Maersk crew member on how they gained control over the pirates: ‘We’re union members.’
Maersk crew member on how they gained control over the pirates: ‘We’re union members.’
Yesterday, NBC Nightly News interviewed the brave crew members of the Maersk Alabama, who all survived an attack by Somali pirates. They discussed how they managed to capture one of the bandits and bind him up, and they had universal praise for Capt. Richard Phillips, who agreed to be taken hostage to save his crew. One seaman, third engineer John Cronan, directly attributed their ability to prevail in the situation to their union training:
Q: How did you retain control of the ship?
CRONAN: We’re American seamen. We’re union members. We stuck together, and we did our jobs. And that’s how we did it.
Watch it:
As Marcy Wheeler and Nick Baumann have pointed out, the crew members belonged to the Seafarers International Union, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association, and the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots. Baumann noted that the seamen received “anti-piracy training” from the unions.
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Is it true that American ships have been dumping toxic waste in Somalia?
April 17th, 2009 at 9:48 am>Is it true that American ships have been
>dumping toxic waste in Somalia?
Yep. Not just american specifically but many other countries also. Apparently the piracy started out sometime ago as what sounds like legitimate gripes about other countries coming into somali water to illegally dump and fish….apparently at some point morphed into mere criminality..
April 17th, 2009 at 9:52 amThey are brave and good men. I am happy they are home.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:56 amUhm Obama please have these guys in the wings next time you address congress, say something about “with the help of their union training…” then have everyone applaud them..watch republicans squirm in discomfort..
April 17th, 2009 at 9:57 amYou know, there are a number of teachable moments from this incident — a captain sacrificing his own safety to protect his crew, a crew that credits their union for their sticking together and working as a team, and the skill and professionalism of our military as they rescue the captain.
I’m waiting for the trolls to show up and claim that the fact these seamen are union members means they’re overpaid, lazy, and putting the shipping company they work for into bankruptcy. Or some other such nonsense.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:57 amWhen is Sam/Joe the Sailor going to come on and explain to us how unions mean death to israel…
April 17th, 2009 at 9:59 amTHIS WON’T DO!! It doesn’t fit the right wing mantra that unions are destroying our nation.
April 17th, 2009 at 9:59 amOh sure, being union members helped save their lives, solidified the captain as a true hero, and reinforces the fact that “team” is more important than “I”…
But look what they’ve done to our economy!
(snark alert)
April 17th, 2009 at 10:04 amGood – now Congress needs to pass EFCA ASAP!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:04 amI’m proud of these men.
I’m not so proud of the media…these ‘pirates’ were teenagers trying to survive in a country with no law, resources or infrastructure while ‘developed’ countries drop toxic waste in their fishing waters.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:06 amWe’re union members.
Way to go Cronan. Now you can’t become Joe the Seaman shilling for the Republican party. /snark
April 17th, 2009 at 10:08 amOh my. I predict a Rush Radio Rant about unions being unfair to young Somali entrepreneurs.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:10 amVery impressive.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:12 amActually, GLL, I’d expect a Rush Radio Rant about how any union that’s full of seamen is clearly just another pro-gay marriage organization that’s determined to undermine Amurkan morals…
April 17th, 2009 at 10:23 amThese men are true American Heroes, I’m sure Obama will have them at the White House. Let’s see how this gets reported by the right-wingbozos?
April 17th, 2009 at 10:34 amI’m stickin’ with the union,
April 17th, 2009 at 10:35 amYou can’t frighten me …
Zimzone, you’re right about that, but they were still pirates. They still attacked and took control of a ship and held its captain hostage.
I know your reasons for focusing on their age and their plight are 180 degrees away from Limbaugh’s, but he also made a big deal out of that aspect of the story.
The difference between the two of you is, of course, that while you seek to inform others so international efforts can improve conditions there, he just wants some reason to bash the President. But they were still dangerous.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:38 amAnother critical lesson from this incident, the Captain put himself in harms way to protect his crew. Imagine, if you will, that the management of a major corporation would be willing to emulate that particular example. The good of the many outweighing the good of the one, although the Republicants will say, That’s Communism!
April 17th, 2009 at 10:51 amThe reports of dumping with which I’m familiar revolve around the dumping of medical waste (including nuclear) and industrial waste from European countries. Foreign vessels have been implicated but not, as far as I know, American ones. The indications are that the dumping is being carried out by the Mafia who undertake to dispose of this waste on behalf of private industry.
