Mike Fuqua was nominated and elected to his first term as Trustee on May 1, 2021, for a three-year term. 

Mike is employed with Interlake Steamship Company in the Deck Department as a relief. Prior to assuming office, Mike served as Ship's Chairman aboard the M/V Mesabi Miner in 2020. 

John Baumgardner was first appointed as a Trustee on May 20, 2020. On May 1, 2021, John was elected to serve an additional three-year term.

John is employed with Sisco, Inc., a division of Hilti, an industrial specialized service provider based in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Prior to his appointment to the Trustee position, John served as a Unit Chairman and served on the Bargaining Committee between USW Local 5000 and Sisco, Inc. in 2019.  

James Kruczynski was first appointed as a Trustee in May 2020. On May 1, 2021, Jimmy was re-elected for a second three-year term.

Jimmy is employed with Key Lakes, Inc. in the Deck Department as aboard the M/V John G. Munson. 

Robert J. Haworth was elected to the office of Recording Secretary and assumed the role on May 1, 2021, for his first three-year term. 

Bob is employed with Central Marine Logistics in the Deck Department as a relief. 

Bob began working with Central Marine Logistics in 2017, sailing aboard both the Sykes and the Block, and has worked in both the Deck and Galley Departments. 

John Glentz was first appointed to the office of Treasurer in May 2020. On May 1, 2021, John was re-elected for a second three-year term.

John is employed with Key Lakes, Inc. in the Deck Department aboard the M/V Edgar B. Speer. Prior to his appointment to Treasurer in 2020, John served on the Bargaining Committee between USW Local 5000 and Key Lakes, Inc. in 2019. 

Tom Zidek is currently employed on a part-time basis as the Business Agent for USW Local 5000 and brings several years of experience as former President of Local 979 and former International Staff Representative with USW District 1. 

Our Business Agent is a non-voting employee of USW Local 5000 and performs clerical and financial duties at the direction of and under the authority of the USW Local 5000 Executive Board. The Business Agent also acts as an advisor to the Executive Board, providing advice and taking an active role in grievance hearings, arbitration hearings, and collective bargaining negotiations. As the only land-based representative of our Local Union, the Business Agent staffs our office location in Warrensville Heights, Ohio. 

Kevin D. Vekaryasz was first appointed to the office of President in May 2020. On May 1, 2021, Kevin was re-elected for a second three-year term.

Kevin is employed with Key Lakes, Inc. in the Deck Department aboard the M/V Edwin H. Gott, where he also serves as Ship's Chairman. Prior to his appointment to the Presidency in 2020, Kevin served on the Bargaining Committee between USW Local 5000 and Key Lakes, Inc. in 2019. 

Kevin's phone number listed on this page is capable of receiving text messages. 

(Top) Interlake Steamship's 1000' M/V Stewart J. Cort approaches the Blatnik Bridge in the Duluth Harbor after departing Fraser Shipyards following a week-long layup. Sister vessels M/V Paul R. Tregurtha loads at SMET while the M/V Herbert C. Jackson backs away from CN Hallet Dock #5 following its unload of limestone in the background, both of the Interlake Steamship Company. Photo courtesy David Schauer. (Right) Viewed from the old railroad bridge, the Cort is seen departing Fraser Shipyards with the Paul R. Tregurtha loading behind. Photo courtesy Paul Scinocca.

Interlake Steamship's 1000' M/V Stewart J. Cort, whose unlicensed crew is represented by USW Local 5000, returned to active service on Saturday following a week-long temporary layup at Fraser Shipyards in Superior, Wisconsin. Company officials notified its workforce in late June of the possibility of the Cort being layed up for several weeks due to softened demand for steel as a result of the COVID-19 global pandemic. 

Nearly three months ago, ArcelorMittal announced its intention to idle its Hibbing Taconite Company and lay off around 650 employees represented by USW Local 2705 in Hibbing, Minnesota. Hibbing Taconite produces iron ore pellets used for the production of steel at mills including ArcelorMittal's Burns Harbor mill in Proctor, Indiana. The Cort, specifically designed to haul iron ore runs a dedicated route between the BNSF Railway Dock 5 supplied by Hibbing Taconite Company in Superior, Wisconsin, and the Burns Harbor mill. Following the idling of the mine, shipments of ore from the BNSF facility would continue until stockpiles ran out or the mine restarted operations. The last of the remaining stockpile was shipped south two weeks ago leaving the Cort without a cargo. 

Following what officials at ArcelorMittal describe as a stabilization of the steel market in the "medium-term," production at the Burns Harbor facility increased to meet future demand for steel. Operations at Hibbing Taconite Company resumed last Saturday, with the first train delivering ore pellets to the BNSF dock on Monday...