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

MEBA TELEX TIMES               SEPTEMBER 01, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 35

In this issue...
MEBA WSF members ratify contract...Matson reopener completed... SF/Oakland hall, clinic update...Shiver me timbers! A treasure chest of MEBA news is ten paces away. We sail off the map and walk the plank with a swashbuckling new issue. Prepare to dig up nautical dubloons and plunder the maritime booty of the week, me hearties. Arrr! The TeleX Times marks the spot!

HALLS CLOSED ON LABOR DAY
Labor Day, which has been a national holiday since 1894, celebrates the social and economic achievements of American workers. MEBA Union halls will be closed in observance of the day on Monday. The Boston and Seattle Union hall meetings, normally held on Monday, will take place on Tuesday.

MEBA/WSF MEMBERS RATIFY FIRST CONTRACT AHEAD OF THE BUDGET IN 25 YEARS
In a vote count that took place today, MEBA’s Washington State Ferry tally committee announced that WSF members (both licensed and unlicensed) have ratified their first contract in over 25 years that was negotiated ahead of the budget. The new contracts covering the 2007-2009 biennium is the result of law changes, led by the MEBA, in the 2006 Washington State legislature. The contracts realize substantial increases for all MEBA members serving in the bargaining unit.

MEBA President Ron Davis credited the WSF members as well as “MEBA’s strong efforts leading to legislative victories on the state level that helped pave the way for successful negotiations. This is also a victory for MEBA’s Political Action Fund which allows us to support maritime-friendly candidates for office. MEBA’s political action and legislative team made this happen and helped usher in beneficial legislation that – as a net result – will create a better working environment for our WSF family.”

FORMER WSF REP. MAKES FINAL VOYAGE
Former MEBA official Mario “Marty” Micomonaco died last week. Marty had served as the Washington State Ferry Representative working out of the Seattle Union hall since 2000. He retired last year due to health issues and was succeeded by Jeff Duncan. Marty, a resident of Tacoma, WA, had sailed on Washington State ferries for years in various capacities beginning in 1981. He was 63 years old. You can contact the Seattle hall for additional information.

MEBA SECURES TERMS ON MATSON DEEP-SEA CONTRACT IN REOPENER
An MEBA negotiating team led by Executive V.P. Bud Jacque has closed on a new deal with Matson Navigation in wage reopener talks. The contract applies to our deep sea unit excepting the MOKU PAHU and the four Matson newbuilds. The new language extends the contract for six months, increases wage and wage-related items retroactive to June 16, 2006 and hikes the MPB contribution rate effective June 16, 2007.

L.A. Branch Agent Al Camelio, S.F. Patrolman Ed MacCormack and a rank and file committee also toiled on the new language which is being sent to each of the MEBA Union halls. The contract will be included in the packet for next week’s regularly scheduled Union hall meetings and will be put to a ratification vote.

A contract for the port engineers is next and MEBA officials will meet with Matson representatives next week to work on terms.

S.F. HALL & CLINIC UPDATE
Beginning on Thursday September 7, the San Francisco Union hall will be temporarily relocated to the Sailors Union of the Pacific (SUP) hall until the new permanent MEBA hall in Oakland is completed. The SUP hall is located at 450 Harrison Street just around the corner from the 340 Fremont Street location. The San Francisco Vacation Plan outport office will also be temporarily housed on Harrison Street on the second floor of the SUP building. The final monthly meeting at the Fremont Street hall will be held on Tuesday September 5th and final job call will be Wednesday September 6th. Thursday’s job call will be at the Harrison Street address.

On Friday, September 1, at noon, the current San Francisco phone, fax and internet service will be suspended and transferred to the SUP location in time for the September 7th opening. We anticipate a total of 2 ½ business days with phone, fax and e-mail service shut off. However, you can contact your San Francisco Union officials during that time by calling the cell phones of San Francisco Patrolman Ed MacCormack who can be reached at (415) 218-0207 or Representative Jim Anderson at (415) 218-0208.

