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FRANÇAIS DESSOUS

The Sailor

Happy New Year and welcome to the Winter edition of The Sailor. With the ice finally starting to melt

and the days getting longer, we’re looking forward to the beginning of a new season. Each new season

brings with it a sense of excitement. This new season will be especially exciting as we have several

new recruits joining us on board.

We’re only two and a half months into the new year and already it’s been one for the books. We started

2019 out in a huge way, showing solidarity for our brothers and sisters in Australia as they face

significant industry challenges. We have exciting plans for the rest of the year, and we’re glad you’ll be

along for the ride.

Have family or friends interested in keeping up with the SIU? They can sign up for The Sailor here.

Follow along with our day to day activity, receive important updates and learn about industry updates

by liking us on us on Facebook, following us on Twitter and subscribing to our YouTube channel.

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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

James Given Brothers and sisters,

Over the last several months we have been vocally supporting Australia’s seafarers in the wake of

layoffs and challenges with the Australian government. I applaud your commitment to solidarity and

your willingness to stand up and fight back for our brothers and sisters overseas.

We have taken such a strong stance of support for the Aussies because it wasn’t long ago that we

faced similar struggles here at home. Our members faced layoffs. We had to fight the government.

Nobody understands the power it takes to fight for change in our industry better than we do. It is

important that we continue to strengthen cabotage laws globally to ensure our domestic industry

thrives.

Back at home, we’re continuing our efforts to grow the SIU membership with new recruits. Our Be A

Seafarer campaign saw great success last year, and we look forward to the continued progress in

recruiting the next generation of Canadian seafarers. As always, if you know someone interested in

becoming a seafarer and joining the SIU, please let us know.

I thank you again for your ongoing support.

James Given, President

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President Given took to the news to share his full take on the situation in Australia. His thoughts were

published in The Hill Times, a newspaper widely read by political stakeholders. Learn why strong

Cabotage laws in Canada protect the jobs of Canadian sailors and allow for the domestic shipping

industry to thrive!

Please see full article on page 9.

On February 11 the SIU showed the world its muscle in a solidarity rally supporting Australian seafarers.

Almost 100 seafarers in Ottawa and Toronto stood up and fought back against government inaction to

protect our Australian brothers and sisters. If you missed the demonstration, check it out here.

#StandUpFightBack for Australian Seafarers

KEEPING UP WITH THE SEAFARERS

Advocacy

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Member

communications

In 2018 we launched several new channels to boost communication with our members. This year, we’re

taking it up even further. Learn what we have in store for members in 2019 and how you can be a part of

our ongoing progress.

Please see full article on page 12.

In February, SIU port agents, patrolmen and dispatchers attended training sessions in Montreal. The

training provided a refresher on our goals, how to best serve our members and team building and

motivation activities. Staff left the training feeling energized and ready for a strong year of work for

members.

Please see full article on page 14.

Over the last several months, President Given has been taking our message of stand up, fight back, to

stakeholders at home and abroad. From continuing our hard work in Canada on the Temporary Foreign

Worker Program, to other advocacy in Norway and Australia. See what president Given has been up to

lately.

Please see full article on page 15.

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Per the SIU Constitution, please read the Seafarers’ appeal and review board annual report here.

Please see here.

SEAFARER STORIES

Virgil Légaré

Meet Virgil! After several years working in hardware stores, Virgil Légaré was looking for a new challenge

and joined the brotherhood and sisterhood of the sea in 2018. His best advice for anyone considering a

career at sea is to not be afraid to make mistakes. “Learning from mistakes makes is possible for workers

to improve.”

Please see full article on page 17.

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SEAFARER STORIES

Samantha McPherson

International Women’s Day was on March 8 under the theme #BalanceforBetter. More than ever, gender

balance is essential to the prosperity of the marine industry. At the SIU of Canada, we believe in offering

the same opportunities to all our members and future members, regardless of gender. This is one of the

many reasons why Samantha McPherson is proud to be part of the Seafarers’ International Union of

Canada. Samantha is one of our newest hardworking members, and in her experience so far, she

encourages anyone – male or female – who wants to get their hands dirty and work hard, to join the SIU.

Please see full article on page 18.

FINAL SAILINGS

Over the past few months, we have witnessed the passing of a number of our brothers and sisters. We

send them our thoughts and prayers as they depart on their final voyage. Rest in Peace.

Please see full article on page 21.

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GALLERY

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Seafarers’ International Union of Canada

200 – 1333, rue St-Jacques

Montreal, Quebec, H3C 4K2

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James Given: Canada Leads in Global Fight Against

Exploitation of Marine Workers

F E B R U A R Y 6 , 2 0 1 9

This article was published in the Hill Times newspaper on February 4, 2019

While many of us returned to stable employment after the holiday break, 80 hard-working Australian

seafarers returned to work only to find their employment contracts terminated.

