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From the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler released the following statement on the Mercedes-Benz workers’ unionization vote for UAW in Tuscaloosa, Alabama: Today, the entire AFL-CIO family stands with the workers and organizers in Tuscaloosa. They put their heart and soul into the fight to join a union, resisting every union-busting tactic in the book—and they made huge strides. Like their fellow autoworkers at Volkswagen who lost their first vote, these brave workers have built a foundation that will only grow stronger in the coming months. During this campaign, Mercedes claimed to be neutral—but…
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From the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on the Release of a Bipartisan Framework on Artificial Intelligence The AFL-CIO is committed to a future in which workers and their unions shape the future of work, especially as the development and deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) accelerates across the economy and public sector. The bipartisan AI framework released today by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and several of his Senate colleagues from both sides of the aisle is an important start to a legislative process. It sets out some initial bipartisan policy priorities like ensuring existing…
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SIU members and union representatives meet during the ratification process. SIU members on the Great Lakes have overwhelmingly ratified a new 10-year contract between the union and American Steamship Company (ASC). Highlights of the new agreement include: A $2,500 ratification bonus paid to all employees working for the company at the time the contract was ratified; A 6% across-the-board wage increase (with a 2% increase retroactively effective March 11, 2024, and another 4% increase retroactively effective April 15, 2024), and significant wage increases effective each subsequent year of the agreement which includes an annual cost-of-living escalator tied to the Consumer…
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The office of U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Florida) recently posted the following news item, which includes links to the 12-page PDF report. Rubio, Waltz, Kelly, Garamendi Release National Maritime Strategy Report In an era of great power competition, aging infrastructure, and the threat of high-intensity war, Congress must adopt a maritime strategy vital to U.S. national security and the world. Unfortunately, despite calls from Congress for the last decade, such a comprehensive strategy has yet to be produced. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), U.S. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL), U.S. Senator Mark Kelly (D-AZ), and U.S. Representative John Garamendi (D-CA) released…
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The union and its affiliated school in southern Maryland have posted a new, three-minute video about maritime careers and training. Check it out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_6N4SguE94 For more information, visit the My Maritime Career website: https://mymaritimecareer.org/ ###
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The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF), to which the SIU is affiliated, has posted the following news item. It's available on the ITF website HERE. SIU President David Heindel also serves as chair of the ITF Seafarers Section. A stain on the global maritime industry: seafarers in dire conditions on Middle East Marine vessels In the worst case of serial seafarer abandonment ever seen, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) condemns Middle East Marine LLC for its systematic abuse and neglect of over 100 seafarers. Today, the ITF is calling on the United Arab Emirates Government and the Palau maritime…
Let’s Look Out for Each Other I recently read a joke about two crows who figured out they were looking at a scarecrow rather than a real person, based on one single condition: The dummy didn’t have a cell phone in his hand. Connectivity, of course, is an important part of everyday life. Whether it’s being used for work, for research on a personal project, for other forms of productivity or even just following along with a sports scoreboard, web and email access often feel essential. That’s why our union successfully bargained for widespread internet connectivity during our most recent…
SIU members and officials on April 10 helped promote the U.S. Merchant Marine during a day-long series of meetings on Capitol Hill. Those gatherings were part of the yearly Maritime Congressional Sail-In, a grassroots bipartisan effort that has become an industry staple (during non-pandemic times). Representing the SIU were Chief Mate Lindsey Austin, AB Jimmy Hargrove, President David Heindel, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Vice Presidents Dean Corgey, George Tricker, Nicholas Celona and Bryan Powell, Assistant Vice President Mike Russo, Port Agents Ray Henderson and Todd Brdak, and Political Director Brian Schoeneman. Gathering for a snapshot before the all-day outreach…
Pursuant to Article X, section 1(e) of our Constitution, I am submitting at this regular May membership meeting of this election year, my Pre- Balloting Report. The balloting for our General Election of Officers for the term 2025-2028 will commence on November 1, 2024 and continue through December 31, 2024. The election will be conducted under the provisions of our Constitution, as amended and effective March 15, 2013, and such other voting procedures as our Secretary-Treasurer may direct. I have, in consultation with our Executive Board and Port Representatives, made a careful appraisal of the needs of this union, its…
Editor’s note: The AFL-CIO Executive Council (SIU President David Heindel is a member) recently adopted the following statement during its first meeting since SIU President Emeritus Michael Sacco passed away late last year. On the Passing of Michael Sacco Michael Sacco The entire AFL-CIO family mourns the passing of Michael Sacco, our brother and friend, who was the longest-serving president in the history of the Seafarers International Union (SIU). During his more than three decades, international president and over six decades of membership with the SIU, Sacco was a staunch champion for generations of merchant mariners and America’s working families.…