Seafarers Log: Vol. 62 No. 10 (2000-10-01)

SIU Scholarship Program Expands
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Page3

Volume 62, Number 1 O October 2000

Building_ Nlore Jobs for the SIU

Alaska Tanker Co.
Adding 3 New Ships

BP May Order Total
of 6 New Tankers

er

The SIU tanker fleet will expand by three to six vessels, following last month's announce­

ment by BP that the company has ordered new double-hull tankers. The initial order is

for three tankers (patterned after the illustration below) and is valued at more than $630

million. It includes options to purchase three additional vessels. Page 2 .

•
I

l'aul Hall Center Unveils Second-to-None Training Aids

Installation of new, state-of-the-art simulators
for shiphandling (including GMDSS), engine
room functions, crane operations and liquid
cargo procedures will be finalized this month
at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training
and Education, located in Piney Point, Md.
The top-of-the-line equipment is housed in a
new annex to the preexisting simulator build­
ing. Upgraders and entry-level students are
expected to begin utilizing the new simulators
in November. Early reaction to the simulators,
sampled last month by numerous upgraders,
has been extremely positive. Pages 3, 8.



President's Report
Good News In Threes

For the SIU, good news in September came in threes.
First, the announcement by BP that new tankers have been

ordered for the Jones Act trade is a huge statement in more ways
than one. It signals broader support for our industry and confidence
in the future of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

And it means jobs for the SIU, beginning with the first new
tanker's delivery in 2003. At minimum, three new ships should be in
place by 2005. BP also has an option to build three additional dou­
ble-hull tankers, meaning as many as six new vessels are possible.

I hope SIU members see the connection between BP's announce­
ment and our union's political activity. Because there's no way BP or
anyone else would take such a step if the Jones Act did not enjoy
solid support on Capitol Hill.

The SIU backs the Jones Act because it protects our livelihoods­
but we also support it because it's good for America's economic and
national security. This country deserves a strong domestic-flag fleet.
BP's new ships will be a welcome addition.

Of course, those aren't the only new U.S.-flag ships on the way.
As we have reported in previous months, American Classic Voyages
is building two large cruise ships and, meanwhile, is preparing to
launch the reflagged Patriot in December. Delta Queen just
announced that the first two of its five coastal cruise vessels will sail
in May 2001. TOTE has ordered two new cargo ships for the domes­
tic fleet. The Military Sealift Command regularly is adding new
LMSRs to its prepositioning force, most recently in late July.

If that doesn't convince people that there's a solid future for the
U.S. Merchant Marine, then I don't know what will. The proof is
right there-with new containerships, new tankers, new RO/ROs,
new passenger ships. And the SIU is determined to ensure that this is
just the beginning of comprehensive maritime revitalization for the
U.S. fleet.

Another big news item is the opening of the new simulator com­
plex at the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education.
I've been through the whole thing, and all I can say is, Wow! What a
tremendous addition for the school.

It reminds me of last summer, when the Paul Hall Center opened
the Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School. The new simula­
tors are on par with the fire fighting school. The equipment is the
world's finest, the layout is perfect and the overall package is some­
thing everyone involved with the school will be proud of.

The most important aspect of these new tools is that they will help
Seafarers do a better job aboard ship. Some of the upgraders who
practiced on the new simulators last month said that the training aids
will make other Seafarers feel sharper and yet more relaxed when
they're at sea because they'll be so familiar with the equipment. To
me, that translates into improved safety and better efficiency.

The new simulators and the fire fighting school trace their roots to
the yearly meetings of the Paul Hall Center's deep sea and inland
advisory board. By the way, that group's 33rd annual conference was
scheduled for late September and will be reported in next month's
issue of the LOG.

The board is an industry group that typically includes representa­
tives from the SIU, the school, SIU-contracted companies, the Coast
Guard, MarAd, the Military Sealift Command, the National
Transportation Safety Board, and the American Council on
Education. Collectively, it has worked hard to identify the training
and certification needs of U.S. mariners as well as ship operators.

The yearly gatherings have yielded many good, practical ideas.
They helped spawn the training record books now carried by SIU
members. They have helped the school in creating specially designed
courses to meet the unique needs of numerous companies, including
on-site training. They have helped create an unprecedented level of
industry-wide cooperation- a crucial asset for the growth of the U.S.
fleet.

For the third bit of good news, the Seafarers Welfare Plan
announced a major enhancement of its scholarship program. Now,
the program offers a total of eight grants, worth $132,000.

This benefit has come a long way since its inception in 1952. But
it remains emblematic of the union's long-held commitment to learn­
ing.

So, I urge all eligible Seafarers and their dependents to take
advantage of the scholarship program. It exists to help you further
your education. Please make the most of it.

Volume 621 Number10 October 2000

The SIU on line: www.seafarers.org

The Seafarers LOG (ISSN 1086-4636) is published month­
ly by the Seafarers International Union; Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District; AFL-CIO; 5201 Auth
Way; Camp Springs, MD 20746. Telephone (301) 899-
0675. Periodicals postage paid at Southern Maryland
20790-9998 and at additional offices. POSTMASTER:
Send address changes to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

Communications Director, Jordan Biscardo; Managing
Editor/Production, Deborah A. Hirtes; Associate Editor, Jim

~ 11 Guthrie; Art, Bill Brower; Administrative Support, Jeanne
Textor.
Copyright © 2000 Seafarers International Union, AGLIWD
All Rights Reserved

2 Seafarers LOG

New Tankers Ordered
SIU Fleet Augmented With BP ·Directive

SIU employment opportunities
within its tanker fleet received a
momentous lift last month when
BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc.
announced it has ordered three new
double-hull tankers for the Jones
Act trade. That order is worth more
than $630 million-and it includes
company options to purchase an
additional three vessels.

The ships will be operated by
SIU-contracted Alaska Tank.er
Co. (ATC) to deliver Alaska
North Slope crude oil to refiner­
ies on the U.S. West Coast.
Design work already is under
way, with the first ship scheduled
for delivery in 2003. Subsequent
vessels are due in 2004 and 2005.

"This is a major boost for our
union and for everyone else who
believes in the future of the U.S.­
flag fleet," stated SIU President
Michael Sacco. "It's an invest­
ment in U.S. Merchant Marine,
and the SIU will do its part to pro­
tect that investment by continuing
to provide the world's best­
trained mariners."

The "Alaska class" vessels
will be constructed at San
Diego's NASSCO Shipyard, a
facility that is building two new
state-of-the-art containerships for

~::£~'1
• Design life: 35 to 50 years

• Length: 94Heet
a Beam: 164 feet

a Capacity~ 1 ~3 million barrels

a OeadWeight :185t000 MT ·

::•

TOTE and in recent years also
has built several new SIU-crewed
LMSRs for the U.S. Military
Sealift Command.

According to BP, the new
tankers "will be built with redun­
dant propulsion and steering sys­
tems which include twin diesel
electric power systems in segre­
gated engine rooms, twin pro­
pellers and twin rudders. Use of
diesel electric propulsion systems
will also reduce air emissions at
sea and in port while reducing
maintenance down time. To elim­
inate accidental oil leaks, the pro­
peller shafts will be cooled and
lubricated with seawater instead
of lubricating oil. Cargo piping
will be installed in the cargo
tanks, instead of on deck, to
reduce the risk of small spills.
The ships will be fitted with state­
of-the-art machinery and cargo
control systems and an integrated
navigation system."

"We see a long future on the
North Slope," said BP spokesper­
son Anne Drinkwater. "We
expect our net Alaska production
to stay at or above the current
level for another decade." BP has
a net Alaska production of
300,000 barrels per day.

The company also stated that
the new-build project will keep
an estimated 1,000 NASSCO
workers employed over the Jife of
the agreement.

Delivery of these vessels will
satisfy the commitment BP made
as part of an agreement with the
state of Alaska to accelerate-by
an average of one year-the Oil
Pollution Act of 1990 retirement
dates of the non-double hull ves­
sels in BP's chartered Alaska fleet.

By 2005, at least three new dou­
ble-hull tankers will have joined
the Overseas Ohio (at left) and
other vessels operated by SIU­
contracted Alaska Tanker Co. in
delivering Alaska crude oil to
West Coast refineries.

ITF Secures $119,000 in Wages
For Filipino Mariners in N.J.

International Transport Work­
ers' Federation (ITF) inspectors
from the SIU and NMU recently
joined forces to secure $119,266
in back wages plus full repatria­
tion for a dozen Filipino mariners
who had sailed aboard the run­
away-flag vessel Father M

The vessel, owned by Barclay
Shipping of Greece and flying the
flag of Malta, has been under ITF
contract since November 1999.
However, when crew members
contacted SIU-ITF Inspector Tim
Burns in late May, they reported
the contract was not being hon­
ored.

A few days later, Bums and
NMU-ITF Inspector Enrico
Esopa met with the crew when
the ship docked in Port Newark,
N.J. Reportedly acting on orders
from the company, the captain
refused to produce any wage doc­
uments. However, the crew pro­
vided their individual receipts,
which clearly showed they were
receiving only half the pay called
for in the contract.

Despite the ITF's demands
that the agreement be honored,
Barclay initially refused. The
inspectors then arranged for U.S.
marshals to arrest the Father M
on May 31.

On June 5, the company
agreed to pay the back wages and
repatriation expenses. A protec­
tive order also was put into the

settlement to shield the mariners
from retaliatory action by the
company agents or any other
party.

Father M crew members wave goodbye from New York's Kennedy
Airport, shortly after receiving back pay and repatriation expenses. The
crew praised the work of ITF Inspectors Tim Burns and Enrico Esopa,
who led their fight.

Please be·aavisea !hai,sltl ·1t1illfj
· headquarl:ers and" all SIU hiring halls will be closed ,'."tJ;

· Friday,. Nov. 10, 2000 for the observance of Veteraas~v;~;
Day and Thursday, Nott 23 fQ~ Tha'!ksgiving .qety ~:,,~;j¥Ji

(unless· an emergency arises). Normal business }]ours<~
will resume the following workday. ·

October 2000



School Adds Superlative Simulators
Cutting-Edge Systems Enhance Paul Hall Center

As they initially tried out the
Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education's new
simulators, the upgraders sound­
ed like kids at a carnival.

"Virtual reality!" yelled one.
"This is incredible! Unbe­

lievable!" added another.
Seemingly everyone who has

sampled the high-tech setup in
Piney Point, Md. has reacted the
same way, including many other
students and a group of U.S.
Coast Guard inspectors who
toured the facility in mid­
September.

The modern building-an
annex to the preexisting simulator
building which will be dedicated
next year- houses new simula­
tors for shiphandling (including
GMDSS), engine room functions,
crane operations and liquid cargo
procedures. Installation is sup­
posed to be finalized this month,
with upgraders and entry-level
students utilizing the simulators
beginning in November.

Among the first courses that
will integrate the new tools are

New Coastal
Ships Debut
In May 2001

AB, QMED, FOWT, radar and
ARPA. Many more will follow.

"We often hear terms like 'cut­
ting-edge' or 'state-of-the-art,'
but these simulators truly are sec­
ond to none," noted J.C. Wieg­
man, assistant director of voca­
tional education at the Paul Hall
Center. "It's an enormous
enhancement for the entire
school."

QMED Taylor Watson stated,
"This shows the union is moving
with the times, if not ahead of
them. It shows an interest in our
future."

"It's just like being out at sea,"
said Pete Wojcikowski, a Navy
veteran enrolled in the AB
course. "To sum it up in one
word: awesome! I'm definitely
impressed."

After trying the full-mission
shiphandling simulator, fellow
student Chad Schultz agreed.
"It's pretty amazing-very realis­
tic," he observed. "This will
make you a lot more relaxed at
the helm."

That simulator is the center­
piece of the new systems. It fea­
tures a 360-degree viewing sector
and three interactive auxiliary
bridges. The main bridge includes
an integrated ship control console
with ARPA/radar, global marine

Deep sea, inland and Great Lakes Seafarers in
numerous deck and engine department upgrading
courses will utilize the new simulators, as will stu­
dents in the unlicensed apprentice program.
Pictured above (from left), upgraders and instruc­
tors sample the engine and shiphandling simulators
and the multi-function classroom.

distress system (GMDSS), elec­
tronic chart display (ECDIS, with
charts from all over the world), a
steering console and more.

It provides teaching support in
the following areas: voyage plan­
ning and execution; coastal and
offshore navigation; collision
avoidance; ARPA/radar opera­
tion; electronic navigation sys­
tems; search and rescue opera­
tions; vessel traffic management;
high speed navigation; bridge

watchkeeping
procedures
including tugs
and barges,
towboats and
piloting;
GMDSS proce­
dures; oil spill
response man­
agement; port
development;
human factors;
and bridge team
management.

"It's like
nothing I've ever
seen before,"
said OS Awale Muhiddin. "It is
absolutely excellent."

"Wow!" said OS Jon Buff­
ington. "It's impressive and it'll
be a great training aid." The SIU-crewed fleet of pas­

senger ships will grow again in
May 2001 with the debut of two
new vessels operated by Delta
Queen Coastal Voyages, a sub­
sidiary of American Classic
Voyages.

Delta Queen Coastal Voyages' new 226-passenger ships, patterned
after this model, are scheduled to sail in May.

Added OS Andy Williamson,
.. I think it's great. It will help us
learn to steer a vessel, and it sur­
passes my expectations."

The engine room simulator is
potentially useful to any rating in
that department, from wipers to
engineers. It is designed for the
training of engine room watch­
keeping personnel in the opera­
tions of a vessel's diesel propul­
sion plant and electrical power

The Cape May Light and the
Cape Cod Light-the first of five
ships planned for the coastal fleet
-will offer their respective
inaugural cruises beginning May
5, according to a recent statement
by the company. Each vessel is
300 feet long and can carry 226
passengers. The ships will travel
along the East Coast, Great
Lakes and Canadian Maritime

Provinces.
Seafarers already crew four

passenger vessels operated by
another American Classic
Voyages subsidiary, Delta Queen
Steamboat Co. Those ships are
the American Queen, Columbia
Queen, Delta Queen and Miss­
issippi Queen.

The coastal ships "are named
for historic lighthouses and
designed to resemble the classic

Patriot Sails in December

The SIU-crewed passenger vessel Patriot, operated by United
States Lines, remains on schedule to begin weekly cruises from
Honolulu on December 9. The former Holland America ship can
carry 1,212 passengers, is 704 feet long and 33,930 gross tons.
U.S. Lines' parent company American Classic Voyages also is
constructing two new passenger vessels, scheduled for comple­
tion in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

coastal packet ships of the late
1800s," noted a company official.

More information about the
itineraries and vacation packages
is available toll-free at 800-846-
8000 and on the internet at
www.coastalvoyages.com.

Scholarship Program
Expands to $132,000
Fifth Dependent Grant Added;
Existing Endowments Raised

Nearly 48 years to the day
since it launched an unprecedent­
ed scholarship program for SIU
members and their dependents,
the Seafarers Welfare Plan (SWP)
has announced a huge expansion
of the operation.

The improved program annu­
ally will include three scholar­
ships for SIU members and five
for spouses and dependent chil­
dren of Seafarers. Altogether, the
scholarships' value equals
$132,000-a 52 percent increase
from the previous amount.

In approving the program's
first increase since 1990, the SIU
Board of Trustees allowed an
additional dependent scholarship
and boosted the dependent grants
to $20,000 apiece, up from
$15,000. The four-year scholar-

ship for an active SIU member
also was expanded to $20,000.

The board acted on a recom­
mendation by the SWP
Scholarship Committee. In a
memo to the trustees, the com­
mittee cited "the increasing num­
ber of applicants as well as the
quality of the applicants" as moti­
vating its proposal.

The $20,000 scholarship for
an SIU member is for use at a
four-year institution of higher
learning. Two other awards-for
$6,000 each-go to Seafarers for
use toward two years of study at a
community college or vocational
school.

The five dependent grants are
designated for use at four-year
colleges or universities.

"Throughout our history, the

plant. Additionally, it includes an
auxiliary systems and machinery
simulator.

The crane and liquid cargo
simulators are similarly advanced
and useful.

"I'm very impressed," de­
clared QMED Milton Greene Jr.
after using the engine room simu­
lator. "This is something we can
really use."

"It's fantastic," said QMED
James Daley, an NMU member
enrolled in the marine electrical
maintenance 1 course. "You can
learn a lot with this equipment.
It's everything they say it is."

SWP ScholarshiP
Progtam lllgldiglds

• Annual value of grants
awarded has increased
from $87,000 to $132l000

• Dependent schofarshi~
increased trom ·$1s.ooo to
$20,000 apiece

• The four-year gr.~nt for an
active StU member in­
creased from $15,000 to
$20,000

• A fifth ·dependent schotar­
ship has· been added, up
from four · ·

SIU always has emphasized the
importance of education," stated
SIU President Michael Sacco.
"The expansion of the scholar­
ship program reaffirms that com­
mitment."

SWP Administrator Lou
Delma said the scholarship com­
mittee "is thrilled that our recom­
mendation was approved. It's a
great step forward for Seafarers
and their dependents, and it's a
big boost to an already successful
program."

Seafa1'81'S LOB 3



Seafarers, Elected Reps Rally
Against 'Floating Sweatshops'
Runaway Flags Tagged 'Nothing Short of Criminal'

Wearing T-shirts and caps
emblazoned with the slogan
"Workers Against Floating
Sweatshops," more than 100 SIU
members rallied Sept. 19 on
Capitol Hill to protest the scam
that is runaway-flag shipping.

Bulletin
forces with the supplies they need
all around the world."

Thirteen speakers addressed
the demonstration, and each
urged an end to runaway flags,
also known as flags of conve­
nience (FOCs). In order of
appearance, the speakers were
U.S. House Minority Whip David
Bonior (D-Mich.); AFL-CIO
Maritime Trades Department
President Michael Sacco, who
also is president of the SIU; Rep.
William Clay (D-Mo.); Marine
Engineers 'Beneficial Association
President Larry O'Toole; Rep.
Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.); Thomas
Tay, vice chairman of the
International Transport Workers'
Federation's (ITF's) Seafarers
Section and general secretary/
executive director of the
Singapore Maritime Officers'
Union; Senator Ron Wyden (D­
Ore.); Stephen Cotton, secretary
of the ITF Special Seafarers'
Department; Remo di Fiore, an
ITF executive board member; Air
Line Pilots Association President
Duane Woerth; International
Longshore & Warehouse Union
Legislative Director Lindsay
McLaughlin; AFL-CIO President
John Sweeney; and Rep. Gene
Taylor (D-Miss. ). Additionally,
Senator Barbara Mikulski (D­
Md.) sent a letter of support that

As this issue of the Seafarers LOG went to press, tTF inspectors
were assisting 950 crew members in a massive back~P<!)' ,yase
invotving three vessels from the runaway-flag Premier Cruise.· Lines.

tn Halifax, Nova Scotlaf the Sea Breeze was arrested and
arrangements were being made for 250 represented crew members
to receive $460,000 in unpaid wages frorn the company.

He cited two ways to combat
FOCs.

"One is to go after the run­
away-flag shipowner and opera­
tor and hold them accountable.
The ITF and its affiliate unions
are doing that, and, slowly but
surely, it's paying off .... Jn the Bahamas, crew members ·from the OclJanic and the Big

Red Boat JI were due to receive $2.4 million in back pay, thanks to
JTF intervention.

"The Seafarers International
Union remains committed to the
ITF campaign against FOCs. We
will do anything and everything
to help ensure the campaign's
success.

Premier is based in Port Canaveral~ Fla.

was read to the assembly.
The ITF and several of its

U.S.-based affiliate maritime
unions (including the SIU) hosted
the event, which kicked off an
"action week" patterned after pre­
vious ITF endeavors. Un­
announced ship inspections along
the East and Gulf coasts were
slated for later that week (too late
for the Seafarers LOG s October
deadline).

21st Century Slavery
During the Sept. 19 demon­

stration in Washington, speaker
after speaker likened runaway­
flag shipping to slavery. (FOC
shipping is a scheme in which the
shipowner typically avoids its
nation's labor, safety and tax
laws-among others-by using
another country's flag. This
escape also often includes hiring
multinational crews through an
agency based in a country other
than that of the shipowner or the
flag state.)

U.S. Workers Lack
Right ta Organize

In a report issued August 31, the watchdog group Human Rights
Watch (HRW) states that U.S. workers lack the most fundamental
internationally recognized human rights at the workplace-the basic
freedom to organize, bargain and strike.

The 217-page report, titled "Unfair Advantage: Workers' Freedom
of Association in the United States Under International Human Rights
Standards,H was issued by the nation's premier human rights organiza­
tion following a year-long investigation that encompassed workers in
many industries and occupations in workplaces from coast to coast.

"Workers' basic rights are routinely violated in the United States
because U.S. labor law is so feebly enforced and so filled with loop­
holes," the report states.

Each year, thousands of workers in the United States are fired from
their jobs or suffer other reprisals for trying to organize unions.
Millions of workers are excluded from labor laws meant to protect
workers• organizing and bargaining rights, and their number is grow­
ing, according to the report.

The report is based on the examination of workers' rights to orga­
nize, to bargain collectively and to strike under international norms. It
found widespread labor rights violations across regions, industries and
employment status.

The group studied many sectors to assess the scope of the problem
(services, industry, transportation, agriculture, high tech) and included
geographic diversity (cities, suburbs, rural areas). It also looked at a
wide range of workers (high and low skill, blue and white collar, resi­
dent and migrant, women and men, racial, ethnic and national origins).

The cases studied in the report offer a cross-section of workers'
attempts to form and join trade unions, to bargain collectively and to
strike.

To supplement its on-the-ground research and official records,
HRW used credible news accounts of instances where workers' rights
appear to have been impaired and also relied on National Labor
Relations Board records of complaints filed against companies by
workers claiming a violation of their rights.

Employers often resist union organizing by dragging out legal pro­
ceedings for years, the report states. Labor law is so weak that compa­
nies often treat the minor penalties as a routine cost of doing business,

4 Seafarers LOG

.· ... ·,.

"That kind of exploitation isn't
allowed in America anymore, but
it's business as usual on the high
seas," stated Bonior. "FOC ship­
ping is a menace to public safety
and an assault on human rights."

He also pointed out that run­
away flags are prominent not
only on cargo vessels, but also
aboard passenger ships-includ­
ing high-profile, U.S.-based com­
panies such as Royal Caribbean
and Carnival.

"I will always stand by you,"
Bonior concluded.

Sacco noted that while FOC
shipping is a human-rights issue,
"we must recognize that run­
away-flag shipping also is a vital
national security issue for the
United States of America.

Runaway-flag shipping is the
No. l enemy of the U.S. Mer­
chant Marine. The growth of the
runaway-flag fleet unquestion­
ably has weakened American
sealift capability, making it more
difficult to provide our armed

"The other step we must take
is to build a stronger U.S.-flag
merchant marine," Sacco contin­
ued. "American-flag ships are the
safest in the world, crewed by the
world's best-trained mariners.
American-flag ships protect our
economic and national security.
American-flag ships and U.S.
Merchant Mariners are this
nation's fourth arm of defense.

"Revitalizing our fleet must be
a top priority in Congress."

'Disgraceful Conditions'
Clay said that FOCs often are

wrought with "disgraceful and
intolerable conditions that we
ought to not let exist. These float­
ing sweatshops are a scheme to
deny workers their rights.
They're all about exploitation.
Crews live under the most inhu­
mane circumstances.

"This nation not only has the
right, but the moral duty" to fight

not a deterrent against violations. Some workers have succeeded in
organizing new unions in recent years, the report notes, but only after
surmounting major obstacles.

AFL-CIO President John Sweeney emphasized the historical
importance of the report. He agreed with the conclusion of HRW, stat­
ing that U.S. labor law is stacked against employees who wish to orga­
nize a union, allowing employers to intimidate and coerce workers not
to unionize. He further noted that employers routinely delay organiz­
ing and bargaining for years, rendering workers' basic rights moot and
that the penalties for employer violations of the law are practically
meaningless.

"Most U.S. workers lack an effective right to strike because their
employers simply replace them-permanently," Sweeney said.
"Immigrant workers' rights are under particular assault. And millions
of citizens lack legal protection altogether, including farm workers,
temps, 'independent' contractors who are really dependent on their
employers, and state and municipal workers in states lacking collective
bargaining rights for public employees.

"In case study after case study, the report asks not whether the let­
ter of U.S. law was upheld, but whether our 65-year-old legal system
affords workers basic internationally recognized human rights at work.
Sadly but not surprisingly, Human Rights Watch concludes that it's not
even a close call. The vast majority of American workers-from apple
pickers to computer programmers-lack these fundamental free­
doms."

Sweeney stated that the report will be a helpful tool ''to use with our
allies as we continue to make the case about the obstacles that work­
ers face in this country when they try and organize."

He concluded, "The policy implication of the Human Rights Watch
report are clear. We must fundamentally overhaul our labor laws to
bring us into line with basic human rights norms. At the same time, we
must continue to raise the flag of workers' rights in the international
arena. We cannot protect our own rights or living standards at home or
work to build a strong voice for working men and women around the
world unless we also help ensure that workers in all countries can exer­
cise their rights."

Kenneth Ross, executive director of HRW, said, "The cards are
stacked against workers in the United States. The U.S. government
cannot effectively press another country to improve labor standards
while violating them itself. It should lead by example."

Human Rights Watch was formed in 1978 and conducts regular,
systematic investigations of human rights abuses in more than 70
countries around the world. Their goal is to hold governments account­
able if they transgress the rights of their people.

against FOCs.
O'Toole said runaway flags

''threaten the very existence of
our fleet. The time is now to stop
them.

"Our U.S. Merchant Marine
really acts as a national guard,"
he added. "We're ready to serve
this country."

Engel stated the FOC issue is a
matter of"basic fairness. If phony
foreign flags are flying on ves­
sels, then everyone loses .... We
should not tolerate slave wages
and working conditions.

"Your fight is America's fight.
Your cause is just. Keep on fight­
ing. Right is on our side. Victory
will come."

Tay recounted FOC cases in
Singapore with which he has
worked.

"We've seen how the crews
have suffered and been exploited
by FOC owners. We are with you
in this fight."

Wyden led with the New
Carissa episode, which began in
February 1998. The runaway-flag
freighter ran aground at Coos
Bay, Ore., spilling 70,000 gallons
of heavy bunker fuel. Incredibly,
large sections of the ship remain
there.

.):.;·~ \. · · "' See page 10 for '·· · · •·

'.!;··: p(J(Jto~raphs from the ra!lf :

cm,. ~ilitoL Hill.
. "' .... · .. ,.:tsr ........ ,.>: .·: ....

"Reality is, it's easier to regis­
ter a supertanker in some foreign
countries than it is to register an
automobile in Oregon," he said.
"As long as FOCs continue, it's
just a matter of time before the
next New Carissa.

"It's time to make sure no
more oil is spilled and no more
coastlines are ruined because this
country refuses to get tough."

Vftal to America
Cotton reiterated Sacco's point

that the U.S.-flag fleet is crucial
to national and economic security
- a fact that demands action
against FOCs.

"The American flag is vital to
the future of American econom­
ics," he stated. "It's crucial that
all nations with economic power
and influence" mobilize against
runaway flags.

"We have to fight for free­
dom," asserted di Fiore. "We

Continued on page 10

RRF Decision
Due Oct.10
October 10 is the date set by

the General Accounting Office
(GAO) for announcing its deci­
sion concerning two remaining
challenges to the U.S. Maritime
Administration's most recent
awards of five-year contracts
for the maintenance and opera­
tion of74 Ready Reserve Force
(RRF) ships.

The original assignments,
announced in May, saw 45 ves­
sels awarded to SIU-contracted
companies. For those 45 ships,
the SIU secured substantial
wage increases, plus an addi­
tional pair of wage increases
retroactive to 1998 and 1999,
respectively.

The existing contracts were
extended after several compa­
nies challenged the awards.

Further details will be pub­
lished in an upcoming issue of
the Seafarers LOG.

October 2000



REC Chiefs Meet in Piney Point

The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education last month hosted the annual meeting of the
heads of the U.S. Coast Guard's regional examination centers (RECs). The three-day seminar in Piney
Point, Md. primarily focused on "policy issues, with heavy emphasis on STCW," noted a Coast Guard
spokesman. The group toured the Paul Hall Center's Joseph Sacco Fire Fighting and Safety School
(top photo) and the new simulator annex (below). They also received sample training record books
(TRBs) like the ones carried by SIU members. "The school and the sample TRB gave [the Coast Guard
licensing office chiefs] a feel for what the mariners are being exposed to,'' added the spokesman.

Unions Welcome New ROS Language
SIU civil service mariners (CIVMARS) working

directly for the U.S. Navy's Military Sealift
Command (MSC) recently received good news in
the form of a settlement regarding works rules for
reduced operating status (ROS).

The agreement was reached between the SIU, the
other maritime unions representing CIVMARS
(National Maritime Union; Masters, Mates and
Pilots; Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association)
and MSC.

As a result, SIU CIVMAR watchstanders will
receive the applicable premium pay for work on
Saturdays, Sundays and holidays whether the vessel
is at sea or in port. Additionally, while a vessel is in
port and in long-term ROS, Seafarers will be paid
when a watchstander works in excess of eight hours
per day.

Before the settlement, masters had been autho­
rized to change work schedules when vessels were
in ROS or in full operating status but awaiting

Exterior Enhanced at Baltimore Hall

October 2000

assignment. The unions contended that this system,
though well-intended, caused confusion on the ships
and at times was difficult to uniformly administer.

Consequently, the ROS language in the Civil
Marine Personnel Instructions (a document that
guides MSC personnel) has been revised.

"It took a while to reach this agreement, but it
was worth the wait. It's a significant gain for SIU
CIVMARS," stated SIU Government Services
Representative Chester Wheeler.

The SIU represents unlicensed CIVMARS work­
ing aboard MSC vessels operating from the West
Coast.

Overall, MSC operates a wide range of civilian­
crewed military support ships, including many out­
side the CIVMAR fleet. A substantial number of
those vessels-tankers, dry cargo ships, roll-on/roll­
off vessels, surveillance ships, ammunition carriers
and others-are crewed by SIU members.

The SIU's new hall in
Baltimore opened
July 1, but some cos­
metic work continues
at the Essex Street
facility-including the
recent addition of
exterior lettering, pic­
tured at left.

Rep. Bateman
Dies at 72

U.S. Rep. Herb Bateman (R­
Va. ), a respected legislator and
staunch supporter of the U.S.
Merchant Marine and the
American shipbuilding industry,
passed away in his sleep
September 11 in Leesburg, Va.
He was 72.

Bateman, chairman of the
Merchant Marine Oversight
Panel on the House Armed
Services Committee, served
Virginia's 1st District for 18
years. He had battled various
health problems for approxi­
mately the past decade and, con­
sequently, in January announced
he would retire after his current
term.

"Herb Bateman was a true
friend and advocate for the
entire U.S. maritime industry,"
stated SIU President Michael
Sacco. "He particularly under­
stood the importance of sealift
to America's national defense
and the need to maintain a pool
of trained U.S. citizen mariners.
We will miss him."

U.S. Rep. Herb Bateman

Among many other pro-mar­
itime actions, Bateman in recent
years supported the Jones Act,
the Maritime Security Program
and initiatives to bolster U.S.
sealift capability. The Air Force
veteran's district included
Newport News Shipbuilding,
and he likely was best known
for his advocacy for the military.

U.S. Maritime Administrator
John Graykowski said, "I feel
that I have lost a good and true
friend of this agency and our
industry. His leadership,
courage and determination
helped strengthen the maritime
industry."

Philly Seafarers Back AFSCME

SIU members from the Philadelphia area recently demonstrated
downtown in support of fellow trade unionists from the American
Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME).
Among those participating from the SIU were (pictured above)
OMU Juma S. Juma, Steward Bill Kelly, AB Paul Wills, QMED Joe
Grandinetti, GUDE Lafe Fraley and Steward Jeff Beasley (along
with three of his children). The rally focused on contract talks
involving AFSCME members and several Philadelphia hospitals.

Resolution Honors -
Merchant Mariners

The U.S. House of
Representatives on September 14
unanimously approved a resolu­
tion honoring U.S. Merchant
Marine veterans.

The resolution was authored
by Rep. Steve Kuykendall (R­
Calif.), who serves as vice chair­
man of the Merchant Marine
Panel of the House Armed
Services Committee.

"The United States Merchant
Marine has provided critical sup­
port to the armed forces of the
United States in periods of con­
flict," Kuykendall said. "The time
has come for us to recognize the
dedication and contributions of
merchant marine veterans and to
honor those who sacrificed their
lives in defense of the United
States."

The resolution encourages cit­
izens as well as the government
to commemorate merchant
mariners ' service through cere­
monies and other activities.

"Merchant mariners have
served the country since the birth
of our nation," Kuykendall con-

eluded. "They helped form our
Continental Navy, they manned
the Liberty and Victory ships that
helped win World War II, and
they delivered the equipment that
won the Gulf War. Their contri­
butions have been many, and the
nation is grateful for the service
and sacrifice of all merchant
mariners."

Notice: Flu Shots Set
For November 15 at

Tacoma SIU HaH
Vkginia Mason Clinic will again

offer free flu shots this year to
members, dependents and
retirees who qualify under the
rules of the Seafarers Welfare
Plan. The inocu1atlons will be given
at the Tacoma hall on Wednesday,
Nov. 1-5 from 9 a.rrt unUI noon. The
address is 3411 South Union
Avenue. Any member, dependent
or retiree intending to receive a flu
shot is requested to can the half at
least one week prtor to Nov. 15.
The telephone number ls (253)
272-7774,

Seafarers LOG 5



Training Proves Beneficial for SIU Port Personnel
Fifteen SIU administrative

assistants from various ports con­
verged on the Paul Hall Center
for Maritime Training and Edu­
cation in Piney Point, Md. Aug.
24-27 for training on a new, long­
awaited membership dues collec­
tion and tracking system. Port
agents, vice presidents, patrolmen
and SIU headquarters personnel
earlier in July and August re­
ceived the same training.

Developed and designed by
employees from the Seafarers
Management Information System
(SMIS), the new approach
streamlines the process adminis­
trative personnel have for years
relied on to collect, track and post
dues paid by union members.
Under it, administrative assistants
at ports now simply collect dues,
make appropriate entries into the
SIU's mainframe and then pro­
vide members with a computer­
generated receipt.

Upon making the entries into
the mainframe, all pertinent
information regarding dues pay­
ment becomes available on the
spot to all authorized parties,
regardless of location. Under the
old system, dues were collected at
respective ports, receipts were
manually prepared for members,
and notices of payments made
were e-mailed to the controllers'
office at headquarters. Copies of
receipts were then faxed to head­
quarters and "paid" entries insert­
ed into the union's mainframe in
bulk monthly, usually some 30
days after payments initially were
received.

The fresh plan is a collabora­
tive effort of a number of people
on the SMIS staff, according to
Wally Schmidt, SMIS director. It
was implemented in three phases.
Phase one was up and running in
January, while phases two and
three gradually have been added
since then.

"The training at Piney Point
was conducted to teach our port
agents, vice presidents, patrolmen

and administrative people at the
various ports how to use the new
system and related software,"
Schmidt said. "That training was
a success and at this point is pret­
ty much complete.

"Some questions will probably
surface as time goes on," he con­
tinued, "but when they do, people
have been instructed to call our
help desk for assistance. If ques­
tions arise that the help desk can't
answer, they will be referred to
me," Schmidt said.

"I was very proud of the job
everyone involved did in devel­
oping, designing and training our
people on the new system,"
Schmidt concluded. " And I think
over time, the new system will be
very well received and appreciat­
ed. I think it's something that will
be used for a long time."

Paul Hall Center Vice Presi­
dent Don Nolan said the training
had numerous benefits. "Besides
making it easier for the adminis­
trative people to do their jobs, it
gave them a deeper appreciation
of what we do here," Nolan said.
"They got to see the school, visit
the fire fighting facility and par­
ticipate in training as well as visit
headquarters."

Several of the administrative
personnel offered feedback on
their training, their tour of facili­
ties at Piney Point and SIU head­
quarters, and their overall experi­
ence while in the area.

Lisa Clark from the port
Baltimore stated, "The entire
experience was great.

"The training was especially
insightful. We participated in var­
ious types of exercises at differ­
ent work stations. They told us
what we'd be doing with the new
system and gave us a nice manu­
al that explained it. Before the
training, ad.min folks did not han­
dle dues that much, but now when
members come in we can handle
them."

"The training was very educa-
Continued on page 7

Port of Tacoma Administrative Asst. Brenda Delia attempts to board a
life raft during an introduction to water survival session at Piney Point.

Crowley Maritime Appoints
New Vice Chairman/Exec VP

Bill Pennella has been promoted to vice chairman and executive
vice president for Crowley Maritime Corporation (CMC).

Formerly executive vice president with responsibility for human
resources> labor relations and purchasing> Pennella also will oversee
information technology and finance and accounting functions for the
Oakland-based corporation and will continue to report to Tom
Crowley Jr., CMC chairman, president and CEO.

Pennella has more than 30 years of experience in administration,
human resources and labor relations. Prior to joining Crowley, he
worked in those fields for two global steamship lines.

Since joining Crowley 13 years ago, Pennella has held positions of
increasing responsibility including vice president of human resources
and senior vice president of human resources/administration.

"This is a well deserved promotion," said Crowley. "Bill has been
a valued member of our team for many years."

6 Seafarers LOB

The administrative assistants took part in a hands-on training session at the Paul Hall Center related to the
SIU's new dues collection system, which will streamline the dues collection process in all ports.

NMU Members Praise Paul Hall Center
Editors note: More than 100

members of the National
Maritime Union have attended
various courses at the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education in Piney Point, Md A
reporter from the Seafarers LOG
talked to a sampling of these
mariners to get their impressions
of the school, its instructors and
the curriculum. Following are the
comments of four individuals who
currently are enrolled in the
SCTW basic safety course.

"I find it to be a very outstand­
ing school," said Rubun Ruck.
"The curriculum is great and the
instructors are wonderful. I have
never had any training like this
before."

Ruck, who joined the NMU in
New York, hails from Brooklyn
and is an electrician. He ships in
the engine department and has
been sailing for nearly 30 years.

"The instructors are great fun­
damental teachers," he continued.
"They really take time with you
and make sure that you under­
stand what's being taught before
they move on to something else.
Although I made some suggested
changes in one of the classes, I
will definitely go back and tell
my port agent to send people
down here for the training
because it's great.

"What I learned here in one
week far exceeds what I learned
the whole time I have been going
to sea. It's very in-depth and
extremely realistic. I can now
appreciate what firefighters go
through in our cities, before I had
no concept of what they did. Now
I do thanks to what I have learned
here."

Wiper Andrew Potash shared
Ruck's assessment and was par­
ticularly impressed with the water
survival training he received.
"The water survival training was
very interesting and stimulating,"
he noted, "because it offered an
abundance of good, hands-on
training."

Potash also hails from New
York and sails in the engine
department, but unlike Ruck is a
newcomer to the seafaring indus-
try.

"I've only been a member of
the NMU for two months," he
said. "Before coming here, I'd

NMU members enrolled at the Paul Hall Center as of mid-September
included Rubun Ruck, Jose Garcia, Ahmed Saleh, Alberto Rivera,
James Daley, Ali Akmar, J.J. Reyes, Earl Woods, Jerry Jones, Andrew
Potash, Daniel Ramirez Jr. and Winston Gardner.

never had any hands-on training
relating to being a mariner.

"Besides the water survival
training, I was impressed with the
fire prevention training," he con­
tinued. "It was excellent and I
rate the school as well as the
instructors very high on that. I
learned a great deal about the
realities of fires on board ships.
Before coming here, I had seen
only videos about them. These
did not really teach me anything,
but the training I received really
opened my eyes.

"I'd highly recommend the
school to fellow NMU members
because of the quality of instruc­
tion available here at the school,"
Potash continued. "The instruc­
tors are very understanding and
patient. They are willing to share
their experiences and knowledge
other people, they teach you what
you really need.

Port Arthur, Texas native
Jerry Jones was awestruck by the
school as well as the SCTW cur­
riculum. An OS, Jones has been a
NMU member for four months.

"This is my first time at any
merchant seaman school," he
shared, "and it's been quite infor­
mative for me. I am now more
aware of a lot of things aboard
ships that I was not aware was out
there before.

"The instructors were great
because they took time with us;
they did not rush anyone along;
they made sure we understood

what was being presented before
moving on to something else.
They were very professional."

Earl Woods, a deck engine
mechanic, echoed the sentiments
of his fellow NMU brothers.
Woods has been sailing for more
than 30 years, but until now has
never had any hands-on training
tq hone his seafaring skills.

"I grew up in the school of
hard knocks, he said. "Everything
I knew about being a mariner
before corning here was acquired
on a do-as-you-go basis.

"The school is very impressive
and the curriculum is superb," the
Mobile, Ala. native said. "You
have wonderful instructors here.
They take time with you and give
you the opportunity to ask ques­
tions if you don't understand
what's being presented.

"I was especially impressed
with the hands-on approach that
they used during the classes,"
Woods continued. "Here, I actual­
ly climbed into a life raft and got
involved in fire fighting just as
though it was taking place aboard
a ship. I'd never done either
before and that makes a big dif­
ference because things I took for
granted out there were brought to
the forefront here.

