MEBA TELEX TIMES DECEMBER 07, 2007

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

MEBA TELEX TIMES DECEMBER 07, 2007

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 49

In this issue...
Don Keefe is the next M.E.B.A. President...Tallying Committee completes report...Update from Aker...We get vertical and assume a straight-up maritime stance in an erect, well-heeled issue with perfect posture. Don't get off on the wrong foot and fall for trade publications that bring you to your knees! Stay on your toes, hold your ground and snap to attention with an upright edition that'll help you get your sea legs. The Telex Times is still standing!!

CHANGE OF COMMAND AT NATION'S OLDEST MARITIME UNION
With 12 years of service as an M.E.B.A. Union official under his belt, Don Keefe will take over the leadership of the nation's oldest maritime labor union at the stroke of midnight on December 31st. Keefe assumes the M.E.B.A. presidency following a 90-day balloting period in which he prevailed over three other major candidates for the Union's top job.

Experience won't be an issue for the 51-year old Keefe who is coming off two consecutive terms as Atlantic Coast Vice President and 12 total years as a Union official, including stints as Representative in both Boston and New York. He has earned a reputation as both a straightforward, no-frills advocate for the membership as well as a sturdy negotiator who drives a hard bargain. Following his graduation from Massachusetts Maritime Academy in 1978, Keefe joined the Union and shipped out under the M.E.B.A. blue and gold for 17 years earning his Chief Engineer's License (Steam/Motor/Gas Turbine Unlimited) before becoming an official.

He takes over the mantle from two-term President Ron Davis who re-established Union job opportunities on the Great Lakes, LNG and cruise industries but suffered from a divided District Executive Committee (D.E.C.) and other issues. The D.E.C. is the District's governing body. In 2004, Davis staved off an M.E.B.A. democratic tradition by the membership of limiting their presidents to one term, but the tide of members clamoring for a different direction keelhauled his chances for a third.

Keefe will attempt to unify a collection of M.E.B.A. union officials elected from three different slates as he moves forward to fulfill campaign pledges for accountability, transparency and a step-up in organizing job opportunities for the membership. He will be joined on the Union's five-person District Executive Committee by Executive V.P. Ed MacCormack, Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo, Atlantic Coast V.P. Bill McHugh, and Gulf Coast V.P. Marc Huber.

25-year member Ed MacCormack has spent the last three years serving as the Patrolman in San Francisco where he has rewarded members with his integrity and hard work. Bill Van Loo is a past Baltimore Branch Agent and a third-generation member following his graduation from the Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School in 1983. He took over the vacant Secretary-Treasurer position in late 2006 and his experience and strong work ethic will benefit the membership over the next three years. Bill McHugh is well-prepared to take over as Atlantic Coast V.P. He impressed members with his effectiveness as New York Patrolman for over five years and has done a top-notch job after his appointment as Baltimore Branch Agent since late 2006. Marc Huber makes his triumphant return as Gulf Coast V.P. after a three-year hiatus. He served one-term in that capacity and a previous term as the New Orleans Patrolman. In bringing him back to office, members remembered Marc's hands-on approach and attentiveness to their issues.

Including Bill Van Loo, only three officials will continue in their same positions. Mike Nizetich will keep serving as L.A. Branch Agent and Karol Kingery returns to head up the Seattle hall. Five candidates currently showcasing their s{blocked}s as Representatives won elected office. The Rep. from Jacksonville, Tom "Sunny" Suneson, takes over as Branch Agent in Baltimore. New Orleans Rep. Wil Jones and San Francisco Rep. Jim Staats will now serve as Patrolmen in their respective ports. L.A. Rep. Larry Young and Seattle Rep. Jim McCrary each ran unopposed and will also stay at their ports to serve as Patrolmen. There are only three members of Don Keefe's administration that will gain their first experience as union officials. However all three have had extensive sailing careers with the Union as well as years of activism on behalf of the M.E.B.A. Dana Woodruff is the new Branch Agent in Houston. Dana is a "Dualie" holding both deck and engineer's licenses. She will be joined by Mike Dunklin, the new Houston Patrolman. Mike is a native Texan who graduated from the Calhoon School in 1977. Chris Guerra is the new Patrolman in New York. He has shipped out with the Union for 19 years and, like our other newly elected M.E.B.A. officials, is ready to get to work. Congratulations all!!!

