, 2008 at 11:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BlueCat57 (anonymous) says...
Looks to me like they earned their bonuses. The rules were set in advance and they exceeded their target. Just because everyone is jealous that someone earned more than they did is no reason to change the rules.
If the legislature does change the rules I think they ought to include LARGE pay cuts for themselves and their staffs because they certainly are NOT doing a good job. In fact, I think we ought to fire all of them the next chance we get and hire the Port Authority workers who know how to do a GOOD job.
But at the very least I ask the Legislature to cut the Container Royalties for the Longshoremen. The Longshoremen certainly don't deserve those any more than Port Authority workers deserve bonuses.
January 7, 2009 at 4:10 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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