Beginning July 1, 2021, an annual physical through the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan will be required prior to shipping out. The SIU and the American Maritime Association (AMA, representing companies that are signatory to the standard freightship and tanker agreements) last year had dropped the requirement for a union…
May
06
May
05
The following news release was issued by the U.S. Department of State Passport Services office on May 3. NOTICE TO MARINERS WITH INTERNATIONAL VOYAGES Due to public health measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, Passport Services continues to have limited operations at our passport agencies and centers. We will…
May
05
The following news release was issued by the Coast Guard on May 4, 2021. The entire Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) is available here, but the excerpt below pertains to Merchant Mariner Credentials. Merchant Mariners Credentials The Coast Guard is providing flexibility with regard to requirements to have a TWIC…
May
04
From the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated: View Death on the Job: The Toll of Neglect report here: aflcio.org/reports/death-job-toll-neglect-2021 (Washington, D.C., May 4, 2021)—In 2019, 5,333 working people were killed on the job and an estimated 95,000 died from occupational diseases, according to the 30th edition of the…
May
03
UPDATE: THE HALL IS REOPENING THURSDAY, MAY 6 The hiring hall in New Orleans is closed until further notice, for precautionary reasons. It may reopen later this week, but in any case, we'll post an update ASAP. Members can still conduct business with the hall by phone: (504) 328-7545 ###
Apr
30
The following article was posted by the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO. SIU President Michael Sacco also is president of the MTD. The SIU submitted a letter to the White House on this same subject. A PDF copy is available HERE. MTD, PORT COUNCILS SUPPORT BIDEN’S CALL FOR JONES ACT ON…
Apr
30
No injuries and no pollution were reported following a recent fire aboard the Seafarers-crewed President Eisenhower (APL Marine Services) on the West Coast. The SIU represents steward department mariners aboard the vessel. APL’s parent company, CMA CGM, issued this statement: “On April 28, a fire occurred onboard the M/V President…
Apr
29
SIU members and their families can register for the May 3 event HERE. Seafarers and their family members who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 are invited to the hiring hall in Houston for a free vaccination drive on May 3 (a Monday) from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Vaccines will…
Apr
28
From the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated: ‘It Shouldn’t Be This Hard’: AFL-CIO Launches Major Ad Campaign Boosting the PRO Act TV, Radio Spots Airing in Alaska, Arizona, Virginia and West Virginia; Digital Ads Running Nationwide (Washington, D.C., April 28, 2021)—The AFL-CIO launched a seven-figure advertising campaign this…
Apr
26
UPDATE: THE HALL IS REOPENING MAY 3 The hiring hall in Tacoma, Washington, is closed until further notice, for precautionary reasons. We’ll post an update as soon as possible. Members can still reach the hall by phone: (253) 272-7774. ###