Vilden Associates, Inc.

Job Opening: RPG-ILE Programmer Position

admin — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 21:18:53 +0000

JOB DESCRIPTION:

A Senior programmer supporting multiple web-based products that serve the transportation industry.

The programmer analyst will develop new RPG-ILE programs and maintain existing programs, work with business analysts and end users to work out details regarding specifications for enhancements, and resolve potential problems as identified.

Develop new programs outlined in requirement specifications and communicate with the product team to resolve questions as they arise.

Modify existing programs to resolve problems or add functionality based upon problems identified by the support group or enhancements received from the product team. Also work with both groups to resolve questions as they arise.

Research assignments and document all changes and enhancements and comply with the programming standards and other policies and procedures outlined in the Programming Handbook.

Perform sufficient unit level testing to identify and resolve problems before the modification or enhancement is promoted to the business team for integration level testing..

TECHNICAL REQUIREMENTS

This position will assist in application development utilizing but not limited to the i5-AS400 platform, ILE RPG, ILE CL, SQL, HTML, Javascript, CGIDEV2, JQuery, XML, Webservices, e-Commerce/EDI.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Analysis
Design
Development
Troubleshooting/Debugging Applications
Provide proactive solutions
Business process discussions
Other duties as assigned by management

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE:

Minimum Associates Degree, Bachelor’s Degree preferred
At least 5 years of RPG-ILE experience
Some knowledge of web development concepts (HTML, Javascript) a must
System/Networking experience a plus

JOB LOCATION:

Mobile, AL Vilden Data Center. Or possibly Signal Hill, CA Corporate Headquarters

For more information on Mobile, you may visit:

www.mobilechamber.com/

www.gulfshoresal.gov/

www.mobile.org/

Please submit your resume to info@vilden.com or contact us at (562) 997-7000 if you would like to inquire about this position!

Federal Sequester and CBP Budget Cuts

admin — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:54:17 +0000

With the federal sequestration anticipated to cut nearly a billion dollars from its budget, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is taking preemptive actions in order to maintain solvency. With the sequestration order signed, CBP has begun looking into different ways to operate more efficiently, while finding other revenue sources. The agency has already begun limiting worker overtime, and by late April will begin furloughing some 21,000 Customs agents from different ports, land borders and airports across the country for up to two weeks.

On top of this, the agency has been looking into other time saving measures. These include performing pre-inspection of imports at the country of origin and leveraging scanning technologies, which improves processing speeds, decreases downtime, and increase cargo clearing efficiency. By moving to pre-inspection cargo clearance pilots, trusted trader programs, filing automation technologies and other procedural changes, the agency can try to operate on its limited resources.

Unless the government can come to a resolution with the federal budget, Customs will have to do what they can in order to maintain their mission of ensuring safe and efficient transportation through our nation’s borders. Stay tuned as more develops

Previous Articles:
Message From U.S. Customs: Sequestration

Message From U.S. Customs: Sequestration

admin — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 22:42:06 +0000

March 2nd, 2013

Dear Trade and Travel Industry Colleagues:

As a result of the budget sequestration which went into effect on March 1, 2013, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is writing to provide you with information on how these budget cuts are likely to affect our operations, and to enable you to make plans to minimize their impact on your businesses and the public. Under the automatic sequestration cuts, CBP will be required to reduce its expenditures significantly for the remainder of FY 2013.

For CBP Field Operations, these sequestration cuts, which include furloughs, reductions in overtime and a hiring freeze, would equate to the loss of up to several thousand CBP officers at our ports of entry, in addition to significant cuts to our operating budgets and programs. We are committed to working with you to manage the impact that these automatic cuts will have on our mission and on your industries.(Continued)

As a result of sequestration, CBP director David Aguilar published the above message to outline their plan for adjustments driven by the reduction in appropriations. As you can see by the announcement, CBP is making every effort to minimize disruption to both cargo and passenger activity.

Click Here For Full U.S. Customs Message

LA-LB Office Clerical Unit Approve Contract

admin — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 21:28:16 +0000

Last Wednesday the office clerical units of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILW) at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles finally approved the tentative contract with their employers. With the agreement in place, labor negotiations finally reached the conclusion of a contract battle that began in the Spring of 2010.