"I for one, and I imagine there
are quite a lot of others who feel
the same way, learned a lot here.
I'd definitely come back again
and look forward to doing so," he
said.

October 2000



Whitten Brings Caring Touch
To Her Work at Piney Point

Florence Whitten has spent
the last 23 years giving her tal­
ents, time and love to make sure
the needs of others are met.

This comes as no surprise to
the thousands of Seafarers and
their family members who have
entered the gates of the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training
and Education in Piney Point,
Md. They know firsthand of the
generosity, kindness and
thoughtfulness that Whitten
exudes.

Although her official duties
involve handling money and
making travel arrangements
(she's the center's purser/travel
consultant), you'd be hard
pressed to find anyone who
would not characterize her more
as a mother simply because she
genuinely cares. She is con­
sumed about every mariner and
everything that affects their
respective livelihoods and well
beings.

As purser, Whitten takes in,
accounts for, deposits and dis­
perses all funds generated at the
center. As travel consultant, she
makes travel arrangements for
all personnel (entry-level stu­
dents, upgraders, dependents and

family members) coming to or
leaving the installation. It is the
latter portion of her job that she
finds more rewarding.

"I love my job and all of the
people I meet and help on a
daily basis," she said. "When
you think of it, we all really do
need and depend on one another.
We are in a union, and being in a
union means you're in a family.
Everyone who comes here are
members of my family."

Whitten said she respects the
rigors that Seafarers routinely
undergo. "Just think of what they
go through," she offered. "They
are away from their families so
much. They really do sacrifice
an awful lot each day; they give
up something in order to give
something back to others ....
While they are here, the least I
can do is to help them. That's
why I try very hard to make sure
they are happy, that their travel
arrangements are right, and that
their airline, bus or train tickets
are not outrageously priced."

Whitten's day normally
begins early and continues until
she feels assured that she has
done all she can that day for
members in need of her services.

"I'm here at about 6 a.m. each
day," she said. "I know that's
early for some people, but you
never know what can go wrong
nor at what time. Sometimes, a
member may have to leave on
short notice and I want to be
here to do what I can to help him
or her."

Many members bring their
wives and children with them
while attending classes at the
school. When this occurs,
Whitten says becoming involved
with the family members, espe­
cially the kids, is comparable to
having "heaven here on earth. I
really like it when they bring
their kids along with them
because children are what it's
really all about."

Aside from the SIU members
and their families, Whitten
attributes her deep affection for
her job to the positive atmos­
phere in which she works and
the people with whom she
works.

"I love working here now
more than ever before because
everything is so positive," she
shared. "There are so many good
people on this base. I have excel­
lent co-workers, a terrific super-

Florence Whitten takes care of all the transportation needs at the
school for students and their families.

visor and a wonderful union
president who always puts the
needs of others way ahead of his
own. How can I not be happy?"
she concluded.

Whitten's kind gestures have
not gone unnoticed over the
years. Even after people leave
the school, they regularly call,
write letters or send cards to
acknowledge her deeds, accord­
ing to Don Nolan, vice president
of the school and Whitten's
immediate supervisor.

"Many of the people don't
remember her name," Nolan
shared, "but we all know who
they are talking about when we
receive correspondence thanking

us for how well there were taken
care while they were here.

"Florence is probably one of
the most important people we
have here at the school," Nolan
declared. "I say that because she
takes care of the massive trans­
portation needs of our students
and their families. Getting peo­
ple in and out in a timely and
efficient fashion is critical to
what we do here.

"She really goes way out of
here way to ~ake people happy
and she loves doing what she
does. I can't say enough about
what she means to us and what
she has done for all of us,"
Nolan concluded.

l'orls' AAs Train on New System
tional and beneficial," said
Romeo Lumanlan, who works in
the port of San Francisco. 'Tm
glad they came up with new way
for collecting dues." Lumanlan
has been with the union for some
30 years and is well accustomed
to collecting dues under the old
system.

"I could not wait to get back to
my job and put what I learned
into practice. And when I did, it
really helped me a lot," he said.
"I already had the manual, but the
training put everything we had
done in a classroom environment
into perspective."

"The new system will make
our jobs a lot easier because we
won't have to do e-mails every­
day," said Linda Kluska, who
works in the Philadelphia hall.
"All transactions now will now
go directly to the controllers'
office. It will also make for easi­
er accounting at the end of the

week.
"I thought the training was

pretty easy, very informative and
well conducted," she continued.
"It's been working pretty smooth­
ly so far . . . this is definitely a
much needed change and we real­
ly had a nice time while there."

Karen Shuford from the port
of Jacksonville gained new
insights as a result of her visit.
"Everything really opened up my
eyes as to what Sill members go
through," she said "and I'm sure
we only touched a tip of the peak
of a mountain during our stay.
The stuff that we were taught in
just the short time we were there
was tremendous."

Of the dues collection train­
ing, Shuford said, "It was tremen­
dous and a welcome change.
Without a doubt, the new system
has taken a lot of headache out of
the job for me. Now when people
make their payments, they are
keyed in and it's in the system
right then.

Susan Dersewek is fitted with full gear at the school's fire fighting
school. Dersewek works as an administrative assistant in the port of
Algonac.

"It's the best thing I have seen
come along since I have been
here and I been in my position for
nearly nine years."

In addition to Clark,
Lumanlan, Kluska and Shuford,
others who participated in the
training and their respective ports
were Sherri Peters - Norfolk;
Alicia Lorge - Mobile; Barbara
Vicknair - Harvey; Brenda Delia
- Tacoma; and Sharon Gongon
Rios from Puerto Rico.
Remaining participants included
Larayne Koide - Honolulu;
Janice Hunicke - Houston,
Patricia Christian - Alton; Susan
Dersewek - Algonac; Paulette
Johnson - Duluth; and Elizabeth
Weirschem from St Louis.

With the assistance of an instructor, Karen Shuford tries her skills at
extinguishing a blaze during a hands-on tour of the Joseph Sacco Fire
Fighting School in Piney Point. Shuford is the staff administrative assis­
tant in the port of Jacksonville.

USCG Approves 2 Additional
STCW-Related Classes at PHC

The Paul Hall Center for Maritime
Training and Education last month
received U.S. Coast Guard approval for
two courses that fulfill STCW require­
ments for mariners sailing aboard certain
passenger vessels.

The newly approved classes are 7-hour
crisis management and human behavior,
and 4-hour crowd management.

In its approval letters, the Coast Guard
noted that students who successfully com­
plete the crisis management and human
behavior course will satisfy the training
requirements of "Table A-V /2 and
Paragraph 5 of Section A-V /2 of the
STCW Code for Passenger Ships Other
Than Ro-Ro Passenger Ships; and, the

Passenger Safety training requirements of
Paragraph 4" of that same section of the
code.

Those who successfully complete the
crowd control class will satisfy "the
Crowd Management training require­
ments of Paragraph 1 of Section A-V/3 of
the STCW Code for Pasksenger Ships
Other Than Ro-Ro Passenger Vessels,"
along with the safety training require­
ments of Paragraph 3 of that section.

Located in Piney Point, Md., the Paul
Hall Center offers a wide range of classes
for Seafarers in the deck, engine and
steward departments. For a list of upcom­
ing courses, see page 41.

Seafarers LOS 7



State-of-the-Art Simulators
Aid Paul Hall Center Training

Seafarers at the Paul Hall Center last month raved about the bridge simula­
tor, which includes a 3 60-degree viewing sector and provides teaching sup­
port in GMDSS (among many other areas). It also is interactive with an aux­
iliary bridge.

Numerous engine department courses will utilize the new
simulators, including QMED, FOWT, pumproom mainte­
nance and operations, diesel engine technology, marine
electrical maintenance and others. The simulators will
help upgraders to meet the assessment of competencies
for ratings forming part of an engineering watch-an
STCW requirement.

B Seafarers LOG

Without exception, the Paul
Hall Center's simulator­
hased training is designed
to meet all requirements of
the amended STCW
convention and the U.S.
Coast Guard.

The annex features a
multi-function classroom
offering GMDSS support,
liquid cargo training, oil
spill containment train­
ing and much more.

October 2000



Great lakes Season The galley gang on the SIU­
crewed Southdown
Challenger makes sure crew
members eat healthfully and
heartily. These photos were
snapped when the cement
carrier was in Charlevoix,
Mich. recently. At left is stew­
ard department member
Abdullah Samawi. Below left
is Recertified Steward Mike
Kozak standing before an
intricately carved watermel­
on, and below right is Second
Cook Joel Markle carrying a
breakfast plate of eggs and
pancakes.

Picks Up witb.
Water levels in the Great Lakes early this sea­

son were very low, resulting in a need for cargo
vessels to lighten their loads in order to avoid
running aground in channels and ports. But pre­
cipitation over the last couple months has been
above average, according to Detroit-Algonac
Port Agent Don Thornton, especially on Lakes
Superior and Erie, resulting in an increase of
cargo movement by U.S.-flag lakers.

It also is time for the fall harvest of grain to
be transported to various ports, so work aboard
the SIU-crewed Great Lakes vessels is in full
force.

The photos on this page show some of the
activities of SIU members in the Great Lakes
region.

Capt. Blake Nye ties up the Erich R. Luedtke in
Bay City, Mich.

Vernon Wallen, a steward aboard
the Richard J. Reiss, fries up
some bacon for breakfast.

Lon Calloway (right) is captain
of the Chippewa, one of the
SIU-crewed ferries (below) to
Mackinac Island, Mich. from
Mackinaw City and St. Ignace.
Operated by Arnold Transit
Co., the ferry line introduced
the first catamarans in pas­
senger service on the Great
Lakes in 1987. It also operates
seven tugs and a vehicle han­
dler.

October 2000

The SIU-crewed Adam E. Cornelius steams down the St. Clair River.
James Rider
is a captain
with Luedtke Personal Greetings for Holiday Issue of the LOG
Engineering.

Seafarers arriving at the SIU hall
in Duluth are greeted by SIU
Representative Paula Johnson.

As has been done in past years, this December,s edition of the Seafarers LOG will include the
ever-popular holiday greetings from active and retired Seafarers and their families to other
members of the seafaring community and their families.
To ensure that your holiday message is published, please follow the instructions below:
• PRINT or TYPE (in 25 words or less) the message in the space provided. Photographs also are

welcome. (Please print-if we cannot read your message, it will not be included.)

• Be sure your greeting is in the holiday spirit.

• Do not send more than three entires per person. (This form may be reproduced.)

• Be .sure to include your name as well as the name of the person to whom you are sending
the greeting. (Your name is necessary since the notices are listed alphabetically by the
senders last name.) Include your phone number in case there are any questions.

• The holiday greeetings must be received no later than Friday, November 17, 2000.

• Send your entries to the Seafarers LOG, 5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 207 46. You also
may fax copies directly to the LOG at (301) 702-4407.

Additionally, forms may be filled out in any union hall and turned in to the official at the
counter-or may be given to the boarding patrolman during a vessel's payoff.
The holiday greetings section of the December LOG is a favorite feature for many, so be sure to
get your message in on time. .·

HOLIDAY MESSAGE
(Please Print)

10/00

To: --------------------------------------------------------------~
From: ____________________________________________________________ ~

Sender's Telephone Number: ________________________________ _

Message:

Check the block which describes your status with the SIU:

D Active Seafarer D Family Member of Active Seafarer

D Retired Seafarer

Other:

D Family Member of Retired Seafarer

Seafarers LOB 9



House Minority Whip
David Bonior (D-Mich.)

ILWU Legislative Director
Lindsay Mclaughlin

10 Seafarers LOG

Left: ITF
Seafarers
Section Vice
Chairman
Thomas Tay

Rally Against FOCs
Continued from page 4

must succeed in this campaign."
Woerth likened the FOC situa­

tion to one that someday may
confront the airline industry.

"Our fight is your fight. We
know what's at stake and we
know the same thing can happen
to us," he said.

"We must bring this to the
attention of the American people.
Some of your signs (displayed at
the rally) say, 'End the FOC
scam.' Nothing is more plain than
that."

Mikulski 's letter warned of the
"repugnant practices of FOC
ships. They treat workers like
slaves. Ending this practice
should be a priority for our
nation."

McLaughlin said FOC might
just as well stand for "floating
outcast crap vessel. They cause
[problems] for everyone who
comes into contact with them."

Sweeney said he was "proud
to add the support of the entire

AFL-CIO. Flags of convenience
are most often just flags of cruel­
ty. On the high seas, they are
nothing short of criminal."

He emphasized the need to
publicize the battle against run­
away flags.

"Our job is to draw attention
to these horrible conditions and
practices, and to support the ITF.
As a supposedly moral nation, we
should not allow [FOCs] to con­
tinue. We stand with the ITF."

Taylor said the ITF campaign
"is important to America.
Unfortunately, [FOCs] can make
money with sweatshop labor. We
have to remain vigilant."

He added that "doing away
with the idiotic cruise-to­
nowhere"-a ploy used by some
runaway-flag passenger ships to
circumvent U.S. cabotage laws­
should be a national priority.

The London-based ITF is com­
posed of more than 500 trans­
portation-related trade unions
worldwide.

Members at the Washington, D.C. rally show
their support for the work of the ITF.

Stephen Cotton, secretary of the
ITF Special Seafarers' Dept.

Rep. Eliot Engel (D-NY)
More than 100 Seafarers joined other union members in showing their
support for the ITF's campaign against the flag of convenience scam.

SIU and MTD President
Michael Sacco

SUPPORTS
F ir ffl'"' 11w1

" fttr Ml
H1Jri11cr.~

Air Line Pilots Association
President Duane Woerth

Those attending the demonstration listen intently as a number of
speakers from government and labor urge an end to runaway flags.

Right: Rep.
Gene Taylor

(D-Miss.)

MEBA President Larry O'Toole

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.)
Remo di Fiore,

ITF executive board



*********************************
Independence Day at Bea
**********************

Independence Day- the Fourth of July-is a joyful holi­
day for Americans, often celebrated at home with good
old-fashioned backyard barbecues.

Just because many SIU members were aboard ship
that day doesn't mean the holiday was ignored or went
unnoticed.

Franchesca Rose, chief steward aboard the CSX
Enterprise, and Patrick D. Helton, chief steward on the
PFC Eugene A. Obregon, sent photos to the LOG show­
ing how they helped their shipmates celebrate July 4,
2000.

For crew members on the Enterprise, Independence

Patriotically adorned in red, white and blue aprons and caps
are members of the galley gang aboard the PFC Eugene A.
Obregon. From the left are ACU Mauricio Castro, Chief
Cook Rudolph Xatruch and SA Arnulfo Lacayo.

Day took the form of a Hawaiian
luau; aboard the Obregon, red,
white and blue was the color of
the day-everything from the
bunting and decorations, to the
aprons of the steward department,
to the strawberry, blueberry and
whipped cream cakes.

Left: Recertified Steward Patrick Helton pre­
pares red (strawberries), white (whipped
cream) and blue (blueberries) desserts for the
Obregon barbecue.

Above: AB Jose Sanchez gives a
thumbs-up for the celebration
aboard the Obregon, which took
place while the ship was anchored
in Souda Bay, Crete.

Taking a short
break before the
Obregon's barbe­
cue begins is SA
Ali Albaadani.

Above: Crew members
and guests enjoy the
Hawaiian luau aboard the
Enterprise.

Right: The patriotically
draped salad and dessert
table contains more than

enough in the way of
accompaniments to the

traditional July 4th fare for
Obregon crew members.

Right: Enterprise
Captain Ken Fisher

enjoys the holiday
meal.

Left: Enterprise Chief
Mate James Franklin
is joined by his wife,
Joanne, for the luau.

Bosun Henry Bouganim (left) and AB Gary Clark wait for
a pallet of stores to be loaded on the Obregon. Chief Cook Rudolph Xatruch is ready to serve his all-American lndepdence Day barbecue.

Seafarers LOS 11



2001: An Education Odyssey
Eight Scholarships to Be Awarded

Back in 1952, when the Seafarers Welfare Plan
established a scholarship program to help qualified
members and their dependents finance their college
and vocational educations, only four awards were
given. Beginning with the fall term of 1953, the four
students were to receive full college scholarships of
$1,500 a year for four years, good at any recognized
college or university in the United States.

The yearly $1,500 stipend was more than enough
in 1953 to cover all tuition and fees and still leave
money over for books and incidentals, even at an
Ivy League school.

When Cindy Marie Winter won a scholarship
(see article at right) in 1998, the Seafarers Welfare
Plan was already offering seven scholarships. Three
were earmarked for Seafarers (one in the amount of
$15,000 and two others for $6,000 each) and four
$15,000 awards were for the dependents of SIU
members.

This year, the odds of being selected for an SIU
scholarship have gotten even better. As of July 10,
2000, in addition to the three monetary awards for
Seafarers, an additional scholarship has been added
to the dependent category, for a total of eight schol­
arships.

The scholarship committee believes this addi­
tional award is necessary due to the increasing num­
ber of application forms as well as the quality of the
applicants. They also increased the amount of the
four-year scholarships (both for Seafarers and for
dependents) from $15,000 to $20,000-for a total
of $132,000.

The Seafarers Welfare Plan scholarship is now
taking applications for the 2001 program, which
will award the eight grants. All Seafarers and their
spouses and children who plan to attend college are
encouraged to complete a scholarship application.
The deadline for submission of all required paper­
work is April 15, 2001.

The first step in the application process is send­
ing away for the Seafarers Scholarship Program
booklet. To receive a copy of this guide, fill out the

coupon at the bottom of this page and return it to the
address listed on the form.

Once the scholarship booklet has been received,
applicants should then check the eligibility informa­
tion and, if they are eligible, should start collecting
other paperwork which must be submitted along
with the full application by the April 15 deadline.

These items include transcripts and certificates
of graduation. Since schools are often quite slow in
handling transcript requests, the sooner the request
is made, the better.

Another part of the application package includes
letters of recommendation solicited from individu­
als who know the applicant's character, personality
and career goals.

A photograph of the applicant as well as a certi­
fied copy of his or her birth certificate also need to
be included.

The selection committee looks at the high school
grades of all the applicants and also checks the
scores of either their College Entrance Examination
Boards or American College Tests. Therefore,
arrangements should be made to take these exams
no later than February 2001 to ensure the results
reach the committee in time to be evaluated.

Those Seafarers and dependents who previously
have applied for a Seafarers Welfare Plan scholar­
ship and were not selected are encouraged to apply
again this year, provided they still meet all the eligi­
bility requirements.

Today, there are more chances than ever to make
your dreams for a college education a reality. Start
the process now by sending for a copy of the schol­
arship program booklet.

Mariner's Social Security Number ___________________ _

Street Address

City, State, Zip Code ______________________ _

Telephone Number _________________________ _

This application is for: D Self D Dependent

Mail this completed form to Scholarship Program, Seafarers Welfare Plan,

5201 Auth Way, Camp Springs, MD 20746 10/00

L----------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Seafarers LOG

After delivering a commencement address last May before a crowd
of 7,200 people, Cindy Marie Winter (right) is all smiles as she
poses with her mother, Clare.

From Piney Point to Mayo Clinic

1998 Scholarship Winner
Keeps Upgrading Her Skills

When Cindy Marie Winter
was awarded a $15,000 schol­
arship in 1998, the 31-year-old
chief cook took full advantage
of the educational opportunities
it afforded her.

Following Winter's gradua­
tion from trainee class 506 in
1992, she began working
aboard LNG tankers and kept
returning to Piney Point to
upgrade her skills, completing
the assistant cook, cook and
baker and certified chief cook
course as well as receiving her
LNG and tanker operations
endorsements.

During her six-year career
as a Seafarer, Winter decided
to pursue her formal education.
She enrolled in Inver Hills
Community College in
Minnesota, where she complet­
ed classes in chemistry, mathe­
matics and English, receiving
top grades in all. She then
enrolled in biology, physics,
philosophy. and interpersonal
speech communications, and
maintained an "A" average
while tutoring other students in
chemistry and mathematics.

She was then admitted to
Century College in White Bear
Lake, Minn. as a student in the
medical imaging program,
where she worked on her
Associate of Applied Science
degree in Radiographic
Technology. In January 1999,
she enrolled full-time nights at
Metropolitan State University
in St. Paul, Minn. and began
working on her Bachelor of
Arts degree in Medical
Imaging and Health Care
Administration.

She maintained a very high
grade point average at both
schools and graduated May 11,
2000 from Metro State with
high honors. A week later, she
graduated with an Associate of
Arts degree and an Associate
of Applied Science degree
from Century College. In all, it
took her two-and-a-half years
to complete the three degrees!

In a recent letter to the
Seafarers LOG, Winter writes,
"Century College selected me
to be their 'Exemplary
Graduate,' which is a combina­
tion of valedictorian and stu­
dent of the year. I cannot even
begin to tell you what an honor
it was. During the Century
College commencement exer­
cises, I was asked to address
the graduating class of more
than 800 students and all of

their families and friends. In
total, I spoke to a crowd in
excess of 7 ,200 people. I wrote
my address in reference to the
similarities of sailing and edu­
cation. It went over wonderful­
ly, and I got a standing ovation.

"Also, thanks to my schol­
arship, I was able to spend
time volunteering for different
organizations and causes dur­
ing my time in school. One of
my major projects was design­
ing and presenting a six-hour
training session on breast can­
cer awareness and detection
for American Indian women. I
created a trainer's manual, par­
ticipant's manual and cultural­
ly specific exercises to pro­
mote awareness. I am sched­
uled to teach this course this
summer on both the White
Earth Reservation and the
Leech Lake Reservation of the
Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. I
also have had the chance to
work with the American
Cancer Society, the National
Multiple Sclerosis Society, the
Red Cross, and Ramsey
County Foster Care. None of
these volunteer activities could
have been possible without the
support of the Seafarers
International Union."

Where is Winter headed
now? She is currently attend­
ing St. Mary's University of
Minnesota full-time nights for
a dual Master of Arts degree in
( 1) health and human services
administration and (2) man­
agement and expects to gradu­
ate in August 2002. She also
has been accepted to the Mayo
School of Health-Related
Sciences at the Mayo Clinic in
Rochester, Minn. to study
diagnostic medical sonography
(ultrasound). The Mayo Clinic
is rated the number one school
in the world for this program
and is a highly competitive
school in which to gain admis­
sion.

Winter concludes her letter
with, "Once again, I would
like to say that without the
support of the SIU and the
Seafarers Welfare Plan schol­
arship program, I could never
have reached my goals of
higher education. I encourage
everyone to take advantage of
all the education they can get.
I learned that from all my time
upgrading at Piney Point. The
resources are out there; it's up
to you to make the difference."

October 2000



Balloting Begins Nov. 1 for Union Officers NOTICE OF 2- ELECTION
Voting starts Nov. 1 for the

election of officers for the
Seafarers International Union
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District. SIU members
will be able to cast secret ballots
at union halls or by mail through
Dec. 30, 2000.

Seafarers eligible to vote in
this election to determine union
officers for the 2001-2004 term
are full-book members in good
standing. This eligibility criteria is
spelled out in the union's govern­
ing 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 14 and 15.

The credentials committee
report, which was prepared Aug.
18, and submitted to the member-

ship at the September monthly
meetings, indicated 33 candidates
had qualified to run for 27 posi­
tions. (The committee's report
was published in the September
2000 Seafarers LOG.)

The 27 posts for which
Seafarers will cast their ballots are
president, executive vice presi­
dent, secretary-treasurer, six vice
presidents, six assistant vice pres­
idents, two headquarters represen­
tatives and 10 port agents.

20 Polling Places
The election will be conducted

by mail ballot as provided by the
union's constitution. Secret bal­
lots, 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 commit­
tee, will be available to full-book
members in good standing at 20
union halls around the country.
(See list of voting locations on

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 unop­
posed 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 2000 election of offi­

cers and job holders for the term 2001-2004 may vote by secret bal­
lot from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30, 2000.

Secret ballots, together with self-addressed, stamped envelopes
for mailing, will be available at union halls to all eligible voters.
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 verbatim on pages 16 and
17 of this issue of the Seafarers LOG.

In summary, here is the procedure for voting:
• Eligible Seafarers may pick up ballot and mailing envelopes

from 9:00 a.m. to 12 noon (local time), Monday through Saturday,
excluding legal holidays, from Nov. 1 through Dec. 30, 2000 at des­
ignated union 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 or his duly designated rep­
resentative.

• 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
also will be stamped "Voted Challenge" and the date.

• After a member has voted, he or she puts the ballot in the
mailing envelope which is addressed to the bank depository and
stamped. The mailing envelope should then be put in the mail.

this page.)
Eligible Seafarers may pick up

their ballots and envelopes
marked "Ballot" and mailing
envelopes at these halls between
9:00 a.m. until 12:00 noon,
Monday through Saturday, except
legal holidays, from Nov. 1 to
Dec. 30.

FOR EtECTION OF 2001-2004 OFFICERS
SEAFARERS IRTERllATIOIAL UlllOlf OF NORTH AMERICA

Aflanllc, llall, Labs anll laland WalelS 0"'1ll:t

Each member must present his
or her book to the port agent or
the agent's designated representa­
tive 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
stamped 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 eli­
gibility to vote, the Seafarer will
receive a mailing envelope of a
different color marked with the
word "Challenge." 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. Full­
book members in good standing
who need to vote by absentee bal­
lot should direct a request for the
ballot to the union's secretary­
treasurer at SIU headquar­
ters- 5201 Auth Way, 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." This envelope is sealed
by the member and placed in the
mailing envelope and then dis­
patched in the mail. These steps
ensure the integrity of the secret
ballot process.

The union's constitution, in
Article XIII, details the proce­
dures for voting in union elec­
tions. (See copy of the constitu­
tion, pages 19-25.)

350 Fremont St.1 San Francisco, CA 94105

4581 Gravois Ave~~ .$~. Louie, MO 63116

3411 South Union St. Tacomat WA 98409

$10 North Broad Ave., Wilmington, CA ··
·00144

All ballots will be counted by
the rank-and-file tallying commit­
tee consisting of two members
elected from each of the union's
constitutional ports. These com­
mittee members will be elected in
December. They will convene as
the tallying committee in early
Jan. 2001.

ELECTION IN FORMAT/ON CONTINUES

ON THE NEXT 19 PAGES.

Procedure for Absentee Ballots
In the case of members eligible to vote who

believe they will be at sea during the Nov. 1
through Dec. 30, 2000 voting period, absentee bal­
lots are available.

The SIU constitution ensures that members who
are eligible to vote and who find themselves in this
situation may vote. 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:

• Make the request in writing to the SIU office
of the secretary-treasurer, 520 I Auth Way, Camp
Springs, MD 20746.

• Include in the request the correct address
where the absentee ballot should be mailed.

• Send the request for an absentee ballot by
registered or certified mail.

• The registered or certified mail envelope
must be postmarked no later than midnight, Nov.
15, 2000 and must be received at 5201 Auth Way,
Camp Springs, MD 20746 no later than Nov. 25,

2000.
• The secretary-treasurer, after confirming eli­

gibility, will send by registered mail, return receipt
requested, to the address designed in the request, a
ballot, together with an envelope marked "Ballot"
and a mailing envelope no later than Nov. 30,
2000.

• Upon receiving the ballot and envelopes,
vote by marking the ballot. After voting the ballot,
place the ballot in the envelope marked "Ballot."
Do not write on the "Ballot" envelope.

• Place the envelope marked "Ballot" in the
mailing envelope which is imprinted with the mail­
ing address of the bank depository where all bal­
lots are sent.

• Sign the mailing envelope on the first line of
the upper left-hand comer. Print name and book
number on the second line. The mailing envelope
is self-addressed and stamped.

• The mailing envelope must be postmarked
no later than midnight Dec. 30, 2000 and received
by the bank depository no later than Jan. 5, 2001.

Seafal'fll'S LOii 13



14

ELECTION NOTICE OF 2000 ELECTION
Section 401 (e) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (Landrum-Griffin Act) requires the mailing of an elec­
tion notice to each member entitled to vote at his last known address. This notice is being sent to you in compliance therewith and, in
addition, contains information of Interest to all candidates and members.

SEE REVERSE SIDE FOR VOTING LOCATIONS AND PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL REVISIONS

No. 00000
OFFICIAL BALLOT

SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA-
Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District

VOTING PERIOD NOVEMBER 1st, 2000 THROUGH DECEMBER 30th, 2000

INSTRUCTIONS TO VOTERS-In order to vote for a candidate, mark a cross (X) in vot­
ing square to the left of name. If you vote for more candidates for office than specified
herein, your vote for such office will be invalid.

