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In taking one last look back at 2018 before we dive into the New Year, our union has much to be proud of. We welcomed new ships into the SIU-contracted fleet. We secured new and improved benefits, along with industry-leading contracts. We opened a new hiring hall in Puerto Rico, and we also helped our…

The commanding officer of the U.S. Military Sealift Command (MSC) recently voiced a strong vote of confidence in the dependability of U.S. Merchant Mariners. Rear Adm. Dew Mewbourne, posting Nov. 1 on his “Commander’s Blog,” said, “In some war planning room right now, there is a potential adversary weighing their odds of victory in a…

A number of Seafarers-contracted companies earned accolades at a recent Chamber of Shipping of America (CSA) event. The CSA on Nov. 7 hosted its annual environmental achievement awards dinner in Washington, D.C. Among the vessel and tug operators recognized were SIU-contracted Alaska Tanker Company, Crescent Towing, Crowley Maritime and several of its subsidiaries, E.N. Bisso…

Testimony Cites Indispensable Role in National Defense Recent comments from expert witnesses and congressmen alike left no doubt that America is a maritime nation – one best-served by maintaining a robust U.S. Merchant Marine, along with shipbuilding capability. The remarks were made Nov. 29 during a hearing of the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on…

The Trustees of the Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) recently approved a number of benefit improvements, which take effect Jan. 1, 2019. The following is a summary of these new benefits: Out-of-Pocket Maximum Added Core-Plus employees, non-Medicare pensioners and their dependents: $2,700 for a single person, $5,500 for a family of two or more.…

SIU-contracted NY Waterway rose to the occasion on Nov. 15, as New York and New Jersey’s roadways were crippled by a sudden snow. The company never hesitated to offer up its ferry services to assist the thousands of commuters stranded in Manhattan on their way to their homes in New Jersey. According to NY Waterway,…

Lessons of Pearl Harbor Still Reinforce Need for Maritime Capabilities The American maritime industry commemorated the 77th anniversary of the Japanese air raid on the United States Naval Base at Pearl Harbor by honoring those who lost their lives on that fateful day, and highlighting the critical need for a robust American shipbuilding capacity to…

Think-Tank Details Path to Deliver Economic Opportunity, Security In a comprehensive new policy agenda, the Economic Policy Institute (EPI) details solutions to address rising inequality and ensure that everybody in America gets a fair cut of the benefits of economic growth they help create. The growing pay disparity has been the result of intentional policy…

Under the leadership of President Michael Sacco, the SIU steadily moved forward in 2018, with a list of accomplishments that included adding new jobs, ratifying solid contracts, improving its affiliated school in southern Maryland, opening a new hiring hall in Puerto Rico and helping lead the fight to defend cabotage laws. …