Seafarers Log
Support for Cargo Preference A recent hearing in the U.S. House of Representatives made it crystal clear that our country is best-served by maintaining strong cargo preference laws. Through joint testimony submitted on behalf of several maritime unions, the SIU took part in the Sept. 14 hearing, conducted by the…
Seafarers Log
A new study finds that Puerto Rico benefits from reliable service by Jones Act carriers. The Transportation Institute on Aug. 23 announced the findings of research by Ernst & Young (EY). The report evaluated the Jones Act and its implications on freight rates, container availability, port congestion, and carrier performance…
Seafarers Log
The Major League Baseball Players Association (MLBPA) on Sept. 7 announced that it is formally affiliating with the AFL-CIO, with a goal of supporting the efforts and strengthening the voice of the national labor movement. The SIU also is an AFL-CIO affiliate. SIU President Michael Sacco is the longest-serving vice…
Seafarers Log
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) continues making a major, positive impact on the lives of mariners around the world. The latest evidence for that sentiment surfaced in mid-August, when the federation revealed that its inspectors recovered $37.6 million in unpaid wages to foreign crews across the globe. According to…
Seafarers Log
SIU members sailing aboard the Maersk Tennessee, the APL-operated Herodote, the NY Waterway ferry Abraham Lincoln and the Centerline Logistics-operated tugboats Richardson Sea and Chabria Sea were all involved in rescues this year. On July 22, the SIU crew of the Maersk Tennessee spotted a man in need of help,…
Seafarers Log
The Seafarers International Union of North America (SIUNA) conducted its 2022 Quinquennial Convention online, under the theme “Building for the Future.” Hosted in Piney Point, Maryland, the event took place Sept. 14 and included approximately 60 delegates and guests who connected online from across the U.S. and Canada. AFL-CIO President…
Seafarers Log
AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler commended the work of Seafarers and encouraged officials and rank-and-file members to support pro-labor candidates in the midterm elections. Shuler submitted a video message for the SIUNA convention, which took place online Sept. 14. “I just have to start by recognizing your president, Mike Sacco, who…
Seafarers Log
Vice Adm. Al Herberger The U.S.-flag maritime industry lost a true and devoted friend when retired Vice Adm. Albert Herberger (USN) passed away Aug. 26. He was 91 years old. “Admiral Herberger was more than a friend,” recalled SIU President Michael Sacco. “He was a merchant mariner. He was a…
Seafarers Log
U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher A major maritime coalition recently saluted U.S. Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wisconsin) for his strong support of the industry. The Great Lakes Maritime Task Force (GLMTF), to which the SIU is affiliated, presented Gallagher with the organization’s 2022 Legislator of the Year Award, during a late-July ceremony…
Seafarers Log
Editor’s note: Following is the text of this year’s Labor Day statement from President Biden. It was issued September 2, the Friday before the holiday. American workers have built our communities, laid the foundation for our democracy, and powered the engine of our prosperity. From the factory hands who forged…