Labor, management denounce Joe Biden administration's maritime waiver
Labor unions representing American merchant sailors and ship owners are lashing out at the Biden administration for granting a waiver to a law enacted to protect the U.S.The labor unions said the waiver, approved by President Biden, violates the Jones Act, which regulates maritime commerce in U.S.Department of Homeland Security’s decision to issue an illegal, unjustified, and unnecessary Jones Act waiver for a British Petroleum tanker that took active steps to ignore and then circumvent fundamental law,” according to a joint statement from several labor organizations including the International Organization of Masters, Mates and Pilots; the American Maritime Officers; and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association.
Mayorkas said he approved the “temporary and targeted” waiver to ensure the residents of Puerto Rico have sufficient fuel as the island recovers from the hurricane.
domestic maritime industry, joined the labor unions to denounce the administration’s waiver.
Mayorkas, Ku’uhaku Park, president of the advocacy group, said last week the government failed to determine that American vessels were unavailable to accomplish the mission before granting the waiver.
The labor unions said the waiver was unnecessary because American-flagged and -crewed ships had already delivered fuel to the island after the storm and others were available to continue supporting recovery efforts