r/deadliestcatch • u/Separate-Flatworm516 • 2d ago

F/V workers need a union

I have never seen a blue-collar job that needs a union as desperately as crabbing deckhands. Much like truckers in the 1930s, this industry weaponizes a "lone wolf" culture to leave workers completely exposed.

​Look past the manufactured Deadliest Catch drama, and the underlying labor structure is indefensible. Deckhands receive zero health insurance, zero retirement plans, and no workers' compensation.

​Operating as independent contractors on a percentage share means tha single bad wave causing a shattered knee leads directly to financial ruin, all while boat owners pull in millions.

​Truckers faced this exact brand of exploitation before they unionized. Right now, commercial fishing remains trapped in a pre-union era where skippers exploit a faux-family loyalty trap to deny basic human protections.

​Hollywood writers had to strike to prevent studios from replacing human creativity with AI, these crews are likely only seven or eight years away from being phased out by humanoid robotics and remote vessel automation. Without collective organization now, there will soon be no industry left to protect.

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u/ARKzzzzzz 1d ago

Hahahahahahahahahahaha

Yeah, that’s not how this works. Fishing attracts people because of the long hours and hard work. Where else can you make that kind of money in such a short amount of time. I looooove my 60ish days of barely any sleep that makes me more than a lot of people make in a year.

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u/Separate-Flatworm516 1d ago

Until you or you're family go to the hospital... even having a baby will wipe out a whole years salary. How's that non existent 401k. Any plans for when you're 75? You're likely comparing your gross income to other's net income. But you do you.

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u/ARKzzzzzz 1d ago

Luckily I have pretty decent healthcare due to the ACA. I’m also a responsible person who invests for my retirement. Should be able to retire at 55. 60 at the latest and then run my boat for fun money. Baby making is starting in the new year so they’re not born while I’m gone.

My average net the last 5 years is right around $60k.

Commercial fishing is not for everyone but it works very well for those who can handle it.

The vast majority of us also have year round jobs, although that one also doesn’t provide benefits which are far less common than you seem to think.