The SIU of Canada is a catalyst for change, consistently holding government to account to ensure the interests of all Canadian seafarers are heard loud and clear.
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The SIU of Canada prides itself on standing up for our Members while holding government to account. Learn more about our advocacy and the team that makes it happen.
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This article is featured in the September 2024 issue of The Canadian Sailor.
Members of the SIU Canada,
This sailing season has been an extremely busy one, both in the amount of work our members have been getting and the work being done by your Union officials. As the summer draws to a close and colder weather approaches, we want to remind all Members to please practice safe work habits on board your vessels and look out for one another. Keep your focus while on the job and take your time when necessary. We all want to go home healthy at the end of the season, and now is no time to lose focus. Look out for your fellow brothers and sisters and ensure everyone is working safely.
SIU2020, our virtual hiring hall available to all SIU Canada members, is nearing its final hurdles before we can fully implement the system, making shipping out easier for every Member of this great Union.
In my last article in the June 2024 issue of The Canadian Sailor, I provided an update on changes to the SIU Constitution, which were voted on by all full-book members of SIU Canada and passed overwhelmingly. These changes were wide-ranging, bringing our Union’s constitution into the modern era with updated language and key revisions that members had long requested. These constitutional amendments also included provisions that will allow SIU2020, our virtual hiring hall, to reach its full potential, benefiting all our members.
The Membership Meetings on September 9 in Montreal and September 12 in Niagara addressed some of the final bureaucratic hurdles delaying the full implementation of SIU2020. Specifically, changes to the National Shipping Rules were required to accommodate the introduction of a virtual hiring hall system within the framework that governs our Union. These changes to the Shipping Rules were read aloud at the Membership Meetings and voted on by all SIU Canada members in attendance. The changes passed easily, and we extend our thanks to all Members who participated in the democratic processes that guide our Union.
The most common question on the minds of SIU Members following the Membership Meetings was: “What’s next?”
In the coming months, your Union will work closely with the developers of SIU2020 to conduct tests and background simulations, ensuring the platform’s stability and functionality. We aim to resolve any technical issues, making sure the Virtual Hiring Hall operates seamlessly before it goes live for Members. While there is no fixed timeline for these tests, we ask for your patience, as we want to ensure that the platform performs to the highest standards. As your Union leadership, the last thing we want is to launch a system that falls short of expectations. We are committed to delivering a platform that all SIU Canada members can rely on and be proud of, as originally envisioned.
The journey to create this Virtual Hiring Hall has been a long one. Many Union staff members have devoted significant time and effort to make the Virtual Hiring Hall a reality. We are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, and soon all SIU Canada members will be able to experience everything this platform has to offer. While some changes may accompany this new system, they will be to the benefit of all members, simplifying the process of shipping out and performing tasks that would have previously required a visit to a Union Hall.
We would like to extend our gratitude to all SIU Canada members for their patience and active participation throughout this process. We look forward to providing further positive updates on SIU2020 in the next issue of The Sailor.
