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

MEBA TELEX TIMES               SEPTEMBER 08, 2006

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 36

In this issue...
Matson reopener pact ratified...Bush embraces Jones Act...Employee Free Choice bill gets lift...Peters nominated to DOT post...Full speed ahead! Giving you the green light, we set the wheels in motion and put you on a fast track with our latest turbo-charged edition. Try to keep up as we shift into a higher gear, set the maritime pace and drive the point home at full throttle. Come along for the ride! The Telex Times pulls out all the stops!

MATSON REOPENER LANGUAGE RATIFIED
Members this week ratified an agreement reached with Matson Navigation during wage reopener talks. The new deal received approval in votes taking place at the Union halls during the regular membership meetings. The contract applies to our deep sea unit besides the MOKU PAHU and the four Matson newbuilds (MAUNALEI, MANUKAI, MAUNAWILI and MANULANI.) The new agreement 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. An agreement covering our Matson port engineers is nearing completion.

BUSH HAILS FOURTH ARM OF DEFENSE AT PINEY POINT LABOR DAY ADDRESS
President George Bush's Labor Day had a nautical flavor this week as he visited SIU's Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education in Piney Point, MD where he delivered remarks.

MEBA President Ron Davis was on hand and got an opportunity to speak with the Commander-in-Chief. They discussed our members' key roles in national security and strong involvement in the global war on terrorism. Pres. Davis thanked Bush for his backing of the Fourth Arm of Defense and pledged our Union's continued support in future contingencies.

After a tour of the training school, Pres. Bush touched on a wide variety of topics in his remarks but he did make several maritime-related comments. Referring to the school's simulator he noted, "It's one of the most amazing training tools I have ever seen. But it shows this union's commitment, along with industry's commitment, to making sure that those who pilot the boats, those who are engineers on the boats, have the absolute best training possible."

He voiced his full support for important maritime statutes in his talk. "It's important for Presidents to embrace the Jones Act.I have, so far, five-and-a-half years as the President, supported the Jones Act, and will continue to do so."

SIU Pres. Mike Sacco said a few words noting that, "President Bush and his administration consistently have recognized the value of the U.S. Merchant Marine to America's national and economic security. His leadership has created thousands of jobs in the U.S.-flag fleet."

RENEWED PUSH FOR EMPLOYEE FRIENDLY LEGISLATION AS LABOR CONVERGES AT D.C. PRESS CONFERENCE
Legislation making it easier for workers to seek union representation without being subjected to intimidation received a push this week when it was announced that the Democratic Leadership Council (DLC) has thrown its support behind the bill.

The Employee Free Choice Act, a bill that has gathered 43 co-sponsors in the Senate and 216 in the House, would allow employees to freely choose whether to form unions by signing cards authorizing union representation. It also would provide mediation and arbitration for first-contract disputes and establish stronger penalties for violation of employee rights when workers seek to form a union.

MEBA President Ron Davis joined the press conference as did representatives from the AFL-CIO, DLC, Steelworkers and the Change to Win Coalition.

DLC Chair Gov. Tom Vilsack said that "the DLC has come together today with the nation's top labor leaders to speak with one voice guarding a worker's right to choose to join a union without fear or intimidation. We believe that worker protection is a concern to all Americans and will work together to ensure the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act. I am pleased we have found common ground on this very important issue and look forward to a productive and on-going dialogue between organizations."

This is the first time the DLC and the AFL-CIO have worked together on passing major legislation. AFL-CIO President John Sweeney noted that, "This historic agreement between labor and the DLC to work together to pass the [bill] reflects a growing consensus that stronger unions are not only good for unionized workers, but for working families and the economy as a whole." The full text of his remarks is available on MEBA's Hot! site accessed from www.meba.us.

MEBA S.F. HALL SETTLED INTO TEMPORARY LOCATION
As our San Francisco hall waits for the completion of their new office in Oakland, they have settled into their temporary location at the SUP hall in San Francisco. The phone and fax numbers have been transferred and remain the same. E-mail service is up and running as well. Any mail sent to the old address will be forwarded to MEBA at the SUP hall. However, the hall's temporary address should be used for mail until further notice. It is:

450 Harrison St., Room 202
San Francisco CA 94105

The opening of the hall in Oakland is expected in late October.

FORMER HIGHWAY OFFICIAL TAPPED FOR DOT POST
Mary Peters, who headed up the Federal Highway Administration from 2001-2005, is the Bush Administration nominee to replace retired Transportation Secretary Norm Mineta. Previous to the highway post, she served in Arizona's DOT for 15 years finishing up there as Director.

Pres. Bush called her "the right person for this job. She brings a lifetime of experience on transportation issues, from both the private and public sectors."

At a press conference introducing Peters to the media, the President called on the Senate to speedily confirm his nominee. Peters in brief remarks pointed out that much work needs to be done to repair the nation's aging infrastructure. She noted, "We are experiencing increasing congestion on our nation's highways, railways, airports and seaports. And we're robbing our nation of productivity and our citizens of quality time with their families. Should I be confirmed by the U.S. Senate, I look forward to working with [the President, Congress] and with our public and private sector partners to address these issues and to provide our nation with a transportation system that is unparalleled in its security, in its safety, its efficiency, and its effectiveness." Maria Cino has been leading the Department in an acting capacity since Mineta stepped down in July.

CONNAUGHTON SWORN IN AT MARAD
Sean Connaughton was sworn in this week as the new Maritime Administrator by Acting Secretary of Transportation Maria Cino in a Transportation Department ceremony. Most recently he served as Chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors in Virginia and has had extensive experience in the maritime industry and in maritime law. He is a graduate of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy and an active duty veteran of the U.S. Coast Guard. As a lawyer, Connaughton specialized in maritime and international law.

