MEBA TELEX TIMES SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

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

MEBA TELEX TIMES SEPTEMBER 18, 2009

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 38

In this issue...
Trumka elected AFL-CIO head…CMES schedule detailed…Good news travels fast in a full-throttle, greased lightning edition that rattles off maritime matters a mile a minute like a bat out of hell. Beat a hasty retreat from backpedaling, slow witted competitors that go nowhere quick. They’re just not too swift! We’ll stop at nothing to shoot you the news flashes you need in no time flat! The Telex Times is built for speed!

TRUMKA ELECTED AT AFL-CIO CONVENTION

Delegates at the 2009 AFL-CIO Convention elected Richard Trumka as the Federation’s new President replacing John Sweeney who had served in the position for the past 14 years. Liz Shuler is the new Secretary-Treasurer with Arlene Holt Baker installed once more as Executive Vice President. Shuler, 39, is the youngest person ever to become an officer of the AFL-CIO. Trumka previously served as AFL-CIO secretary-treasurer. Shuler had been the executive assistant to Electrical Workers (IBEW) President Edwin Hill, and Holt Baker had been serving as executive vice president and was re-elected.

Trumka reflected on his upbringing in a union family in western Pennsylvania and talked about the changes and challenges that the union movement is facing. "Even though the face of the American labor movement has changed, one thing hasn’t: It’s that the surest, the fastest, most effective way to lift workers and our families into the middle-class is with the strength, that can only, only come with a union contract…Even though it wasn’t the labor movement that got us into this mess, we are the people who are going to lead America out of it. But we can only do it if we seize this moment—we can only do it if we act now—we can only do it if we provide the leadership working Americans are demanding. Well, today I’m telling you that we will seize this moment. We will act, we will lead, and, by God, we will win! The American labor movement can turn our country around—and together that’s exactly what we’re going to do!"

Shuler promised she would manage the AFL-CIO’s finances responsibly and transparently, accountable to members, and she would make it a top priority to reach out to young workers to sustain unions for future generations. Holt Baker said that her mission would be passage of the Employee Free Choice Act and reaching out to a new generation of workers, to give them a chance at the American dream.

M.E.B.A. TAKES PART IN AFL-CIO CONVENTION

M.E.B.A. took part in the AFL-CIO Convention in Pittsburgh. The Union was represented by President Don Keefe and Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo.

M.E.B.A., which is part of the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO, also attended the MTD meetings that took place before the start of the AFL-CIO Convention. M.E.B.A. was represented by its five-person District Executive Committee (DEC) as well as Political

Director Mike Ingrao and Government Fleet Rep. Randi Ciszewski who were all there as Delegates.

UNITE-HERE REJOINS AFL-CIO

The last day of the AFL-CIO Convention opened with a bang as newly elected AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka stood on stage with UNITE HERE President John Wilhelm to make the dramatic announcement that UNITE HERE is re-affiliating with the federation. The 250,000-member UNITE HERE was one of the unions that left the AFL-CIO in 2005 to form a new federation.

M.E.B.A. AT COAST GUARD PIRACY MEETING

M.E.B.A. representatives took part in a productive Coast Guard meeting this week focused on various aspects of piracy. M.E.B.A. Contracts Officer Mark Gallagher and Chief Counsel Nils Djusberg were joined at the meeting by a number of government officials including Coast Guard Rear Admiral Brian Salerno as well as representatives from MM&P and several of our contracted companies among others. M.E.B.A. and MM&P made clear the desire to protect our members from piracy without over-bureaucracy.

NMC REPORT SHOWS IMPROVED PROCESSING

The latest performance report released this week indicates that the Coast Guard’s National Maritime Center (NMC) has whittled away the backlog of mariner credentialing applications that has caused numerous delays for U.S. seafarers. The August mariner credentialing performance report reveals that the current inventory (as of 2 ½ weeks ago) is at 3,097 down from 14,000 at the beginning of the year. From June to July, the agency processed over 6,000 applications alone. In addition, NMC reports that they have made strides in reducing mariner credential processing time. Overall processing time (from time of application submission to document issuance) had hovered around 90 days on average as late as June 2009. The NMC reports that overall processing time has been reduced to around 60 days as of August.

2010 M.E.B.A. SCHOOL SCHEDULE DETAILED

As noted last week, the 2010 M.E.B.A. Calhoon Engineering School course schedule has been released. Additional dates for courses may be added as warranted. The course offerings are detailed in this issue for the convenience of our sailing members.

Applications for these classes will be accepted via US Mail and Fax (410) 822-7220. Applications for classes held during January 1 through June 30 will be accepted NO EARLIER THAN NOVEMBER 1, 2009. Applications for classes held during July 1 through December 31 will be accepted NO EARLIER THAN MAY 1, 2010. Applications sent prior to the acceptance dates will be discarded with no notice sent to the applicant. Contact the School for further info at (410) 822-9600, extension "0". The following is a list of the announced courses for 2010:

ADVANCED CARGO OPERATIONS - (2-Week Course - 6 students maximum) – March 8 - March 19; September 27 - October 8.

