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OCTOBER 2020
VOLUME 82, NO. 10
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W AT E R S , A F L- C I O
Seafarers Answer Activation Calls
Turbo Exercises Successful as SIU Helps Crew Up 19 Ships
SIU members promptly and efficiently helped crew up 19 vessels during two separate activations this summer. One such ship, the USNS Algol (operated by Ocean Shipholdings)
is seen in the background of photo at left, taken in San Francisco. Recertified Bosun Ritche Acuman is at left, with GUDE Edsel Felipe. The photo above shows the Gopher State
(Pacific-Gulf Marine) earlier this year in Newport News, Virginia. Page 3.
Honoring those Lost on September 11
SIU members gather aboard the Garden State (Intrepid Personnel and Provisioning) on
Sept. 11 to remember those lost and to recognize the historic sealift in lower Manhattan
that day in 2001. Pictured from left are QMED “JD” Diola, AB Matthew Thompson, Oiler
Oscar Johnny, Pumpman Alexander Capellan, AB Carlos Avila, AB Michael Sinclair and
Bosun Ryan Boltz. (Thanks to vessel master Capt. Christopher Menezes for the photo.)
U.S. Navy Accepts Delivery of USNS Newport;
Vessel Joins Seafarer-Crewed CIVMAR Fleet
The U.S. Navy recently accepted delivery of its newest expeditionary fast transport vessel, the USNS Newport. The ship, pictured in Mobile, Alabama, will be crewed by CIVMARS from the SIU Government Services Division. Page 4. (Photo courtesy Austal USA)
Pandemic Updates
Page 3
SIU Election Info
Pages 6-10
SIU in WWII
Page 24
�President’s Report
Another Job Well Done
Around this time last year, I congratulated our members and
our officials in the hiring halls and at the manpower office for
stepping up and tackling a flurry of vessel activations.
Kudos once again are in order following a total of 19 recent
activations that wrapped up in late August. Although we didn’t
have to crew up quite as many ships this time (the 2019 activations were believed to have been the most since the Persian
Gulf War), you could say we had an extra challenge in 2020.
Nevertheless, the pandemic didn’t stop us from quickly filling
every job for which we’re responsible.
Under the circumstances, our people deserve recognition
for a job well done. I’m proud of all of you, and even though
there’s never a doubt that we’ll always live up to our duty as
part of the nation’s fourth arm of defense, you all truly rose to
the occasion.
Seafarers Persevere
If the activations were relatively sudden, the global COVID19 pandemic has hung around so long, it’s almost difficult at
times to remember exactly what our lives were like before it
started. There’s no definitive end in sight – but it will end at
some point.
Meanwhile, our union and our industry have made the best
of it, always keeping safety at the forefront. There is no recent
precedent for the pandemic, and we’ve all been learning as we
move along. No one is saying the operations have been perfect,
but I think we’ve all pulled together – labor, management and
government – to keep our people safe, keep commerce moving,
and support our armed forces around the globe.
Where the novel coronavirus is concerned, my message this
month to our membership (and our officials and staff) is that
this is no time to let down our guard. We’ve got to stick with
our safety protocols, try to be patient, and protect ourselves, our
families, our shipmates and anyone else we might come into
contact with.
We’ve all come too far and made too many sacrifices to become careless now. Hang in there and stay safe.
After Election Day
The SIU will be ready to move forward no matter who wins
on Election Day, and that goes not just for the presidency but
also the congressional, state and local elections. If you’ve been
in this industry for any length of time, I don’t have to tell you
that we are heavily regulated, and that’s reason enough for us to
remain politically active.
As always, we support those who support maritime, and we
will work with anyone and everyone who backs the U.S. Merchant Marine and who stands up for workers’ rights.
I have mentioned this from time to time but it bears repeating, with Nov. 3 right around the corner: Practice civility in
your political discussions. Focus on issues, actually listen
to what the other person is saying, and remember that we all
love our country, even if we’re bound to disagree on particular
subjects. And one of the best ways to show your appreciation
for our great nation is to vote. Make sure to cast your ballot in
person or via absentee for those candidates who stand up for a
strong, vital U.S. Merchant Marine.
Both the American maritime industry and the labor movement are very much worth promoting and protecting, and that’s
what we’ll continue doing regardless of the outcomes in November.
Housing Expenses Responsible
For Hawaii’s High Cost of Living
There are a few main reasons why it costs so much
to live in the Aloha State, but the Jones Act isn’t one of
them.
That’s the conclusion of a recent study by economists
from Boston-based Reeve & Associates (reported in detail in last month’s LOG). Co-author John Reeve amplified the findings in a follow-up column published by the
Honolulu Star newspaper in August.
“Hawaii does have a high cost of living – but the
Jones Act is not to blame,” Reeve wrote. “Government
data shows that the cost of housing, utilities, and medical services are the primary culprits. A dedicated fleet of
American ships, reliably delivering the goods that the
people of Hawaii depend on, ensures supply never falls
below demand. An examination of the facts illustrates
that the only cost of the Jones Act might be one without
it.”
The Jones Act, American law for a century, ensures
that cargo moving from one U.S. port to another is carried aboard vessels that are built, crewed, owned and
flagged American. America’s freight cabotage law helps
support more than 653,000 U.S. jobs while enhancing
national, economic and homeland security. A separate
study found that 91 countries around the world maintain
some form of cabotage law.
When Reeve & Associates released its comprehensive report this summer, the findings left no doubt that
American-flag ocean transportation doesn’t drive up the
costs of consumer items.
“An April 2020 survey of prices of 200 consumer
goods covering groceries, household goods, apparel,
building materials, and automobiles, found no substantial difference in costs between major stores in Hawaii
and California,” Reeve pointed out. “The prices were
reported online by major retailers operating in both
Honolulu and Los Angeles such as Costco, Target and
Walmart as well as Kelley Blue Book data on automobile prices. The survey was done online to ensure ‘apples
to apples’ comparisons of exactly the same items as sold
in both Honolulu and Los Angeles stores on the same
date. The data shows that the average of the prices of the
five different categories was 0.5% higher in Honolulu
than in Los Angeles – virtually nil.”
By contrast, government data shows that the costs
of housing, utilities, and medical services primarily account for Hawaii’s high cost of living, the study found.
The state consistently is ranked among the most expensive in which to reside.
As for the Jones Act itself, Reeve pointed out it was
enacted “because Congress recognized that our national
security was dependent on a U.S. Merchant Marine
consisting of vessels and skilled seafarers that could be
relied upon to move military equipment and personnel
overseas in time of war. This policy has been proven
right time and again, in World War II, Korea, Vietnam,
and the more recent engagements in the Middle East. But
national security benefits are not all that it ensures. Just
two weeks ago, we witnessed the reliability and dependability of the dedicated Jones Act carriers that quickly
adapted operations to ensure a reliable lifeline of goods
to Hawaii was maintained in the midst of an approaching hurricane.
“Critics of the Jones Act claim that the higher cost
of U.S.-built ships and U.S. crews compared to foreign counterparts are major contributors to Hawaii’s
high cost of living despite the fact that the cost of
ships and their crews account for only a small fraction
of the cost of moving goods between the mainland and
Hawaii,” he continued. “But what critics fail to mention is that foreign carriers are not subject to the same
labor, environmental and safety standards, or subject
to U.S. taxes. According to the U.S. Department of
Transportation, these additional requirements would
likely erase any cost advantage a foreign vessel operator might have if replacing U.S. carriers in serving
Hawaii.”
He also said it is “questionable” whether a foreignflag ship operator “would provide the same quality of
service provided by the current Jones Act operators
in terms of port coverage, direct sailings, fast transit
times, and dedicated and customized equipment. Current U.S. providers of regularly scheduled services to
Hawaii from the mainland have invested over $2 billion
in recent years in highly fuel efficient and environmentally friendly vessels and in marine terminal upgrades
designed to serve Hawaii for at least the next 30 years,
all while their ocean freight rates are essentially at the
same level as they were a decade ago.”
Pictured from left to right are (seated) QMED Michael Kelly, Chief Cook Thomas Cyrus, Chief Cook Marilou Toledo, QMED Donald Lumpkins, (standing) Recertified Steward Earl Castain, Bosun William Lima
and Recertified Bosun Stephen Herring (chairman).
Rank-and-file Members Examine Union’s Finances
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W AT E R S , A F L- C I O
Volume 82 Number 10
October 2020
The SIU online: www.seafarers.org
The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published monthly by the
Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters,
AFL-CIO; 5201 Capital Gateway Drive; Camp Springs, MD 20746.
Telephone (301) 899-0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
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Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo;
Assistant Communications Director & Managing Editor/
Production, Jim Guthrie; Assistant Editor, Nick Merrill;
Photographer, Harry Gieske; Administrative Support,
Jenny Stokes; Content Curator, Mark Clements.
Copyright © 2020 Seafarers International Union, AGLIW. All Rights
Reserved.
The Seafarers International
Union engaged an environmentally friendly printer
for the production of this
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2 Seafarers LOG
Committee Approves 2019 Records
The pandemic caused a later-than-usual start, but
seven SIU members in early September approved the
union’s financial records for 2019.
The SIU Constitution requires that a group of rankand-file Seafarers (elected by fellow members) annually
examines the organization’s financial records for the previous calendar year. Accordingly, this process occurred
last month, beginning with the financial committee’s
election in Piney Point, Maryland, and then in the following days when they reviewed the paperwork at SIU
Headquarters in Camp Springs, Maryland.
The committee found that the SIU’s financial records
for 2019 are in good order. Their report, filed with the
secretary-treasurer’s office, will be read in all ports and
presented for approval at the union’s October membership meetings.
Serving on the committee were Recertified Bosun
Stephen Herring (chairman), Recertified Steward Earl
Castain, Chief Cook Thomas Cyrus, QMED Michael
Kelly, Bosun William Lima, QMED Donald Lumpkins and Chief Cook Marilou Toledo.
They were elected Sept. 8 at the monthly membership
meeting at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education.
The members handled their tasks in accordance with
Article X, Section 14-c of the SIU Constitution, which
lists the duties of the annual financial committee along
with rules and procedures for electing the group.
In part, their report reads, “We, the committee, do
hereby state that we have examined the procedure for
controlling of the funds of the union and have found that
the system of internal control is adequate to safeguard
them properly…. We find that the headquarters of the
union is taking all steps possible to safeguard union
funds and to see that the disbursements of the union are
in accordance with the authority delegated to them and
that, at the same time, there is a striving effort to increase
day-to-day efficiency of our operation.”
The members reported that they met with representatives from the certified public accounting firm that periodically audits the union’s books and records. Those
representatives explained their procedures for checking
the secretary-treasurer’s financial report of the union’s
records, and they also further discussed the SIU’s overall financial operation. SIU Secretary-Treasurer David
Heindel also worked with the committee “and made
himself and the records of his office available” to the
group, according to the report.
October 2020
�Members Rise to Occasion in Turbo Activations
Mariners Answer the Nation’s Call During Back-to-Back Events
Beginning in late July, SIU mariners once
again answered the nation’s call by crewing
up a large number of Ready Reserve Force
(RRF) and surge sealift vessels on very short
notice.
As explained by SIU Vice President of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement George
Tricker, “As directed by agreement with the
United States Transportation Command,
MARAD (the U.S. Maritime Administration) conducted the Command Post Exercise
Breakout 2020 to test that ship managers,
operating companies, and maritime labor
unions have the ability to initially crew the
entire Ready Reserve Force and Military
Sealift Command’s surge sealift vessels simultaneously.”
Altogether, SIU members helped crew up
19 ships during the activations.
In the first period, the following vessels
were activated: USNS Cape Race (operated
by Keystone), USNS Denebola (TOTE),
USNS Cape Knox (Keystone), USNS Gordon (Ocean Shipholdings) and USNS Fisher
(U.S. Marine Management). This totaled 59
SIU jobs.
During the second period, which began
in late August, the following vessels were
activated: Cape Ray (Keystone), Gopher
State (Pacific-Gulf Marine), Adm. William
Callaghan (Patriot), Cape Henry (Matson), Cape Horn (Matson), Cape Wrath
(Crowley), Cornhusker State (Pacific-Gulf
Marine), Cape Domingo (Keystone), Cape
Decision (Keystone), USNS Shughart
(Ocean Shipholdings), Cape Inscription
(Ocean Shipholdings), SS Algol (Ocean
Shipholdings), USNS Gilliland (Ocean Shipholdings) and USNS Red Cloud (Patriot).
Those 14 ships meant 146 jobs filled.
The focus of the exercise remains the
initial crewing actions to surge vessels for
sealift purposes, and does not consider sustainment requirements or the ability to replace mariners because of vessel losses.
“It went very well,” said Seafarers Manpower Director Mark von Siegel. “With the
five ships in July, the ports did a great job in
getting those filled quickly, but they actually
did a quicker job with the 14-vessel activation. We had all of those jobs filled within
24 hours. They did a fantastic job. The members really stepped up to the plate when the
balloon went up, as they say, and took those
jobs on short notice. Abiding by all the rules
and regulations due to the quarantine was a
challenge, but we got the job done.”
Known as the fourth arm of defense,
the U.S. Merchant Marine has been a vital
part of national security since the country’s
founding. As recently noted by the coalition
USA Maritime, “The U.S.-flag Merchant
Marine ensures that the United States will
have the sealift it needs to carry out its military, humanitarian, and commercial objectives overseas, and ensures the availability
of U.S.-controlled, U.S.-crewed maritime
assets to keep commerce flowing in times of
war and national emergencies.”
Earlier this year, U.S. Maritime Administrator Mark Buzby noted, “The merchant
marine has always been there, and has never
faltered.”
During remarks commemorating this
year’s National Maritime Day, U.S. Transportation Command (TRANSCOM) Commanding Officer Gen. Stephen R. Lyons
said, “We count on a strong U.S.-flag maritime industry – a maritime industry that has
a long history of enabling military victory.
Today, just as in World War II, the United
States-flag merchant ships, the mariners who
crew them, and our commercial sealift industry continue to play a critical role in our
nation’s defense by providing sealift ships,
mariners, and access to global seaport networks.”
He continued, “As a result, the United
States’ ability to project and sustain military power across transoceanic distances
remains a strategic competitive advantage,
and is admired by friends and adversaries.
TRANSCOM, working with MARAD and
key industry partners, provides an essential
element of deterrence and, if necessary, the
unquestionable ability to respond with overwhelming, decisive force, most of which
will be moved by sealift. The resulting combined effort is a world order that encourages
peace, and opportunities for freedom, while
deterring a great power war for over 75 years
and counting.
“The United States is today, and always
will be, a maritime nation,” Lyons concluded. “The most important resource of a
maritime nation is people: professional men
and women of high technical proficiency,
who sail with high technical competency,
hard work and innovation. That is why, at
the end of the day, it is a U.S. flag on a ship,
with U.S. crews at the helm, that remain essential to our national defense.”
Pandemic Prompts Some Extensions
Editor’s note: SIU members are
encouraged to regularly check the
union’s website for the latest unionspecific news about the pandemic.
There is a prominent COVID-19 section on the home page. Members also
may sign up for text alerts by texting
the word “join” (without the quotation marks) to 97779. The Marine
Safety Information Bulletins mentioned in this article are linked on the
SIU website.
As the COVID-19 pandemic
drags on, the U.S. Coast Guard recently relaxed some requirements
so that mariners face fewer obstacles
staying on the job or returning to
work.
Most recently, the agency on
Aug. 31 issued a Marine Safety Information Bulletin (MSIB) stating
that for individuals already possessing a valid merchant mariner credential (MMC), the lack of a current
Transportation Worker Identification
Credential (TWIC) will not invalidate the MMC.
“For mariners already holding a
MMC, if their TWIC expires, and
their credential remains valid, then
no action needs to be taken and
the credential remains valid,” the
MSIB indicated. “Under the 46 CFR
10.203(b), failure to hold a valid
TWIC may serve as grounds for
suspension or revocation of a merchant mariner credential. The Coast
Guard will not pursue any suspension and revocation actions based on
expired TWIC’s during the COVID19 pandemic. The Coast Guard will
update industry prior to reinstating
enforcement of this requirement.
This enforcement discretion for
expired TWICs does not apply to
cases where a mariner’s TWIC has
been suspended or revoked due to
a determination that they are a security threat. In those cases, the Coast
Guard may pursue suspension or revocation of the MMC.
“With respect to expired TWICs
in the MMC application process,
mariners applying for an original credential will be treated differently than
mariners seeking a renewal, raise of
grade or new endorsement,” the bulletin added. “This is because the TSA
provides the Coast Guard with biometric and biographic information
(including the photograph) necessary
to evaluate and produce a MMC.”
