Jim Martin, a vice president of the Seafarers International Union of North America and former SIU port agent, died Feb. 4 at his home in Harvey, La. following a heart attack. He was 70.
Martin also served as president of the Greater New Orleans Port Council of the Maritime Trades Department and as a vice president of the Louisiana State AFL-CIO (an organization which inducted Martin into its hall of fame early last year).
“He was a very dedicated union official who was born into the SIU,” said SIU President Michael Sacco. “He was well-respected by the rank-and-file membership, especially as a leader in the towboat industry.”
“He was a great individual and a very knowledgeable person,” remembered SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel, who knew Martin since childhood. “He organized most of the SIU tugs in the Gulf. He was a class guy and a strong family man.”
SIU Vice President Contracts Augie Tellez said Martin “was completely committed to the union and the membership. He was someone you could always count on, and he’ll definitely be missed.”
SIU Vice President Gulf Coast Dean Corgey described Martin as “a guy you’d want with you if you had to go into a foxhole. We went through some real tough battles together and always came out just fine. Jimmy was a brilliant negotiator, a great strategist and a stand-up union guy.”
SIU Assistant Vice President Jim McGee worked with Martin “on some inland beefs in the 1970s, and also later in New Orleans. He was a great man, outstanding. He stood up for union members and their rights.”
SIU New Orleans Port Agent Steve Judd said Martin’s “experience and the way he conducted himself made the Seafarers name something that everybody respected. There have been others who’ve accomplished that for us, but Jim was exceptional. He was a great friend and mentor. Anything we needed, Jim was there.”
Recertified Bosun John Cain knew Martin for 20 years. “He loved his family and he loved the union,” Cain said. “He was a good all-around guy, a good union official. We’re really going to miss him.”
During his time as a boatman, Martin sailed with Crescent Towing, Dixie Carriers and Capitol Towing. He held all towboat ratings.
He came ashore in 1968 as a patrolman at the SIU hall in New Orleans. Martin also worked as an organizer for the union and later served at various times as a representative based in Norfolk, Va. and as port agent in St. Louis and New Orleans. He was elected a vice president of the SIUNA in 2002.
A native of Algiers, La., Martin’s survivors include his wife, Mary Spencer Martin; two sons including Stephen Martin, who sails with the SIU; four daughters; 13 grandchildren and a great-grandchild.
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