The Seafarers International Union recently has been subjected to erroneous attacks in certain newspapers and on the internet concerning renewal of a waiver for operation of the passenger boat Delta Queen.It’s time for us to refute those lies.
First, it is ludicrous—and perhaps even slanderous—to suggest that the SIU or any other union either could or would guarantee congressional action on the proposed waiver. That accusation is flat-out false, contrary to what has appeared in print and on line.
We indeed met with Majestic America Line to discuss the Delta Queen. However, our position simply was (and remains) that we make every effort to assist our contracted companies, though certainly not at the expense of safety. In this case, we believed we potentially—and we underscore potentially—could help present a persuasive argument concerning the waiver because the SIU has the only viable case for its continuation. This union has the only pool of unlicensed mariners with special training and a long history of meeting the needs specifically associated with the Delta Queen. Our role in helping safely operate the vessel is one reason why the waiver had been granted in years past.
That is a far cry from guaranteeing anything.
Additionally and again in contrast to public claims by the company, at no time did the SIU demand or even request recognition for employment aboard all of Majestic’s vessels. Our interest centered on the original three “Queens”—Delta, Mississippi and American—that the SIU had crewed for years.
We have remained silent until now, even resisting the easy target that is Majestic’s recent safety record, but we cannot in good conscience allow the continued smearing of our names along with those of Senator Inouye and Congressman Oberstar.
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