One week earlier, the Coast
Guard’s National Maritime Center
(NMC) posted a four-page policy letter waiting some revalidation requirements. For Seafarers, if your current
MMC with STCW endorsements
expired or expires between March
1, 2020 and June 30, 2021, you are
exempted from the requirement for
revalidation courses – as long as you
provide documentation reflecting at
least one year of sea time within the
past five years. (Applicable courses
include Basic Training, and Revalidation Basic Training/Advanced Fire
Fighting Revalidation.)
In order to proceed, go to the
MMC page on the NMC website,
click on the RENEWAL tab, and
submit the proper paperwork.
Less than a week earlier, a separate MSIB indicated that MMCs
(National Endorsements only) that
expire between March 1, 2020 and
Sept. 30, 2020 are extended until
March 31, 2021. Mariners who are
actively working on expired creden-
SIU-Crewed NY Waterway
Vessel Rescues Man
From Hudson River
A NY Waterway ferry crew aboard the Empire State
rescued a man from the Hudson River on Aug. 27,
which is the third rescue in four years that SIU members
Capt. David Dort and Deckhand Gregorio Pages have
performed while on their ferry route. This was the first
water rescue for Deckhand Andrew Galarza.
The crew was just leaving the Brookfield Place/
Battery Park City Terminal, headed to the Hoboken NJ
October 2020
tials that meet the extension criteria
must carry the expired credential
with a copy of the notice.
Additionally, medical certificates
(National Endorsements only) that
expire between March 1, 2020 and
Sept. 30, 2020 are extended until
Dec. 31, 2020. Mariners who are
actively working on expired medical certificates that meet the extension criteria must carry the expired
credential with a copy of the notice.
This measure relaxes the requirement to carry an unexpired medical
certificate and not the actual medical
standards, according to the agency.
Further, that same MSIB specifies
that MMCs with STCW endorsements that expire between March 1,
2020 and Sept. 30, 2020 are extended
until March 31, 2021. Mariners who
are actively working on expired credentials that meet the extension criteria must carry the expired credential
with a copy of the notice.
Finally, STCW Medical Certificates that expire between March
1, 2020 and Sept. 30, 2020 are extended until Dec. 31, 2020. Mariners
who are actively working on an expired medical certificate that meet
the extension criteria must carry the
expired certificate with a copy of the
notice.
The aforementioned extensions
undoubtedly are acknowledgments
that the global pandemic has no clear
ending in sight. Nevertheless, the
SIU and the U.S. maritime industry as a whole continue adapting to
what’s commonly called the “new
normal” in order to deliver the goods.
In that vein, American-flag vessel
Continued on Page 15
The pandemic doesn’t preclude periodic relaxation. This catch was
hauled in during some off time aboard the Maersk Denver on Labor Day.
Pictured from left are Bosun James Walker, Electrician Herman Castro,
AB Rafael Tannis and AB Roque Lambert.
Transit Terminal at 7:30 a.m., when they saw a man in
the water near Pier 25.
“We were just about to back out when I saw something in the water. The deckhands deployed as we
moved up and they got him out,” Dort said. “This is
why we do our drills.”
The crew then brought the man back to the Brookfield Place/Battery Park City Terminal and turned him
over to the New York Police Department and medical
personnel.
In Nov. 2017, Dort and his crew rescued a man from
the Hudson after he had jumped off the seawall just
north of the Brookfield Place/Battery Park City Ferry
Terminal. In July 2016, they rescued a man from the
water near West 39th Street.
When asked about the multiple rescues in 2017, Cap-
tain Dort replied, “For us, this is all in a day’s work.”
Since 1986, SIU-crewed NY Waterway ferries have
provided dependable transportation for commuters and
other passengers in New York and New Jersey. They
also have conducted emergency evacuations, bringing
hundreds of thousands of New Jersey residents home
safely after 9/11, the 2003 blackout and other disasters.
These ferries and crews also have saved more than 300
people from various accidents, including 143 people
rescued from Flight 1549 in the Miracle on the Hudson,
the most successful rescue in aviation history.
During non-pandemic times, the ferries carry upwards of 32,000 or more passengers daily and maintain
an on-time performance rate greater than 99 percent.
The boats serve 20-plus routes between New Jersey and
Manhattan.
Seafarers LOG 3
�USNS Newport Joins CIVMAR Fleet
New jobs for CIVMARS from the SIU
Government Services Division are on the
way following the Sept. 2 delivery of the
U.S. Navy’s newest expeditionary fast
transport (EPF) vessel, the USNS Newport.
The 338-foot ship successfully completed
integrated sea trials on July 30.
According to the Navy, “Integrated trials combine builder’s and acceptance trials,
allowing for the shipyard to demonstrate to
the Navy’s Board of Inspection and Survey the operational capability and mission
readiness of all the ship’s systems during a
single underway period. During trials, the
shipbuilder conducted comprehensive tests
to demonstrate the performance of all of
the ship’s major systems. The USNS Newport is the second EPF ship to undergo the
integrated trial, signifying the stability and
maturity of the shipbuilding program.”
“Achieving this milestone is a testament to the hard work and dedication of
the shipbuilding team and our partners in
industry,” said Tim Roberts, Strategic and
Theater Sealift program manager for the
Navy. “We are eager to … enhance the operational flexibility available to our combatant commanders.”
EPFs are designed to operate in shallow
waterways and are capable of a wide range
of activities. They can transport 600 short
tons 1,200 nautical miles at an average
speed of 35 knots, and include a flight deck
to support aircraft operations. The ships are
The USNS Newport (U.S. Navy photo)
capable of interfacing with roll-on/roll-off
facilities, as well as on/off-loading militarily useful vehicles up to and including a
fully combat-loaded Abrams Main Battle
Tank.
Austal USA, the shipyard, has also
started construction of the future USNS
Apalachicola and is under contract to build
the future USNS Cody.
Labor Groups Urge Enforcement of Workers’ Rights
17 Organizations Weigh in on United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement
Seventeen labor organizations, including the SIU, are signatory to a public
comment issued Aug. 14 on the Office of
U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) notice
titled “Interagency Labor Committee for
Monitoring and Enforcement Procedural
Guidelines for Petitions Pursuant to the
United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement”
(USMCA). The USTR notice appeared
in the Federal Register June 30 (Docket
Number USTR-2-2—0028).
Posted on Aug. 17, 2020, the statement
was issued by Thomas Conway, president
of the United Steelworkers and a member of the Labor Advisory Committee, on
behalf of a broad cross section of unions
with interest and expertise on the subject
of trade and workers’ rights.
Essentially, Conway stated that the
proposed guidelines for what has been
described as “the new NAFTA” are “seriously flawed in identifying as a consideration for making determinations as
to whether to pursue a petition under the
labor chapter draft rules.”
The Steelworkers executive addressed
provisions of the updated trade agreement
regarding the enforcement of labor rights
and “a Facility-Specific Rapid Response
Labor Mechanism in Annex 31-A. The
USMCA, in part, was designed to expand
labor rights in all three signatory countries and to enhance the implementation,
monitoring and enforcement of such rights.
These provisions are critical to addressing the fundamental flaws and failures of
the original North American Free Trade
Agreement in the area of workers’ rights,
which has led to significant outsourcing of
U.S. production and jobs to Mexico.
“Many unions were deeply engaged
with the USTR, the Department of Labor,
Congress and other entities during the entire process of drafting and consideration
of USMCA,” he continued. “We are similarly committed to being active and engaged in the implementation, monitoring
and enforcement of the agreement. The
Labor Advisory Committee for Trade Negotiations and Trade Policy (LAC), by statute, is charged with performing a number
of tasks and providing advice as to the operation of the agreement. We understand,
however, that as the Administration has not
asked for the LAC’s input on this proposed
rule the LAC cannot provide them. This
would appear to run counter to the fact
that the Congress has clearly identified the
important role that the LAC plays not only
in the area of labor rights but in advancing
the interests of working people. Thus, we
are filing these comments on behalf of the
millions of working people we represent
and not for the LAC.”
The comment is co-signed by Gabrielle
Cateris of the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio
Artists; Joseph DePete of the Air Line
Pilots Association; David Heindel of the
Seafarers International Union; Mary Kay
Henry of the Service Employees International Union; James P. Hoffa of Interna-
tional Brotherhood of Teamsters; Robert
Martinez of the International Association
of Machinists and Aerospace Workers;
Sara Nelson of the Association of Flight
Attendants-Communication Workers of
America; Marc Perrone of United Food
and Commercial Workers; Cecil Roberts Jr. of the United Mine Workers of
America; Lee Saunders of the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; Paul Shearon of the International Federation of Professional and
Technical Engineers; Anthony Shelton of
the Baker, Confectioners, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers’ International Union;
Elizabeth Shuler and Richard Trumka of
AFL-CIO; Lonnie Stephenson of International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers;
Baldemar Velasquez of the Farm Labor
Organizing Committee; Randi Weingarten
of the American Federation of Teachers;
Larry I. Willis of Transportation Trades
Department AFL-CIO and Rory Gamble
of United Auto Workers.
ITF Inspector
Receives Honor
SIU International Transport Workers’
Federation Inspector Shwe Aung, pictured in Houston, recently was recognized by the Apostleship of the Sea of
the United States of America. He received the organization’s Maritime Samaritan Award.
4 Seafarers LOG
October 2020
�Coalition Salutes Rep. Luria
An enthusiastic U.S. Merchant Marine
supporter recently received a prestigious
honor from the nation’s premier domestic
maritime coalition.
The American Maritime Partnership
(AMP), to which the SIU is affiliated, on Aug.
18 announced it is honoring U.S. Rep. Elaine
Luria (D-Virginia) “with the celebrated American Maritime Hero Award. The award recognizes individuals or groups of individuals who
have added to the rich heritage of the United
States as a maritime nation through their professional contributions, courage, outstanding
achievements, or noble qualities.”
AMP pointed out that as “a 20-year veteran of the U.S. Navy, Representative Luria
is one of the first women to serve her entire military career aboard combatant ships.
In her final assignment, she commanded a
maritime prepositioning force of 400 sailors.
With that knowledge; Representative Luria
came to Congress in 2018 as a strong supporter of the maritime industry as a member of the Seapower and Projection Forces
Subcommittee of the House Armed Services
Committee. The Seapower and Projection
Forces Subcommittee oversees key commercial and military maritime programs and
laws.”
Rep. Luria stated, “In Coastal Virginia, the
maritime industry is integral to our regional
economy, national security, and constituents’
livelihoods. As a tireless advocate for the maritime community, it is an honor to receive this
award. As a 20-year Navy veteran, I know the
importance of supporting and advocating for
the maritime industry. In Congress, I will continue to be a staunch advocate for the Jones
Act and the U.S. maritime industry.”
“Representative Luria has been steadfast in her commitment to this nation, and
to the men and women of maritime” said
SHBP Announces
Award of Additional
Scholarship to Seafarer
When applications arrived for this year’s Seafarers
Health and Benefits Plan (SHBP) scholarship program,
one might say the selection committee faced a proverbial
“nice problem to have.”
There were so many well-qualified applicants, the committee in early September designated an additional 2020
award – for QMED
Charles Toliver Jr.,
who has sailed with
the SIU since 2001.
In August, the committee had announced
the other nine grants
(for two active Seafarers and seven dependents), which totaled
$132,000 in value.
Toliver’s scholarship
is for four years and is
valued at $20,000.
While Toliver intends to put the funds
to good use, he doesn’t
plan to change careers.
He earned a third assistant engineer’s license
QMED Charles Toliver Jr.
in 2018 but needs additional coursework in
order to continue sailing in a licensed capacity. (He also
still sails with the SIU, most recently in July aboard the
USNS Brittin.)
“The scholarship helps me a great deal,” said Toliver,
who lives in Jacksonville, Florida. “Those classes are very
expensive, so I’m glad I received it.”
A frequent upgrader at the SIU-affiliated Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and Education, Toliver
views the merchant marine as a good match for his interest in, and aptitude for mechanics, science and technology.
He has identified several maritime academies as potential
landing spots during his ongoing education.
Mike Roberts, president of AMP. “She has
led in Congress on key issues to support
the domestic and deep sea U.S.-flag fleets,
including programs related to shipbuilding,
mariners, and vessel operations. It is our
honor to recognize Representative Luria with
the American Maritime Hero Award, for her
dedication to American maritime companies
and American mariners.”
Luria earlier this year sent a letter to U.S.
House and Senate leaders asking for their support of American-flag ships and their crews.
Around that same time, she hosted a promaritime video conference call during which
she stated that a drop-off in both government
cargo and commercial cargo means it’s the
right time to boost the Maritime Security
Program. “This program is an essential part
of our national security,” she said, and then
added her ongoing backing of the Jones Act
and cargo preference.
U.S. Rep. Elaine Luria
(D-Virginia)
SIU Mourns Loss of Supporters
Jack Martorelli, Robert Chiesa
They may not have been Seafarers, but Jack Martorelli and Robert
Chiesa were supportive of the SIU
for decades, and undoubtedly were
well-known to many union members.
The SIU was saddened to learn
that both men recently passed away
– Martorelli on Aug. 27, at age
78, after a battle with cancer; and
Chiesa on June 6, at age 79.
Martorelli served as president
of the Greater St. Louis Area and
Vicinity Port Council, part of the
AFL-CIO’s Maritime Trades Department (MTD). Although he only
led the port council since 2014, he
had been a mainstay of the organization for decades.
In recalling his longtime friend,
MTD/SIU President Michael Sacco
remembered Martorelli as one of
the “amigos” who teamed with
Sacco, Richard Mantia and Bobby
Sansone to rebuild the council during the 1970s.
“Jack was the go-to guy in St.
Louis,” Sacco said. “If you needed
something done, you went to Jack.
He will be sorely missed.”
Martorelli was a member of Operating Engineers Local 513, where
he had served as president and business manager.
Chiesa spent almost three decades with SIU-contracted Waterman Steamship Corporation. For
most of that time, he worked as
manager of marine personnel, supervising crewing and payroll for
13 American-flag vessels.
He retired in 2006 but in 2013
Jack Martorelli
President
St. Louis Port Council
Robert Chiesa
Crewing Manager
Waterman Steamship Corp.
returned to work for a while as the
government crewing coordinator
for the International Organization
of Masters, Mates and Pilots.
“He was an all-around good
guy and he really helped the SIU,”
recalled former Seafarer Andrew
Pierros, who alerted the LOG about
Chiesa’s death. “It’s a shame he’s
gone. He worked with the SIU for
many years and I’m sure a lot of our
guys would know him.”
Chiesa was born and raised in
New York City on the Lower East
Side, better known as Greenwich
Village. He served in the U.S. Navy
from 1958-63, then worked for railroads as a telegraph operator. Several years ago, Chiesa recalled his
civilian maritime roots: “I started
out in the maritime industry in New
York with Clipper Marine, then with
International Admiralty Marine and
later with Avon Steamship,” he said.
“I worked first as a teletype operator and a mail clerk. I climbed the
ladder to become paymaster. In
1979, I finally came to rest on the
doorstep of Waterman Steamship
Corporation’s New York office.”
TOTE Maritime Alaska Celebrates Shipping Milestone
Seafarers-contracted TOTE Maritime
Alaska recently commemorated its 45th
anniversary of providing service between Washington State and Alaska.
“TOTE Alaska has a proud history of
serving the people and communities of
Alaska,” TOTE Alaska President Grace
Greene said in a statement. “Driven by
a commitment to excellence, we have
consistently worked to deliver on our
promise of dedicated, reliable service no
matter how challenging the times.”
TOTE Alaska’s inaugural voyage was
made by the Great Land to the Port of
Anchorage on Sept. 10, 1975.
In a communication to the company’s
executives, SIU President Michael Sacco
October 2020
wrote, “As someone who understands
the many challenges faced by our industry, I am genuinely appreciative of your
45 years of consummate service to our
fellow citizens in The Last Frontier. On
behalf of our entire executive board, the
SIU has been proud to stand (and sail)
with you for so many years, and we look
forward to continued success working
together.”
SIU Executive Vice President Augie
Tellez added, “It is a truly extraordinary
accomplishment, exemplified by your
continued commitment to providing a
critical service even during these turbulent times.”
John McCarthy, Port of Tacoma com-
mission president and co-chair of The
Northwest Seaport Alliance, told Workboat magazine, “Since its very first sailing in 1975, TOTE Maritime Alaska has
continued to focus on providing yearround, reliable service to Alaska – keeping a key supply chain open during even
the most challenging times. Their dedication to customer service has allowed
them to grow over time – repeatedly outgrowing cargo terminals, but never abandoning their commitment to the Pacific
Northwest for 45 years.”