You know, like the Sopranos?
It’s certainly possible that US vessels are involved but highly unlikely that it involves US waste. Why ship this stuff half way around the world when they can dump it (and have dumped it) off the coast of New Jersey?
April 17th, 2009 at 10:53 amZimzone Says:
I’m not so proud of the media…these ‘pirates’ were teenagers trying to survive in a country with no law, resources or infrastructure while ‘developed’ countries drop toxic waste in their fishing waters.
It’s not as if they’re stealing food for their families: they’re raking in millions of dollars with each hijack. It’s like stealing millions from a bank during a heist, and then claiming that the economy left them with no other means of survival.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:56 amI can already hear El Rushbo and the Faux News talking heads once they hear about this. I predict their meme to be something along the lines of…”No wonder they got captured by 17 year-old Somali’s int he first place, it’s because they belong to unions!”
April 17th, 2009 at 10:59 amZimzone Says:
I’m not so proud of the media…these ‘pirates’ were teenagers trying to survive in a country with no law, resources or infrastructure while ‘developed’ countries drop toxic waste in their fishing waters.
Says a lot about what happens with failed states.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:00 amAlso, it’s not correct to say that the piracy is a conscious protest against the dumping. It probably is in part a consequence of the dumping, coupled with the appalling circumstances of life in Somalia generally.
The dumping and overfishing by foreign fleets, both made possible by the Somali government’s manifest inability to control their sovereign territory, have decimated Somali fish stocks and deprived “men with boats”, a.k.a. fishermen, of their livelihood. Since these men with boats have no fish to catch they have taken to “catching” foreign vessels.
One of the grotesque ironies of this situation is that many of the vessels which have been captured are those carrying food and other relief supplies to Somalia.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:00 amJohn Barringer Says:
One of the grotesque ironies of this situation is that many of the vessels which have been captured are those carrying food and other relief supplies to Somalia.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:00 am
__________
Yup. Aid which may indeed be contributing to the problem, but that’s another story entirely.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:13 amAwesome, simply awesome,now all we have to do is sit around and wait for the Reich wing shills to spin this story into how unions are bad for this country because unlike the Reich wing we will stand along beside Obama and get this country on track and the Reich will flock together like the ignorant Sheeple they are and say NO.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:15 amThe sailors had better watch it with all of that pro-union talk lest Rush, Sean, and Glenn question their patriotism and call them cowards for sacrificing their captain.
The danger with these right-wing commentator clowns is that they actually believe that if you speak out against them, then you are speaking out against America.
April 17th, 2009 at 11:43 amHere’s everything you need to know about Somalia.
http://www.counterpunch.org/whitney12032008.html
http://www.counterpunch.org/macaux04142009.html
April 17th, 2009 at 12:00 pmI want to reiterate that I’m proud of these sailors & Captain.
I don’t condone piracy, real or virtual.
I also don’t condone dumping toxic waste in our oceans.
ANYWHERE.
Ralph, thanks for opining on my comment; I agree with you.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:20 pmThat’s how you fight back against anti-EFCA ads, run ones with these guys and Capt Sullengberger saying “we’re UNION members. If you are against EFCA, you are against unions, you’re against ME.”
April 17th, 2009 at 12:21 pmO.k. I guess I’m going to get it, but here goes.
If I where Somali and being a poor country most of my fellow countrymen where I lived were fishermen. If the fishing stocks were depelted by europeans, asians and americans and what was left was dying due to the toxic dumping.
If I then turned to my government for help, but they were powerless because of an off and on civil war that’s been going on for some twenty years (or more), and could do nothing to help us.
If my family was hungry as was everyone elses in my town. I think turning to piracy against the nations that helped put us in this mess would seem like a normal thing to do.
April 17th, 2009 at 12:48 pmRich H Says:
O.k. I guess I’m going to get it, but here goes.
If I where Somali and being a poor country most of my fellow countrymen where I lived were fishermen. If the fishing stocks were depelted by europeans, asians and americans and what was left was dying due to the toxic dumping.
If I then turned to my government for help, but they were powerless because of an off and on civil war that’s been going on for some twenty years (or more), and could do nothing to help us.
If my family was hungry as was everyone elses in my town. I think turning to piracy against the nations that helped put us in this mess would seem like a normal thing to do.
…and you would be ok with that because…bing>bing>bing>bing…you’re a liberal!
