Emphasizing the U.S. Merchant Marine’s role as America’s fourth arm of defense, SIU President Mike Sacco delivered an informative and well-received presentation Jan. 22 to more than 100 officials and staff members from the U.S. Department of Labor.Sacco also highlighted the unlicensed apprentice program offered by the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education—a program approved last year by U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao through the department’s National Apprenticeship Standards.
The speech took place in Washington, D.C. and was part of the department’s staff training.
Sacco noted that Seafarers were mobilizing for the next phase of Operation Iraqi Freedom —a mission that involves transporting new materiel and troops to Iraq as well as bringing back other equipment.
“More than 2,000 of our members sailed during the all-out combat phase of the war, and they delivered the goods. In fact, the entire U.S. Merchant Marine has been praised at the highest levels of government for what has been described as the most efficient sealift operation in history,” Sacco told the audience.
SIU members crewed more than 100 vessels during the war. Overall, the merchant marine moved more than 20 million square feet of vital cargo— enough to fill more than 350 football fields.
“I want all of you to know that our membership is very proud and very serious about supporting our troops,” the SIU president stated. “They understand their role as the nation’s fourth arm of defense, and they are committed to getting the job done, wherever and whenever needed.
“Here again, the Paul Hall Center plays an important role. The school helps ensure that our loyal U.S. citizen crews are properly trained to work aboard all types of vessels.”
Speaking of both the union and its affiliated training center in Piney Point, Md., Sacco noted, “We help people by giving them great career opportunities and educating them for a lifetime. For instance, earlier this month I met a first-time student at the Paul Hall Center who told me the school almost seemed too good to be true. Here was a guy who simply needed some direction—who just needed an opportunity to have a good career. And he’s finding that opportunity in Piney Point. He was absolutely beaming when he talked about the school.”
Among the other points made by Sacco were:
- The Paul Hall Center (named after the union’s second president, who was inducted into the Department of Labor Hall of Fame last year) offers education beyond vocational training, from remedial reading and math, all the way to a two-year college program that offers degrees in nautical science and marine engineering
- Since 1984, more than 2,000 Seafarers have earned their GEDs through the Paul Hall Center’s high school equivalency program.
- The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan offers annual scholarships for SIU members and their dependents. The scholarship program started in 1952, with the values of the scholarships increasing from time to time. Currently, the Plan offers eight scholarships annually, with a total value of $132,000.
Sacco also discussed the school’s facilities; the manpower office; the veterans’ program; anti-terrorism training; recruiting efforts made by the union and the school; and the SIU’s history of wartime service.
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