MEBA Edition

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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       FEBRUARY 26, 2010

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 09

In this issue...
NASSCO delivers latest T-AKE, launches another tomorrow...Last weeks for shipping card referendum...Great Lakes action plan released.

USNS MATTHEW PERRY DELIVERED, DREW SET FOR LAUNCH

M.E.B.A. officers are powering the newbuild Navy ship USNS MATTHEW PERRY that was delivered this week and is being turned over to the Military Sealift Command. San Diego's NASSCO Shipyard delivered this ninth T-AKE in the program named in honor of Commodore Matthew C. Perry (1794-1858), the U.S. Navy officer who established American trade with Japan in the mid-19th Century. The 689-foot-long Lewis & Clark class supply ship is capable of delivering almost 10,000 tons of dry cargo and petroleum products at one time to U.S. Navy and allied ships underway at sea.

Tomorrow (2/27), NASSCO will host a christening and launch ceremony for the tenth ship of the class, USNS CHARLES DREW. The ship is named after Dr. Charles R. Drew (1904-1950), the African American physician and medical researcher who pioneered blood banking and transfusions in the 1940s. In addition, the San Diego shipyard is now building the eleventh and twelfth Lewis and Clark-class ships, and soon expects to receive a Navy contract for the final two ships of the class, T-AKE 13 and 14.

LAST TWO WEEKS TO VOTE ON NATIONAL SHIPPING CARD REFERENDUM; TALLYING COMMITTEE ELECTIONS AT MARCH MEETINGS

M.E.B.A. members in good standing should have received a referendum mailed to their homes. A yes vote would amend M.E.B.A. shipping rules to create a true national shipping card. This would allow members to avoid having to transfer their shipping cards in or out of the M.E.B.A. Union halls when travelling between halls. A no vote would keep the current method of transferring in and out of M.E.B.A. Union halls when travelling between halls.

The referendum vote is being conducted by the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Ballots were mailed to members in good standing in the second week of December. The 90-day referendum began on December 15, 2009 and will conclude on March 15, 2010. Ballots not received in the depository when the ballots are collected on the morning of March 16 will be disqualified and not counted, as provided for in the M.E.B.A. By-Laws.

A rank and file Tallying Committee to tabulate the vote will be elected at the March membership meetings. Elected members must be in good standing, i.e. dues paid through March 31, 2010. Seven rank and file members will be elected at those meetings one each from Baltimore (CMES), Houston, L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey) and Seattle and alternates from New Orleans and San Francisco (Oakland). On March 16th, the Tallying Committee will join the Impartial Administrator in Washington D.C. and count the ballots.

Tallying Committee members should be prepared to travel March 15 in preparation for the vote count the next day. March 17th is set as the return travel day but Committee Members can also choose to set up their travel home for late in the day on the 16th.

If you did not receive a referendum ballot or if yours was lost or destroyed you need to contact the American Arbitration Association (AAA) immediately and request a ballot in writing from: Kenneth Egger, American Arbitration Association, 230 South Broad Street, Floor 12, Philadelphia, PA 19102-4199. Phone No.: (215) 731-2281; Fax No.: (215) 985-0977, E-mail: eggerk@adr.org.

COAST GUARD LOOKING INTO FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM ALTERNATIVES

The Coast Guard is proposing to amend the current regulations for fire suppression systems on several classes of commercial vessels. The amendments would clarify that approved alternatives to carbon dioxide systems may be used to protect some spaces on these vessels and would set general requirements for alternative systems. Additionally, new and existing carbon dioxide systems, when used in spaces that can be accessed by persons onboard the specified commercial vessels, would need to be equipped with lockout valves and olfactory additives to protect persons in the event of a carbon dioxide discharge.

They are asking for comments on this proposal which can be submitted to their online docket via www.regulations.gov on or before May 25, 2010. The docket number is USCG200624797. For further information contact Lieutenant Commander Suzanne Hemann, U.S. Coast Guard; telephone (202) 3721356, e-mail Suzanne.E.Hemann@uscg.mil.

RANSOM PAID TO RECOVER HIJACKED CHEMICAL TANKER

A ransom drop was made this week for the release of a Singaporean flagged chemical tanker that was hijacked in the Gulf of Aden on the first day of 2010. The 20,000 dwt M/T PRAMONI has been anchored off the pirate stronghold of Eyl in the northern Puntland region of Somalia. Reports indicated the ransom paid was as large as $3.7 million.

