Seafarers International Union
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The Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters, AFL-CIO, represents professional United States merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea, Great Lakes, and inland trades.
SIU members sail in the three shipboard departments: deck, engine, and steward. They work aboard various vessels, including commercial containerships and tankers, military support ships, tugboats and barges, passenger ships, gaming vessels, and many more.
Chartered in 1938, the SIU prides itself on representing the best-trained, most efficient crews in the world. The Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education is key to meeting that standard, located in Piney Point, Md. The center is a vocational training facility operated by an SIU-affiliated entity. (Full details about the center appear elsewhere on this site.)
Today, the SIU is the largest North American union representing merchant mariners. It is a dynamic, politically active organization dedicated to protecting the membership’s job security by constantly staying a step ahead of the industry's ever-changing needs. Source
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| Scope | International |
|---|---|
| Language | English |
| Country | United States of America |
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Recent Articles
Search ArticlesSIU Helps Welcome New Matson Ship
Seafarers-contracted Matson has issued the following news item. SIU officials attended the ceremony, including President David Heindel, Executive Vice President Augie Tellez, Secretary-Treasurer Tom Orzechowski, and Vice President West Coast Joe Vincenzo. Pictured at the ceremony are (from left) SIU VP Joe Vincenzo, MFOW President Anthony Poplawski, SIU Sec.-Treas. Tom Orzecwhoski, MEBA Sec.-Treas. Roland Rexha, SIU President David Heindel, MEBA President Adam Vokac, and SIU Exec. VP Augie Tellez.
Algonac Hall Closed October 6
Algonac Hall Closed October 6 The hiring hall in Algonac, Michigan, will be closed on Tuesday, October 6 for a mechanical upgrade. The hall will resume normal hours the next day. ###
SIU Members Recall Their Front-Line Service on 9/11
The following article from the SIU-affiliated Maritime Trades Department has been lightly edited for local style. “There was no way out of the city.… The trains were shut down, the buses were shut down. Nobody could go through the tunnels.
SIU Backs Legislation Supporting American Mariners
The office of U.S. Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pennsylvania) recently issued the following news item. This bill is part of the White House’s Maritime Action Plan; the SIU strongly supports it.
Shuler Recognized for Pro-Worker Effort
From the AFL-CIO, to which the SIU is affiliated: AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler Named to TIME’s Fourth Annual List of the TIME100 AI (Washington, D.C.)—TIME named AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler to the 2026 TIME100 AI, a list recognizing the 100 most influential people in artificial intelligence (AI). Shuler has led the labor movement’s response to ensure workers have a voice in how AI’s development and implementation affect their livelihoods.
NMC Issues Important Update on Credential Applications
From the U.S. Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center: The National Maritime Center (NMC) continues its efforts to reduce the elevated inventory of mariner applications and mitigate the impact of extended processing timelines on mariners. Temporary credential extensions and other mitigation measures outlined in Update #3: Mitigation Efforts, dated April 22, 2026, will expire August 31, 2026.
Seafarers Pension Plan Announces Big Improvements for SIU Retirees
SIU pensioners recently received good news on several fronts, as the Seafarers Pension Plan (SPP) announced multiple improvements. Both in her August report to the membership and in a letter mailed to SIU retirees in mid-August, Seafarers Plans Administrator Maggie Bowen reported an increase to the monthly pension benefit for all pensioners in “pay status” as of Jan. 1, 2026.
SLNC York: All Hands Safe
All of the SIU and AMO members from the SLNC York have safely left the vessel and are being transported to shore by another ship, for eventual repatriation. They will be met by an SIU official upon arrival at the overseas port. The York reported a mechanical failure while sailing in the Pacific Ocean; the vessel had been taking on water but has been stabilized. The weather and sea state were reported as calm. The ship never lost communications.
SIU Statement on Second Extension of Waiver
A PDF copy of this statement is available HERE Based on overwhelming evidence that waiving the Jones Act has failed to deliver meaningful benefits to American consumers or workers, the Seafarers International Union is deeply disappointed by the administration’s decision to extend the waiver yet again.
MTD Opposes Waiver Extension
From the Maritime Trades Department, to which the SIU is affiliated: The Maritime Trades Department opposes the extension of this Jones Act Waiver, even in its limited form. Anything other than a true, national security threat, should never waive existing law, and as has been confirmed, this waiver has provided almost no relief to consumers at the gas pump. The Jones Act is the backbone of American maritime and its requirements preserve American jobs throughout the entire industrial base.