American Radio Association Launches Recruitment Drive
(PRWEB) May 09, 2017 -- The American Radio Association, also known as The ARA, has announced an effort to broaden their base of sea-going Radio Electronics Officers and Electro-Technical Officers.
The ARA is a labor union representing skilled shipboard communications and electronics officers for both commercial shipping companies and government contractors who own or operate U.S. flag ocean going vessels. Kelly Anderson, the president of The ARA, indicates that the industry has seen incredible changes in recent times. “Ship board communications personnel have always been vital to businesses and government agencies operating on the world’s oceans,” says Mr. Anderson. “In the early days, the industry only needed radio operators skilled in morse code who could get messages to and from the mainland. It’s quite different today. Now, Radio and Electronics Officers are at the forefront of maintenance and repair of modern communications, navigation, and automation electronics aboard the newest U.S. flag ships, all over the world.”
The need for skilled electronics technicians and engineers aboard ships has been growing over the decades, and Mr. Anderson says The ARA is facing a shortage of technical personnel – “possibly due to a lack of awareness of this interesting career path,” he notes.
The ARA is now actively recruiting. Candidates must possess the ability and flexibility to learn new systems, read and interpret technical manuals and schematics, troubleshoot and repair equipment, have good communications skills and, importantly, must have a desire to work on board ships in any part of the world for up to six months each year.
In addition to maintaining shipboard electronics, Radio Electronics Officers have jurisdiction of computer systems, entertainment systems, and even cryptographic systems on some vessels.
Mr. Anderson says that The ARA, a member of the AFL/CIO, “is in the very unique position of providing the sorts of wages, benefits and worker protections that only a labor union can provide.” The organization is also an affiliate of the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU).
To contact the American Radio Association, please visit the following website: http://www.araunion.org or email araship(at)mail.com.
ELAINE JONES, Elaine Jones Associates, +1 (520) 989-9536, [email protected]
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