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T
he development of the worker's organization in the country may be traced back to as early as
1899 during the end of Spanish rule and the beginning of the American era. The creation of the Bureau of Labor by the Philippine Assembly in 1901 made possible the formation of loosely organized trade unions. Although legalized, they were not protected by the Bureau of Labor. Hence, the union movement thrived and flourished under the influence of the first American settlers and the First World War up to 1924.
 

The years 1924 to 1935, characterized as a time of social unrest, witnessed the build up and strengthening of the communist movement. Organizations espousing the goals and objectives of the ideology, were allowed by the legislation and even become powerful during the Second Wolrd War but slowly disintegrated shortly thereafter.

It was during the era of the Industrial Peace Act (R.A. 875) otherwise known as the "Magna Carta of Labor", when registered unions grew rapidly. One of these was the Associated Workers Union (AWU), organized by the late Roberto S. Oca, Sr. in 1951. A labor leader who rose from the ranks in the port of Manila, he organized other transport workers and formed the Philippine Transport General Workers Organization (PTGWO).

On November 11, 1960, Capt. Gregorio S. Oca, concerned with the plight of the licensed crew of United President Lines, Magsaysay Lines, Inc. and the Eastern Shipping Lines, constituted the Associated Marine Officers' Union of the Philippines (AMOUP), with the PTGWO as the mother organization. At the same time, Bro. Donato Alarcon organized the unlicensed crew and formed the Associated Seamen's Union of the Philippines (ASUP). The members then working on board foreign vessels, receiving very low salaries and wages, with poor working conditions, and often not covered by necessary benefits and unprotected from accidents, sickness and death.

With aims and objectives to unite all Filipino seafarers, Capt. Oca labored to fight for the social, legal and moral rights of the members in the domestic and foreign fronts. He wanted free, if not, affordable medical and dental services, sufficient education and adequate training, and a united organization with clear, definite and willful objectives.

Guided by the same ideals and principles, the two (2) unions decided to merge into one cohesive organization in 1972 and named it the Associated Marine Officers' and Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP-PTGWO). As early as its inception, AMOSUP affiliated itself with the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF).

The union also realized that in order to be competitive with other seafarer supplying countries, the FilipinoSeamen should be well trained, disciplined, and hard working. In return, the seafarer should be justly compensated and given all necessary benefits to afford a decent living. With these proncipal goals, focused on molding and upgrading the skills and improving the social status and well-being of the members, the leadership of AMOSUP began reshaping the future of the organization. The rest is history.

The unparalleled and successful programs of AMOSUP serve as lasting tributes and shrines to the people who helped organize the union and the members who believed and continuously supported its leadeship.