How could this happen? Why did it happen? Unfortunately, the Australian government has failed to

protect the domestic maritime workers who dedicate their lives to this demanding work.

Despite calls from labour unions, the workers they represent and political stakeholders, the government

did not enforce cabotage laws, which protect the jobs of maritime workers.

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Cabotage Law ensures that domestic transportation (the movement of goods or people between two

points in the same country) is reserved for vessels registered under the flag of that country with

employment conditions regulated by domestic labour laws.

Canada is now world renowned for our progressive cabotage laws. The Coasting Trade Act requires that

no foreign ship may engage in cabotage without a license. Cabotage mandates that ships operating in

Canadian waters must use Canadian or permanent resident workers and can only use foreign workers

when Canadians are unavailable.

Cabotage regulations also help promote continued investments in the Canadian fleet of vessels and

Canadian seafarers, and ensures the timely and safe transportation of Canadian cargoes. The law

protects our economy and our environment by ensuring we have the best-trained, most qualified sailors

navigating Canada’s waterways.

In the absence of enforced cabotage laws, Australia has allowed shipping companies to have foreign

ships and crews regularly operate in their country, many of which are known for exploiting low-wage

foreign labour. The result? Thousands of Australian sailors losing their jobs.

It was just this past December when the SIU of Canada hosted a delegation of Australian

representatives. They came to Canada on a fact-finding mission to learn how we were able to preserve

and strengthen this important policy.

As President of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU), I told our friends from Australia that

Canada’s strong cabotage laws took years of advocacy. In fact, it wasn’t until late 2018 that a functional

system of only granting Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) permits to foreign crew as a last resort was

put in place.

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The SIU also continues to fight for stricter enforcement of Cabotage Law here at home. There have been

several instances where we have caught foreign-flagged ships operating on waivers– wherein foreign

crew members retained on board were being paid only a fraction of what is owed to them under the

regulations of the TFW Program — and the government had no idea.

Without proper monitoring from the government, Canadian seafaring jobs will be compromised, as

operators attempt to drive down costs by exploiting foreign workers. The SIU works hard to ensure

instances like this are prevented before they happen, but alignment with government agencies is

essential, and we work closely with Transport Canada and Employment and Social Development Canada

to ensure they are aware, and they act appropriately.

To borrow a line from the government itself: we must do better. Establishing and maintaining an

effective monitoring and enforcement mechanism is essential to ensuring full compliance requirements

of the TWFP and the Coasting Trade Act. This will ensure domestic jobs remain protected, and that any

foreign labour working in Canada will receive the prevailing industry wages and protections under

Canadian labour standards.

Furthermore, as the government explores new trade corridors, cabotage remains on the table for

negotiation. This was the case when the government negotiated CETA. To make sure our workers

remained protected, the SIU fought hard to ensure concessions made on cabotage were limited to very

specific activities – and we succeeded. While cabotage was off the table during recent NAFTA

renegotiations, it remains under threat as Canada pursues trade talks with Asia-Pacific countries and

others.

Cabotage should never be on the negotiating table. Canada’s workers should always come first.

We remain unwavering in our commitment to protecting cabotage in Canada and around the globe.

While some political actors seek to undermine this important regime, we cannot allow governments in

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Canada or Australia to compromise our seafarers’ livelihoods in favour of cheap labour. We will continue

our relentless advocacy to ensure Canadian seafarers’ jobs are safe, secure and stable.

2019: taking communicating with you to the next level

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Over the last year, we’ve made some major

improvements in how the SIU communicates with

you. In 2019, we want to build on this progress,

continuing these improvements and transparently

communicating with members on all Union

activities.

Through 2018, we made improvements in four key areas: regular Union updates sent to members’

email, direct engagement through member surveys, transparent communication from the SIU executive

through email, newsletters and videos, and improved updates from Port Agents and Patrolmen during

ship visits.

Some highlights from 2018 include:

• In total, over 30 emails throughout the year were sent directly to members’ inboxes. These

updates communicated important information about enhancements to the SIU pension plan,

advocacy efforts, the ongoing recruitment initiative, results of member surveys, and ways the

Union is working to improve its services.

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• President Given launched a video series, communicating important information and addressing

frequently asked questions from SIU members.

• We launched two surveys to hear members’ feedback on SIU activities and areas for

improvement

• Early in 2018, the online members’ portal was launched to make it easier for members to submit

their documentation

• Port Agents and Patrolmen underwent communications training to learn how to provide clearer

and more comprehensive union updates

In 2019, we are excited to build on the positive momentum of last year. All through this year we will be

looking to you, the members, to guide us in our activities. Expect to see even more direct email

communication, more membership surveys, regular updates from the executive and even more online

services developed.

