Cruise Ship Compromise

The three groups build a compromise to the Cruise Ship referenda (question E) that will ensure cruise ships reduce their emissions by millions of tons annually, while preserving and expanding job opportunities for union workers on the waterfront.

September 1, 2022
Portland, ME

Today, September 1, Maine DSA, ILA, and MSBCTC rolled out a compromise proposal for the Portland City Council to consider that addresses the shared goal of reducing carbon pollution from large cruise ships while expanding high-road job opportunities on the working waterfront.

The compromise, titled An Act to Reduce Cruise Ship Carbon Emissions and Expand Good Paying Jobs on the Working Waterfront,” will require the installation of shoreside power stations for all cruise ships by 2028, built by workers paid through a community-facing Project Labor Agreement, with all cruise ships having to plug in by 2029. Additionally, all future shoreside work to ensure the ships and passengers dock safely will be performed by City Licensed Stevedoring Terminal Operators.

Wes Pelletier, Chair of the MDSA Campaign for a Livable Portland said, “This compromise meets two of DSA’s highest priorities: confronting climate change and expanding well-paying jobs for workers. In many ways, it is even better than what voters sent to the ballot this fall, and we hope the council’s Sustainability & Transportation committee takes it up immediately. As they do, we’ll shift our resources and energy toward the passage of the compromise instead of referendum question E. We’re proud to stand with the ILA and MSBCTC in this historic moment.”

Jack Humenniuk, District Representative of the International Longshoremen’s Association said, “We appreciate Maine DSA coming to the table with labor to work with us on an alternative to their ballot initiative. We were concerned that the original initiative, while well-intended and well-focused on reducing climate change, could have hurt some workers in the short term. This compromise achieves everyone’s goal of reducing carbon emissions in our city, while actually expanding high-road jobs on the waterfront to those most qualified to protect the public and build our infrastructure while ensuring a livable wage.”

“I want to thank these groups for coming together and presenting this thoughtful and comprehensive proposal, said Andrew Zarro, District Four Councilor and Chair of the Sustainability and Transportation Committee. In many ways it compliments and further advances the work the Committee has been engaged in for the past year; in particular how we can shift to shoreside electric power while preserving and expanding the opportunities for good paying jobs on the waterfront. I plan to incorporate these ideas into the ongoing and collaborative Committee dialogue within the context of the One Climate Future Plan the city has adopted, and it is my hope to hold a public hearing on these issues this fall.”

“I also appreciate that all parties involved seem to agree that this is a far better approach than the one that will be on the ballot in November, which, for the sake of seizing this opportunity to advance good policy together, I believe should be rejected.” Councilor Zarro continued. “I am confident the vote will ultimately show that the public will agree as well.”

Councilor Zarro concluded by saying, “Working together in an open, transparent and solution-oriented way as these groups have demonstrated with their compromise proposal, I believe that in the end, we will get where I know we all want to be: a reduction in the impact cruise ships have on our climate, while preserving the economic activity and union jobs they generate and sustain.”

The compromise proposal, as recommended, imposes a $2.50 per passenger surcharge on the cruise ship industry to help defray the costs for the shoreside power station and to implement the shoreline power study outlined in the One Climate Future plan (TLU 3.4, page 197). Previously and unanimously passed by the Council, the study will explore the best way of providing shore power hook ups for cruise ships and will report back by July 1, 2024. Finally, the proposal pulls together a Task Force with 16 subject matter experts and individuals representing a wide range of interests in the waterfront to assist and advise the Council as they develop a final plan and promulgate rules and regulations to accompany it.

Jason J. Shedlock, President of the Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council and Regional Organizer with the Laborers’ International Union, said, “This compromise proposal shows that when groups are committed to work creatively in solidarity towards a common cause, they can offer meaningful and informed contributions to the dialogue at City Hall. We feel it’s a strong step forward; for our current and future skilled workforce and for our environment. It’s also a win for the people of Portland, as the only ones who benefit from a costly and divisive referendum on this particular issue are the high-paid political consultants who thrive on creating and maintaining drama and discontent. I urge the Mayor and the Council to take up this proposal immediately as a thoughtful addition to the ongoing work of the Committee. Its creation epitomizes the Mayor and Council’s oft-stated goals of collaborative, compromise-focused solutions through an open dialogue of disparate voices. Now, the various groups who offer this proposed solution stand ready to partner with our elected officials to meet those same goals as a means to good policy. Let’s get to work.”

For questions about this release:

Wes Pelletier
Chair of the MDSA Campaign for a Livable Portland
207-751-1748
wes.pelletier@gmail.com

Jack Humaniuk
District Representative of the International Longshoremen’s Association
(207) 232-5178
jack.d.hume@gmail.com

Jason J. Shedlock
President of the Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council
Regional Organizer with the Laborers’ International Union
(207) 317-1447
jshedlock@LNEROF.org