The SIU is working on establishing a relief fund specifically for Seafarers, pensioners and their families who have been impacted by Hurricane Katrina. This includes employees and SIU-affiliated unions. Details will be posted on this web site and sent to all SIU halls as soon as possible.The union has received many inquiries from concerned fellow members and friends about our SIU brothers and sisters and their families who live in the affected areas. We as an organization of course deeply share in that concern, and will make every effort to report facts as they become known.
Due to the flooding in New Orleans, we do not know the extent of the damage to the SIU hall in nearby Harvey, La. We also are in the process of trying to ascertain the damage to the SIU hall in Mobile, Ala. We are happy to report that none of our other halls was affected.
At least a handful of SIU-crewed ships are being mobilized for relief operations, including the USNS Comfort, which is crewed by members of the SIU Government Services Division.
Note to Seafarers: If any of your union-related documents have been lost due to the hurricane (for example, your training record book), the SIU will replace them free of charge. Also please note that shipping and registration that normally would take place at the New Orleans and Mobile halls has been transferred to the Houston hall. The phone number at the Houston hall is (713) 659-5152.
Note to Pensioners: Pension checks were mailed on Friday, August 26. If you are a victim of Katrina and haven’t received your check, please contact the pension department as soon as possible at (800) 252-4674 (then press the number 4).
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