The Sailors' Union of the Pacific (SUP) is a historic West Coast maritime labor union founded in 1885 and headquartered in San Francisco. It represents seafarers, fishermen and other mariners working aboard U.S.-flag vessels and seeks to improve wages, benefits, safety, training and retirement security for its members while defending U.S. maritime jobs and the domestic merchant marine.
Advocacy for U.S.-flag maritime protection (including Jones Act defense); opposition to flags-of-convenience and second registries; collective bargaining rights and contract enforcement; maritime safety and workplace standards; crew training and certification; pension and benefit protections; port and maritime infrastructure investment; veteran and merchant mariner recognition.
Primarily financed by member dues, collective-bargaining–related revenues and union benefit fund contributions; supplemented by investment income and other union program revenues.
Seafarers International Union of North America (affiliate), AFL-CIO (federation affiliation), Marine Firemen’s Union (regional maritime partners); historically associated leaders include Andrew Furuseth; current leadership and regional branch offices in Wilmington (CA), Seattle (WA), Honolulu (HI) and Norfolk (VA).
Labor union / trade union (non-profit labor organization)
