One of the nation’s biggest port cities, Houston, will be the location for the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO Executive Board meeting February 13 and 14. Speakers from the U.S-flag maritime industry, the U.S. military and the government are scheduled to address the body regarding issues of interest and concern to the U.S. Merchant Marine.
The board will hear from nine speakers. Included among them will be U.S. Representative Gene Green (TX); Thomas Allegretti, President and CEO of the American Waterways Operators and the Chairman of the American Maritime Partnership; VADM William Brown, deputy commander of the U.S. Transportation Command; and Houston Mayor Annise Parker.
The audience will include labor officials and maritime business representatives.
The sessions will take place in the Ballroom of the Americas A&B at the Hilton-Americas, 1600 Lamar, Houston.
MTD President Michael Sacco will call the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m. (CST) each day.
In addition to Brown and Parker, the other scheduled speakers for Thursday, February 13, are Janiece Longoria, Chairman of the Port Authority of Houston, and John Thackrah, Executive Director of the Military Sealift Command.
Joining Allegretti and Green before the MTD Executive Board on Friday, February 14, will be James Offutt, President of the Navy League of the United States; Texas AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller and AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre.
The Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO is composed of 21 international unions and 21 port maritime councils in the United States and Canada representing nearly 5 million working men and women.