U.S. Senate confirms former ILWU Local 52 member Max Vekich as Federal Maritime Commissioner

Max Vekich, a retired member of ILWU Local 52, was confirmed as the fifth member of the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) by the U.S. Senate on February 10th by a 51-43 vote. He was first appointed to fill the vacancy on the FMC by President Joe Biden in June of 2021.

The FMC is an independent federal agency responsible for regulating agreements between American exporters and the shipping companies that carry their goods to ensure they are fair and competitive.

Vekich brings more than four decades of experience as a longshore worker in Grays Harbor and in Seattle. His long career in the maritime industry has given him first-hand knowledge and experience about the challenges faced by the maritime and intermodal transportation system. Vekich also served four consecutive terms in Washington State’s House of Representatives from 1983-1991, where was the Chair of three committees: Agriculture, Trade & Economic Development, and Commerce & Labor.

“Max Vekich is the FMC Commissioner that America needs right now. Our ports are a critical part of our nation’s infrastructure and economy, and Mr. Vekich solves problems with domestic benefit in mind,” said ILWU International President Willie Adams. “He has the right mix of industry knowledge, excellent problem-solving abilities, and an internal compass that points to doing right by America’s workers, businesses, consumers and farmers. We applaud Pres. Biden for making an excellent pick, and the U.S. Senate for their confirmation.”

Download a PDF of the statement here.