Reprinted from past issues of the Seafarers LOG.1946
At the instigation of the SIU, representatives of all AFL maritime unions on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts met in New York on May 20. A resolution was adopted calling on the AFL Executive Council to establish a Maritime Trades Department within the American Federation of Labor. The purpose of this move was to ensure that unions allied in the marine industry would have the same kind of representation within the AFL as do the Building Trades Department and the Metal Trades Department.
1960
The revised Constitution of the SIU, Atlantic and Gulf District went into effect on Thursday, May 12 after being ratified by better than 90 percent of all the votes cast. A two-thirds vote was required to pass the amendments but this requirement was far surpassed. During the 30-day vote, 4,178 votes were cast in favor of the amendments and only 322 against. The name of the district union was changed and it is now the Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. This change in name was felt necessary by the fact that SIU-manned deep sea ships are participating in the Great Lakes trade and seeking to establish subsidy operations out of the Lakes. Passage of the Landrum-Griffin Act required some modification of the Constitution as to qualifications and elective office, conditions of union membership and similar matters. The Constitution also provides for a monthly membership meeting system.
1993
Although U.S. armed forces have completed their formal withdrawal from Somalia, U.S.-flag merchant vessels— including four contracted with the SIU—still are providing support to U.S. and United Nations troops in the East African nation.
Three Ready Reserve Force vessels—the Gopher State, Cape Henry and Rover—as well as the fast sealift vessel USNS Bellatrix continue to provide food, ammunition and other materiel to U.S. soldiers stationed in Somalia as command of all foreign forces in the war-torn nation shifts to the Untied Nations.
The five-month U.S. military intervention in Somalia officially came under United Nations control on May 4…. With the changing of the flags, 3,625 U.S. servicemen were left behind in logistics and support roles. The SIU-crewed vessels will remain in support of these American troops until further notice.
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