“TOTE was the first marine cargo
facility in the Pacific Northwest to retrofit its cargo-handling equipment and
to introduce shore power to reduce its
air emissions. It was also the first to deploy rain gardens to manage stormwater. We are fortunate to have them as a
partner in Washington State,” said Peter
Steinbrueck, Port of Seattle commission
president and co-chair of The Northwest
Seaport Alliance, according to Workboat.
“Through these proactive environmental
initiatives, TOTE Maritime Alaska’s
commitment to the communities they
serve remains a key value today as it
looks for ways to be a good neighbor.”
TOTE is converting the SIU-crewed
Orca-class vessels North Star and Midnight Sun so they can use liquefied natural gas as fuel. That process is scheduled
for completion early next year.
Seafarers LOG 5
�Information for the 2020 Election of Officers
SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters
Balloting Begins Nov. 1 for Union Officers
Voting starts Nov. 1 for the election of officers for the Seafarers International Union Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters. SIU members
will be able to cast secret ballots at union halls or
by mail through Dec. 31, 2020.
Seafarers eligible to vote in this election to
determine union officials for the 2021-2024 term
are full-book members in good standing. This eligibility criteria is spelled out in the union’s governing document, the constitution.
The ballot will list the names of all qualified candidates as determined by the credentials
committee, a group made up of six rank-and-file
Seafarers who reviewed the nominating petitions
of all SIU members seeking office in this districtwide election. A sample of this ballot appears on
pages 7 and 8.
The credentials committee report, which was
prepared Aug. 17 and submitted to the membership at the September meetings, indicated 27 candidates had qualified to run for 25 positions. (The
committee’s report was published in the September 2020 Seafarers LOG and received membership approval at last month’s meetings.)
The 25 posts for which Seafarers will cast
their ballots are president, executive vice president, secretary-treasurer, six vice presidents, six
assistant vice presidents and 10 port agents.
20 Polling Places
The election will be conducted by mail ballot as provided by the union’s constitution. Secret
ballots, accompanied by envelopes marked “Ballot” and postage-paid envelopes printed with the
address of the bank depository where the ballots
are kept until submitted to the tallying committee,
will be available to full-book members in good
standing at 20 union halls around the country.
(See list of voting locations on this page.)
Eligible Seafarers may pick up their ballots
and envelopes marked “Ballot” and mailing envelopes at these halls between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.,
Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to noon
on Saturdays (except legal holidays) from Nov.
1 to Dec. 31. Additionally, in accordance with
recent SIU Executive Board actions approved
by the membership, ballots can be brought to
Seafarers-crewed vessels within a 50-mile radius
of a hiring hall. Ballots also can be brought to
other locations within that same 50-mile radius if
a vessel’s crew is congregating there. Finally, if a
vessel is one that the port routinely services beyond the 50-mile radius, ballots can be brought to
that vessel during routine servicing. This is being
done to promote safety and participation during
the pandemic, and additional details are available
at the halls.
Each member must present his or her book
to the port agent or the agent’s designated representative when receiving the ballot, the envelope
marked “Ballot” and the mailing envelope. When
the Seafarer receives the ballot and envelopes, his
or her book will be marked with the word “Voted”
and the date.
If a member does not present his or her book,
or if there is a question in regard to his or her eligibility to vote, the Seafarer will receive a mailing envelope of a different color marked with
the word “Challenged.” His or her book will be
stamped with the words “Voted Challenge” and
the date.
For members who believe they will be at sea
during this time, the SIU constitution provides
for absentee voting procedures. This year, as part
of the aforementioned executive board action,
any member may vote by absentee ballot, again
because of the pandemic. Full-book members in
good standing who prefer to vote by absentee
ballot should direct a request for the ballot to the
union’s secretary-treasurer at SIU headquarters –
5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD
20746.
Secret Ballots
Once the Seafarer has received his or her ballot and envelopes, he or she marks the ballot for
the candidates of his or her choice and puts it in
the envelope marked “Ballot,” then in the mailing
envelope. This envelope is sealed by the member
and then dispatched in the mail. These steps ensure the integrity of the secret ballot process.
The union’s constitution, in Article XIII, details the procedures for voting in union elections.
All ballots will be counted by the rank-and-file
committee consisting of two members elected
from each of the union’s constitutional ports.
These committee members will be elected in December. They will convene in early January 2021.
Notice on Unopposed Candidates
One part of the article of the SIU Constitution covering rules for elections concerns the election
of candidates who are unopposed for the office in question.
The section states that those candidates who are unopposed for any office or job shall be
considered elected to that office or job and that the tallying committee shall not have to count the
votes for any such candidate.
The entire section, contained in Article XIII, Section 5 of the SIU Constitution, reads as follows:
“A candidate unopposed for any office or job shall be deemed elected to such office or job
notwithstanding that his name may appear on the ballot. The Union Tallying Committee shall not
be required to tally completely the results of the voting for such unopposed candidate but shall
certify in their report that such unopposed candidate has been elected to such office or job. The
Election Report Meeting shall accept the above certification of the Union Tallying Committee.”
Procedures for Voting
All Seafarers eligible to vote in the union’s 2020
election of officers and job holders for the term
2021-2024 may vote by secret ballot from Nov. 1
through Dec. 31, 2020.
Secret ballots, together with self-addressed,
stamped envelopes for mailing, will be available at
union halls to all eligible voters. As reported elsewhere in this edition, ballots also may be brought to
SIU-crewed ships, depending on proximity to hiring
halls and availability of staff, and to other areas (for
example, an airport or pre-boarding hotel) where
members are congregating.
Seafarers are eligible to vote in the union’s
election if they are full-book members in good
standing.
Details of the election procedure are spelled out
in Article XIII of the SIU Constitution, which is
printed on pages 9 and 10 of this issue of Seafarers LOG. While the constitution itself has not been
modified, some of the procedures for the upcoming
election have been adjusted due to the pandemic.
Those changes are aimed at facilitating participation and promoting safety. They were approved first
by the SIU Executive Board and subsequently by
rank-and-file Seafarers during the September membership meetings.
In summary, here is the procedure for voting in
the upcoming election:
■ Eligible Seafarers may pick up ballot and
mailing envelopes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local
time), Monday through Friday, and from 9 a.m. to
6 Seafarers LOG
noon on Saturdays (excluding legal holidays) from
Nov. 1 through Dec. 31, 2020 at designated hiring
halls (see list on this page).
■ When a full-book member arrives to vote,
he or she should present his or her book to the port
agent of his duly designated representative.
■ The member will be asked to sign a roster
sheet indicating the date, the number of the ballot
given the member and his or her book number.
■ The member will have his book stamped with
the word “Voted” and the date.
■ At the same time, the member will receive a
ballot, together with an envelope marked “Ballot”
and a mailing envelope. The mailing envelope has
the address of the depository printed on it, making
it self-addressed. It also has the postage pre-paid.
■ The top part of the ballot above the perforated
line will be retained by the port agent or his duly
designated representative.
■ In cases where a member does not produce
his or her book, or if there is a question about the
member’s good standing or other eligibility matters,
the member will receive a mailing envelope of a different color marked with the word “Challenge.” His
or her book will also be stamped “Voted Challenge”
and the date.
■ After a member has voted, he or she puts the
ballot in the envelope marked “Ballot,” then in the
mailing envelope which is addressed to the bank depository and stamped. The mailing envelope should
then be put in the mail.
Notice of 2020 Election
For Election of 2021-2024 Officers
Seafarers International Union of North America
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters
Elections will be conducted by secret mail ballot.
Ballots may be obtained at the following locations from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (local
time), Mondays through Fridays and from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays, excluding
holidays, during the voting period. The voting period shall commence Nov. 1, 2020
and shall continue through Dec. 31, 2020.
Voting Locations
ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001
ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame Street, Suite 1C, Anchorage, AK 99503
BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224
FT. LAUDERDALE
1221 South Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
GUAM
Cliffline Office Ctr., Suite 103B,
422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910
HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819
HOUSTON
625 N. York St., Houston, TX 77003
JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Road, Jacksonville, FL 32256
JOLIET
10 East Clinton, Joliet, IL 60432
MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy., Mobile, AL 36605
NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058
JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306
NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510
OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607
PHILADELPHIA
2604 South Fourth St., Philadelphia, PA 19148
PINEY POINT
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship,
Piney Point, MD 20674
PUERTO RICO
659 Hill Side St., Summit Hills
San Juan, PR 00920
ST. LOUIS
4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116
TACOMA
3411 South Union St., Tacoma, WA 98409
WILMINGTON
510 North Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744
Procedure for Absentee Ballots
Elections for the SIU Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters are scheduled for
later this year.
As previously reported, the SIU Constitution provides that eligible members can vote
by absentee ballot if they are on a vessel or in
a hospital during the voting period. However,
following recent actions by the union’s executive board as well as rank-and-file members,
for this election, anyone desiring to vote by
absentee ballot may do so.
The constitution specifies that absenteeballot requests should be made by registered
or certified mail; but, for this election, such
requests may be sent by regular mail (which
won’t require members to leave their homes
to go to a post office).
If, however, any member sends a request
for an absentee ballot by regular mail, that
member is asked to wait five or more days
to allow the request to be delivered, and then
call the office of SIU Secretary-Treasurer
David Heindel to verify the request has been
received.
Procedures are established in the SIU constitution to safeguard the secret-ballot election,
including the absentee ballot process.
Here is the procedure to follow when requesting an absentee ballot:
1. Make the request in writing to the SIU
office of the secretary-treasurer, 5201 Capital
Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746.
2. Include in the request the correct ad-
dress where the absentee ballot should be
mailed.
3. Send the request for an absentee ballot
by registered or certified mail.
4. The request must be received at headquarters by 12 p.m. on Dec. 1, 2020.
5. The secretary-treasurer, after confirming eligibility, will send by registered mail,
return receipt requested, to the address designated in the request, a ballot, together with
an envelope marked “Ballot” and a mailing
envelope. Absentee ballots will be mailed out
as soon as possible after receiving requests. In
no event will an absentee ballot be mailed out
later than Dec. 4.
6. Upon receiving the ballot and envelope, vote by marking the ballot. After voting the ballot, place the ballot in the envelope
marked “Ballot.” Do not write on the “Ballot”
envelope.
7. Place the envelope marked “Ballot” in
the mailing envelope which is imprinted with
the mailing address of the bank depository
where all ballots are sent.
8. Sign the mailing envelope on the
first line of the upper left-hand corner. Print
name and book number on the second line.
The mailing envelope is self-addressed and
stamped.
9. The mailing envelope must be postmarked no later than midnight, Dec. 31, 2020
and received by the bank depository no later
than Jan. 5, 2021.
October 2020
�October 2020
Seafarers LOG 7
�8 Seafarers LOG
October 2020
�Information for the 2020 Election of Officers
SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters
SIU Constitution
Spells Out Rules
On 2020 Elections
The section of the union’s constitution
outlining voting procedures in the SIU’s elections, which are conducted every four years,
appears here and on page 10 in its entirety.
Please note that, because of the COVID19 pandemic, some of the rules for nominations were relaxed this year, in order to
promote participation and safety. These
modifications were reported in the August
edition of the Seafarers LOG, on the union’s
website and during the August membership
meetings, in addition to being shared on the
SIU’s social-media pages and text-alert service. Similarly, as reported elsewhere in this
edition, adjustments have been made to the
balloting procedures for this election, also
for reasons of safety and inclusion.
Article XIII
Elections for Officers, Assistant
Vice-Presidents and Port Agents
Section 1. Nominations.
Except as provided in Section 2(b) of this
Article, any full book member may submit his
name for nomination for any office, or the job
of Assistant Vice-President, or Port Agent, by
delivering or causing to be delivered in person, to the office of the Secretary-Treasurer at
Headquarters, or sending a letter addressed to
the Credentials Committee, in care of the Secretary-Treasurer at the address of Headquarters.
This letter shall be dated and shall contain the
following:
The name of the candidate.
His home address and mailing address.
His book number.
The title of the office or other job for which
he is a candidate, including the name of the Port
in the event the position sought is that of Port
Agent.
Proof of citizenship.
Proof of seatime and/or employment as required for candidates.
In the event the member is on a vessel, he
shall notify the Credentials Committee what vessel he is on. This shall be done also if he ships
subsequent to forwarding his credentials.
Annexing a certificate in the following form,
signed and dated by the proposed nominee:
“I hereby certify that I am not now, nor, for
the five (5) years last past, have I been either a
member of the Communist Party or convicted
of, or served any part of a prison term resulting
from conviction of robbery, bribery, extortion,
embezzlement, grand larceny, burglary, arson,
violation of narcotics laws, murder, rape, assault
with intent to kill, assault which inflicts grievous
bodily injury, or violation of Title II or III of the
Landrum Griffin Act, or conspiracy to commit
any such crimes.”
Dated ___________________________
________________________________
Signature of Member
Book No. ________________________
Printed forms of the certificate shall be made
available to nominees. Where a nominee cannot truthfully execute such a certificate, but is,
in fact, legally eligible for an office or job by
reason of the restoration of civil rights originally
revoked by such conviction or a favorable determination by the Board of Parole of the United
States Department of Justice, he shall, in lieu
of the foregoing certificate, furnish a complete
signed statement of the facts of his case together
with true copies of the documents supporting his
statement.
Any full book member may nominate any
October 2020
other full book member in which event such full
book member so nominated shall comply with
the provisions of this Article as they are set forth
herein relating to the submission of credentials.
By reason of the above self nomination provision the responsibility, if any, for notifying a
nominee of his nomination to office shall be that
of the nominator.
All documents required herein must reach
Headquarters no earlier than July 15 and no later
than August 15 of the election year.
The Secretary-Treasurer is charged with safekeeping of these letters and shall turn them over
to the Credentials Committee upon the latter’s
request.
Section 2. Credentials Committee
(a) A Credentials Committee shall be elected
at either the regular meeting in August of the
election year or at a special meeting convened
in August of the election year at the Port where
Headquarters is located. It shall consist of six (6)
full book members in attendance at the meeting
with two (2) members to be elected from each of
the Deck, Engine and Steward Departments. No
officer, Assistant Vice-President, or Port Agent,
or candidate for office of the job of Assistant
Vice-President, or Port Agent, shall be eligible
for election to this Committee except as provided
for in Article X, Section 4. In the event any Committee member is unable to serve, the Committee shall suspend until the President or Executive
Vice-President or the Secretary-Treasurer, in that
order, calls a special meeting at the Port where
Headquarters is located in order to elect a replacement. The Committee’s results shall be by
majority vote with any tie vote being resolved by
a majority of the membership at a special meeting called for that purpose at that Port.
(b) After its election, the Committee shall
immediately go into session. It shall determine
whether the person has submitted his application
correctly and possesses the necessary qualifications. The Committee shall prepare a report listing each applicant and his book number under
the office or job he is seeking. Each applicant
shall be marked “qualified” or “disqualified” according to the findings of the Committee. Where
an applicant has been marked “disqualified,” the
reason therefore must be stated in the report.
Where a tie vote has been resolved by a special
meeting of the membership, that fact shall also
be noted with sufficient detail. The report shall
be signed by all of the Committee members and
be completed and submitted to the Ports in time
for the next regular meeting after their election.
At this meeting, it shall be read and incorporated
in the minutes and then posted on the bulletin
board in each Port.
On the last day of nominations, one (1) member of the Committee shall stand by in Headquarters to accept delivery of credentials. All
credentials must be in Headquarters by midnight
of closing day.
(c) When an applicant has been disqualified
by the Committee, he shall be notified immediately by telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery, or an equivalent mail service at the
address listed by him pursuant to Section 1 of
this Article. He shall also be sent a letter containing their reasons for such disqualification by
airmail, special delivery, registered or certified,
to the mailing address designated pursuant to
Section 1(b) of this Article. A disqualified applicant shall have the right to take an appeal to
the membership from the decision of the Committee. He shall forward copies of such appeal
to each Port where the appeal shall be presented
and voted upon at a regular meeting no later than
the second meeting after the Committee’s election. It is the responsibility of the applicant to insure timely delivery of his appeal. In any event,
without prejudice to his written appeal, the applicant may appear in person before the Committee
within two (2) days after the day on which the
telegram, overnight mail, air mail, special delivery or an equivalent mail service is sent to correct his application or argue for his qualification.