The Diagnostic Center in San Francisco will be temporarily closed beginning on September 1. It will remain closed until it reopens at the new Oakland facility. However, until the Center is up and running at the new location, the MEBA Medical Plan will provide Diagnostic Center benefits to members and retirees who would normally use the SF Clinic by allowing them to use the New Orleans Diagnostic Center. Reimbursement for travel by airplane will be based upon round trip coach air fare from your home of record to New Orleans. The New Orleans Diagnostic Center is located at 615 Baronne Street, Suite 200. Please call the New Orleans clinic at (504) 522-5151 to make an appointment.

The opening of the Oakland hall is contingent, in part, on how quickly the occupancy permits are processed. MEBA hopes to move into the new Oakland location sometime in October or early November.

SCHOOL MODIFIES 2007 COURSE SCHEDULE
The Calhoon MEBA Engineering School has amended its 2007 course schedule released earlier and has reissued it. Copies are available at the halls as well as the School’s website located at www.mebaschool.org.

Course applications will be accepted via the website, U.S. mail, or fax (410) 822-7220 However, any applications should be sent in NO EARLIER THAN TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 2006. Applications may be obtained at the website, MEBA Union halls, or by calling Registrar Shirley Shelton at (410) 822-9600, ext. 100.

SUPPORT THE UNITED SEAMEN’S SERVICE!
The United Seaman’s Service has supported mariners for almost 65 years now. Since World War II, they have provided recreation, communications, counseling, food and drink as well as outreach programs that have helped our seafarers around the globe. Now the organization is looking for the generosity of mariners to help keep it afloat. Lean times have prompted USS to seek a lifeline and the maritime industry is beginning to respond. MEBA and other maritime unions as well as shipping companies are heeding the call and helping to publicize the effort. Maersk has announced that they will match any contributions to the USS put forward by mariners on Maersk Line vessels. Below is a letter from USS that we’d like you to read:

Dear American seafarers:

You may recall the first time you stepped into a USS center in a foreign port. If not, certainly many of your shipmates do.

A safe haven, a friendly face, a telephone to call home, money orders so you can transfer funds, a deliciously prepared meal, a gift shop with affordable items, a friend when you need one most— a place to call home away from home.

Since 1942, United Seamen’s Service (USS) has prided itself on the programs and services offered to promote the welfare and help American and allied seafarers like you. Today, USS needs your help. Dwindling financial resources makes USS increasingly unsustainable. Survival will depend on the agency’s ability and flexibility to continue partnerships with seafarers to build relationships and seek support in the maritime industry – unions, carriers, government, military and veteran mariners.

The origin of the USS coincides with the United States involvement in World War II. The military had the USO and military clubs. It was necessary, to provide a facility for those American seafarers who traveled into harm’s way to carry troops and supplies throughout the world and President Franklin Roosevelt was at the forefront of the effort by the maritime unions and management to establish the USS.

USS has continued over the years to provide services to American seafarers to help alleviate the hardships experienced during the Korean, Vietnamese and Persian Gulf conflicts. Today, American mariners are again engaged in maintaining the critical flow of supplies to U.S. Armed Forces in Iraq and Afghanistan and the network of USS centers are there to support them. USS affiliate, the American Merchant Marine Library Association, continues to provide libraries to U.S. flag vessels, and especially to the ships of the Ready Reserve Fleet, to ensure that our mariners have quality reading material while at sea.

The survival of USS in an industry that has been through radical change over the last 65 years demonstrates the continuing need for the vital support of seafarers. Those of us in the maritime industry understand the challenge: international unrest keeping military ships at sea rather than on shore; higher food, beverage and labor costs not easily passed on to seafarers visiting our centers; unstable currency exchange rates; extremely high insurance premiums at our centers in the Pacific due to storms and threat of earthquake; the total loss of our headquarters office in the World Trade Center on 9/11; among other issues. It is imperative that we support the American seafarers across the globe, who overcome adversity and proudly carry our world commerce and serve America in times of crises.

