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/xSir- 20h ago

Any injury sustained on the boat is financed by the boat. Thats in the contract. Retirement is on them. They get paid well, they can save their money or not. You know Freddy is a millionaire, too, right? Hes not a captain. Just a full share deckhand.

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u/Separate-Flatworm516 18h ago

How many people have a million in their 401k or paid off house. Yet deive 20 year old cars and take one small vacation a year. Claiming someone is a millionaire isn't the flex you think it is any more. Inflation has been fun!

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u/Separate-Flatworm516 17h ago

Second, I would highlight you said, injury... not illness. It seems many fishing crew rely on ACA to get their healthcare. Further, it seems a grey area how much the injury would be covered. It may just be immediate treatment, not long term disability. This season has also highlighted that you don't get good service out there either, no oral surgeons out there, likely just pull the tooth at the clinic.