M.E.B.A., MM&P and the Military Sealift Command conducted another round of interest-based bargaining negotiations (in lieu of traditional bargaining talks) this week at M.E.B.A. Headquarters. The talks were put together to streamline the existing Civilian Marine Personnel Instruction (CMPI) 610. Licensed labor and MSC management fully support this structural framework. The negotiations were meaningful productive and fair.

President Barack Obama issued an Executive Order this week authorizing the Department of Treasury to seize financial assets of those engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, or stability of Somalia. This will allow the U.S. to freeze assets of insurgent groups that have added to the longtime political instability, a contributor to the scourge of piracy rampant off that country’s coast.

M.E.B.A. Document Holders are now available for order at the M.E.B.A. online store. These faux-leather booklets are embossed with the M.E.B.A. logo. They can hold all your important shipping documents such as your group shipping book, membership books, MMDs, TWIC Cards, credit cards, etc.

This and other M.E.B.A. promotional products are easy to obtain with the addition of the new online shop. You can access it from our webpage www.mebaunion.org and click on the "Union Store" icon at top right. There are now eight items being offered for sale currently, including two kinds of t-shirts, logo hats and a steak knife set. There are also durable travel coffee mugs, pint glasses and nice golf visors. Click on "Apparel" "Accessories" or "Headwear" to view the full range of items. The prices were set not to make a profit, but to help cover the cost of the item and offset online store expenses. The main goal of the store is to allow our members to obtain logo merchandise and display it proudly.

The President of the 2.2 million strong Service Employees International Union (SEIU) announced his retirement after 14 years at the helm of the union. The 59-year old Andrew (Andy) Stern, didn’t fully explain the reasoning for his departure saying his health is good and he has no job or plan lined up for his immediate future. In a video farewell posted on the SEIU website, he said "there's never a perfect time for any long-term leader to depart, or for organizations to make transitions. I've seen too many leaders who've stayed on too long, and I have no intention of being one of them."

SEIU Secretary-Treasurer Anna Burger will take over as interim president until the Board formally elects a successor which would happen within 30 days according to the union’s constitution. Burger or SEIU executive vice president Mary Kay Henry are the names most prominently mentioned as Stern’s successor.

Stern joined SEIU in 1973 and has been serving as its president since 1996. The size of the membership doubled during his 14 years in office, and it became a political powerhouse. He can take credit for helping to push the health care reform bill to a successful end. He was also instrumental in creating the renegade Change to Win Coalition that helped splinter the labor movement. His presidency has also been tinged by family crisis with the death of his 13-year old daughter and his divorce.

"With dynamic changes in maritime commerce, especially the tremendous growth in the size and draft of commercial vessels, surveying coastal areas and sea lanes helps to support America’s maritime economy," said Capt. John Lowell, director of NOAA's Office of Coast Survey. "Waterborne cargo contributes more than $742 billion to the nation’s economy, and NOAA’s hydrographic surveys provide real support for continuing growth in maritime trade."

Two more VSO courses are scheduled to be held at M.E.B.A.’s Union hall in Wilmington, CA. The first of three took place in late March for three days and was taught by Robin Reighley from Training Resources, Ltd, Inc. out of San Diego, CA. Mr. Reighley brought in John Ochs, APM Terminal Senior Director, to speak to the class about the security systems/procedures in place at Terminal 400, Terminal Island, CA. The next scheduled class will be held in the Wilmington, CA hall on April 27-29 with an additional class on May 4-6. Members enrolling in the upcoming VSO courses in Wilmington must have 30 days of covered employment by a company that pays into the training plan in order to be eligible to attend. Please call the hall at (310) 548-7358 to get your name in for either of these classes. Make learning a lifetime addiction!

If you’ve never contributed to M.E.B.A.’s P.A.F. this is the time to begin! The program promotes the concerns of M.E.B.A. members through legislative and political activities and gives the Union a voice when important maritime policy is made. It helps keep the M.E.B.A. strong!

P.A.F. authorization forms are available at each of the M.E.B.A. Union halls and offices for those who wish to sign up for this important program.

As a tribute to our nation’s rich naval heritage and the men and women who have contributed to its growth and success, the United States Navy Memorial hosted its nineteenth annual Blessing of the Fleets last Saturday in Washington D.C. after the Cherry Blossom Festival Parade. Passed down through generations of mariners and navies around the world, the centuries-old "Blessing of the Fleets" ceremony is intended to safeguard crews and ships from the danger of the seas through a traditional blessing given by a clergyman at the water’s edge. At the United States Navy Memorial, the ceremony’s highlight occurs when Sailors from the U.S. Navy’s Ceremonial Guard – accompanied by ceremonial music provided by the U.S. Navy Band – proceed across the Memorial Plaza’s "Granite Sea" to pour water from the Seven Seas and the Great Lakes into the surrounding fountains, "charging" them to life and ushering in the spring season.

The Blessing of the Fleets coincided with the opening of "Supporting the Force: Navy Supply in Action—Ready for Sea, Ready Ashore," a new exhibit to launch the Memorial’s year-long salute to the Navy’s Supply Corps - responsible for the "beans, bullets and black oil" that enable the U.S. Navy to operate around the globe. The work performed by Navy supply personnel reaches every Sailor with food, laundry, barbers, postal services, and ships’ retail stores. In 2009, Navy Supply personnel provided 66 million meals and transported 50 million pounds of mail to personnel overseas. The exhibit features ship models, rare historic artifacts including an 1841 Navy Purser’s uniform coat—the oldest known Navy Supply uniform—as well as a World War II WAVE uniform and the uniform and equipment worn by a Navy Advisor in the Vietnam War. It honors the Sailors of Navy Supply who gave their lives in service to our country and those who’ve received the Nation’s top honors. The exhibit runs through March 2011. Find out more at www.navymemorial.org.

With steel production steadily on the rise in the first quarter, the iron ore trade on the Great Lakes resumed with renewed vigor in March. The 2,167,040 tons shipped in March represent an increase of 342 percent compared to a year ago.

Year-to-date the iron ore trade stands at 4.1 million tons, an increase of more than 300 percent compared to a year ago. The trade is, however, 13 percent off the 5-year average for the first quarter.

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.

Monday, May 3 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, May 4 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, May 5 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, May 6 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, May 7 – Honolulu.