You know by personal experience the value of our programs and services. Your tax-deductible donation will assist USS in supporting American seafarers; the heart of maritime. Thank you for your consideration of this worthy cause. As we said in our Historic 1940’s campaign, “That’s Our Outfit! Let’s Keep It Going!”

Let’s keep USS going today.

Sincerely, Talmage E. Simpkins, President and Roger T. Korner, Executive Director.

MEBA-MAERSK VESSEL’S SAFETY BENEFITS USS
The M/V SEALAND QUALITY, a vessel operated by Maersk Line Ltd. recently achieved a milestone that will help out the United Seamen’s Service, an organization that has given so much to mariners since World War II.

For sailing a full year without a lost time injury the crew's entertainment fund received $2000. The crew decided that $500 of the vessel’s safety award money should be donated to the United Seamen's Service to assist them with their financial needs. Maersk has announced that they will match any contributions to USS made by mariners on their vessels so the crew’s generosity will be doubled.

LAST WEEK TO ORDER MEBA MERCHANT MARINE MEMORIAL BRICKS AT THE NICE PRICE
The deadline to order engraved bricks that will be part of MEBA’s Merchant Marine Memorial is coming up. You have until September 5th to contact the School and place your order! Completed order forms and payments must be received before Tuesday, September 5th. For more information, contact Jessica Milligan at (410) 822-9600 ext. 306. Hit the “What’s New” button off the school’s website (www.mebaschool.org) to find the order form.

MARAD EXCEEDS ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS
The U.S. Maritime Administration, whose responsibilities include disposal of obsolete government ships, has released a report indicating it exceeded most of its environmental stewardship goals in fiscal year 2005. “Taken together, the FY 2005 results from these measures indicate a reduced likelihood of environmental damage from the obsolete ship inventory now and into the future,” according to a section of the annual report to Congress.

MarAd, received $19.5 million during fiscal year 2005 to dispose of obsolete vessels, mostly through scrapping. MarAd’s goal was to dispose of 15 ships from what is known as the National Defense Reserve Fleet during the fiscal year. MarAd’s goal was to award 15 contracts for the disposal of obsolete, non-retention ships. It exceeded the goal by five, awarding 20 contracts. However, not all the ships have yet been dismantled and recycled. Only 13 of the vessels were actually disposed of during the year, according to the report. A change that improves the consistency of MarAd’s funding stream for disposing of obsolete ships should improve performance in the future, according to the report.

NEW IMB SERVICE HELPS SEAFARERS PINPOINT PIRACY ATTACKS
Sea captains and shipowners whose vessels must travel through piracy hotspots have a new tool to help them prepare their voyage. The International Maritime Bureau (IMB) has launched an online piracy map which gives users a visual on the nature and location of attacks to help them better understand and track incidents.

The map is available as either a satellite view, provided by Google, a plain view (indicating countries and borders), or a combination of both. Viewers see not only the relief of the coastline but also the bays and coves from which pirates may initiate their attack.

This user-friendly map can be accessed on the IMB website (www.icc-ccs.org). Red balloons mark actual attacks while yellow balloons show attempted attacks. Clicking on these initiates a pop-up with a summary of the attack including the date and time, the type of vessel attacked, the type of attack and the number of crew affected. As with IMB’s quarterly and annual piracy reports, the information comes directly from ship masters and ship owners. Once verified by IMB’s Piracy Reporting Centre new attacks or attempts will be added to the map within 24 hours.

Users can click on the year of their choice to bring up the corresponding map of attacks and their details for previous years, making visual comparisons of hot-spot activity much easier to understand. Feedback on the map and suggestions for future development are welcome and should be directed to the IMB directorate.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 5 – Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco, Seattle;
Wednesday, September 6 – Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, September 7 – Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, September 8 – Honolulu.
 

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