"This is a critical time for the Maritime Administration and the maritime industry," said Acting Secretary Cino. "The Administration will look to Sean to work with America's ports to address congestion issues, and to find ways to help relieve landside congestion."

Connaughton was confirmed as Maritime Administrator by the Senate in early August.

McELLRATH SUCCEEDS SPINOSA AT ILWU
International V.P. Robert McEllrath will head up the ILWU after a vote tally was announced at the union's convention this week. For six years McEllrath had been the #2 man under President James Spinosa who concluded his presidency following two terms - the maximum allowed under their rules. MEBA has an excellent relationship with Bob McEllrath who is a second generation longshoreman. He has been a union official on various levels for the last 31 years which will aid him as he heads up a new union contract with West Coast employers in 2008. The last round of contract talks in 2002 proved contentious as employers locked out longshoremen creating a monumental logjam at West Coast ports. McEllrath ran unopposed for the post. Joseph Radisich takes over as the union's new Vice President. Secretary Treasurer Willie Adams and Hawaii V.P. Wesley Furtado were re-elected.

MEMORIAL SERVICE SET FOR FORMER MEBA OFFICIAL
A memorial for former MEBA official Marty Micomonaco will take place this weekend in Bellevue, WA. Marty died in late August at the age of 63. He was MEBA's Washington State Ferry Representative in Seattle for five years before his 2005 retirement.

The memorial for Marty will be held on Saturday, September 9 at 1:30 p.m. at Newport Covenant Church, 12800 SE Coal Creek Parkway in Bellevue. Please attend if you can.

AFL-CIO 'WALKS' TO MOBILIZE UNION VOTERS
On Saturday, September 9th, union members across the country will kick off their largest mid-term election get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort ever by going door-to-door, talking with other members and their families in more than 80 locations in 21 states. The walks are the AFL-CIO's opening salvo in what is the single largest voter mobilization program in the nation, aimed at increasing voter participation among union households in one of the most important elections in generations for working families.

In cities ranging from Cincinnati to Philadelphia, from Miami to Denver, working families will canvass neighborhoods in the most contested races in the country. The AFL-CIO 2006 mid-term mobilization is focused on engaging more than 12.4 million voters in 21 top tier states. The AFL-CIO is actively involved in 21 governor's races, 15 Senate races and more than 50 House races. In a number of key states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania, AFL-CIO voters make up a significant portion of the overall electorate. Members will go door-to-door talking to other members about pocketbook issues that weigh heavily on voters' minds. Walk time starts vary from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. For more information about walk times and locations, call (202) 637-5018 or visit AFL-CIO on the web at www.afl-cio.org.

PORT ASSOCIATION LAUDS PROGRESS ON SEAPORT SECURITY
The American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA, which represents 150 of the leading public port authorities in the hemisphere, contends that ports are "significantly safer" than the years leading up to September 11, 2001. In a press release observing the fifth anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, AAPA President and CEO Kurt Nagle pointed out that America's seaports and the federal government have joined forces to make major gains in fortifying and hardening port facilities against intruder attack. "Public port authorities have made seaport security their top priority since September 11, 2001," he said. "With the combined [port and Government agency] efforts.ports are significantly safer now than prior to 9/11."

And although seaport security has been beefed up considerably since those days, he noted, many planned improvements must be funded so that the ports can function at a high level with their new protections. "The primary emphasis in port security has gone from preventing cargo theft, to protecting people and facilities from terrorism," he said. "That's a major shift. But continued investments in security technology, personnel, training and equipment will be needed. All parties-the ports, terminal operators, the various government agencies and Congress-must do their part in implementing and funding these enhancements, which will enable America's public seaports to continue serving their vital functions as trade gateways, catalysts for jobs and economic growth and important partners in our national defense."

KOREAN SHIPPER GETS 3 YEAR BAN FROM U.S. WATERS OVER POLLUTION
The Sun Ace Shipping Company, based in South Korea, pleaded guilty to violating Pollution laws after officers on one of its vessels illegally discharged oil overboard.

Earlier, the Chief Engineer and 2nd A/E of the bulk carrier M/V SUN NEW were charged in connection with the use of two bypass hoses used to discharge sludge and oil contaminated bilge waste into the ocean. The company was charged with covering up the incident by falsifying the Oil Record Book. Coast Guard inspectors involved in the investigation indicated that it appeared that the SUN NEW crew had dumped oil at least twice during a voyage from South Korea to New Jersey. Under a plea agreement, Sun Ace will pay a $400,000 penalty and a $100,000 community service payment to a wildlife and estuary program. They will also be subject to a three year probation, in which its vessels will be banned from U.S. ports and waters.

MORE INFORMATION FOR SUPPORTING THE UNITED SEAMEN'S SERVICE!
As detailed in last week's issue, the United Seaman's Service is asking for support from the maritime industry to help keep it afloat. However, we didn't include important contact information that will assist you when dashing to your checkbook with a generous contribution to this important organization.

They are located at 125 Maiden Lane, 14th Floor; New York, NY 10038; The phone number is (212) 269-0711. You can visit them on the web at www.uss-ammla.com

The USS has helped out seafarers worldwide since 1942. They have overseas centers in Bremerhaven, Casablanca, Diego Garcia, Guam, Manila, Okinawa. Pusan and Yokohama. Maersk recently announced that they will match any contributions to the USS put forward by mariners on Maersk Line vessels.

You can give to the USS through the Combined Federal Campaign - Donor number 0366.

NEXT REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday October 2 - Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, October 3 - Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville, San Francisco;
Wednesday, October 4 - Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, October 5 - Los Angeles, New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, October 6 - Honolulu.
 

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