MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION (AFL-CIO)
         "On Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"

MEBA TELEX TIMES       JULY 03, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 27

In this issue...
Matson contract...ALABAMA, ARKANSAS wage re-opener... Bloody Thursday, Maritime legislation...Aker update...We run a star-spangled newsletter up the flagpole and go from sea to shining sea to bring you a red, white & blue issue full of nautical fireworks. Declare your independence from unpatriotic, treasonous weeklies that take liberties with the news. Pledge your allegiance to our gallantly streaming, yankee doodle edition. We the people hold this maritime truth to be self-evident: The Telex Times is as American as apple pie!

MATSON CONTRACT
M.E.B.A. negotiators nailed down beneficial new contract language for members sailing with Matson Navigation and are finalizing a new deal covering Port Engineers. The Union negotiations took place shoulder-to-shoulder with the Masters, Mates & Pilots and American Radio Association which also represent members aboard the Matson vessels.

M.E.B.A. secured a new Matson A3 master contract which will be put to a ratification vote at this month's membership meetings. The four year, 2 month pact provides wage increases, improved medical and pension provisions and increased contributions to Training, JEC and AMC, among other things.

A deal was also reached with the company in the wage re-opener for the CV2600 vessels. A sizeable wage hike and benefit improvements along with increased contributions, are among a host of provisions negotiated by the bargaining team that will further upgrade the CV2600 contract and reduce the gap that exists between the A3 and CV2600 fleets. Both contracts include important new job security language. The contracts have been forwarded to each of the Union halls.

Additionally, M.E.B.A. and Matson have come to agreement over the economic terms and conditions covering Matson's Port Engineers represented by M.E.B.A. The parties have extended the contract expiration date out to July 31, 2009 to allow sufficient time to memorialize contract language between the parties and incorporate the contractual changes in a Memorandum of Understanding that M.E.B.A. anticipates presenting to the membership in August 2009 in a ratification vote.

After a recent 10-day extension, the contracts had expired at midnight on June 25, 2009 without a new agreement in place. The following day, the ARA put up a picket line in Seattle at the terminal where the Matson ship SS MAUI was moored. ARA is an affiliate of the ILWU and the dockworkers disrupted the loading schedule on the ship preventing the vessel from sailing to Hawaii. The picket line was also honored by the M.E.B.A. and MM&P membership as well. Negotiators were able to make additional progress in talks that day and by late evening on Saturday, a tentative agreement was in place, The ILWU then returned to work and loaded up the SS MAUI which sailed soon after.

The M.E.B.A. negotiating team was led by Executive Vice President Mike Nizetich along with L.A. Branch Agent Larry Young, M.E.B.A. Contracts Officer Mark S. Gallagher, Chief Counsel Nils Djusberg and a rank and file team that included Dave Nolan, Cecil Ray, Harry Dodson, Don McNichols, and Rich Doherty.

ALABAMA, ARKANSAS CONTRACT GETS A BOOST THROUGH WAGE REOPENER
Members working aboard the Maritime Security Program vessels MAERSK ALABAMA and her sister ship MAERSK ARKANSAS are working under an improved contract after successful wage reopener talks. A provision in the contract triggered a re-opener once the MSP funding increased. M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe worked with Waterman Steamship's Mike Cameron to negotiate increases in wages and fringe benefits retroactive to 2008 for a three year period. There will also be overtime multiplier increases in each of those years up to the maximum. The Chief Engineer supplement has been enhanced as well. In addition, there are improved contributions for Training, Joint Employment Committee and the American Maritime Congress.

BALTIMORE/CMES MEETING REMINDER
As a reminder, there WILL, in fact, be a Baltimore/CMES membership meeting at the Calhoon School this month on Tuesday even though no classes are being held. Traditionally, no meetings were held at the School during July, but the recent consolidation of the Baltimore and CMES meetings has changed the format. There will be a membership meeting at the School every single month - 12 times a year.

