March 31st saw the end of an era, with outgoing MTD Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Duncan stepping down after a fruitful 12 years in the position. He was succeeded on the following day by MTD Administrator Mark Clements, whose appointment was confirmed by the 2023 MTD Executive Board at its February meeting.
Duncan first came to the MTD in 2000 as an assistant to then-MTD President Michael Sacco and Executive Secretary-Treasurer Frank Pecquex. He joined the Department from the Seafarers, where he served in a variety of roles (including Communications Director) since 1987. With 23 years of experience in the MTD and half a century of Union involvement, Duncan’s contributions to Maritime Labor are incalculable.
“The MTD simply wouldn’t be what it is today without Dan,” says Clements. “He brought the grassroots focus back to the Department and strengthened our network of Port Maritime Councils. I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve been told those shoes won’t be easy to fill.”
Duncan will stay on with the MTD in an advisory capacity to assist with the leadership transition. In addition to a new Executive Secretary-Treasurer, the Department also gained a new President in David Heindel earlier this year.
Clements assumes the Executive Secretary-Treasurer position after a year and a half as MTD Administrator. Previously, he worked for nine years as Assistant Director of Communications for the Seafarers; he was responsible for the Union’s social media presence and historical materials.
In addition to his time with the Seafarers, Clements is a card-carrying member of the American Federation of Teachers. He stays involved in several local advocacy groups in his home of Silver Spring, Maryland.
“The Maritime unions were always a militant wing of the Labor Movement,” adds Clements. “While the way we fight those battles has changed, the stakes have not. We must protect and fortify what we’ve inherited from past generations while pressing ahead for the good of all Maritime workers.”