Seafarers' International Union of Canada Stands Behind Its Statement

Anti-union rhetoric will not stop the SIU of Canada

MONTREAL, Jan. 15, 2015 /CNW Telbec/ - The Seafarers' International Union of Canada (SIU)), the most important sailors' union in Canada, representing the majority of unlicensed sailors working aboard vessels across Canada, today announced that they will not stand idle to the criticisms they face by the Canadian Government, including the joint statement issued last week by Transport Minister Lisa Raitt and International Trade Minister Ed Fast.  Moreover, the SIU of Canada stands firmly behind its message that by opening Canadian Cabotage the Government is needlessly taking chances with Canada's Maritime Security.

There are over 1.4 million seafarers in the world, and while reputable shipowners will hire their own crew, most seafarers gain employment through third party manning agents.  "If the Canadian Government can say with 100% certainty that they know who is on a vessel which is registered in Cyprus, owned in Greece, operated from Thailand, Classified in Japan, insured in the UK and crewed by Indonesian and Syrian Seafarers hired through third party manning agents, then they are living in a world that I did not know existed," said James Given, President, Seafarers' International Union of Canada.  "It is unfathomable that our Government will not admit that CETA's Maritime Industry clause will weaken Canadian security."

The SIU of Canada is once again calling on the Canadian Government to hold an open and public debate of the contents and the outcomes for Canadians and Canadian industries if CETA becomes a reality.  "We can guarantee one thing for sure, if CETA is signed and adopted, Canadian Maritime jobs will be lost and it will not take long before the rest of the Canadian transportation sectors are affected, including, air, road and rail," said President Given.

He went on to say: "As Seafarers we work hard to protect Canadian waters, our shoreline and our Country, if Cabotage is weakened via CETA, there will be no guarantee that our waters, our shoreline, or our Country will be as secure as it is today."

About the Seafarers' International Union of Canada: A Sailors' Union by Sailors for the benefit of Sailors.  The Seafarers' International Union of Canada has been serving unlicensed seafarers since 1938 and is affiliated with the Seafarers' International Union of North America, presently representing 60,000 unlicensed seafarers across the continent. The most important sailors' union in Canada, the Seafarers' International Union, better known as the S.I.U., represents the majority of unlicensed sailors working aboard vessels on the Great Lakes, the St. Lawrence River, on the East Coast and the West Coast and in the Arctic.  In addition to vessels operated in Canadian waters, S.I.U. members also have the opportunity to work aboard vessels delivering cargoes to the United States, Europe and South America.

SOURCE Seafarers' International Union of Canada

please contact: Verena Garofalo, Director, Marketing & Public Relations, Seafarers' International Union of Canada, T: 1-514-830-7391, E: [email protected]