MARK YOUR BALLOT WITH PEN AND INK OR INDELIBLE PENCIL

~~~;.~~ --.... -----------------------------------------------------------------·-~ _____ D ____ __ < PRESIDE .

Vote for One

~ ff
D Robert (Bobby) J. Clinton lll,~-1)38

2 D Charles Burdette Collins, C-1652

3 D Michael J. Sacco, S-1288

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT
(Vote for One)

4 D John Fay, F-363

SECRETARY-TREASURER

Vote for One

5 D David W. Heindel, H-1443

6 D Michael D. Murphy, M-2483

7 D William Parker, P-1067

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
CONTRACTS AND CONTRACT ENFORCEMENT

(Vote for One)

8 D Augustin Tellez, T-764

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE ATLANTIC COAST

(Vote for One)

9 D Jack Caffey, C-101 O

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE GULF COAST

(Vote for One)

10 D Dean E. Corgey, C-5727

VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE WEST COAST

Vote for One

11 D Kevin Bertel, B-1832

12 D Nicholas J. Marrone, M-2308

OFFICIAL BALLOT 2001 - 2004

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Seafarers LOii

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VICE-PRESIDENT IN CHARGE OF
THE SOUTHERN REGION, GREAT

LAKES AND INLAND WATERS

Vote for One

3 ... o"'""h.; Thomas Orzechowski, Jr., 0-601

of Woodrow Shelton, S-2558

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ESl'tlENT IN CHARGE OF
N~~NT SERVICES

SHfNG INDUSTRIES
_;'ate for One)

15 ~ K~pnett T. Mangram, M-2394
~ ......... ,

ASSIMANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN_J;ttARGE
OF CONTRACTS AND CO A

ENFORCEMEN

16 D

(Vote for One)

17 D Nicholas A. Celona, C-1578

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE GULF COAST

(Vote for One)

18 D Ambrose L. Cucinotta, C-1795

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE WEST COAST

(Vote for One)

19 D Don Anderson, A-5244

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF THE SOUTHERN REGION,
GREAT LAKES AND INLAND WATERS

(Vote for One)

20 D James P. McGee, M-5945

ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENT IN
CHARGE OF GOVERNMENT SERVICES

AND FISHING INDUSTRIES
(Vote for One)

21 0 Robert Hall, H-5727

See Reverse Side for
Voting Locations

and
Proposed Constitutional Revisions

NOTE: For the position of vice president in charge of contracts and contract
enforcement, the final ballot may look different from this sample ballot. Larry
Frank Phillips, P-1257, has appealed his disqualification by the credentials com­
mittee to run for this position . If his appeal to the membership is successful, then
his name will appear on the final ballot. The final version of the ballot will be
reprinted in the November issue of the Seafarers LOG.

HEADQUARTERS REPRESENTATIVE
(Vote for Two)

22 D Leo Bonser, B-1193

23 D Carl Peth, P-755

PINEY POINT PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

24 D Edward "Edd" W. Morris, M-1358

NEW YORK PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

25 D Robert Selzer, S-1258

PHILADELPHIA PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

26 D Joseph T. Soresi, S-2658

BALTIMORE PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

27 D Dennis Metz, M-3013

MOBILE PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

D Edward Kelly, Jr., K-5043

NEW ORLEANS PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

Stephen W. Judd, J-5336

31 D Virfac~f"€rancis Coss, C-8138

ST. LO S PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

32 D Rebecca J. Sleeper, S-2497

DETROIT-ALGONAC PORT AGENT
(Vote for One)

33 D Donald A. Thornton, T-5501

OFFICIAL BALLOT 2001 - 2004

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Ot:tober 20llO



ELECTION NOTICE OF 2000 ELECTION
FOR ELECTION OF 2001-2004 OFFICERS AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS

Election will be conducted by secret mail ballot.

Ballots may be obtained at the following locations from 9:00 A.M. to 12 Noon, Mondays through Saturdays, excluding holidays, during the voting
period. The voting period shall commence on November 1st, 2000 and shall continue through December 30th, 2000.

ALGONAC 520 St. Clair River Drive, Algonac, Ml 48001
BALTIMORE 2315 Essex Street, Baltimore, MD 21224
DULUTH 705 Medical Arts Building, Duluth, MN 55802

VOTING LOCATIONS
NEW ORLEANS
NEW YORK
NORFOLK
PHILADELPHIA
PINEY POINT

3911 LaPalco Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058
635 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11232
115 Third Street, Norfolk, VA 23510

FT. LAUDERDALE 1221 South Andrews Avenue, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316
GUAM ~~ Plaza, Tun Jesus Crisostoma St., Tamuning, Guam 96911

HONOLUL~U60fl<~~treet, Honolulu, HI 96819

2604 South Fourth Street, Philadelphia, PA 19148
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship,
Piney Point, MD 20674

JACKSONV · 31 Libe~treet, Jacksonville, FL 32206
HOUSTON 12~·· 1 '..i.e' e ~reet, Houston, TX 77002 PUERTO RICO

SAN FRANCISCO
ST. LOUIS
TACOMA
WILMINGTON

1057 Fernandez Juncos Avenue, Santurce, PR 00907
350 Fremont Street, San Francisco, CA 94105

JERSEY Cl~· M · ntgomery Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302 4581 Gravois Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63116

MOBILE . 0 i auphin Island Parkway, Mobile, AL 36605 3411 South Union Street, Tacoma, WA 98409
NEW BEDFORD · 48 Ion Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 510 North Broad Avenue, Wilmington, CA 90744

WHEREAS, the Executive Board of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District met on May 12, 2000 to discuss the current needs and conditions of the Union, its membership and
the maritime industry in this country; and
WHEREAS, among their discussions and deliberations was the su · oposed revisions in the Union's Constitution which would enable the Union to function more efficiently and to continue to fulfill its obligations to the member-
ship; and
WHEREAS, a Constitutional Committee was elected Q

proposed constitutional revisions; and
WHEREAS, the report of the Constitutional C
NOW, THEREFORE, IT IS RESOLVED

7 ordance with Article XXV, Section 2 of our Constitution. They studied the proposed Constitutional Amendments Resolution and unanimously concurred on all

' membership at the regular membership meetings in September 2000. .

Y ADOPTED PROPOSITIONS, TO BE VOTED UPON, IF ADOPTED, WOULD AMEND THE CONSTITUTION AS FOLLOWS:

PROPOSITION #1
Are you in favor of amending Article V, Dues and Initiation Fee, eafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
"Section 1. All members' dues shall consist of:
(a) Dues annually in the sum of four hundred dollars ($400.00) which shall be paid in equal a lendar year basis, no later than the first business day of each calendar quarter, and;"

Are you in favor of amending Article v, Dues and Initiation Fee, Section 1 (b) of the Constituti .. I · rnational Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
"(b) a sum equal to five percent (5%) of the gross amount received for vacation benefits for days worke "cted employers. Dues payable under this Sub-section (b) shall be payable on the days that the member receives pay-

ment for the earned vacation benefits and shall become effective as to members in the manner design ., termined by a majority vote of the membership by secret ballot. When so determined by the membership, members in
the employ of the Union, its subdivisions and its affiliated organizations, or in any employment at the Uni · 's ection as provided in Article XII, Section 1 (a) and (c), shall pay in addition to that provided for in paragraph (a) immediately
above the sum of one hundred dollars ($100.00) quarterly on a calendar year basis, no later than the first o · iness day of each quarter while so . loyed."

PLACE 11X11 IN BOX OF YOUR
YESD NO

Are you in favor of amending the following Constitutional provisions to revise the name of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Attantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District;
Title Page
Heading
Preamble
Article I, Name and General Powers
Exhibit A
Preamble, Section Ill, Section IV, Section V, Section VI, Section VII, Section VIII, Section IX, Section X, Section XI, Section XII and Section XIII

so that the name of the Union would reflect the consolidation of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Attantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District and
and headings to read as follows Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters Dlstrict-NMU.

PLACE 11X11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YESD NOD

PROPOSITION #4
Are you in favor of amending Article VII, Systems of Organization, Section 2 of the ConstiMion of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to
"Section 2. The Headquarters of the Union shall be located in camp Springs, Maryland and Piney Point, Maryland or at such places as the Executive Board may determine from time to time. The H ua

a President, an Executive Vice-President, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement, a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast, 1) Vi -
Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, one (1) V1C9-President in Charge of G . ~t.Niir.k
Industries and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.•

Are you in favor of amending Article VIII, Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives and Port Agents, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Seafarers International Union
and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:

"Section 1. The officers of the Union shall be elected as otherwise provided in this Constitution. These officers shall be the President, an Executive Vice-President, one (1) Vice-President in Charge Cd acts and Contract
Enforcement, a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast, one
the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, and one (1) Vice-President in Charge of Government Services and Fishing Industries and two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large.•

Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel, Section 10 of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:

"Section 10. Vice-Presidents at Large.
There shall be two (2) Vice-Presidents at Large whose duties shall be as directed by the President with concurrence of the Executive Board. Such duties and responsibilities may be changed from time to time in like manner, as dic­

tated by the needs of the Union.•
Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel, Section 14, Executive Board of the Constitution of the

Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
"Section 14. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist of the President, the Executive Vice-President, the Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area,

the Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf Coast Area, the Vice-President in Charge of the West Coast Area the Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters, the Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing Industries, the Vice-Presidents at Large and the National Director (or chief executive officer) of each subordinate body or division created or chartered by the Union whenever such subordinate body or
division has attained a membership of 3,200 members and has maintained that membership for not less than three (3) months. Such National Director (or chief executive officer) shall be a member of the respective subordinate body or
division and must be qualified to hold office under the terms of the Constitution of such division or subordinate body.•

Are you in favor of amending Article X, Duties of Officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters Representatives, Port Agents, Other Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous Personnel, Section 15 (b), Delegates of the ConstiMion
of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:

"Section 15. Delegates.
(b) The term "delegates• shall mean those members of the Union and its subordinate bodies or divisions who are elected in accordance with the provisions of this Constitution to attend the Convention of the Seafarers International

Union of North America. The following officers and jobholders, upon their election to office or job shall, during the term of their offlC9 or job be delegates to all Conventions of the Seafarers International Union of North America in the fol­
lowing order of priority: President; Executive Vice-President; Vice-President in Charge of Contracts and Contract Enforcement; Secretary-Treasurer; Vice-President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast; VIC9-President in Charge of the West Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters; Vice-President in Charge of Government Services and Fishing Industries; Vice-Presidents at Large;
Assistant Vice-Presidents; Headquarters Representatives, with priority to those most senior in full book Union membership; and Port Agents, with priority to those most senior in full book Union membership.·

PLACE 11X11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YES r:J NOD

PROPOSITION #5
Are you in favor of amending Article XXll, Quorums, Section 2 of the Constitution of the Seafarers International Union of North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, to read as follows:
"Section 2. The quorum for a regular meeting of a Port shall be twenty-five (25) members."

PLACE 11X11 IN BOX OF YOUR CHOICE
YESD NOD

These amendments, If approved, shall become effective upon the date of certification of the Union Tallying Committee.

Seafa1'81'S LOB 15



SIU Constitution
Spells Out Rules
On 2000 Elections

The section of the union s con­
stitution outlining voting proce­
dures in the SIU's elections, which
are held every four years, appears
here and on page 17 in its entirety.

Article 1111

Elections for Officers, Assistant
Vice-Presidents, Headquarters

Representatives 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,
Headquarters Representative or
Port Agent, by delivering or caus­
ing 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 follow­
ing:

(a) The name of the candidate.
(b) His home address and mail­

ing address.
( c) His book number.
( d) The title of the office or

other job for which he is a candi­
date, including the name of the Port
in the event the position sought is
that of Port Agent.

( e) Proof of citizenship.
(f) Proof of seatime and/or

employment as required for candi­
dates.

(g) 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.

(h) 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 rob­
bery, bribery, extortion, embezzle­
ment, 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 nomi­
nees. Where a nominee cannot
truthfully execute such a certifi­
cate, 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 cer­
tificate, furnish a complete signed
statement of the facts of his case
together with true copies of the
documents supporting his state­
ment.

16 Seafarers LOG

Any full book member may
nominate any other full book mem­
ber, 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-nomina­
tion 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 tum them over to
the Credentials Committee upon
the latter's request.

Section 2. Credentials Committee.
(a) A Credentials Committee

shall be elected at the regular meet­
ing 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 depart­
ments. No officer, Assistant Vice­
President, Headquarters Repre­
sentative or Port Agent, or candi­
date for office of the job of
Assistant Vice-President, Head­
quarters Representative or Port
Agent, shall be eligible for election
to this Committee except as provid­
ed 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 pos­
sesses 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 "dis­
qualified" according to the findings
of the Committee. Where an appli­
cant has been marked "disquali­
fied," the reasons 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 suffi­
cient 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 min­
utes and then posted on the bulletin
board in each Port.

On the last day of nominations,
one member of the Committee
shall stand by in Headquarters to
accept delivery of credentials. All

credentials must be in
Headquarters by midnight of clos­
ing day.

( c) When an applicant has been
disqualified by the Committee, he
shall be notified immediately by
telegram at the addresses listed by
him pursuant to Section 1 of this
Article. He shall also be sent a let­
ter containing their reasons for
such disqualification by air mail,
special delivery, registered or certi­
fied, to the mailing address desig­
nated pursuant to Section 1 (b) of
this Article. A disqualified appli­
cant 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 preju­
dice to his written appeal, the appli­
cant may appear in person before
the Committee within two days
after the day on which the telegram
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 over­
rule any disqualification by the
Credentials Committee in which
even the one so previously classi­
fied shall then be deemed qualified.

(e) The Credentials Commit­
tee, in passing upon the qualifica­
tions 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, Head­
quarters Representative or Port
Agent, has met all the requirements
of Section 1 (a) of Article XII.

Section 3. Balloting Procedures.
(a) Balloting in the manner

hereafter provided shall commence
on Nov. 1 of the election year and
shall continue through Dec. 31,
exclusive of Sundays and (for each
individual Port) holidays legally
recognized in the City of which the
Port affected is located. IfNov. 1 or
Dec. 31 falls on a holiday legally
recognized in a Port in the City in
which that Port is located, the bal­
loting period in such Port shall
commence or terminate, as the case
may be, on the next succeeding
business day. Subject to the forego­
ing, 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 Secretary-Treasurer shall
insure the proper and timely prepa­
ration of ballots without partiality
as to candidates or Ports. The bal­
lots may contain general informa­
tion and instructive comments not
inconsistent with the provisions of
this Constitution. All qualified can­
didates shall be listed thereon
alphabetically within each category
with book number and job seniori­
ty 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 out­
side the Continental United States
shall then be added. There shall be
no write-in voting and no provi­
sions for the same shall appear on
the ballot. Each ballot shall be so
prepared as to have the number
thereon placed at the top thereof
and shall be so perforated as to
enable that potion 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 vot­
ing 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 para­
graphs and shall be numbered con­
secutively, commencing with num­
ber 1. A sufficient amount shall be
printed and distributed to each Port.
A record of the ballots, both by ser­
ial numbers and amount, sent there­
to, shall be maintained by the
Secretary-Treasurer, who shall also
send each Port Agent a verification
list indicating the amount and seri­
al 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 mail­
ing envelopes, first class postage
prepaid and printed on the face
thereon as the addressee shall be
the name and address of the depos­
itory 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 comer of such
mailing envelope, there shall be
printed thereon, as a top line, provi­
sion for the voter's signature and
on another line immediately there­
under, 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 imme­
diately thereunder, five (5) vertical
columns designated date, ballot
number, signature full book mem­
ber's name, book number and com­
ments, and such roster sheets shall
contain horizontal lines immediate­
ly under the captions of each of the
above five columns. The Secretary­
Treasurer shall also 3end a suffi­
cient 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 discrep­
ancy. Discrepancies shall be cor­
rected as soon as possible prior to
the voting period. In any event,
receipts shall be forwarded for all
the aforementioned election mater­
ial actually received. The
Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare a
file in which shall be kept memo­
randa and correspondence dealing
with the election. This file shall at
all times be available to any mem­
ber 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 afore­
mentioned duly designated repre­
sentative. 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 mem­
ber shall be given the envelope
marked "Ballot" together with the
pre-paid 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 comer on the
first line of such mailing envelope
and on the second line in the upper
left-hand comer 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 pro­
cedure 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 chal­
lenged ballot and the reason for his
challenge. Such member's mem­
bership book shall be stamped
"voted challenge," and the date,
and such member instead of the
above-mentioned mailing enve­
lope, 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 Ballot Stubs,"
the roster sheet or sheets executed
by the members that day together
with the numbered perforated slips

Continued on page 17

October 2000



Info ation for the 2000 Election of Officers
SW Atlanti.c, Gulf, Lakes & Inland W aten D. •ct

Article XIII
Constitutional Rules

Continued from page 16
removed from the ballots which
had been given to the members,
and then mail the same to such
depository.

To insure that an adequate sup­
ply of all balloting material is
maintained in all Ports at all times,
the Port Agent or his duly designat­
ed 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 Head­
quarters. The Port Agent shall be
responsible for the proper safe­
guarding 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 dur­
ing 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 post­
marked 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 Head­
quarters and must be delivered no
later than the 25th of such
November. The Secretary­
Treasurer shall determine whether
such member is eligible to vote
such absentee ballot. The
Secretary-Treasurer, if he deter­
mines that such member is so eligi­
ble, shall by the 30th of such
November, send by registered mail,
return receipt requested, 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 mem­
ber 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
Secretary-Treasurer shall keep
records of all of the foregoing,
including the reasons for determin­
ing such member's ineligibility,
which records shall be open for
inspection by full book members
and upon the convening of the
Union Tallying Committee, pre­
sented to them. The Secretary­
Treasurer shall send to all Ports the
names and book numbers of the

October 2000

members to whom absentee ballots
were sent.

(f) All ballots to be counted
must be received by the depository
no later than the Jan. 5 immediate­
ly subsequent to the election year
and must be postmarked no later
than 12 midnight Dec. 31 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 certi­
fied mail, attention Union Tallying
Committee, 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 20 full
book members. Two shall be
selected from each of the 10 Ports
of New York, Philadelphia, Balti­
more, 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 deter­
mines 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, Head­
quarters Representative, Port
Agent, or candidate for office, or
the job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, or
Port Agent shall be eligible for
election to this Committee except
as provided for in Article X,
Section 4. In addition to its 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 set­
ting 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
amounts 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, examina­
tion and verification. The report
shall clearly detail all discrepancies
discovered and shall contain rec­
ommendations 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 perti­
nent 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 chal­
lenged ballots and then tally those
found valid utilizing the same pro­
cedure as provided in the preceding
sentence either jointly or separate­
ly.

( 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 Jan.
5 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 trav­
eling to and returning from that
Port. Committee members elected
from the Port in which Head­
quarters is located shall be similar­
ly reimbursed, except for trans­
portation. All members of the
Committee shall also be paid at the
prevailing standby rate of pay from
the day subsequent to their election
to the day they return, in normal
course, 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 deci­
sions 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 here­
by fixed at ten ( 10). The
Committee, but not less than a quo­
rum thereof, shall have the sole
right and duty to obtain all mailed
ballots and the other mailed elec­
tion material from the depository
and to insure their safe custody dur­
ing 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 dissents 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 Jan. 31 immedi­
ately 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 there­
for shall be elected from the appro­
priate Port at a special meeting held
for that purpose as soon as possi­
ble.

( d) The report of the
Committee shall be made up in suf­
ficient copies to comply with the
following requirements: two copies
shall be mailed by the Committee
to each Port Agent and the
Secretary-Treasurer no later than
Jan. 31 immediately subsequent to
the close of the election year. As
soon as these copies are received,
each Port Agent shall post one 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 member­
ship meeting immediately follow­
ing 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 con­
duct of the same, shall within 72
hours of the occurrence of the
claimed violation notify the
Secretary-Treasurer at Head-

quarters, 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 neces­
sary, 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 ballot­
ing procedures or the conduct of
the same not passed upon by the
Union Tallying Committee in its
report, excluding therefrom matters
involving the Credentials Com­
mittee's action or report as provid­
ed in the last sentence of the imme­
diately 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 Feb. 25 immediately
subsequent to the close of the elec­
tion year. It shall be the responsi­
bility of the member to insure that
his written protest is received by
the Secretary-Treasurer no later
than such Feb. 25. 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 writ­
ten protest shall contain the full
book member's name, book num­
ber, and all details constituting the
protest.

(f) At the Election Report
Meeting, the report and recommen­
dation of the Union Tallying
Committee, including but not limit­
ed 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 accor­
dance 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 violative 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 men-

tioned 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 immedi­
ately subsequent to the report of the
Union Tallying Committee separat­
ed by one calendar month.

Section 5. Elected Officers and
Jobholders.

A candidate unopposed for any
office or job shall be deemed elect­
ed to such office or job notwith­
standing 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 candi­
date 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, Headquarters Repre­
sentative or Port Agent.

(a) The person elected shall be
that person having the largest num­
ber of votes cast for the particular
office or job involved. Where more
than one person is to be elected for
a particular office or job, the prop­
er 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 indi­
vidual 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 pre­
decessors 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 can­
didate cannot assume his office
because he is at sea.

In such event, a majority vote of
the membership may grant addi­
tional time for the assumption of
the office or job. In the event of the
failure of the newly-elected
President to assume office, the pro­
visions 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 bal­
lots, 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 proce­
dures of this Union.

Seafarers LOG 17



We, the undersigned Constitutional
Committee, were elected at the
Headquarters membership meeting, on
August 7, 2000, in accordance with
Article XXV, Section 2 of our
Constitution. We have had referred to us
and studied, the proposed Constitutional
Amendments Resolution submitted by our
Executive Board.

This Resolution, containing the pro­
posed amendments, prior to its submis­
sion to us, was adopted by a majority vote
of the membership at Headquarters and all
ports. The provisions of the Resolution
including its "WHEREAS" clauses, are
attached so that all members will have
available to them its full text for their
review and study at the same time that
they read this, our Report and
Recommendation.

As all individuals involved in the mar­
itime industry are aware, the industry has
changed substantially over the last several
years. Legislation has been repealed and
enacted affecting this industry and the
trade union movement in general. We, in
this Union, must seriously consider what
can be done to strengthen our institutional
structure to enable the Union to function
more efficiently while continuing to fulfill
its obligations to our membership. To this
end, one of the things that our member­
ship has already approved is the
merger/consolidation of the National
Maritime Union into our Union. As a
result of the previously held referendum
and our awareness of these changing
times, certain Constitutional Amendments
have been proposed to clarify and update
our Constitution.

It is to be noted that where feasible,
this Committee recommends that the pro­
posed constitutional changes, the new
material, be underlined with the non­
underlined words representing the lan­
guage of the present Constitution.
A. Name Chanee for Union

To implement and effectuate the
desires of this membership, as expressed
in the referendum held in November and
December, 1999, it is being proposed that
the name of our Union be changed to
reflect the consolidation/merger of the
National Maritime Union into the
Seafarers International Union of North
America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District. We concur with the
Resolution and recommend the following
amendments be adopted to effectuate it.

Amend the following Constitutional
provisions to revise the name of the
Seafarers International Union of North
America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District;

l. Title Page
2. Heading, Page 2
3. Preamble
4. Article I, Name and General Powers
S. ExhibitA

Preamble, Section III, Section IV,
Section V, Section VI, Section
VII, Section VIII, Section IX,
Section X, Section XI, Section XII
and Section XIII

so that the name of the Union would
reflect the consolidation of these two
unions in all of the above- referenced
sections and headings. The above-ref­
erenced amendments would become
effective at the time of, and not before,
the final consolidation of these enti­
ties.
A. Dues
As the Resolution states, it is proposed

that the annual regular dues amount to be
paid shall be four hundred dollars
($400.00) per year and that in addition the
working dues to be paid by officers and
members who are employed by the Union
shall be increased to one hundred dollars
($100.00) per quarter. Your Committee, to
carry out these changes, recommends that:

Amend Article V, Dues and Initiation
Fee, Sections 1 (a) and (b) to read as fol­
lows:

"Section 1. All members' dues shall
consist of:

(a) Dues annually in the sum of fQyr
hundred dollars ($400.00) which shall be
paid in equal amounts on a calendar year
basis, no later than the first business day
of each calendar quarter, and;

(b) a sum equal to five percent (5%) of
the gross amount received for vacation
benefits for days worked for contracted
employers. Dues payable under this Sub­
section (b) shall be payable on the days
that the member receives payment for the
earned vacation benefits and shall become
effective as to members in the manner
designated and determined by a majority
vote of the membership by secret ballot.
When so determined by the membership,
members in the employ of the Union, its
subdivisions and its affiliated organiza­
tions, or in any employment at the
Union's direction as provided in Article
XII, Section l (a) and (c), shall pay in
addition to that provided for in
paragraph (a) immediately above the sum

18 Seafarers LOG

of one hundred dollars ($100.00) quarter­
ly on a calendar year basis, no later than
the first business day of each quarter
while so employed."

B. Vice-Presidents at Larve
As the Resolution states, it is also pro­

posed that the office of "Vice-President at
Large" be created and that two (2) such
positions be added to the Executive Board
to reflect the changing and growing needs
of the Union. Your Committee, to carry
out this change recommends that:

Amend Article VII, System of
Organization, Section 2 to read as fol­
lows:

"Section 2. The Headquarters of the
Union shall be located in Camp Springs,
Maryland and Piney Point, Maryland or at
such places as the Executive Board may
determine from time to time. The
Headquarters officers shall consist of a
President, an Executive Vice-President,
one (I) Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement, a
Secretary-Treasurer, one ( l) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the
Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the West Coast, one (1) Vice­
President in Charge of the Southern
Region, Great Lakes and Inland Waters,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries and two C2) Vice-Presidents at
~-"

Amend Article VIII, Officer,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives and Port Agents, Section
1 to read as follows:

"Section 1. The officers of the Union
shall be elected as otherwise provided in
this Constitution. These officers shall be
the President, an Executive Vice­
President, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement, a Secretary-Treasurer, one
(I) Vice-President in Charge of the
Atlantic Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (I) Vice­
President in Charge of the West Coast,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland
Waters, and one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing lndustries and two (2) Vice­
Presidents at Large."

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice- Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous
Personnel by adding a new Section to
read as follows:

"Section 10 Vice-Presidents at Large
There shall be two (2) Vice-Presidents

at Large whose duties shall be as directed
by the President with concurrence of the
Executive Board. Such duties and respon­
sibilities may be changed from time to
time in like manner as dictated by the
needs of the Union."

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous
Personnel by renumbering the existing
Sections 10 through 15 to become 11
through 16.

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous
Personnel existing Section 13 which when
renumbered shall be Section 14, Executive
Board to read as follows:

"Section li. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist of

the President, the Executive Vice­
President, the Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement, the
Secretary-Treasurer, the Vice-President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area, the
Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast Area, the Vice-President in Charge
of the West Coast Area the Vice-President
in Charge of the Southern Region, Great
Lakes and Inland Waters, the Vice­
President in Charge of Government
Services and Fishing Industries, the Vice­
Presidents at Large and the National
Director (or chief executive officer) of
each subordinate body or division created
or chartered by the Union whenever such
subordinate body or division has attained
a membership of 3,200 members and has
maintained that membership for not less
than three (3) months. Such National
Director (or chief executive officer) shall
be a member of the respective subordinate
body or division and must be qualified to
hold office under the terms of the
Constitution of such division or subordi­
nate body."

Amend Article X, Duties of Oj]icers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous

--- - - - - - --- -

Personnel existing Section 14 which when
renumbered shall be Section 15,
Delegates to read as follows:

"Section 15. Delegates.
(a) The term "delegates" shall mean

those members of the Union and its sub­
ordinate bodies or divisions who are elect­
ed in accordance with the provisions of
this Constitution to attend the Convention
of the Seafarers International Union of
North America. The following officers
and jobholders, upon their election to
office or job shall, during the term of their
office or job be delegates to all
Conventions of the Seafarers International
Union of North America in the following
order of priority: President; Executive
Vice-President; Vice-President in Charge
of Contracts and Contract Enforcement;
Secretary-Treasurer; Vice-President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast; Vice­
President in Charge of the Gulf Coast;
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland
Waters; Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries; Vice-Presidents at Large;
Assistant Vice-Presidents; Headquarters
Representatives, with priority to those
most senior in full book Union member­
ship; and Port Agents, with priority to
those most senior in full book Union
membership."

D.Qruu:mn
As the Resolution states, it is being

proposed that the quorum for a regular
meeting of a port be changed from fifty
(SO) to twenty-five (25) members to
enable effective action to be taken at
membership meetings. Your Committee,
to carry out this change, recommends that:

Amend Article XXII, Quorums.
Section 2 to read as follows:

"Section 2. The quorum for a regular
meeting of a Port shall be twenty-five (25)
members."

E. Definitions and Mjscellaneous
Provjsjons Thereto

To further effectuate all of the above,
it is proposed that Section 8 be amended
to read as follows:

"Section 8. The terms "this
Constitution" and "this amended
Constitution" shall be deemed to have the
same meaning and shall refer to the
Constitution as amended which takes the
place of the one adopted by the Union in
1939, as amended up through Al2ti1
2.QQQ."

This Committee has been directed to
fashion the procedure for a secret ballot
referendum vote upon these amendments
and to recommend effective dates for the
proposed amendments. Your Committee
concurs with the Resolution recommend­
ing that the amendments, if voted upon
affirmatively in accordance with the fol­
lowing voting procedures, become effec­
tive upon their passage. We, further rec­
ommend that, if the position of Vice­
President at Large is created by
Constitutional Amendment, the President
be given the authority, subject to the con­
currence of the Executive Board, to deter­
mine when to fill these two (2) positions
and to then so fill them for a first term of
office.

In addition, we recommend that the
secret ballot referendum vote upon these
proposed amendments, including the
time, manner and procedure for voting on
the amendments and the tallying and cer­
tification of the voting results, be the same
as constitutionally provided for the elec­
tion of officers and jobholders and be held
as part of the secret ballot mail referen­
dum for the election of officers and job­
holders commencing November 1, 2000
and ending December 31, 2000.

We further recommend:
(a) That part of the ballot that applies

to the recommended change in the regular
dues payment read as follows:

Amend Article V, Dues and Initiation
Fee, Section 1.

"Section 1. All members' dues shall
consist of:

(a) Dues annually in the sum of fuYr
hundred dollars ($400 00) which shall be
paid in equal amounts on a calendar year
basis, no later than the first business day
of each calendar quarter, and;"

Are you in favor of the above
Constitutional Amendment?

YES [] NO []

(b) That the part of the ballot that
applies to the recommended change in
working dues payable by union officers
and members read as follows:

"(b) a sum equal to five percent (5%)
of the gross amount received for vacation
benefits for days worked for contracted
employers. Dues payable under this Sub-

section (b) shall be payable on the days
that the member receives payment for the
earned vacation benefits and shall become
effective as to members in the manner
designated and determined by a majority
vote of the membership by secret ballot.
When so determined by the membership,
members in the employ of the Union, its
subdivisions and its affiliated organiza­
tions, or in any employment at the
Union's direction as provided in Article
XII, Section 1 (a) and (c), shall pay in
addition to that provided for in paragraph
(a) immediately above the sum of one
hundred dollars ($100.00) quarterly on a
calendar year basis, no later than the first
business day of each quarter while so
employed."

Are you in favor of the above
Constitutional Amendment?

YES [ ] NO [ ]

( c) That the part of the ballot that
applies to the recommended name change
read as follows:

Amend the following Constitutional
provisions to revise the name of the
Seafarers International Union of North
America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland
Waters District;

1. Title Page
2. Heading
3. Preamble
4. Article I, Name and General Powers
5. Exhibit A

Preamble, Section III, Section IV,
Section V, Section VI, Section
VII, Section VIII, Section IX,
Section X, Section XI, Section XII
and Section XIII

so that the name of the Union would
reflect the consolidation of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District and the
National Maritime Union in all of the
above referenced sections and head­
ings.

Are you in favor of the above
Constitutional Amendment?

YES [ ] NO [ ]

( d) that the part of the ballot that
applies to the recommended creation of
two (2) Vice-President at Large positions
read as follows:

Amend Article VII, System of
Organization.

"Section 2. The Headquarters of the
Union shall be located in Camp Springs,
Maryland and Piney Point, Maryland or at
such places as the Executive Board may
determine from time to time. The
Headquarters officers shall consist of a
President, an Executive Vice-President,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement, a
Secretary-Treasurer, one ( l) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic Coast,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the
Gulf Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the West Coast, one (I) Vice­
President in Charge of the Southern
Region. Great Lakes and Inland Waters,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries and two (2) Vice-Presidents at
Large"

Amend Article VIII, Officer,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives and Port Agents, Section
1.

"Section 1. The officers of the Union
shall be elected as otherwise provided in
this Constitution. These officers shall be
the President, an Executive Vice­
President, one ( l) Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement, a Secretary-Treasurer, one
(1) Vice-President in Charge of the
Atlantic Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one ( 1) Vice­
President in Charge of the West Coast,
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland
Waters, and one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries and two (2) Vice­
Presidents at Large."

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice- Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous
Personnel:

"Section 10. Vice-Presidents at Large.
There shall be two (2) Vice-Presidents

at Large whose duties shall be as directed
by the President with concurrence of the
Executive Board. Such duties and respon­
sibilities may be changed from time to
time in like manner as dictated by the
nee<ls of the Union "

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous
Personnel, Section 14.

"Section 14. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist of

the President, the Executive Vice­
President, the Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement, the
Secretary-Treasurer, the Vice-President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area, the
Vice-President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast Area, the Vice-President in Charge
of the West Coast Area the Vice-President
in Charge of the Southern Region, Great
Lakes and Inland Waters, the Vice­
President in Charge of Government
Services and Fishing Industries, the Vice­
Presidents at Large and the National
Director (or chief executive officer) of
each subordinate body or division created
or chartered by the Union whenever such
subordinate body or division has attained
a membership of 3,200 members and has
maintained that membership for not less
than three (3) months. Such National
Director (or chief executive officer) shall
be a member of the respective subordinate
body or division and must be qualified to
hold office under the terms of the
Constitution of such division or subordi­
nate body."

Amend Article X, Duties of Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents, Other
Elected Jobholders and Miscellaneous,
Personnel, Section 15, Delegates.

"Section ll. Delegates.
(b) The term "delegates" shall mean

those members of the Union and its sub­
ordinate bodies or divisions who are elect­
ed in accordance with the provisions of
this Constitution to attend the Convention
of the Seafarers International Union of
North America. The following officers
and jobholders, upon their election to
office or job shall, during the term of their
office or job be delegates to all
Conventions of the Seafarers International
Union of North America in the following
order of priority: President; Executive
Vice-President; Vice-President in Charge
of Contracts and Contract Enforcement;
Secretary-Treasurer; Vice-President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast; Vice­
President in Charge of the Gulf Coast;
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast; Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and Inland
Waters; Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries; Vice-Presidents at Large;
Assistant Vice-Presidents; Headquarters
Representatives, with priority to those
most senior in full book Union member­
ship; and Port Agents, with priority to
those most senior in full book Union
membership."

Are you in favor of the above
Constitutional Amendments?

YES [ ] NO [ ]

(e) that the part of the ballot that
applies to the change in the number of
members required to constitute a quorum
at a regular meeting of a port read as fol­
lows.

Amend Article XXIl, Quorums,
Section 2.

"Section 2. The quorum for a regular
meeting of a Port shall be twenty-five (25)
members."

Are you in favor of the above
Constitutional Amendment?

YES [ ] NO [ ]

We further recommend, if it is reason­
ably possible, that a copy of our
Committee's Report, together with a copy
of the proposed Resolution and member­
ship action taken to date, be printed in the
Seafarers LOG, October 2000 issue so
that the membership will be kept abreast
as to all facts at this time and copies of
such LOG issue, to the extent possible, be
made available to the membership at all
Union offices and Halls during the months
of November and December 2000.

Your Constitutional Committee wish­
es to thank the Union, its officers, repre­
sentatives, members and counsel for their
cooperation and assistance during our
deliberations and to assure all members
that we believe the adoption of the pro­
posed Resolution will serve the needs of
the Union and the membership.

Fraternally submitted, Constitutional
Committee

August 18, 2000

October 2000



PREAMBLE
As maritime and allied workers

and realizing the value and necessity
of a thorough organization, we are
dedicated to the forming of one
Union for our people, the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District, based upon
the following principles:

All members shall be entitled to
all the rights, privileges and guaran­
tees as set forth in this Constitution,
and such rights, privileges and guar­
antees shall be preserved in accor­
dance with its terms.

We declare that American seamen
are entitled to receive their employ­
ment without interference of crimps,
shipowners, fink halls or any ship­
ping bureaus maintained by the
Government.

We affirm that every worker has
the right to receive fair and just
remuneration for his labor and gain
sufficient leisure for mental cultiva­
tion and physical recreation.

We proclaim the right of all sea­
men to receive healthful and suffi­
cient food and proper forecastles in
which to rest. We defend the right of
all seamen to be treated in a decent
and respectful manner by those in
command, and

We hold that the above rights
belong to all workers alike, irrespec­
tive of nationality or creed.

Recognizing the foregoing as our
inalienable rights, we are conscious
of corresponding duties to those in
command, our employers, our craft
and our country.

We will, therefore, try by all just
means to promote harmonious rela­
tions with those in command by exer­
cising due care and diligence in the
performance of the duties of our pro­
fession and by giving all possible
assistance to our employers in caring
for their gear and property.

Based upon these principles, it is
among our objects:

To use our influence individually
and collectively for the purpose of
maintaining and developing skill in
seamanship and effecting a change in
the maritime law of the United States
so as to render it more equitable and
to make it an aid instead of a hin­
drance to the development of a mer­
chant marine and a body of American
seamen.

To support a journal which shall
voice the sentiments of maritime
workers and through its columns seek
to maintain their knowledge of, and
interest in, maritime affairs.

To assist the seamen of other
countries in the work of organization
and federation to the end of establish­
ing the Brotherhood of the Sea.

PRESENT CONSTITUTION
THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA-

ARANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT

AFFILIATED WITH SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA,

AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR CONGRESS

To form and to assist by legal
means other bonafide labor organiza­
tions whenever possible in the attain­
ment of their just demands.

To regulate our conduct as a
Union and as individuals so as to
make seamanship what it rightly is­
an honorable and useful calling. And
bearing in mind that we are migrato­
ry, that our work takes us away in dif­
ferent directions from any place
where the majority might otherwise
meet to act, that meetings can be
attended by only a fraction of the
membership, that the absent mem­
bers who cannot be present must
have their interests guarded from
what might be the results of excite­
ment and passions aroused by per­
sons or conditions, and that those
who are present may act for and in
the interest of all, we have adopted
this Constitution.

Statement of Principles and
Declaration of Rights

In order to form a more perfect
Union, we workers in the maritime
and allied industries, realizing the
value and necessity of uniting in pur­
suit of our improved economic and
social welfare, have determined to
bind ourselves together in the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District, and here­
by dedicate ourselves to the follow­
ing principles:

In promoting our economic and
social welfare, we shall ever be
mindful, not only of our rights, but
also of our duties and obligations as
members of the community, our
duties as citizens, and our duty to
combat the menace of communism
and any other enemies of freedom
and the democratic principles to
which we seafaring men dedicate
ourselves in this Union.

We shall affiliate and work with
other free labor organizations; we
shall support a journal to give addi­
tional voice to our views; we shall
assist our brothers of the sea and
other workers of all countries in these
obligations to the fullest extent con­
sistent with our duties, obligations
and law. We shall seek to exert our
individual and collective influence in
the fight for the enactment of labor
and other legislations and policies
which look to the attainment of a free
and happy society without distinction
based on race, creed or color.

To govern our conduct as a Union
and bearing in mind that most of our
members are migratory, that their
duties carry them all over the world,
that their rights must and shall be
protected, we hereby declare these

OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS

rights as members of the Union to be
inalienable.

No member shall be deprived of
any of the rights or privileges guaran­
teed him under the Constitution of
the Union.

II
Every qualified member shall

have the right to nominate himself
for, and, if elected, or appointed, to
hold office in this Union.

Ill
No member shall be deprived of

his membership without due process
of the law of this Union. No member
shall be compelled to be a witness
against himself in the trial of any
proceeding in which he may be
charged with failure to observe the
law of this Union. Every official and
jobholder shall be bound to uphold
and protect the rights of every mem­
ber in accordance with the principles
set forth in the Constitution of the
Union.

IV
Every member shall have the right

to be confronted by his accuser
whenever he is charged with violat­
ing the law of this Union. In all such
cases, the accused shall be guaran­
teed a fair and speedy trial by an
impartial committee of his brother
Union members.

v
No member shall be denied the

right to express himself freely on the
floor of any Union meeting or in
committee.

VI
A militant membership being nec­

essary to the security of a free union,
the members shall at all times stand
ready to defend this Union and the
principles set forth in the Consti­
tution of the Union.

VII
The powers not delegated to the

officers, job holders, and Executive
Board by the Constitution of the
Union shall be reserved to the mem­
bers.

CONSTITUTION
Article I

Name and General Powers
This Union shall be known as the

Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District. Its powers

shall be legislative, judicial, and exec­
utive, and shall include the formation
of, and/or issuance of charters to, sub­
ordinate bodies and divisions, corpo­
rate or otherwise, the formation of
funds and participation in funds, the
establishment of enterprises for the
benefit of the Union and similar ven­
tures. This Union shall exercise all of
its powers in aid of subordinate bod­
ies and divisions created or chartered
by it. For convenience of administra­
tion and in furtherance of its policies
of aid and assistance, the Union may
make its property, facilities and per­
sonnel available for the use and on
behalf of such subordinate bodies and
divisions. A majority vote of the
membership shall be authorization for
any Union action, unless otherwise
specified in the Constitution or by
law. This Union shall at all times pro­
tect and maintain its jurisdiction.

Article II
Affiliation

Section 1. This Union shall be
affiliated with the Seafarers
International Union of North America
and the American Federation of
Labor-Congress of Industrial
Organizations. All other affiliations
by the Union or its subordinate bodies
or divisions shall be made or with­
drawn as determined by a majority
vote of the Executive Board.

Section 2. In addition to such
other provisions as are contained
herein, all subordinate bodies and
divisions seeking a charter from
and/or affiliation with this Union,
shall be required to adopt, within a
time period set by the Executive
Board, a Constitution containing pro­
visions as set forth in Exhibit A,
annexed to this Constitution and
made a part hereof. All other provi­
sions adopted by such subordinate
bodies and divisions as part of their
Constitution shall not be inconsistent
therewith. No such Constitution or
amendments thereto shall be deemed
to be effective without the approval
of the Executive Board of this Union,
which shall be executed in writing,
on its behalf, by the President or, in
his absence, by any other officer des­
ignated by it. Such approval shall be
deemed to be recognition of compli­
ance herewith by such subordinate
body or division.

Where a subordinate body or divi­
sion violates any of the foregoing,
and, in particular, seeks to effectuate
any constitutional provision not so
authorized and approved, or commits
acts in violation of its approved con­
stitution, or fails to act in accordance
therewith, this Union, through its
Executive Board, may withdraw its

charter and/or sever its affiliation
forthwith, or on such terms as it may
impose not inconsistent with law, in
addition to exercising any and all
rights it may have pursuant to any
applicable agreements or understand­
ings.

Section 3. This Union shall also
have the power, acting through its
Executive Board, and after a fair
hearing, to impose a trusteeship upon
any subordinate body or divisions
chartered by an affiliated with it, for
the reasons and to the extent provid­
ed by law.

Article Ill
Membership

Section 1. There shall be two
classes of membership, to wit, full
book members and probationary
members. Candidates for member­
ship shall be admitted to membership
in accordance with such rules as may
be adopted from time to time by a
majority vote of the membership and
which rules shall not be inconsistent
with the provlSlons of this
Constitution. All candidates with two
hundred and sixty (260) days or more
seatime in a consecutive twenty-four
(24) calendar month period com­
mencing from January l, 1968, in an
unlicensed capacity, aboard an
American-flag merchant vessel or
vessels, covered by contract with this
Union, shaH be eligible for full mem­
bership. All persons with less than
the foregoing seatime but at least
thirty (30) days of such seatime, shall
be eligible for probationary member­
ship. Only full book members shall
be entitled to vote and to hold any
office or elective job, except as other­
wise specified herein. All probation­
ary members shall have a voice in
Union proceedings and shall be enti­
tled to vote on Union contracts.

Section 2. No candidate shall be
granted membership who is a mem­
ber of any dual organization hostile
to the aims, principles and policies of
this Union.

The members, by majority vote,
