To support a journal
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Iran Seizes Merchant Ships
Iranian military vessels swarmed and seized three tankers as the belligerence against unarmed merchant ships prompted the U.S. to increase security in the strategic waters of the Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. Back at home Hawaii Congressman Ed Case kept waging war on the Jones Act, even as Honolulu SUP members engaged in community action there to renovate a middle school. A new report found widespread exploitation of international seafarers.
Maritime Industry Converges on Capitol
The U.S.-flag maritime industry gathered forces to educate and inform all of Congress in a single day on issues critical sustain the American Merchant Marine. At the same time, testimony at House Readiness subcommittee confirmed that both MarAd and TRANSCOM backed the President's budget and called out the mariner shortage. The Coast Guard warned of credentialing delays, and this issue reports on LNG conversions, U.S. maritime strategy, Food for Peace, and a recent NLRB ruling on terminal jurisdiction in Seattle.
Historic Change of Leadership At SIU and MTD
After a long career as President of the Seafarers International Union and the Maritime Trades Department, President Mike Sacco retired and Dave Heindel was elected to succeed him. President Biden approved a drilling project in Alaska as he sent to Congress a budget that fully funds the MSP. This issue also reports on TRANSCOM recognition of mariners, Coast Guard manning shortfalls, Russian oil trading, and Chinese spy cranes. It also honors a stalwart champion of maritime workers' rights -- Capt. George Quick -- and celebrates 138 years of SUP history.
SUP Bargains Historic Tanker Agreement At Chevron
The SUP Negotiating Committee reached a tentative milestone agreement with Chevron Shipping boosting compensation in many forms. In Congress, TTD President Greg Regan testified in support of the Jones Act at the first House Transportation hearing on supply chain reslience. Matson's first post-pandemic financial outlook comes out, and there are reports on military developments, train derailments, tax tips, and a crew that legally seized a ship. And AFL-CIO Sec-Treas. Fred Redmond gives a stirring op-ed on Unions and civil rights.
China Lifts COVID Controls; Supreme Court Takes on Right to Strike
With vast ramifications China removed most of its travel restrictions, including for seafarers, tossing out its zero tolerance policy on COVID-19. Cases rose quickly however, and much remains uncertain. In Washington the Supreme Court heard arguments about the basic right to strike with a decision pending in June. Crew condition in shipyards were called out by two Senators and the ILWU Local 19 President Herald Ugles argued for a balanced preservation of Seattle's precious working waterfront. The Ready Reserve got a raise and the SUP celebrated MLK day.
Biden and Congress Block Rail Bargaining, Impose Terms
In an historic and controversial maneuver, Congress voted to intervene in railorad collective bargaining, imposing terms on their Unions. Democrats retained control of the Senate as the massive U.S. defense spending bill was set for approval, with many mostly favorable consequences for sailors. Social Security Benefit strategies are evaluated and CMA CGM profits analyzed. And in words and pictures the SUP sends holilday cheer to sailors at sea and ashore.
Among the Union's objectives is "to support a journal which shall voice the sentiments of the seafaring class, and through its columns seek to maintain the knowledge of and interest in maritime affairs." The first issue of the West Coast Sailors, in June of 1937, noted that "Common sense, fearlessly applied, brings success to a Union."