At the time of the attack she was travelling eastbound with a destination of Kandla, India. The ship had a crew of 24 (5 Chinese, 17 Indonesian, 1 Nigerian, 1 Vietnamese). All crewmembers were reported safe.

TRUMKA HAILS SENATE PASSAGE OF JOBS BILL

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a statement praising the upper chamber for taking an important first step to putting unemployed Americans back to work. In his statement he blasted Senators who attempted to hold up the bill calling their actions harmful to recovery efforts. His statement follows:

"Working people across America welcome the news that the Senate has passed a jobs bill today as a first step to put Main Street back to work. Senator Reid has said more actions need to be - and will be taken. We couldn't agree more. We need much bigger and bolder actions to ensure that we create 10 million jobs and Wall Street pays the bill to fix the financial disaster.

In a turn of head spinning hypocrisy, some Republican Senators had the audacity to vote for a bill they voted less than 48 hours ago not to allow even to be considered. If these Senators want to be seen as part of the solution, they must stop these procedural hi-jinks that are slowing down the Senate and hurting the recovery. Working families need jobs and are demanding real results from Washington.

Moving forward, we will be taking the fight for jobs to communities nationwide, focusing on the solutions we have outlined in our 5 point jobs plan: Extending unemployment insurance benefits, food assistance and health benefits; rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and investing in green jobs; increasing aid to state and local governments to maintain vital services; increasing funding for neglected communities to match people who want to work with jobs that need to be done; and using TARP money to get credit flowing to small businesses."

U.S. & IRAQ INK PACT TO PROMOTE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR

U.S. Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood met Iraq's Minister of Transport Amer Abdul-Jabbar Ismael this week for a historic signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation to promote cooperation in all areas of transportation. Reliable and safe transportation is essential to sustain any country's economy, Secretary LaHood said. I look forward to working with Minister Amer Ismael as Iraq further develops and improves its transportation system.

The meeting marked the first visit by an Iraqi Minister of Transportation to the United States in over 20 years. Iraq's Transport Minister was in the United States leading a delegation that visited U.S. civil aviation and maritime port facilities as well as holding meetings with government and industry aviation officials. The signing of the MOC is instrumental in facilitating cooperation in transportation. Cooperation will take place through the exchange of scientific and technical information on subjects of mutual interest; the exchange of specialists, delegations, scientific and technical personnel; joint organization of symposia, seminars, and other meetings; and joint research in transportation science and technology.

GREAT LAKES RESTORATION ACTION PLAN RELEASED

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson has released an action plan to guide the Obama Administrations efforts to restore the Great Lakes. The action plan, which the administrator unveiled at a Sunday meeting with governors from the Great Lakes states, lays out the most urgent threats facing the Great Lakes and sets out goals, objectives and key actions over the next five years to help restore the lakes.

We have an historic opportunity to restore and protect these waters. This action plan outlines our strategy to protect the environmental, human health, and economic interests of the millions of people who rely on the Great Lakes, said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. Were committed to creating a new standard of care that will leave the Great Lakes better for the next generation. The lakes face significant challenges, including pollution and the threat of harmful species that threaten their health.

The President has committed to making Great Lakes restoration a national priority. In February 2009, Obama proposed $475 million for a Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The action plan, which covers FY 2010 through 2014 and was developed by 16 federal agencies as part of the federal inter-agency task force chaired by Administrator Jackson, will help guide the administrations efforts to implement this historic initiative to restore and protect this natural and economic treasure.

The action plan directs aggressive action under five priority focus areas the task force has identified as vital for restoring the Great Lakes. They are:

The plan also provides accountability for the administrations efforts in each of these five priority areas by including measures of progress and benchmarks for success over the next five years.

LIBERTY NEEDS CHIEFS

Liberty Maritime is seeking résumés from Chief Engineers interested in sailing for the company. Interested individuals should send their particulars including a résumé via e-mail to personnel@libertymar.com. You may also contact Nina Timonina at (516) 488-8800 with any specific questions about these opportunities.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS

Monday, March 8 - Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, March 9 - Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, March 10 - Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, March 11 - L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, March 12 - Honolulu.

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