The Committee’s report shall be prepared
early enough to allow the applicant to appear before it within the time set forth in this Constitution and still reach the Ports in time for the first
regular meeting after its election.
(d) A majority vote of the membership shall,
in the case of such appeals, be sufficient to overrule any disqualification by the Credentials
Committee in which event the one so previously
classified shall then be deemed qualified.
(e) The Credentials Committee, in passing
upon the qualifications of candidates, shall have
the right to conclusively presume that anyone
nominated and qualified in previous elections
for candidacy for any office, or the job of Assistant Vice-President or Port Agent has met all
the requirements of Section 1(a) of Article XII.
(f) Committee members shall receive a per
diem in an amount determined by the SecretaryTreasurer but in no event shall they receive an
amount less than the AB Green hourly rate as
specified in the current union industry wide
contract for eight hours for each day of service
commencing with the day subsequent to their
election and ending on the day they complete
their service or, if applicable, return to the Port
from which they were elected.
Section 3. Balloting Procedures.
(a) Balloting in the manner hereafter provided
shall commence on November 1st of the election
year and shall continue through December 31st,
exclusive of Sundays and (for each individual
Port) holidays legally recognized in the City of
which the Port affected is located. If November
1st and December 31st falls on a holiday legally
recognized in a Port in the City in which that Port
is located, the balloting period in such Port shall
commence or terminate, as the case may be, on
the next succeeding business day. Subject to the
foregoing, for the purpose of full book members
securing their ballots, the Ports shall be open
from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Monday through
Saturday, excluding holidays.
(b) Balloting shall be by mail. The SecretaryTreasurer shall insure the proper and timely
preparation of ballots without partiality as to candidates or Ports. The ballots may contain general
information and instructive comments not inconsistent with the provisions of this Constitution.
All qualified candidates shall be listed thereon
alphabetically within each category with book
number and job seniority classification status.
The listing of the Ports shall first set forth
Headquarters and then shall follow a geographical pattern commencing with the most northerly
Port of the Atlantic Coast, following the Atlantic
Coast down to the most southerly Port on that
coast, then westerly along the Gulf of Mexico
and so on, until the list of Ports is exhausted. Any
Port outside the Continental United States shall
then be added. There shall be no write-in voting
and no provisions for the same shall appear on
the ballot. Each ballot shall be so prepared as to
have the number thereon place at the top thereof
and shall be so perforated as to enable that portion containing the said number to be easily removed to insure secrecy of the ballot. On this
removable portion shall also be placed a short
statement indicating the nature of the ballot and
the voting date thereof.
(c) The ballots so prepared at the direction
of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be the only official ballots. No others may be used. Each
ballot shall be numbered as indicated in the
preceding paragraphs and shall be numbered
consecutively, commencing with number 1. A
sufficient amount shall be printed and distributed to each Port. A record of the ballots, both
by serial numbers and amount, sent thereto, shall
be maintained by the Secretary-Treasurer who
shall also send each Port Agent a verification list
indicating the amount and serial numbers of the
ballots sent. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also
send to each Port Agent a sufficient amount of
blank opaque envelopes containing the word,
“Ballot” on the face of the envelope, as well as a
sufficient amount of opaque mailing envelopes,
first class postage prepaid and printed on the
face thereon as the addressee shall be the name
and address of the depository for the receipt of
such ballots as designated by the President in
the manner provided by Article X, Section 1,
of this Constitution. In the upper left-hand corner of such mailing envelope, there shall be
printed thereon, as a top line, provision for the
voter’s signature and on another line immediately thereunder, provision for the printing of the
voter’s name and book number. In addition, the
Secretary-Treasurer shall also send a sufficient
amount of mailing envelopes identical with the
mailing envelopes mentioned above, except that
they shall be of different color, and shall contain
on the face of such envelope, in bold letters, the
word, “Challenge.” The Secretary-Treasurer
shall further furnish a sufficient amount of “Roster Sheets” which shall have printed thereon, at
the top thereof, the year of the election, and immediately thereunder, five (5) vertical columns
designated date, ballot number, signature full
book member’s name, book number and comments, and such roster sheets shall contain horizontal lines immediately under the captions of
each of the above five (5) columns. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also send a sufficient amount
of envelopes with the printed name and address
of the depository on the face thereof, and in the
upper left-hand corner, the name of the Port
and address, and on the face of such envelope,
should be printed the words, “Roster Sheets and
Ballot Stubs”. Each Port Agent shall maintain
separate records of the ballots sent him and shall
inspect and count the ballots when received to
insure that the amount sent, as well as the number thereon, conform to the amount and numbers
listed by the Secretary-Treasurer as having been
sent to that Port. The Port Agent shall immediately execute and return to the Secretary-Treasurer a receipt acknowledging the correctness of
the amount and the numbers of the ballots sent,
or shall notify the Secretary-Treasurer of any
discrepancy. Discrepancies shall be corrected
as soon as possible prior to the voting period.
In any event, receipts shall be forwarded for all
the aforementioned election material actually
received. The Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare
a file in which shall be kept memoranda and correspondence dealing with the election. This file
shall at all times be available to any member asking for inspection of the same at the office of the
Secretary-Treasurer and shall be turned over to
the Union Tallying Committee.
(d) Balloting shall be secret. Only full book
members in good standing may vote. Each full
book member may secure his ballot at Port offices from the Port Agent or his duly designated
representative at such Port. Each Port Agent
shall designate an area at the Port office over
which should be posted the legend “Voting Ballots Secured Here.” When a full book member
appears to vote he shall present his book to the
Port Agent or his aforementioned duly designated representative. The Port Agent or his duly
designated representative shall insert on the roster sheet under the appropriate column the date,
the number of the ballot given to such member
and his full book number, and the member shall
then sign his name on such roster sheet under the
appropriate column. Such member shall have his
book stamped with the word, “Voted” and the
date, and shall be given a ballot, and simultaneously the perforation on the top of the ballot shall
be removed. At the same time the member shall
be given the envelope marked “Ballot” together
with the prepaid postage-mailing envelope addressed to the depository. The member shall take
such ballot and envelopes and in secret thereafter, mark his ballot, fold the same, insert it in the
blank envelope marked “Ballot”, seal the same,
then insert such “Ballot” envelope into the mailing envelope, seal such mailing envelope, sign
his name on the upper left-hand corner on the
first line of such mailing envelope and on the
second line in the upper left-hand corner print
his name and book number, after which he shall
mail or cause the same to be mailed. In the event
a full book member appears to vote and is not
in good standing or does not have his membership book with him or it appears for other valid
reasons he is not eligible to vote, the same procedure as provided above shall apply to him,
except that on the roster sheet under the column
“Comments”, notation should be made that the
member voted a challenged ballot and the reason
for his challenge. Such member’s membership
book shall be stamped “Voted Challenge”, and
Continued on next page
Seafarers LOG 9
�Information for the 2020 Election of Officers
SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes & Inland Waters
Continued from Page 9
the date, and such member instead of the abovementioned mailing envelope, shall be given the
mailing envelope of a different color marked on
the face thereof with the word, “Challenge”. At
the end of each day, the Port Agent or his duly
designated representative shall enclose in the envelope addressed to the depository and marked
“Roster Sheets and Ballots Stubs”, the roster
sheet or sheets executed by the members that
day together with the numbered perforated slips
removed from the ballots which had been given
to the members, and then mail the same to such
depository. To insure that an adequate supply of
all balloting material is maintained in all Ports at
all times, the Port Agent or his duly designated
representative, simultaneously with mailing of
the roster sheets and ballot stubs to the depository at the end of each day, shall also make a
copy of the roster sheet for that day and mail the
same to the Secretary-Treasurer at Headquarters. The Port Agent shall be responsible for the
proper safeguarding of all election material and
shall not release any of it until duly called for and
shall insure that no one tampers with the material
placed in his custody.
(e) Full book members may request and vote
an absentee ballot under the following circumstances: while such member is employed on a
Union contracted vessel and which vessel’s
schedule does not provide for it to be at a Port
in which a ballot can be secured during the time
and period provided for in Section 3(a) of this
Article or is in an accredited hospital any time
during the first ten (10) days of the month of November of the election year. The member shall
make a request for an absentee ballot by registered or certified mail or the equivalent mailing
device at the location from which such request is
made, if such be the case. Such request shall contain a designation as to the address to which such
member wishes his absentee ballot returned. The
request shall be postmarked no later than 12:00
P.M. on the 15th day of November of the election
year, shall be directed to the Secretary-Treasurer
at Headquarters and must be delivered no later
than the 25th of such November. The SecretaryTreasurer shall determine whether such member is eligible to vote such absentee ballot. The
Secretary-Treasurer, if he determines that such
member is so eligible, shall by the 30th of such
November, send by registered mail, return receipt requested or an equivalent mail service,
to the address so designated by such member,
a “Ballot”, after removing the perforated numbered stub, together with the hereinbefore mentioned “Ballot” envelope, and mailing envelope
addressed to the depository, except that printed
on the face of such mailing envelope shall be
the words “Absentee Ballot” and appropriate
voting instructions shall accompany such mailing to the member. If the Secretary-Treasurer
determines that such member is ineligible to
receive such absentee ballot, he shall nevertheless send such member the aforementioned ballot with accompanying material except that the
mailing envelope addressed to the depository
shall have printed on the face thereof the words
“Challenged Absentee Ballot.” The SecretaryTreasurer shall keep records of all of the foregoing, including the reasons for determining such
member’s ineligibility, which records shall be
open for inspection by full book members and
upon the convening of the Union Tallying Committee, presented to them. The Secretary-Treasurer shall send to all Ports the names and book
numbers of the members to whom absentee ballots were sent.
(f) All ballots to be counted must be received
by the depository no later than the January 5th
immediately subsequent to the election year and
must be postmarked no later than 12 midnight
December 31st of the election year.
Section 4.
(a) At the close of the last day of the period
for securing ballots, the Port Agent in each Port,
in addition to his duties set forth above, shall
deliver or mail to Headquarters by registered or
certified mail, attention Union Tallying Commit-
10 Seafarers LOG
tee, all unused ballots and shall specifically set
forth by serial number and amount the unused
ballots so forwarded.
(b) The Union Tallying Committee shall consist of twenty (20) full book members. Two (2)
shall be elected from each of the ten (10) Ports
of Jersey City, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Mobile, New Orleans, Houston, Detroit-Algonac,
San Francisco, St. Louis and Piney Point. The
election shall be held at the regular meeting in
December of the election year or, if the Executive Board otherwise determines prior thereto,
at a special meeting held in the aforesaid Ports,
on the first business day of the last week of said
month. No officer, Assistant Vice-President,
Port Agent, or candidate for office, or the job of
Assistant Vice-President, or Port Agent shall be
eligible for election to this Committee except as
provided for in Article X, Section 4. In addition
to the duties herein set forth, the Union Tallying
Committee shall be charged with the tallying of
all the ballots and the preparation of a closing
report setting forth, in complete detail, the results
of the election, including a complete accounting of all ballots and stubs, and reconciliation
of the same with the rosters and receipts of the
Port Agents, all with detailed reference to serial
numbers and amount and with each total broken down into Port totals. The Union Tallying
Committee shall have access to all election records and files for their inspection, examination
and verification. The report shall clearly detail
all discrepancies discovered and shall contain
recommendations for the treatment of these discrepancies. All members of the Committee shall
sign the report, without prejudice, however, to
the right of any member thereof to submit a dissenting report as to the accuracy of the count and
the validity of the ballots, with pertinent details.
In connection with the tally of ballots there
shall be no counting of ballots until all mailing
envelopes containing valid ballots have first
been opened, the ballot envelopes removed intact and then all of such ballot envelopes mixed
together, after which such ballot envelopes shall
be opened and counted in such multiples as the
Committee may deem expedient and manageable. The Committee shall resolve all issues on
challenged ballots and then tally those found
valid utilizing the same procedure as provided
in the preceding sentence either jointly or separately.
(c) The members of the Union Tallying Committee shall, after their election, proceed to the
Port in which Headquarters is located, to arrive
at that Port no later than January 5th of the year
immediately after the election year. Each member of the Committee not elected from the Port
in which Headquarters is located shall be reimbursed for transportation, meals, and lodging
expenses occasioned by their traveling to and
returning from that Port. Committee members
elected from the Port in which Headquarters is
located shall be similarly reimbursed, except
for transportation. Committee members shall
receive a per diem in an amount determined by
the Secretary-Treasurer but in no event shall they
receive an amount less than the AB Green hourly
rate as specified in the current union industry
wide contract for eight hours for each day of
service commencing with the day subsequent to
their election and ending on the day they complete their service or, if applicable, return to the
Port from which they were elected.
The Union Tallying Committee shall elect a
chairman from among themselves and, subject
to the express terms of this Constitution, adopt
its own procedures. All decisions of such Committee and the contents of their report shall be
valid if made by a majority vote, provided there
be a quorum in attendance, which quorum is
hereby fixed at ten (10). The Committee, but not
less than a quorum thereof, shall have the sole
right and duty to obtain all mailed ballots and
the other mailed election material from the depository and to insure their safe custody during
the course of the Committee’s proceedings. The
proceedings of the Committee, except for their
organizational meeting and their actual preparation of the closing report and dissent therefrom,
if any, shall be open to any member provided he
observes decorum. Any candidate may act as an
observer and/or designate another member to
act as his observer at the counting of the ballots.
In no event shall issuance of the above referred
to closing report of the Committee be delayed
beyond January 31st immediately subsequent to
the close of the election year. In the discharge
of its duties, the Committee may call upon and
utilize the services of clerical employees of the
Union. The Committee shall be discharged upon
the completion of the issuance and dispatch of
its report as required in this Article. In the event
a recheck and recount is ordered pursuant to this
Article, the Committee shall be reconstituted, except that if any member thereof is not available,
a substitute therefore shall be elected from the
appropriate Port at a special meeting held for that
purpose as soon as possible.
(d) The report of the committee shall be made
up in sufficient copies to comply with the following requirements: two (2) copies shall be
mailed by the Committee to each Port Agent
and the Secretary-Treasurer no later than January 31st immediately subsequent to the close of
the election year. As soon as these copies are received, each Port Agent shall post one (1) copy
of the report on the bulletin board in a conspicuous manner and notify the Secretary-Treasurer,
in writing, as to the date of such posting. This
copy shall be kept posted until after the Election
Report Meeting which shall be the March regular membership meeting immediately following
the close of the election year. At the Election Report Meeting, the other copy of the report shall
be read verbatim.
(e) Any full book member claiming a violation of the election and balloting procedure or
the conduct of the same, shall within seventy
two (72) hours of the occurrence of the claimed
violation notify the Secretary-Treasurer at Headquarters, in writing by certified mail, of the same,
setting forth his name, book number and the details so that appropriate corrective action, if warranted, may be taken. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall expeditiously investigate the facts concerning the claimed violation, take such action as
may be necessary, if any, and make a report and
recommendation, if necessary, a copy of which
shall be sent to the member and the original
shall be filed for the Union Tallying Committee
for their appropriate action, report and recommendation, if any. The foregoing shall not be
applicable to matters involving the Credentials
Committee’s action or report, the provisions of
Article XIII, Sections 1 and 2 being the pertinent
provisions applicable to such matters.
All protests as to any and all aspects of the
election and balloting procedures or the conduct of the same not passed upon by the Union
Tallying Committee in its report, excluding
therefrom matters involving the Credentials
Committee’s action or report as provided in
the last sentence of the immediately preceding
paragraph, but including the procedure and report of the Union Tallying Committee, shall be
filed in writing by certified mail with the Secretary-Treasurer at Headquarters to be received
no later than the February 25th immediately
subsequent to the close of the election year. It
shall be the responsibility of the member to insure that his written protest is received by the
Secretary-Treasurer no later than such February 25th. The Secretary-Treasurer shall forward
copies of such written protest to all Ports in sufficient time to be read at the Election Report
Meeting. The written protest shall contain the
full book member’s name, book number, and
all details constituting the protest.
(f) At the Election Report Meeting the report and recommendation of the Union Tallying
Committee, including but not limited to discrepancies, protests passed upon by them, as well
as protests filed with the Secretary-Treasurer as
provided for in Section (e) immediately above
shall be acted upon by the meeting. A majority
vote of the membership shall decide what action,
if any, in accordance with the Constitution shall
be taken thereon, which action, however, shall
not include the ordering of a special vote, unless
reported discrepancies or protested procedure or
conduct found to have occurred and to be vio-
lative of the Constitution affected the results of
the vote for any office or job, in which event the
special vote shall be restricted to such office, offices and/or job or jobs, as the case may be. A
majority of the membership at the Election Report Meetings may order a recheck and recount
when a dissent to the closing report has been issued by three (3) or more members of the Union
Tallying Committee. Except for the contingencies provided for in this Section 4(f), the closing
report shall be accepted as final. There shall be
no further protest or appeal from the action of
the majority of the membership at the Election
Report Meetings.