shall at all times have the right to
determine the membership status of
pensioners.

Section 3. Members more than
one ( 1) quarter in arrears in dues shall
be automatically suspended and shall
forfeit all benefits and all other rights
and privileges in the Union. They
shall be automatically dismissed if
they are more than two (2) quarters in
arrears in dues. An arrearage in dues
shall be computed from the first day
of the applicable quarter, but this
time shall not run:

Continued on page 20

Seafarers LOB 19



r
g ; -

Present Constitution - SIUNA - AGLIWD
Continued from page 19

(a) While a member is actually
participating in a strike or lockout.

(b) While a member is an in­
patient in an accredited hospital.

( c) While a member is under an
incapacity due to activity in behalf of
the Union.

( d) While a member is in the
armed services of the United States,
provided the member was in good
standing at the time of entry into the
armed forces, and further provided he
applies for reinstatement within nine­
ty (90) days after discharge from the
armed forces.

(e) While a member has no
opportunity to pay dues because of
employment aboard an American­
flag merchant vessel. The provision
of this Sub-section ( e) shall be inap­
plicable when such merchant vessel
is operating upon the Great Lakes or
upon the harbors, rivers or territorial
waters of the United States.

Section 4. A majority vote of the
membership shall be sufficient to
designate additional circumstances
during which the time specified in
Section 3 shall not run. It shall be the
right of any member to present, in
writing, to any Port at any regular
meeting any question with regard to
the application of Section 3, in accor­
dance with procedures established by
a majority vote of the membership. A
majority vote of the membership
shall be necessary to decide such
questions.

Section 5. The membership shall
be empowered to establish, from time
to time, by majority vote, rules under
which dues and assessments may be
excused where a member has been
unable to pay dues and assessments
for the reasons provided in Sections 3
and 4.

Section 6. To preserve unity, and
to promote the common welfare of
the membership, all members of the
Union shall uphold and defend this
Constitution and shall be governed
by the provisions of this Constitution
and all policies, rulings, orders and
decisions duly made.

Section 7. Any member who
gives aid to the principles and poli­
cies of any hostile or dual organiza­
tion shall be denied further member­
ship in this Union to the full extent
permitted by law. A majority vote of
the membership shall decide which
organizations are dual or hostile.

Section 8. Evidence of member­
ship or other affiliation with the
Union shall be in such form or forms
as determined by the Executive
Board and shall at all times remain
the property of the Union. Members
may be required to show their evi­
dence of membership in order to be
admitted to Union meetings, or into,
or on Union property.

Article IV
Reinstatement

Members dismissed from the
Union may be reinstated in accor­
dance with such rules and under such
conditions as are adopted, from time
to time, by a majority vote of the
membership.

Article V
Dues and lnftiation Fee

Section 1. All members' dues
shall consist of:

(a) Dues annually in the sum of
three hundred dollars ($300.00)
which shall be paid in equal amounts
on a calendar year basis, no later than
the first business day of each calen­
dar quarter, and;

(b) A sum equal to five percent
(5%) of the gross amount received
for vacation benefits for days worked
for contracted employers. Dues
payable under this Sub-section (b)
shall be payable on the days that the
member receives payment for the
earned vacation benefits and shall
become effective as to members in
the manner designated and deter-

20 Seafarers LOG

mined by a majority vote of the mem­
bership by secret ballot. When so
determined by the membership,
members in the employ of the Union,
its subdivisions and its affiliated
organizations, or in any employment
at the Union's direction as provided
for in Article XII, Section 1 (a) and
( c ), shall pay in addition to that pro­
vided for in paragraph (a) immediate­
ly above the sum of seventy-five dol­
lars ($75.00) quarterly on a calendar
year basis, no later than the first busi­
ness day of each quarter while so
employed.

Section 2. No candidate for full
book membership shall be admitted
into such membership without hav­
ing paid an initiation fee of six hun­
dred dollars ($600.00), except as oth­
erwise provided in this Constitution.
In addition, the candidate shall pay a
ten dollar ($10.00) "service fee" for
the issuance of his full book.

Each candidate for probationary
membership and each probationary
member shall, with the payment of
each of his first quarterly dues, as
required by Section 1, pay at each
such time the sum of one hundred
and fifty dollars ($150.00) as partial
initiation fee. The total of such initia­
tion monies so paid shall be credited
to his above required initiation fee for
a full book member upon completion
of the required seatime as provided
for in Article III, Section 1.

Section 3. Payment of dues and
initiation fee may be waived for orga­
nizational purposes in accordance
with such rules as are adopted by a
majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4. All members shall be
and remain in good standing.

Article VI
Reti ment from Membersh p

Section 1. Members may retire
from membership by surrendering
their Union books or other evidence
of affiliation and paying all unpaid
dues for the quarter in which they
retire, assessments, fines and other
monies due and owing the Union.
When the member surrenders his
book or other evidence of affiliation
in connection with his application for
retirement he shall be given a receipt
therefore. An official retirement card
shall be issued by Headquarters,
upon request, dated as of the day that
such member accomplishes these
payments and shall be given to the
member upon presenting the afore­
said receipt.

Section 2. All the rights, privi­
leges, duties and obligations of mem­
bership shall be suspended during the
period of retirement, except that a
retired member shall not be disloyal
to the Union nor join or remain in any
dual or hostile organization, upon
penalty or forfeiture of his right to
reinstatement.

Section 3. Any person in retire­
ment for a period of two (2) quarters
or more shall be restored to member­
ship, except as herein indicated, by
paying dues for the current quarter, as
well as all assessment accruing and
newly levied during the period of
retirement. If the period of retirement
is less than two (2) quarters, the
required payment shall consist of all
dues accruing during the said period
of retirement, including those levied
during that period. Upon such pay­
ment, the person in retirement shall
be restored to membership, and his
membership book, appropriately
stamped, shall be returned to him.

Section 4. A member in retire­
ment may be restored to membership
after a one (1) year period of retire­
ment consisting of four ( 4) full quar­
ters only by a majority vote of the
membership.

Section 5. The period of retire­
ment shall be computed from the first
day of the quarter following the one
in which the retirement card was
issued.

Section 6. No member may retire
his membership during the period of

a strike or lockout.

Article VII
Systems of Organization
Section 1. This Union and all

officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents,
Headquarters Representatives, Port
Agents, and members shall be gov­
erned in this order by:

(a) The Constitution
(b) The Executive Board
(c) Majority vote of the mem­

bership
Section 2. The Headquarters of

the Union shall be located in Camp
Springs, Maryland and Piney Point,
Maryland or at such places as the
Executive Board may determine from
time to time. The Headquarters offi­
cers shall consist of a President, an
Executive Vice-President, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement,
a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters and
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries.

Section 3. The staff of each Port
shall consist of such personnel as is
provided for herein and the Port shall
bear the name of the city in which the
Union's Port Offices are located.

Article VIII
Officers, Assistant Vice­
Presidents, Headquarters

Representatives and
Port Agents

Section 1. The officers of the
Union shall be elected as otherwise
provided in this Constitution. These
officers shall be the President, an
Executive Vice-President, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement,
a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one ( 1)
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters, and
one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries.

Section 2. Assistant Vice-Presi­
dents, Headquarters Representatives
and Port Agents shall be elected,
except as otherwise provided in this
Constitution.

Article IX
Other Electlve Jobs

Section 1. In addition to the elec­
tive jobs provided for in Article VIII,
the following jobs in the Union shall
be voted upon in the manner pre­
scribed by this Constitution:

Committee members of:
( 1) Trial Committees
(2) Annual Financial Committees
(3) Appeals Committees
( 4) Strike Committees
(5) Credentials Committees
(6) Union Tallying Committees
(7) Constitutional Committees
Section 2. Additional commit-

tees may be formed as provided by a
majority vote of the membership.
Committees may also be appointed as
permitted by this Constitution.

Artlcle I
Duties of Officers, Assistant

Vice-Presidents, H dq rters
Representatives, Port Agents,
Other Elected Jobholders and

Miscellaneous Personnel
Section 1. (a) The President shall

be the executive officer of the Union
and shall represent, and act for and in
behalf of the Union in all matters

except as otherwise specifically pro­
vided for in the Constitution.

(b) He shall be a member ex-offi­
cio of all committees, except as oth­
erwise herein expressly provided.

( c) The President shall be in
charge of, and responsible for, all
Union property, and shall be in
charge of Headquarters and Port
offices. Wherever there are time
restrictions or other considerations
affecting Union action, the President
shall take appropriate action to insure
observance thereof.

( d) In order that he may properly
execute his responsibilities, he is
hereby instructed and authorized to
employ any help he deems necessary,
be it legal, accounting or otherwise.

( e) Subject to approval by a
majority vote of the membership and
the Executive Board, the President
shall designate the number and loca­
tion of all Ports, the jurisdiction, sta­
tus and activities thereof, and may
reduce and/or relocate such Ports,
and may reassign Vice-Presidents,
Assistant Vice-Presidents and the
Secretary-Treasurer without reduc­
tion in wages. He may also reassign
Headquarters Representatives and
Port Agents to other duties without
reduction in wages.

Where Ports are opened between
elections, the President shall desig­
nate the Union personnel thereof

The President may designate, in
the event of the incapacity of any
Headquarters Representative or Port
Agent, or any officer other than the
President, a replacement to act as
such during the period of incapacity,
provided such replacement is quali­
fied under Article XII of the
Constitution to fill such job.

At the regular meeting in May of
every election year, the President
shall submit to the membership a pre­
balloting report. In his report he shall
recommend the number and location
of Ports and the number of
Headquarters Representatives and
Port Agents who are to be elected. He
shall also recommend a bank, a bond­
ed warehouse, a regular office there­
of, or any similar depository, to
which the ballots are to be mailed,
except that the President may, in his
discretion, postpone the recommen­
dations as to the depository until no
later than the first regular meeting in
October.

The report shall be subject to
approval or modification by a major­
ity vote of the membership.

(t) The President shall be chair­
man of the Executive Board and may
cast one ( 1) vote in that body.

(g) He shall be responsible, with­
in the limits of his powers, for the
enforcement of this Constitution, the
policies of the Union, and all rules
and rulings adopted by the Executive
Board, and those duly adopted by a
majority vote of the membership.
Within these limits, he shall strive to
enhance the strength, position, and
prestige of the Union.

(h) The foregoing duties shall be
in addition to those other duties law­
fully imposed upon him.

(i) The responsibility of the
President may not be delegated, but
the President may delegate to a per­
son or persons the execution of such
of his duties as he may in his discre­
tion decide, subject to the limitations
set forth in this Constitution.

(j) Any vacancy in any office or
the job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative or Port
Agent shall be filled by the President
by temporary appointment of a mem­
ber qualified for the office or job
under Article XII of this Constitution
except in those cases where the fill­
ing of such vacancy is otherwise pro­
vided for by this Constitution

(k) The President is directed to
take any and all measures and
employ such means which he deems
necessary or advisable to protect the
interests and further the welfare of
the Union and its members in all mat­
ters involving national, state or local

legislation issues and public affairs.
(1) The President shall have the

authority to require any officer or
Union representative to attend any
regular or special meeting if, in his
opinion, it is deemed necessary.

Section 2. Executive Vice-
President.

The Executive Vice-President
shall perform any and all duties
assigned him or delegated to him by
the President. The Executive Vice­
President shall be a member of the
Executive Board and may cast one
( 1) vote in that body.

Section 3. Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement
shall perform any and all duties
assigned him or delegated to him by
the President. In addition, he shall be
responsible for all contract negotia­
tions, the formulation of bargaining
demands, and the submission of pro­
posed collective bargaining agree­
ments to the membership for ratifica­
tion. He shall also be responsible,
except as otherwise provided in
Article X, Section 15( d) ( 1 ), for
strike authorization, signing of new
contracts and contract enforcement.
He shall also act for Headquarters in
executing the administrative fi.mc­
tions assigned to Headquarters by
this Constitution with respect to trials
and appeals except if he is a witness
or party thereto, in which event the
Secretary-Treasurer shall act in his
place. In order that he may properly
execute these responsibilities he is
hereby instructed and authorized to
employ such help as he deems neces­
sary, be it legal, or otherwise, subject
to approval of the Executive Board.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement
shall be a member of the Executive
Board and may cast one ( l) vote in
that body.

Section 4. Secretary-Treasurer.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall per­

form any and all duties assigned him
or delegated to him by the President.
He shall be responsible for the orga­
nization and maintenance of the cor­
respondence, files, and records of the
Union; setting up, and maintenance
of, sound accounting and bookkeep­
ing systems; the setting up, and main­
tenance of, proper office and other
administrative Union procedures; the
proper collection, safeguarding, and
expenditure of all Union funds, Port
or otherwise. He shall submit to the
membership, for each annual period,
a detailed report of the entire Union's
financial operations and shall submit
the Annual Financial Committee
report for the same period. The
Secretary-Treasurer's report shall be
prepared by an independent certified
public accountant. He shall also work
with all duly elected finance commit­
tees. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be
responsible for the timely filing of
any and all reports on the operations
of the Union, financial or otherwise,
that may be required by any Federal
or state laws. The Secretary­
Treasurer with the approval of the
President shall employ a person who
by profession and/or employment
shall qualify to perform the functions
and duties of a Comptroller. Such
person shall be responsible for the
maintenance, safeguard and verifica­
tion of the Union's financial affairs
and records under the supervision
and direction of the Secretary­
Treasurer. The responsibility for such
functions shall be that of the
Secretary-Treasurer notwithstanding
the delegation to such Comptroller.
In order that he may properly execute
his responsibilities, he is hereby
instructed and authorized to employ
any help he deems necessary, be it
legal, accounting, or otherwise, sub­
ject to approval of the Executive
Board.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be a

Continued on page 21

October 2000



Present Constitution - SIUNA - AGLIWD
Continued from page 20
member of the Executive Board and
may cast one (1) vote in that body.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be a
member ex-officio of the Credentials
and Union Tallying Committees. In
addition, he shall make himself and
the records of his office available to
the Annual Financial Committee.

Section S. Vice-President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Atlantic Coast shall be a member
of the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the
Atlantic Coast including their orga­
nizing activities. The Atlantic Coast
area is deemed to mean that area
from and including Georgia through
Maine and shall also include the
Islands in the Caribbean. In order that
he may properly execute his respon­
sibilities he is empowered and autho­
rized to retain any technical or pro­
fessional assistance he deems neces­
sary, subject to approval of the
Executive Board.

Section 6. Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Gulf Coast shall be a member of
the Executive Board and sha11 be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the
Gulf Coast including their organizing
activities. The Gulf Coast area is
deemed to mean the State of Florida,
all through the Gulf, including Texas.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities he is empow­
ered and authorized to retain any
technical or professional assistance
he deems necessary, subject to
approval of the Executive Board.

Section 7. Vice-President in
Charge of the West Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the West Coast shall be a member of
the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the West
Coast including their organizing
activities. The West Coast area is
deemed to mean the States of
California, Oregon, Washington,
Alaska, and Hawaii.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities, he is
empowered and authorized to retain
any technical or professional assis­
tance he deems necessary, subject to
the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 8. Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Southern Region, Great Lakes
and Inland Waters shall be a member
of the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof in the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters including their orga­
nizing activities.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities, he is
empowered and authorized to retain
any technical or professional assis­
tance he deems necessary, subject to
approval of the Executive Board.

Section 9. Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries shall be a member of the
Executive Board and shall be entitled
to cast one (1} vote in that body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of the Union in
the representation of individuals

Ot:lobel' 2IJIJIJ

employed in fishing industries and
civilian seamen employed by the fed­
eral government including but not
limited to the negotiation of the col­
lective bargaining agreements, pro­
cessing grievances and the adminis­
tration of collective bargaining agree­
ments and shall direct the activities of
the Union personnel assigned to him
by the President and carry out such
other functions as the President may
assign to him from time to time.

Section 10. Assistant Vice-
Presidents.

There shall be six ( 6) Assistant
Vice-Presidents as follows: Assistant
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement;
Assistant Vice-President in Charge of
the Atlantic Coast; Assistant Vice
President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast; Assistant Vice-President in
Charge of the West Coast; Assistant
Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters; and Assistant Vice­
President in Charge of Government
Services and Fishing Industries. Each
Assistant Vice-President shall work
with and under the direction of the
appropriate Vice-President. He shall
assist, as directed, in all activities of
the appropriate Vice-President and
shall be responsible to such Vice­
President.

Section 11. Headquarters Repre­
sentatives.

The Headquarters Repre-
sentatives shall perform any and all
duties assigned them or delegated to
them by the President or the
Executive Board.

Section 12. Port Agents.
(a) The Port Agent shall be in

direct charge of the administration of
Union affairs in the Port of his juris­
diction subject to the direction of the
Area Vice-President.

(b) He shall, within the jurisdic­
tion of his Port, be responsible for the
enforcement and execution of the
Constitution, the policies of the
Union, and the rules adopted by the
Executive Board, and by a majority
vote of the membership. Wherever
there are time restrictions or other
considerations affecting Port action,
the Port Agent shall take appropriate
action to insure observance thereof.

( c) He shall be prepare to
account, financially or otherwise for
the activities of his Port, whenever
demanded by the President, the Vice­
President of the area in which his
Port is located, or by the Secretary­
Treasurer.

( d) In any event, he shall prepare
and forward to the Secretary­
Treasurer a weekly financial report
showing, in detail, weekly income
and expenses and complying with all
other accounting directions issued by
the Secretary-Treasurer.

( e) The Port Agent shall desig­
nate which members at the Port may
serve as representatives to other orga­
nizations, affiliation with which has
been properly authorized.

Section 13. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist

of the President, the Executive Vice­
President, the Vice- President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement, the Secretary­
Treasurer, the Vice- President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area,
the Vice-President in Charge of the
Gulf Coast Area, the Vice-President
in Charge of the West Coast Area, the
Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters, the Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries, and the National
Director (or chief executive officer)
of each subordinate body or division
created or chartered by the Union
whenever such subordinate body or
division has attained a membership
of 3,200 members and has main­
tained that membership for not less
than three (3) months. Such National
Director (or chief executive officer)
shall be a member of the respective
subordinate body or division and

must be qualified to hold office under
the terms of the Constitution of such
division or subordinate body.

The Executive Board shall meet
no less than twice each year and at
such times as the President and/or a
majority of the Executive Board may
direct. The President shall be chair­
man of all Executive Board meetings
unless absent, in which case the
Executive Board shall designate the
chairman. Each member of the
Executive Board shall be entitled to
cast one (1) vote in that body. Its
decision shall be determined by
majority vote of those voting, provid­
ing a quorum of three (3) is present.
It shall be the duty of the Executive
Board to develop policies, strategies
and rules which will advance and
protect the interests and welfare of
the Union and the members. It shall
be the duty of the Secretary­
Treasurer or in his absence, an
appointee of the Executive Board, to
keep accurate minutes of all
Executive Board meetings. The
Executive Board shall determine per
capita tax to be levied and other
terms and conditions of affiliation for
any group of workers desiring affilia­
tion. The Executive Board may direct
the administration of all Union
affairs, properties, policies and per­
sonnel in any and all areas not other­
wise specifically provided for in this
Constitution. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Executive Board may
act without holding a formal meeting
provided all members are sent notice
of the proposed action or actions and
the decision thereon is reduced to
writing and signed by a majority of
the Executive Board.

In the event that death, resigna­
tion or removal from office for any
reason should occur to the President,
the Executive Board by majority vote
shall name a successor from its own
membership who shall fill that vacan­
cy until the next general election.

In the event the President is inca­
pacitated for a period of more than
thirty (30) days, and the Executive
Board by majority vote thereafter
determines that such incapacity pre­
vent the President from carrying out
his duties, the Executive Board by
majority vote may appoint from
among its own membership the offi­
cer to fill the office of President. This
appointment shall terminate upon the
President's recovery from such inca­
pacity or upon the expiration of the
President's term of office, whichever
occurs first.

The Executive Board by majority
vote may grant requests for leaves of
absence with or without pay to offi­
cers. In the event that a leave is grant­
ed to the President, the Executive
Board by a majority vote shall desig­
nate from among its own member­
ship who shall exercise the duties of
the President during such period of
leave.

Notwithstanding the provision of
Section lG) of this Article X, the
Executive Board, by majority vote,
may determine not to fill any vacan­
cy in any office or job for any part of
an unexpired term.

Section 14. Delegates.
(a) The term "delegates" shall

mean those members of the Union
and its subordinate bodies or divi­
sions who are elected in accordance
with the prov1s1ons of this
Constitution to attend the Convention
of the Seafarers International Union
of North America. The following
officers and jobholders, upon their
election to office or job shall, during
the term of their office or job be del­
egates to all Conventions of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America in the following order
of priority: President, Executive
Vice-President; Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement; Secretary-Treasurer;
Vice-President in Charge of the
Atlantic Coast; Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast; Vice­
President in Charge of the West

Coast; Vice President in Charge of
the Southern Region, Great Lakes
and Inland Waters; Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries; Assistant Vice­
Presidents; Headquarters Repre­
sentatives, with priority to those most
senior in full book Union member­
ship; and Port Agents, with priority
to those most senior in full book
Union membership.

(b) Each delegate shall, by his
vote and otherwise, support those
polices agreed upon by the majority
of the delegates to the Convention.

( c) The President shall assign to
each subordinate body or division
that number of delegates to which
this Union would have been entitled,
if its membership had been increased
by the number of members of the
subordinate body or division, in
accordance with the formula set forth
in the Constitution of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America, except that this provision
shall not be applied so as to reduce
the number of delegates to which this
Union would otherwise had been
entitled.

Section 15. Committees.
(a) Trial Committee.
The Trial Committee shall con­

duct the trials of a person charged
and shall submit findings and recom­
mendations as prescribed in this
Constitution. It shall be the special
obligation of the Trial Committee to
observe all the requirements of this
Constitution with regard to charges
and trials and their findings and rec­
ommendations must specifically state
whether or not, in the opinion of the
Trial Committee, the rights of any
accused, under this Constitution,
were properly safeguarded.

(b) Appeals Committee.
1. The Appeals Committee shall

hear all appeals from trial judgments,
in accordance with such procedures
as are set forth in this Constitution
and such rules as may be adopted by
a majority vote of the membership
not inconsistent therewith.

2. The Appeals Committee shall,
within not later than one (1) week
after the close of the said hearing,
make and submit findings and recom­
mendations in accordance with the
provisions of this Constitution and
such rules as may be adopted by a
majority vote of the membership not
inconsistent therewith.

(c) Annual Financial Committee.
1. The Annual Financial

Committee shall make an examina­
tion for each annual period of the
finances of the Union and shall report
fully on their findings and recom­
mendations. Members of this
Committee may make dissenting
reports, separate recommendations
and separate findings.

2. The findings and recommen­
dations of this Committee shall be
completed within a reasonable time
and after the election of the members
thereof, and shall be submitted to the
Secretary-Treasurer who shall cause
the same to be read in all Ports, as set
forth herein.

3 All officers, Union personnel
and members are responsible for
complying with all demands made
for records, bills, vouchers, receipts,
etc., by the said Annual Financial
Committee. The Committee shall
also have available to it the services
of the independent certified public
accountants retained by the Union.

4. Any action on the said report
shall be as determined by a majority
vote of the membership.

5. The Annual Financial Com­
mittee shall consist of seven (7) full
book members in good standing to be
elected at Headquarters. No Officer,
Headquarters Representative or Port
Agent shall be eligible for election to
this Committee. Committee members
shall be elected at the regular
Headquarters' meeting designated by
the Secretary-Treasurer. In the event
such regular meeting cannot be held
for lack of a quorum, Headquarters'

Port Agent shall call a special meet­
ing as early as possible for the elec­
tion of Committee members to serve
on the Annual Financial Committee.
On the day following these elections
and continuing until the Committee
has completed its report, each
Committee member shall be paid for
hours worked at the existing AB
Seaman standby rate of pay, but in no
event shall they be paid less than
eight (8) hours per day. They shall be
furnished room and board during the
period they are performing their
duties.

In the event a Committee member
ceases to act, no replacement need to
be elected unless there are less than
three (3) Committee members, in
which event they shall suspend their
work until a special election for
Committee members shall be held as
provided above for such number of
Committee members as shall be nec­
essary to constitute a Committee of
not less than three (3) members in
good standing.

( d) Strike Committee.
1 In no event shall a general

strike take place unless approved by a
majority vote of the membership or
segment of the Union, whichever
applies.

2 In the event a general strike
has been approved by the member­
ship the Port Agents in all affected
Ports shall call a timely special meet­
ing for the purpose of electing a
Strike Committee. This Committee
shall be composed of three (3) full
book members and their duties shall
consist of assisting the Port Agent to
effectuate all strike policies and
strategies.

Article XI
wages and Term of Office of

Officers and Other Elective
Jobholders, Union Employees,

and Others
Section 1. The following elected

officers and jobs shall be held for a
term of four ( 4) years; except the
term of officers and jobs elected in
balloting conducted in 197 5 shall be
for five (5) years:

President
Executive Vice-President
Secretary-Treasurer
Vice-Presidents
Assistant Vice-Presidents
Headquarters Representatives
Port Agents

The term of years set forth here is
expressly subject to the provisions
for assumption of office as contained
in Article XIII, Section 6(b) of this
Constitution.

Section 2. The term of any elec­
tive jobs other than those indicated in
Section 1 of this Article shall contin­
ue for so long as is necessary to com­
plete the functions thereof, unless
sooner terminated by a majority vote
of the membership or segment of the
Union, whichever applies, whose
vote was originally necessary to elect
the one or ones serving.

Section 3. The compensation to
be paid the holder of any office or
other elective job shall be determined
from time to time by the Executive
Board subject to approval of the
membership.

Section 4. The foregoing provi­
sions of this Article do not apply to
any corporation, business, or other
venture in which this Union partici­
pates, or which it organizes or cre­
ates. In such situations, instructions
conveyed by the Executive Board
shall be followed.

Article XII
Qualifications for Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents,

Headquarters Representatives,
Port Agents, and Other

Elective Jobs
Section 1. Any member of the

Union is eligible to be a candidate

Continued on page 22

Seafarers LOB 21



Present Constitution - SIUNA - AGLIWD
Continued from page 21
for, and hold, any office or the job of
Assistant Vice-President, Head­
quarters Representative, or Port
Agent provided:

(a) He has at least three (3) years
of seatime in an unlicensed capacity
aboard an American-flag merchant
vessel or vessels. In computing time,
time spent in the employ of the
Union, its subsidiaries and its affili­
ates, or in any employment at the
Union's direction, shall count the
same as seatime. Union records,
Welfare Plan records and/or company
records can be used to determine eli­
gibility; and

(b) He has been a full book mem­
ber in continuous good standing in
the Union for at least three (3) years
immediately prior to his nomination;
and

( c) He has at least one hundred
(100) days of seatime, in an unli­
censed capacity, aboard an
American-flag vessel or vessels cov­
ered by contract with this Union or
one hundred (100) days of employ­
ment with, or in any office or job of,
the Union, its subsidiaries and its
affiliates, or in any employment at
the Union's direction or a combina­
tion of these, between January 1 and
the time of nomination in the election
year, except if such seatime is wholly
aboard such merchant vessels operat­
ing solely upon the Great Lakes or, if
such seatime is wholly aboard tug­
boats, towboats or dredges and con­
tractual employment thereon is for
fixed days with equal amount of days
off, he shall have at least sixty five
(65) days of such seatime instead of
the foregoing one hundred ( 100)
days; and

(d) He is a citizen of the United
States of America; and

( e) He is not disqualified by law.
He is not receiving a pension from
this Union's Pension Fund, if any, or
from a Union-Management Fund to
which Fund this Union is a party or
from a company under contract with
this Union.

(f) He has not sailed in a licensed
capacity aboard an American flag
merchant vessel or vessels within
twenty four (24) consecutive months
immediately prior to the opening of
nominations.

Section 2. All candidates for, and
holders of, other elective jobs not
specified in the preceding sections
shall be full book members of the
Union.

Section 3. All candidates for, and
holders of elective offices and jobs,
whether elected or appointed in
accordance with this Constitution,
shall maintain full book member­
ships in good standing.

Article XIII
Elections for Offlcel'S,

Assistant Vice-Presidents,
Headquarters Representatives,

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, Head­
quarters Representative, or Port
Agent, by delivering or causing to be
delivered in person, to the office of
the Secretary-Treasurer at Head­
quarters, 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:
(a) The name of the candidate.
(b) His home address and mailing

address.
( c) His book number.
(d) 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

22 Seafarers LOG

that of Port Agent.
( e) Proof of citizenship.
(f) Proof of seatime and/or employ­

ment as required for candidates.
(g) 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.

(h) Annexing a certificate in the fol­
lowing 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, viola­
tion 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 deter­
mination by the Board of Parole of
the United States Department of
Justice, he shall, in lieu of the forego­
ing 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 nom­
inate any 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 sub­
mission of credentials. By reason of
the above self nomination provision
the responsibility, if any, for notify­
ing 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 lat­
ter's request.

Section 2. Credentials Committee
(a) A Credentials Committee shall

be elected at the regular meeting 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, Head­
quarters Representative, or Port
Agent, or candidate for office of the
job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, 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 mem­
bership 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 applica­
tion correctly and possesses the nee-

essary 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 "disquali­
fied," the reason therefore must be
stated in the report. Where a tie vote
has been resolved by a special meet­
ing 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 com­
pleted 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 bul­
letin 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 at the address listed by him
pursuant to Section I of this Article.
He shall also be sent a letter contain­
ing their reasons for such disqualifi­
cation by airmail, special delivery,
registered or certified, to the mailing
address designated pursuant to
Section 1 (b) of this Article. A dis­
qualified applicant shall have the
right to take an appeal to the mem­
bership 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 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 elec­
tion.

( d) A majority vote of the mem­
bership 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, Headquarters Repre­
sentative or Port Agent has met all
the requirements of Section l(a) of
Article XII.

Section 3. Balloting Procedures.
(a) Balloting in the manner here­

after 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 hol­
iday 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 busi­
ness day. Subject to the foregoing, for
the purpose of full book members
securing their ballots, the Ports shall
be open from 9:00 AM. to 12 Noon,
Monday through Saturday, excluding
holidays.

(b) Balloting shall be by mail.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall insure
the proper and timely preparation of

ballots without partiality as to candi­
dates or Ports. The ballots may con­
tain general information and instruc­
tive comments not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Constitution.
All qualified candidates shall be list­
ed 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 com­
mencing 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 pre­
ceding paragraphs and shall be num­
bered 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 verifica­
tion 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 suf­
ficient 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 pro­
vided by Article X, Section I, of this
Constitution. In the upper left-hand
comer of such mailing envelope,
there shall be printed thereon, as a top
line, provision for the voter's signa­
ture 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 suffi­
cient amount of "Roster Sheets"
which shall have printed thereon, at
the top thereof, the year of the elec­
tion, 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 imme­
diately 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 bal­
lots 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 bal­
lots sent, or shall notify the
Secretary-Treasurer of any discrep­
ancy. Discrepancies shall be correct­
ed as soon as possible prior to the
voting period. In any event, receipts
shall be forwarded for all the afore­
mentioned 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 des­
ignate 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 ros­
ter sheet under the appropriate col­
umn the date, the number of the bal­
lot 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 mem­
ber 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 mail­
ing envelope, seal such mailing enve­
lope, 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 proce­
dure as provided above shall apply to
him, except that on the roster sheet
under the column "Comments", nota­
tion should be made that the member
voted a challenged ballot and the rea­
son for his challenge. Such member's
membership book shall be stamped
"Voted Challenge", and the date, and
such member instead of the above­
mentioned mailing envelope, shall be
given the mailing envelope of a dif­
ferent color marked on the face there­
of 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 mem­
bers that day together with the num­
bered 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 mate­
rial is maintained in all Ports at all
times, the Port Agent or his duly des­
ignated representative, simultaneous­
ly with mailing of the roster sheets
and ballot stubs to the depository at
the end of each day, shall also make a

Continued on page 23

October 2000



Present Constitution - SIUNA - AGLIWD
Continued from page 22
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 hos­
pital 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 loca­
tion 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 Secretary­
Treasurer 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 reg­
istered mail, return receipt requested,
to the address so designated by such
member, a "Ballot", after removing
the perforated numbered stub, togeth­
er with the hereinbefore mentioned
"Ballot" envelope, and mailing enve­
lope addressed to the depository,
except that printed on the face of
such mailing envelope shall be the
words "Absentee Ballot" and appro­
priate voting instructions shall
accompany such mailing to the mem­
ber. If the Secretary-Treasurer deter­
mines 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 Secretary­
Treasurer shall keep records of all of
the foregoing, including the reasons
for determining such member's ineli­
gibility, 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 elec­
tion 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 certi­
fied mail, attention Union Tallying
Committee, all unused ballots and
shall specifically set forth by serial
number and amount the unused bal­
lots so forwarded.

(b) The Union Tallying Com­
mittee shall consist of twenty (20)
full book members. Two (2) shall be
elected from each of the ten (10)
Ports of New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Mobile, New Orleans,
Houston, Detroit-Algonac, San
Francisco, St. Louis and Piney Point.
The election shall be held at the reg-

October 2000

ular meeting in December of the elec­
tion year or, if the Executive Board
otherwise determines prior thereto, at
a special meeting held in the afore­
said Ports, on the first business day of
the last week of said month. No offi­
cer, Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, Port
Agent, or candidate for office, or the
job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, or Port
Agent shall be eligible for election to
this Committee except as provided
for in Article X, Section 4. In addi­
tion 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 clos­
ing report setting forth, in complete
detail, the results of the election,
including a complete accounting of
all ballots and stubs, and reconcilia­
tion 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 bro­
ken 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 discrepan­
cies. All members of the Committee
shall sign the report, without preju­
dice, however, to the right of any
member thereof to submit a dissent­
ing 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 expedi­
ent 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 elec­
tion 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 occa­
sioned 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. All members of the
Committee shall also be paid at the
prevailing standby rate of pay from
the day subsequent to their election to
the day they return, in normal course,
to the Port from which they were
elected.

The Union TaJlying Committee
shall elect a chairman from among
themselves and, subject to the
express terms of this Constitution,
adopt its own procedures. All deci­
sions of such Committee and the con­
tents 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 dur­
ing the course of the Committee's
proceedings. The proceedings of the
Committee, except for their organiza­
tional meeting and their actual prepa­
ration of the closing report and dis­
sent 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 imme­
diately 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 require­
ments: two (2) copies shall be mailed
by the Committee to each Port Agent
and the Secretary-Treasurer no later
than January 31st immediately subse­
quent to the close of the election year.
As soon a 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 post­
ing. This copy shall be kept posted
until after the Election Report
Meeting which shall be the March
regular membership meeting imme­
diately 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 claim­
ing 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 appro­
priate corrective action, if warranted,
may be taken. The Secretary­
Treasurer shall expeditiously investi­
gate 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 involv­
ing the Credentials Committee's
action or report as provided in the last
sentence of the immediately preced­
ing paragraph, but including the pro­
cedure 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 subse­
quent 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 recommenda­
tion 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) immedi­
ately 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 violative
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 member­
ship 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 contin­
gencies 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 member­
ship at the Election Report Meetings.

(g) Any special vote ordered pur­
suant to Section 4(f) shall be com­
menced within ninety (90) days after
the first day of the month immediate­
ly subsequent to the Election Report
Meetings mentioned above. The
depository shall be the same as desig­
nated for the election from which the
special vote is ordered. And the pro­
cedures shall be the same as provided
for in Section 3, except where specif­
ic 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 S. 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 bal­
lot. The Union Tallying Committee
shall not be required to tally com­
pletely the results of the voting for
such unopposed candidate but shall
certify in their report that such unop­
posed 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, Headquarters Repre­
sentative 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 pro­
vided in this Article. The term of
their predecessors shall continue up
to, and expire at that time, not with­
standing anything to the contrary
contained in Article XI, Section 1.
This shall not apply where the suc­
cessful 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-Treas­
urer is specifically charged with the
preservation and retention of all elec­
tion 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.

Article XIV
Other Elections

Section 1. Trial Committee
A Trial Committee shall be elect­

ed at a special meeting, held at 10:00
A.M. the next business day following
the regular meeting of the Port where
the trial is to take place. It shall con­
sist of five (5) full book members,
three (3) of which shall constitute a
quorum. No officer, Assistant Vice­
President, Headquarters Repre­
sentative, Port Agent or other Union
personnel may be elected to serve on
a Trial Committee. No member who
intends to be a witness in the pending
trial may serve, nor may any member
who cannot for any reason, render an
honest decision. It shall be the duty
of every member to decline nomina­
tion if he knows, or has reason to
believe, any of the foregoing disqual­
ifications apply to him. The mem­
bers of this Committee shall be elect­
ed under such generally applicable
rules as are adopted by a majority
vote of the membership.

Section 2. Appeals Committee.
The Appeals Committee shall

consist of seven (7) full book mem­
bers, five (5) of whom shall consti­
tute a quorum, elected at the Port
where Headquarters is located. The
same disqualifications and duties of
members shall apply with regard to
this Committee as apply to the Trial
Committee. In addition, no member
may serve on an Appeals Committee
in the hearing of an appeal from a
Trial Committee decision if the said
member was a member of the Trial
Committee.

Article XV
Trials and Appeals

Section 1. Any member may
bring charges against any other mem­
ber for the commission of an offense
as set forth in this Constitution.
These charges shall be in writing and
signed by the accuser who shall also
include his book number. The
accuser shall deliver these charges to
the Port Agent of the Port nearest the
place of the offense, or the Port of
pay-off, if the offense took place
aboard ship. He shall also request the
Port Agent to present these charges at
the next regular meeting. The accuser
may withdraw his charges before the
meeting takes place.

Section 2. After presentation of
the charges and the request to the
Port Agent, the Port Agent shall
cause those charges to be read at the
said meeting.

If the charges are rejected by a
majority vote of the Port, no further
action may be taken thereon, unless
ruled otherwise by a majority vote of
the membership of the Union within
ninety (90) days thereafter. If the
charges are accepted, and the accused
is present, he shall be automatically
on notice that he will be tried the fol­
lowing morning. At his request, the
trial shall be postponed until the
morning following the next regular
meeting at which time the Trial
Committee will then be elected. He
shall also be handed a written copy of

Continued on page 24

Seafarers LOG 23

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Present Constitution - SIUllA -AGLIWD
Continued from page 23
the charges made against him.

If the accused is not present, the
Port Agent shall immediately cause
to be sent to him, by registered mail
addressed to his last known mailing
address on file with the Union, a
copy of the charges, the names and
book numbers of the accusers, and a
notification that he must appear with
his witnesses ready for trial the morn­
ing after the next regular meeting, at
which meeting the Trial Committee
will be elected.

In the event a majority of the
membership of the Union shall vote
to accept charges after their rejection
by a Port, the trial shall take place in
the Port where Headquarters is locat­
ed. Due notice thereof shall be given
to the accused who shall be informed
of the name of his accusers and who
shall receive a written statement of
the charges. At the request of the
accused, transportation and subsis­
tence shall be provided the accused
and his witnesses.

Section 3. The Trial Committee
shall hear all pertinent evidence and
shall not be bound by the rules of evi­
dence required by courts of law but
may receive all relevant testimony.
The Trial Committee may grant
adjournments, at the request of the
accused, to enable him to make a
proper defense. In the event the Trial
Committee falls beneath the quorum,
it shall adjourn until a quorum does
exist.

Section 4. No trial shall be con­
ducted unless all the accusers are pre­
sent. The Trial Committee shall con­
duct the trial except that the accused
shall have the right to cross-examine
the accuser, or accusers and the wit­
nesses, as well as to conduct his own
defense. The accused may select any
member to assist him in his defense
at the trial, provided (a) the said
member is available at the time of the
trial, and (b) the said member agrees
to render such assistance. If the
accused challenges the qualifications
of the members of the Trial
Committee, or states that the charges
do not adequately inform him of what
wrong he allegedly committed, or the
time and place of such commission,
such matters shall be ruled upon and
disposed of prior to proceeding on
the merits of their defense. The guilt
of an accused shall be found only if
proven by the weight of the evidence,
and the burden of such proof shall be
upon the accuser. Every finding shall
be based on the quality of the evi­
dence and not solely on the number
of witnesses produced.

Section S. The Trial Committee
shall make findings as to guilt or
innocence, and recommendations as
to punishment and/or other Union
action deemed desirable in the light
of the proceedings. hese findings and
recommendations shall be those of a
majority of the Committee, and shall
be in writing, as shall be any dissent.
The Committee shall forward its
findings and recommendations, along
with any dissent to the Port Agent of
the Port where the trial took place,
while a copy thereof shall be for­
warded to the accused and the
accuser, either in person or by mail
addressed to their last known
addresses. The findings shall include
a statement that the rights of the
accused under this Constitution were
properly safeguarded. The findings
also must contain the charges made,
the date of the trial, the name and
address of the accused, the accuser,
and each witness; shall describe each
document used at the trial; shall con­
tain a fair summary of the proceed­
ings; and shall state the findings as to
guilt or innocence. If possible, all
documents used at the trial shall be
kept. All findings and recommenda­
tions shall be made a part of the reg­
ular files.

Section 6. The Port Agent of the
Port of Trial shall, upon receipt of the
findings and recommendations of the

24 Seafarers LOG

Trial Committee, cause the findings
and recommendations to be present­
ed and entered into the minutes at the
next regular meeting.

Section 7. The Port Agent shall
send the record of the entire proceed­
ings to Headquarters, which shall
cause sufficient copies thereof to be
made and sent to each port in time for
the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 8. At the latter meeting,
the proceedings shall be discussed.
The meeting shall then vote. A
majority vote of the membership of
the Union shall:

(a) Accept the findings and rec­
ommendations, or

(b) Reject the findings and rec­
ommendations, or

( c) Accept the findings but mod­
ify the recommendations, or

( d) Order a new trial after finding
that substantial justice has not been
done with regard to the charges. In
this event, a new trial shall take place
at the Port where Headquarters is
located and upon application, the
accused, the accusers, and their wit­
nesses shall be furnished transporta­
tion and subsistence.

Section 9. After the vote set forth
in Section 8, any punishment so
decided upon shall become effective.
Headquarters shall cause notice of
the results thereof to be sent to each
accused and accuser.

Section 10. An accused who has
been found guilty or who is under
effective punishment may appeal in
the following manner:

He may send or deliver a notice of
appeal to Headquarters within thirty
(30) days after receipt of the notice of
the decision of the membership.

Section 11. At the next regular
meeting of the Port where Head­
quarters is located, after receipt of the
notice of appeal, the notice shall be
presented and shall then become part
of the minutes. An Appeals Com­
mittee shall then be elected. The
Vice-President in Charge of Con­
tracts and Contract Enforcement is
charged with the duty of presenting
the before-mentioned proceedings
and all available documents used as
evidence at the trial to the Appeals
Committee, as well as any written
statement or argument submitted by
the accused. The accused may argue
his appeal in person, if he so desires.
The appeal shall be heard at Union
Headquarters on the night the com­
mittee is elected. It shall be the
responsibility of the accused to insure
that his written statement or argu­
ment arrives at Headquarters in time
for such presentation.

Section 12. The Appeals Com­
mittee shall decide the appeal as soon
as possible, consistent with fair con­
sideration of the evidence and argu­
ments before it. It may grant
adjournments and may request the
accused or accusers to present argu­
ments whenever necessary for such
fair consideration.

Section 13. The decision of the
Appeals Committee shall be by
majority vote and shall be in the form
of findings and recommendations.
Dissents will be allowed. Decisions
and dissents shall be in writing and
signed by those participating in such
decision or dissent. In making its
findings and recommendations, the
Committee shall be governed by the
following:

(a) No finding of guilt shall be
reversed if there is substantial evi­
dence to support such a finding and,
in such case, the Appeals Committee
shall not make its own findings as to
the weight of evidence.

(b) In no event shall increased
punishment be recommended.

( c) A new trial shall be recom­
mended if the Appeals Committee
finds: (a) that any member of the
Trial Committee should have been
disqualified, or (b) that the accused
was not adequately informed of the
details of the charged offense, which
resulted in his not having been given
a fair trial, or ( c) that for any other

reason, the accused was not given a
fair trial.

( d) If there is not substantial evi­
dence to support a finding of guilt,
the Appeals Committee shall recom­
mend that the charge on which the
finding was based be dismissed.

( e) The Appeals Committee may
recommend lesser punishment.

Section 14. The Appeals Com­
mittee shall deliver its decision and
dissent, if any, to Headquarters,
which shall cause sufficient copies to
be published and shall have them sent
to each Port in time to reach there
before the next regular scheduled
meeting. Headquarters shall also
send a copy to each accused and
accuser at their last known address,
or notify them in person.