One of our goals for 2019 is to have the membership become an integral part of our online presence.

We want you to contribute more to our social media content by submitting your sea stories, photos,

videos and updates so we can share them with the broader SIU community – you can do so directly by

Facebook messenger to the SIU Facebook page. Additionally, should you ever have suggestions or ideas

for the SIU website or social media pages, please contact us at info@seafarers.ca or through Facebook

Messenger.

Stay tuned for more details! We look forward to making 2019 our strongest yet.

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SIU Employees Come Out for Training

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SIU of Canada members are the most important part of the Union,

and our staff are dedicated to serving their needs. This is why, twice

per year, the SIU of Canada brings together its port agents,

patrolmen and dispatchers to better help them work together to

provide the best service to members.

February 6-7, SIU of Canada employees met in Montreal to participate in professionally facilitated

training sessions that refreshed the team on the Union’s goals and taught them best practices for

engaging with media, members and resolving issues while keeping a positive attitude. Throughout the

two days, employees were engaged, actively participating in training sessions and said they learned a lot

about trusting one another to get the job done.

The staff participated in a number of activities which exhibited the comradery and

brotherhood/sisterhood the SIU of Canada is built on. With every team, it is important to engage with

each other in person, both professionally and socially, especially when staff are spread out all over the

country.

The training was also a time for employees to share their ideas on improving Union services in 2019.

Some suggestions included being able to print out a PDF version of The Sailor, SIU of Canada’s quarterly

newsletter, for members who don’t use email or are on ships without reliable Wifi. Another suggestion

was to create a short SIU pamphlet reminding members what the Union stands for and providing

potential members with information on joining. These are some examples of things we have already

started working to provide for our members and should be coming to you soon.

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Thank you to everyone who participated in the training sessions. Keep up the good work! The SIU of

Canada will continue to train our staff to better serve the needs of our brothers and sisters of the sea.

Setting a Strong Course: SIU Members Update – March

2019

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It has been full steam ahead for President James Given in the new year.

Known for always standing up for Canadian seafarers, on February 11, President Given stood in

solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Australia when he led a protest of Canadian seafarers outside

the Australian embassy in Ottawa.

While many of us returned to stable employment after the holiday break, 80 hard-working Australian

seafarers returned to work only to find their employment contracts terminated due to the lack of

protections for seafarers in the country.

Standing in front of a raucous crowd of SIU members in Ottawa, President Given delivered a strong

message of support, which was broadcast throughout Australia on the national news that evening:

“Your politicians are going to hear your voice. They’re going to hear our voices and they’re going to hear

the voices in Britain, and in Norway, and in Brazil, and in New Zealand, and all across the world until you

do the right thing. Put Australian seafarers back to work.”

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After years of fighting tirelessly to protect Canadian maritime jobs, the SIU is proud that Canada is now

world renowned for our progressive cabotage laws. And we will continue to fight for stricter

enforcement of Cabotage Law here at home and abroad.

Later in the month, President Given participated in a technical meeting at Employee and Social

Development Canada (ESDC) on the development of a new Labour Market Information (LMI) tool for the

Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The purpose of the new LMI tool is to ensure TFWP officers have

access to relevant data in order to properly assess wage and job vacancy rates when processing

applications to the program.

In 2018, thanks to SIU advocacy efforts, the TFWP maritime policy was changed. It now requires

employers to first circulate any available positions on board the majority of vessels obtaining a Coasting

Trade waiver with the SIU. This ensures Canadian worker have first access to jobs.

Always on the lookout for new opportunities for Canadian seafarers, President Given also recently

traveled to Bergen, Norway for meetings with a Norwegian shipping company considering marine

operations in Canada and looking to recruit Canadian seafarers.

At the end of February, President Given visited Australia to continue showing solidarity with our

brothers and sisters in Australia, wrapping up what has been a long, hard month of fighting for the rights

of seafarers in Canada and around the globe.

Taking a lot of positive momentum into the month March, President Given is looking forward to a busy

schedule that will see him continue to work tirelessly on behalf of his brothers and sisters in the SIU.

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Virgil Légaré: A seafarer with a real desire to learn

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After several years working in hardware stores, Virgil Légaré

was looking for a new challenge. After discussing with a friend

working onboard an oil tanker, Virgil began to consider a

career at sea. Having always had an interest in boats and an

ease on the water, he decided, in June 2018, to embark on a

new adventure and become a seafarer.