75th ANNIVERSARY OF BLOODY THURSDAY IS SUNDAY
Bloody Thursday falls on a Sunday this year (July 5) and West Coast halls will be closed on Monday July 6th in honor of this watershed moment in labor history. Bloody Thursday commemorates the longshoremen labor action led by Harry Bridges that culminated in street fighting and clashes with police. Hundreds were injured and several killed in the riots that came to a head on July 5, 1934. Following a general strike and federal intervention, the longshoremen won a coast-wide contract, a union hiring hall, and various improvements to wages and conditions. A series of commemorative events are planned up and down the West Coast on Sunday including a 75th Anniversary Procession in San Francisco. Those who want to attend should meet at 9 a.m. at the Music Concourse on Steuart & Market Streets. The procession is hosted by BALMA, ILWU Local 10, 34, 91, 75 & ILWU pensioners. In Long Beach there will be a daylong picnic at El Dorado Park followed by a screening of a new Bloody Thursday documentary in San Pedro at 7 p.m. The film, produced in association with the Harry Bridges Institute, will be shown at the Warner Grand Theatre, 478 W. Sixth St. The San Pedro Brewing Co. will cater the event beginning at 6 p.m. with burgers and beer ("Longshoremen Lager"). Tickets are $5. Check your local listings to find out what's going on in your area.

Because the West Coast halls will be closed on Monday, the Seattle membership meeting has been moved to Tuesday.

BLUMENAUER BILL WOULD EXPAND TONNAGE TAX TO BENEFIT MORE U.S.-FLAG OPERATORS
Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR-3) has introduced a bill (H.R. 3049) that would expand the reach of the Tonnage Tax to benefit additional U.S.-flag operators, including Matson Navigation. The Tonnage Tax, which has been on the books since late 2004 has been modified several times to further promote U.S. shipping. It benefits U.S.-flag vessel owners engaging in international trade by preserving and enhancing maritime employment opportunities for U.S. mariners. It allows companies to elect a U.S. tax regime based on the tonnage - or weight in tons - of a taxpayer's U.S.-flag fleet, in lieu of regular income tax, making those companies more viable in the global market. M.E.B.A. was a big part of a maritime labor and industry coalition that helped bring the tonnage tax into existence.

Co-sponsors of the bill include Reps. Wally Herger (R-CA-2), Brian Higgins (D-NY-27), Mazzie Hirono (D-HI-2), Neil Abercrombie (D-HI-1), Mike Thompson (D-CA-1), Linda Sanchez (D-CA-39), Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.-8), and Laura Richardson (D-CA-37). The bill has been referred to the Committee on Ways and Means.

LAUTENBERG BILL WOULD IMPROVE SHIP & TERMINAL SECURITY OF HAZARDOUS CARGO
Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) introduced a bill to protect America's communities and economy by improving the security of hazardous cargo shipments, including liquefied natural gas and liquefied petroleum gas. The Maritime Hazardous Cargo Security Act of 2009 would require the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to improve security for the vessels and facilities that ship and receive particularly dangerous chemicals and petrochemicals.

"Ships bringing liquefied natural gas from foreign ports - and the plants along our shores that receive them - must be better secured against terrorism," Sen. Lautenberg said. "This bill would help us protect these ships, facilities that receive them and nearby communities from the potential hazards of high-risk cargoes."

Lautenberg's bill contains several key provisions, including: .A requirement for the Obama Administration to work with international partners to develop standards and procedures for the safe and secure handling of especially hazardous cargoes (EHC) for all vessels and port facilities. .An employee security training requirement for vessel security officers to complete training on the Coast Guard's Incident Command System. .A requirement for the Coast Guard to modify Area Maritime Transportation Security Plans to incorporate regional response and recovery plans so trade is not disrupted.

The bill is also cosponsored by bipartisan leaders on the Senate Commerce Committee and the Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Safety, Security, and Infrastructure, which Sen. Lautenberg chairs.

