American Radio Association, AFL-CIO has been representing seagoing radio operators employed on U.S. flag merchant vessels since the 1930s, as a local of the predecessor to the Communications Workers of America.  In 1948 ARA was chartered by the CIO and since the merger has been an affiliate of the AFL-CIO.  It was the tragic sinking of the Titanic in 1912 that demonstrated the value of having radio communications aboard ships at sea when John G. Phillips, the Chief Radio Officer, sacrificing his life remained at his station and was able to summon assistance from nearby vessels saving over 700 lives.  Shortly thereafter the international community adopted the Safety of Life at Sea Treaty (SOLAS) requiring watch standing Radio Operators to monitor the international distress and safety frequency, 500khz for an SOS from any ship.  

Until 1999 ARA members were statutorily required on board ships as watch standing Radio Officers functioning as the safety net for their ship and crew should an emergency occur.  The Radio Officer also maintained and repaired navigational systems and radars to assure that ships could be operated safely in all conditions.  As communications technology advanced the ARA Technology Institute for Maritime Electronics (ARA TIME) provided training for its members so they could transition from the traditional Morse Code “brass pounder” to a skilled marine Electronics Officer.  With the advent of satellite communications and the amendment of the SOLAS treaty the role of the communications officer aboard ship became increasingly threatened.  The Global Maritime Distress and Safety System (GMDSS), an automated satellite system, was also adopted by SOLAS to replace the Morse Code reliant network as the international system for responding to emergency situations at sea.  For almost three years ARA fought to prevent the ship owners from changing the statutory requirement for a Radio Officer as the primary communication officer on U.S. flag ships, however, the companies’ lobbying efforts paid off when the Communications Act and FCC regulations were finally amended by a Republican Congress in 1996.  All ocean going ships were required to be GMDSS compliant by February 1, 1999 and the ship owners without ARA contracts quickly jumped on the band wagon to eliminate the Radio Officer billet and assign our historic and traditional duties to other members of the crew, primarily the deck officers, and in the case of electronics maintenance and repair by sub-contracting to shore side vendors.  On ARA contract ships, the union has fought to maintain jobs for its members and to preserve their retirement and medical benefits.  

ARA has also continued to train its members in skills that could meet the evolving technology in communications and ship board electronics.  In addition to their duties as the primary GMDSS Operator the ARA represented Master Radio Electronics Officers/Communications and Electronics Officer is trained in computer systems and networking, software maintenance and administration, data communications, the maintenance of integrated navigation and engine control systems,  the repair of instrumentation and automation systems and other duties that are within ARA’s contractual jurisdiction.   

Interested in a challenging and exciting career as a Communications and Electronics Officer on merchant ships?  If you have good electronics, computer and networking skills these jobs may be right for you!  For details send a brief resume as an email attachment to American Radio Association:  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ;  or Phone:  1-510-281-0706.