(g) Any special vote ordered pursuant to Section 4(f) shall be commenced within ninety (90)
days after the first day of the month immediately
subsequent to the Election Report Meetings
mentioned above. The depository shall be the
same as designated for the election from which
the special vote is ordered. And the procedures
shall be the same as provided for in Section 3,
except where specific dates are provided for, the
days shall be the dates applicable which provide for the identical time and days originally
provided for in Section 3. The Election Report
Meeting for the aforesaid special vote shall be
that meeting immediately subsequent to the report of the Union Tallying Committee separated
by one (1) calendar month.
Section 5. Elected Officers and Jobholders.
A candidate unopposed for any office or job
shall be deemed elected to such office or job notwithstanding that his name may appear on the
ballot. The Union Tallying Committee shall not
be required to tally completely the results of the
voting for such unopposed candidate but shall
certify in their report that such unopposed candidate has been elected to such office or job. The
Election Report Meeting shall accept the above
certification of the Union Tallying Committee
without change.
Section 6. Installation into Office and the Job
of Assistant Vice-President or Port Agent.
(a) The person elected shall be that person
having the largest number of votes cast for
the particular office or job involved. Where
more than one (1) person is to be elected for
a particular office or job, the proper number of candidates receiving the successively
highest number of votes shall be declared
elected. These determinations shall be made
only from the results deemed final and accepted as provided in this Article. It shall
be the duty of the President to notify each
individual elected.
(b) The duly elected officers and other job
holders shall take over their respective offices
and jobs and assume the duties thereof at midnight of the night of the Election Report Meeting, or the next regular meeting, depending
upon which meeting the results as to each of
the foregoing are deemed final and accepted,
as provided in this Article. The term of their
predecessors shall continue up to, and expire
at that time, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in Article XI, Section 1.
This shall not apply where the successful candidate cannot assume his office because he is
at sea.
In such event, a majority vote of the membership may grant additional time for the assumption of the office or job. In the event of the
failure of the newly-elected President to assume
office the provisions of Article X, Section 12
shall apply until the expiration of the term. All
other cases of failure to assume office shall be
dealt with as decided by a majority vote of the
membership.
Section 7.
The Secretary-Treasurer is specifically
charged with the preservation and retention of
all election records, including the ballots, as
required by law, and is directed and authorized
to issue such other and further directives as to
the election procedures as are required by law,
which directives shall be part of the election procedures of this Union.
October 2020
�AFL-CIO’s Shuler: ‘We Must Do Better’
Grassroots Rally in Washington Spotlights Call for Justice
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler
was among the headline speakers who took
the stage Aug. 28 during the “Get Your Knee
Off Our Necks” March in Washington, D.C.
Conducted on the National Mall (steps
of the Lincoln Memorial) and billed as a
demand for an end to police brutality and
a push for criminal justice reform, the rally
came in the aftermath of the death of George
Floyd. An African American man, Floyd
died May 25 while in the custody of a White
policeman in Minneapolis. The officer had
pinned his knee on the back of Floyd’s neck
as Floyd repeatedly said that he could not
breathe.
Other keynote speakers included event
organizer, civil rights activist and National
Action Network Founder Al Sharpton; Mar-
tin Luther King III, son of the late Martin
Luther King Jr.; family members of Jacob
Blake, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and Eric Garner; and a host of
Black mothers who over the years have lost
sons to police brutality.
Some 50,000 people – many of whom
were waiting in line before 8 a.m. for temperature and registration checks – turned out
for the event. According to several sources,
organizers originally expected 100,000 people to attend, but scaled back their projections, citing chartered buses canceled due
to COVID-19 issues. The rally was planned
months ago to coincide with the 57th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have
a Dream” speech.
“We’ve come, like Dr. King came 57
years ago, to say we’re tired of broken promises,” Rev. Sharpton told those in attendance.
“There’s a sense of urgency now. We need
national legislation to deal with this. It’s time
we have a conversation with America.”
Shuler mentioned that the AFL-CIO’s 55
affiliate unions (including the SIU) represent, in total, more than 12.5 million working
people across the country.
“As we stand on the shoulders of Dr.
King, Congressman John Lewis, A. Philip
Randolph, Bayard Rustin and all the brave
souls who marched together 57 years ago,
we know, as a nation, we must do better,”
she began. “Black Americans know the
bank of justice IS bankrupt. Justice was denied to Jacob Blake and George Floyd and
Breonna Taylor and Rayshard Brooks be-
AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler addresses rallygoers in the nation’s capital.
cause they were Black. Justice was out of
reach for Riah Milton and Dominique Fells,
two Black trans women who were killed
earlier this summer.
“Union members have been out in the
streets protesting these injustices,” Shuler
continued. “Professional athletes, many of
them proud union members, have stood up
in ways they never have before. The Milwaukee Bucks players said enough is enough,
and the NBA playoffs are now on hold.
WNBA players have spoken out, [as have
players from] Major League Baseball, soccer and more.”
Shuler said that regardless of the setting
– whether in professional sports or generally
in our communities – “we in the labor movement are feeling excruciating pain, anger and
grief. We will do our part to end racism in
our economy, our politics, our workplaces
AND our union halls.
And on top of the widespread racism throughout our country’s institutions,
COVID-19 is exposing the cracks that were
already poisoning our system. A system that
denies housing and health care and opportunity to far too many people of color. That’s
why Black and brown people are more likely
to lose their jobs or get sick and die in this
pandemic.”
The federation official also said there’s no
time to waste.
“We have to do better,” Shuler said. “Now
– NOW – is the time to do the work and pass
the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement
Act and the George Floyd Justice in Policing
Act that are sitting in the Senate.”
She conveyed the federation’s support
for the Black Lives Matter movement and
concluded, “As a White person, I know that
I will never experience the same pain and
trauma that Black people have been feeling
over and over again. All I can say is I understand what I can’t possibly understand. But I
choose to stand, and to kneel, and raise a fist,
and shed a tear, and say a prayer. And fight
like hell to make real change.
“As one united labor movement, we
stand with our Black members, friends and
neighbors. Our mission is to empower families and communities to reach their dreams;
that’s why we’re in this movement. It’s
how we inch closer to achieving Dr. King’s
Dream from 57 years ago. It’s how we wake
up America. And it’s how we TOGETHER
continue the march of those who marched
before us.”
Spotlight on Mariner Health
Diphtheria Could Cause Problems
For Children, Young Adults, Grownups
Editor’s note: This article was provided by
the Seafarers Health and Benefit Plan Medical
Department.
Diphtheria is a serious infection caused by
strains of bacteria called Corynebacterium diphtheriae that make toxin (poison).
Signs and symptoms of diptheria usually
come on gradually. They begin with a sore
throat and fever. In severe cases, a gray or white
patch could develop in the back of the throat.
This can block the airway and cause a barking
type of cough similar to croup. In addition, the
infected person’s neck could swell and lymph
nodes may enlarge, leading to further problems.
Complications from diphtheria include
blocked airways, myocarditis, inflammation of
the nerves, kidney problems, and instances of
bleeding due to low platelet levels.
Diphtheria is spread between people in much
the same fashion as colds. It occurs as a result
of direct contact through the air, when someone
coughs or sneezes.
October 2020
Contaminated objects can also play a role
when children are involved. Since kids may
tend to share seemingly everything, their germs
could be spread while playing with one another.
In some cases, a person can spread the disease
and not have any symptoms.
Diphtheria diagnosis is made by the patient’s
clinical presentation and by lab work/culture.
The diphtheria vaccine is effective for the prevention of the disease. This is usually given with
the Tetanus and Pertussis shots every 10 years
(DPT Shot).
The disease mostly affects children and
young adults, and can be fatal in 5 to 10% of
those who have contracted it. Adults can also get
it, but not as frequently. It is treated with antibiotics, rest, fluids, and pain meds.
This is why it is so important for people to
get their shots as instructed by their doctor when
they are young.
Remember to also get needed shots as an
adult in order to stay healthy and free from diseases.
Healthy Recipe
Honey-Roasted Chicken & Root Vegetables
Servings 24
24 whole chicken breast half without skin
4 teaspoons kosher salt
4 teaspoons black pepper, ground
4 teaspoons fresh rosemary, minced
4 teaspoons fresh thyme, minced
½ cup olive oil, divided
¼ cup butter
2 cups white wine
¾ cup honey, divided
8 cups sweet potatoes, diced
10 cups carrots, diced
4 cups fennel bulb, diced
6 cups chicken stock
12 whole bay leaf
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Combine salt, pepper, rosemary, and thyme. In a
large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil and
butter over medium-high heat. Sprinkle half
the seasoning mixture over chicken breasts.
Add to skillet; cook until golden brown,
2-3 minutes per side. Remove and set
aside. Add wine and 2 tablespoons honey
to pan; cook 2-3 minutes, stirring to loosen
browned bits.
Combine sweet potatoes, carrots and
fennel in a microwave-safe bowl. Add remaining olive oil, seasonings and honey
to vegetables; stir to combine. Microwave,
covered, until potatoes are tender, 10 minutes.
Transfer vegetables to a shallow roasting pan. Add chicken stock, wine mixture and bay leaves; top vegetables with
chicken. Roast until a thermometer inserted
in chicken reads 165 degrees, 25-30 minutes. Discard bay leaves. Serve with vegetables and sauce.
Nutrition Information: Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 313 calories; 8g
fat (24.9% calories from fat); 29g protein;
27g carbohydrates; 4g dietary fiber; 74mg
cholesterol; 980mg sodium. Exchanges: 1
grain (starch); 4 lean meat; 1 vegetable; 1
½ fat; ½ other carbohydrates.
Seafarers LOG 11
�At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
FEAST ABOARD NORTH STAR – The galley gang aboard the TOTE Services vessel went all-out on Independence Day, as
reflected by these snapshots (visit the SIU
Facebook page for more). Pictured from left
in the group photo at the far left are SA Rene
Caballero, Steward/Baker Erwin Renon and
Chief Cook Abdul Hasan. Cabellero also is
pictured at the immediate left.
BOOKS GALORE IN HOUSTON – Several members recently received their full books at the
hiring hall. AB Roni Castillo is at left in photo at top left with Patrolman Kelly Krick. ABs Marlon
Suazo (left) and Walfrado Domapias are pictured in photo at lower left while the photo above
includes AB Nestor Costas (right) and Krick.
ABOARD ARC INDEPENDENCE – Recertified Steward Lauren Oram (center) commended the
work of her fellow galley gang members aboard the TOTE Services-operated vessel. At left is
Chief Cook Esperanza Crespo, and at right is SA Julie Sproat.
12 Seafarers LOG
October 2020
�B-BOOKS IN NEW ORLEANS – OS Yousef Alsebaeai (left) and OS Ahmed Bazara (right)
receive their respective full B-books at the hiring hall.
FULL BOOK IN MOBILE – GVA Richard
Ayers Vazquez displays his full B-book at
the hiring hall in Mobile, Alabama.
WELCOME ASHORE IN JERSEY CITY –
Recertified Bosun Tom Flanagan picks up
his first pension check at the hiring hall.
At Sea and Ashore with the SIU
WELCOME ASHORE IN HONOLULU – AB
Joseph Humphrey holds his first pension
check at the hiring hall in the Aloha State.
FULL BOOK IN ALGONAC – OS Arabi
Muthala receives his full B-book at the
hiring hall.
October 2020
WELCOME ASHORE IN HOUSTON – Picking up their first pension checks, respectively, at the Houston hiring hall are Chris Bartholmey
(right in photo above, with SIU Patrolman J.B. Niday) and Terry Tracy (photo at right). Both are longtime Seafarers who most recently
sailed as captains with G&H Towing.
B-BOOK IN NYC – Seafarer Paul D’ugo
(left) receives his B-book. An employee of
Covanta, he is pictured with SIU Jersey City
Patrolman Edwin Ruiz Jr. in New York.
A-BOOK IN JACKSONVILLE – Storekeeper Marcus Cunningham (left) receives his A-seniority book from SIU Safety Director Joseph Koncul at the hiring hall.
Seafarers LOG 13
�Scholarship
WIRELESS
DISCOUNTS
The Union Plus Scholarship Program has awarded more
CREDIT
CARDS
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want to begin or continue their post-secondary education.
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COLLEGE
Find out more about this and other great Union Plus
programs by visiting unionplus.org.
CAR
RENTALS
For more information:
unionplus.org/scholarship
14 Seafarers LOG
10/20
October 2020
�COVID-19 Prompts Extentions
Dispatchers’ Report for Deep Sea
Continued from Page 3
operators recently chartered a third flight to provide crew reliefs in
Diego Garcia, and SIU-contracted companies increasingly are finding
success with pre-boarding testing and related protocols.
However, one of the most prominent ongoing difficulties stemming
from the pandemic involves crew changes aboard foreign-flag vessels. The International Maritime Organization (IMO) last month again
called attention to what it described as “a humanitarian crisis taking
place at sea.”
IMO Secretary-General Kitack Lim, in a statement issued ahead of
the General Assembly of the United Nations, called on governments to
take swift action to resolve the crew-change crisis.
“It is estimated that more than 300,000 foreign seafarers and marine personnel are currently stranded at sea and unable to be repatriated
despite the expiry of their contracts,” the IMO reported. “A similar
number of seafarers have been unable to join ships and relieve them.
This is due to restrictions imposed by several governments in the wake
of the COVID-19 pandemic, including restrictions on travel, embarkation and disembarkation in ports, quarantine measures, reductions in
available flights and limits on the issuing of visas and passports.”
The organization added, “Some seafarers have now been on board
their ships for more than 17 months, exceeding the 11-months limit
set out in the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC). Many have been
denied proper access to medical care and shore leave, in breach of their
rights under the MLC and other international instruments. This creates serious concerns, not only for seafarers’ health and wellbeing, but
also for the safety of shipping. Overly fatigued and mentally exhausted
seafarers are being asked to continue operating vessels, increasing the
risk of shipping casualties.”
“Seafarers cannot remain at sea indefinitely,” Lim insisted. “If the
crew change crisis is not resolved soon, ships will no longer be able
to operate safely pursuant to the Organization’s regulations and guidelines, further exacerbating the economic impacts of the COVID-19
pandemic.”
Shipping moves more than 80 percent of global trade and is a crucial component of the global economy.
“Total Registered” and “Total Shipped” data is cumulative from Aug. 16-Sept. 15. “Registered on the Beach” data is as of Sept. 15.
Total Registered
Port
A
All Groups
B
Total Shipped
C
A
All Groups
B
Registered on Beach
C
Trip
Reliefs
A
All Groups
B
C
Note to Our Readers
Without exception, anyone entering an SIU hiring hall or signing
onto a vessel has passed a number of safety protocols, often including
testing for COVID-19, two-week quarantines, and verifying healthrelated items on a questionnaire. For that reason, not everyone you
see pictured in the LOG is wearing a mask. In addition, in many
cases, people have briefly removed their masks only long enough
to snap a quick photo. We cannot stress enough the importance of
following all safety protocols for your protection and the protection
of those around you
October & November
Membership Meetings
Those attending membership meetings are reminded to bring face
coverings. Safety protocols are in place at the halls and will remain in
effect during the meetings. Seafarers are urged to check the SIU website and/or check with their hiring halls to verify that the membership
meetings listed here are still happening.
Piney Point.............................Monday: October 5, November 2
Algonac.....................................Friday: October 9, November 6
Baltimore..............................Thursday: October 8, November 5
Guam..................................Thursday: October 22, November 19
Honolulu................................Friday: October 16, November 13
Houston..................*Tuesday: October 13, Monday: November 9
Jacksonville......................Thursday: October 8, November 5
Joliet.....................................Thursday: October 15, November 12
Mobile..............Wednesday: October 14, *Thursday: November 12
New Orleans............................Tuesday: October 13, November 10
Jersey City...............................Tuesday: October 6, November 3
Norfolk..................................*Friday: October 9, November 6
Oakland.............................Thursday: October 15, November 12
Philadelphia...................Wednesday: October 7, November 4
Port Everglades..................Thursday: October 15, November 12
San Juan............................Thursday: October 8, November 5
St. Louis......................................Friday: October 16, November 13
Tacoma................................Friday: October 23, November 20
Wilmington.....................Monday: October 19, November 16
* Houston change due to Columbus Day observance. Effective
as of September 2, Norfolk changed meeting date from Thursday after first Sunday to Friday after first Sunday. Mobile
change due to Veterans Day observance.
