Armed with the principles of the “Mapping Out a Brighter Future” motto that was unveiled during the Seafarers International Union of North America’s convention (an event that took place last September), the SIU’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU made great strides in 2007 to help ensure a brighter future for its members and the wellbeing of our country and industry.Brighter Future for Members, Families
Throughout the year, the SIU stood arm in arm with the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department and the rest of the federation when calling for improved health and wellness for mariners, other union members and indeed all Americans. Health care is a hot-button issue and promises to be for some time to come. Seeing SIU members involved in rallies, and get-out-the-vote, email and letter-writing campaigns calling for improved and affordable health care for Americans were not uncommon sights.
The SIU not only participated in this national mobilization for better and affordable health care, but also made moves in 2007 for the membership by switching its service provider for the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) to CIGNA HealthCare. The move broadened the size of the health care network and the agreement set lower deductibles for participants and their families.
The SIU also took a noteworthy step forward in helping members secure their economic futures by introducing a 401(k) savings plan that allows members to contribute before-tax income into a number of investment plans tailored to their needs.
In an annual benefit aimed at improving educational opportunities for members and their families, in May, six dependents of Seafarers were chosen to receive a combined total of $120,000 in scholarships through the SHBP. The recipients have aspirations to also help brighten futures by taking classwork to eventually learn to cure diseases, for example, and help make the world a better place.
More U.S.-Flagged Ships = More Jobs for U.S. Seafarers
A key reference point for the “brighter future map” is this simple equation: U.S. flags equal U.S. jobs. It’s been a driving force behind the SIU’s efforts for decades, noted SIU President Michael Sacco. Last year was no exception, and the results weren’t hard to spot. Among other gains and improvements, the newer Washington Express joined the Maritime Security Program fleet, replacing the older Liberator.
The third and fourth T-AKE ships (the USNS Alan Shepard and USNS Richard E. Byrd) were launched, signaling new shipboard employment opportunities for members of the SIU Government Services Division.
SIU members manned new “duck boats” as part of New York Splash Tours. Overseas Shipholding Group took delivery of the first three tankers in the new Veteran Class series: the Overseas Houston, Overseas Long Beach and Overseas Los Angeles. OSG also ordered ATBs and additional tankers for the Jones Act fleet. The tankers are being built at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard.
SIU-contracted Horizons Lines added five new ships in 2007.
The MSP fleet continued to grow as the containership Yorktown Express was ushered in. Express Marine added the SIU-manned tugboat Duty into service.
Crowley welcomed the ATBs Gulf Reliance and Resolve into its fleet.
SIU-member CIVMARS boarded the Military Sealift Command’s USNS Safeguard.
Seafarers also crewed up Crowley Ship Management’s National Glory.
Political Action
Whether helping gather support for maritime staples such as the Jones Act, cargo preference and the Maritime Security Program, or promoting general labor issues such as the right to form a union, the SIU stayed typically active in 2007 when it came to grassroots action as well as taking their points directly to lawmakers.
When the SIU – along with other unions affiliated with the MTD – weighed in with a resolution of support for the Employee Free Choice Act, it helped bolster the cause in Congress. In 2007, favorable momentum for the bill mushroomed, and the legislation passed in the House. In the Senate, it got tied up in end-of-the-year filibusters in which numerous pieces of national legislation didn’t stand a chance of being voted on, including the Belated Thank You legislation that the House approved. It’s predicted that Congress has not seen the last of these pieces of legislation, however.
The SIU’s expertise was called on in an October hearing before the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure’s Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation. The hearing was about trends and innovations in mariner education and to assess how growing workforce shortages will affect the maritime industry as trade increases. Standing at bat for the SIU was its Executive Vice President Augie Tellez who told the panel that shipboard manpower must be addressed in the context of national security; that sealift lessons learned after the Persian Gulf War mandated the need for a strong Ready Reserve Force; and that the SIU, its contracted operators and affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education have strongly contributed to the nation’s pool of skilled and loyal U.S. citizen seafarers.
Additionally, the union missed no opportunities to weigh in on the Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program. The SIU submitted numerous comments concerning TWIC to Congress, the Department of Transportation, the Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration. Initially, the union questioned the need for a new credential program for mariners when, with a few modifications, the current background check and credentialing processes could be used. Some of the current TWIC issues the SIU is watching include whether implementation deadlines can be reached, problems that are cropping up with the biometric card readers and delays that might exist at enrollment centers.
There are other components of the program that the SIU is tracking and time will tell. In the meantime, Seafarers are reminded that U.S. mariners will be required to carry a TWIC by September 25, 2008. Until that date, a valid zcard/merchant mariner document meets the TWIC program requirements where mariners are concerned.
Highly Trained, Skilled & Loyal Fourth Arm of Defense
Seafarers have a long and proud tradition of delivering the goods for those defending our nation. As the war in Iraq continued in 2007, SIU members continued to support the troops on commercial and Naval Fleet Auxiliary Force ships. From prepositioning supplies to delivering ammo, fuel, food and armored vehicles along with whatever else was needed.
School’s 40th Anniversary
Many of the mariners sailing aboard those military support vessels (along with other ships from throughout the Seafarers-crewed fleet) have received training and upgraded their skills at the union-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. Last year, the school celebrated its 40th anniversary, commemorating the historic occasion in several different ways.
Once a bare-bones facility, the Paul Hall Center now offers the most U.S. Coast Guard-approved courses of any maritime school in the nation. It also is the largest training facility for deep sea merchant seafarers and inland waterways boatmen in the U.S.
Highlighting the center’s ever-expanding training capabilities in 2007, the school upgraded its state-of-the-art facilities to include three auxiliary bridges with z-drive and conventional controls. It also moved from single-channel visuals to three-channel visuals using plasma screens. Additionally, the center upgraded main and auxiliary bridges to Transas 4000 software and upgraded radars and radar emulators. The center stayed on the cutting edge of the liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry by installing an LG cargo simulator. Developed by Transas, a highly regarded company, the simulator offers comprehensive training in LG familiarization, LG specialization and LG safety.
Proving itself once again as the “go to place” for expert training, the U.S. Military Sealift Command formally approved the center’s shipboard helicopter fire fighting team member course. It is believed that the school is the first private institution to receive MSC accreditation for helo fire fighting training. The class is a one-day curriculum intended primarily for merchant mariners (including CIVMARS) sailing aboard military support ships – particularly vessels equipped with flight decks. Like most other Paul Hall Center courses, this one emphasizes hands-on training. It also includes classroom instruction.
The year included many other mileposts for Seafarers, including ratification of new contracts that increase wages and maintain benefits; the aforementioned SIUNA convention, during which guest speakers from Congress, the administration, the military and the domestic and international labor movements expressed strong support for SIUNA unions and the American-flag fleet; and rescues at sea in which SIU members exhibited the finest traditions of the “Brotherhood of the Sea.”
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