AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Salutes Maersk Alabama Crew

by Tula Connell, Apr 16, 2009

John Cronan, a member of MEBA and a former Seafarers member, spoke this morning on the “Today” show.

The AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department (MTD) salutes the courageous efforts of the all-union crew aboard the Maersk Alabama for maintaining control of their vessel, as well as the heroic efforts of the U.S. Navy in rescuing Capt. Richard Phillips from his Somali captors.

Union members like John Cronan, third engineer and son of a merchant sailor, who summed it up this way on NBC’s “Today” show:

We didn’t have to retake the ship because we never surrendered it. We’re American seaman. We’re union members. We stuck together and did our jobs.

The eight licensed officers and engineers aboard the U.S.-flag vessel are members of either the Masters, Mates & Pilots (MM&P) or Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association (MEBA), while the 12 unlicensed crew members are represented by the Seafarers (SIU). Cronan is a MEBA member and a former Seafarers member.

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