A committee of rank-and-file members recently released its official report on the voting for national officers of the Seafarers International Union’s Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters. The report also covers voting on 23 constitutional amendments. Voting took place Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024.
The union’s tallying committee consisted of 20 Seafarers (two members elected from each of the SIU’s 10 constitutional halls). The group certified the election of David Heindel as president of the SIU; Augie Tellez as the union’s executive vice president; Tom Orzechowski as secretary-treasurer; and George Tricker as vice president of contracts and contract enforcement, among other results. The committee also certified the rank-and-file approval of all 23 proposed amendments that were on the ballot.
The tallying committee’s report will be submitted for approval by the membership at union meetings in March.
According to the report, the two contested races for office were decided by large margins. Similarly, most of the amendments passed by a sizeable number of votes.
The committee disclosed the election of the following officers, who will serve four-year terms:
– David Heindel, president;
– Augie Tellez, executive vice president;
– Tom Orzechowski, secretary-treasurer;
– George Tricker, contracts and contract enforcement vice president;
– Joseph Soresi, Atlantic Coast vice president;
– Dean Corgey, Gulf Coast vice president;
– Nick Marrone, West Coast vice president;
– Bryan Powell, Great Lakes and inland waters vice president;
– Joe Vincenzo, Government Services Division vice president;
– Pat Vandegrift, contracts and contract enforcement assistant vice president;
– Amancio Crespo, Atlantic Coast assistant vice president;
– Kris Hopkins, Gulf Coast assistant vice president;
– Chris Westbrook, West Coast assistant vice president;
– Michael Russo, Great Lakes and inland waters assistant vice president;
– Sam Spain, Government Services Division assistant vice president;
– Mark von Siegel, Piney Point port agent;
– Ray Henderson, Jersey City port agent;
– Joe Baselice, Philadelphia port agent;
– John Hoskins, Baltimore port agent;
– Jimmy White, Mobile port agent;
– George Owen, New Orleans port agent;
– Joe Zavala, Houston port agent;
– Hazel Galbiso, Oakland port agent;
– Chad Partridge, St. Louis port agent;
– Todd Brdak, Detroit-Algonac port agent.
Despite a significant winter storm in the region, the committee met with the union’s secretary- treasurer to receive instructions on Jan. 5. Because of weather-related bank closures, ballots were picked up on Jan. 7 (instead of Jan. 6, as originally planned). The committee concluded both their tallying and their report by the evening of Jan. 10. They met during that week primarily at the union’s headquarters in Camp Springs, Maryland, and at the SIU-affiliated school in Piney Point, Maryland.
Serving on the committee were Seafarers Mubarek Ahmed, Drushelia Finney, Samuel Fanjoy, Tom Drummond, Anthony Jacobson, Patrick Slade, Lamont Faulks, Ronald Davis, John Hale, Richard Benoit, Jack McElveen, Kyle Jolivette, Jason Powell, Stephen Hoskins, Gerard Costello, Cleofe Bernardez Castro, Thalis Ealy, Chandler Williams, Ali Alhamyari, and Tyrell Thabit.
Unanimously approved by the committee, the report reflects strong rank-and-file turnout for balloting. The committee members concluded that they “wish to express [our] deep appreciation for the cooperation and assistance given to us by the union’s legal department and its technical and clerical staff. Finally, the members of the union tallying committee wish to congratulate the elected officers and jobholders. We extend our best wishes for the next four years. We hope that you will carry on the tradition of our union and advance the strength of the maritime industry.”
Many of the constitutional amendments were of the unremarkable/housekeeping variety – for example, replacing outdated terminology with modern-day vocabulary. Others were more substantive, including amendments that formalized the addition of four constitutional ports; increased dues for the first time in almost 20 years; expanded the voting period in future SIU elections; and added two vice president positions and two corresponding assistant vice president slots.
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