NMC GUIDANCE ON MAILING MMC APPLICATIONS
The US Coast Guard's National Maritime Center (NMC) issued a bulletin providing additional information on procedures to follow when mailing merchant mariner credential (MMC) applications to a Regional Examination Center. New procedures were implemented in April 2009 to enable mariners to mail their applications to one of the 17 RECs throughout the country. These changes simplify the application process by enabling mariners to send photocopies of supporting documentation when submitting applications by mail. Additionally new procedures streamline the payment of user fee options for mariners and the Coast Guard.

Application Submission: Title 46 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 10, Subpart B 10.209 General Application Procedures allows mariners to mail copies of their entire application package, including sea service and training / course certificates, to one of the 17 Coast Guard Regional Examination Centers for processing. Merchant mariner applicants submitting copies by mail are advised that application documentation may be subject to auditing and verification by the Coast Guard during the evaluation process.

In the near future, the Coast Guard National Maritime Center (NMC) intends on providing capabilities for mariners to submit credential applications by e-mail. Sending your application packages to RECs via e-mail will save further time and money and is a more secure method of delivery. Stay tuned to our website, www.uscg.mil/nmc.for more information on this.

User Fee Payments: In 2005, the NMC introduced the availability of www.pay.gov and ushered in a fast, convenient and more secure method for paying user fees. Since then this electronic link to the U. S. Department of Treasury has provided tens of thousands of mariners a safe, quick and reliable way to pay user fees.

1. To ensure quick processing of applications submitted to an REC by mail, mariners can pay user fees via www.pay.gov. The application package submitted to an REC must include a copy of the pay.gov payment receipt.

2. For quicker turnaround times for administering exams and issuing credentials, user fees identified during the evaluation process, such as testing or issuance fees, can be paid via www.pay.gov. The notifications sent to mariners regarding testing or credential issuance fees will contain
quick links to the www.pay.gov web site.

3. The Coast Guard cannot accept cash or money-order payments submitted with applications mailed to an REC.

AKER CONSTRUCTION UPDATE
The Aker Philadelphia Shipyard is making good progress on the next three newbuilds in the in a series of 12 MT-46 Veteran Class Product Tanker being built at the yard. The latest completed vessel in the series, the OVERSEAS NIKISKI, was delivered in June.

Aker's construction of the ship that will be named the OVERSEAS MARTINEZ is progressing as planned with only a handful of units left for final construction. The bow section, one of the final sections of the vessel, recently left the Grand Block shop and will be painted in the coming weeks.

The vessel that will be named the OVERSEAS ANACORTES has been undergoing construction in the building dock since its recent keel laying. The generators have been installed and the main engine will soon be lowered into place. The rest of the vessel is under construction at various stages of the building process within the shops and sections are lowered into place as they are completed.

Section of the vessel that will become the OVERSEAS TAMPA have made their way to the double bottom line of the prefabrication shop. The double bottom sections add an additional six feet of space below the vessel to protect tanks against damage and reduce the risk of pollution upon contact. The OPA 90 Act requires that all vessels must be double hulled by the year 2015.

EPA PROPOSES STRINGENT STANDARDS FOR LARGE SHIPS
The Environmental Protection Agency announced the next steps in a coordinated strategy to slash emissions from ocean-going vessels. EPA is proposing a rule under the Clean Air Act that sets tough engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships that would harmonize with international standards and lead to significant air quality improvements throughout the country.

The rule comes on the heels of a key part of EPA's strategy, a proposal last March by the U.S. and Canada to designate thousands of miles of the two countries' coasts as an Emission Control Area (ECA). The International Maritime Organization (IMO), begins consideration of the ECA plan this month, which would result in stringent standards for large ships operating within 200 nautical miles of the coasts of Canada and the United States.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, July 6 - Boston, Jacksonville;
Tuesday, July 7 - Baltimore/Calhoon School (at CMES), Houston, San Francisco (Oakland); Seattle.
Wednesday, July 8 - Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, July 9- L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, July 10 - Honolulu.

--------FINISHED WITH ENGINES---------