Anchored in Labor, the Seafarers International Union
Program
Join us for Maryland LERA’s November 2026 Meeting where we will hear from James Bast, Port Agent at the Seafarers International Union (SIU). SIU is one of the major United States maritime labor unions representing professional merchant mariners working aboard U.S.-flag vessels in deep-sea, Great Lakes, and other inland maritime transportation. SIU was chartered in 1938. A distinctive feature of SIU employment is its union “hiring hall” system where SIU employers obtain qualified crew through the union’s hiring halls located in major U.S. ports. We will also hear about the Jones Act which establishes U.S. cabotage requirements for the domestic transportation of goods by water. In general, cargo transported between U.S. ports must move on vessels that are U.S. owned, constructed, and crewed.
Speaker
Date
November 18, 2026
Schedule
5:30 – 6:30 pm – Reception and Networking (cash bar)
6:30 pm – Dinner and program begins
8:00 pm – Concludes
Location
Chiapparelli’s Restaurant
237 S. High Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
(www.chiapparellis.com) Located in the Little Italy area of Baltimore
Parking is located on the street and in the Little Italy Garage
Tickets, Pricing, Payment Options
$45 per person for Members
$65 per person for Visitors
$30 per person for Students
Registration open now, book below!
Membership
If you would like to join our chapter, please use this link to the membership form on our website at
https://lerachapter.org/maryland/membership-account/membership-levels/ and/or contact Rachel Lapp at RLapp6214@outlook.com or Neil Pettit at NPettit@iaff.org
Future Meeting Dates
December 9, 2026 (Lib’s Grill, Towson)
January 20, 2027 (VIRTUAL)
February 17, 2027 (VIRTUAL)
March 18, 2027 (Chiapparelli’s)
April 21, 2027 (Towson)
May 19, 2027 (Chiapparelli’s)
Bookings
Log in if you already have an account with us.