In early February, all 16 bargaining units under the ILW failed to approve the contract. The failed vote erased much of the progress from last year’s negotiations, which ended a week long strike that shut down 70 percent of the terminals at the two ports.With 8 billion dollars in lost local revenues from the strike that occurred last December, many were worried of the outcome of a second strike. The strike ended last year when the workers’ 40-member negotiating group voted unanimously in favor of a tentative agreement with their employers.

Fortunately, the two weeks of extended negotiations did not affect cargo handling in the ports. With an agreement secured, operations in two of the nation’s largest ports can continue with confidence.

LA-LB Office Clerical Unit Reject Last Year’s Contract

admin — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 19:29:27 +0000

On Wednesday the office clerical units of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILW) at the Ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, voted down the tentative contract negotiated last year. This latest rejection has set the stage for another strike within a week, labor analysts concluded.

All 16 bargaining units under the ILW failed to approve the contract, according to the Los Angeles/Long Beach Harbor Employers Association (HEA), which represents the employers at the ports.

The vote has erased much of the progress from last year’s negotiations, which ended a weeklong strike that shut down the majority of the terminals at the two ports. The strike ended last year when the workers’ 40-member negotiating group voted unanimously in favor of a tentative agreement with their employers. This brought the proposed contract to a final vote among the union’s 450 clerical workers, which took place Wednesday.

It is still not clear why the 450 clerical workers did not ratify the contract. John Fageaux Jr., president of the local clerical unit of the ILW, declined to comment on whether there will be another strike.

With 8 billion dollars in lost local revenues from the strike that occurred last December, a second strike could cause further damage to the Southern California economy. Stay tuned as more develops.

ILA, USMX Agree to 6-Year Contract

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:01:42 +0000

After several mediations, the International Longshoreman’s Association (ILA) and the United States Maritime Alliance (USMX) reached a tentative agreement last Friday night. Although it is still in the ratification process, with ongoing local union negotiations, operations at the ports will not be interrupted whatsoever. The deal averted what could have been a Maine-Texas work stoppage, which would have hemorrhaged millions of dollars in local revenues.

With details scarce, the coast wide master contract covers all container ports on the East and Gulf coasts, while supplemental local agreements will cover the work rules and other issues. As negotiations on several local contracts are still ongoing (ILA and the New York Shipping Association for example), it is with great relief that the two parties were able to come together and avoid a highly damaging work stoppage.

Supreme Court to Hear ATA vs. POLA Clean-Trucks Program

admin — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:00:23 +0000

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear the American Trucking Association’s (ATA) challenge to the concession requirements within the Port of Los Angeles (POLA) clean-trucks program. The clean-trucks program was implemented five years ago, with the intention of curbing truck emissions at the nation’s busiest port.

The case of American Trucking Associations vs. City of Los Angeles will determine the constitutionality of certain provisions within the Clean Truck Program. ATA contends that the local clean truck regulations run contrary to a federal law that deregulates motor carriers. Los Angeles regulations have passed through local courts, while the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed those verdicts except for a provision restricting independent contractors. The provision stipulated that drivers must be employees of the companies they haul goods for and not independent operators, which until that point, the vast majority of truckers were. The other provisions survived including an off-street parking provision, financial capability requirement, maintenance provision and placard requirement.

ILA Walk Out of Contract Talks

admin — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 22:20:09 +0000

Negotiations for a collective bargaining agreement between the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) and the U.S. Maritime Alliance (USMX), which represents shipping companies and terminal operators, opened and ended abruptly last Wednesday morning as the ILA walked out after objecting to employers proposed changes. The initial strike was averted late last month with a 60 day extension that runs until February 6th.

U.S. Diesel Continues Price Drop

admin — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 22:19:09 +0000

U.S. diesel prices fell again last week, continuing a trend that began in early December. The average cost per gallon is now at $3.911, compared to $3.828 a year ago. Prices fell everywhere except for the Central Atlantic, Gulf Coast and California. The Gulf saw the largest price increase (to $3.837), while the Rocky Mountain regain saw the largest drop (to $3.688)

Freight Rates to Remain Down

admin — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 22:18:15 +0000

Despite efforts by ocean carrier’s to cut down on capacity in east-west trade routes, freight rates are expected to remain steady due to lower than expected cargo volumes. Average head-haul freight rates have declined from $2,700 to $2,400 in little over 9 months. With an estimated 40 ships (10,000 TEUs) ready to be deployed early this year, carriers will be challenged on how to balance supply-demand while seeking increased revenues to make up for losses over the last 4 years.