Following is the list of newly elected M.E.B.A. Union Officials:

President & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Don Keefe

Secretary-Treasurer & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Bill Van Loo

Atlantic Coast V.P. & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Bill McHugh

Gulf Coast V.P. & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Marc Huber

Executive V.P., S.F. Branch Agent & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Ed MacCormack

Baltimore Branch Agent & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Tom Suneson

Houston Branch Agent & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Dana Woodruff

L.A. Branch Agent & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Mike Nizetich

Seattle Branch Agent & National M.E.B.A. Delegate
Karol Kingery

New York Patrolman
Chris Guerra

New Orleans Patrolman
Wil Jones

San Francisco Patrolman
Jim Staats

Houston Patrolman
Mike Dunklin

L.A. Patrolman
Larry Young

Seattle Patrolman
Jim McCrary

Joining the nine officials listed above who will serve as Delegates at the National M.E.B.A. Convention taking place in March 2008 are the following 11 members:

Patrick D. Anderson
Erik Barton
B.M. "Mike" Dunklin
Mark S. Gallagher
Chris Guerra
Jim McCrary
Tom Monahan
Alana Newman
Jim Staats
Ray Twitty
Patrick M. Wright

TALLYING COMMITTEE COMPLETES REPORT
An elected rank and file Tallying Committee successfully completed its \report, within 24 hours after the count of the ballots as stipulated in the M.E.B.A. By-Laws. The Committee was made up of Chairman Jim Langmeyer (NY/NJ), Recording Secretary Jon Anderson (Seattle), Tom Birago (Baltimore), Brian Evjen (Houston), Steve Byerley (L.A./Wilmington) and alternates John Ebanks (New Orleans) and James Howard (S.F./Oakland).

The Committee met with principals from the American Arbitration Association (AAA) including Impartial Administrator Ken Egger on Monday morning before proceeding to the Port Office to pick up the ballots. The rest of the day was consumed by scrupulous oversight of the ballot count along with validating that each vote was cast by a member in good standing. The Committee's report, the report of the AAA and sheet with the vote count were all faxed to the M.E.B.A. Union halls and offices on Tuesday after becoming official.

UPDATE ON AKER OSG NEWBUILDS
Aker Philadelphia Shipyard has announced that it is making good progress on the construction of a series of MT-46 Veteran Class product tankers. Upon completion, the vessels will be chartered to OSG and crewed up with expert M.E.B.A. officers.

The first two ships in the program, the OVERSEAS HOUSTON and the OVERSEAS LONG BEACH, were delivered earlier this year. The third tanker, the OVERSEAS LOS ANGELES, had its christening ceremony two weeks ago. The fourth in the series, the OVERSEAS NEW YORK, is in the building dock with its rudder and propeller newly attached and its deckhouse fastened in place. In addition, the lower bow section was recently set in the dock.

The next ship after that is the OVERSEAS TEXAS CITY. That vessel's first starboard side section of the double-bottom has been set in the dock as the first cargo tank now begins to take shape. Fabrication of its deckhouse continues adjacent to the building dock. Much of the steel fabrication of the structure is complete, with outfitting ongoing.

Steel cutting and profile mounting continues for the sixth tanker which will be called the OVERSEAS BOSTON. On the yard's small panel line, steel plates are being processed which will be used in the fabrication of the BOSTON's deckhouse. At the same time on the nearby large panel line, steel profiles are being mounted to plates, forming one side of a section which will eventually comprise a portion of the OVERSEAS BOSTON's double-bottom.

The tankers will be owned by American Shipping Corporation, a subsidiary of Aker American Shipping, and chartered to OSG.

AFL-CIO TO HOST HISTORIC CONFERENCE ON GLOBAL WORKERS RIGHTS
This Monday and Tuesday, the AFL-CIO will host more than 200 trade union leaders from the U.S. and 63 countries around the world in the Washington area at a historic conference and congressional forum on the international crisis in workers' rights and the freedom to form unions and bargain collectively.

The two-day conference, "Going Global: Organizing, Recognition and Union Rights," marks the first time this number of trade union leaders from around the globe have gathered to develop ideas and strategies to combat corporations' and governments' efforts to suppress workers' freedom to form and join unions, enhance cooperation among trade unions across borders and better represent workers in a global economy.

The conference will also include a special press briefing and forum at the U.S. Congress on December 11, "Restoring Workers' Rights to Organize: Global Perspectives, Global Action." The forum will be chaired and moderated by congressional leaders, including Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Edward Kennedy and Rep. George Miller. Trade union leaders from around the world will discuss why respect for freedom of association and collective bargaining is crucial to the survival of human rights and democracy around the world. Leaders will also urge for the passage of the Employee Free Choice Act, which they consider vital to their own effort to achieve full organizing and bargaining rights in their own countries and with multinational companies.

VACATION BENEFITS - 2007 YEAR END CLOSING
Apply for Vacation and Port Relief Benefits early to avoid the year-end rush.

- OUTPORTS: The deadline for issuing checks dated in 2007 in the Outport offices is Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. EST.

- BALTIMORE PLAN OFFICE: The deadline for issuing checks at the Plan Office in Baltimore is Thursday, December 27, 2007 at 5:00 p.m. EST.

