Seafarers Log
Six SIU members recently earned their respective ways to the top of the steward department upgrading ladder. During the May 7 membership meeting in Piney Point, Maryland, the following Seafarers graduated from the Paul Hall Center’s steward recertification program: Cesar Cera Dela Cruz, Robinson Eromosele, Michael Ingram, Breon Lucas, Stephen…
Seafarers Log
According to a report released April 26 by the AFL-CIO, 5,190 American workers died on the job in 2016, an increase from 4,836 deaths the previous year. Another estimated 50,000 to 60,000 died from occupational diseases, meaning approximately 150 workers died on the job each day from preventable, hazardous workplace…
Seafarers Log
The SIU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education recently witnessed a milestone achievement: a betatest class of students successfully completed the Military Sealift Command (MSC) Basic Storekeeping course along with Supply Configuration Management. Both were offered for the first time in the history of the Piney Point, Maryland-based…
Seafarers Log
Rank-and-file Seafarers met with legislators and staff April 17 in the nation’s capital as part of a day-long outreach to express thanks for support of America’s freight cabotage law, the Jones Act. SIU Port Agent John Hoskins, Legislative Director Brian Schoeneman, and Senior Political Consultant Terry Turner joined SIU members…
Seafarers Log
Rep. Rutherford Speaks in Support of Nation’s Freight Cabotage Law First-term U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Florida) stood up for the Jones Act during a March 15 hearing conducted by the House Homeland Security Committee. The hearing’s main topic was “Preparedness, Response, and Rebuilding: Lessons from the 2017 Disasters.” During his…
Seafarers Log
Culinary 2.0 Gets Strong Start at Union-Affiliated Paul Hall Center As part of its mission to provide the most modern and up-to-date classes, the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education has redesigned the courses and curriculums offered for steward department mariners. The SIU-affiliated school has created two classes…
Seafarers Log
SIU President Michael Sacco Cites More Support for Jones Act It’s always encouraging to hear about support for our nation’s freight cabotage law, so I was pleased to read several recent comments from maritime and national security leaders who attended a Navy League of the United States event in the…
Seafarers Log
The Seafarers Health and Benefits Plan’s (SHBP) medical department recently finalized a policy on prescription opioids and other medications that’s aimed at helping SIU members remain eligible to ship. As announced during the April membership meetings, the policy covers the use of prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, or sedative hypnotics aboard ship…
Seafarers Log
Annual Event Promotes U.S. Maritime Industry on Capitol Hill Check out photos from the Sail-In HERE The SIU made another strong showing at a yearly event that has become a staple of the American maritime industry. On March 20, the ninth annual Maritime Congressional Sail-In saw a record 115…
Seafarers Log
The head of one of America’s largest unions says the labor movement faces significant obstacles in its ongoing mission as the catalyst for working families, but unions are up to the task. Randi Weingarten, president of the 1.7-million-member American Federation of Teachers (AFT), addressed the Maritime Trades Department (MTD) executive…