Each port’s meeting starts at 10:30 a.m
October 2020
Seafarers LOG 15
�Seafarers International
Union Directory
Michael Sacco, President
Augustin Tellez, Executive Vice President
David Heindel, Secretary-Treasurer
George Tricker, Vice President Contracts
Tom Orzechowski,
Vice President Lakes and Inland Waters
Dean Corgey, Vice President Gulf Coast
Nicholas J. Marrone, Vice President West Coast
Joseph T. Soresi, Vice President Atlantic Coast
Kate Hunt,
Vice President Government Services
HEADQUARTERS
5201 Capital Gateway Dr.,
Camp Springs, MD 20746
(301) 899-0675
ALGONAC
520 St. Clair River Dr., Algonac, MI 48001
Inquiring Seafarer
This month’s question was posed to rank-and-file members who were selected to serve on the Union’s Finance Committee during
the September membership meeting in Piney Point, Maryland.
Question: A lot of pretty bad or negative things, including the COVID-19 Pandemic, have happened to Americans over the
past eight months. Has anything positive happened to you?
Steve Herring
Recertified Bosun
I’m grateful for waking up today
and having an opportunity to continue my career, even though I’m
close to retirement. I’m grateful
that my family has gotten through
the pandemic unscathed so far. I
haven’t been home yet; I had been
sailing since the pandemic started,
since before it got really serious.
Mike Kelly
QMED
Nobody that I know personally has
been hurt at all by the COVID Pandemic nor any of the other problems
that are going on in our country. All of
my friends are safe and happy despite
experiencing some financial problems. They are all well when it comes
to their health and I hope it stays that
way.
William Lima
Recertified Bosun
The union has kept me working which is a real positive note.
Everything has been going well in
other aspects of my life despite the
fact that we have this pandemic.
My family and friends who I sail
with have kept their jobs and made
it home safe while not contracting
the virus.
Earl Castain
Recertified Steward
My last job was pretty good, aboard
the Houston, (operated by) USS Transport. I just came home from the ship in
July. I’ve definitely enjoyed spending
more time with my family, just hanging out. That’s really the main thing
that comes to mind.
Marilou Toledo
Chief Cook
I’m lucky that I had a job and
continued to sail during the pandemic. Being with the SIU and
in the maritime industry has been
good even during the pandemic because we continued to sail and do
our jobs all over the world. All of
this has been very good for me and
my family.
Tommy Cyrus
Chief Cook
I got off the Denebola April 20,
right as the school was closing and
shipping was tight. I’ve been able to
stay busy this summer doing some remodeling, but I’m looking forward to
getting back on a ship soon. I’ve had
to take three COVID tests and they’ve
all come back negative, so that’s obviously good.
(810) 794-4988
ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame St., #1C, Anchorage, AK 99503
(907) 561-4988
BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore, MD 21224
(410) 327-4900
GUAM
P.O. Box 3328, Hagatna, Guam 96932
Cliffline Office Ctr. Bldg., Suite 103B
422 West O’Brien Dr., Hagatna, Guam 96910
(671) 477-1350
HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, HI 96819
(808) 845-5222
HOUSTON
625 N. York St., Houston, TX 77003
(713) 659-5152
JACKSONVILLE
5100 Belfort Rd., Jacksonville, FL 32256
(904) 281-2622
JERSEY CITY
104 Broadway, Jersey City, NJ 07306
(201) 434-6000
JOLIET
10 East Clinton St., Joliet, IL 60432
(815) 723-8002
MOBILE
1640 Dauphin Island Pkwy, Mobile, AL 36605
(251) 478-0916
Pics From The Past
NEW ORLEANS
3911 Lapalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058
(504) 328-7545
NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510
(757) 622-1892
OAKLAND
1121 7th St., Oakland, CA 94607
(510) 444-2360
PHILADELPHIA
2604 S. 4 St., Philadelphia, PA 19148
(215) 336-3818
PINEY POINT
45353 St. George’s Avenue, Piney Point, MD 20674
(301) 994-0010
PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
(954) 522-7984
SAN JUAN
659 Hill Side St., Summit Hills
San Juan, PR 00920
(787) 721-4033
ST. LOUIS/ALTON
4581 Gravois Ave., St. Louis, MO 63116
(314) 752-6500
TACOMA
3411 South Union Ave., Tacoma, WA 98409
(253) 272-7774
WILMINGTON
510 N. Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA 90744
(310) 549-4000
16 Seafarers LOG
Earlier this year, the LOG published photos of the late NMU Bosun John Ivo Valjalo – snapshots that were submitted by his
son. These additional images recently arrived. The larger photo was taken in 1959 in Pensacola, Florida (Valjalo is at right, with
a shipmate from the Tyson Lykes). The inset photo was taken at sea aboard the USNS Pecos in 1969. Valjalo sailed with the
NMU from 1946-1985. He died in December 2015 in Liverpool, England, at age 92.
If anyone has a vintage union-related photograph he or she would like to share with other Seafarers LOG readers, please send it to the
Seafarers LOG, 5201 Capital Gateway Drive, Camp Springs, MD 20746. Photographs will be returned, if so requested. High-resolution digital
images may be sent to webmaster@seafarers.org
October 2020
�Welcome Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted
their working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels on the deep seas, inland waterways or Great Lakes. Listed below are brief biographical sketches of those members
who recently retired from the union. The brothers and sisters of the SIU thank those
members for a job well done and wish them happiness and good health in the days
ahead.
DEEP SEA
MOHAMED AHMED ELSAWI
Brother Mohamed Ahmed Elsawi, 65, joined the Seafarers
International Union in 1993,
initially sailing on the Independence. He sailed in the engine
department and upgraded often
at the Paul Hall Center. Brother
Ahmed Elsawi most recently
sailed on the Alliance Fairfax. He
resides in Egypt.
ELBA ALFARO
Sister Elba Alfaro, 70, started
sailing with the union in 2002
when she shipped on the USNS
Gordon. A member of the steward department, she upgraded at
the Piney Point school on multiple occasions. Sister Alfaro last
sailed on the SBX, and settled in
Loxahatchee, Florida.
JANOS BOGNAR
Brother Janos Bognar, 62, joined
the union in 2002. A deck department member, he first sailed
aboard the Defender. Brother
Bognar upgraded his skills at
the Paul Hall Center on numerous occasions. He most recently
shipped on the Seabulk Trader
and makes his home in Pflugerville, Texas.
JOSE CALIX
shipped on the Baylor Victory. A
steward department member, he
studied at the Paul Hall Center
in 1969. Brother Ferguson’s last
vessel was the Charger. He is a
resident of Alliance, Ohio.
DEXTER FERRER
Brother Dexter Ferrer, 66,
joined the union in 1991. He
first sailed
aboard the
Independence
and primarily
sailed in the
deck department. Brother
Ferrer upgraded
his skills at the
Paul Hall Center on numerous occasions. He
most recently shipped aboard
the Liberty Pride and makes his
home in Honolulu.
THOMAS FLANAGAN
Brother Thomas Flanagan, 64,
donned the SIU colors in 2001.
He shipped in the deck department and upgraded at the unionaffiliated Piney Point school
on multiple occasions. Brother
Flanagan’s first vessel was the
Maersk Vermont; his most recent,
the Maersk Atlanta. He settled in
New Milford, Connecticut.
STEPHEN HILL
Brother Jose Calix, 65, began
sailing with the SIU in 1998.
He shipped in
the steward
department and
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school in 2002.
Brother Calix’s
first vessel was
the Sumner; his
most recent, the
Decisive. He settled in the Bronx,
New York.
Brother Stephen Hill, 65, joined
the union in
1970. A deck
department
member, he
first sailed with
Michigan Tankers. Brother
Hill upgraded
his skills at
the Paul Hall
Center on several occasions. He
last shipped aboard the Gemini
and makes his home in Atlantic
Beach, Florida.
JOSEPH EGAN
TROY INGERSOLL
Brother Joseph Egan, 67, embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in 1974 when he sailed
on the Allegiance. He upgraded
at the Paul Hall Center on several
occasions and was an engine department member. Brother Egan’s
final vessel was the Horizon Enterprise. He lives in Estes Park,
Colorado.
Brother Troy Ingersoll, 65, began
sailing with the SIU in 1978
when he worked with Crowley
Towing and Transportation. He
primarily shipped in the deck
department and upgraded at the
Piney Point school on numerous
occasions. Brother Ingersoll’s
final vessel was the Horizon Pacific. He settled in in Stanwood,
Washington.
JOSELITO EULATRIZ
Brother Joselito Eulatriz, 67,
began his career with the SIU
in 1999, initially sailing aboard
the Overseas Washington. He
was a member of the steward
department and upgraded at the
Piney Point school on multiple
occasions. Brother Eulatriz most
recently shipped on the Ocean
Giant. He makes his home in Anchorage, Alaska.
JOHNNIE FERGUSON
Brother Johnnie Ferguson, 70,
joined the union in 1969 when he
October 2020
LUIS IRIAS
Brother Luis Irias, 70, signed on
with the union
in 2002, initially
sailing on the
Cleveland. He
upgraded at the
Paul Hall Center on multiple
occasions and
was a member
of the engine
department. Brother Irias most
recently sailed aboard the Pride
of America. He resides in West
Park, Florida.
WILFRED JONES
Brother Wilfred Jones, 65,
donned the SIU colors in 1995.
He first sailed aboard the Independence and primarily worked
in the engine department. Brother
Jones upgraded at the Piney Point
school on numerous occasions.
He last shipped on the Manhattan Island and makes his home in
Lacombe, Louisiana.
MICHAEL MAYO
Brother Michael Mayo, 65,
started shipping with the Seafarers in 1979,
initially sailing
with G&H Towing. He sailed
in the deck
department and
upgraded often
at the Paul Hall
Center. Brother
Mayo last sailed
on the USNS
Soderman. He resides in Stella,
North Carolina.
JAMES MCCARTHY
Brother James McCarthy, 65,
joined the Seafarers International Union in 1990, sailing
first aboard the USNS Antares.
He sailed in the deck department
and upgraded at the Piney Point
school in 2002. Brother McCarthy most recently sailed on the
USNS Fisher. He is a Houston
resident.
THOMAS WEBER
Brother Thomas Weber, 68,
started sailing with the union in
2005 when he shipped on the
Overseas Harriette. A member of
the deck department, he upgraded
at the Piney Point school on several occasions. Brother Weber
last sailed on the USNS Bowditch
and settled in Kenmore, Washington.
ALBERT WILLIAMS
Brother Albert Williams, 71,
joined the union in 2001. A deck
department
member, he first
sailed aboard
the Cape Taylor.
Brother Williams upgraded
his skills at the
Paul Hall Center
on numerous
occasions. He
most recently shipped aboard the
Green Bay and makes his home
in Ellenwood, Georgia.
JIMMY WILLIAMS
Brother Jimmy Williams, 65,
began sailing with the SIU in
1998. He shipped in the steward
department and
upgraded often
at the Piney
Point school.
Brother Williams’ first
vessel was the
Independence;
his most recent, the Cape Isabel.
He settled in in Koloa, Hawaii.
WILLIAM WILLIAMS
Brother William Williams, 65,
embarked on his career with the
Seafarers in
1990 when he
sailed on the
USNS Wyman.
He shipped in
the steward
department and
last worked
on the USNS
Pililaau. Brother
Williams lives in Mobile, Alabama.
cibo. A deck
department
member, he
upgraded at
the Piney Point
school on
several occasions. Brother
Chodzko was
last employed by Crowley Towing and Transportation. He makes
his home in Huntington, Beach,
California.
JAMES LIVINGSTON
Brother Eric Young, 65, joined
the Seafarers in 1970. He was
first employed with Michigan
Tankers and sailed as a deck department member. Brother Young
upgraded at the union-affiliated
Piney Point school in 1980. He
last sailed on the New York and
resides in Mobile, Alabama.
Brother James Livingston, 69,
began his career with the Seafarers in 1974,
initially sailing
with Mariner
Towing. He was
a member of the
deck department
and upgraded at
the union-affiliated Paul Hall
Center on multiple occasions. Brother Livingston
last worked for Interstate Oil. He
lives in Milton, Delaware.
MUTEE ZINDANI
ANDREW PACKER
Brother Mutee Zindani, 66,
began his career with the SIU in
1990, initially sailing aboard the
Nuevo San Juan. He primarily
sailed in the steward department and upgraded at the Paul
Hall Center multiple occasions.
Brother Zindani concluded his
career aboard the Maersk Idaho.
He makes his home in the Bronx,
New York.
Brother Andrew Packer, 61,
started shipping with the union
in 1998. He
sailed in the
deck department
and upgraded
at the Piney
Point school on
numerous occasions. Brother
Packer worked
for Penn Maritime throughout his entire career.
He settled in Centerville, Massachusetts.
ERIC YOUNG
INLAND
CHRIS BARTHOLMEY
JOSEPH PIECHOCKI
Brother Chris Bartholmey, 62,
signed on with
the Seafarers in
1975. A deck
department
member, he was
employed by
G&H Towing
for the duration
of his career.
Brother Bartholmey lives in Santa Fe, Texas.
Brother Joseph Piechocki, 65,
signed on with the SIU in 1972
when he shipped with OSG Ship
Management. He upgraded at
the Paul Hall Center in 1998 and
was a deck department member.
Brother Piechocki worked for the
same company for the majority of
his career. He calls Westminster,
Maryland, home.
FRED BOYD
Brother Fred Boyd, 63, joined
the SIU in 1977, initially sailing
with Crowley
Towing and
Transportation.
He upgraded on
multiple occasions at the Paul
Hall Center and
was a member
of the deck
department.
Brother Boyd was last employed
with Express Marine. He resides
in Wilmington, North Carolina.
DALE SEVERS
Brother Dale
Severs, 62,
joined the SIU
in 1993. A
deck department member,
he sailed with
OLS Transport
for the duration
of his career.
Brother Severs
makes his home in Hawesville,
Kentucky.
PETER CHODZKO
Brother Peter Chodzko, 62,
donned the SIU colors in 1977
when he sailed aboard the Are-
Seafarers LOG 17
�Final
Departures
DEEP SEA
PAUL BLAND
Pensioner Paul Bland, 94,
passed away July 11. He began
his career with
the SIU in 1951.
Brother Bland
was a member
of the engine
department and
concluded his career on the Senator. He became a
pensioner in 1991 and resided in
Rincon, Georgia.
JORGE FALERO
Pensioner Jorge Falero, 67, died
August 5. He joined the SIU in
2001. Brother
Falero first sailed
aboard the USNS
Roy M. Wheat.
He sailed in the
engine department, and last
shipped on the
Calvin P. Titus.
Brother Falero retired in 2010
and lived in Puerto Rico.
BRIAN FOUNTAIN
Pensioner Brian Fountain, 59,
passed away August 15. He
signed on with
the Seafarers in
1980; his first
vessel was the
Cantigny. Brother
Fountain worked
in the deck department. He
most recently
sailed aboard the Florida and
retired in 2020. Brother Fountain
made his home in Baltimore.
SHERWIN JONES
Brother Sherwin Jones, 37, died
June 1. He joined the Seafarers
International Union in 2006,
when he sailed on the USNS Impeccable. Brother Jones sailed in
the deck department, and most
recently worked for Watco. He
resided in Brooklyn, New York,
his birthplace.
EZELL JORDAN
Pensioner Ezell Jordan, 76,
passed away July 25. He signed
on with the union
in 1995 when he
shipped aboard
the USNS Assertive. Brother
Jordan sailed in
both the steward and engine
departments. He
last sailed on the Cape Mohican
and went on pension in 2014.
Brother Jordan settled in Mobile,
Alabama.
WALTER KIMBROUGH
Pensioner Walter Kimbrough,
18 Seafarers LOG
76, died August
17. He started
his career with
the SIU in 1973,
working for Gulf
Canal Lines.
Brother Kimbrough was an
engine department member and
last shipped aboard the Libra.
He went on pension in 2009
and was a resident of Sparks,
Nevada.
ARTURO NOBLEZA
Pensioner Arturo Nobleza, 72,
passed away July
26. He joined
the SIU in 2001
and sailed in the
deck department.
Brother Nobleza’s first vessel
was the Seabulk
Challenge; his
last, the North Star. He retired in
2012 and was a Seattle resident.