Section 15. At the meeting indi­
cated in Section 14 of this Article, the
membership, by a majority vote, shall
accept, the decision of the Appeals
Committee, or the dissent therein. If
there is no dissent, the decision of the
Appeals Committee shall stand.

If a new trial is ordered, that trial
shall be held in the Port where
Headquarters is located in the manner
provided for in Section 2 of this
Article. Any decision so providing
for a new trial shall contain such
directions as will insure a fair hearing
to the accused.

Section 16. Headquarters shall
notify the accused and each accuser,
either in person or in writing
addressed to their last known
address, of the results of the appeal.
A further appeal shall be allowed as
set forth in Section 17 of this Article.

Section 17. Each member is
charged with knowledge of the provi­
sions of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America, and the rights of, and
procedure as to, further appeal as
provided for therein. Decisions
reached thereunder shall be binding
on all members of the Union.

Section 18. It shall be the duty of
all members of the Union to take all
steps within their constitutional
power to carry out the terms of any
effective decisions.

Section 19. Every accused shall
receive a written copy of the charges
preferred against him and shall be
given a reasonable time to prepare his
defense, but he may thereafter plead
guilty and waive any or all of the
other rights and privileges granted to
him by this Article. If an accused has
been properly notified of his trial and
fails to attend without properly
requesting a postponement, the Trial
Committee may hold its trial without
his presence.

Article XVI
Offenses and Penanies

Section 1. Upon proof of the
commission of the following offens­
es, the member shall be expelled
from membership:

(a) Proof of membership in any
organization advocating the over­
throw of the Government of the
United States by force;

(b) Acting as an informer against
the interest of the Union or the mem­
bership in any organizational cam­
paign;

( c) Acting as an informer for, or
agent of, the company against the
interest of the membership or the
Union;

( d) The commission of any act as
part of a conspiracy to destroy the
Union.

Section 2. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, the member shall be penal­
ized up to and including a penalty of
expulsion from the Union. In the
event the penalty of expulsion is not
invoked or recommended, the penal­
ty shall not exceed suspension from
the rights and privileges of member­
ship for more than two (2) years, or a
fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) or both:

(a) Willfully misappropriating or
misusing Union property of the value

in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00).
(b) Unauthorized use of Union

property, records, stamps, seals, etc.,
for the purpose of personal gain;

( c) Willful misuse of any office
or job, elective or not, within the
Union for the purpose of personal
gain, financial or otherwise, or the
willful refusal or failure to execute
the duties or functions of the said
office or job, or gross neglect or
abuse in executing such duties or
functions or other serious misconduct
or breach of trust. The President may,
during the pendency of disciplinary
proceedings under this subsection,
suspend the officer or jobholder from
exercising the functions of the office
or job, with or without pay, and des­
ignate his temporary replacement;

(d) Unauthorized voting, or
unauthorized handling of ballots,
stubs, rosters, verification lists, ballot
boxes, or election files, or election
material of any sort;

( e) Preferring charges with
knowledge that such charges are
false;

(t) Making or transmitting, with
intent to deceive, false reports or
communications which fall within
the scope of Union business;

(g) Deliberate failure or refusal
to join one's ship or misconduct or
neglect of duty aboard ship, to the
detriment of the Union or its agree­
ments;

(h) Deliberate and unauthorized
interference, or deliberate and mali­
cious vilification, with regard to the
execution of the duties of any office
or job;

(i) Paying for, or receiving
money for, employment aboard a
vessel, exclusive of proper earnings
and Union payments;

(j) Willful refusal to submit evi­
dence of affiliation for the purpose of
avoiding or delaying money pay­
ments to the Union, or unauthorized
transferring or receiving evidence of
Union affiliation, with intent to
deceive;

(k) Willful failure or refusal to
carry out the order of those duly
authorized to make such orders dur­
ing time of strike; ·

(I) Failure or refusal to pay a fine
or assessment within the time limit
set therefore either by the
Constitution or by action taken in
accordance with the Constitution.

Section 3. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including a suspension
from the rights and privileges of
membership for two (2) years, or a
fine of fifty dollars
($50.00) or both:

(a) Willfully misappropriating or
misusing Union property of the value
under fifty dollars ($50.00);

(b) Assuming any office or job,
whether elective or not with knowl­
edge of the lack of possession of the
qualifications required therefore;

(c) Misconduct during any meet­
ing or other official Union proceed­
ing, or bringing the Union into disre­
pute by conduct not provided for
elsewhere in this Article;

( d) Refusal or negligent failure to
carry out orders of those duly autho­
rized to make such orders at any time.

Section 4. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including suspension from
the rights and privileges of member­
ship for one ( 1) year or a fine of three
hundred dollars ($300.00) or both:

(a) Crossing a picket line sanc­
tioned by the Union;

(b) Failure to perform picket
duty in strikes.

Section S. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including a fine of fifty dol­
lars ($50.00):

(a) Refusal or willful failure to
be present at sign-ons or payoffs;

(b) Willful failure to submit his
Union book to Union representatives

at pay-off;
( c) Disorderly conduct at pay-off

or sign-on;
( d) Refusal to cooperate with

Union representatives in discharging
their duties;

( e) Disorderly conduct in the
Union ball;

(t) Gambling in the Union ball;
(g) Negligent failure to join ship.
Section 6. Any member who has

committed an offense penalized by
no more than a fine of three hundred
dollars ($300.00) may elect to waive
his rights under this Constitution sub­
ject to the provision of Article XV,
Section 19 and to pay the maximum
fine of three hundred dollars
($300.00) to the duly authorized rep­
resentative of the Union.

Section 7. This Union, and its
members, shall not be deemed to
waive any claim of personal or prop­
erty rights to which it or its members
are entitled by bringing the member
to trial or enforcing a penalty as pro­
vided in this Constitution.

Section 8. Any member under
suspension for an offense under this
Article shall continue to pay all dues
and assessments and must observe
his duties to the Union, members,
officials, and jobholders.

Article XVI
Publications

This Union may publish such
pamphlets, journals, newspapers,
magazines, periodicals and general
literature, in such manner as may be
determined, from time to time, by the
Executive Board.

Article DI
Bonds

Officers and jobholders, whether
elected or appointed as well as all
other employees handling monies of
the Union shall be bonded as required
by law.

Article XIX
Expenditures

Section 1. In the event no con­
trary policies or instructions are in
existence, the President may autho­
rize, make, or incur such expendi­
tures and expenses as are normally
encompassed within the authority
conferred upon him by Article X of
this Constitution.

Section 2. The prov1s1ons of
Section 1 shall similarly apply to the
routine accounting and administra­
tive procedures of the Union except
those primarily concerned with trials,
appeals, negotiations, strikes, and
elections.

Section 3. The provisions of this
Article shall supersede to the extent
applicable, the provisions of Article
X of this Constitution.

Article XX
Income

Section 1. The income of this
Union shall include dues, initiation
fees, fines, assessments, contribu­
tions, loans, interest, dividends as
well as income derived from any
other legitimate business operation or
other legitimate source.

Section 2. An official Union
receipt, properly filled out, shall be
given to anyone paying money to the
Union or to any person authorized by
the Union to receive money. It shall
be the duty of every person affiliated
with the Union who makes such pay­
ments to demand such receipt.

Section 3. No assessments shall
be levied except after a ballot con­
ducted under such general rules as
may be decided upon by a majority
vote of the membership, provided
that:

(a) The ballot must be secret.
(b) The assessment must be

approved by a majority of the valid
ballots cast.

Section 4. Except as otherwise

Continued on page 25



Present Constitution - SIUNA -AGLIWD
Continued from page 24
provided by law, all payments by
members or other affiliates of this
Union shall be applied successively
to the monetary obligations owed the
Union commencing with the oldest in
point of time, as measured from the
date of accrual of such obligation.
The period of arrears shall be calcu­
lated accordingly.

Section 5. To the extent deemed
appropriate by the majority of the
Executive Board, funds and assets of
the Union may be kept in an account
or accounts without separation as to
purpose and expended for all Union
purposes and objects.

Article XII
Other Types of Union

Affiliation
To the extent permitted by law,

this Union, by majority vote of the
membership, may provide for affilia­
tion with it by individuals in a lesser
capacity than membership, or in a
capacity other than membership. By
majority vote of the membership the
Union may provide for the rights and
obligations incident to such capaci­
ties or affiliations. These rights and
obligations may include, but are not
limited to (a) the applicability or non­
applicability of all or any part of the
Constitution; (b) the terms of such
affiliation; ( c) the right of the Union
to peremptory termination of such
affiliation and, ( d) the fees required
for such affiliation. In no event may
anyone not a member receive evi­
dence of affiliation equivalent to that
of members, receive priority or rights
over members, or be termed a mem­
ber.

Article XIII
Quorums

Section 1. Unless elsewhere
herein otherwise specifically provid­
ed, the quorum for a special meeting
of a Port shall be six ( 6) full book
members.

Section 2. The quorum for a reg­
ular meeting of a Port shall be fifty
(50) members.

Section 3. Unless otherwise
specifically set forth herein, the deci­
sions, reports, recommendations, or
other functions of any segment of the
Union requiring a quorum to act offi­
cially, shall be a majority of those
voting, and shall not be official or
effective unless the quorum require­
ments are met.

Section 4. Unless otherwise indi­
cated herein, where the requirements
for a quorum are not specifically set
forth, a quorum shall be deemed to be
a majority of those composing the
applicable segment of the Union.

Article XXlll
Meetings

Section 1. Regular membership
meetings shall be held monthly only
in the following constitutional Ports
at the following times:

During the week following the
first Sunday of every month a meet­
ing shall be held on Monday- at
Piney Point; on Tuesday-at New
York; on Wednesday-at Phila­
delphia; on Thursday-at Baltimore;
and on Friday-at Detroit-Algonac.
During the next week, meetings shall
be held on Monday-at Houston; on
Tuesday-at New Orleans; on
Wednesday-at Mobile; on
Thursday-at San Francisco; and on
Friday-at St. Louis. All regular
membership meetings shall com­
mence at 10:30 A.M. local time.
Where a meeting day falls on a
Holiday officially designated as such
by the authorities of the state or
municipality in which a Port is locat­
ed, the Port meeting shall take place
on the following business day.
Saturday and Sunday shall not be
deemed business days.

The Area Vice-Presidents shall be
the chairmen of all regular meetings

Ot:tober 2000

in Ports in their respective areas. In
the event the Area Vice-Presidents
are unable to attend a regular meeting
of a Port, they shall instruct the Port
Agents, or other elected jobholders,
to act as chairmen of the meetings.

In the event a quorum is not pre­
sent at 10:30 A.M. the chairman of
the meeting at the pertinent Port shall
postpone the opening of the meeting
but in no event later than 11 :00 A.M.

Section 2. A special meeting at a
Port may be called only at the direc­
tion of the Area Vice-President, Area
Assistant Vice-President or Port
Agent. No special meeting may be
held, except between the hours of
9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Notice of
such meeting shall be posted at least
two (2) hours in advance on the Port
bulletin board.

The Area Vice-Presidents shall be
the chairmen of all special meetings
in Ports in their respective areas. In
the event the Area Vice-Presidents
are unable to attend a special meeting
of a Port, they shall instruct the Area
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Port
Agents, or other elected jobholders,
to act as chairmen of the meetings.

Section 3. Notwithstanding any­
thing to the contrary, all regular meet­
ings shall be governed by the follow­
ing:

l The Union Constitution.
2. Majority vote of the mem­

bers assembled.

Article XXIV
DeflnHlons and Miscellaneous

Provisions Relating lhereto
Section 1. Incapacity. Unless

otherwise set forth or dealt with here­
in, the term "incapacity," shall mean
any illness or situation preventing the
affected person from carrying out his
duties for more than thirty (30) days,
provided that this does not result in a
vacancy. However, nothing contained
in this Article shall be deemed to
prohibit the execution of the func­
tions of more than one (1) job and/or
office in which event no incapacity
shall be deemed to exist with regard
to the regular job or office of the one
taking over the duties and functions
of the one incapacitated. The period
of incapacity shall be the time during
which the circumstances exist.

Section 2. Unless otherwise set
forth or dealt with herein the term
"vacancy" shall include failure to
perform the functions of any office or
job by reason of death, or resignation,
or suspension from membership or
expulsion from the Union with no
further right to appeal in accordance
with the provisions of Article XV of
this Constitution.

Section 3. When applicable to
the Union as a whole, the term
"majority vote of the membership"
shall mean the majority of all the
valid votes cast by full book mem­
bers at an official meeting of those
Ports holding meetings. This defini­
tion shall prevail notwithstanding
that one ( 1) or more Ports cannot
hold meetings because of no quorum,
For the purpose of this Section, the
term "meeting" shall refer to those
meetings to be held during the time
period within which a vote must be
taken in accordance with the
Constitution and the custom and
usage of the Union in the indicated
priority.

Section 4. When applicable sole­
ly to Port action and not concerned
with or related to the Union as a
whole, and not forming part of a
Union-wide vote. the term "majority
vote of the membership" shall refer
to the majority of the valid votes cast
by the full book members at any
meeting of the Port, regular or spe­
cial.

Section 5. The term "member­
ship action," or reference thereto,
shall mean the same as the term
"majority vote of the membership.••

Section 6. Where the title of any
officer or job, or the holder thereof, is
set forth in this Constitution, all ref-

erences thereto and the provisions
concerned therewith shall be deemed
to be equally applicable to whomever
is duly acting in such office or job.

Section 7. The term "election
year" shall be deemed to mean that
calendar year prior to the calendar
year in which elected officials and
other elected jobholders are required
to assume office.

Section 8. The terms "this
Constitution" and "this amended
Constitution" shall be deemed to
have the same meaning and shall
refer to the Constitution as amended
which takes the place of the one
adopted by the Union in 1939, as
amended up through July, 1989.

Section 9. The term "member in
good standing" shall mean a member
whose monetary obligations to the
Union are not in arrears for thirty
(30) days or more, or who is not
under suspension or expulsion effec­
tive in accordance with this
Constitution. Unless otherwise
expressly indicated, the term "mem­
ber" shall mean a member in good
standing.

Section 10. Unless plainly other­
wise required by the context of their
use, the terms "Union book," "mem­
bership book" and "book," shall
mean official evidence of Union
membership.

Section 11. The term "full book"
or "full Union book" shall mean only
an official certificate issued as evi­
dence of Union membership which
carries with it complete rights and
privileges of membership except as
may be specifically constitutionally
otherwise provided.

Section 12. The term "full book
member" shall mean a member to
whom a full book has been duly
issued and who is entitled to retain it
in accordance with the provisions of
this Constitution.

Section 13. The term "seatime"
shall include employment upon any
navigable waters or days of employ­
ment in a contracted employer unit
represented by the Union.

Section 14. The term "in an unli­
censed capacity aboard an American­
flag merchant vessel or vessels" shall
include persons employed in an unli­
censed or licensed capacity aboard
dredges, tugboats, towboats and sim­
ilar vessels used to tow, propel, or
push barges or other conveyances or
assist merchant vessels in docking or
undocking, or persons otherwise
employed in a contracted employer
unit represented by the Union.

Artlcle XIV
Amendments

This Constitution shall be amend­
ed in the following manner:

Section 1. Any full book member
may submit at any regular meeting of
any Port proposed amendments to
this Constitution in resolution form.
If a majority vote of the membership
of the Port approves it, the proposed
amendment shall be forwarded to all
Ports for further action.

Section 2. When a proposed
amendment is accepted by a majority
vote of the membership, it shall be
referred to a Constitutional Com­
mittee in the Port where Head­
quarters is located. This Committee
shall be composed of six (6) full book
members, two (2) from each depart­
ment and shall be elected in accor­
dance with such rules as are estab­
lished by a majority vote of that Port.
The Committee will act on all pro­
posed amendments referred to it. The
Committee may receive whatever
advice and assistance, legal or other­
wise. it deems necessary. It shall pre­
pare a report on the amendment
together with any proposed changes
or substitutions or recommendations
and the reasons for such recommen­
dations. The latter shall then be sub­
mitted to the membership. If a major­
ity vote of the membership approves
the amendment as recommended, it
shall then be voted upon in a yes or

no vote by the membership of the
Union by secret ballot in accordance
with the procedure directed by the
majority vote of the membership at
the time it gives the approval neces­
sary to put the referendum to a vote.
The Union Tallying Committee shall
consist of six ( 6) full book members
two (2) from each of the three (3)
departments of the Union, elected
from Headquarters Port. The amend­
ment shall either be printed on the
ballot, or if too lengthy, shall be
referred to on the ballot. Copies of
the amendment shall be posted on the
bulletin boards of all Ports and made
available at the voting site in all
Ports.

Section 3. If approved by a
majority of the valid ballots cast, the
amendment shall become effective
immediately upon notification by the
aforesaid Union Tallying Committee
to the Secretary-Treasurer that the
amendment has been so approved,
unless otherwise specified in the
amendment. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall immediately notify all Ports of
the results of the vote on the amend­
ment.

EXHIBIT A
Minimal requirements to be con­

tained in Constitution of subordinate
bodies and divisions chartered by or
affiliated with the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District.

All members shall have equal
rights and privileges, subject to rea­
sonable rules and regulations. con­
tained in this Constitution, including
secret election, freedom of speech,
the right to hold office and the right
of secret votes on assessment and
dues increases, all in accordance
with the law.

II
No member may be automatically

suspended from membership except
for non-payment of dues, and all
members shall be afforded a fair
hearing upon written charges, with a
reasonable time to prepare defense,
when accused of an offense under the
Constitution.

Ill
This Union is chartered by (and/or

affiliated with), the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District, and this
Constitution and any amendments
thereto, shall not take effect unless
and until approved as set forth in the
Constitution of that Union.

IV
An object of this Union is, within

its reasonable capacity, to promote
the welfare of, and assist, the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District.

v
The charter (and/or affiliation)

relationship between this Union and
the Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District shall not
be dissolved so long as at least ten
(10) members of this Union, and the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District acting
through its Executive Board wish to
continue such relationship.

VI
No amendment to this

Constitution shall be effective unless
and until approved by at least two­
thirds vote of the membership in a
secret referendum conducted for that
purpose. In any event, the adoption of
this Constitution and any amend­
ments thereto, will not be effective
unless and until compliance with

Article II of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District is first
made.

VII
The Seafarers International Union

of North America-Atlantic, Gulf,
Lakes and Inland Waters District
shall have the right to check, inspect
and make copies of all the books and
records of this Union upon demand.

VIII
This Union shall not take any

action which will have the effect of
reducing its net assets, calculated
through recognized accounting pro­
cedures, below the amount of its
indebtedness to the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District, unless
approved by that Union through its
Executive Board.

IX
So Long as there exists any indebt­

edness by this Union to the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District, that Union
shall have the right to appoint a rep­
resentative or representatives to this
Union who shall have the power to
attend all meetings of this Union or
its sub-divisions, or governing
boards, if any, and who shall have
access to all books and records of this
Union on demand. This representa­
tive, or these representatives, shall be
charged with the duty of assisting this
Union and its membership, and act­
ing as a liaison between the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District and this
Union.

X
So long as any unpaid per capita

tax, or any other indebtedness of any
sort is owed by this Union to the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District, such
indebtedness shall constitute a first
lien on the assets of this Union,
which lien shall not be impaired
without the written approval of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District acting
through its Executive Board.

XI
The per capita tax payable by this

Union to the Seafarers International
Union of North America-Atlantic,
Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters
District shall be that which is fixed in
accordance with the terms of the
Constitution of that Union.

XII
This Constitution and actions by

this Union pursuant thereto are sub­
ject to those provisions of the
Constitution of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District pertaining to
affiliation, disaffiliation, trusteeships,
and the granting and removal of char­
ters.

XIII
This Union shall be affiliated with

the Seafarers International Union of
North America through the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and
Inland Waters District. It shall share
in, and participate as part of the dele­
gation of that District to the
Convention of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America in accordance with the pro­
visions of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District.

Seafarers LOii 25

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AMERICAN FEDERATION OF LABOR CONGRESS
OF INDUSTRIAL ORGANIZATIONS

*'nle proposed changes from the present constitution have been highlighted to make comparisons between Ille two lllOl'e easily ldenlllled •

PREAMBLE
As maritime and allied workers

and realizing the value and necessity
of a thorough organization, we are
dedicated to the forming of one
Union for our people, the Seafarers
International Union of North
America-Atlantic, Gult: Lakes and
Inland Waters District-NMU, based
upon the following principles:

All members shall be entitled to
all the rights, privileges and guaran­
tees as set forth in this Constitution,
and such rights, privileges and guar­
antees shall be preserved in accor­
dance with its terms.

We declare that American seamen
are entitled to receive their employ­
ment without interference of crimps,
shipowners, fink halls or any ship­
ping bureaus maintained by the
Government.

We affirm that every worker has
the right to receive fair and just remu­
neration for his labor and gain suffi­
cient leisure for mental cultivation
and physical recreation.

We proclaim the right of all sea­
men to receive healthful and suffi­
cient food and proper forecastles in
which to rest. We defend the
right of all seamen to be treated in a
decent and respectful manner by
those in command, and

We hold that the above rights
belong to all workers alike, irrespec­
tive of nationality or creed.

Recognizing the foregoing as our
inalienable rights, we are conscious
of corresponding duties to those in
command, our employers, our craft
and our country.

We will, therefore, try by all just
means to promote harmonious rela­
tions with those in command by exer­
cising due care and diligence in the
performance of the duties of our pro­
fession and by giving all possible
assistance to our employers in caring
for their gear and property.

Based upon these principles, it is
among our objects: To use our influ­
ence individually and collectively for
the purpose of maintaining and
developing skill in seamanship and
effecting a change in the maritime
law of the United States so as to ren­
der it more equitable and to make it
an aid instead of a hindrance to the
development of a merchant marine
and a body of American seamen.

To support a journal which shall
voice the sentiments of maritime
workers and through its columns seek
to maintain their knowledge of, and
interest in, maritime affairs.

To assist the seamen of other
countries in the work of organization
and federation to the end of establish­
ing the Brotherhood of the Sea.

To form and to assist by legal
means other bonafide labor organiza­
tions whenever possible in the attain­
ment of their just demands.

To regulate our conduct as a
Union and as individuals so as to
make seamanship what it rightly is-

26 Sealal'fll'S LOS

an honorable and useful calling. And
bearing in mind that we are migrato­
ry, that our work takes us away in dif­
ferent directions from any place
where the majority might otherwise
meet to act, that meetings can be
attended by only a fraction of the
membership, that the absent mem­
bers who cannot be present must
have their interests guarded from
what might be the results of excite­
ment and passions aroused by per­
sons or conditions, and that those
who are present may act for and in
the interest of all, we have adopted
this Constitution.

Statement of Principles and
Declaration of Rights

In order to form a more perfect
Union, we workers in the maritime
and allied industries, realizing the
value and necessity of uniting in pur­
suit of our improved economic and
social welfare, have determined to
bind ourselves together in the
Seafarers International Union of
North America-Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes
and Inland Waters District-NMU, and
hereby dedicate ourselves to the fol­
lowing principles:

In promoting our economic and
social welfare, we shall ever be
mindful, not only of our rights, but
also of our duties and obligations as
members of the community, our
duties as citizens, and our duty to
combat the menace of communism
and any other enemies of freedom
and the democratic principles to
which we seafaring men dedicate
ourselves in this Union.

We shall affiliate and work with
other free labor organizations; we
shall support a journal to give addi­
tional voice to our views; we shall
assist our brothers of the sea and
other workers of all countries in these
obligations to the fullest extent con­
sistent with our duties, obligations
and law. We shall seek to exert our
individual and collective influence in
the fight for the enactment of labor
and other legislations and policies
which look to the attainment of a free
and happy society without distinction
based on race, creed or color.

To govern our conduct as a Union
and bearing in mind that most of our
members are migratory, that their
duties carry them all over the world,
that their rights must and shall be
protected, we hereby declare these
rights as members of the Union to be
inalienable.

No member shall be deprived of
any of the rights or privileges guaran­
teed him under the Constitution of
the Union.

II
Every qualified member shall

have the right to nominate himself
for, and, if elected, or appointed, to

...

hold office in this Union.

Ill
No member shall be deprived of

his membership without due process
of the law of this Union. No member
shall be compelled to be a witness
against himself in the trial of any pro­
ceeding in which he may be charged
with failure to observe the law of this
Union. Every official and jobholder
shall be bound to uphold and protect
the rights of every member in accor­
dance with the principles set forth in
the Constitution of the Union.

IV
Every member shall have the right

to be confronted by his accuser
whenever he is charged with violat­
ing the law of this Union. In all such
cases, the accused shall be guaran­
teed a fair and speedy trial by an
impartial committee of his brother
Union members.

v
No member shall be denied the

right to express himself freely on the
floor of any Union meeting or in
committee.

VI
A militant membership being nec­

essary to the security of a free union,
the members shall at all times stand
ready to defend this Union and the
principles set forth in the
Constitution of the Union.

VII
The powers not delegated to the

officers, job holders, and Executive
Board by the Constitution of the
Union shall be reserved to the mem­
bers.

CONSTITUTION
Article I

Name and General Powers
This Union shall be known as the

Seafarers International-. Union. of
North America-Atlantic, · Gutt Lakes
and .Inland Waters District#NMU. Its
powers shall be legislative, judicial,
and executive, and shall include the
formation of, and/or issuance of char­
ters to, subordinate bodies and divi­
sions, corporate or otherwise, the for­
mation of funds and participation in
funds, the establishment of enterpris­
es for the benefit of the Union and
similar ventures. This Union shall
exercise all of its powers in aid of
subordinate bodies and divisions cre­
ated or chartered by it. For conve­
nience of administration and in fur­
therance of its policies of aid and
assistance, the Union may make its
property, facilities and personnel
available for the use and on behalf of
such subordinate bodies and divi­
sions. A majority vote of the mem­
bership shall be authorization for any

Union action, unless otherwise speci­
fied in the Constitution or by law.
This Union shall at all times protect
and maintain its jurisdiction.

Article II
Affiliation

Section 1. This Union shall be
affiliated with the Seafarers
International Union of North
America and the American
Federation of Labor-Congress of
Industrial Organizations. All other
affiliations by the Union or its subor­
dinate bodies or divisions shall be
made or withdrawn as determined by
a majority vote of the Executive
Board.

Section 2. In addition to such
other provisions as are contained
herein, all subordinate bodies and
divisions seeking a charter from
and/or affiliation with this Union,
shall be required to adopt, within a
time period set by the Executive
Board, a Constitution containing pro­
visions as set forth in Exhibit A,
annexed to this Constitution and
made a part hereof. All other provi­
sions adopted by such subordinate
bodies and divisions as part of their
Constitution shall not be inconsistent
therewith. No such Constitution or
amendments thereto shall be deemed
to be effective without the approval
of the Executive Board of this Union,
which shall be executed in writing,
on its behalf, by the President or, in
his absence, by any other officer des­
ignated by it. Such approval shall be
deemed to be recognition of compli­
ance herewith by such subordinate
body or division.

Where a subordinate body or divi­
sion violates any of the foregoing,
and, in particular, seeks to effectuate
any constitutional provision not so
authorized and approved, or commits
acts in violation of its approved con­
stitution, or fails to act in accordance
therewith, this Union, through its
Executive Board, may withdraw its
charter and/or sever its affiliation
forthwith, or on such terms as it may
impose not inconsistent with law, in
addition to exercising any and all
rights it may have pursuant to any
applicable agreements or understand­
ings.

Section 3. This Union shall also
have the power, acting through its
Executive Board, and after a fair
hearing, to impose a trusteeship upon
any subordinate body or divisions
chartered by an affiliated with it, for
the reasons and to the extent provid­
ed by law.

Article Ill
Membership

Section 1. There shall be two
classes of membership, to wit, full
book members and probationary
members. Candidates for member­
ship shall be admitted to membership
in accordance with such rules as may

be adopted from time to time by a
majority vote of the membership and
which rules shall not be inconsistent
with the prov1s1ons of this
Constitution. All candidates with two
hundred and sixty (260) days or more
seatime in a consecutive twenty-four
(24) calendar month period com­
mencing from January 1, 1968, in an
unlicensed capacity, aboard an
American-flag merchant vessel or
vessels, covered by contract with this
Union, shall be eligible for full mem­
bership. All persons with less than
the foregoing seatime but at least
thirty (30) days of such seatime, shall
be eligible for probationary member­
ship. Only full book members shall
be entitled to vote and to bold any
office or elective job, except as other­
wise specified herein. All probation­
ary members shall have a voice in
Union proceedings and shall be enti­
tled to vote on Union contracts.

Section 2. No candidate shall be
granted membership who is a mem­
ber of any dual organization hostile
to the aims, principles and policies of
this Union.

The members, by majority vote,
shall at all times have the right to
determine the membership status of
pensioners.

Section 3. Members more than
one (1) quarter in arrears in dues shall
be automatically suspended and shall
forfeit all benefits and all other rights
and privileges in the Union. They
shall be automatically dismissed if
they are more than two (2) quarters in
arrears in dues. An arrearage in dues
shall be computed from the first day
of the applicable quarter, but this
time shall not run:

(a) While a member is actually
participating in a strike or lockout.

(b) While a member is an in­
patient in an accredited hospital.

( c) While a member is under an
incapacity due to activity in behalf of
the Union.

( d) While a member is in the
armed services of the United States,
provided the member was in good
standing at the time of entry into the
armed forces, and further provided he
applies for reinstatement within nine­
ty (90) days after discharge from the
armed forces.

(e) While a member has no
opportunity to pay dues because of
employment aboard an American­
flag merchant vessel. The provision
of this Sub-section ( e) shall be inap­
plicable when such merchant vessel
is operating upon the Great Lakes or
upon the harbors, rivers or territorial
waters of the United States.

Section 4. A majority vote of
the membership shall be sufficient to
designate additional circumstances
during which the time specified in
Section 3 shall not run. It shall be the
right of any member to present, in
writing, to any Port at any regular
meeting any question with regard to

Continued on page 27



Proposed Constitution - SIUllA - AGLIWD-llMU
Continued from page 26
the application of Section 3, in accor­
dance with procedures established by
a majority vote of the membership. A
majority vote of the membership
shall be necessary to decide such
questions.

Section 5. The membership
shall be empowered to establish,
from time to time, by majority vote,
rules under which dues and assess­
ments may be excused where a mem­
ber has been unable to pay dues and
assessments for the reasons provided
in Sections 3 and 4.

Section 6. To preserve unity,
and to promote the common welfare
of the membership, all members of
the Union shall uphold and defend
this Constitution and shall be gov­
erned by the provisions of this
Constitution and all policies, rulings,
orders and decisions duly made.

Section 7. Any member who
gives aid to the principles and poli­
cies of any hostile or dual organiza­
tion shall be denied further member­
ship in this Union to the full extent
permitted by law. A majority vote of
the membership shall decide which
organizations are dual or hostile.

Section 8. Evidence of mem­
bership or other affiliation with the
Union shall be in such form or forms
as determined by the Executive
Board and shall at all times remain
the property of the Union. Members
may be required to show their evi­
dence of membership in order to be
admitted to Union meetings, or into,
or on Union property.

Article IV
Reinstatement

Members dismissed from the
Union may be reinstated in accor­
dance with such rules and under such
conditions as are adopted, from time
to time, by a majority vote of the
membership.

Article V
Dues and Initiation Fee

Section 1. All members' dues
shall consist of:

(a) Dues annually in the sum of
~f(}ft#l)yq9t~d ~follars ($4-00.00) which
shall be paid in equal amounts on a
calendar year basis, no later than the
first business day of each calendar
quarter, and;

(b) A sum equal to five percent
(5%) of the gross amount received
for vacation benefits for days worked
for contracted employers. Dues
payable under this Sub-section (b)
shall be payable on the days that the
member receives payment for the
earned vacation benefits and shall
become effective as to members in
the manner designated and deter­
mined by a majority vote of the mem­
bership by secret ballot. When so
determined by the membership,
members in the employ of the Union,
its subdivisions and its affiliated
organizations, or in any employment
at the Union's direction as provided
for in Article XII, Section 1 (a) and
( c ), shall pay in addition to that pro­
vided for in paragraph (a) immediate­
ly above the sum of one hundred dol:
!~$':($l00,00) quarterly on a calendar
year basis, no later than the first busi­
ness day of each quarter while so
employed.

Section 2. No candidate for full
book membership shall be admitted
into such membership without hav­
ing paid an initiation fee of six hun­
dred dollars ($600.00), except as oth­
erwise provided in this Constitution.
In addition, the candidate shall pay a
ten dollar ($10.00) "service fee" for
the issuance of his full book.

Each candidate for probationary
membership and each probationary
member shall, with the payment of
each of his first quarterly dues, as
required by Section 1, pay at each
such time the sum of one hundred
and fifty dollars ($150.00) as partial
initiation fee. The total of such initia-

October 2000

tion monies so paid shall be credited
to his above required initiation fee for
a full book member upon completion
of the required seatime as provided
for in Article III, Section 1.

Section 3. Payment of dues and
initiation fee may be waived for orga­
nizational purposes in accordance
with such rules as are adopted by a
majority vote of the Executive Board.

Section 4. All members shall be
and remain in good standing.

Article VI
Retirement from Membership

Section 1. Members may retire
from membership by surrendering
their Union books or other evidence
of affiliation and paying all unpaid
dues for the quarter in which they
retire, assessments, fines and other
monies due and owing the Union.
When the member surrenders his
book or other evidence of affiliation
in connection with his application for
retirement he shall be given a receipt
therefore. An official retirement card
shall be issued by Headquarters,
upon request, dated as of the day that
such member accomplishes these
payments and shall be given to the
member upon presenting the afore­
said receipt.

Section 2. All the rights, privi­
leges, duties and obligations of mem­
bership shall be suspended during the
period of retirement, except that a
retired member shall not be disloyal
to the Union nor join or remain in any
dual or hostile organization, upon
penalty or forfeiture of his right to
reinstatement.

Section 3. Any person in retire­
ment for a period of two (2) quarters
or more shall be restored to member­
ship, except as herein indicated, by
paying dues for the current quarter, as
well as all assessment accruing and
newly levied during the period of
retirement. If the period of retirement
is less than two (2) quarters, the
required payment shall consist of all
dues accruing during the said period
of retirement, including those levied
during that period. Upon such pay­
ment, the person in retirement shall
be restored to membership, and his
membership book, appropriately
stamped, shall be returned to him.

Section 4. A member in retire­
ment may be restored to membership
after a one (1) year period of retire­
ment consisting of four ( 4) full quar­
ters only by a majority vote of the
membership.

Section S. The period of retire­
ment shall be computed from the first
day of the quarter following the one
in which the retirement card was
issued.

Section 6. No member may
retire his membership during the
period of a strike or lockout.

Article VII
Systems of Organization
Section 1. This Union and all

officers, Assistant Vice-Presidents,
Headquarters Representatives, Port
Agents, and members shall be gov­
erned in this order by:

(a) The Constitution
(b) The Executive Board
(c) Majority vote of the mem­

bership
Section 2. The Headquarters of

the Union shall be located in Camp
Springs, Maryland and Piney Point,
Maryland or at such places as the
Executive Board may determine from
time to time. The Headquarters offi­
cers shall consist of a President, an
Executive Vice-President, one ( 1)
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement,
a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters and

one (1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries and two (2) Vice­
Presidents at Large.

Section 3. The staff of each
Port shall consist of such personnel
as is provided for herein and the Port
shall bear the name of the city in
which the Union's Port Offices are
located.

Article VIII
Officers, Assistant Vice­
Presidents, Headquarters

Representatives and
Port Agents

Section 1. The officers of the
Union shall be elected as otherwise
provided in this Constitution. These
officers shall be the President, an
Executive Vice-President, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement,
a Secretary-Treasurer, one (1) Vice­
President in Charge of the Atlantic
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast, one (1)
Vice-President in Charge of the West
Coast, one (1) Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters, and
one ( 1) Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing

~:~1:.~~1il~~~g}Jj){{~/i;iifiiii£i'.i
Section 2. Assistant Vice-

Presidents, Headquarters Repre­
sentatives and Port Agents shall be
elected, except as otherwise provided
in this Constitution.

Article IX
Other Elective Jobs

Section 1. In addition to the
elective jobs provided for in Article
VIII, the following jobs in the Union
shall be voted upon in the manner
prescribed by this Constitution:

Committee members of:
( 1) Trial Committees
(2) Annual Financial Committees
(3) Appeals Committees
(4) Strike Committees
(5) Credentials Committees
( 6) Union Tallying Committees
(7) Constitutional Committees
Section 2. Additional commit-

tees may be formed as provided by a
majority vote of the membership.
Committees may also be appointed as
permitted by this Constitution.

Article X
Duties of Officers, Assistant

Vice-Presidents, Headquarters
Representatives, Port Agents,
Other Elected Jobholders and

Mlscellaneous Personnel
Section 1. (a) The President

shall be the executive officer of the
Union and shall represent, and act for
and in behalf of the Union in all mat­
ters except as otherwise specifically
provided for in the Constitution.

(b) He shall be a member ex-offi­
cio of all committees, except as oth­
erwise herein expressly provided.

( c) The President shall be in
charge of, and responsible for, all
Union property, and shall be in
charge of Headquarters and Port
offices. Wherever there are time
restrictions or other considerations
affecting Union action, the President
shall take appropriate action to insure
observance thereof.

( d) In order that he may properly
execute his responsibilities, he is
hereby instructed and authorized to
employ any help he deems necessary,
be it legal, accounting or otherwise.

(e) Subject to approval by a
majority vote of the membership and
the Executive Board, the President
shall designate the number and loca­
tion of all Ports, the jurisdiction, sta­
tus and activities thereof, and may
reduce and/or relocate such Ports,
and may reassign Vice-Presidents,
Assistant Vice-Presidents and the
Secretary-Treasurer without reduc-

tion in wages. He may also reassign
Headquarters Representatives and
Port Agents to other duties without
reduction in wages.

Where Ports are opened between
elections, the President shall desig­
nate the Union personnel thereof.

The President may designate, in
the event of the incapacity of any
Headquarters Representative or Port
Agent, or any officer other than the
President, a replacement to act as
such during the period of incapacity,
provided such replacement is quali­
fied under Article XII of the
Constitution to fill such job.

At the regular meeting in May of
every election year, the President
shall submit to the membership a pre­
balloting report. In his report he shall
recommend the number and location
of Ports and the number of
Headquarters Representatives and
Port Agents who are to be elected. He
shall also recommend a bank, a bond­
ed warehouse, a regular office there­
of, or any similar depository, to
which the ballots are to be mailed,
except that the President may, in his
discretion, postpone the recommen­
dations as to the depository until no
later than the first regular meeting in
October.

The report shall be subject to
approval or modification by a major­
ity vote of the membership.

(f) The President shall be chair­
man of the Executive Board and may
cast one ( 1) vote in that body.

(g) He shall be responsible, with­
in the limits of his powers, for the
enforcement of this Constitution, the
policies of the Union, and all rules
and rulings adopted by the Executive
Board, and those duly adopted by a
majority vote of the membership.
Within these limits, he shall strive to
enhance the strength, position, and
prestige of the Union.

(h) The foregoing duties shall be
in addition to those other duties law­
fully imposed upon him.

(i) The responsibility of the
President may not be delegated, but
the President may delegate to a per­
son or persons the execution of such
of his duties as he may in his discre­
tion decide, subject to the limitations
set forth in this Constitution.

(j) Any vacancy in any office or
the job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative or Port
Agent shall be filled by the President
by temporary appointment of a mem­
ber qualified for the office or job
under Article XII of this Constitution
except in those cases where the fill­
ing of such vacancy is otherwise pro­
vided for by this Constitution

(k) The President is directed to
take any and all measures and
employ such means which he deems
necessary or advisable to protect the
interests and further the welfare of
the Union and its members in all mat­
ters involving national, state or local
legislation issues and public affairs.

(1) The President shall have the
authority to require any officer or
Union representative to attend any
regular or special meeting if, in his
opinion, it is deemed necessary.

Section 2 Executive Vice-
President.

The Executive Vice-President
shall perform any and all duties
assigned him or delegated to him by
the President. The Executive Vice­
President shall be a member of the
Executive Board and may cast one
( 1) vote in that body.

Section 3. Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement
shall perform any and all duties
assigned him or delegated to him by
the President. In addition, he shall be
responsible for all contract negotia­
tions, the formulation of bargaining
demands, and the submission of pro­
posed collective bargaining agree­
ments to the membership for ratifica­
tion. He shall also be responsible,

except as otherwise provided in
Article X, Section 15( d) ( 1 ), for
strike authorization, signing of new
contracts and contract enforcement.
He shall also act for Headquarters in
executing the administrative func­
tions assigned to Headquarters by
this Constitution with respect to trials
and appeals except if he is a witness
or party thereto, in which event the
Secretary-Treasurer shall act in his
place. In order that he may properly
execute these responsibilities he is
hereby instructed and authorized to
employ such help as he deems neces­
sary, be it legal, or otherwise, subject
to approval of the Executive Board.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement
shall be a member of the Executive
Board and may cast one (1) vote in
that body.

Section 4. Secretary-Treasurer.
The Secretary-Treasurer shall per­

form any and all duties assigned him
or delegated to him by the President.
He shall be responsible for the orga­
nization and maintenance of the cor­
respondence, files, and records of the
Union; setting up, and maintenance
of, sound accounting and bookkeep­
ing systems; the setting up, and main­
tenance of, proper office and other
administrative Union procedures; the
proper collection, safeguarding, and
expenditure of all Union funds, Port
or otherwise. He shall submit to the
membership, for each annual period,
a detailed report of the entire Union's
financial operations and shall submit
the Annual Financial Committee
report for the same period. The
Secretary-Treasurer's report shall be
prepared by an independent certified
public accountant. He shall also work
with all duly elected finance commit­
tees. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be
responsible for the timely filing of
any and all reports on the operations
of the Union, financial or otherwise,
that may be required by any Federal
or state laws. The Secretary­
Treasurer with the approval of the
President shall employ a person who
by profession and/or employment
shall qualify to perform the functions
and duties of a Comptroller. Such
person shall be responsible for the
maintenance, safeguard and verifica­
tion of the Union's financial affairs
and records under the supervision
and direction of the Secretary­
Treasurer. The responsibility for such
functions shall be that of the
Secretary-Treasurer notwithstanding
the delegation to such Comptroller.
In order that he may properly execute
his responsibilities, he is hereby
instructed and authorized to employ
any help he deems necessary, be it
legal, accounting, or otherwise, sub­
ject to approval of the Executive
Board.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be a
member of the Executive Board and
may cast one ( 1) vote in that body.

The Secretary-Treasurer shall be a
member ex-officio of the Credentials
and Union Tallying Committees. In
addition, he shall make himself and
the records of his office available to
the Annual Financial Committee.

Section 5. Vice-President m
Charge of the Atlantic Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Atlantic Coast shall be a member
of the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the
Atlantic Coast including their orga­
nizing activities. The Atlantic Coast
area is deemed to mean that area
from and including Georgia through
Maine and shall also include the
Islands in the Caribbean. In order that
he may properly execute his respon­
sibilities he is empowered and autho­
rized to retain any technical or pro­
fessional assistance he deems neces­
sary, subject to approval of the

Continued on page 28

Seafarers LOG 27



-

Proposed Constitution- SIUNA - AGLIWD-NlfU
Continued from page 27
Executive Board.

Section 6. Vice-President m
Charge of the Gulf Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Gulf Coast shall be a member of
the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the
Gulf Coast including their organizing
activities. The Gulf Coast area is
deemed to mean the State of Florida,
all through the Gulf, including Texas.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities he is empow­
ered and authorized to retain any
technical or professional assistance
he deems necessary, subject to
approval of the Executive Board.

Section 7. Vice-President m
Charge of the West Coast.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the West Coast shall be a member of
the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one ( 1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof on the West
Coast including their organizing
activities. The West Coast area is
deemed to mean the States of
California, Oregon, Washington,
Alaska, and Hawaii.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities, he is
empowered and authorized to retain
any technical or professional assis­
tance he deems necessary, subject to
the approval of the Executive Board.

Section 8. Vice-President in
Charge of the Southern Region,
Great Lakes and Inland Waters.

The Vice-President in Charge of
the Southern Region, Great Lakes
and Inland Waters shall be a member
of the Executive Board and shall be
entitled to cast one (1) vote in that
body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of all the Ports
and the personnel thereof in the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters including their orga­
nizing activities.

In order that he may properly exe­
cute his responsibilities, he is
empowered and authorized to retain
any technical or professional assis­
tance he deems necessary, subject to
approval of the Executive Board.

Section 9. Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries.

The Vice-President in Charge of
Government Services and Fishing
Industries shall be a member of the
Executive Board and shall be entitled
to cast one (1) vote in that body.

He shall supervise and be respon­
sible for the activities of the Union in
the representation of individuals
employed in fishing industries and
civilian seamen employed by the fed­
eral government including but not
limited to the negotiation of the col­
lective bargaining agreements, pro­
cessing grievances and the adminis­
tration of collective bargaining agree­
ments and shall direct the activities of
the Union personnel assigned to him
by the President and carry out such
other functions as the President may
assign to him from time to time.

Seclion 10. Vfce--l>tesidents at
Large. There shall be two (2) Vice­
Presid~µts at Large. ·whose duties
sh~ll be as directed by the President
with concurrence of the Executive
Board .. $uch duties and responsibili­
ties may be changed from time to
time in like manner, as dictated by
tlie needs of the Union.

· .Section 11. Assistant Vice-
Presidents.

There shall be six ( 6) Assistant
Vice-Presidents as follows: Assistant
Vice-President in Charge of
Contracts and Contract Enforcement;
Assistant Vice-President in Charge of
the Atlantic Coast; Assistant Vice

28 Seafarers LOG

President in Charge of the Gulf
Coast; Assistant Vice-President in
Charge of the West Coast; Assistant
Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters; and Assistant Vice­
President in Charge of Government
Services and Fishing Industries. Each
Assistant Vice-President shall work
with and under the direction of the
appropriate Vice-President. He shall
assist, as directed, in all activities of
the appropriate Vice-President and
shall be responsible to such Vice­
President.

Secti-on 12. Headquarters Repre­
sentatives.

The Headquarters Representa­
tives shall perform any and all duties
assigned them or delegated to them
by the President or the Executive
Board.

Section 13. Port Agents.
(a) The Port Agent shall be in

direct charge of the administration of
Union affairs in the Port of his juris­
diction subject to the direction of the
Area Vice-President.

(b) He shall, within the jurisdic­
tion of his Port, be responsible for the
enforcement and execution of the
Constitution, the policies of the
Union, and the rules adopted by the
Executive Board, and by a majority
vote of the membership. Wherever
there are time restrictions or other
considerations affecting Port action,
the Port Agent shall take appropriate
action to insure observance thereof.

( c) He shall be prepare to
account, financially or otherwise for
the activities of his Port, whenever
demanded by the President, the Vice­
President of the area in which his
Port is located, or by the Secretary­
Treasurer.

( d) In any event, he shall prepare
and forward to the Secretary­
Treasurer a weekly financial report
showing, in detail, weekly income
and expenses and complying with all
other accounting directions issued by
the Secretary-Treasurer.

( e) The Port Agent shall designate
which members at the Port may serve
as representatives to other organiza­
tions, affiliation with which has been
properly authorized.

Section 14. Executive Board.
The Executive Board shall consist

of the President, the Executive Vice­
President, the Vice- President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement, the Secretary­
