AMC and M.E.B.A. have strong concerns about the EPA proposal that sets tough engine and fuel standards for U.S. flagged ships to improve air quality. As drafted, the EPA regs could vanquish a chunk of shipping jobs on the Great Lakes. Both Members of Congress visiting HQ this week expressed their distaste for the regulation as written and M.E.B.A. and AMC are pursuing every avenue to ensure that this objectionable ramification of the regs is not part of the final rules.

Many other topics of interest were covered in the meetings this week. M.E.B.A. has had an excellent relationship with both these Members of Congress who continue to be strong supporters of the U.S. maritime industry.

Officials from M.E.B.A. affiliate Union de Ingenieros Marinos -- or U.I.M. – were in Washington D.C. this week and dropped by Headquarters several times in between numerous meetings around town. Secretario General Vladimir Small heads up the U.I.M. and was accompanied by Counselor Luis Yau Chaw and Treasurer Sebastian King. U.I.M. represents mariners working on the Panama Canal. With them was Gabriel Ayu Prado, a U.I.M. member who also serves as the President of the Panama Canal Workers’ Syndicate (SINTRACP). M.E.B.A. is helping U.I.M. achieve certain worker rights in Panama. As part of their visit, the delegation also toured the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School and the George Meany Center among many other stops.

M.E.B.A. affiliate CAPE – the California Association of Professional Employees – is hard at work protecting residents and businesses following the recent devastating "station fire" in California even as important talks on a new contract heat up. The station fire ravaged over 250 square miles of the Angeles National Forest north of Los Angeles. It began in late August and is only now being fully contained.

M.E.B.A. officials met with Norwegian Cruise Lines-America representatives this week at M.E.B.A. Headquarters and made excellent progress on a new contract covering engine and deck officers serving aboard the Hawaii cruise ship PRIDE OF AMERICA. M.E.B.A. officers crew the vessel in all licensed positions. Our Executive V.P. Mike Nizetich is heading up talks along with Honolulu Rep. Adam Vokac. They were joined by M.E.B.A. Contracts Rep. Mark Gallagher and Chief Counsel Nils Djusberg who helped work out details for the contract that should be finalized in the very near future.

On your way to a ship? Filing for Vacation? Don’t worry about running to the bank to deposit your check; let the Vacation Plan do it for you! M.E.B.A. Vacation Plan Participants have the option of receiving Vacation and Port Relief Benefits as a paper check or as a direct deposit into their designated bank account. Once you complete a bank authorization form, either option may be chosen each time you file for benefits.

• Authorization forms must be completed by the Participant and the Participant’s bank.

• The banking system requires all new direct deposits and changes to be verified. This verification, called a pre-note process, may take up to 30 days after receipt of your Authorization.

• Forms and "Guidelines and Instructions" are available from the Plan Office, Plan Outport Offices and at the Plan’s website – www.mebaplans.org (Forms, Vacation).

• Participants are encouraged to complete the Authorization form to get your bank information on file so the direct deposit option will be available to you when you are ready to use it.

• You will file for Vacation and Port Relief Benefits the same way you always do.

• You must choose each time you file whether you want your entire benefit paid by check or by direct deposit. You cannot split a claim to receive part in check form and part as a direct deposit. Be sure to check the appropriate box on the Vacation Application.

For more details about the program and to access the "Guidelines and Instructions" on how to participate, or the Authorization form, go to the Plan’s website at www.mebaplans.org.  All Outport Plan Offices and the Plan Office in Baltimore will also have this information. Questions can be directed to the Vacation Plan staff in Baltimore at (800) 811-6322 or at vacation@mebaplans.org.

U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood recently announced the Pilot Entrepreneurial Training and Technical Assistance Women and Girls Program, created to encourage girls to pursue careers in science, engineering, and technology and help women in the field to achieve their goals.

The new program, managed by a partnership between the U.S. Department of Transportation and Spelman College, is part of a broader effort, led by the White House, to ensure that federal programs and policies take into account the distinct needs and concerns of women and girls.

"Transportation is one of the most challenging and exciting industries in the country right now," Secretary LaHood said. "We’d love to see the women at Spelman and students at high schools, colleges, and universities around the country become our transportation leaders for the 21st century and come work at the U.S. Department of Transportation."

The partnership will create an internship and mentoring program to bring more female students into transportation-related careers and help them gain hands-on experience. It will also help small women-owned transportation companies to complete for DOT contracts, and make sure they get the technical and finance assistance they need to succeed.

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.