The Official Publication of the Seafarers Entertainment and Allied Trades Union, Affiliated with the Seafarers International Union, AGLIW, AFL-CIO. Volume 22, Number 1 January-March 2019 The Also available online at www.seatu.org ENTERTAINER SERVICE • HOSPITALITY • GAMING MTD Winter Meeting Demonstrates Solidarity When he opened the winter meeting of the Maritime ment, and the results have been very positive…. I think Trades Department (MTD) executive board, Michael we’re headed in the right direction.” Sacco emphasized two ongoing struggles of paramount He then focused on a relatively new, well-funded importance to working families. campaign aimed at repealing the Jones Act – a law that’s Sacco is president of both SEATU and the MTD – vital to U.S. national, economic and homeland security. the latter a constitutional department of the AFL-CIO. The misguided attacks are “nothing new, even though The MTD is composed of 21 international unions and 21 they will be on a larger scale. We’re fighting this battle port maritime councils in the United States and Canada every day,” he said. representing nearly 5 million working men and women. Sacco wrapped up his opening remarks with a quick The board met Feb. 21-22 in Orlando, Florida. reflection on the recent government shutdown. “During “One of the most positive stories for the MTD and that time, our affiliates and port councils really stepped the entire labor movement, I believe, is how we’ve re- up to support the people who were out of work and those sponded to last summer’s Supreme Court ruling in Janus who were forced to work without a paycheck,” he re- vs. AFSCME,” Sacco said to the board members and called. “We collected gift cards and food donations coast guests. “This was supposed to be the beginning of the to coast and in Hawaii. We rallied in the streets and we end for unions. But as one national columnist recently marched at airports and elsewhere to stand up for the put it: ‘So much for the labor movement’s funeral.’” rank-and-file worker, no matter if they were union mem- He pointed out that large unions including the Ameri- bers or not. can Federation of Teachers and the American Federation “There is no doubt that our collective actions and of State, County and Municipal Employees have gained those of the affected workers themselves ended the shut- members since the ruling, which allows for free riders. down,” he continued. “We showed our strength, but we “The Janus ruling is still a farce, and nobody is pre- also showed solidarity and compassion for our fellow tending it’s good news for labor,” Sacco continued. “But man. That’s what the labor movement is all about. That’s you know what? I think it shook us out of the doldrums what the MTD is all about. And that’s why I know we’ll in a lot of ways. It made us re-educate people about why always have a bright future as long as we’re willing to SEATU President Michael Sacco unions are so important. It made us ramp up our engage- stand together and work for it.” AFL-CIO’s Shuler Speaks on the Future of Work One of the top officials from the AFL-CIO encour- “But you didn’t stop there,” she added. “Of course, aged the MTD executive board to examine key aspects U.S.-flag ships with Seafarer crews worked with our of evolving workplace technology while not losing sight friends at the AFT to provide more than 100,000 water of the power of solidarity. filters to the people of Puerto Rico. That was well after AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler opened her the storm, and of course you delivered more than 15,000 speech Feb. 21 by thanking MTD President Michael books to the schoolchildren in the Virgin Islands, all Sacco for his leadership. She then spoke about the im- while fending off attacks on the Jones Act. We all know, portant tasks that the MTD and its affiliates handle, ref- during disasters, that’s when they come attacking bed- erencing the session’s prior speakers. rock labor protections. We’ve seen it before, and I’m Shuler said, “The work that you do is truly leading sure we’ll see it again.” our labor movement, and as I watch the presentations Shuler pointed out that public opinion of unions is and the slide shows and all of the cataloguing of the at a 20-year high, with 62 percent of Americans saying work that goes on in this country. You make this coun- they back organized labor, according to a recent Gallup try run. I think it’s a little-known secret, and sometimes poll. we don’t get to recognize and appreciate the work that Additionally, she provided data on union training, you do enough.” and used the SEATU-affiliated Paul Hall Center for She then spoke on the future of work, and preparing Maritime Training and Education as an example, say- for the future of labor in America: “Work is changing ... ing, “The labor movement is the second-largest provider and we need to think about how our unions are going to of training in this country, behind the U.S. military.... change with it. How are we going to modernize? How We’re the ones training and upgrading people’s skills are we going to grow?” to get them into better jobs. And every time I go to the Shuler detailed several steps the federation is taking Paul Hall Center out in Piney Point, Maryland, I am re- to incorporate cutting-edge technology for the better- minded of this. And I marvel the technology you use ment of workers. She said the labor movement supports and the programs you have. More than 70 U.S. Coast efficiency and advancement, but also stands up for the Guard-approved courses, more than 17,000 apprentices roles of working families moving forward. trained, more than 135,000 skills upgrades and more The secretary-treasurer then described recent worker AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler than 2,000 high school diplomas. That deserves a round actions by teachers and hotel workers, respectively. The of applause!” successful strikes serve as reminders that collective ac- Rico and the Virgin Islands, your members were load- She concluded, “Our role in creating the highly tion is effective. ing and unloading U.S.-flagged and -crewed ships and skilled, best-trained workforce in this country is the key “Even though there’s this narrative in our country barges to help the islands prepare for the storms. That to the future of the labor movement. I say that because around rugged individualism and people pulling them- was before they hit. And then after the storms, you we have our apprenticeship programs, we have our job selves up by the bootstraps, yes, that is part of our cul- came through again, working with Jones Act, union- training programs. When those programs grow, and we ture as Americans,” she continued. “But we also know contracted companies to deliver and offload more than get more workers in, the labor movement grows with that we are stronger together. And no one knows this 40,000 containers full of equipment to help restore the it, and employers are supplied with the highest-caliber better than the labor movement. It’s what we stand for, islands’ power and water and infrastructure and public workers that labor can offer.” especially the maritime trades unions.” services, not to mention life-saving supplies. Thank you. She also credited the MTD and its affiliates and port councils for their hurricane relief efforts that began in 2017. “When Hurricanes Irma, Harvey and What’s Inside Maria hit, you sprang into action,” Shuler recalled. - President’s Column - Class Photos - SEATU Convention Call “And it can’t be said enough, the contribution that you made, because even before the storms hit Puerto Page 2 Pages 4-5 Page 6 AFL-CIO Executive Council Statement on Equal Pay President’s Column The following statement was When women endure pay new mothers and fathers, and issued by the AFL-CIO Execu- discrimination, entire families people with serious personal or tive Council on March 14. SEATU suffer. More children remain family health issues, through a The Power of Union Solidarity President Michael Sacco is the lon- stuck in poverty, especially social insurance fund that would Both during the recent government shutdown and gest-serving vice president of that children of single mothers. As provide up to 12 weeks of par- throughout the teachers’ strikes in numerous states across executive council. of 2016, mothers are breadwin- tial income replacement during the nation, union members showed the enduring power of ners in half of the families with their absence from work. The collective action and solidarity. Grassroots mobilization, Guarantee Equal Pay for children younger than 18. This bill would pay up to 66 percent standing up for the truth, and having each other’s backs led Women and Paid Family and includes half of white mothers, of the average monthly wage of to positive outcomes. Medical Leave for All 53 percent of Latina mothers, workers who need to take time Community outreach across the country also proved 81 percent of African Ameri- off for their own serious health very uplifting, and unions were very Americans are working can mothers and 44 percent of condition, childbirth or adoption harder and longer than ever, but Asian/Pacific Islander mothers. of a child, or the serious illness involved in those efforts as well.