ADVANCED FIRE FIGHTING - (1-Week - 16 students max) - March 15 - March 19; June 7 - June 11; October 11 - October 15.

ADVANCED METEOROLOGY-(1-Week - 6 students max)-March 29–Apr. 2; Aug. 23-27.

ADVANCED PIPE WELDING - (2-Weeks - 6 students max) - November 29 - December 10.

ADVANCED SHIPHANDLING - (2-Weeks - 6 students max) - June 14 - June 25; November 29 - December 10.

ADVANCED STABILITY - (1-Week - 6 students max) - March 22-26; Aug. 30 – Sept. 3.

ADVANCED WATCHKEEPING - (1-Week - 6 students max) - June 7-11; Dec. 13-17.

APPLIED DIESELS - (4-Weeks - 6 students max) - May 3 - May 28.

BASIC SAFETY TRAINING - (1-Week - 12 students max) – Feb. 22–26; April 12-16; Aug. 9–13; Oct. 25-29; Dec. 13-17.

BRM - (1-Week - 6 students max) - March 1 - March 5.

CONTAINER REFRIGERATION - (2-Weeks - 10 students max) - February 1 - February 12; June 7 - June 18; July 26 - August 6; November 29 - December 10.

DATA COMMUNICATIONS & NETWORKING - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - April 19 - April 30; August 23 - September 3.

DIESEL ENGINEERING-(6-Weeks-12 students max) – Feb. 22 - April 2; Sept. 27 – Nov. 5.

ECDIS - (1-Week - 6 students max) - February 22 - February 26; August 16 - August 20;

ELECTRICAL TROUBLESHOOTING - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - May 17 - May 28; August 23 - September 3; December 6 - December 17.

ELECTRICITY - (4-Weeks - 12 students max) – Feb. 15 - March 12; Oct. 25 – Nov. 19.

ELECTRICITY REFRESHER - (1-Week - 12 students max) - May 10 - May 14; August 16 - August 20; November 29 - December 3.

ENGINEROOM RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - (1-Week - 6 students max) - March 1-5;

FAST RESCUE BOAT - (1-Week - 8 students max) – Aug. 23 – Aug. 27; Sept. 27 – Oct. 1.

GAS TURBINE ENGINEERING - (4-Weeks - 12 students max) - February 1 - February 26.

GOVERNMENT VESSEL OPERATIONS - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) – Feb. 8 – Feb. 19 - May 3 - May 14; July 26 - August 6; November 29 - December 10.

HAZMAT - (1-Week - 12 students max) - March 22 - March 26; June 14 - June 18; October 18 - October 22; November 1 - November 5.

INDUSTRIAL ELECTRONICS-(4-Weeks-12 max) - May 3 - May 28; Oct. 25 – Nov. 19.

INSTRUMENTATION - (3-Weeks - 12 students max) – Feb. 8 – Feb. 26; Aug. 2 – Aug. 20.

MACHINE SHOP - (4-Weeks - 12 students max) - March 8 - April 2; July 26 – Aug. 20.

MARINE ELECTRIC PROPULSION/HIGH VOLTAGE SAFETY - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - March 1 - March 12; June 7 - June 18; Oct. 11 – Oct. 22; Nov. 29 – Dec. 10.

MEDICAL CARE–PIC - (2-Weeks-12 students max) – Feb. 8 – Feb. 19; Sept. 13 – Sept. 24.

MEDICAL CARE PROVIDER - (1-Week - 12 students max) - May 24 - May 28;

OPERATING PRINCIPLES OF MARINE POWER PLANTS - (1-Week - 12 students max) - March 1 - March 5; October 25 - October 29.

PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLERS - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - June 7 - June 18; November 29 - December 10.

RADAR RECERTIFICATION - (1-Day Course and Exam) - Scheduled by Appointment.

REFRESHER TRAINING - ENGINEERING OFFICER - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - October 11 - October 22.

REFRIGERATION - (4-Weeks - 12 students max) - March 1 - March 26.

SHIP MANAGEMENT – SAFETY MANAGEMENT - (2-Weeks - 6 students max) - February 1 - February 12; July 26 - August 6.

SHIP’S MANAGEMENT - (1–Week - 12 students max) - November 1 - November 5;

SMALL ARMS - (1-Week - 10 students max) - April 26 - April 30; May 17 - May 21; June 21 - June 25; August 30 - September 3; October 4 - October 8.

SMALL ARMS REQUALIFICATION - (2-Evenings Course - 10 students max) - Scheduled by Appointment.

STEAM ENGINEERING - (6-Weeks - 12 students max) - April 19 - May 28.

TANKERMAN DL- (1-Week - 12 students max) - March 22 - March 26; Sept. 20 – Sept. 24.

TANKSHIP – LNG - (2-Weeks - 12 students max) - March 8 - March 19; Aug. 9 – Aug. 20.

UPGRADING ENGINEER - MANAGEMENT LEVEL - (5-Weeks - 12 students max) - August 2 - September 3.

VESSEL SECURITY OFFICER - (1-Week - 12 students max) - April 19 - April 23; August 16 - August 20; November 15 - November 19.

