S.S. Arthur M. Anderson of Key Lakes, Inc. underway. The Anderson's unlicensed crew is represented by USW Local 5000. Photo courtesy Nick Stenstrup.
This Wednesday marks Great Lakes Maritime Day, a special holiday commemorating the service and sacrifices made by Great Lakes Mariners to move the raw materials that make up the building blocks of the American Economy.
USW Local 5000 proudly represents a group of nearly 300 steelworkers who possess a unique skill set that is as vast as the lakes upon which they work. We work aboard 19 different vessels from three different companies and deliver raw to ports across all five Great Lakes. Also unique to our union, is our position as a link between the iron mines of Minnesota, home to USW Local 2705 and USW Local 6860; iron mines of Northern Michigan, home to USW Local 4950, to the steel mills on southern Lake Michigan, home to USW Locals 6787, 1010, 1011,1014, and 1066; and to the mills of Detroit and Cleveland, home to USW Local 979 to name a few.
Our members occupy the unlicensed ratings across our represented vessels, ranging from Bosuns who oversee the daily activities of the deck department; Deckhands who perform all types of shipboard maintenance and work related to loading, unloading, and mooring of vessels; Wheelsman who steer the massive ships through confined waters; Wipers and QMED's who maintain the massive engines which power the vessel; Conveyormen who maintain and operate the complex unloading systems; and Second Cooks who provide crews with a fully stocked kitchen, fresh linens, and a clean place to enjoy a meal. These men and women work around the clock, from March until January to keep the big ships moving to ensure the timely delivery of raw materials across the region.
On this day, we recognize the hard work and effort our members put forward in accomplishing their tasks, and the incredible sacrifices that must be made to do so. Our members work in all seasons, in all weather for months at a time away from friends and family. Countless birthdays, holidays, first words, first steps, weddings, and anniversaries have been missed in order to keep the American economy moving forward.
This year marks one of immense challenges and uncertainty as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to plague the global economy. With a large number of ships tied up at the wall due to the weak economy, heavy on our minds is our brothers and sisters who have been unable to work this season and the struggle they face to support themselves and their families with the winter season fast approaching, in addition to the health concerns surrounding the novel coronavirus. Unfortunately, our elected leaders at the national level and in several states seem to be more focused on elections and political strategy, and the resulting gridlock certainly isn't making things easier for anyone. We hope to get through the year without any further economic-related layups at the very least, and that the current signs of hope that the economy is rebounding result in a stronger start to the 2021 season.
The Jones Act is once again under fire as the State of Hawaii was faced with the threat of Hurricane Douglass. The Merchant Marine Act, more commonly known as the "Jones Act" provides protections for American shipping, and without it, many good-paying union jobs would be lost to foreign interests as shipping companies and shipyards would be opened up to the foreign competition on domestic routes and international shipbuilding. This hasn't stopped certain legislators and special interests from lobbying against the Jones Act, falsely claiming that it increases the cost of living in places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico, increases the cost of goods across the nation, and decreases the accessibility of a number goods and services. As we head into what is shaping up to be one of the ugliest election seasons in recent history, we must remain supportive of candidates who are not only friendly to labor but also friendly to the American maritime industry.
As we celebrate Great Lakes Maritime Day, we wish those working today a safe and healthy holiday, those who are fortunate enough to have the Holiday on-the-run to enjoy some rest, and those who are home some time to relax and enjoy time together with their families.