Continuing to seek avenues to save money for members, the M.E.B.A. & MM&P have finalized an arrangement where the unions will share space at our Boston Union hall beginning on November 2. The MM&P moves its hall five miles down the road to the 12 Channel Street digs where M.E.B.A. Rep. Bill Campbell holds down the fort.

Transportation Workers who have reported their TWIC lost, damaged, or stolen to TSA are in some cases experiencing a longer than 7 day turn-around before receiving a replacement TWIC. Under current regulations, individuals may only be granted unescorted access for 7 calendar days without a TWIC while they await delivery of their replacement credential.

The Coast Guard has now announced that, in order to minimize disruptions to maritime operations and commerce within COTP Zones, U.S. mariners will now be granted an additional thirty calendar days of unescorted access while they are waiting for their replacement TWIC. The mariner, though, must provide proof that a replacement TWIC has been ordered (a payment receipt (for $60.00) is acceptable as proof); and must provide the VSO, FSO, or other designated employee with security duties, the individual’s first name and last name and application I.D. (if known). This information can then be used by the facility to confirm that the individual has previously held a valid TWIC and has ordered a replacement by using the card status check feature on TSA’s website located at: http://twicinformation.tsa.dhs.gov/twicinfo.

Pacific Beach workers voted more than four years ago to form a union with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) Local 142, but hotel management used the all-too-common tactics of delay and worker intimidation, in the process denying employees the freedom to bargain for a contract. The findings of abuses by hotel management by the federal court include interrogation of employees about union support, threats of job loss or punishments for union support and targeting of contract negotiators for firing.

In January 2007, the HTH Corp., which owns the Pacific Beach Hotel, canceled a contract with its management company, hired a new management company and, in the process, laid off all of its more than 300 workers requiring them to re-apply for employment with the new management company. Many workers, including at least seven who were active in the union’s fight for a fair contract, were left out of a job.

In a 61-page ruling released at the end of 13 days of hearings, Kennedy ordered the hotel to recognize ILWU Local 142 as the legitimate bargaining agent, return to the bargaining table to reach a first contract, reinstate at least seven fired workers with back pay, reimburse ILWU Local 142 for costs associated with the aborted contract negotiations and reverse several other changes that have affected workers.

The Coast Guard is putting out feelers for candidates for Marine Investigator in New Orleans, LA. The job pays between $67 & 87k a year. The position involves assisting and advising field units in conducting marine investigations and statutory requirements. Among other things, a Marine Investigator participates in and/or leads investigations and provides advice to units and commands on issues involving the Investigation process; assists and consults CG filed units or foreign governments in carrying out difficult cases of significant magnitude as directed by competent authority; prepares briefs and documentation, and prepares case reports related to casualty investigation cases and assist superiors with same; and provides assistance to superiors by conducting research and analysis. The vacancy announcement can be obtained at www.usajobs.gov where you should enter in "Marine Investigator" and "New Orleans."

Import cargo volume at the nation's major retail container ports is now expected to total 12.7 million containers for 2009, according to the monthly Port Tracker report released by the National Retail Federation and IHS Global Insight. The revised number is significantly below last year's total but shows continuing growth over what was forecast this summer.

The 12.7 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units now forecast for 2009 would be a drop of 16.8 percent from last year’s 15.2 million TEU and the lowest since the 14 million TEU imported in 2004. In August, Port Tracker forecast 12.3 million TEU for the year and in September increased the number to 12.5 million. The numbers have been revised upward to reflect higher projected imports for the remainder of the year as retailers anticipate that economic conditions will begin to ease. One TEU is one 20-foot container or its equivalent. U.S. ports surveyed handled 1.17 million TEU in August, the most recent month for which actual numbers are available. That was up 6 percent from July but down 15 percent from August 2008, marking the 26th month in a row to see a year-over-year decline. Volume for September was estimated at 1.14 million TEU, down 16 percent from last year.

October, traditionally the peak month of the year, is forecast to tie August at 1.17 million TEU, down 15 percent from last October. Volume will then begin its annual downward cycle in November, which is forecast at 1.09 million TEU, down 11 percent from last year, and December – previously forecast at a 2 percent decline from last year – is now expected to be flat at 1.06 million TEU. January 2010 is forecast at 1.03 million TEU, down 3 percent from January 2009 rather than the 18 percent drop expected a month ago. February 2010 is forecast at 973,872 TEU – below 1 million for the first time since April, but up 16 percent from February 2009 and the first year-over-year increase in more than two years. February is traditionally the slowest month of the year, coming after the holiday season is over but before spring and summer merchandise reaches the docks.

M.E.B.A.-contracted Liberty Maritime Corporation needs Chiefs, 1st A/Es, and C/Ms for their Fleet of Bulk Carriers and new PCTCs. Resumes can be e-mailed to personnel@libertymar.com.  You can also fax them to (516) 488-8806.

They can be mailed to: Nina Timonina, Personnel Manager; Liberty Maritime Corporation; 1979 Marcus Avenue, Suite 200; Lake Success, NY 11042. Call Nina or Joe MacEwen (516) 488-8800 for more information.

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.

Monday, Nov. 2 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, Nov. 3 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, Nov. 4 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, Nov. 5 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, Nov. 6 – Honolulu.