As a deckhand, Virgil assumes the role of a real handyman and

ensures the proper maintenance of the ship. He truly loves working as a deckhand and finds it very

rewarding. “This job brings me a lot of self-validation. For example, when I manage to dock the boat

correctly, I know that I did some great work and it makes me proud”.

Virgil also loves that every day on the ship is different and brings new challenges. There is no routine,

and you never know what tomorrow will bring. This is what excites him the most as a seafarer. Each new

challenge represents an opportunity to learn and develop his skills. Virgil says that learning is an integral

part of everyday life aboard the ship, as everyone is encouraged to try new things and improve their

skills.

Although he has only been a seafarer for a few months, Virgil has acquired many skills and wants to

continue to perfect them. He enjoys working with more experienced colleagues who are happy to share

their know-how.

According to Virgil, this exchange of knowledge is essential to the success of the crew. It is by using the

strengths of each member that everyone can progress and push their limits. “Some people start their

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career thinking they know everything. However, the key to success is to remain open to what others can

teach to you. This is something that is strongly encouraged on board”.

Speaking of new recruits, Virgil believes that a career as a seafarer is a great option that many young

people should consider. “Since they may not have a family or ties yet, they can afford to go on long sea

trips. This is a unique chance to see the world while gaining valuable skills that will be useful to them for

the rest of their lives”.

Virgil is proud to be a seafarer and SIU member. He is always enthusiastic about his work and intends to

develop his career as a sailor for many years. Like many others, he aspires to become a captain or SVMO

one day, and continue to grow his skills. His best advice for anyone considering a career at sea is to not

be afraid to make mistakes. “Learning from mistakes makes is possible for workers to improve”.

Samantha McPherson: A seafarer who’s not afraid to

get her hands dirty

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International Women’s Day is celebrated on

March 8 every year. This is the perfect

opportunity to recognize the exemplary work

of our sisters and thank them for their vital

contribution to the Union and seafaring as a

whole.

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In 2019, the theme of this special day is #BalanceforBetter. More than ever, gender balance is essential

to the prosperity of the marine industry. At the SIU of Canada, we believe in offering the same

opportunities to all our members, regardless of gender. This is one of the many reasons why Samantha

McPherson is proud to be part of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada.

It was in 2018 that Samantha started considering a career at sea. In search of new challenges, she got

into the Unlicensed Apprentice Program last August. Although she grew up near the canal, she never

thought of becoming a seafarer. “I knew many people who were working on ships, and I remember

telling them that I could never do that.”

However, her opinion changed after completing the UA Program, which proved to be a unique

experience for Samantha. After learning more about seafaring, she developed a true interest in the

marine industry.

“The job is so different from boat to boat that you’re always learning. Plus, the crew is always happy to

help you and show you new things.”

In October 2018, Samantha began her career as a mechanical assistant with the SIU. She loves her job.

Every day is a new opportunity to learn and refine her skills. What she loves most is the atmosphere and

the team spirit aboard the ship.

“The truth is, I get treated so well and everyone is very respectful. It doesn’t matter that I’m a woman.

I’m part of the crew like everyone else. I really feel like I have the same opportunities as the other guys

and I love it.”

Samantha feels accomplished as a mechanical assistant. She loves her routine, her team and the fact

that she has a lot of opportunities to develop her expertise. She encourages other women to strongly

consider a career at sea.

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“If you are willing to work hard, to get your hands dirty and to learn, this is the job for you. There are so

many opportunities for women, which is super exciting. Don’t believe the stigma that you will be treated

differently because you are a woman. If this is the only thing preventing you from joining, just forget

about it and make the jump.”

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Final Voyages – Winter 2019

Brother Larry Giba, who joined SIU of Canada on July 31, 1976, passed away on

December 21, 2018 at age 59. He worked on the J.N McWatters and his last

vessel Algosteel.

Brother James Houghton, who joined SIU on September 15, 1975, passed

away on December 18, 2018 at age 67. He worked on the Helen Evans

and his last vessel Laurentian.

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Brother Barry O’Brien, who joined the SIU on November 30, 1998,

passed away on April 18, 2018 at age 55. He worked for Seabase and he

last worked for Maersk Supply Service Canada.

Brother Gillees Lavalliere, who joined the SIU on April 7, 1966, passed

away on January 28, 2019 at age 83. He worked on the Cedarbranch

and he last worked for Dragage FRPD.

Brother Ken Bye, who joined the SIU on February 7, 1966, passed away on

February 1, 2019 at age 62. He worked on the Frontenac and his last vessel

the Capt. Henry Jackman.

Brother Harald Krueger, who joined the SIU on March 1, 1981, passed

away on February 9, 2019 at age 88. He worked on the Grand Manan

Ferry.