The SUP was instrumental in the passing of the White Act, The Maguire Act, and the Seamen's Act of 1915. It was an active participant in passing various U.S. cargo preference laws and the Maritime Security Act of 1997. The SUP remains at the forefront on the West Coast in defending America's cabotage laws which our livelihoods are dependent upon-the Passenger Services Act and the Merchant Marine Act of 1920 (the Jones Act).

In addition to lobbying actively in Washington, D.C., and with state legislatures, the SUP also maintains a Sailors' Political Fund which, funded solely by voluntary contributions from the membership, donates money to pro-maritime members of Congress and other key politicians that can and do assist our organization and its members.

Collective Bargaining
The SUP has collective bargaining agreements with the following companies:

• American President Lines (Unlicensed Deck Department)
• Patriot Contract Services (Unlicensed Deck Department)
• Chevron Shipping Company (Unlicensed Deck, Engine, and Stewards Department)
• Foss Maritime Company San Francisco Bay (Unlicensed Deck and Engine Departments)
• Matson Navigation Company (Unlicensed Deck Department)
• San Francisco Bar Pilots (Unlicensed and Licensed Deck Departments, Steward's Department and Dispatchers)

All SUP collective bargaining agreements are negotiated by rank-and-file committees that are of members that have current or recent employment experience with the specific company in question. These committees are elected by the membership.

For example: When it is time to negotiate with Chevron Shipping, only those employed by Chevron are eligible to serve on the rank-and-file negotiating committee.

During the bargaining process, the membership is kept apprised of the progress of the negotiations through the Union's newspaper, the West Coast Sailors or through bulletins sent directly to company vessels. In addition, the full resources of the Union are employed during negotiations, including the hiring of outside experts if necessary. Also because of our ties to the labor movement, we can call on that movement for assistance and support.

Before an agreement is ratified, the contract is discussed and debated thoroughly at Union meetings aboard ship and at the regular monthly union meetings ashore. When those members are employed by a specific employer on a steady basis-Chevron, again for example-those members are polled as to their sentiments before a vote is taken by the membership at the monthly union meetings. No collective bargaining agreement is referred to the general membership if those working under the agreement are not satisfied. The entire membership attending the coastwise meetings then votes on all contracts, as all members, if they are qualified, are eligible for all jobs under our hiring hall system.

Andrew Furuseth School of Seamanship
Located at SUP Headquarters in San Francisco, the school is a Tatt-Hartley trust to provide training to fulfill STCW requirements. In conjunction with Training Resources Limited, the School also trains sailors at our San Diego facility for a variety of endorsements and skills required by contracted companies.