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

MEBA TELEX TIMES                          JUNE 23, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 25

In this issue...
MEBA to crew up GALENA BAY...Trumka meets MEBA affiliates...House votes to defund NSPS...Mineta to step down...Off course? All over the map? We go the extra mile and stop at nothing en route to our maritime destination. Going above and beyond, we're front and center at every turn so you'll know your news forwards and backwards. Always moving ahead, the Telex Times is a step in the right direction!

MEBA TO CREW UP OSG PRODUCT CARRIER
MEBA-contracted company OSG Ship Management is overseeing the deployment of an additional vessel entered into its fleet that will be crewed up by MEBA engineers. OSG is taking over the GALENA BAY, a 50,920 dwt, double-bottom product tanker owned by the company and previously bareboat chartered to Sea River Maritime.

The jobs for the vessel will be crewed up in the Houston area. The ship is expected to enter service between July 1st and July 17th. MEBA President Ron Davis noted, "I have had discussions with OSG President Bob Johnston about the vessel and assured him that MEBA is ready to go..."

Members interested in permanent positions aboard the vessel can forward their resumes to OSG Ship Management, Inc., c/o Jack Robinson or Jack Craft at 666 Third Avenue, New York, NY 10017. Mr. Craft can be reached by e-mail at jcraft@osg.com. Resumes can also be faxed to OSG at (212) 251-1139.

OSG ANNOUNCES NAME OF FIRST NEWBUILD
The first of a string of newbuilds constructed at Aker Philadelphia Shipyard operated by OSG will make its debut by the end of the year. OSG announced that the first of the double-hulled product tankers will be dubbed the OVERSEAS HOUSTON. MEBA engineers will serve aboard that vessel.

AFL-CIO OFFICIAL MEETS WITH MEBA WEST COAST AFFILIATES
MEBA Pres. Ron Davis flew out to L.A. with AFL-CIO Secretary Treasurer Richard Trumka this week to meet with representatives from our West Coast affiliates. Davis initiated the meeting which was put together in order to discuss recent structural changes within the AFL-CIO. Besides Trumka and Davis, others in attendance included Brian Brooks (CAPE President), John Rees (Executive-Director of ALADS), Bud Treece (ALADS, & delegate to L.A. Labor Council), Steve Towell (L.A. Lifeguards V.P.), Blaine Meek (CAPE & ALADS counsel), MEBA L.A. Branch Agent Al Camelio and L.A. Patrolman Mike Nizetich.

Some of the topics touched upon during the thorough discussion included the effect of the offshoot "Change-to-Win" Coalition as well as Federation plans to improve wages and working conditions.

Pres. Davis pronounced the productive meeting a success and thanked Trumka for taking out time to meet with an important segment of the MEBA family - our California affiliates.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES VOTES TO DEFUND NSPS
The House of Representatives Congress on Tuesday approved by voice vote an amendment that would effectively bar the Department of Defense from using any of its funds to implement sections of the National Security Personnel System that would have gutted workers rights. MEBA, along with the rest of the United DoD Workers Coalition worked with a bipartisan group of legislators to add the defund amendment to HR 5631, the FY 2007 Defense Appropriations bill. The bill was passed by the House and sent to the Senate for consideration on June 20th.

The amendment was sponsored by Congressmen Inslee (D-WA), Van Hollen (D-MD) and Jones (R-NC). It was similar to an amendment they proposed in the last Congress that failed to gain a majority. This is another body blow to the NSPS, following the enjoining of the labor-management portion of the NSPS by the Federal District Court for the District of Columbia earlier this year.

UDWC Chairman Byron Charlton provided the following comments:

"Today's voice vote in support of the Inslee/Van Hollen/Jones amendment made clear that the current plan to disenfranchise 700,000 DoD workers nationwide is as unacceptable to Congress as it is to the federal courts. Through their hard work these patriotic American workers continue to support and protect this great nation and deserve nothing less than the same workplace and national democracy that this nation is seeking for others throughout the world. They love their country, and they have served it with distinction over the years. The Coalition recognizes that we have hurdles left to overcome in our struggle to maintain at a minimum dignity and justice in the workplace and as evidenced by today's successful vote to defund NSPS, that struggle begins here in the seat of our nation."

The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.

LAST OBSTACLE TO COAST GUARD BILL PASSAGE REMOVED
Negotiations between the House and Senate this week have finally resolved the controversy over a wind farm off Cape Cod that was holding up final passage of the Coast Guard Reauthorization bill (HR 889).

On Thursday, the Senate adopted a concurrent resolution (S Con Res 103) that would change the H.R. 889 conference report to give the Coast Guard Commandant sole discretion in determining safety and security issues regarding the Cape Cod wind farm project. The Senate also agreed to automatically pass the conference report as soon as the House accepts the Senate changes.