Treasurer, the Vice- President in
Charge of the Atlantic Coast Area,
the Vice-President in Charge of the
Gulf Coast Area, the Vice-President
in Charge of the West Coast Area, the
Vice-President in Charge of the
Southern Region, Great Lakes and
Inland Waters, the Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries, the Vice­
Presidents at Large and the National
Director (or chief executive officer)
of each subordinate body or division
created or chartered by the Union
whenever such subordinate body or
division has attained a membership
of 3,200 members and has main­
tained that membership for not less
than three (3) months. Such National
Director (or chief executive officer)
shall be a member of the respective
subordinate body or division and
must be qualified to hold office under
the terms of the Constitution of such
division or subordinate body.

The Executive Board shall meet
no less than twice each year and at
such times as the President and/or a
majority of the Executive Board may
direct. The President shall be chair­
man of all Executive Board meetings
unless absent, in which case the
Executive Board shall designate the
chairman. Each member of the
Executive Board shall be entitled to
cast one (1) vote in that body. Its
decision shall be determined by
majority vote of those voting, provid­
ing a quorum of three (3) is present.
It shall be the duty of the Executive
Board to develop policies, strategies

and rules which will advance and
protect the interests and welfare of
the Union and the members. It shall
be the duty of the Secretary­
Treasurer or in his absence, an
appointee of the Executive Board, to
keep accurate minutes of all
Executive Board meetings. The
Executive Board shall determine per
capita tax to be levied and other
terms and conditions of affiliation for
any group of workers desiring affilia­
tion. The Executive Board may direct
the administration of all Union
affairs, properties, policies and per­
sonnel in any and all areas not other­
wise specifically provided for in this
Constitution. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Executive Board may
act without holding a formal meeting
provided all members are sent notice
of the proposed action or actions and
the decision thereon is reduced to
writing and signed by a majority of
the Executive Board.

In the event that death, resigna­
tion or removal from office for any
reason should occur to the President,
the Executive Board by majority vote
shall name a successor from its own
membership who shall fill that vacan­
cy until the next general election.

In the event the President is inca­
pacitated for a period of more than
thirty (30) days, and the Executive
Board by majority vote thereafter
determines that such incapacity pre­
vent the President from carrying out
his duties, the Executive Board by
majority vote may appoint from
among its own membership the offi­
cer to fill the office of President. This
appointment shall terminate upon the
President's recovery from such inca­
pacity or upon the expiration of the
President's term of office, whichever
occurs first.

The Executive Board by majority
vote may grant requests for leaves d
absence with or without pay to offi­
cers. In the event that a leave is grant­
ed to the President, the Executive
Board by a majority vote shall desig­
nate from among its own member­
ship who shall exercise the duties of
the President during such period of
leave.

Notwithstanding the provision of
Section 1 (j) of this Article X, the
Executive Board, by majority vote,
may determine not to fill any vacan­
cy in any office or job for any part of
an unexR~;~ t.;rm.

S~.;~))jf.f~~ Delegates.
(a) The term "delegates" shall

mean those members of the Union
and its subordinate bodies or divi­
sions who are elected in accordance
with the prov1s10ns of this
Constitution to attend the Convention
of the Seafarers International Union
of North America. The following
officers and jobholders, upon their
election to office or job shall, during
the term of their office or job be del­
egates to all Conventions of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America in the following order
of priority: President, Executive
Vice-President; Vice-President in
Charge of Contracts and Contract
Enforcement; Secretary-Treasurer;
Vice-President in Charge of the
Atlantic Coast; Vice-President in
Charge of the Gulf Coast; Vice­
President in Charge of the West
Coast; Vice President in Charge of
the Southern Region, Great Lakes
and Inland Waters; Vice-President in
Charge of Government Services and
Fishing Industries; Vi~e-Presidents at
Large; Assistant Vice-Presidents;
Headquarters Representatives, with
priority to those most senior in full
book Union membership; and Port
Agents, with priority to those most
senior in full book Union member­
ship.

(b) Each delegate shall, by his
vote and otherwise, support those
polices agreed upon by the majority
of the delegates to the Convention.

( c) The President shall assign to
each subordinate body or division
that number of delegates to which

this Union would have been entitled,
if its membership had been increased
by the number of members of the
subordinate body or division, m
accordance with the formula set forth
in the Constitution of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America, except that this provision
shall not be applied so as to reduce
the number of delegates to which this
Union would otherwise had been
entitled.

Section 16. Committees.
(a) Trial Committee.
The Trial Committee shall con­

duct the trials of a person charged
and shall submit findings and recom­
mendations as prescribed in this
Constitution. It shall be the special
obligation of the Trial Committee to
observe all the requirements of this
Constitution with regard to charges
and trials and their findings and rec­
ommendations must specifically state
whether or not, in the opinion of the
Trial Committee, the rights of any
accused, under this Constitution,
were properly safeguarded.

(b) Appeals Committee.
1. The Appeals Committee shall

hear all appeals from trial judgments,
in accordance with such procedures
as are set forth in this Constitution
and such rules as may be adopted by
a majority vote of the membership
not inconsistent therewith.

2. The Appeals Committee
shall, within not later than one (1)
week after the close of the · said hear­
ing, make and submit findings and
recommendations in accordance with
the provisions of this Constitution
and such rules as may be adopted by
a majority vote of the membership
not inconsistent therewith.

( c) Annual Financial Committee.
1. The Annual Financial

Committee shall make an examina­
tion for each annual period of the
finances of the Union and shall report
fully on their findings and recom­
mendations. Members of this
Committee may make dissenting
reports, separate recommendations
and separate findings.

2. The findings and recommen­
dations of this Committee shall be
completed within a reasonable time
and after the election of the members
thereof, and shall be submitted to the
Secretary-Treasurer who shall cause
the same to be read in all Ports, as set
forth herein.

3. All officers, Union personnel
and members are responsible for
complying with all demands made
for records, bills, vouchers, receipts,
etc., by the said Annual Financial
Committee. The Committee shall
also have available to it the services
of the independent certified public
accountants retained by the Union.

4. Any action on the said report
shall be as determined by a majority
vote of the membership.

5. The Annual Financial
Committee shall consist of seven (7)
full book members in good standing
to be elected at Headquarters. No
Officer, Headquarters Representative
or Port Agent shall be eligible for
election to this Committee.
Committee members shall be elected
at the regular Headquarters' meeting
designated by the Secretary­
Treasurer. In the event such regular
meeting cannot be held for lack of a
quorum, Headquarters' Port Agent
shall call a special meeting as early as
possible for the election of
Committee members to serve on the
Annual Financial Committee. On the
day following these elections and
continuing until the Committee has
completed its report, each Committee
member shall be paid for hours
worked at the existing AB Seaman
standby rate of pay, but in no event
shall they be paid less than eight (8)
hours per day. They shall be fur­
nished room and board during the
period they are performing their
duties.

In the event a Committee member
ceases to act, no replacement need to

be elected unless there are less than
three (3) Committee members, in
which event they shall suspend their
work until a special election for
Committee members shall be held as
provided above for such number of
Committee members as shall be nec­
essary to constitute a Committee of
not less than three (3) members in
good standing.

(d) Strike Committee.
1. In no event shall a general

strike take place unless approved by a
majority vote of the membership or
segment of the Union, whichever
applies.

2. In the event a general strike
has been approved by the member­
ship the Port Agents in all affected
Ports shall call a timely special meet­
ing for the purpose of electing a
Strike Committee. This Committee
shall be composed of three (3) full
book members and their duties shall
consist of assisting the Port Agent to
effectuate all strike policies and
strategies.

Article XI
Wages and Terms of Office of
Officers and Other Elective

Jobholders, Union Employees,
and Others

Section 1. The following elect­
ed officers and jobs shall be held for
a term of four (4) years; except the
term of officers and jobs elected in
balloting conducted in 197 5 shall be
for five (5) years:

President
Executive Vice-President
Secretary-Treasurer
Vice-Presidents
Assistant Vice-Presidents
Headquarters Representatives
Port Agents

The term of years set forth here is
expressly subject to the provisions
for assumption of office as contained
in Article XIII, Section 6(b) of this
Constitution.

Section 2. The term of any elec­
tive jobs other than those indicated in
Section 1 of this Article shall contin­
ue for so long as is necessary to com­
plete the functions thereof, unless
sooner terminated by a majority vote
of the membership or segment of the
Union, whichever applies, whose
vote was originally necessary to elect
the one or ones serving.

Section 3. The compensation to
be paid the holder of any office or
other elective job shall be determined
from time to time by the Executive
Board subject to approval of the
membership.

Section 4. The foregoing provi­
sions of this Article do not apply to
any corporation, business, or other
venture in which this Union partici­
pates, or which it organizes or cre­
ates. In such situations, instructions
conveyed by the Executive Board
shall be followed.

Article XII
Qualifications for Officers,
Assistant Vice-Presidents,

Headquarters Representatives,
Port Agents, and Other

Elective Jobs
Section 1. Any member of the

Union is eligible to be a candidate
for, and hold, any office or the job of
Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, or Port
Agent provided:

(a) He has at least three (3) years
of seatime in an unlicensed capacity
aboard an American-flag merchant
vessel or vessels. In computing time,
time spent in the employ of the
Union, its subsidiaries and its affili­
ates, or in any employment at the

Continued on page 29

October 2000



Proposed Constitution - SIUNA - AGLIWD-NllU
Continued from page 28
Union's direction, shall count the
same as seatime. Union records,
Welfare Plan records and/or company
records can be used to determine eli­
gibility; and

(b) He has been a full book mem­
ber in continuous good standing in
the Union for at least three (3) years
immediately prior to his nomination;
and

( c) He has at least one hundred
(100) days of seatime, in an unli­
censed capacity, aboard an
American-flag vessel or vessels cov­
ered by contract with this Union or
one hundred (100) days of employ­
ment with, or in any office or job of,
the Union, its subsidiaries and its
affiliates, or in any employment at
the Union's direction or a combina­
tion of these, between January 1 and
the time of nomination in the election
year, except if such seatime is wholly
aboard such merchant vessels operat­
ing solely upon the Great Lakes or, if
such seatime is wholly aboard tug­
boats, towboats or dredges and con­
tractual employment thereon is for
fixed days with equal amount of days
off, he shall have at least sixty five
(65) days of such seatirne instead of
the foregoing one hundred ( 100)
days; and

(d) He is a citizen of the United
States of America; and

( e) He is not disqualified by law.
He is not receiving a pension from
this Union's Pension Fund, if any, or
from a Union-Management Fund to
which Fund this Union is a party or
from a company under contract with
this Union.

(f) He has not sailed in a licensed
capacity aboard an American flag
merchant vessel or vessels within
twenty four (24) consecutive months
immediately prior to the opening of
nominations.

Section 2. All candidates for,
and holders of, other elective jobs not
specified in the preceding sections
shall be full book members of the
Union.

Section 3. All candidates for,
and holders of elective offices and
jobs, whether elected or appointed in
accordance with this Constitution,
shall maintain full book member -
ships in good standing.

Article XIII
Elections for Officers,

Assistant Vice-Presidents,
Headquarters Representatives,

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, Head­
quarters Representative, or Port
Agent, by delivering or causing to be
delivered in person, to the office of
the Secretary-Treasurer at Head­
quarters, 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:

(a) The name of the candidate.
(b) His home address and mailing

address.
( c) His book number.
(d) 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.

( e) Proof of citizenship.
(f) Proof of seatime and/or employ­

ment as required for candidates.
(g) 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

October 2000

to forwarding his credentials.
(h) Annexing a certificate in the fol­

lowing 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, viola­
tion 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 deter­
mination by the Board of Parole of
the United States Department of
Justice, he shall, in lieu of the forego­
ing 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 nom­
inate any 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 sub­
mission of credentials. By reason of
the above self nomination provision
the responsibility, if any, for notify­
ing 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 lat­
ter 's request.

Section 2. Credentials Committee
(a) A Credentials Committee shall

be elected at the regular meeting 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, Head­
quarters Representative, or Port
Agent, or candidate for office of the
job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, 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 mem­
bership 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 applica­
tion correctly and possesses the nec­
essary 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 "disquali-

fied," the reason therefore must be
stated in the report. Where a tie vote
has been resolved by a special meet­
ing 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 com­
pleted 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 bul­
letin board in each Port.

On the last day of nominations,
one (I) 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 at the address listed by him
pursuant to Section I of this Article.
He shall also be sent a letter contain­
ing their reasons for such disqualifi­
cation by airmail, special delivery,
registered or certified, to the mailing
address designated pursuant to
Section 1 (b) of this Article. A dis­
qualified applicant shall have the
right to take an appeal to the mem­
bership 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 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 elec­
tion.

( d) A majority vote of the mem­
bership 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, Headquarters Repre­
sentative or Port Agent has met all
the requirements of Section l(a) of
Article XII.

Section 3. Balloting Procedures.
(a) Balloting in the manner here­

after provided shall commence on
November I st 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 3 lst falls on a hol­
iday 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 busi­
ness 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 Secretary-Treasurer shall insure
the proper and timely preparation of
ballots without partiality as to candi­
dates or Ports. The ballots may con­
tain general information and instruc­
tive comments not inconsistent with
the provisions of this Constitution.
All qualified candidates shall be list­
ed 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 com­
mencing 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 pre­
ceding paragraphs and shall be num­
bered 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 verifica­
tion 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 suf­
ficient 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 pro­
vided 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 signa­
ture 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 suffi­
cient amount of "Roster Sheets"
which shall have printed thereon, at
the top thereof, the year of the elec­
tion, 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 imme­
diately 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 comer, 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 bal­
lots 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 bal­
lots sent, or shall notify the

Secretary-Treasurer of any discrep­
ancy. Discrepancies shall be correct­
ed as soon as possible prior to the
voting period. In any event, receipts
shall be forwarded for all the afore­
mentioned 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 des­
ignate 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 ros­
ter sheet under the appropriate col­
umn the date, the number of the bal­
lot 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 mem­
ber 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 mail­
ing envelope, seal such mailing enve­
lope, sign his name on the upper left­
hand comer on the first line of such
mailing envelope and on the second
line in the upper left-hand comer
print his name and book number,
after which he shall mail or cause the
same to be mailed. ln 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 proce­
dure as provided above shall apply to
him, except that on the roster sheet
under the column "Comments'', nota­
tion should be made that the member
voted a c~allenged ballot and the rea­
son for his challenge. Such member's
membership book shall be stamped
"Voted Challenge", and the date, and
such member instead of the above­
mentioned mailing envelope, shall be
given the mailing envelope of a dif­
ferent color marked on the face there­
of 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 mem­
bers that day together with the num­
bered 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 mate­
rial is maintained in all Ports at all
times, the Port Agent or his duly des­
ignated representative, simultaneous­
ly 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

Continued on page 30

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Proposed Constitution- SIUNA - AGLIWD-NMU
Continued from page 29
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 hos­
pital 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 loca­
tion 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 Secretary­
Treasurer 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 reg­
istered mail, return receipt requested,
to the address so designated by such
member, a "Ballot", after removing
the perforated numbered stub, togeth­
er with the hereinbefore mentioned
"Ballot" envelope, and mailing enve­
lope addressed to the depository,
except that printed on the face of
such mailing envelope shall be the
words "Absentee Ballot" and appro­
priate voting instructions shall
accompany such mailing to the mem­
ber. If the Secretary-Treasurer deter­
mines 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 Secretary­
Treasurer shall keep records of all of
the foregoing, including the reasons
for determining such member's ineli­
gibility, 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 elec­
tion 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 certi­
fied mail, attention Union Tallying
Committee, all unused ballots and
shall specifically set forth by serial
number and amount the unused bal­
lots so forwarded.

(b) The Union Tallying Com­
mittee shall consist of twenty (20)
full book members. Two (2) shall be
elected from each of the ten (10)
Ports of New York, Philadelphia,
Baltimore, Mobile, New Orleans,
Houston, Detroit-Algonac, San
Francisco, St. Louis and Piney Point.
The election shall be held at the reg­
ular meeting in December of the elec­
tion year or, if the Executive Board
otherwise determines prior thereto, at
a special meeting held in the afore­
said Ports, on the first business day of

30 Seafarers LOB

the last week of said month. No offi­
cer, Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, Port
Agent, or candidate for office, or the
job of Assistant Vice-President,
Headquarters Representative, or Port
Agent shall be eligible for election to
this Committee except as provided
for in Article X, Section 4. In addi­
tion 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 clos­
ing report setting forth, in complete
detail, the results of the election,
including a complete accounting of
all ballots and stubs, and reconcilia­
tion 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 bro­
ken 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 discrepan­
cies. All members of the Committee
shall sign the report, without preju­
dice, however, to the right of any
member thereof to submit a dissent­
ing 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 expedi­
ent 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 elec­
tion 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 occa­
sioned 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. All members of the
Committee shall also be paid at the
prevailing standby rate of pay from
the day subsequent to their election to
the day they return, in normal course,
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 deci­
sions of such Committee and the con­
tents 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 dur­
ing the course of the Committee's
proceedings. The proceedings of the
Committee, except for their organiza­
tional meeting and their actual prepa­
ration of the closing report and dis­
sent 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 imme-

diately 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 require­
ments: two (2) copies shall be mailed
by the Committee to each Port Agent
and the Secretary-Treasurer no later
than January 31st immediately subse­
quent to the close of the election year.
As soon a 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 post­
ing. This copy shall be kept posted
until after the Election Report
Meeting which shall be the March
regular membership meeting imme­
diately 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 claim­
ing 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 appro­
priate corrective action, if warranted,
may be taken. The Secretary­
Treasurer shall expeditiously investi­
gate 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 I 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 involv­
ing the Credentials Committee's
action or report as provided in the last
sentence of the immediately preced­
ing paragraph, but including the pro­
cedure 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 subse­
quent 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 recommenda­
tion 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) immedi­
ately 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 violative
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 member­
ship 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 contin­
gencies 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 member­
ship at the Election Report Meetings.

(g) Any special vote ordered pur­
suant to Section 4( f) shall be com­
menced within ninety (90) days after
the first day of the month immediate­
ly subsequent to the Election Report
Meetings mentioned above. The
depository shall be the same as desig­
nated for the election from which the
special vote is ordered. And the pro­
cedures shall be the same as provided
for in Section 3, except where specif­
ic 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 S. 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 bal­
lot. The Union Tallying Committee
shall not be required to tally com­
pletely the results of the voting for
such unopposed candidate but shall
certify in their report that such unop­
posed 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, Headquarters Repre­
sentative 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 pro­
vided in this Article. The term of
their predecessors shall continue up
to, and expire at that time, not with­
standing anything to the contrary
contained in Article XI, Section 1.
This shall not apply where the suc­
cessful 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-Treas­
urer is specifically charged with the
preservation and retention of all elec­
tion 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.

Article XIV
Other Elections

Section 1. Trial Committee
A Trial Committee shall be elect­

ed at a special meeting, held at 10:00
A.M. the next business day following
the regular meeting of the Port where
the trial is to take place. It shall con­
sist of five (5) full book members,
three (3) of which shall constitute a
quorum. No officer, Assistant Vice­
President, Headquarters Repre­
sentative, Port Agent or other Union
personnel may be elected to serve on
a Trial Committee. No member who
intends to be a witness in the pending
trial may serve, nor may any member
who cannot for any reason, render an
honest decision. It shall be the duty
of every member to decline nomina­
tion if he knows, or has reason to
believe, any of the foregoing disqual­
ifications apply to him. The mem­
bers of this Committee shall be elect­
ed under such generally applicable
rules as are adopted by a majority
vote of the membership.

Section 2. Appeals Committee.
The Appeals Committee shall

consist of seven (7) full book mem­
bers, five (5) of whom shall consti­
tute a quorum, elected at the Port
where Headquarters is located. The
same disqualifications and duties of
members shall apply with regard to
this Committee as apply to the Trial
Committee. In addition, no member
may serve on an Appeals Committee
in the hearing of an appeal from a
Trial Committee decision if the said
member was a member of the Trial
Committee.

ArtlcleD
Trials and Appeals

Section 1. Any member may
bring charges against any other mem­
ber for the commission of an offense
as set forth in this Constitution.
These charges shall be in writing and
signed by the accuser who shall also
include his book number. The
accuser shall deliver these charges to
the Port Agent of the Port nearest the
place of the offense, or the Port of
pay-off, if the offense took place
aboard ship. He shall also request the
Port Agent to present these charges at
the next regular meeting. The accuser
may withdraw his charges before the
meeting takes place.

Section 2. After presentation of
the charges and the request to the
Port Agent, the Port Agent shall
cause those charges to be read at the
said meeting.

If the charges are rejected by a
majority vote of the Port, no further
action may be taken thereon, unless
ruled otherwise by a majority vote of
the membership of the Union within
ninety (90) days thereafter. If the
charges are accepted, and the accused
is present, he shall be automatically
on notice that he will be tried the fol­
lowing morning. At his request, the
trial shall be postponed until the
morning following the next regular
meeting at which time the Trial
Committee will then be elected. He
shall also be handed a written copy of
the charges made against him.

If the accused is not present, the
Port Agent shall immediately cause
to be sent to him, by registered mail

Continued on page 31

October 2000



Proposed Constitution - SIUllA - AGLIWD-llMU
Continued from page 30
addressed to his last known mailing
address on file with the Union, a
copy of the charges, the names and
book numbers of the accusers, and a
notification that he must appear with
his witnesses ready for trial the
morning after the next regular meet­
ing, at which meeting the Trial
Committee will be elected.

In the event a majority of the
membership of the Union shall vote
to accept charges after their rejection
by a Port, the trial shall take place in
the Port where Headquarters is locat­
ed. Due notice thereof shall be given
to the accused who shall be informed
of the name of his accusers and who
shall receive a written statement of
the charges. At the request of the
accused, transportation and subsis­
tence shall be provided the accused
and his witnesses.

Section 3. The Trial Committee
shall hear all pertinent evidence and
shall not be bound by the rules of evi­
dence required by courts of law but
may receive all relevant testimony.
The Trial Committee may grant
adjournments, at the request of the
accused, to enable him to make a
proper defense. In the event the Trial
Committee falls beneath the quorum,
it shall adjourn until a quorum does
exist.

Section 4. No trial shall be con­
ducted unless all the accusers are pre­
sent. The Trial Committee shall con­
duct the trial except that the accused
shall have the right to cross-examine
the accuser, or accusers and the wit­
nesses, as well as to conduct his own
defense. The accused may select any
member to assist him in his defense
at the trial, provided (a) the said
member is available at the time of the

·al, and (b) the said member agrees
to render such assistance. If the
accused challenges the qualifications
of the members o{ the Trial
Committee, or states that the charges
do not adequately inform him of
what wrong he allegedly committed,
or the time and place of such com­
mission, such matters shall be ruled
upon and disposed of prior to pro­
ceeding on the merits of their
defense. The guilt of an accused shall
be found only if proven by the weight
of the evidence, and the burden of
such proof shall be upon the accuser.
Every finding shall be based on the
quality of the evidence and not sole­
ly on the number of witnesses pro­
duced.

Section S. The Trial Committee
shall make findings as to guilt or
innocence, and recommendations as
to punishment and/or other Union
action deemed desirable in the light
of the proceedings. hese findings and
recommendations shall be those of a
majority of the Committee, and shall
be in writing, as shall be any dissent.
The Committee shall forward its
findings and recommendations,
along with any dissent to the Port
Agent of the Port where the trial took
place, while a copy thereof shall be
forwarded to the accused and the
accuser, either in person or by mail
addressed to their last known
addresses. The findings shall include
a statement that the rights of the
accused under this Constitution were
properly safeguarded. The findings
also must contain the charges made,
the date of the trial, the name and
address of the accused, the accuser,
and each witness; shall describe each
document used at the trial; shall con­
tain a fair summary of the proceed­
ings; and shall state the findings as to
guilt or innocence. If possible, all
documents used at the trial shall be
kept. All findings and recommenda­
tions shall be made a part of the reg­
ular files.

Section 6. The Port Agent of the
Port of Trial shall, upon receipt of the
findings and recommendations of the
Trial Committee, cause the findings
and recommendations to be present­
ed and entered into the minutes at the

Ot:lober 2000

next regular meeting.
Section 7. The Port Agent shall

send the record of the entire proceed­
ings to Headquarters, which shall
cause sufficient copies thereof to be
made and sent to each port in time for
the next regularly scheduled meeting.

Section 8. At the latter meeting,
the proceedings shall be discussed.
The meeting shall then vote. A
majority vote of the membership of
the Union shall:

(a) Accept the findings and rec­
ommendations, or

(b) Reject the findings and rec­
ommendations, or

( c) Accept the findings but mod­
ify the recommendations, or

( d) Order a new trial after finding
that substantial justice has not been
done with regard to the charges. In
this event, a new trial shall take place
at the Port where Headquarters is
located and upon application, the
accused, the accusers, and their wit­
nesses shall be furnished transporta­
tion and subsistence.

Section 9. After the vote set forth
in Section 8, any punishment so
decided upon shall become effective.
Headquarters shall cause notice of
the results thereof to be sent to each
accused and accuser.

Section 10. An accused who has
been found guilty or who is under
effective punishment may appeal in
the following manner:

He may send or deliver a notice of
appeal to Headquarters within thirty
(30) days after receipt of the notice of
the decision of the membership.

Section 11. At the next regular
meeting of the Port where Head­
quarters is located, after receipt of the
notice of appeal, the notice shall be
presented and shall then become part
of the minutes. An Appeals Com­
mittee shall then be elected. The
Vice-President in Charge of Con­
tracts and Contract Enforcement is
charged with the duty of presenting
the before-mentioned proceedings
and all available documents used as
evidence at the trial to the Appeals
Committee, as well as any written
statement or argument submitted by
the accused. The accused may argue
his appeal in person, if he so desires.
The appeal shall be heard at Union
Headquarters on the night the com­
mittee is elected. It shall be the
responsibility of the accused to
insure that his written statement or
argument arrives at Headquarters in
time for such presentation.

Section 12. The Appeals Com­
mittee shall decide the appeal as soon
as possible, consistent with fair con­
sideration of the evidence and argu­
ments before it. It may grant
adjournments and may request the
accused or accusers to present argu­
ments whenever necessary for such
fair consideration.

Section 13. The decision of the
Appeals Committee shall be by
majority vote and shall be in the form
of findings and recommendations.
Dissents will be allowed. Decisions
and dissents shall be in writing and
signed by those participating in such
decision or dissent. In making its
findings and recommendations, the
Committee shall be governed by the
following:

(a) No finding of guilt shall be
reversed if there is substantial evi­
dence to support such a finding and,
in such case, the Appeals Committee
shall not make its own findings as to
the weight of evidence.

(b) In no event shall increased
punishment be recommended.

( c) A new trial shall be recom­
mended if the Appeals Committee
finds: (a) that any member of the
Trial Committee should have been
disqualified, or (b) that the accused
was not adequately informed of the
details of the charged offense, which
resulted in his not having been given
a fair trial, or ( c) that for any other
reason, the accused was not given a
fair trial.

(d) If there is not substantial evi-

dence to support a finding of guilt,
the Appeals Committee shall recom­
mend that the charge on which the
finding was based be dismissed.

( e) The Appeals Committee may
recommend lesser punishment.

Section 14. The Appeals Com­
mittee shall deliver its decision and
dissent, if any, to Headquarters,
which shall cause sufficient copies to
be published and shall have them
sent to each Port in time to reach
there before the next regular sched­
uled meeting. Headquarters shall also
send a copy to each accused and
accuser at their last known address,
or notify them in person.

Section 15. At the meeting indi­
cated in Section 14 of this Article, the
membership, by a majority vote,
shall accept, the decision of the
Appeals Committee, or the dissent
therein. If there is no dissent, the
decision of the Appeals Committee
shall stand.

If a new trial is ordered, that trial
shall be held in the Port where
Headquarters is located in the man­
ner provided for in Section 2 of this
Article. Any decision so providing
for a new trial shall contain such
directions as will insure a fair hearing
to the accused.

Section 16. Headquarters shall
notify the accused and each accuser,
either in person or in writing
addressed to their last known
address, of the results of the appeal.
A further appeal shall be allowed as
set forth in Section 1 7 of this Article.

Section 17. Each member is
charged with knowledge of the provi­
sions of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International Union of
North America, and the rights of, and
procedure as to, further appeal as
provided for therein. Decisions
reached thereunder shall be binding
on all members of the Union.

Section 18. It shall be the duty of
all members of the Union to take all
steps within their constitutional
power to carry out the terms of any
effective decisions.

Section 19. Every accused shall
receive a written copy of the charges
preferred against him and shall be
given a reasonable time to prepare
his defense, but he may thereafter
plead guilty and waive any or all of
the other rights and privileges grant­
ed to him by this Article. If an
accused has been properly notified of
his trial and fails to attend without
properly requesting a postponement,
the Trial Committee may hold its trial
without his presence.

Article XVI
Offenses and Penafties

Section 1. Upon proof of the
commission of the following offens­
es, the member shall be expelled
from membership:

(a) Proof of membership in any
organization advocating the over­
throw of the Government of the
United States by force;

(b) Acting as an informer against
the interest of the Union or the mem­
bership in any organizational cam­
paign;

( c) Acting as an informer for, or
agent of, the company against the
interest of the membership or the
Union;

( d) The commission of any act as
part of a conspiracy to destroy the
Union.

Section 2. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, the member shall be penal­
ized up to and including a penalty of
expulsion from the Union. In the
event the penalty of expulsion is not
invoked or recommended, the penal­
ty shall not exceed suspension from
the rights and privileges of member­
ship for more than two (2) years, or a
fine of fifty dollars ($50.00) or both:

(a) Willfully misappropriating or
misusing Union property of the value
in excess of fifty dollars ($50.00).

(b) Unauthorized use of Union

property, records, stamps, seals, etc.,
for the purpose of personal gain;

( c) Willful misuse of any office
or job, elective or not, within the
Union for the purpose of personal
gain, financial or otherwise, or the
willful refusal or failure to execute
the duties or functions of the said
office or job, or gross neglect or
abuse in executing such duties or
functions or other serious misconduct
or breach of trust. The President may,
during the pendency of disciplinary
proceedings under this subsection,
suspend the officer or jobholder from
exercising the functions of the office
or job, with or without pay, and des­
ignate his temporary replacement;

(d) Unauthorized voting, or
unauthorized handling of ballots,
stubs, rosters, verification lists, ballot
boxes, or election files, or election
material of any sort;

( e) Preferring charges with
knowledge that such charges are
false;

( f) Making or transmitting, with
intent to deceive, false reports or
communications which fall within
the scope of Union business;

(g) Deliberate failure or refusal
to join one's ship or misconduct or
neglect of duty aboard ship, to the
detriment of the Union or its agree­
ments;

(h) Deliberate and unauthorized
interference, or deliberate and mali­
cious vilification, with regard to the
execution of the duties of any office
or job;

(i) Paying for, or receiving
money for, employment aboard a
vessel, exclusive of proper earnings
and Union payments;

(j) Willful refusal to submit evi­
dence of affiliation for the purpose of
avoiding or delaying money pay­
ments to the Union, or unauthorized
transferring or receiving evidence of
Union affiliation, with intent to
deceive;

(k) Willful failure or refusal to
carry out the order of those duly
authorized to make such orders dur­
ing time of strike;

(l) Failure or refusal to pay a
fine or assessment within the time
limit set therefore either by the
Constitution or by action taken in
accordance with the Constitution.

Section 3. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including a suspension
from the rights and privileges of
membership for two (2) years, or a
fine of fifty dollars
($50.00) or both:

(a) Willfully misappropriating or
misusing Union property of the value
under fifty dollars ($50.00);

(b) Assuming any office or job,
whether elective or not with knowl­
edge of the lack of possession of the
qualifications required therefore;

( c) Misconduct during any meet­
ing or other official Union proceed­
ing, or bringing the Union into disre­
pute by conduct not provided for
elsewhere in this Article;

( d) Refusal or negligent failure to
carry out orders of those duly autho­
rized to make such orders at any
time.

Section 4. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including suspension from
the rights and privileges of member­
ship for one ( 1) year or a fine of three
hundred dollars ($300.00) or both:

(a) Crossing a picket line sanc­
tioned by the Union;

(b) Failure to perform picket
duty in strikes.

Section S. Upon proof of the
commission of any of the following
offenses, members shall be penalized
up to and including a fine of fifty dol­
lars ($50.00):

(a) Refusal or willful failure to
be present at sign-ons or payoffs;

(b) Willful failure to submit his
Union book to Union representatives
at pay-off;

( c) Disorderly conduct at pay-off
or sign-on;

( d) Refusal to cooperate with
Union representatives in discharging
their duties;

( e) Disorderly conduct in the
Union hall;

(f) Gambling in the Union hall;
(g) Negligent failure to join ship.
Section 6. Any member who has

committed an offense penalized by
no more than a fine of three hundred
dollars ($300.00) may elect to waive
his rights under this Constitution sub­
ject to the provision of Article XV,
Section 19 and to pay the maximum
fine of three hundred dollars
($300.00) to the duly authorized rep­
resentative of the Union.

Section 7. This Union, and its
members, shall not be deemed to
waive any claim of personal or prop­
erty rights to which it or its members
are entitled by bringing the member
to trial or enforcing a penalty as pro­
vided in this Constitution.

Section 8. Any member under
suspension for an offense under this
Article shall continue to pay all dues
and assessments and must observe
his duties to the Union, members,
officials, and jobholders.

Article XVII
Publications

This Union may publish such
pamphlets, journals, newspapers,
magazines, periodicals and general
literature, in such manner as may be
determined, from time to time, by the
Executive Board.

Article XVIII
Bonds

Officers and jobholders, whether
elected or appointed as well as all
other employees handling monies of
the Union shall be bonded as
required by law.

Article XIX
Expenditures

Section 1. In the event no con­
trary policies or instructions are in
existence, the President may autho­
rize, make, or incur such expendi­
tures and expenses as are normally
encompassed within the authority
conferred upon him by Article X of
this Constitution.

Section 2. The provlSlons of
Section 1 shall similarly apply to the
routine accounting and administra­
tive procedures of the Union except
those primarily concerned with trials,
appeals, negotiations, strikes, and
elections.

Section 3. The provisions of this
Article shall supersede to the extent
applicable; the provisions of Article
X of this Constitution.

Article XX
Income

Section 1. The income of this
Union shall include dues, initiation
fees, fines, assessments, contribu­
tions, loans, interest, dividends as
well as income derived from any
other legitimate business operation or
other legitimate source.

Section 2. An official Union
receipt, properly filled out, shall be
given to anyone paying money to the
Union or to any person authorized by
the Union to receive money. It shall
be the duty of every person affiliated
with the Union who makes such pay­
ments to demand such receipt.

Section 3. No assessments shall
be levied except after a ballot con­
ducted under such general rules as
may be decided upon by a majority
vote of the membership, provided
that:

(a) The ballot must be secret.
(b) The assessment must be

approved by a majority of the valid
ballots cast.

Section 4. Except as otherwise

Continued on page 32

Seafarel'S LOS 31



{

-

Proposed Constitution - SIUllA - AGLIWD-llMU
Continued from page 31
provided by law, all payments by
members or other affiliates of this
Union shall be applied successively
to the monetary obligations owed the
Union commencing with the oldest in
point of time, as measured from the
date of accrual of such obligation.
The period of arrears shall be calcu­
lated accordingly.

Section 5. To the extent deemed
appropriate by the majority of the
Executive Board, funds and assets of
the Union may be kept in an account
or accounts without separation as to
purpose and expended for all Union
purposes and objects.

Article XXI
Other Types of Union

Afflllation
To the extent permitted by law,

this Union, by majority vote of the
membership, may provide for affilia­
tion with it by individuals in a lesser
capacity than membership, or in a
capacity other than membership. By
majority vote of the membership the
Union may provide for the rights and
obligations incident to such capacities
or affiliations. These rights and oblig­
ations may include, but are not limited
to (a) the applicability or non-applica­
bility of all or any part of the
Constitution; (b) the terms of such
affiliation; ( c) the right of the Union to
peremptory termination of such affili­
ation and, ( d) the fees required for
such affiliation. In no event may any­
one not a member receive evidence of
affiliation equivalent to that of mem­
bers, receive priority or rights over
members, or be termed a member.

Article XIII
Quorums

Section 1. Unless elsewhere
herein otherwise specifically provid­
ed, the quorum for a special meeting
of a Port shall be six (6) full book
members.

Section 2. The quorum for a reg­
ular meeting of a Port shall be t\X~n­
fy'!five (25) ri:tembent

Section 3. Unless otherwise
specifically set forth herein, the deci­
sions, reports, recommendations, or
other functions of any segment of the
Union requiring a quorum to act offi­
cially, shall be a majority of those
voting, and shall not be official or
effective unless the quorum require­
ments are met.

Section 4. Unless otherwise indi­
cated herein, where the requirements
for a quorum are not specifically set
forth, a quorum shall be deemed to be
a majority of those composing the
applicable segment of the Union.

Article XXlll
Meetings

Section 1. Regular membership
meetings shall be held monthly only
in the following constitutional Ports
at the following times:

During the week following the
first Sunday of every month a meet­
ing shall be held on Monday-at
Piney Point; on Tuesday-at New
York; on Wednesday-at Phila­
delphia; on Thursday-at Baltimore;
and on Friday-at Detroit-Algonac.
During the next week, meetings shall
be held on Monday-at Houston; on
Tuesday-at New Orleans; on
Wednesday-at Mobile; on
Thursday-at San Francisco; and on
Friday-at St. Louis. All regular
membership meetings shall com­
mence at 10:30 A.M. local time.
Where a meeting day falls on a
Holiday officially designated as such
by the authorities of the state or
municipality in which a Port is locat­
ed, the Port meeting shall take place
on the following business day.
Saturday and Sunday shall not be
deemed business days.

The Area Vice-Presidents shall be
the chairmen of all regular meetings

32 Sealarers LOB

in Ports in their respective areas. In
the event the Area Vice-Presidents
are unable to attend a regular meeting
of a Port, they shall instruct the Port
Agents, or other elected jobholders,
to act as chairmen of the meetings.

In the event a quorum is not pre­
sent at 10:30 AM. the chairman of
the meeting at the pertinent Port shall
postpone the opening of the meeting
but in no event later than 11 :00 A.M.

Section 2. A special meeting at a
Port may be called only at the direc­
tion of the Area Vice-President, Area
Assistant Vice-President or Port
Agent. No special meeting may be
held, except between the hours of
9:00 A.M. and 5:00 P.M. Notice of
such meeting shall be posted at least
two (2) hours in advance on the Port
bulletin board.

The Area Vice-Presidents shall be
the chairmen of all special meetings
in Ports in their respective areas. In
the event the Area Vice-Presidents
are unable to attend a special meeting
of a Port, they shall instruct the Area
Assistant Vice-Presidents, Port
Agents, or other elected jobholders,
to act as chairmen of the meetings.

Section 3. Notwithstanding any­
thing to the contrary, all regular meet­
ings shall be governed by the follow­
ing:

1 The Union Constitution.
2. Majority vote of the mem­

bers assembled.

Article XXIV
Definttions and Miscellaneous

Provisions Relating Thereto
Section 1. Incapacity. Unless

otherwise set forth or dealt with here­
in, the term "incapacity," shall mean
any illness or situation preventing the
affected person from carrying out his
duties for more than thirty (30) days,
provided that this does not result in a
vacancy. However, nothing contained
in this Article shall be deemed to pro­
hibit the execution of the functions of
more than one (1) job and/or office in
which event no incapacity shall be
deemed to exist with regard to the
regular job or office of the one taking
over the duties and functions of the
one incapacitated. The period of
incapacity shall be the time during
which the circumstances exist.

Section 2. Unless otherwise set
forth or dealt with herein the term
''vacancy" shall include failure to
perform the functions of any office or
job by reason of death, or resignation,
or suspension from membership or
expulsion from the Union with no
further right to appeal in accordance
with the provisions of Article XV of
this Constitution.

Section 3. When applicable to
the Union as a whole, the term
"majority vote of the membership"
shall mean the majority of all the
valid votes cast by full book mem­
bers at an official meeting of those
Ports holding meetings. This defini­
tion shall prevail notwithstanding
that one ( 1) or more Ports cannot
hold meetings because of no quorum,
For the purpose of this Section, the
term "meeting" shall refer to those
meetings to be held during the time
period within which a vote must be
taken in accordance with the
Constitution and the custom and
usage of the Union in the indicated
priority.

Section 4. When applicable sole­
ly to Port action and not concerned
with or related to the Union as a
whole, and not forming part of a
Union-wide vote, the term "majority
vote of the membership" shall refer to
the majority of the valid votes cast by
the full book members at any meeting
of the Port, regular or special.

Section 5. The term "member­
ship action," or reference thereto,
shall mean the same as the term
"majority vote of the membership."

Section 6. Where the title of any
officer or job, or the holder thereof, is
set forth in this Constitution, all ref­
erences thereto and the provisions

concerned therewith shall be deemed
to be equally applicable to whomever
is duly acting in such office or job.

Section 7. The term "election
year" shall be deemed to mean that
calendar year prior to the calendar
year in which elected officials and
other elected jobholders are required
to assume office.

Section 8. The terms "this
Constitution" and "this amended
Constitution" shall be deemed to
have the same meaning and shall
refer to the Constitution as amended
which takes the place of the one
adopted by the Uni oil .. in .. 1939, .. ~
amended up through M~h>Ji~~:;~~;fi;;

Section 9. The term "member in
good standing" shall mean a member
whose monetary obligations to the
Union are not in arrears for thirty
(30) days or more, or who is not
under suspension or expulsion effec­
tive in accordance with this
Constitution. Unless otherwise
expressly indicated, the term "mem­
ber" shall mean a member in good
standing.

Section 10. Unless plainly other­
wise required by the context of their
use, the terms "Union book," "mem­
bership book" and "book," shall
mean official evidence of Union
membership.

Section 11. The term "full book"
or "full Union book" shall mean only
an official certificate issued as evi­
dence of Union membership which
carries with it complete rights and
privileges of membership except as
may be specifically constitutionally
otherwise provided.

Section 12. The term "full book
member" shall mean a member to
whom a full book has been duly
issued and who is entitled to retain it
in accordance with the provisions of
this Constitution.

Section 13. The term "seatime"
shall include employment upon any
navigable waters or days of employ­
ment in a contracted employer unit
represented by the Union.

Section 14. The term "in an unli­
censed capacity aboard an American­
flag merchant vessel or vessels" shall
include persons employed in an unli­
censed or licensed capacity aboard
dredges, tugboats, towboats and sim­
ilar vessels used to tow, propel, or
push barges or other conveyances or
assist merchant vessels in docking or
undocking, or persons otherwise
employed in a contracted employer
unit represented by the Union.

Article XIV
Amendments

This Constitution shall be amend­
ed in the following manner:

Section 1. Any full book member
may submit at any regular meeting of
any Port proposed amendments to
this Constitution in resolution form.
If a majority vote of the membership
of the Port approves it, the proposed
amendment shall be forwarded to all
Ports for further action.

Section 2. When a proposed
amendment is accepted by a majority
vote of the membership, it shall be
referred to a Constitutional Com­
mittee in the Port where Head­
quarters is located. This Committee
shall be composed of six ( 6) full book
members, two (2) from each depart­
ment and shall be elected in accor­
dance with such rules as are estab­
lished by a majority vote of that Port.
The Committee will act on all pro­
posed amendments referred to it. The
Committee may receive whatever
advice and assistance, legal or other­
wise, it deems necessary. It shall pre­
pare a report on the amendment
together with any proposed changes
or substitutions or recommendations
and the reasons for such recommen­
dations. The latter shall then be sub­
mitted to the membership. If a major­
ity vote of the membership approves
the amendment as recommended, it
shall then be voted upon in a yes or
no vote by the membership of the

Union by secret ballot in accordance
with the procedure directed by the
majority vote of the membership at
the time it gives the approval neces­
sary to put the referendum to a vote.
The Union Tallying Committee shall
consist of six ( 6) full book members
two (2) from each of the three (3)
departments of the Union, elected
from Headquarters Port. The amend­
ment shall either be printed on the
ballot, or if too lengthy, shall be
referred to on the ballot. Copies of
the amendment shall be posted on the
bulletin boards of all Ports and made
available at the voting site in all
Ports.

Section 3. If approved by a
majority of the valid ballots cast, the
amendment shall become effective
immediately upon notification by the
aforesaid Union Tallying Committee
to the Secretary-Treasurer that the
amendment has been so approved,
unless otherwise specified in the
amendment. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall immediately notify all Ports of
the results of the vote on the amend­
ment.

EXHIBIT A
Minimal requirements to be con­

tained in Constitution of subordinate
bodies and divisions chartered by or

iiilii5
I

All members shall have equal
rights and privileges, subject to rea­
sonable rules and regulations, con­
tained in this Constitution, including
secret election, freedom of speech,
the right to hold office and the right
of secret votes on assessment and
dues increases, all in accordance
with the law.

II
No member may be automatically

suspended from membership except
for non-payment of dues, and all
members shall be afforded a fair
hearing upon written charges, with a
reasonable time to prepare defense,
when accused of an offense under the
Constitution.

Ill
This Union is chartered by (and/or

affiliated with), the Seafarers
~fent~~oiiar Uni-On of North
~merica-Atlantie. Gulf!> Lakes and
hlland Waters Distri~NW~ and this
Constitution and any amendments
thereto, shall not take effect unless
and until approved as set forth in the
Constitution of that Union.

IV
An object of this Union is, within

its reasonable capacity, to promote
the welfare of, and assist, the
Seafarers International 'Unionr! of

~~ar~~~t1&1fe$
v

The charter (and/or affiliation)
relationship between this Union and
the Seafarer$ Intemau0naf Unfortrof
Nnrth America,w~tl~e. Oulf1.U.keS
&ll4 ltdand _,l\Tater$/_ DisJnQt'.'.NMO
shall not be dissolved so long as at
least ten (10) members of this Union,
and the Si?atarerS'JfitemationalUnfon
pf:'Noih .A:meriei-Atlantic. Qµlf~
~+iilia lillaild '· waters ' ntsttiCiJ.
NMl.1 ·· a.Ciiilg ··through · iis '·'Executive
Board wish to continue such relation­
ship.

VI
No amendment to this

Constitution shall be effective unless
and until approved by at least two­
thirds vote of the membership in a
secret referendum conducted for that
purpose. In any event, the adoption of
this Constitution and any amend­
ments thereto, will not be effective
unless and until compliance with

Article II of the Constitution of the
Seafarers International , Upi9n 0..(
North America-Atlantic,. OulfJ;~~~$;
and Inland Waters District-N.M.U is
first made. ··.

VII
The Seafarers lntemationallJrudn;

of North America-Atlantic, ;Oulf;
Lakes and Inland Waters UiStd~ttil
NMU shall have the nght to . check,'
inspect and make copies of all the
books and records of this Union upon
demand.

VIII
This Union shall not take any

action which will have the effect of
reducing its net assets, calculated
through recognized accounting pro­
cedures, below the amount of its
indebtedness to the S.CafateiSi