JOHN KRON
Pensioner John Kron, 73, passed
away June 29. He became a
member of the
union in 1991,
initially sailing aboard the
Pacific. Brother
Kron primarily
sailed in the engine department.
He last shipped
aboard the Spirit before becoming a pensioner in 2011. Brother
Kron lived in San Francisco.
ENRIQUE NUNEZ
Pensioner Enrique Nunez, 81,
died August 26. He began sailing with the
union in 1999,
when he shipped
aboard the
USNS Denebola.
Brother Nunez
worked in the engine department,
most recently
aboard the Lawrence Gianella.
He made his home in New York.
JOHNNIE LONG
Pensioner Johnnie Long, 73,
died August 10. He embarked
on his career with
the SIU in 1964
when he sailed
aboard the Falcon
Lady. Brother
Long sailed in the
engine department and last
shipped on the
Groton. He retired in 2011 and
resided in Mobile, Alabama.
LARRY LOPEZ
Brother Larry Lopez, 73, passed
away August 24. He began shipping with the Seafarers International Union in 1973, initially
sailing aboard the New Orleans.
Brother Lopez was a steward
department member and last
sailed on the Patriot. He went
on pension in 2013 and lived in
Kissimmee, Florida.
RUDOLPH ODOM
Pensioner Rudolph Odom, 76,
died July 23. He donned the
SIU colors in 1964 when he
worked for Waterman Steamship. Brother Odom shipped in
the engine department. He last
sailed with Michigan Tankers
and retired in 2009. Brother
Odom made his home in Eight
Mile, Alabama.
JAMES OSBEY
Pensioner James Osbey, 81,
passed away August 10. He
embarked on his career with the
union in 1964, initially sailing
aboard the Mildland. Brother
Osbey sailed in the steward
department and last shipped
aboard the Pride. He became a
pensioner in 2004 and settled in
Houston.
SJAMSIDAR MADJIDJI
Pensioner Sjamsidar Madjidji,
69, died August 13. He joined
the SIU in 1979 and first sailed
aboard the Delta America. An
engine department member,
Brother Madjidji last sailed
aboard the Carat in 2013. He
became a pensioner the following year and settled in Elmhurst,
New York.
ALBERT PICKFORD
Pensioner Albert Pickford, 92,
died August 7. He joined the
Seafarers in 1968
and first sailed on
a Victory Carriers
vessel. Brother
Pickford was a
member of the
deck department,
and concluded
his career aboard
the Virgo. He went on pension in
1995 and lived in Pullman, West
Virginia.
MANUEL MIRANDA
Pensioner Manuel Miranda,
90, died July 25. He joined the
union in 1978, initially shipping
on the Inger. Brother Miranda
sailed in the deck department.
He concluded his career on the
Cape Knox and lived in Metairie, Louisiana.
ELLIOTT RHODES
Pensioner Elliott Rhodes, 71,
passed away
August 24. He
signed on with
the SIU in 1969,
initially sailing
on the Cosmos
Mariner. Brother
Rhodes was an engine department member. He last shipped
on the President Polk, and retired in 2011. Brother Rhodes
made his home in Norfolk, Virginia.
RONALD SWANSON
Pensioner Ronald Swanson, 79,
died May 17. He donned the SIU
colors in 1966
when he shipped
on the Chilore.
Brother Swanson
sailed in the engine department.
He last sailed on
the Trader and
retired in 1994.
Brother Swanson resided in
Warren, Oregon.
GREAT LAKES
WILLIAM MCDOWELL
Pensioner William McDowell,
89, passed away August 21. He
joined SIU in 1961. Brother
McDowell was a member of the
deck department. Employed by
Great Lakes Towing for the majority of his career, he became
a pensioner in 1996. Brother
McDowell lived in West Valley,
New York.
INLAND
DUANE EVANS
Brother Duane Evans, 52, died
May 28. He embarked on his
career with the SIU in 1999.
Brother Evans first worked for Allied Transportation, and sailed in
the deck department. He most recently sailed on the Padre Island,
and resided in Hayes, Virginia.
RANDY HOPSON
Pensioner Randy Hopson, 64,
passed away August 27. He signed
on with the Seafarers in 1975.
Brother Hopson
was employed by
Higman Barge
Lines for the duration of his career.
He went on pension in 2018 and
lived in Nederland, Texas.
JOHN JACKSON
Brother John Jackson, 56, died
June 19. He joined the SIU in
1994 and sailed in both the deck
and engine departments. Brother
Jackson was employed by Crowley Towing and Transportation
for his entire career. He was a
resident of Jacksonville, Florida.
GRADY KEECH
Pensioner Grady Keech, 85, has
passed away. Born in Beaufort,
North Carolina, he began sailing
during the early
1960s when he
worked for Gulf
Atlantic Towing.
Brother Keech
was an engine
department
member. He was
last employed with Maritrans
before retiring in 1990. Brother
Keech lived in Pinetown, North
Carolina.
FRANCIS PRIMEAUX
Pensioner Francis Primeaux, 90,
passed away July 6. He began
sailing with the
union in 1964
when he worked
for Higman
Barge Lines. A
deck department
member, Brother
Primeaux last
shipped with
Dixie Carriers. He became a
pensioner in 1994 and settled in
Kaplan, Louisiana.
ANTONIO TREGLIA
Pensioner Antonio Treglia, 86,
died August 7. He
signed on with
the SIU in 1984
when he worked
for New York
Cross Harbor.
Brother Treglia
shipped in the
deck department
and was employed with the same
company for the duration of his
career. He went on pension in
1996 and resided in Brooklyn,
New York.
NMU
WILLIE POMPY
Pensioner Willie Pompy, 78 has
passed away. He joined the SIU
during the NMU/SIU merger
in 2001. Brother Pompy was a
steward department member and
last shipped aboard the Delaware Trader. He became a pensioner 2006 and made his home
in Houston.
In addition to the foregoing individuals, the following union
members have also passed away.
Insufficient information was
available to develop summaries
of their respective careers.
NAME
AGE
Cowart, William
83
Ebanks, Jerral
88
Hadsock, Parnell
86
Hernandez, Rafael
106
Huiett, Joe
83
Johnson, Johnny
80
Kenneth, Norman
89
Marvin, Sprawlin
85
Navarro, Marcial
95
Nelson, Herman
86
Pinheiro, Hildebrando 88
Temple, Aaron
87
Waller, Chester
71
DOD
07/08/2020
08/14/2020
08/10/2020
07/17/2020
08/06/2020
07/21/2020
07/31/2020
08/08/2020
08/07/2020
08/26/2020
08/13/2020
08/15/2020
07/14/2020
October 2020
�Digest of Shipboard
Union Meetings
MAERSK PITTSBURGH (Maersk
Line, Limited), January 25 – Chairman John Oshaughnessy, Secretary Darryl Goggins, Educational
Director Jan Morawski, Deck Delegate Randolph Jemmott, Steward
Delegate Brian Corp. Wi-Fi to be
hooked up in Newark, New Jersey.
Bosun thanked crew for a safe voyage. Vote of thanks given to all departments. Members were reminded
to leave clean rooms for oncoming
crew. Educational director provided
members instructions for inquiring about sea time and visiting the
website. He encouraged members to
upgrade their skills at the Paul Hall
Center. No beefs or disputed OT reported. Wiper needed on ship. Deck
and engine departments were commended for a job well done. Members requested raises in pension and
vacation days and expressed wishes
for physicals to be required once,
annually. Next port: Charleston,
South Carolina.
EDWARD A. CARTER, JR.
(Sealift), February 16 – Chairman
Daron Tinney, Secretary Janelle
Harper. Penalty pay not applicable
for ship. Chairman provided newest
information for pension and brought
benefit books, upgrading applications and full book applications.
Members discussed possible overtime pay for elected delegates. Educational director went over where
to find information in contracts. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. Both
ovens need to be fixed or replaced
and ice machine is rarely working.
Cast iron flat tops needed as well
as wet floor signs. Mess sink and
bathroom pipes in need of attention.
Next port: Chinhae.
EDWARD A. CARTER, JR. (Sealift), March 1 – Chairman Daron
Tinney, Secretary Janelle Harper,
Educational Director Joshua Gail.
Educational Director was elected.
Crew went over payoffs, shipyard,
and penalty information. Educational director informed oilers of
JE class April 20. Deck delegate
informed members of hand sanitizer
The Seafarers LOG attempts to print as many digests of union shipboard minutes as possible. On occasion, because of space limitations, some will be omitted.
Ships’ minutes first are reviewed by the union’s contract department. Those issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union upon receipt of the ships’ minutes. The
minutes are then forwarded to the Seafarers LOG for publication.
near gangway and urged them to
protect themselves when getting off
ship. Crew discussed safety precautions for COVID-19 and possibility
of no-fly countries. Oven has been
worked on, but waiting on new
parts for completion. New washer
to be installed. Ice maker still having issues. Next port: Chinhae.
EDWARD A. CARTER, JR. (Sealift), March 20 – Chairman Daron
Tinney, Secretary Janelle Harper,
Educational Director Joshua Gail.
Members went over procedure
for joining crew and going to
dock. Chairman announced various changes due to pandemic that
included hall closures, shipping
rule suspension and the possible inability to leave ship upon original
departure date. Educational director announced waiver for expired
MMC and medical certifications.
Everything postponed through
April. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. New linen ordered. Going
to dock March 24 and switching to
Anchorage March 30.
EDWARD A. CARTER, JR. (Sealift), June 5 – Chairman Daron
Tinney, Secretary Kenneth Smith,
Educational Director William
Monroe. Chairman announced temporary closures of halls. Staff still
available there to assist members by
phone and email. Educational director announced Piney Point scheduled reopening date, Aug. 1. No
beefs or disputed OT reported. New
linen and pillows ordered. Crew in
need of new mattresses, toilet seats
and toaster for crew mess. Chairman has upgrading applications.
OCEAN GRAND (Crowley), July
26 – Chairman Lech Jankowski,
Secretary Carlos Olascoaga,
Educational Director Rudy Cesar.
Most crew members have been
on board for 7-10 months due to
difficulty of reliefs. All members
are safe and have been advised to
upgrade at Piney Point when school
reopens. Crew is happy to return
back home. Ship purchased pres-
sure washer. Penalty pay applicable
for use of pressure washer in this
circumstance. Protective gear requested. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Members requested new
pillows, mattresses, room fans and
improved internet.
ALASKAN NAVIGATOR (Alaska
Tanker Company), August 2 –
Chairman Adel Ahmed, Secretary
Albert Sison, Educational Director Rollin Crump, Deck Delegate
Bonifacio Fortes, Engine Delegate
Aljohn Fernandez, Steward Delegate Jeffery Mundy. Members
went over President’s Report in
Seafarers LOG. Sadness was expressed among crew over the loss
of a mariner due to COVID-19.
Ship where mariner contracted
virus now in quarantine. Chairman
urged crew to not go ashore. Union
meetings to resume in August with
social distancing protocols in place.
Chairman reminded members to
use proper PPE if going to shore.
Secretary thanked everyone for a
great job in trash separation during
voyage. He reminded everyone to
not be wasteful with bottled water.
Educational director reiterated
importance of taking pandemic
seriously. Coast Guard announced
extensions for some documentation.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Members asked for increase in optometry benefits. Some members
asked for new mattresses. Provided
headphones are missing in some
rooms. New vacuum cleaner needed
on crew’s deck. Crew asked for 20
for 30 on vacation days. Chairman
thanked steward department for a
job well done. Next port: Valdez,
Alaska.
GLOBAL SENTINEL (SubCom,
LLC.) August 29 – Chairman Lee
Hardman, Secretary FrancesBrian Bautista, Educational Director Aaron Ellis. Crew restricted to
ship since March, while others have
been reported coming and going
freely without wearing masks.
Chairman waiting on written response after contacting union. Ship
Aboard USNS Petersburg
Pictured aboard the TOTE Services ship in Benica, California,
are (from left) Bosun Roberto Flauta, Steward/Baker Jurally Aseberos, GVA Julian Lacuesta and SIU hawsepiper Monte Pryor,
now sailing as first engineer.
loading in New Hampshire to go
back to West Coast after being in
port the entire month. Crew asked
for clarification for lack of overtime pay for ship restriction. Bosun
reminded members to clean up in
mess halls, crew lounge, laundry
room and public spaces. Washers and dryers should be used by
steward department only, no personal use. Room garbage should be
brought straight to garbage room.
Pay vouchers sent through personal
emails. Vouchers can be printed in
crew lounge. Members can also go
to the bosun and steward to have
vouchers printed. Steward depart-
ment reiterated importance of
keeping all spaces clean after use.
Educational director urged crew to
take advantage of upgrading opportunities at the Piney Point school to
earn new ratings and more money.
Treasurer reported ship funds and
reminded members that fund purchases are open to suggestions.
Seafarers LOGs available in crew
mess and crew lounge. Members
were advised to bring shipping card
before signing on to vessel and
to check the duration of contract.
Crew was encouraged to attend
meetings and to assist other shipmates when help is needed.
Know Your Rights
FINANCIAL REPORTS. The Constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes specific provision
for safeguarding the membership’s money
and union finances. The constitution requires
a detailed audit by certified public accountants every year, which is to be submitted to
the membership by the secretary-treasurer.
A yearly finance committee of rank-and-file
members, elected by the membership, each
year examines the finances of the union and
reports fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make
dissenting reports, specific recommendations
and separate findings.
TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the
provisions of various trust fund agreements.
All these agreements specify that the trustees
in charge of these funds shall equally consist
of union and management representatives and
their alternates. All expenditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust
fund financial records are available at the
headquarters of the various trust funds.
SHIPPING RIGHTS. A member’s shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by contracts between the union and
the employers. Members should get to know
their shipping rights. Copies of these contracts
are posted and available in all union halls. If
members believe there have been violations of
their shipping or seniority rights as contained
in the contracts between the union and the employers, they should notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt
October 2020
requested. The proper address for this is:
Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Full copies of contracts as referred to are
available to members at all times, either by
writing directly to the union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board.
CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts
are available in all SIU halls. These contracts
specify the wages and conditions under which
an SIU member works and lives aboard a ship
or boat. Members should know their contract
rights, as well as their obligations, such as filing for overtime (OT) on the proper sheets and
in the proper manner. If, at any time, a member
believes that an SIU patrolman or other union
official fails to protect their contractual rights
properly, he or she should contact the nearest
SIU port agent.
EDITORIAL POLICY — THE SEAFARERS LOG. The Seafarers LOG traditionally has refrained from publishing any article
serving the political purposes of any individual
in the union, officer or member. It also has refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the union or its collective membership.
This established policy has been reaffirmed
by membership action at the September 1960
meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Seafarers LOG policy is vested in an
editorial board which consists of the executive
board of the union. The executive board may
delegate, from among its ranks, one individual
to carry out this responsibility.
PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are
to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in
the SIU unless an official union receipt is given
for same. Under no circumstances should any
member pay any money for any reason unless
he is given such receipt. In the event anyone
attempts to require any such payment be made
without supplying a receipt, or if a member is
required to make a payment and is given an
official receipt, but feels that he or she should
not have been required to make such payment,
this should immediately be reported to union
headquarters.
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND
OBLIGATIONS. Copies of the SIU Constitution are available in all union halls. All
members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its
contents. Any time a member feels any other
member or officer is attempting to deprive
him or her of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods, such as dealing with
charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details,
the member so affected should immediately
notify headquarters.
EQUAL RIGHTS. All members are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as
members of the SIU. These rights are clearly
set forth in the SIU Constitution and in the contracts which the union has negotiated with the
employers. Consequently, no member may be
discriminated against because of race, creed,
color, sex, national or geographic origin.
If any member feels that he or she is denied
the equal rights to which he or she is entitled,
the member should notify union headquarters.
SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY
DONATION (SPAD). SPAD is a separate
segregated fund. Its proceeds are used to further its objects and purposes including, but
not limited to, furthering the political, social
and economic interests of maritime workers,
the preservation and furthering of the American merchant marine with improved employment opportunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union concepts.
In connection with such objects, SPAD supports and contributes to political candidates
for elective office. All contributions are voluntary. No contribution may be solicited or
received because of force, job discrimination,
financial reprisal, or threat of such conduct,
or as a condition of membership in the union
or of employment. If a contribution is made
by reason of the above improper conduct,
the member should notify the Seafarers International Union or SPAD by certified mail
within 30 days of the contribution for investigation and appropriate action and refund, if
involuntary. A member should support SPAD
to protect and further his or her economic,
political and social interests, and American
trade union concepts.