According to House Majority Leader John Boehner, the House is expected to act on the measure on June 26th.

As reported previously in the Telex Times, the $8.9 billion authorization includes a variety of MEBA sponsored provisions, including sections providing incentives for LNG companies to use American officers and provisions to regulate the use of foreign riding gangs on US-flag vessels.

MINETA TO STEP DOWN FROM DOT
Secretary of Transportation Norman Mineta has announced that he will resign his post effective July 7, 2006. The 74-year old Mineta is the sole Democrat in the Bush cabinet. In recent years he has suffered from back trouble that necessitated a prolonged hospital stay. Mineta submitted a letter of resignation to President Bush this week saying that it was time for him "to move on to other challenges."

Before accepting the job, Mineta was Bill Clinton's Commerce Secretary and also a 10-term Congressman from California. He has been the longest serving Transportation Secretary (5+ years) in the almost 40-year history of the DOT.

USNS LEWIS AND CLARK DELIVERED TO MSC
The MEBA-crewed USNS LEWIS AND CLARK, a dry cargo/ammunition ship, was delivered to the Military Sealift Command this week. The ship, designated T-AKE, is the first in a new class of Combat Logistics Force ships and is able to deliver ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum products to the Navy's carrier strike groups and other naval forces worldwide.

An advantage of this type of ship is its ability to carry multiple products such as cargo, food and spare parts. The T-AKE will replace aging, single-mission ships such as T-AE ammunition ships and T-AFS combat stores ships that are on average 40 years old and near the end of their service lives. Designed to operate independently for extended periods at sea while providing underway replenishment services, the T-AKE will directly contribute to the ability of the Navy to maintain a forward presence.

The LEWIS AND CLARK is the first of nine ships of this class, all built at San Diego's NASSCO shipyard.

SACAGAWEA CHRISTENING THIS WEEKEND
The second of nine Lewis and Clark-class vessels being built for the Military Sealift Command will be christened and launched this weekend.  The SACAGAWEA, the U.S. Navy's newest resupply ship, will be christened and launched into San Diego Bay in a ceremony on Saturday, June 24, at 8:00 p.m. NASSCO designed and built the ship in San Diego. Descendents of the ship's namesake and Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) will participate in the ceremony.

SACAGAWEA is the second ship of an expected class of 11 T-AKE dry cargo and ammunition ships. The third ship, USNS ALAN SHEPARD, is set to be launched by the end of the year with the launch of the fourth ship scheduled for 2007.

AFL-CIO ANNOUNCES GULF COAST REVITALIZATION PROGRAM
The AFL-CIO, several of its unions and New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin have announced the AFL-CIO Gulf Coast Revitalization Program, a seven-year, $1 billion housing and economic development program. The program is designed to produce affordable housing, promote homeownership, and create good jobs with good wages in construction and other industries for New Orleans and other coastal communities ravaged by Hurricane Katrina last year.

"Labor is in solidarity with the citizens of New Orleans," stated AFL-CIO President Sweeney. "We are here to do our part to rebuild and reunite this great city.  I am proud to stand with my brothers and sisters to announce this very first significant investment by labor in the rebuilding of this city. We hope business and financial institutions will follow our lead as they did when we stepped forward after 9/11 in New York City."

"Thousands of our people have been scattered by the wrath of Katrina," said Mayor Nagin. "We want them back home and we must provide the affordable housing, jobs and community services to make that happen. Labor is stepping forward in a big way to help us make this difficult job an attainable reality."

Adding to the announcement, President Sullivan of the Building and Construction Trades Department, AFL-CIO said that his organization is establishing a Gulf Coast Workforce Development Project to meet the anticipated demand for skilled workers.  It is anticipated that this Project will create new employment and training opportunities in the construction industry for Gulf Coast residents.  The Project will build a stronger union presence in the New Orleans and Gulf Coast region, while providing job skill training for residents wishing to return to the area.

The billion dollar investment initiative will be carried out by three labor-backed investment and financial service organizations - the AFL-CIO Housing Investment Trust (HIT), the AFL-CIO Building Investment Trust (BIT) and the AFL-CIO Investment Trust Corporation (ITC).  Both the HIT and BIT invest Taft-Hartley and public employee pension funds in housing and economic development projects nationwide to seek competitive returns for their participants.  The ITC provides marketing, investor relations and investment development services for the BIT.  All construction projects financed by the HIT and BIT are built with 100% union labor.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, July 3 - Boston, San Francisco, Seattle;
Wednesday, July 5 - Baltimore, Charleston, Houston, New Orleans;
Thursday, July 8 - Jacksonville, Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Portland, Tampa;
Friday, July 9 - Honolulu.

CAA Reunion is June 30th-July 2, 2006. Plan accordingly and support the CAA!

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