~~~~~
approved by that Union through its
Executive Board.

IX
So long as there exists any indebt­

edness by this Union to the :s~~

~==x~!n~~t,1~1:;2~~~
Jnl~d Wat¢ts P.istrict'."NM.U, that
Union shall have the right to appoint
a representative or representatives to
this Union who shall have the power
to attend all meetings of this Union or
its sub-divisions, or governing
boards, if any, and who shall have
access to all books and records of this
Union on demand. This representa­
tive, or these representatives, shall be
charged with the duty of assisting this
Union and its membership, and act­
ing as a liaison between the §~faretS!

:e~:~r;~~r~;Ji1lli&&~
lnlapdWate:rs Dimtet.:-NMU and this
Union.

x
So long as any unpaid per capita

tax, or any other indebtedness of any
sort is owed by this Union to the

-such indebtedness shall constitute a
first lien on the assets of this Union,
which lien shall not be impaired
without the written approval of the

!:~~~B!I!
ing through its Executive Board.

XI
The per capita tax payable by this

l]nion ·. to .. th~. Se~f~ .Inienfati-0nat
tTnioii 'of Norttl'.{'iAm~nca-Atlantic;z
Gul:fi Lak~~ . aii~ ln~Md Waters'.
Pistti~t:NMJY shall be that which is
fixed in accordance with the terms of
the Constitution of that Union.

XII
This Constitution and actions by

this Union pursuant thereto are sub­
ject to those provisions of the
Constitution of the Seafarer&

=~~,!n~~~~~~ ·~~:J
1!~4.W'~_, D!sttj<if-~ pertain­
ing to affiliation, disaffiliation,
trusteeships, and the granting and
removal of charters.

XIII
This Union shall be affiliated with

the :s&ifarers ·Iniet:nationat uiifonol
l'fri Amer,ica tbiQugp 'the S~f~
lntern:ational .· Union of ,, No~
ft\metf,ca-Atlantic!J. ,Gulf1 Lak.~ ,,@M
J.nlal)A W~~ .. Ui.$kiGl·NM'O.~ It shall
share in, and participate as part of the
delegation of that District to the
Convention of the Seafarers
International Union of North
America in accordance with the pro­
visions of the Constitution of the
Sear~en liitima.tfonaf ·uu1snr·:o1;
North America-Atlantic# Oul~ ta\~1
l\ndJB.13n4 .. Pla~;D.Im~1NM.t1,i



Dispatchers' Report for Deep Sea
AUGUST 16 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

Port

Norfolk

Wilmington
Totals

St. Louis

10

249

Wilmington 10
Totals 134

Port
Algonac 0
Baltimore 3
Guam 0
Honolulu 9
Houston 13

New Orleans
New York
Norfolk 10

St. Louis
Wilmington
Totals

4
2
5

18
20

2
17

155

7
50

Totals All
Departments 588

4
8

11
147

102

3

3

5

4
1

5
2
l
5

50

5
8
3
l1
8
7
1

3
5
3

10
4

8
80

34

4
0
0
1
2
2

3
30

16 16
175 179

474 323

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

DECK DEPARTMENT
1 0 0
5 3 2
0 0 0
8 2 2

18
25
7

14
16
11
6
0
6

22
23

0
22

11
15
I
6
9

13
4

7

3
5
2

IO
()

5

Trip
Reliefs

8
12
4 .··
8
4
6
2

5
101 60 21 42

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
·. o r · .. o o

l 4 l 0
0 0 0 0
6 2 6 3
9

12
5
6

17
12
5

12 0 0

6
11
1
2
5
1
0

0
7

127 24 17 61

0
5

29

441

ENTRY DEPARTMENT
0 0 -0
2 0
0 0 0

15 40
6 3

0
5

81

260

8

6
0
8

···s
4
3
0
4

98

182

0

0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0

182

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C

13
44
62
27
33
56
26

8

4
15

196

(}

· 3

0
20
23
35

8
16
21
13

3
27

257

.. I

1
0

14
4

1
.. 6

.11
II
0
6

83

956

2
5
0
9

20
26
12

. 21
15
19

4

0

15
8

12
15

7

11 2
155 62

3 I
I Q
0 . 0
8 16
5 1
8 6
4 1

10 4
11

2

4
0
1

1
1
4

9 4
92 46

<) 1
3 3
0 2

40 122
10

15 21
2 0

31 11
2 7

. .20 1-0
24 40
4 4

20 26
280 339

703 558

*"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

October 2000

November & December 2•
Membership Meetings

.··_:· oeep. Sea;··~1ces, Inland Waters

Friday: December 8
, *change created by Veterans Day holiday

LOG-A-RHYTHMS

Veterans
by Harry T. Scholer

Thoughts of young men dying
Ships swallowed up by the sea

Too few huddled close in lifeboats
Memories still painful to me

Across the slate gray Atlantic
Countless dramas would nightly
unfold

Merchantmen unprotected and helpless
German U-boats increasingly bold

The prey was slow allied convoys
Tanker, freighter, none left unscathed

Toll on the crewmen was frightening
Thousands went to the grave

Survivors who came home stayed briefly
Then back to battle they'd go

The tide when it turned did so swiftly
War was brought home to the foe

Brave sailors now long since retired
Their sacrifice earned our respect

Whose spirits still live on the ocean
An example we try to reflect.

(Harry T. Scholer of Orlando, Fla., sails as a second mate
aboard the MT. Independence/Ocean 211 (Maritrans Inc.).
He dedicates this poem to all the brothers and sisters of the
WWII generation for their sacrifices and notes that "we
who sail today owe them all a debt of gratitude.")

Seafarers LOG 33



ALGONAC
Clair RiverDr.1' Alg<>nac, MT 48001

(810) 794-4988 ..

ANCHORAGE
721 Sesame St.,#IC; Anchorage. AK 99503

{907) 561-49$8

BALTIMORE
2315 Essex St., Baltimore; MD 21224

' {410) 327~4900

DULUTH
705 Medi-031 Arts Building. Duluth, MN 55802

(218) 7~-4110 ,,

.GUAM ..
125 SuueyPl~ Suitt 301{~

Tun Jesus Cris0$t~o.SLc/;
Ta:rnuning, Guam 969tlXJ;'

(611) 647-1350 . . .

HONOLULU
606 Kalihi St., Honolulu, lU. 96819

(808) 845-5222

HOUSTON
1221 Pierce St., Houston. TX 77002

(713) 659-5152

JACKSONVILLE
33 l 5 Liberty St. Jacksonville, FL 32206

(904) 353.-0987

JERSEY CITY
99 Montgomery St., Jersey City, NJ 07302

(2.0l) 435-9424

MOBILE
1640 Dauphin lsiand PkWJ1 Mobile, At 36605

(334},47~~0916
•·.· ·:_;::: -... _;-;,··:·:-·:·

NE\Y.BEUFORD ;. ii

48 Union St., New Bedfordf MA OZ740 .
. {50~ .997~5404

NEW ORLEANS
391} Lapaloo Blvd., Harvey, LA 70058,

(504)328-7545

NEW YORK
635 Fourth Ave,, Brotild~ NY U232 ....

(71&) 499--6600 .

NORFOLK
115 Third St., Norfolk, VA 23510

(757) 621-1892

PBlLAJ>ELPBlA
2604 S. 4 St, Philadelphia, PA 19148

(215) 336·3818

PJN£Y POINT
P.O. Box 75, Piney Point. MD 20674

(3-01) 994-0010

PORT EVERGLADES
1221 S. Andrews Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33316

(954) 522~ 7984

SAN FRANCISCO
350 Fremont St.

San Fr~isco, CA 94105
(415) 543·5855

Government Sel."Vi<:es Division
(415) 861~3400

SANTURCE
l057FemandezJuncos Ave., Stop 16!4

Santurce, PR. 00907
(787) 7214033

Sl'. LOUIS
·4581-0ravois Ave., St. Louis. MO 63ll6

(314} 752-65-00

TACOMA
~41 l South Uni<>n Ave., Taeoma, WA 98409

\253) 212~ m4

J\, .. •<·.. f WllMJN~N
SlON.Br:OadAve.., Wilmington. CA 90744

(310) 54~:4000

34 Seafarers LOB

Dispatchers' Report for Great Lakes
AUGUST 16 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

L-Lakes NP - Non Priority CL - Company/Lakes

*TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED **REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups All Groups All Groups

Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP Class CL Class L Class NP

Port DECK DEPARTMENT
··Algonac 0 16 13

··=~··· 'tf?' ..• 11 13 ··· 0 5
Port ENGINE DEPARTMENT
Algonac 0 l~ 6 0 8 3 0 4
Port STEWARD DEPARTMENT

. " ""

Algonac 0 5 13 .0, 3 10 .0 2
Port ENTRY DEPARTMENT
Algonac Q ... lA . ... Z(io .... 2 .. B :!4 t '"9 6 , 12

Totals All Depts 0 47 58 0 30 40 0 17 18
*"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

Dispatchers' Report for Inland Waters
AUGUST 16 - SEPTEMBER 15, 2000

*TOTAL REGISTERED
All Groups

TOTAL SHIPPED
All Groups

**REGISTERED ON BEACH
All Groups

Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C Class A Class B Class C

Region

yf;~!l~fifaf~~t 0
<~.·· .... ·.·.;·'..·o··.······u· i;f"}~o···as> .. ·~ ..... ~ ... ·.·.·.·.:.•.•.!.'..'.' .. ·

5
. . l v $.: \,,)?·.;:;· ;:f}i

·;111ts~~z;~~'>:W.ited];' .. '.~ .P.NP:n1:JJs£f;KJ l.i~ rrtsW!h

0

West Coast 0 0 8
Totals 1 2 9
Region
Atlantic Coast 0 0 0
Gulf Coast 1 0 0
Lakes, Inland Waters 0 0 0
West Coast 0 0 0
Totals 1 0 0
Region
Atlantic Coast 0 0 0
Gulf Coast 0 0 0
Lakes, Inland Waters 0 0 0
West Coast 0 0 1
Totals 0 0 1

DECK DEPARTMENT
0
1
9
3
4

1 1
3 1

ENGINE DEPARTMENT
0 0 O"
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0
0 0 0

STEWARD DEPARTMENT
0 0 0
0 0 0

3
3

()

0
{)

0
0

0

0 . 0 /J Of .. ~·o•o•""•••" ""'''"""""•"·•·••• 'l.J ·""'';"'".""••"·"·•·

0
0

0
0

1
1

0
0

1
1

... o, ...... ,.
0
0
0
0

0
0

Totals All Depts 2 2 10 4 3 2 3 1
*"Total Registered" means the number of Seafarers who actually registered for shipping at the port.
**"Registered on Beach" means the total number of Seafarers registered at the port.

PI C-FROM-THE-PAST
In earlier years, the SIU apparently was involved in various

sporting events, among them a horse race and soap box
derby.

The horse race photo (right) is from the LOG archives. All
that is known about it is what is printed on the picture. "Andrea
Gomez, International Vice President of SIUNA, accompanied
by Ann Olmen, awards the Paul Hall Trophy to the owners,
and driver, John Quinn of Con Brio, winner of the Seafarers

15
25

0
0
()

0
0

1
1

26

International Union Purse at Rosecroft (Md.) Raceway -
Friday, May 10, 1963."

The soap box derby photograph (left) was sent to the
LOG by Antoinette Warren, the wife of Pensioner and char­
ter member Paul A. Warren, 87, of Mandeville, La. Warren,
pictured with the young driver, was an official in the union
for 32 years. He worked as a patrolman in the port of New
Orleans, where this race took place.

October 2000



Arecertified
among the
announcing

ments this month.
Thomas J. Maley graduated

from the highest level of training
available to members of the stew­
ard department at the Paul Hall
Center in Piney Point, Md.

Including Maley, five of the
retirees sailed in the deep sea divi­
sion. Five others navigated the
inland waterways, five plied the
Great Lakes and one worked in the
railroad marine division.

Nine of the retirees were mem­
bers of the deck department, four
shipped in the engine department
and three sailed in the steward
department.

On this page, the Seafarers
LOG presents brief biographical
accounts of the retiring Seafarers.

DEEP SEA
·· ROBERTL.

BIRMING­
HAM, 65,
began his
career with the
SIU in 1965,
joining in the
port of New

···"'·· York. Born in
Asheville, N.C., he served in the
U.S. Air Force from 1953 to
1957. Brother Birmingham first
sailed aboard the Cabins, operat­
ed by Texas City Refining, Inc. A
member of the deck department,
he upgraded his skills at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in Piney
Point, Md. Prior to retiring, he
sailed aboard the Northern Lights,
an lnterocean Ugland
Management Corp. vessel. He
resides in New Orleans.

DONALDJ.
GIFFORD,
64, hails from
New York. He
joined the SIU
in his native
state in 1971
and first sailed
aboard the
Transchamplain, operated by
Hudson Waterways Corp. Brother
Gifford served in the U.S. Marine
Corps from 1953 to 1957. A
member of the deck department,
he upgraded his skills at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in 1979.
Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard
the LNG Libra. Brother Gifford
lives in Chaumont, N.Y.

THOMASJ.
MALEY,64,
began his
career with the
SIU in 1959 in
the port of
New York. A
member of the
steward

department, Brother Maley first
sailed aboard Boston Towing
Company vessels. He upgraded
his skills and completed the stew­
ard recertification course at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship in 1983.
Brother Maley last sailed in 1993.
Prior to retiring, he worked
aboard the Franklin J. Phillips,
operated by Maersk Line Ltd.
Brother Maley calls Pine City,
N.Y. home.

Ot:lober 2DIJIJ

GARYC.
MITCHELL,
62, joined the
SIU in 1970 in
the port of
Seattle after
having served
in the U.S.
Navy from
1956 to 1960. A native of Ohio,
Brother Mitchell first sailed
aboard the Brooklyn, operated by
Bay Tankers. He upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
in 1975, 1995, 1997 and again
earlier this year. Brother Mitchell
worked in the engine department.
He last sailed aboard the 1st Lt.
Baldomero Lopez, operated by
American Overseas Marine. He
resides in Alliance, Ohio.

JOHNE.
THOMAS,
62, was born
in Baltimore.
He began his
career with the
SIU in 1974 in
the port of
Norfolk, Va. A

member of the steward depart­
ment, Brother Thomas first
shipped aboard Waterman Steam­
ship Corp. 's Hurricane. He up­
graded his skills at the Paul Hall
Center for Maritime Training and
Education in 1997. Prior to retir­
ing, he sailed aboard Waterman's
Stonewall Jackson. Brother Thomas
calls Portsmouth, Va. home.

INLAND
EDWIN J.
BLACK, 61,
hails from
Pennsylvania.
A member of
the U.S. Army
from 1958 to
1964,
Boatman
Black joined the SIU in 1972 in
the port of Baltimore. He first
sailed aboard Berg Towing
Company vessels. He shipped as
a member of the deck depart­
ment. Prior to retiring, he sailed
aboard Interstate Oil Transport
Company vessels. Boatman Black
lives in Rock Hall, Md.

LEANDER BOURGEOIS, 63,
joined the SIU in 1967 in Port
Arthur, Texas. The Louisiana
native had two tours of duty in
the U.S. Army, serving from 1955
to 1958 and from 1960 to 1963.
He first sailed with the SIU
aboard Southern Towing, Inc.
vessels. A member of the deck
department, Boatman Bourgeois
sailed aboard H vi de Marine ves­
sels prior to his retirement. He
calls Lafayette, La. home.

JOHNNIE
RAY
BROWN,63,
is a native of
Tennessee. He
began his
career with the
SIU in 1988 in
the port of

New Orleans. Boatman Brown
served in the U.S. Army from
1956 to 1960. A member of the
steward department, he worked
primarily aboard Red Circle
Transport Co. vessels. He last

Welcome Ashore
Each month, the Seafarers LOG pays tribute to the SIU members who have devoted their

working lives to sailing aboard U.S.-fiag 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.

sailed in 1999. Brother Brown
calls Hollister, Fla. home.

JOHNA.
FURMAN
SR., 61, began
his SIU career
in 1966, join­
ing in the port
of Norfolk,
Va. A native of ··
Currituck,
N.C., Boatman Furman served in
the U.S. Army. He first sailed for
the SIU aboard Southern Carriers
Corp. vessels. A member of the
deck department, Boatman Fur­
man was last employed on SIU­
contracted boats in 1984. Prior to
his retirement, he sailed aboard
Allied Towing's Mohawk. Brother
Furman resides in Portsmouth, Va.

JOHNRUSS­
EFF, 71,
joined the SIU

· in 1993 in the
port of
Wilmington,
Calif. The
North Dakota
native is a vet­

eran of the U.S. Army, serving
from 1944 to 1945. A member of
the engine department, Boatman
Russeff sailed primarily aboard
Brusco Tug & Barge Co. vessels.
He resides in Oxnard, Calif.

GREAT LAKES
RAUL BAR­
RERA, 44,
joined the SIU
in 1977 in the
port of Detroit.
A member of
the deck
department,
Brother

Barrera first sailed aboard Erie
Sand Steamship's Schoellkojf. He
was born in Wayne County, Mich.
and served in the U.S. Army from
1973 to 197 5. Brother Barrera
upgraded his skills several times
at the Seafarers Harry Lundeberg
School of Seamanship. Prior to
retiring, he worked aboard
American Steamship Co. 's M!V
Buffalo. Brother Barrera calls
Port Huron, Mich. home.

MOHNSEN
AHMED
ELMATIDL,
63, began his
career with the
SIU in 1966 in
the port of
Detroit. Born
in Yemen,

Brother Elmathil first sailed
aboard American Steamship Co. 's
American Sea Ocean. A member
of the engine department, Brother
Elmathil last sailed earlier this
year aboard American Steam­
ship's John Boland. He calls
Detroit home.

CHARLES A.
HOLTREY,
55, was born
in Michigan.
He joined the
SIU in 1966 in ....
Frankfort,
Mich. A mem­
ber of the
deck department, Brother Holtrey
first sailed aboard the American
Sea Ocean, operated by American
Steamship Co. He upgraded his
skills at the Seafarers Harry
Lundeberg School of Seamanship
in 1979. Prior to his retirement,
he sailed aboard American
Steamship's Indiana Harbor. He
still resides in his native Michigan.

THIS MONTH
IN SIU HISTORY

JOHNT.
OSTWALD,
65, joined the
SIU in 1977 in
Duluth, Minn.
The Oakland,
Mich. native
first sailed
aboard the S. T.

Crapo, operated by Inland Lakes
Management, Inc. A member of
the engine department, Brother
Ostwald was last employed in
1999. Prior to retiring, he sailed
aboard the Richard J. Reiss, oper­
ated by Erie Sand Steamship.
Brother Ostwald lives in
Cheboygan, Mich.

KAID A. TAIRI, 65, began his
career with the SIU in 1967, join­
ing in the port of Detroit.
Originally from Yemen, the deck
department member first sailed
aboard the Reiss Brothers, oper­
ated by American Steamship Co.
Prior to retiring, Brother Tairi
shipped aboard Bob-Lo Island's
Columbia. He lives in New
York.

RAILROAD MARINE

WILLIARD
V.BYRNS
JR., 62, hails
from Matt­
hews, Va. He
joined the
Seafarers in
1970 and first
sailed the same
year as a member of the deck
department. Brother Byrns served
in the U.S. Army from 1957 to
1960. He was last employed in
1985 with the Chesapeake &
Ohio Railway. Brother Byrns
currently resides in Hudgins, Va.

.. o~ ~ctoh~ at;'~ ..
1?10; P~dent

. NiiOn siped · th~
Merchant Mai'fne'Aa ...
'ijf.\1970.;:. Ttiis A.et,

'ff!it.;~~~=-==~:;::;;::;:::;;==::::::=:========~ which incorporated

During the two-and-a-half years in whtch the
SIU dinic program has been operating; a
sharp decline in the inddence of tuberculosis
among Seafarers has been noted. The clinics,
Which stress preventive medidne, offer phys-.
icaf examinations to atl members. .
The major requirements for c0ntrolling .
tuberculosis are early detection and effective ··
treatment. The SIU's cfmics suppfy the first

,. and the U.S. Public Health Setvlce Hospital$

: many provisions backed by the Seafarers
International Union, had .paSsed b(>th hOuses
of Congress by substandal majorities before
it was sent to President Nixon for his ···signa­
ture. President Nixon said the bill marked
the beginning of a new era for the troubled
maritime industry and opened the prospect
of revitalization of the u.s ... flag maritime

. fleet.
The bill will benefit SIU men more than oth·
ers by means of its proviSton to construct
300 new ships for the foreign trade in the
next 10 years. The bulk of those 300 ships
will go to SIU-contracted co~nies. . ...

Seafarers LOB 35



ROBERTO BOSCO HERBERT CLARITY USNS Potomac, operated by Bay Interocean

Pensioner Pensioner Herbert Clarity, 80, died Ship Management, Inc. Brother Ugland

Roberto Bosco, July 1. The La Cygne, Kan. native Guillory lived in Fulshear, Texas. Management

73, passed away started his career with the MC&S in Corp.'s
Pensioner July 26. He 1945. He first sailed aboard the FOOKHAU Chiwawa. A
Henry Arm- began his career Hibbing Victory. A member of the Pensioner Fook Hau, 93, passed member of the
strong, 79, died with the SIU in steward department, Brother Clarity away May 22. A native of China, deck depart-
July 15. Brother 1951, joining in last sailed aboard American Brother Hau started his career with ment, Brother
Armstrong the port of New President Lines' President Lincoln. the MC&S in 1957. He first sailed Lester began
began his career York. Born in He resided in Ft. Scott, Kan. aboard the Golden Mariner. A mem- receiving his
with the SIU in Puerto Rico, ber of the steward department, he pension in 1988. Prior to retiring, he
1953. The stew- Brother Bosco first sailed aboard OREN DOWD began receiving his pension in 1973. shipped aboard the Sea-Land
ard department Waterman Steamship Corp. 's Wild Prior to retiring, Brother Hau sailed Venture. Brother Lester resided in
member first Ranger. The steward department

Pensioner Oren
aboard the President Cleveland. He Reeves, La.

sailed aboard Ore Navigation member started receiving his pen-
Dowd, 78,

resided in San Francisco.
Corp. 's Export Leader. A native of sion in 1989. Prior to retiring,

passed away JULIUS M. MAGNO
North Carolina, Brother Armstrong Brother Bosco sailed aboard the

July 22. Brother
NOLAN HURTT Pensioner Julius

began receiving his pension in 1979. American Heritage, operated by
Dowd began

M. Magno, 80,
Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the his career with Pensioner
Sea-Land Venture. Brother

Westchester Marine Corp. He called the Seafarers in Nolan Hurtt, 67, passed away

Armstrong lived in Charlotte, N.C.
Carolina, P.R. home. 1958, joining in died Aug. 14. July 29. Born in

the port of Brother Hurtt the Philippines,
EDWARD BOGGUESS Mobile. The started his Brother Magno

HANSM.BANG Pensioner Alabama native served in the U.S. career with the began his career

Pensioner Hans Edward Navy from 1944 to 1946. He sailed . .\ SIU in 1951, with the

M. Bang, 62, Bogguess, 74, in both the deep sea and inland divi- :~ joining in the Seafarers in

passed away passed away sions. The deck department member port of 1962. A mem-

Aug. 11. June 13. Born first shipped aboard Waterman Baltimore. He her of the deck department, be first

Brother Bang in Iowa, Steamship Corp. 's Morning Light. first sailed aboard the Oremar, oper- shipped aboard a Merchantile

started his Brother Brother Dowd began receiving bis ated by Ore Navigation Corp. A Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother

career with the Bogguess pension in 1986. Prior to his retire- member of the deck department, be Magno began receiving his pension

SIU in 1965. A joined the ment, he sailed aboard Crescent began receiving bis pension in 1990. in 1985. Prior to his retirement, he

member of the MC&S in 1966 Towing & Salvage Co. vessels. He Prior to retiring, Brother Hurtt sailed sailed aboard the Sea-Land Explorer.

engine depart- in the port of San Francisco, before lived in Chickasaw, Ala. aboard the cable ship Global Link. Brother Magno lived in National

ment, the Denmark native first sailed that union merged with the SIU. The He resided in Parkville, Md. City, Calif.

aboard the Transhudson, operated by steward department member started JOHN DUNN WING MAH Hudson Waterways Corp. He upgraded receiving his pension in 1983. Prior Pensioner John ARTHUR JACOBS
his skills at the Seafarers Harry to his retirement, he sailed aboard Dunn, 75 Pensioner Pensioner Wing Mah, 91, died
Lundeberg School of Seamanship in the President Pierce, operated by passed away Arthur Jacobs, March 11. Brother Mah joined the
Piney Point, Md. several times and American President Lines. Brother June 10. He 77, passed MC&S in 1945 and sailed in the
began receiving his pension in 1999. Bogguess resided in Seattle. served in the away July 26. steward department. Born in China,
Before retiring, he sailed aboard U.S. Army from He began his his first vessel was the William H.
CSX Lines' Voyager. Brother Bang DOMINICK BRANCOCCIO 1941 to 1945. career with the Prescott, operated by American
called Monte Rio, Calif. home. Pensioner Brother Dunn SIU in 1952, President Lines. Brother Mah began

Dominik started his joining in the receiving his pension in 197 .

WILLIAM BARNES Brancoccio, 69, Seafarers career port of Boston. Before retiring, he sailed aboard the

Pensioner died June 8. A in 194 7, joining in the port of A native of Lurline, a Matson Navigation Co.
vessel. Brother Mah called San

William Barnes, native of New Baltimore. The Maryland native was Waterville, Maine, Brother Jacobs
Francisco home.

79 died July 10. York, he served a member of the steward depart- first sailed aboard Isbrandtsen
He joined the in the U.S. ment. He began receiving his pen- Company NSA-operated vessels. A

WILLIAM MARTINI
Seafarers in Navy from sion in 1983. Prior to retiring, member of the engine department,
1953 in the port 1948 to 1952. Brother Dunn sailed aboard the he started receiving his pension in Pensioner William Martini, 84, died
of New York. Brother Santa Lucia, operated by Delta 1988. Prior to retiring, he sailed April 29. A native of New York, he

Born in the Brancoccio began his career with the Steamship Lines. He called Silver aboard NPR Inc. 's Bayamon. joined the MC&S in 1939. Brother

Philippines, SIU in 1953,joining in the port of Spring, Md. home. Brother Jacobs called West Palm Martini first sailed aboard the
Brother Barnes New York. A member of the steward Beach, Fla. home. President Taft. The steward depart-

first sailed with New York Dock department, he first sailed aboard an HARUNOBU ENOMOTO ment member began receiving his

Railway Co. A member of the AH Bull Steamship Co. vessel. Pensioner JOE LEWIS JOHNSON pension in 1975. Prior to his retire-- engine department, he began receiv- Brother Brancoccio started receiving Harunobu Pensioner Joe ment, he sailed aboard the Oregon

ing his pension in 1987. Prior to bis pension in 1988. Before retiring, Enomoto, 81 Lewis Johnson, Mail. Brother Martini lived in

retiring, he sailed aboard the Sea- he sailed aboard a Sea-Land Service died June 12. 63, died Aug. 4. Seattle.

Land Marketer. Brother Barnes vessel. Brother Brancaccio was a Born in Hawaii, A native of
resided in his native country. resident of Brooklyn, N.Y. Brother Alabama, he THEODORE R. MARTINEZ

Enomoto joined joined the SIU Pensioner
FRANK BARTLETT PAT BUCCI the MC&S in in 1960. He Theodore R.

Pensioner Pensioner Pat 1968 in the port first sailed Martinez, 74,

Frank Bartlett, Bucci, 81, died of San aboard the Twin passed away
80, passed July 27. Brother Francisco. The steward department Falls, operated June 22. He
away July 14. Bucci started member began receiving bis pension by Swannee Steamship Co. A mem- served in the
Born in his career with in 1986. Prior to retiring, he sailed ber of the steward department, U.S. Army from
Alabama, the SIU in aboard the President Fillmore. Brother Johnson began receiving bis 1943 to 1947.
Brother Bartlett 1966, joining in Brother Enomoto resided in pension in 1996. Before retiring, he Brother
started his the port of Kanoehe, Haiwaii. sailed aboard the Sea-Land Martinez began
career with the Wilmington, Enterprise. Brother Johnson lived in his career with the Seafarers in
Seafarers in Calif. Born in LUIS FRANCO Vallejo, Calif. 19 51. A member of the engine

1948, joining in the port of New Utah, he served with the U.S. Navy Pensioner Luis department, he first sailed aboard
York. He first sailed aboard an Alcoa from 1942 to 1945. He sailed in the Franco, 90, SAMUEL JOHNSON Southhail Company of Florida ves-
Steamship Co. vessel. Brother deck department. Brother Bucci passed away Pensioner sels. Brother Martinez started receiv-
Bartlett served in the U.S. Army began receiving his pension in 1984. June 14. A char- Samuel ing his pension in 1981. Before retir-
from 1942 to 1943. The steward Before retiring, be worked aboard ter member of Johnson, 78, ing, he sailed aboard the Inger, oper-
department member began receiving the Santa Magdalena, operated by the SIU, passed away ated by Reynolds Metal Company.
his pension in 1985. Prior to retiring, Delta Steamship Lines. Brother Brother Franco Aug. 8. He Galveston, Texas was his home.
he sailed aboard the Fa/con Prin- Bucci lived in San Diego. started his started his
cess, operated by Seahawk Manage- career with the career with the HILARIO MIRANDA
ment. Brother Bartlett lived in ALVIN BURROUGHS union in 1939 Seafarers in Brother Hilario Miranda, 66, died
Mobile, Ala. Brother Alvin in the port of Baltimore. The Ponce, 1951, joining in May 17. The Galveston, Texas

Burroughs, 51, P.R. native first sailed aboard the the port of New native began his career with the SIU FELIX BATARA passed away Cape Corwin in the steward depart- Orleans. The Florida native first in 1961. A member of the engine
Pensioner Felix Batara, 87, died July 19. Born in ment. Brother Franco began receiv- shipped aboard a Sprogue Steamship department, he first shipped aboard
May 23. Born in the Philippines, he Alabama, he ing his pension in 1965. Prior to Co. vessel. A member of the engine

Cape Waterways, Inc. vessels. He
graduated from the Marine Cooks & graduated from retiring, he sailed aboard the Del department, he began receiving his
Stewards (MC&S) training school the Seafarers Aires. Brother Franco lived in Miami. pension in 1991. Prior to his retire- last sailed aboard the Overseas

and joined that union in 1944 in the Harry ment, Brother Johnson sailed aboard Washington. Brother Miranda called

port of San Francisco. Brother Lunde berg RICHARD GUILLORY the cable ship Global Link. He lived Houston home.

Batara was a member of the steward School's entry Brother Richard Guillory, 45, died in Baltimore.
department. He first sailed aboard level training program in 1969 and June 8. Born in Texas, he began his

RODOLFO MOREIRA
the Robert G. Cousins, operated by joined the SIU in Piney Point, Md. career with the SIU in 1973, joining CHARLES LESTER Brother Rodolfo Moreira, 71, passed
Hammond Shipping. Brother Batara Brother Burroughs was a member of in the port of Houston. Brother Pensioner Charles Lester, 62, died away July 31. A native of Honduras,
began receiving his pension in 1972. the engine department. He last Guillory first sailed aboard the July 11. The Louisiana native began he joined the SIU in 1991 in the port
Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard the shipped aboard Interocean Ugland Overseas Arctic, operated by his career with the Seafarers in of Honolulu. A member of the stew-
President Taylor, operated by Management Corp. 's Diamond Overseas Bulk Tank Corporation. 1958,joining in the port ofNew ard department, he first shipped
American President Lines. Brother Shoals. Brother Burroughs lived in His last voyage was aboard the Orleans. He first sailed aboard Continued on page 3 7 Batara called Hercules, Calif. home. Mobile, Ala.

36 Seafarers LOB October 2000



Continued from page 36

aboard
American
Hawaii Cruises
vessels. Brother
Moreira upgrad­
ed his skills at
the union's
school in Piney
Point, Md. and
last sailed

aboard the USNS Yano, operated by
Bay Ship Management, Inc. He
lived in the Bronx, N.Y.

BLAISE PANICHO
Pensioner
Blaise Panicho,
84, died Aug.
16. Born in
Maryland,
Brother Panicho
started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1951, joining in

the port of New York. He served in
the U.S. Army from 1943 to 1946.
Brother Pancio first sailed aboard
the Robin Trent, operated by Sinclair
Oil Corporation. A member of the
steward department, Brother
Panicho started receiving his pen­
sion in 1981. Prior to retiring, he
shipped aboard the cable ship Long
Lines. Brother Panicho resided in
Baltimore.

NORRIS PERKINS
Pensioner
Norris Perkins,
78, passed away
June 4. Brother
Perkins began
his career with
the MC&S in
1958, joining in
the port of
Seattle. A native

of Missouri and a member of the
steward department, he first sailed
aboard American President Lines'
President Adams. Brother Perkins
started receiving his pension in
1992. Before retiring, he sailed
aboard the Sea-Land Tacoma.
Brother Perkins lived in Seattle.

CHARLES RICE
Pensioner
Charles Rice,
77, died July
11. He began
his career with
the SIU in
1945,joining in
the port of
Gloucester,

· Mass. A mem­
ber of the steward department,
Brother Rice graduated from the
bosun recertification course at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
in 1979. He began receiving is pen­
sion in 1986. Prior to his retirement,
Brother Rice shipped aboard the
Osprey, operated by NPR, Inc. He
called Ormond Beach, Fla. home.

ROBERTO RODRIGUEZ
Brother Roberto Rodriguez, 51,
passed away June 16. Born in New
York, he served in the U.S. Air
Force from 1968 to 1970. Brother
Rodriguez joined the SIU in 1971 in
the port of New York. He first sailed
aboard the Council Grove, operated
by Interocean Ugland Management,
Corporation. A member of the
engine department, Brother
Rodriguez upgraded his skills at the
Seafarers Harry Lundeberg School
in 1974. He last sailed aboard the
USNS Gilliand. He resided in
Brooklyn, N. Y.

COURTNEY ROOKS
Pensioner Courtney Rooks, 75, died
Aug. 14. Brother Rooks started his
career with the SIU in 1951,joining

October 2000

in the port of New York. Born in
Trinidad, he sailed in the steward
department. Brother Rooks began
receiving his pension in 1994.
Before retiring, he sailed aboard the
Sam Houston, a Waterman
Steamship Corp. vessel. Brother
Rooks lived in Kenner, La.

EDWARD STANKIEWICZ
Pensioner
Edward
Stankiewicz,
74, passed
away June 24.
He served in
the U.S. Navy
from 1943 to
1946. The
Pennsylvania

native began his career with the SIU
in 1951, joining in the port of
Philadelphia. A member of the deck
department, Brother Stankiewicz
first sailed aboard the Transatlantic.
He began receiving his pension in
1991. Prior to his retirement, he
sailed aboard the Tam Gui/den, oper­
ated by Transport Commercial.
Brother Stankiewicz resided in
Philadelphia.

RAMON THOMAS
Brother Ramon Thomas, 21, died
July 27. Born in Mobile, Ala.
Brother Thomas began his SIU
career in 1999, joining in the port of
Piney Point. He last sailed aboard
the USNS Bob Hope, operated by
Maersk Lines, Ltd. Brother Thomas
resided in his native Mobile.

THEODORE WEEMS
Pensioner
Theodore
Weems, 75,
passed away
July 20. Born in
Ohio, Brother
Weems began
his career with
the Seafarers in

;;.......;;,;.....__~""----' 1949,joining in
the port of New York. He served
with the U.S. Navy from 1942 to
1946. Brother Weems was a member
of the dec:.C department. He began
receiving his pension in 1986. Prior
to retiring, he sailed aboard the
Samuel L. Cobb. Jacksonville, Fla.
was his home.

