Press Releases

Maritime Trades Department Pledges To Protect Cabotage Laws

March 6, 2006

Washington, D.C. - The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO pledged to protect the integrity of the cabotage laws at its Executive Board Meeting on February 24-25, 2006, and issued the following statement:

The U.S.-flag maritime industry has a very successful record of fighting off attempts to undermine the nation's cabotage laws over the last several decades.

By working together through grass roots organizations like the Maritime Cabotage Task Force, both workers and companies have been strong and united when making their case for the cabotage laws to politicians and government officials. Movement from one domestic port to another must be done on U.S.-crewed, U.S.-owned, U.S.-built vessels.

While those within the maritime industry see these challenges daily, land and air transportation elements face similar problems. U.S. and Canadian rail and trucking unions (like MTD-affiliates TCU and IBEW) have fought for years to keep Mexican vehicles off American tracks and highways because they are not required to meet the same safety standards as those found north of the Rio Grande. In the skies, aviation unions (including the MTD-affiliated Machinists and CWA) have pointed out the dangers associated with maintenance work being done outside the U.S. and Canadian borders.

The fight to maintain and preserve the U.S. and Canadian cabotage laws is never ending. Nearly every industrial nation in the world has some type of cabotage law on its books. These laws ensure that domestic workers are trained and available to handle the transportation needs of their countries.

The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO pledges to continue working with its affiliates and Port Maritime Councils, as well as the International Transportation Workers' Federation, to protect the integrity of the U.S. and Canadian cabotage laws. Our transportation workers deserve no less.

The Maritime Cabotage Task Force was founded in 1995 to promote the U.S.-flag fleet engaged in domestic waterborne commerce. With more than 350 members, MCTF is the largest coalition ever assembled to represent the domestic segment of the U.S. merchant marine. Nationwide, there are more than 35,000 vessels engaged in Jones Act commerce and they annually move more than 1 billion tons of cargo and 100 million passengers. The Jones Act fleet generates nearly 125,000 jobs, 80,000 of which are aboard vessels and represents a $26 billion private sector investment in vessels and infrastructure. The Act has been broadly supported by every Congress and Administration since its passage in 1920 and is considered a key element in the nation's national defense capabilities.

For more information, contact: Glen Nekvasil, Director of Media Relations (1-888-400-9429)/info@mctf.com

View PDF version