April 17th, 2009 at 12:58 pmRealityCheck Says He Blows Goats.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:03 pmIt’s sad. The boys (called pirates because msm didn’t want us to their ages known) from a government-less country, unable to to feed the hungry because of wonton dumping and over fishing by “priates.” Boy try to fight a man’s war.
I don’t know what to think, if the boys gave up their hostage they probably would have be shot. If they did give up the captain they probably would be shot (well we know the outcome.)
yeah the union, ok fine.
but it’s a sad day when the boys were shot. And f0uck limpydic and his fake sadness. He probably thought he knew the boys.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:03 pmRC – Why did Newt and the R’s force Clinton to abandon Somalia back in the ’90’s over one mission gone awry?
They certainly didn’t force Dubbie out of Iraq for the same reasons.
If Newt, and the R Congress hadn’t obstructed intervention and forced the President’s hand back then, we might not have this problem now.
But they did.
How’s that for a little “reality check” for ya? You really need to get that memory hole plugged up, or one day you’ll lose your keys for good.
April 17th, 2009 at 1:13 pm>Now you can’t become Joe
>the Seaman shilling for
>the Republican party
Its ok, they’ve already got SamJoe, the all purpose “Swiss Army Scab”…SamJoe got his c#ck stuck in an empty shampoo bottle and that apparently makes him an expert on seamen..
April 17th, 2009 at 1:21 pmGame of Life Says:” but it’s a sad day when the boys were shot. And f0uck limpydic and his fake sadness. He probably thought he knew the boys”.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:02 pm==============================================================
Limpballs did know these boy`s, they were in one if his OXY/VIAGRA induced dreams………sorry I couldn`t resist!
As a proud union member it was very gratifying to hear this. Any union member would be proud, but not surprised, that this individual spoke up for his union and its’ members. The amazing thing is that the comment got any coverage at all.
And make no mistake about it, the successful outcome of this incident had a great deal to do with the fact that union members are better trained and more efficient at their jobs than their non-union counterparts. And contrary to what most people have been brainwashed to believe, union members don’t go around calling their non-union counterparts “scabs” and denigrating them, but encourage them to join the union to improve everyones’ lives.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:21 pm“Solidarity Forever–The Union Makes Us Strong!!”
April 17th, 2009 at 2:25 pmCRONAN: We’re union members. We stuck together, and we did our jobs. And that’s how we did it.
Between cigarettes and coffee breaks.
HAHA sorry but true. Very brave endeavor guys.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:45 pme_to_the_pOTATO BUG Says:
——————————————————————————–
CRONAN: We’re union members. We stuck together, and we did our jobs. And that’s how we did it.
Between cigarettes and coffee breaks.
HAHA sorry but true. Very brave endeavor guys.
————
e_to_the_pOTATO BUG says,
“I mindlessly spew tired stereotypes because I don’t know any better and am too lazy to think for myself.”
HAHA sorry but true. Very stupid comment guy.
April 17th, 2009 at 2:55 pme-to-the-pOTATO BUG, safe in his mom’s little basement apartment, munching his Cheetoes, and trolling his (half)witticisms. I am offering you a Double-Dog-Dare, whuckfit. Sign up as an Able-Bodied Seaman and serve on a ship plying the Gulf of Aden. Let’s see how YOU would handle a pirate attack. By the way, none of that worthless UNION TRAINING for you. You’re a big, tough, badass, so you won’t need it. One of those Somali kids points an AK-47 at you, and you’d fill your pants in a New York minute. Stupid fool.
April 17th, 2009 at 3:58 pmCRONAN: We’re union members. We stuck together, and we did our jobs. And that’s how we did it.
Between cigarettes and coffee breaks.
HAHA sorry but true. Very brave endeavor guys.
====================================================
So you think you know what life is like on a merchant ship? From the ABs to the Captain, from the Chief Engineer to the steward, they all work hard. Sure, American sailors have it better than sailors from a lot of countries. It is because of those pesky unions that they can work and actually get paid. They can complain and not fear reprisals. They have access to medical care on board (darn those union-trained Medical Persons in Charge!).
When merchant sailors have no protection from employer abuses, work is like prison with the potential for drowning.
Three different unions were represented aboard the Alabama. Continuing education to keep licenses current is a requirement for many positions on the ship. “Union” does not equal “Slacker.”
April 17th, 2009 at 4:54 pmChocolate Jesus Says:
——————————————————————————–
>Is it true that American ships have been
>dumping toxic waste in Somalia?
Yep. Not just american specifically but many other countries also.
