One of the SIU’s most important affiliations is our membership in the Maritime Trades Department. The MTD, of which I am president, is a constitutionally mandated department of the AFL-CIO. Since its beginning, it has given workers employed in the maritime industry a real voice in helping determine the government policies that have so much impact on our livelihoods.Formed shortly before the General Strike of 1946, the MTD has provided “money, marbles and chalk” to some of the labor movement’s most important organizing drives. It played a leading role in the Wall Street Strike of 1948, which ultimately led to the formation of today’s OPEIU. The MTD gave timely backing to AFSCME’s early efforts at securing state legislation allowing public employees the right to join unions. The MTD also strongly supported Cesar Chavez in his inspirational campaign to gain union recognition for Farm Workers in the 1970s.
Over the past six decades, the MTD has helped promote the enactment of such historic pieces of legislation as the Cargo Preference Act of 1954, the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 and the Maritime Security Act of 1996, all of which have helped ensure the continuation of a strong U.S. maritime industry. The MTD also has joined other maritime organizations in educating the public about the importance of preserving the Jones Act, the nation’s freight cabotage law.
In more recent years, during a period when an unfortunate number of U.S. industrial jobs have been lost to unfair competition from overseas, the U.S. shipbuilding and the deep-sea industries have made important progress, while the domestic Jones Act fleet has prospered. Without a doubt, the MTD and its affiliates are responsible for much of that progress. And, as a result, the nation’s armed services have enjoyed the stability and security that comes with drawing upon a pool of skilled, loyal U.S. civilian mariners, shipyard employees, longshore workers and others to enhance America’s national and economic security.
The MTD’s network of 24 port maritime councils has given maritime workers a strong grass roots presence in port cities and coastal communities all across the nation and in Canada. The councils have given the Department’s 28 affiliates a means to pool their resources on a wide range of issues and projects. They include promoting a comprehensive national maritime agenda; providing affiliate support at all levels; enhancing port security; community participation including charitable activities, and much more.
As we prepared for the MTD convention July 21-22 in Chicago, I looked back on our accomplishments from the previous four years and was reminded of the organization’s tremendous value and effectiveness. I’m confident that the next four years will be even more beneficial for our affiliates, and I look forward to working together to promote our industry.
Enduring Freedom
The terrorist attacks July 7 in London provided a very unwelcome reminder that Operation Enduring Freedom, the global war against terrorism, truly is an ongoing mission, and will remain so for the foreseeable future. This is a different kind of war, as we all know. The SIU remains fully committed to doing whatever it takes to win.
On behalf of our entire union, I extend the SIU’s most sincere condolences to the victims of the recent attacks and their families. Words may not heal the physical wounds, but they reflect the genuine caring and compassion felt by millions 7around the world.
Like all other terrorist acts, the ones in London were cowardly. The murderers responsible for those attacks will not succeed in making us cower. Quite the opposite is true, in fact. We will continue to rise up, across the globe, and stand united to protect all that is good in our societies.
As the saying goes, freedom isn’t free. The price is worth it, however—and no terrorist is going to rob us from our liberty.
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