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Editor: Rod Sullivan
Profession: Maritime Attorney

Category: Unseaworthiness and The Jones Act

For years the American Maritime Officers union out of Dania, Florida, one of the largest maritime unions representing merchant marine officers, has been controlled by the McKay family. The second generation started in 1993 when brothers Mike McKay, 58, and Bobby McKay, 55, both former shipboard engineers themselves [Full disclosure, I briefly went to sea with both Mike and Bobby and like them both. Also, at one time my picture was blown up as a poster in the AMO headquaters in Dania. I doubt it's still there.], became president and secretary-treasurer respectively. Now, according to a letter issued to union members by the McKay's, "a former executive in the AMO Plans and...a former [union] official..." have been working with the FBI and the U.S. Attorneys Office in Miami to get them indicted.

The 17 count indictment was issued last month and charges them, along with two other union officials, of rigging the 1993 and 1996 union elections, embezzling money from the union pension plan, and using housing at the Dania Beach training facility to house friends, family members, and guests. According to former union members, the training facility itself is owned by the McKays and leased by them back to the union.

The McKay brothers were released on bail of $500,000 each.