VISUAL COMMUNICATIONS (Flashing Light) - (1-day Course and Examination) - Scheduled by Appointment.

VOYAGE PLANNING - (1-Week - 6 students max) – Feb. 15 – Feb. 19; Aug. 9 – Aug. 13.

WELDING - (4-Weeks - 12 students max) – Feb. 1 – Feb. 26; Oct. 18 – Nov. 12.

USNS BRIDGE RECEIVES SAFETY EXCELLENCE AWARD

Military Sealift Command representatives accepted the Secretary of the Navy Safety Excellence Award for Military Sealift Command Safety on behalf of the M.E.B.A.-crewed Fast Combat Support ship USNS BRIDGE.

Under Secretary of the Navy Robert Work and Vice Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Jonathan Greenert presented the award to Bridge's Chief Mate and Safety Officer Tom Guidice and the ship's Norfolk-based class manager, Mike Ricci. "We are honored to receive this award because it recognizes that our ships are working hard to ensure a safe working environment for the mariners," said Ricci, who also serves on an MSC Steering Committee that writes safety procedures for MSC ships. "The job of a civil service mariner is inherently dangerous, so following safety procedures is paramount to the welfare of our at-sea workforce."

BRIDGE, which currently operates out of San Diego, received the award for accomplishing numerous safe underway replenishment operations and for promoting a culture in which every crew member acted as a safety observer. As part of the ship's safety program, BRIDGE's civil service master Capt. Jeffery Siepert briefed the crew on safety before each underway replenishment.

In a Sept. 3 message to the Fleet announcing the 2008 award winners, Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus lauded the winning ships in all categories, stating that, "Your commitment to safety has no doubt prevented loss of life and precluded countless injuries and damage to our material assets. You have justly earned the right to my safety flag for the next year."

M.E.B.A. rescue and salvage ship USNS GRAPPLE was also recognized for safety achievements this year, receiving - along with BRIDGE - Chief of Naval Operations afloat safety awards and earning the right to display the Navy's green safety "S" on the ship's bulwark until the next competitive cycle.

CAPE MAY-LEWES FERRY TRANSPORTS 13th MILLION VEHICLE

The M.E.B.A.-crewed Cape May-Lewes ferry system paused this last week and recognized the 13th million vehicle customer to make a crossing on use the ferries since the system was set up in 1964.

Dr. Carole Jones, a veterinarian from Ridgewood, New Jersey, happened to be the lucky 13 millionth vehicle customer. She departed the Cape May terminal aboard the MV NEW JERSEY on her way to Dewey Beach, Delaware with her two golden retrievers. Following the crossing, NEW JERSEY’s M.E.B.A. Captain Bryan Helm posed for photos with Dr. Jones, the dogs and Heath Gehrke, Director of Ferry Operations. The Cape May - Lewes Ferry operates year round and has carried more than thirty five million passengers since its inception on July 1, 1964. In 2008, the ferry service, which connects Victorian Cape May, New Jersey, and historic Lewes, Delaware, transported more than 325,000 vehicles and approximately one million passengers.

"WOMEN ON THE WATER" CONFERENCE COMING UP

M.E.B.A. members in the Northeast should plan to join the Maritime Administration and Maine Maritime Academy for the third annual "Women on the Water" conference set to take place October 15-17, 2009 on the campus of Maine Maritime Academy in Castine, Maine. Each year, this highly successful event brings midshipmen and cadets attending America's maritime academies together with some of the most successful members of the maritime industry to discuss current issues.

The conference, which welcomes all those with an interest in the maritime industry, will feature discussions on a variety of issues affecting the maritime trades and industry such as, human factors (e.g. fatigue, health, and criminalization), industry trends, emerging employment opportunities, regulatory changes, and piracy. Attendees will not only learn about the industry through the eyes of successful women and men, but will begin to build relations that will ensure success in their careers. They will also be able to interact and network with the present and future leaders of the maritime industry. Registration for the event can be accomplished online at http://wow.mma.edu or by calling Rhonda Varney in the Conferences Department at Maine Maritime Academy, (207) 326-2283. To register by mail, write to Maine Maritime Academy, Women on the Water Conference, ATTN: WOW Conference, 70 Pleasant St., Castine, ME 04420, and enclose a check payable to "MMA WOW Conference." For more information, visit www.marad.dot.gov, or send an e-mail to womenonthewater@dot.gov.

OSG NEEDS CHIEFS & 1st A/Es

M.E.B.A.-contracted OSG Ship Management needs Chiefs and 1st A/Es for four of their product tankers. Members MUST be qualified with Tankerman PIC or Tankerman Engineer for these positions. Resumes can be e-mailed to OSG Crew Manager Fred Meyer at FMeyer@OSG.com. You can also fax them to (813) 221-3179. They can be snail mailed to Fred at OSG America, Inc., Two Harbour Place, 302 Knights Run Avenue - Suite 1200, Tampa, FL 33602. For further information please contact Fred Meyer at (813) 209-0683.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS

Monday, Oct. 5 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Oct. – Baltimore/Calhoon School (at CMES), Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Oct. 7 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Oct. 8 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Oct. 9 – Honolulu.

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