Seafarers’ International Union of Canada

Name

Seafarers’ International Union of Canada

Legal name

Seafarers' International Union of Canada

Website

https://seafarers.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

The Seafarers' International Union of Canada is Canada's largest labor union for unlicensed seafarers, representing workers aboard vessels on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, and Canadian coasts and Arctic through collective bargaining, hiring-hall dispatch via the SIU2020 platform, and a bundled benefits stack including pension, medical, banking, and training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Labor Union Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Water Transportation (4883), Other Support Activities for Water Transportation (488390)

SIC

Services-Employment Agencies (7361), Water Transportation (4400)

akta.pro primary industry

Maritime & Port Labor (Dockworkers/Longshore) Staffing (BPACAEAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Marine Engineering & Engine Room Operations (EDAOANAB)

Keywords

• Maritime labor union
• Seafarer collective bargaining
• Union membership services
• Maritime workforce dispatch
• Seafarer benefits administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint Laurent

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Union Membership Dues: The SIU generates revenue through union dues paid by members. Dues are automatically withheld from members' paychecks when they are working, and members must continue paying dues during off-ship rest periods to remain in good standing.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Seafarers' International Union of Canada is a labor union representing the majority of unlicensed Canadian seafarers from Coast to Coast to Coast. It provides collective bargaining representation, workplace safety advocacy, and employment dispatch through physical union halls and the SIU2020 virtual hiring hall platform. It administers member benefits including the Seafarers Medical Plan (SMP), the Seafarers' Pension Plan with Manulife, life insurance with Industrial Alliance, and group banking with CIBC.

Product overview

The Seafarers' International Union of Canada operates as a labor union representing unlicensed Canadian seafarers across the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence Seaway, East Coast, West Coast, and Arctic regions. The organization's core product is SIU2020, a virtual union hall platform that enables members to manage profiles, upload certifications, register for shipping assignments, and participate in job calls. Supplementary member services include the Seafarers Medical Plan (SMP) providing health, dental, and prescription coverage, and the Seafarers' Pension Plan administered with Manulife for retirement savings. The union also publishes The Sailor, a quarterly newsletter, and operates the Seafarers' Training Institute for professional development. The union hall operates virtually through SIU2020 and in physical locations across Canada including Montreal (headquarters), Niagara, Quebec City, and Vancouver.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SIU2020: Virtual union hall platform available for all SIU of Canada members, allowing members to update personal information, upload documents and certificates, register for boarding, and bid on jobs.

Products and services

• SIU2020 Virtual Hiring Hall Platform A virtual union hall platform enabling SIU members to manage profiles, upload documents and certifications, register for shipping assignments, and participate in job calls twice daily at 10 AM and 3 PM ET following National Shipping Rules.
• Seafarers Medical Plan (SMP) Health benefit program providing coverage for medical expenses, dental care, prescription drugs, vision care, and short-term wage loss benefits for members and their families.
• Seafarers' Pension Plan Retirement savings plan administered through Manulife, offering members control over their financial future with expert guidance and online account management tools including retirement planning webinars and the Manulife mobile app.
• Seafarers' Training Institute Training programs designed to meet the future needs of the maritime industry, offering courses to enhance job skills and help members safely operate and maintain ship equipment.
• The Sailor Newsletter Quarterly union newsletter providing updates on collective bargaining, industry advocacy, member activities, and the protection of Canadian maritime jobs and cabotage laws.
• SIU Membership Application Application pathway for unlicensed Canadian seafarers to join the union and gain access to collective bargaining representation, employment dispatch, and member benefits.

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SIU is affiliated with the ITF, a democratic organization led by affiliates and recognized as the world authority on transport workers' rights. The ITF brings together nearly 700 unions from 150 countries. The SIU holds positions on multiple ITF committees including Seafarers Section, Unfair Practice Action Committee, Cabotage Working Group, Offshore Working Group, Ferry Working Group, Maritime Safety Committee, and the ILO Joint Maritime Commission.
• Congress of Labour Canada (CLC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CLC is Canada's largest labor organization, representing over 3 million workers through dozens of national and international unions, provincial and territorial labor federations, and community labor councils. The SIU participates in CLC committees including Transportation, International, National Political Action, Training and Technology Advisory, Health and Safety Advisory, and Environment Advisory.
• Seafarers' International Union of North AmericaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe SIU of Canada was historically connected to this North American union body, with roots dating to the 1940s as the Canadian District before gaining independent charter on June 7, 1961.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF): The ITF is the global federation of transport workers' unions, of which SIU Canada is an affiliate. It connects nearly 700 unions across 150 countries and represents seafarer interests at international bodies like the ILO - directly comparable as the parent/coordination body for the maritime labor union movement.
• Canadian Labour Congress (CLC): The CLC is Canada's largest labor organization representing over 3 million workers, of which SIU Canada is an affiliate. It serves as the national political and organizing umbrella for Canadian unions, providing direct comparability on labor advocacy, policy engagement, and inter-union coordination in the Canadian market.

Regional players

• Maritime Union of Australia (MUA): The MUA is Australia's primary maritime and waterfront union, representing seafarers, dockworkers, and port workers. It is a regional peer operating in a different geography with similar cabotage defense interests, comparable union density challenges, and parallel ITF affiliation structures.
• Nautilus International: Nautilus International is a UK-based union for maritime professionals including seafarers, ship officers, and allied workers. It is a regional peer with overlapping membership scope (UK and Netherlands), comparable collective bargaining functions, and similar engagement with international maritime labor standards.

Direct peers

• International Longshoremen's Association (ILA): The ILA represents dockworkers and longshoremen across the United States and Canada. It is a direct peer in the maritime labor space, with similar collective bargaining structures, port-related workforces, and shared exposure to cabotage and waterfront labor policy debates in North America.
• International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU): The ILWU represents longshore and warehouse workers on the US West Coast and Hawaii. It is a direct peer in waterfront labor with comparable union density, technology-displacement concerns (automation), and strategic focus on protecting domestic maritime jobs against foreign competition.
• Canadian Merchant Service Guild: The Canadian Merchant Service Guild represents licensed Canadian ship officers (masters, mates, engineers). It is a direct peer in the Canadian maritime union landscape, representing the licensed counterpart workforce to SIU Canada's unlicensed seafarers, with parallel collective bargaining scope.
• Seafarers' International Union of North America (SIUNA): SIUNA is the historic North American counterpart from which SIU Canada gained independence in 1961. It represents unlicensed seafarers in the United States, sharing the same occupational scope (deckhands, engine room ratings, galley staff) and offering a direct comparison of union models across the Canadian-American maritime divide.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCZvAsycjInLdHiIIOXUaHdw
• Facebookfacebook.com/SIUofCanada
• Instagraminstagram.com/SIU_Canada
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-seafarers-international-union-of-canada

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Seafarers’ International Union of Canada