by guest » November 17, 2017, 8:05 pm
Unlicensed members of the SIU obtained paid time off starting in the late 70's.
I don't remember the exact year, maybe 78or 79 but surely by 1980. It was 90 days on, 30 paid days off. Was a great idea in theory but not so good in practice. If you had a rating it was hard to find a qualified relief man. OS, wiper, porter etc had no problem as there were always lots of entry level sailors registered on the beach. I sailed all 1980 due to no AB's to take my wheeling job. That was my last year so not sure how it worked out after that. Prior to the new procedure, you could get off for 2 weeks after 60 days aboard, without pay.
SIU is short of rated sailors now. They actually contacted me this past summer to see if I was interested in doing relief jobs. My book has been retired for 36 years And I am 62 years old, lol.I guess the port agent read my birth date wrong! I think some of the tug barge guys do 30 on., 10 off.
Unlicensed members of the SIU obtained paid time off starting in the late 70's.
I don't remember the exact year, maybe 78or 79 but surely by 1980. It was 90 days on, 30 paid days off. Was a great idea in theory but not so good in practice. If you had a rating it was hard to find a qualified relief man. OS, wiper, porter etc had no problem as there were always lots of entry level sailors registered on the beach. I sailed all 1980 due to no AB's to take my wheeling job. That was my last year so not sure how it worked out after that. Prior to the new procedure, you could get off for 2 weeks after 60 days aboard, without pay.
SIU is short of rated sailors now. They actually contacted me this past summer to see if I was interested in doing relief jobs. My book has been retired for 36 years And I am 62 years old, lol.I guess the port agent read my birth date wrong! I think some of the tug barge guys do 30 on., 10 off.