The Global Maritime and Transportation School receives inquiries about Maritime Unions on a regular basis. These unions are organizations of workers joined to protect the common interest of Maritime Seafarers and Professionals and improve the working conditions. The center of Maritime Tradition relies upon the dedication and hard work of the maritime officer, sailor and seamen.
The Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District/NMU, AFL-CIO, represents unlicensed United States merchant mariners sailing aboard U.S.-flag vessels in the deep sea, Great Lakes and inland trades. The union also represents licensed U.S. mariners in the Great Lakes and inland sectors.
SIU members sail in the three shipboard departments: deck, engine and steward. They work aboard a wide variety of 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. A key to meeting that standard is the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education, located in Piney Point, Md. The center is a vocational training facility operated by an SIU-affiliated entity.
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 ever-changing needs of the industry
For More Information: http://www.seafarers.org/
The SUP is a union of unlicensed sailors that work in the deck, engine, and steward's departments in U.S.-flag vessels under contract to the Union. The SUP also has collective bargaining agreements with U.S.-flag companies where licensed personnel are also represented. Headquartered in San Francisco the SUP has Branch Offices in Wilmington, California, Seattle, Washington, and Honolulu, Hawaii.
"Entering our third century of continuous operation, the mission remains unchanged: to maintain and develop skill in seamanship, to effect a change in maritime law towards the development of the American Merchant Marine, to assist the seamen of other countries towards the establishment of the Brotherhood of the Sea."
For more information: http://www.sailors.org/
The Pacific Coast Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association was established 1883 in San Francisco, California and is affiliated with the Seafarers International Union (SIU) of North America, AFL-CIO. MFOW is an American labor union of mariners working aboard U.S. flag vessels.
For More Information: http://www.mfoww.org/
The Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (M.E.B.A.) is the oldest maritime trade union in the United States still currently in existence, established in 1875. Regulatory change and international agreements are rapidly changing the worldwide maritime picture. MEBA recognizes the opportunities brought by these changes and is committed to taking advantage of any aspect of the industry that benefits its members.
Today MEBA represents a large and diverse mix of engineers and deck officers, experienced and skilled in all types of commercial shipping. MEBA's expertise and proven track record of readiness, safety and loyalty in answering America's call to action are unrivaled in the world.
M.E.B.A. officers work in both the oceans and the Great Lakes in many settings, including on container ships, tankers (including LNG carriers), cruise ships, drillships, tugboats, ferries, and fireboats, as well as in various capacities in the shoreside ship transport and marine industries and on government-contracted ships.
For more information: http://mebaunion.org/
The members of the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) include the world’s best-qualified and most highly trained professional mariners. MM&P represents: licensed deck officers on U.S.-flag commercial vessels sailing offshore, on the inland waterways and on civilian-crewed ships in the government fleet; state pilots; marine engineers; unlicensed seafarers; and maritime industry shore-side clerical and service workers.
The union is a dynamic advocate for its 6,800 members and a voice in Washington, D.C., for the domestic maritime industry and America’s Merchant Marine. MM&P is the marine affiliate of the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), AFL-CIO.
If you are interested in joining MM&P, go to http://bridgedeck.org/ and click on the “Join MM&P” button in the left-hand column.
For More Information: http://bridgedeck.org/
AMO is the largest U.S. union of merchant marine officers. AMO members work aboard commercial, military sealift and government vessels in domestic and international deep-sea trades and missions, on the Great Lakes and in U.S.inland waterways and harbors. AMO also holds a unique and expanding presence in the international LNG and energy transportation trades.
The AMO legislative staff works closely with elected representatives in Congress to promote and protect the cornerstones of U.S. Maritime Policy, and to develop new programs to enhance and expand the U.S. Merchant Marine. AMO also works with allies in the industry to create job opportunities for its members in the U.S. Fleet and will continue to cultivate new opportunities for American officers in both domestic and international shipping trades and shoreside positions.
For More Information: http://www.amo-union.org/
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