Any member who requires that his/her check be dated in 2007 must file before these deadlines. Remember, December 25, 2007 and January 1, 2008 are holidays and the outports and the Plan Office will be closed. It is always wise to plan ahead, so you may want to verify your specific outport holiday schedule with the plan office representative.

Split Your Vacation Payments Between 2007 and 2008 You can submit an Application for Vacation Pay prior to the end of the year and request that the payment of your vacation benefits be split. Two checks will be issued to you, one in 2007 and a second in 2008. The vacation benefits paid in this manner MUST be a continuous vacation period.

Please contact the Vacation Plan staff in Baltimore at 800-811-6322 or 410-547-9111 if you have any questions.

DON'T (THROW) A BRICK - BUY ONE!
Time is running out to get in on the next memorial brick order date for the M.E.B.A. Merchant Marine Memorial Foundation. You have until December 17th. Memorial bricks can be engraved with names of loved ones and are part of the retreat at the Merchant Marine Memorial Park located on School grounds in Easton, MD. The park is a tribute to fallen mariners.

The park is shaped like a 600-foot merchant vessel complete with 5-ton anchors, a ship's bell and a stern section with a six-bladed, 22-foot diameter bronze propeller. The Foundation just announced that it has named this "vessel" the SS MERCHANT MARINER.

You might also be interested in purchasing a memorial bench in honor of a departed loved one. A bench is a perfect vantage point to gaze around the park and reflect upon the contributions of mariners who have sailed into the sunset. Anyone wishing to purchase a brick or bench must complete and return a donation form and monies before the next order date. Please continue to help the cause - donations are greatly needed for the maintenance of the park!

For more information and to obtain the form please visit the School's website at www.mebaschool.org and click on "What's New" or contact Jessica Milligan at (410) 822-9600 ext. 306. The e-mail address is memorial@mebaschool.org.

EPA SEEKS CUT IN INTERNATIONAL SHIP EMISSIONS
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has issued plans for new emission standards for diesel engines onboard large oceangoing vessels. An advance notice of proposed rulemaking reflects the approach set out in the U.S. Government's recent proposal to the International Maritime Organization and would require the use of high-efficiency aftertreatment technology and lower sulfur marine fuels to reduce NOx and PM emissions.

"Diesel ships are a global economic workhorse. By advancing clean diesel technology, this economic workhorse can become an environmental workhorse," said EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson. "Working with the International Maritime Organization, EPA is reducing emissions from the shipping sector - making ports across the world harbors of cleaner air."

The advance notice of proposed rulemaking targets emissions from the largest marine diesel engines. As M.E.B.A. members know, these "Category 3" engines are used primarily for propulsion power on vessels, such as containerships, tankers, cruise ships and bulk carriers. As foreign trade grows and new emissions controls take effect on other transportation sources, emissions from these ships comprise an increasing share of the nation's pollution inventory.

The approach described in both the domestic and international initiatives would consist of performance-based standards for new and existing Category 3 engines, including:

- Tier 2 NOx limits for new Category 3 engines beginning in 2011 that would achieve a 15 to 25 percent NOx reduction.
- Tier 3 NOx limits for new Category 3 engines beginning in 2016 that would apply when ships are operating in U.S. ports and coastal areas and that would require the use of high efficiency catalytic aftertreatment emission control technology capable of reducing NOx emissions by 80 percent or more.
- NOx limits for existing engines (those built before Jan. 1, 2000) that would achieve a 20 percent NOx reduction; these standards would phase-in beginning 2010/2012
- PM and SOx performance standards beginning in 2011 that would apply to all vessels when they are operating in U.S. ports and coastal areas and that could be achieved through the use of low sulfur fuel or the use of exhaust gas cleaning technology.

EPA is providing 60 days for comments on the advance notice of proposed rulemaking. More information about the advance notice of proposed rulemaking, the timetable for rulemaking, and the government's proposal to the IMO is available at www.epa.gov/otaq/oceanvessels.htm

LAST CALL FOR EDWARD HOPPER EXHIBIT
The stupendous collection of Edward Hopper drawings and paintings currently on view at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC is loaded with maritime images. This titanic collection of art is the largest assemblage of Hopper works ever. Considered one of the titans of 20th Century American art, Hopper primarily painted images of New York City, Cape Cod and Maine (with a smattering of views from Gloucester), during his long and productive life. For anyone with the vaguest interest in maritime art and imagery, this is a must show exhibit. The show at the N.G.A. runs through January 21, 2008. Stop there before attending the Holiday Party at Headquarters this next Thursday!

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, January 7 - Boston, Seattle;
Tuesday, January 8 - Baltimore, Houston, Jacksonville; San Francisco;
Wednesday, January 9 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, January 10 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, January 11 - Honolulu.

--------FINISHED WITH ENGINES---------