NOTIFYING THE UNION — If at any
time a member feels that any of the above
rights have been violated, or that he or she has
been denied the constitutional right of access
to union records or information, the member
should immediately notify SIU President Michael Sacco at headquarters by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The address is:
Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union
5201 Capital Gateway Drive
Camp Springs, MD 20746
Seafarers LOG 19
�Paul Hall Center Classes
The following is a list of courses that currently are scheduled to be held at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, Maryland
during the next several months. More courses may be added. Course additions and
cancellations are subject to change due to COVID-19 protocols. All programs are
geared toward improving the job skills of Seafarers and promoting the American
maritime industry.
Seafarers who have any questions regarding the upgrading courses offered at the
Paul Hall Center may call the admissions office at (301) 994-0010.
Title of
Course
Start
Date
Date of
Completion
Deck Department Upgrading Courses
Able Seafarer Deck (online lecture)
October 19
October 23
AB to Mate Modules
Module dates vary throughout the year. Once accepted, students will be advised of
dates. Classes are only open to students in AB to Mate program and modules must be
taken in order.
Module 4
October 12
October 16
Module 5
October 19
October 26
November 2
November 4
November 10
October 23
October 30
November 3
November 6
November 20
Module 6
November 23
December 18
Engine Department Upgrading Courses
FOWT
October 19
November 13
Junior Engineer
October 26
December 18
Steward Department Upgrading Courses
Galley Operations
November 16
December 11
Certified Chief Cook
October 12
November 16
November 13
December 18
UPGRADING APPLICATION
Name ________________________________________________________________________
Address ______________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Telephone (Home)_________________________ (Cell)_________________________
Date of Birth __________________________________________________________________
Deep Sea Member o Lakes Member o
Inland Waters Member o
If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be processed.
Social Security #_______________________ Book #_________________________________
Seniority_____________________________ Department_____________________________
Home Port____________________________________________________________________
E-mail_______________________________________________________________________
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held_____________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? o Yes o No
If yes, class # and dates attended __________________________________________________
Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? oYes o No
_____________________________________________________________________________
With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty-five
(125) days seatime for the previous year, MMC, TWIC, front page of your book including your
department and seniority and qualifying sea time for the course if it is Coast Guard tested.
Must have a valid SHBP clinic through course date.
I authorize the Paul Hall Center to release any of the information contained in this application, or any of the supporting documentation that I have or will submit with this application
to related organizations, for the purpose of better servicing my needs and helping me to apply
for any benefits which might become due to me.
20 Seafarers LOG
COURSE
____________________________
____________________________
START
DATE
_______________
_______________
DATE OF
COMPLETION
________________________
________________________
____________________________
_______________
________________________
____________________________
_______________
________________________
____________________________
_______________
________________________
____________________________
_______________
________________________
LAST VESSEL: ___________________________________ Rating: ____________________
Date On: _______________________________ Date Off:____________________________
SIGNATURE ____________________________________ DATE______________________
NOTE: Transportation will be paid in accordance with the scheduling letter only if
you present original receipts and successfully complete the course. If you have any
questions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point. Not all classes are
reimbursable. Return completed application to: Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education Admissions Office, P.O. Box 75, Piney Point, MD 20674-0075; or
fax to (301) 994-2189.
The Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education is a private, non-profit, equal opportunity institution and admits students, who are otherwise qualified, or any race, nationality or sex. The school complies with
applicable laws with regard to admission, access or treatment of students in its programs or
activities.
10/20
October 2020
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Government Vessels – Graduated August 28 (above, in alphabetical order): Nasser Mohamed Hafid, Michael Hammock Jr., Ahmed Haridy, Kianta Lee, Carnell Middleton, Aarron
Millar, Abdulnasser Musa Nasser, Wordell Prescott, Arica Shaw, Arlene Yalo Thomas and Jerren Waller.
Government Vessels – Graduated August 21 (above, in alphabetical order): Naulka Persian Caines, Hussein Abdul Hussein, Tony Jenkins, Paul Newman, Kenneth Steiner and
Glen Ward.
Government Vessels – Graduated August 14 (above, in alphabetical order): Edgar Dequito Dionio, Olivia Mabuti Fisher-Macafe, Bobbie Gibbs, Jamila King, Patricia Lamb-Rivera,
Karl Mayhew III, Anthony Parks, Kassem Mohamed Salem, Ryan Sotomayor, Michael Waring and Carlos Zapata.
October 2020
Seafarers LOG 21
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Cargo Handling – Graduated August 21 - (above, in alphabetical order): Diego Fernando Barbosa, David Brusco, Carlo Mateo Gentile, Jerome Sentell Luckett, Ahmed Mohamed
Mohamed Eissa, Jorge Salas Santos and Anthony Sanchez Villarrubia.
Small Arms (Shotgun) – Graduated August 20 (photo at right, in
alphabetical order): Natalio Rey
Almosa, William Dowzicky III, Kalil
Hughes, Rick James, Thomas
Moore and Gary Torres.
Important Notice
To All Students
Students who have registered for classes at the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, but later discover
- for whatever reason
- that they can’t attend,
should inform the admissions department immediately so arrangements
can be made to have other
students take their places.
Basic Training (Advanced Firefighting Revalidation) – Graduated August 14 (above, in alphabetical order): Randall Brinza, Yamira Colon, William Davis Jr., Domingos Dos Anjos
Ferreira, Mitchell Fowler, Hussain Mohamed Hafid, Kenneth Steiner and Erasmo Vizcaino. (Note: Not all are pictured.)
22 Seafarers LOG
October 2020
�Paul Hall Center Classes
Basic Training Revalidation – Graduated August 7 (above, in alphabetical order): Ahmed Yahya Ali, Jessica Rena Crockett, Peter Joseph, Lebindra Maharaj, Paul McDonell, Angela
Robertson, Olive Stewart-Paul, Victor Pastor Valencia and Anatoli Vetsinov. (Note: Not all are pictured.)
Basic Training Revalidation – Graduated August 7 (above, in alphabetical order): Alfie Cicat, Orlando Evora Dacruz, Glenn Davis, Milan Dzurek, Roslyn Johnson, Bryan Nystrom,
Randy Powell and Brandon Tanton.
Historian Recaps Heroics of Seafarers During World War II
Continued from Page 24
rising nearly 3,000 feet above the sea,
thus affording some cover from the air
spotters and making it harder for bombers to attack from the land side.
In the week that followed, Army
stevedores and the freighter’s own men
unloaded her vital cargo of guns, shells,
food and medical supplies, then took
aboard $150,000 worth of tin, a scarce
material of war which factories were crying for back in the states.
The Army men at Gingoog were
amazed that the Coast Farmer had made
it through, for they had received reports
that the Japanese sank her, along with
several other vessels trying to run the
gauntlet to Bataan.
Fourteen-hundred miles unescorted
and unarmed through enemy waters alive
with Japanese planes, ships and subs – it
was a feat of heroic proportions.
While the discharging was underway,
the crew acquired several monkeys and
a lively dispute arose as to whether they
should be kept or put ashore, one faction
claiming the simians would bring good
luck, and the others averring that they
didn’t want any part of “monkey luck”
good or bad.
October 2020
The “official” ship’s mascot was a
scrawny cat and the chief carried his
own mascot in the person of an Angora
rabbit.
When the tin was stowed away, the
anchor chain ground up through the
hawse and the brave little ship headed
out to sea.
From the shore the doughboys waved
them a wistful goodbye and as Captain
Mattson put his ship seaward on the tide
it was with the gravest misgivings, for a
Japanese cruiser had been reported not
far down the coast.
“At 3:00 PM,” said the Skipper’s official report, “we were on our way, taking great care not to let the fires smoke,
keeping a good lookout for floating
mines, and spinning the rudder hard over
when one was sighted right ahead.”
Something On Starboard
While edging south through the night,
expecting at any moment to hear the hum
of airplane engines or the crack of shells
from a U-boat, a ship was reported coming toward them off the starboard side.
From the silhouette of the stranger,
they thought for awhile she was the Mormacsun, which had been scheduled for
the same run.
Captain Mattson was about to order
the signalman to “speak” her by blinker
but an instinctive caution held back the
command.
He let the ship pass unnoticed and
lucky that he did, for when the two vessels came abreast several miles apart
they could see that she was not a Mormacsun despite the close resemblance.
Whoever she was, she was by all odds a
Japanese transport.
Several days after this hairbreadth
escape, they sighted Thursday Island
dead ahead. Army and Navy personnel
welcomed them back as though they had
returned from the dead.
“It’s a miracle,” they insisted. “It’s
sure a miracle, all right.”
Said Captain Mattson: “Every member of the crew behaved splendidly. I
cannot say enough for their loyalty, inspiring courage and co-operation during
the entire voyage.” (Deck crewmen were
SUP.)
The varied adventures of the SS Coast
Farmer ended on July 20, 1942, when a
Japanese torpedo sent her to the bottom
25 miles off Cape Perpendicular.
Convoy PQ-17
One of the most dramatic and yet
tragic episodes of the war at sea involved
Convoy PQ-17, better known as among
SIU seamen as the “Fourth of July” Convoy to north Russia.
Seamen of the Seafarers International Union and its affiliate, the
Sailors Union of the Pacific, have
very personal interest in this convoy,
because they manned most of the 20
American freighters in the 33-ship
fleet.
PQ-17 was heavily protected when
it left Reykjavik on June 27, 1942. For
convoy patrol and defense there was a
heavy task force consisting of destroyers, sloops, corvettes, two “ack ack”
ships, several armed trawlers, three
rescue vessels and two British submarines that hoped for a chance to torpedo any big German men o’ war that
might be lured out to attack the fleet.
Heavy escorts included the cruisers HMS London, HMS Norfolk, USS
Wichita, and USS Tuscaloosa.
Covering the convoy’s flank about
100 miles to the east was another battle
fleet, numbering the aircraft carrier
HMS Victorious, British battleship
Duke of York, USS Washington (battleship), several cruisers and numerous
destroyers.
Seafarers LOG 23
�VOLUME 82, NO. 10
OCTOBER 2020
Text “Join” to 97779
To Sign Up for SIU
Text Alerts
O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E S E A F A R E R S I N T E R N AT I O N A L U N I O N AT L A N T I C , G U L F, L A K E S A N D I N L A N D W AT E R S , A F L- C I O
An Allied convoy crosses the North Atlantic in 1942.
SIU Members Show Mettle in WWII
Editor’s note: This is the sixth installment from a 1951 booklet titled “The
Seafarers in World War II.” Penned by
the late SIU historian John Bunker, the
publication recapped SIU members’
service in the War. More than 1,200 SIU
members lost their lives to wartime service in the U.S. Merchant Marine. Earlier
installments are available on the SIU
website and in print beginning with the
May 2020 edition of the LOG. (We are
tentatively planning to post a PDF of the
entire booklet on the SIU website once
all of the text has been published here.)
This one picks up aboard the SIU-crewed
SS Coast Farmer in Australia in January
1942. Army officers had just boarded the
vessel and said it was loaded with “very
important” cargo that in turn was to be
transported northward.
“North!” To Captain Mattson that
could mean only one thing – what with
the Japanese in possession of all the
Pacific north of Australia except the
Philippines – north to MacArthur on
Bataan!
Broomstick Artillery
Two machine guns were then mounted
on the bridge as armament, and several
Navy gunners were put aboard to serve
them. It was later discovered that some
vital parts were missing in the guns
and they couldn’t be fired, so the Coast
Farmer was as well armed as though she
mounted a batter of water pistols.
Not long after midnight on February
3, the Coast Farmer swung out her lifeboats, “doused” all lights, and left Brisbane for the north.
Several days later they arrived on
Thursday Island off Cape York, at the entrance to Torres Strait. Here the Skipper
was given detailed routing instructions,
plus the disquieting news that two faster
ships which had left for the same destination had been bombed and sunk by the
Japanese.
Submarines, it was said, had been
sighted along the course the Farmer was
to take. This induced Captain Mattson
to take advantage of night, and they left
Thursday Island for the Arafura Sea in
the face of heavy winds and seas which
gave the old ship some protection from
submarines on the first lap of its hazardous voyage.
They were on their own now! No
American ships to call upon for aid. No
friendly ships of any kind to offer succor
in the seas ahead.
After passing a chain of islands held
by the Japanese a few nights later, the
Skipper decided they would have to stop
for part of a day in order to approach a
certain narrow channel under cover of
night.
The channel was flanked by Japanese
islands and there was a very good chance
that enemy patrol boats or transports
would be about.
At the time they were only 45 miles
off the Japanese base at Amboina and, as
dawn swept across the great southwest
Pacific, the crew of the Farmer started
the longest day of their lives.
The clocks ticked away minutes that
seemed like hours, suspense – filled
minutes that were fraught with constant
danger.
Lookouts manned the bridge and
crow’s nest. Every man aboard the ship
walked restlessly about the decks, pacing
away the dragging hours as the bright sun
climbed ever so slowly to its zenith.
Occasionally in the distance they
could see black objects which seemed to
be riding the placid surface of the sea like
the conning towers of submarines. But
they must have been whales or blackfish,
for no sub attacks developed.
They all held their breath when several planes crossed the horizon some
miles off, but these airmen ignored the
little freighter entirely, for no American
ship, the Japanese were confident, could
venture so far north and so boldly, too.
All hands felt much better when the
sun had disappeared over the Java Sea
and the waters were once again clothed in
the night.
The boiler fires were lit again, the
throttle was opened, and the shaft began
to turn over once more. They continued
on their way, making the expected landfall during the darkest part of the night
and passing close between two Japanese
islands unobserved.
Steady Nerves A ‘Must’
Several days later they sighted the
mountains of Mindanao in the Philippines, but Captain Mattson stayed clear
of the land until he was sure of their
position. There was no help to be had
here in case the shores ahead should be
swarming with Japanese. It called for
steady nerves, calm judgement, and a few
prayers.
Facing the Skipper now was the problem of getting ship and precious cargo up
to the rendezvous point on Bataan without detection by the enemy. It was 150
miles yet to the embattled defenders of
Bataan so, with an assurance from Chief
Engineer George Smithers that his men
could coax a few extra revolutions from
the machinery, Captain Mattson threw
the telegraph over to “full ahead” and on
they went to whatever might lay before.
The current was in their favor and so,
too, must have been destiny, for they later
found out that their course lay through
a mine field which the Japanese had
planted just to forestall such reinforcements.
Ignorant of this peril, they forged
ahead at what for the Coast Farmer was
the amazing speed of 15 knots, arriving
at the appointed rendezvous at about 5:30
in the morning.
At first no one was to be seen along
the wooded, hilly shore, but after a while
a small launch put out from a veiled landing some 300 yards away.
The men in the launch wore American
Army uniforms and all hands were on the
qui vive as they came up the gangway.
But alert, too, were the strangers, for they
drew their service revolvers as soon as
they stepped over the rail. After all, the
Coast Farmer flew no flag and bore no
markings on her bow or stern.
Meet Friends
Grim jaws relaxed, however, as everyone realized that the rendezvous had
come off as planned and the boarding
party introduced themselves as Colonel
Chastine, Major Gregory and Mr. Wilder,
a civilian pilot.
While the crew rigged booms and
tackle for discharging, Mr. Wilder
brought the ship to anchor very close to
shore under the shadow of a mountain
Continued on Page 23
�
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
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Seafarers Log Issues 2020-present
Description
An account of the resource
Volumes LXXXII of the Seafarers Log and beyond
Publisher
An entity responsible for making the resource available
Seafarers International Union of North America
Dublin Core
The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/.
Title
A name given to the resource
October 2020
Description
An account of the resource
Headlines:
MEMBERS RISE TO OCCASION IN TURBO ACTIVATIONS
PANDEMIC PROMPTS SOME EXTENSIONS
USNS NEWPORT JOINS CIVMAR FLEET
LABOR GROUPS URGE ENFORCEMENT OF WORKERS' RIGHTS
COALITION SALUTES REP. LURIA
SIU MOURNS LOSS OF SUPPORTERS JACK MARTORELLI, ROBERT CHIESA
TOTE MARITIME ALASKA CELEBRATES SHIPPING MILESTONE
INFORMATION FOR THE 202 ELECTION OF OFFICERS SIU ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS
AFL-CIO'S SHULER: 'WE MUST DO BETTER'
DIPTHERIA COULD CAUSE PROBLEMS FOR CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS, GROWNUPS
Creator
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Seafarers Log
Source
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Seafarers Log Digital Copies
Publisher
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Seafarers International Union of North America
Date
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October 1, 2020
Format
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Newsprint
Type
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Text
Identifier
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Vol. 82, No. 10