Kentucky state legislators recently came together across party lines to pass a resolution in support of the Jones Act, America’s freight cabotage law. Governor Andy Beshear signed the new resolution, which affirms the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s support for the Jones Act and emphasizes the importance of the law’s impact, both…
Apr
21
Apr
21
The AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated, has issued the following news item: AFL-CIO Launches ‘Stand with Su’ Digital Ad Campaign, National Mobilization Effort to Support Julie Su for Secretary of Labor (Washington, D.C., April 21, 2023)—The AFL-CIO today unveiled a multifaceted “Stand with Su” campaign in support of…
Apr
11
The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education (PHC) recently received accolades from the St. Mary’s County, Maryland, Health Department. School and county personnel are pictured at the ceremony School personnel were on hand April 3 for a local ceremony honoring the PHC and other recipients of the…
Apr
07
From the U.S. Coast Guard's National Maritime Center: National Maritime Center Credentialing Delays Due to an increase in application volume and ongoing technical difficulties with our credential production equipment, merchant mariner credential (MMC) applicants are experiencing issuance delays. NMC credential printers remain operational but at a reduced capacity. We are…
Apr
05
The U.S. Coast Guard has issued the following communication: Guidance on Qualification for National Endorsements as Tankerman-Assistant and STCW Endorsements for Basic Tanker Operations The Office of Merchant Mariner Credentialing has published CG-MMC Policy Letter 01-23 titled Qualification for National Endorsements as Tankerman-Assistant and STCW Endorsements for Basic Tanker Operations.…
Apr
05
U.S. Rep. John Garamendi (D-California) issued the following statement, which was published in the Congressional Record on March 29, 2023, on introduction of the Rebuilding the U.S.-Flag International Fleet Act: I introduce the bipartisan “Rebuilding the United States-Flag International Fleet Act.” This comprehensive legislation would help to recapitalize the U.S.-flag…
Mar
30
Statement from AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler on former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee testimony: Former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz’s feeble attempt before the Senate HELP Committee to deny the atrocious union-busting his company is waging against its own workers was an affront to…
Mar
29
The U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) requires an annual flu vaccine for all mariners who sail aboard MSC-contracted ships. Specifically, the flu vaccine must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). This is due to other countries using different flu strains in their respective vaccines which may…
Mar
27
There’s still time for SIU members and their dependents to apply for the 2023 Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) Scholarship awards. Dependent scholarships are for $20,000 apiece, while grants for active Seafarers range from $6,000 to $20,000. The application deadline (April 17) is fast approaching. Follow the link below…
Mar
24
The U.S. Transportation Command and the National Defense Transportation Association posted the following news item and accompanying photo. SIU Executive VP Augie Tellez, the labor representative on the executive working group, took part in the meeting. He's second from right, in front, in the photo. Government and Maritime Industry Executives…