April 17th, 2009 at 4:58 pm================================
I’ve seen nothing to suggest that American ships have been dumping toxic waste in Somali waters. If you have some sort of evidence, please share it. Toxic dumping in Somalia does nothing to explain the rise of piracy in waters off Nigeria, South America and southeast Asia.
TP monitor,
What’s up with the juxtaposition of the comments between #30 & 40?
Makes it hard to decipher who’s replying to whom.
Thanks.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:00 pmZimzone @10 and Game of Life @34,
I’m not picking a fight and I abhor the job the corporate media does as much as anyone, but since this seems to be an important point to you, look at the video again. Brian Williams clearly says 18 seconds into the clip teenage pirates, with that emphasis. In fact, I’ve heard numerous descriptions describing them, many even speculating about just how young they are.
Whether their age is relevent or not can be debated but I don’t think in this particular case you can say the corporate media is hiding this fact.
Just sayin’.
April 17th, 2009 at 5:15 pmRealityCheck Says:
My GOD you are an ignorant piece of garbage. YOU make a sick appology for murderous criminals and then blame it on liberals? TYour stupid is a wonder to behold. How in the world did you GET so stupid? Did it take pills or special training? Surely even someone as braindead as you didnt come this naturally bone chillingly brainless. Just go kill yourself. The world could use the good news and I would love to hear the univerasl applause the only decent act you ever performed in your entire life would bring
April 17th, 2009 at 5:26 pmGo Union! WHOO-Hoo! Yip!
Really. I love it. Unions train workers with skills that make them better and safer workers.
April 17th, 2009 at 6:49 pmI’m going to listen to some Billy Bragg. Great union tunes.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:07 pmWow, it was a joke! I apologize it was a little soon. But, what a pack of pirahnas! Look, you blowhards, I am offspring of 2nd generation local 150 Operating engineer. I am a little offended that I let off a little steam, and you go to the ends of the earth to slander and flame. It’s been a 63 hour work week, so I ignored most of your replies, but I’ll say this. Lighten the f@%k up! Go Obama! We have a scholarly president! Take the finger off the trigger! flame the real trolls!
Niether major party represents me, but now I see how you can be just as fanatic as the right.
And BTW, have any of you actually had to drop cargo at a union airport cargo terminal? It takes 2.5 hours to drop 5 boxes for a domestic AA flight. The handling crews take smoke breaks on 7-15 minute intervals and wait in their cars up to twenty minutes prior to punch out. There is a visible discontent and lack of care amongst the secure union staffers. The resulting delay in shipping chain reacts through a traceable increased cost to everyone all the way down to consumer. So yes, some unions are bloated, but at least I acknowledge their benefit to the worker. I am not sure what point you ascertained my statement as “death to unions/america.” It’s friendly criticism; see my prior comment “lighten up!”
April 17th, 2009 at 7:09 pmBug@50,
I apoligize if my comment seemed unduly harsh. That particular type of criticism (smoke breaks, leaning on shovels, etc.) strikes a particularly raw nerve for me. Sorry if I misinterpreted the snark.
April 17th, 2009 at 7:58 pmi <3 u
np. Ill admit its probably not the right place for the joke.
April 17th, 2009 at 10:31 pmA word to those who try to defend the pirates because of their age. An old rule of thumb says that if a kid trys to do me harm with a gun, he automatically becomes 21 years old. I wonder what would happen if these pirates put as much energy into creating a government as they do stealing ships?
April 17th, 2009 at 11:45 pmRemember kids, always look for the union label:
http://unionsong.com/u103.html
April 18th, 2009 at 2:24 amOK Pat obviously senile dementia has set in. Time to see the nice young men that will need to take care of you soon.burun estetigi rent a car arac kiralama
April 18th, 2009 at 5:06 amsac ekimi
e-to-thepOTATOBUG, so you’re the second generation of a operating engineer. So? You think that gives you a pass to make some lame-ass joke? You grew up benefitting from your father’s union wages, yet, you puke up this crap? I’ve seen way too many children of hard working union people turn their backs on their parents sacrifices for me to give you a break from your crass attempt at a joke. I don’t care what you see on your job. It doesn’t apply in the case of these sailors. If you don’t like the way your co-workers slack off, do something about it. If you are a union member, run for union office and try to make some changes. Don’t bring your disaffection here and cheapen what those guys on that ship did. It’s totally inappropriate.
April 18th, 2009 at 11:14 am