GEORGE WHITE JR.
Pensioner
George White,
Jr., 80 died July
29. He began
his career with
the MC&S in
1954, joining in
the port of San
Francisco.

L----~~~:.....o:...___, Brother White
was a veteran of the U.S. Army. The
steward department member began
receiving his pension in 1991. Prior
to retiring, Brother White worked
aboard the Sea-Land Consumer. He
resided in Los Angeles.

INLAND

RAYMOND DIXON
Pensioner
Raymond
Dixon, 81,
passed away
June 11. A
native of
Louisiana,
Captain Dixon
began his

L--~~L.i:1~__J career with the
SIU in 1957, joining in the port of
New Orleans. He navigated the
inland waterways throughout his
career, sailing primarily aboard
Dixie Carrier vessels. He last sailed

in 1981. Brother Dixon began
receiving his pension in 1982. He
resided in Marrero, La.

ROBERT FREEMAN
Boatman Robert Freeman, 58 died
April 17. He began his SIU career in
1988 joining in the port of
Philadelphia. A member of the deck
department, Boatman Freeman first
shipped aboard a Moran Towing of
Philadelphia vessel and last sailed
aboard a McAllister Towing of
Philadelphia vessel. He served in the
U.S. Air Force from 1961 to 1963.
He called Boynton Beach, Fla.
home.

JOSEPH LANDRY
Pensioner Joseph Landry, 69 passed
away July 28. Boatman Landry
began his SIU career in 1963, join­
ing in Port Arthur, Texas. He served
in the U.S. Army from 1948 to
1955. A member of the deck depart­
ment, Boatman Landry sailed pri­
marily aboard Hvide Marine Towing
Co. vessels. He began receiving his
pension in 1988. Brother Landry
Landry called Groves, Texas home.

BRUNO LEWANDOWSKI
Pensioner
Bruno
Lewandowski,
65, died June
29. He served
in the U.S.
Marine Corps

· from 1953 to
1956. Boatman
Lewandowski

began his career with the SIU in
1976, joining in the port of
Philadelphia. Born in Pennsylvania,
he worked primarily aboard
McAllister Towing Co. vessels, last
sailing in 1986. A member of the
steward department, Boatman
Lewandowski began receiving his
pension in 1996. He resided in
Philadelphia.

FRANCIS LUKOWSKI
Boatman
Francis
Lukowski, 55,
died June 13.
Captain
Lukowski
served in the
U.S. Navy from
1966 to 1969.
Born in

Massachusetts, he began his career
with the Seafarers in 1969, joining
in the port of Baltimore. Boatman
Lukowski sailed primarily aboard
McAllister Towing of Baltimore
vessels. He lived in Huntington
Beach, Calif.

EUGENE R. LUTTRELL
Pensioner Eugene R. Luttrell, 79,
passed away July 15. Boatman
Luttrell began his career with the

SIU in 1961,
joining in the
port of Norfolk,
Va. He served
in the U.S.
Navy from
1945 to 1946.
The Virginia
native sailed
primarily

aboard Moran Towing of Virginia
vessels. Boatman Luttrell began
receiving his pension in 1985. He
called Reedville, Va. home.

JOHN LYNCH
Pensioner John
Lynch, 73, died
June 12. A
native of
Pennsylvania,
he served in the
U.S. Army from
1945 to 1946.
Captain Lynch
started his

career with the SIU in 1957, joining
in the port of Philadelphia. Boatman
Lynch first navigated the inland
waterways aboard Taylor Marine
Towing Company vessels. He began
receiving his pension in 1996. Prior
to retiring, Captain Lynch piloted
Turecamo Maritime vessels.
Philadelphia was his home.

ARTHUR E. MAIER SR.
Pensioner
Arthur E. Maier
Sr.,78, passed
away June 8.
Boatman Maier
served in the
U.S. Navy from
1942 to 1945. A
deck depart­
ment member,

he started his career with the SIU in
1957, joining in the port of Houston.
The Ocean Springs, Miss. native
began receiving his pension in 1985.
Boatman Maier worked aboard
Dixie Carriers vessels throughout his
career, last sailing in 1983. Brother
Maier resided in Biloxi, Miss.

CHARLES NORTON
Boatman Charles Norton, 56, died
June 27. He started his career with
the SIU in 1977, joining in the port
ofNorfolk, Va. A native of Virginia,
Boatman Norton sailed in the deck
department. He worked primarily
aboard McAllister Towing of
Virginia vessels until he came
ashore in 1990. Chesapeake, Va. was
his home.

DAVID STILES
Pensioner David Stiles, 70, passed
away May 27. He served in the U.S.
Navy from 1947 to 1948. Captain
Stiles began his career with the SIU
in 1973, joining in the port of
Norfolk. A native of Virginia, he
first sailed aboard Norfolk &
Baltimore vessels. Brother Stiles
began receiving his pension in 1992.

Prior to retiring, he sailed aboard
Northeast Towing vessels. Brother
Stiles resided in Cape Charles, Va.

GREAT LAKES

GEORGE HARRISON
Brother George
Harrison, 57,
died July 28.
He started his
career with the
Seafarers in
1966. The West
Virginia native
served in the
U.S. Army

from 1967 to 1969. He first sailed
for the SIU aboard the American Sea
Ocean, operated by the American
Steamship Co. A member of the
steward department, he last sailed
aboard the John Boland, another
American Steamship Co. vessel.
Brother Harrison lived in Ivydale,
W. Va.

GORDON LUCKETT
Pensioner Gordon Luckett, 77,
passed away Aug. 12. Brother
Luckett began his career with the
SIU in 1967, joining in the port of
Detroit. A member of the deck
department, he first shipped aboard a
Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Co.
vessel. Brother Luckett began
receiving his pension in 1988. Prior
to retiring, he sailed aboard a Falcon
Marine Company vessel. He resided
in Clearwater, Fla.

JOSEPH W. McKENNA
Pensioner
Joseph W.
McKenna, 67
died July 1. He
began his sea­
faring career in
1963, joining in
the port of New
York. He sailed
primarily

aboard Great Lakes Towing Co. ves­
sels. Brother McKenna began
receiving his pension in 1995.
Brother McKenna served with the
U.S. Army from 1952 to 1954. He
resided in Cleveland.

FRANK W. RYDELL
___ ....,,....,,,_...... Pensioner

Frank W.
Rydell, 93,
passed away
July 3. Brother
Rydell began
his career with
the SIU in
1963, joining in
the port of

Chicago. The Wisconsin native
sailed primarily aboard Great Lakes
Towing Company vessels. He began
receiving his pension in 1976.
Mokena , Ill. was his home.

Tuesday, lov. 7 is Election Day 2000.
This year, the American people will select those legislators who will sene

them in Congress. In addition to choosing a new president and vice presi­

dent, one-third of the 100 senatorial seats are up for grabs as are all 435

positions In the House of Representatives. Remember, you can't vote

unless you are registered.

Participate ••• Register • • • VOTE/

Seafarers LOG 37



..

-

GSU Alice Poree (left) and Chief Steward Mike
Vinca provide good cheer as well as good food.

The SS Ceveland:
Still Going Strong

The following article and accompanying photos were sent
to the LOG by Bosun David J. Garoutte.

The SS Cleveland was launched in October 1969 as the SS American Mail.
After nearly 31 years, but under a different name and company, this Sealift, Inc.
break-bulk, 'tween deck freighter is still delivering cargo worldwide under the
U.S. flag. She is truly unique as there are less than a handful in the American
fleet.

Our two most recent trips took us to Puerto Cortes, Honduras, with con­
tainerized foodstuffs; then to Matarani, Peru, via the Panama Canal, with
bagged cargo. Needless to say, it was a pretty fine trip but not without its fair
share of hard work.

Changing the rigging from lifting 20-ton containers to the 5-ton yard and
stay rig for the bags and then back again is no cakewalk. Just the basic mainte­
nance on the ship is considerable. Anyone who has sailed on an old freighter
knows exactly what I mean. There are 25 booms on the ship, counting the heavy
lift jumbo.

After loading more bagged cargo in Houston, we went to Wilmington, N.C.
for assorted general cargo, including nine heavy lifts as well as a fair amount of
ordnance. Being June, it was a pleasant trip across the Atlantic, through the
Mediterranean and Aegean seas to Thessaloniki, Greece, then down to Piraeus
for the discharge of the remaining cargo.

With a wistful farewell to Greece, we steamed north to Durres, Albania.
None of us having been there before, we didn't know what to expect, but were
pleasantly surprised at the amenities and friendliness offered us. As an emerging
third-world nation, there were some things to be desired by some Americans,
but from a sailor's point of view, our week-long stay was a pleasant one. It is a
beautiful mountainous country with sprawling valleys of farmland and a proud
and ancient history.

From top to bottom, we all worked hard.
I've personally been on this ship eight years and hope to be here when she

drops her anchors on the beach after her final voyage ... providing she is retired
before I am.

From left to right: Bosun David Garoutte works on a swivel atop one of the 25
booms aboard the Cleveland; cargo operations in Matarani, Peru; crew mem­
bers work the hoses during a fire and boat drill.

Sailing :tram Holbmd to Florida
From U.S. Ship Management, Inc. comes

word that as of Aug. 10, 2000, the Ned/loyd
Holland has been renamed the SeaLand Florida.
The photos snapped aboard the newly renamed
ship were sent to the LOG by AB Linnell B.
Coleman.

Bosun William Card adjusts a valve on the deck of the
SeaLand Florida.

38 Sllafarers LOB

Above: After a hard day's
work and with the tool room
neatly organized, QMED
Charles Kirksey (left) and
DEU Roosevelt Clark are
ready to clean up for dinner.

Right: ABs Linnell
Coleman (left) and

Rodney Jimenez mix
some paint before tackling

the job ahead of them.

Left: Serving lunch
aboard the SeaLand
Florida are (from left)
SA Richard Jones,

.4 Steward Ernest Dooms
and Chief Cook Robert
Wilcox.



>The se~lar,1'LOG a1tf1mpts t~;prtnt ~.many digests oianion shipboard
·· ·· · .. · 11!l1JJ!lff a~p,qnlb{l(~·h9fl occasion~ because of spate

···1im.ffl!tionss some will be omitted.

, Shi~f!zl1tate$ t;rst are reviewed by the unio11's contract depadment.
if\Those Issues requiring attention or resolution are addressed by the union

· upon receipt of the ships' minutes. The minutes are then lorwanled
to the Seafarers LOG tor publication.

CLEVELAND (Sealift Inc.), July
1 ~hairman David Garoutte,
Secretary Miguel E. Vinca, Edu­
cational Director Edward Sham­
burger, Deck Delegate Peter A.
Poree, Steward Delegate Othello
Dansley. Captain and chief mate
thanked all departments for good
trip. Chairman announced three
days at berth in New Orleans and
then on to Ethiopia. He also noted
3 percent COLA effective July 1,
2000. Secretary thanked everyone
for keeping mess hall clean. Edu­
cational director reminded crew
members of opportunities available
at Paul Hall Center in Piney Point,
Md. for upgrading skills. No beefs
or disputed OT. Discussion held
about safety issues aboard ship.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for good food, espe­
cially great barbecue, and for
cleanliness of house. Next port:
New Orleans.

DIAMOND SHOALS (IUM), July
25--Chairman Richard E. Barnes,
Secretary Laura L. Cates, Edu­
cational Director Ronald Celious,
Deck Delegate Albert E. Mensah
Jr., Engine Delegate Leportre L.
Jasper, Steward Delegate Subagio
Wibisono. Chairman stated cover­
alls will be provided by company.
He also noted copies of new con­
tract and merger information, pro­
vided by boarding patrolman, now
in crew lounge and smoking room.
Crew members expressed concern
about cold temperatures in state­
rooms. Suggestion made for com­
pany to purchase heaters. Educa­
tional director said many jobs now
available, so members should sign
up for courses at Piney Point to be
better prepared. Treasurer an­
nounced $2,000 in ship's fund. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Request made for written clarifica­
tions from union to ship's officers.
Steward department praised for job
well done. Special thanks to chief
mate for delicious baked goods.

ENDURANCE (U.S. Ship Mgmt.),
July 10--Chairman Daniel M.
Ticer Jr., Secretary Russell B.
Beyschau, Educational Director
George Evosevich, Steward Dele­
gate Wiley C. Owens. Chairman
noted changes coming in 2002,
particularly with new STCW
agreement. He reminded crew
members to get necessary endorse­
ments. He also stated wages are up
on Ready Reserve ships. Bosun
announced captain pleased with
condition of crew staterooms dur­
ing sanitary inspection. He wished
everyone smooth voyage and
pleasant and safe vacation. Secre­
tary urged members contribute to
SPAD. He thanked all hands for
cooperation and patience during
cleaning and waxing of decks.
Educational director stressed
importance of upgrading skills at
Paul Hall Center. Treasurer an­
nounced $100 in ship's movie
fund. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Request made for chair
for ABs standing wheel watch.
Crew gave vote of thanks to stew­
ard department for excellent job.
Next port: Long Beach, Calif.

INTEGRITY(U.S. Ship Mgmt.),
July 2--Chairman Domingo Leon
Jr., Secretary Michael F. Ham­
mock, Educational Director
Robert J. Hamil, Deck Delegate
Paul D. Lewis, Steward Delegate

October 2000

Ali S. Hydera. Chairman an­
nounced good trip with payoff July
6 in Elizabeth, N .J. Vessel will then
start new, longer run. Secretary
thanked crew members for keeping
messhall clean. Educational direc­
tor suggested attending upgrading
classes in Piney Point and making
sure all seamen's papers and neces­
sary endorsements are up to date.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Clarification requested on working
rules for three-man steward depart­
ment and on riding gang supervi­
sion. Suggestion made for contracts
department to look into increasing
pension and for health plan to
include additional companies. Also
suggested that more benefits be
extended to dependents. Steward
department thanked for job well
done. Next port: Boston, Mass.

KODIAK (CSX Lines), July 1-
Chairman Roger Reinke, Secre­
tary Melvin E. Morgan, Educa­
tional Director Alfonso D. Bom­
bita Jr., Deck Delegate John
Habib, Engine Delegate Phillip
Greenwell, Steward Delegate
Michael Linus. Chairman an­
nounced ship scheduled for payoff
July 4 in Tacoma, Wash. Blanket
relief for all crew July 5. Educa­
tional director reminded members
to check expiration dates on z-cards
and STCW endorsement to avoid
hassles when shipping out.
Seafarers LOG lists upcoming
upgrading courses; everyone urged
to attend. Some disputed OT re­
ported in steward department.
Numerous suggestions and recom­
mendations made, including: (1)
members be able to collect vacation
pay every 60 days, (2) Piney Point
implement basic woodworking
course and refresher wire-splicing
course to take while attending
upgrading classes, (3) SIU print up
guideline of members' rights con­
cerning Family Medical Leave Act.
Thanks given to chief electrician
for running wire for extra dryer and
to steward department for keeping
ship clean and for excellent food
preparation. Next ports: Tacoma;
Anchorage and Kodiak, Alaska.

LNG ARIES (Pronav), July 24-
Chairman Jack J. Cooper, Secre­
tary Doyle E. Cornelius, Educa­
tional Director Jeffrey Yarmola,
Deck Delegate Richard L. Lewis,
Engine Delegate Michael J. Bren­
nan, Steward Delegate Donna D.
Moore. Bosun thanked everyone
for job well done during uncertain­
ty of vessel reflagging. Crew did
professional job, "as would be
expected for SIU brothers and sis­
ters." Secretary thanked members
for help keeping lounge clean.
Educational director noted impor­
tance of attending upgrading cours­
es at Paul Hall Center and advised
crew to check LOG for schedule of
classes. Disputed penalty time in
all departments; no beefs reported.
Vote of thanks given to steward
department for job well done.

LNG GEMINI (Pronav), July 20-
Chairman John Thompson, Secre­
tary Georg G. Kenny, Educational
Director Donald Lumpkins,
Engine Delegate Dasril Panko,
Steward Delegate Sukirman
Suraredjo. Chairman stated union
adequately responded to issues
addressed at previous meeting. He
stressed need for safety at all times
and not take anything for granted.
Scuttlebutt has vessel being
reflagged and recrewed by AMO

officers on or about Sept. 5. Educa­
tional director stressed need to
upgrade skills at Piney Point. New
simulator building soon ready for
classroom instruction. Treasurer
announced $2,800 in general ship's
fund. Refrigerators and television
purchased for all unlicensed crew
staterooms as well as microwave
oven for galley. Additional funds to
be spent on improving satellite TV
system. Crew members reminded
that refrigerators and TV sets to be
stenciled and secured to bulkheads
and not to be transferred when
changing watches. Chairman read
and discussed president's report
from May issue of LOG, stressing
vital role played by Seafarers as
part of America's defense system.
Suggestion made for contracts
department to consider making
Maritime Day, May 22, paid holi­
day in future contract negotiations,
in memory of all Seafarers who
gave their lives for this country.
Discussion held on difficulties with
travel agency used by Pronav.
Steward thanked crew for coopera­
tion in maintaining clean ship and
for returning movies to library.
Video library is outdated; bosun in­
formed crew members that anyone
purchasing new videos or books
can be reimbursed from ship's
fund. Next port: Nagoya, Japan.

MAERSK CALIFORNIA
(Maersk Lines), July 23--Chair­
man Andrew B. Barrows, Edu­
cational Director Robert J. Flesey
Jr., Secretary David Joseph.
Chairman complimented crew
members on their professionalism.
He announced payoff Aug. 2.
Educational director reminded
members that fire fighting certifi­
cation needs renewal every five
years. Everyone should check to
see theirs are updated. Treasurer
announced $600 in ship's fund. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Suggestion made that spouses and
dependents be issued medical cards
and receive coverage for prescrip­
tions. Also that new weight
machine be added to gym.

OOCL INSPIRATION (U.S. Ship
Mgmt.), July 30--Chairman Leon
T. Jekot, Secretary Jerome Jor­
dan, Educational Director Eric D.
Bain, Deck Delegate Hans Gott­
schlick. Chairman announced pay­
off on arrival in Houston. This is
last voyage for ship with name
OOCL Inspiration. Name being
changed to Commitment, its origi­
nal name. Colors currently being
painted on house, decks and hatch­
es. Educational director suggested
crew members upgrade skills at
Paul Hall Center. No beefs or dis­
puted OT reported. Clarification
requested about days off in steward
department. Suggestion made to
have contracts department look
into increasing pension in next
contract. Old dryer needs repair or
replacement. Next ports: Bahamas;
Charleston, S.C.; Norfolk, Va.;
Newark, N.J.

OVERSEAS HARRIETTE (OSG
Management), July 2-Chairman
Clyde C. Smith, Secretary Mark
A. Flores, Deck Delegate Hernan­
do M. Bansuelo, Engine Delegate
William E. Cassel ID, Steward
Delegate Santiago Amaya. Vessel
to pay off in Lake Charles, La.
after traversing Panama Canal July
8. Educational director noted delay
in repair of certain galley items.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Suggestions made for contracts
department to look into dependent
prescription coverage and increased
dental benefits. More communica­
tion requested with ship's captain
and licensed officers. Crew mem­
bers also would like company to
donate computer to unlicensed
crew. Additional request made for
more fresh fruit and vegetables for
long voyages. Steward department
thanked for job well done.

OVERSEAS NEW YORK (ATC),
July 25--Chairman Jack Walker,
Secretary Jeffrey L. Smith, Edu-

cational Director Edward H. Self,
Deck Delegate Donald Rezendos,
Engine Delegate Sean Walker,
Steward Delegate Norm Cox.
Chairman announced payoff July
27. He noted coveralls available
from chief mate and reminded
crew that no more than two movies
should be taken at a time. Educa­
tional director stressed importance
of utilizing Paul Hall Center facili­
ties for upgrading skills and noted
ATC safety course not yet in effect.
He also advised members to fill out

garbage, dry garbage and tin cans.
Aluminum cans also separated for
collection by shoregang bosun in
Oakland. He reminded everyone
about renewal of STCW, passports
and z-cards. Educational director
urged everyone to upgrade at Paul
Hall Center for better paying jobs.
Treasurer announced $800 in ship's
fund. Money to be used to fix
satellite system. Some disputed OT
reported in engine department; no
beefs noted by all three department
delegates. Communications read by

On-Call on the Red Cloud

No sooner does Bosun Gary White sit down for a quick break
aboard the USNS Red Cloud (Maersk Lines) when he is paged on
his walkie-talkie.

forms for extra day's vacation pay.
No beefs or disputed OT reported.
Communications from headquar­
ters read and posted regarding
vacation pay during current con­
tract and signing off on TRBs.
Requests made for new movies,
new crew lounge furniture and
exercise room for crew. Thanks
given to steward department for
good job.

PERSEVERANCE (Maritrans ),
July 21--Chairman Thomas W.
Lasater, Secretary Catherine M.
Hays, Educational Director
Kenneth W. Pinchin, Deck Dele­
gate Diego Hatch, Engine Dele­
gate Milton Israel, Steward Dele­
gate Marvin James. Chairman
announced payoff in Puerto Rico
July 31. He advised everyone to
read article in recent LOG about
renewing STCW by Feb. 1, 2002.
He also noted this is big election
year and that Seafarers should stay
involved, vote for those who are on
maritime's side, and vote in union
elections-don't let others decide
for you. Dedication and hard work
of SIU members and officials have
paid off; several companies have
agreed to increase wages and bene­
fits aboard ship. Secretary stated
contract extended another year.
Educational director urged crew
members to upgrade skills at Piney
Point and make sure seamen's
papers are up to date. Treasurer
announced $1, 100 in entertainment
fund. No beefs or disputed OT
reported. Request made for parts to
fix crew bikes or purchase new
ones. Suggestion made that Sea­
farers get paid from day they start
traveling to ship and that vacation
benefits be payable after 60 days.
Also requested better prescription
plan for dependents, including cov­
erage for periodontal work and
more optical benefits. Request
made for tank and oil spill lockers
to be kept more orderly. Thanks
given to steward department for
good food and to all crew members
for keeping house clean and help­
ing with soogie job in meat and
chill boxes. Next ports: Puerto
Rico; Nederland, Texas; Tampa,
Fla.; Marcus Hook, Penn.

PRODUCER (CSX Lines), July
2--Chairman Robert S. Wilson,
Secretary David A. Cunningham,
Educational Director Alan A.
Rogers II, Deck Delegate Joseph
A. Osorio, Engine Delegate Owen
J. Duffy Jr., Steward Delegate
Pedro J. Laboy. Chairman an­
nounced payoff July 4 in Oakland,
Calif. He commended crew for
good job separating plastic, wet

bosun regarding increased wages
aboard MarAd vessels. Suggestion
made regarding company-paid
transportation when vessel changes
run to completely new area. Stew­
ard department welcomed aboard
Eddy Ramirez as new utility/
pantryman, a seasoned pro from
San Francisco. Steward also
thanked Chief Cook Laboy for
delicious meals and keeping galley
very clean. "Everyone is real
happy about the food on this ves­
sel." Next ports: Honolulu;
Oakland and Long Beach, Calif.

QUALITY (U.S. Ship Mgmt.), July
9--Chairman Jim Hassan, Secre­
tary Franklyn J. Cordero, Educa­
tional Director Brian Sengelaub,
Deck Delegate Bennie Spencer,
Engine Delegate Carlos Bonefont,
Steward Delegate Evans Ver­
veniotis. Chairman noted receipt
of new microwave oven. He
thanked all departments for safe
trip. Secretary thanked everyone
for helping keep house, messhalls
and lounges clean and reminded
all members to have STCW updat­
ed before 2002 deadline.
Educational director stressed
importance of upgrading skills at
Piney Point and requested crew to
follow rules for separating plastic
items from rest of garbage and
trash. He also cautioned that safety
is everyone's business. No beefs or
disputed OT reported. New LOGs
received on board. Crew advised
that reading LOG is best way to
keep abreast of changes in indus­
try. Steward department given vote
of thanks for good job.

ROBERT E. LEE (Waterman
Steamship Corp.), July 23-
Chairman Cesar A. Gutierrez,
Secretary James A. Jackson Jr.,
Educational Director Isadore J.
Greenberg, Deck Delegate Ber­
nard I. Blunt, Steward Delegate
Nadine Butler. Chairman noted
that after being at anchor 13 days
for boiler repair, ship once again
en route to Suez Canal and then to
U.S., with next port Morehead
City, N.C. and payoff in New
Orleans. Educational director
advised everyone to take advan­
tage of union facility in Piney
Point for upgrading skills. No
beefs or disputed OT reported.
Recommendation made for con­
tracts department to look into rais­
ing maintenance and cureg. Repairs
needed to VCR and ice machine.
Crew thanked steward department
for job well done.

Seafarers LOB 39



Baked Turkey
Croquettes

Serves: 25

... a good way to use up leftover turkey,
chicken or ham. If using ham, put through
a meat grinder and use 1-112 cups ground
ham .. .

GALLEY 1/2 cups butter

3/4 cup flour

1-112 pints milk

CORNER
8-1/3 cups turkey, chopped

4-1/8 teaspoons salt

1-1/8 teaspoons celery salt

5 eggs

2-3/4 tablespoons water

2-1/8 cups bread crumbs

1-1/8 teaspooons ground sage

112 cup butter, melted

Melt 2 tablespoons butter over low heat. Add the flour
and stir until well blended. Cook one minute. Slowly add
milk and cook, stirring constantly, until boiling.

Let sauce cool; add chopped turkey, egg yolk, salt and
celery salt.

Form into 25 small cones. Mix bread crumbs with
ground sage. Beat egg in water. Roll cones in crumbs. Dip
each cone in egg and roll again in crumbs. Place on
greased baking pan and drizzle with melted butter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes.

If anyone is looking for a particular recipe or has one of their own that they would like to
share, drop Chef Hetmanski a line at the Paul Hall Center, P. 0. Box 75, Piney Point, MD
2067 4 or e-mail to: shlssvoc@us.hsanet.net.

I tetten to the Editor I
days ( 1945), the old Libertys
were not really equipped for ship­
to-shi p refueling at sea while
underway. The bosun and deck
crew did the best they could using
the standard cargo booms to keep
oil hoses out of the water. The
hoses were in sections of 20 or 40
feet with quick couplings at each
end. The ships had to be very
close alongside.

(Editors note: the Seafarers LOG
reserves the right to edit letters
for grammar as well as space
provisions without changing the
writers intent. The LOG wel­
comes letters from members, pen­
sioners, their families and ship­
mates and will publish them on a
timely basis.)

4 )Ii

Captain Praises
Steward Department

I just wanted to drop a note to
let you know of the incredible job
done by Chief Steward Brandon
Maeda and our SIU steward gang
here aboard the Cable Ship
Global Link.

Alongside the dock, as the
ship is now, provides crew mem­
bers the opportunity to eat at a
variety of restaurants. However, a
majority of the crew as well as
the office staff remain aboard for
the meals so as not to miss the
great chow.

The variety of meals prepared
by Chief Cook James Tran
ranges from the standard
ChiliMac to Beef Wellington and
lobster. The menu changes so
often, one looks forward to see­
ing what there is to offer each
day. The baker, Ed Tully, contin­
ues to amaze us with his prepara­
tions of sweets, some topped with
chocolate sculptures that he pre­
pares at night on his own time.

Brandon and his gang always
manage to keep the morale of the
crew and officers up while at sea
and also strive to maintain the
same good feeling while along­
side the dock. The monthly birth­
day parties with cakes and special
meals have become the norm
which everyone looks forward to
as much as Brandon's holiday
specials.

40 Seafarers LOG

This ship has months of wait­
ing for a cable break or a project
but must maintain a 24-hour call­
out mode of readiness. This
means all 118 bunks must be kept
ready, stores loaded for at least 45
days for 90 men, and above all,
the ship must be kept in a con­
stant state of cleanliness.

The vessel hosts all manner of
company personnel as well as the
weekly functions by our PR peo­
ple. In all, 1,500 linear feet of
passageway are kept clean and
waxed, ready to receive the
unknown visitor as well as pro­
vide a sense of pride to those who
sail aboard her.

Suffice it to say, the steward
department has a lot to do with
the professionalism witnessed by
our customers every day. Our
morale, comfort and needed rest
are taken care of for us by these
guys. As for myself, Brandon
takes one more worry off my
mind as I know the stewards are
always ready to go to sea and that
we won't even notice the differ­
ence.
Captain William H. Dowd
Master, CS Global Link

• )II

Reading Good News;
Remembering the Past

I look forward to getting my
copy of the LOG. It's mostly
always good news, not like our
daily newspapers. I especially
enjoy reading the stories like
"Voyage to India" [April, July,
August 2000]. That brought back
memories of being a fireman/
watertender on a Liberty tanker
when I was 16.

The ship's job was to refuel
the convoy escort ships to the
Mediterranean and back. In those

The skippers tried to take
advantage of good weather. The
mariners on the ship's wheel had
to be on their toes, and we in the
engine room had to hold that old
triple expansion engine at con­
stant revs and the boiler pressure
constant all the while a ship was
fueling alongside.

I guess we did a good job-no
collisions or scrapes.
Joseph R Legere
West Palm Beach, Fla.

• )II'

Getting the Facts
Straight on Islam

I read the article "Voyage to
India." The article was good and
informative. But Mr. Smith mis­
informed your readers about the
Islam religion when he wrote that
"the muezzins, or priests, have
the 'good fortune' to be blinded
while still young babies 'so that
they may see no evil."'

The statement is completely
false. In Islam, there is no priest
system. Islam just has religious
teachers, scholars and professors.
They are paid for teaching, not for
performing religious activities, or
they are paid for the upkeep of
mosques or schools.

The actual practice to which
Smith referred was that whenever
a baby boy was born blind natu­
rally, the parents would send him
to religous school to memorize
the holy book, the Koran, and get
some religious knowledge so he
could earn his living by teaching.
Zarif A. Qazi
Ontario, Canada

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 con­
stitution requires a detailed audit by
certified public accountants every
year, which is to be submitted to the
membership by the secretary-trea­
surer. A yearly finance committee of
rank-and-file members, elected by
the membership, each year exam­
ines the finances of the union and
reports fully their findings and rec­
ommendations. 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 representa­
tives 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 head­
quarters of the various trust funds.

SHIPPING RIGHTS. A mem­
ber's shipping rights and seniority
are protected exclusively by con­
tracts 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 mem­
bers believe there have been viola­
tions of their shipping or seniority
rights as contained in the contracts
between the union and the employ­
ers, they should notify the Seafarers
Appeals Board by certified mail,
return receipt requested. The proper
address for this is:

Augustin Tellez, Chairman
Seafarers Appeals Board

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746

Full copies of contracts as
referred to are available to mem­
bers 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 fil­
ing 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 con­
tractual 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 indi­
vidual in the union, officer or mem­
ber. It also has refrained from pub­
lishing articles deemed harmful to
the union or its collective member­
ship. This established policy has
been reaffirmed by membership
action at the September 1960 meet­
ings in all constitutional ports. The
responsibility for Seafarers LOG
policy is vested in an editorial
board which consists of the execu­
tive board of the union. The execu­
tive 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 circum­
stances 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 supply­
ing 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 consti­
tution so as to familiarize them­
selves 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.
Con eque 1 , no member may be
discriminated a · because of
race, creed, color, sex, n · al 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 segre­
gated fund. Its proceeds are used to
further its objects and purpo es
including, but not limite to, fur­
thering the politica , social and eco­
nomic interests of maritime work­
ers, the preservation and furthering
of the American merchant marine
with improved employment oppor­
tunities for seamen and boatmen
and the advancement of trade union
concepts. In connection with such
objects, SPAD supports and con­
tributes 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 sup­
port 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 vio­
lated, or that he or she has been
denied the constitutional right of
access to union records or informa­
tion, the member should immedi­
ately notify SIU President Michael
Sacco at headquarters by certified
mail, return receipt requested. The
address is:

Michael Sacco, President
Seafarers International Union

5201 Auth Way
Camp Springs, MD 20746.

October 2000



Name --------------------- ------
Address ------- -------------------

Telephone Date of Birth ________ _

Deep Sea Member D Lakes Member D Inland Waters Member D

If the following information is not filled out completely, your application will not be
processed

Social Security#_________ Book#----------

Seniority ____________ Department ________ _

U.S. Citizen: Yes D No D Home Port ------------
Endorsement(s) or License(s) now held ______________ _

Are you a graduate of the SHLSS/PHC trainee program? D Yes D No

If yes, class# _______________________ _

Have you attended any SHLSS/PHC upgrading courses? D Yes D No

If yes, course(s) taken ____________________ _

Do you hold the U.S. Coast Guard Lifeboatman Endorsement?

D Yes D No Firefighting: D Yes D No CPR: D Yes D No

Primary language spoken ___________________ _

With this application, COPIES of the following must be sent: One hundred and twenty
(120) days seatime for the previous year, one day in the last six months prior to the date
your class starts, US MMD (z-card) front and back, front page of your union book indi­
cating your department and seniority, and qualifying seatime for the course if it is
Coast Guard tested. All FOWT. AB and QMED agplicants must submit a U.S. Coast Guard
fee qf $280 with their agplication. The payment should be made with a money order only.
gqyable to LMSS.

COURSE
BEGIN
DATE

END
DATE

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 ques­
tions, contact your port agent before departing for Piney Point.

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 qual­
ified, of 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.

Upgrade your skills at the Paul Hall Center
Seafarers LOS 41



Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

ARPA - Standing outside the entrance to the Paul Hall Center's new simulator build­
ing are graduates of the ARPA class, held in July. They are (from left, first row) Bill Cliett,
Douglas Jones, Susan Galka, Mike Smith (instructor), (second row) Jim Boyce, Carl
Brachear and Jerry Martinsen.

Tankerman (PIC) Barge - Completing the tankerman (PIC) barge course July
28 are (from left, kneeling) Michael Bedney, Michael Knighton, (second row) Jason
Foster, Barry Schuffels, Laurence Gilley, Ronnie Harrington, Marijan Masnov, Gerry
Davis, Demetrius Simmons, Randy Diaz, Ben Cusic (instructor), Greg Scott, (third row)
Norman Tourtellot, Maurice Martin, Todd Moreland and Samuel Porchea.

STCW Basic Safety -
Successfully completing the

STCW basic safety class July 28
are (from left, kneeling) Juan

Green, Gary Torres, Niko
Monsales, Antonio Libo-on,
Armando Bermudez, Rudy

Antonio, ln-ocenio Desaville,
Edward Hopeau, (second row)
Russ Levin (instructor), Milton

Flynn, Pablo Bermudez, Darren
Barrett, Bartow Bridges, John

Phillips, Rossel Lino, Gerald
Evans, Michael Cascio, Curtis

Thornton, Abdul Munassar, (third
row) William Watterson, Nicholas

Joyce, Rick Metcalf, Dan
McDonald, Mike Kifle, Louis

Gracia, Ken Grose and John
Turner Ill.

Upgraders Water Survival - Completing the water survival course Aug. 4 are
Seafarers (from left, kneeling) Mario Morante, Cheryle Mix, Bernabe Pelingon (instruc­
tor), Edita Miguel, Franz Schnell, (second row) David MacCollister, Bryan Chase, Scott
Wilson, Ede Sinette Jr., Faleh Saleh, (third row) Roger Noah, Mark Poor and Wayne
Smiley.

AB - Upgrading Seafarers earning their AB endorsements Sept. 1 are (fro feft,
kneeling) Cheryle Mix, Bernabe Pelington (instructor), (second row) · ael Bowers,
David MacCollister, Luis Martinez, Scott Wilson, Mario Morante, Ede Sinette Jr., Noel
Balaguer, (third row) Emani Viii, Mark Poor, Wayne Smiley, Damon Parker, Roger Noah,
(fourth row) Chad Warren and Patrick Maldonado.

HAZWOPER - Boatmen sailing aboard
Crowley vessels recently completed an 8-hour HAZ­
WOPER renewal class. They are (front row, kneeling)
Richard Hollis, Richard Workman, Craige Terry,
James Tank, Ede Sinette Jr., Willie Rose, Ben Guillot,
Wade Wansley Ill, (second row) Chester Stephens Jr.,
Robert August Sr., John Jackson, Andrew Smith,
Barry Lincourt, Ronnie Harrington, Larry Belcher,
Peter Gottschalk, Steven Williams, Gilberto
Chamorro, W.B. Callahan, Barry Schuffels, Lawrence
Holbert, Jim Larkin, Elijah Seals and John O'Neal.

~~-----------------------------------



Paul Hall Center Graduating Classes

DEU - Unlicensed apprentices completing the DEU course Aug. 18 are (from left, kneeling) John
Lightfoot, (second row) Maurice Chambers (instructor), Robert Gambill, Matthew Redlinger, Justin Baker,
Jerome Luckett, Brian Spears, Edmund Livings, (third row) Ian Hemba and Robert O'Neal.

Water Survival - Members of the unlicensed apprentice program who completed the water survival
portion of their training in August are (from left, first row) Ben Cusic (instructor), Anthony Rodriguez, Phillip
Jones, Skyler South Sutika, Keni Smith, Lewis McCray, Reggie Arvelo, (second row) Darren Barrett, Khari
Harris, James Summers, Thomas Hawks, Elliott Johnson and Jason Thompson.

Chief Steward -
Under the supervision of

Chef/Instructor John Dob­
son (stirring soup),

Seafarers upgrade their
steward department skills.
Not all the class members

are in the photograph at
right. The class roster

included (in alphabetical
order) Jose Garcia,

Patricia Geras, David
Camacho, Lara Evans,

Franz Schnell, John
Stephen, Herman Stith

and David Wakeman.

October 2000

Phase III - Graduation is just a short time away for these unli­
censed apprentices.in their third phase of study. From left, kneeling
are Roger Berger, Michael Bull, Timothy Manes, Earle Shakes, (sec­
ond row) Jose Rivera, Donna Sylvia, Terry Blade, John Collins Jr.,
Jared Lee, (third row) Caleb Sachs, Lovell Hyman, Dominic Whitty,
Elijah Huff and Ryan Humphrys.

Phase m Graduation - Charles Walker, Christopher Todd,
Eli Smith, Marquel Sapp, Justin Rodgers, Ronel Guerzon, Ian
Ferguson, Raymond Elsner, Janan Driggers, Randolph Cash and
Robert Brown conclude the last stage of the unlicensed apprentice
program.

Vessel Operations - Working their way through the Unlicensed
Apprentice Program, the following students completed the vessel oper­
ations class in August: (from left, first row) Matthew Nunez, Emilio
Abreu, Damon Straughter, Justin Johnson, (second row) Maurice
Chambers (instructor), Michael Praslicka, Paul Voisin, Darren Rollins
and John Rochez.

QMED - This is the last QMED class
until next year. Completing the course are
(from left, kneeling) Lewis O'Neal, Jaime
Hernandez, Antonio Libo-on, Robert
McMurray, James Tyson, Richard Abbott,
George Murphy Jr., (second row) Edward
Fore, Courtney Price, Mike Price, Mike Kifle,
Lamar Parker, Brandon Purcell, Gregory
Brandani, Carlos Perez, Trinity Ippolito and
David Ayou.

Seafarers LOS 43

>



Election lnfonnatlon
See special section on pages 13-32

regarding the upcoming
SIUNA-AGLIWD election.

Sealilt Training: A Vital Resource
For America's 4th Aim of Defense

During flight operations aboard the Sgt. William R.
Button en route from Guam to Saipan, AB Jamie
Dalasio (above and inset) attaches cargo to a U.S.
Navy helicopters hoisting cables.

Above and at right: Forklift training and
crane operations are but a few of the com­
ponents in the sealift preparedness course
offered at the Paul Hall Center.

Thousands of Seafarers crew ships that collectively constitute
America's fourth arm of defense. During times of war, those ves­
sels carry 95 percent of all equipment and supplies needed to sus­
tain the U.S. military, according to government data.

Manning vessels that are operated for the Department of
Defense by SIU-contracted companies, Seafarers help provide
vital ocean transportation of fuel, ammunition and other materiel
to sustain U.S. forces worldwide during military operations. They
do so for as long as requirements dictate, at any location around
the globe and under all imaginable conditions.

As one might suspect, working aboard such vessels demands
skills that are compatible with military operations. Thanks largely
to the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in
Piney Point, Md., SIU crews are well prepared to meet the chal­
lenges posed by these unique requirements. Since 1984, the school
has conducted a sealift preparedness course that has equipped
Seafarers with the expertise needed to function aboard ships while
in military operations modes.

The course has been updated on several occas1 eep pace
with changing military needs. These skills currently inclu ,
are not limited to: underway and vertical replenishment, crane
operations, forklift training, refueling, damage control, CBRD
(chemical, biological and radiological defense), search and rescue,
MSC familiarization and helicopter operations.

SIU crews utilize their sealift training while working aboard

Ferrero takes a break after
standing watch on the bow
of the MV Cape Trinity.

Right: AB Mike
Riley pulls lookout

duty on the

prepositioning ships, tankers,
oceanographic and surveil­
lance vessels, aircraft te­
nance shi ast sealift
ships. Seafarers also use
sealift skills while manning
vessels from the nation's
Ready Reserve Force (RRF).

SIU members further hone
their sealift skills by partici­
pating in military exercises at


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