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MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION
(AFL-CIO)
"On
Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"
MEBA
TELEX TIMES JANUARY
04, 2008
The Official Union Newsletter
NUMBER
1
In
this issue...
Message for members from new
President...Important U.S.-build provisions, NSPS rewrite delayed...TWIC
update...Lump sum figures...The sky's the limit! Gaining altitude, we earn our
wings and pilot ahead in a first-class, top-flight edition for the jet set. Bail
out from nose-diving newsletters with too much turbulence. They'll just make you
airsick and get you in a tailspin! Grab a window seat with the maritime weekly
that puts you on a higher plane. Cleared for take-off, the Telex Times is off to
a flying start!
UNITY
AND DEMOCRACY: NEW ADMINISTRATION GETS TO WORK
M.E.B.A.'s new administration got down to
work in this holiday-shortened week and began this new year seeking to further
the fortunes of our members and their families. New President Don Keefe joined
Secretary-Treasurer Bill Van Loo at Headquarters in Washington D.C. to lay the
foundation for progress over the next three years.
He pointed out that, with the election now in the rearview mirror, it's time to
push ahead on positive change for our members. M.E.B.A.'s protracted campaign
season inevitably seems to divide members into different camps, but President
Keefe is asking our M.E.B.A. Brothers and Sisters to put aside our differences
so that we can best serve the Union. "As you may know, M.E.B.A.'s District
Executive Committee was elected from different slates," he said this week. "But
we're all going to work together on behalf of the membership. We'll be very busy
over the next three years."
Keefe released a statement to the membership this week expanding on those
remarks and asking members to work together for the better of the whole:
"As one of the nation's oldest labor unions, M.E.B.A. has a long history of
Union democracy. M.E.B.A. has again proven, with the vote of the membership,
that our Union is a democratic organization. I would like to take this
opportunity to thank all of my supporters as well as all the members who
exercised their inherent right to vote in M.E.B.A.'s democratic process. I would
also like to thank the Tallying Committee for their efficient and hard work and
also the departing officials for their efforts in serving our Union."
"History teaches us that democratic unions foster member engagement and engaged
members are essential to a revitalized labor union. These are the unions that
are successful. I am asking each and every M.E.B.A. member and Union official
for a time of healing. This election resulted in a great deal of infighting and
fragmentation. We must rethink our past practices and work towards a united
union if M.E.B.A. is going to succeed and endure.
I am asking the M.E.B.A. members to become involved in building a more unified
union. Unquestionably, this combination of unity and democracy will allow us to
move forward and advance the interest of our Union, both for the present and
into the future."
NON-DUES
PAYING MEMBERS ARE IN FOR A RUDE AWAKENING
The District Investigating Committee (DIC)
will be convening later this month and are prepared to deal with members who
haven't been paying their dues. Any members or applicants two or more years in
arrears on their dues and/or service charges will be put under review by the DIC
and WILL BE DROPPED from the membership or applicant rolls. If you are in
arrears and desire to retain your membership or applicant status, you must
contact Headquarters immediately to make payment on your arrearage to return to
good standing.
DEFENSE
REAUTHORIZATION BILL VETO DELAYS IMPLEMENTATION OF IMPORTANT LABOR, MARITIME
PROGRAMS & PROVISIONS
The President's controversial "pocket veto"
of the National Defense Reauthorization bill was unfortunate for maritime.
Included in the bill was a provision regarding vessel leasing that favored
American built ships, so this veto temporarily delays the implementation of that
new rule. However, also included in the bill was a rewrite of the National
Security Personnel System that protects collective bargaining rights that the
M.E.B.A. had been fighting for since the original enactment of NSPS in 2003.
The President's veto was based primarily on a non-maritime and non-labor related
issue regarding the Iraq War, and it is anticipated that the bill will be
rewritten and passed in early 2008, likely with both the vessel leasing and NSPS
provisions intact. A bill passed by both Senate and House that is placed on the
President's desk to be signed into law - then is not signed by the President for
the next ten days while Congress is in session (not including Sundays) is
considered law by default. However, if Congress adjourns while the ten days is
ticking off (which they did in this case) the President can decline to sign the
bill during that period, if desired, thus creating a "pocket veto" situation
which allows the President to effectively veto the bill without allowing a
Congressional override. The Defense bill was passed with a veto-proof majority
in both Senate and House that would have overridden a Bush veto if Congress had
been in session. The White House objects to a provision in the $696 billion bill
that it feels could be used to help freeze Iraqi assets in the U.S. due to legal
action. Congress is scheduled to reconvene on January 15 and the Defense bill is
at the top of their agenda.
33,000
WORKERS HAVE ALREADY ENROLLED IN TWIC PROGRAM
Almost 33,000 transportation workers across
the country have already enrolled in the Transportation Security Administrations
TWIC program with nearly 84,000 pre-enrolled to this point. TWIC centers around
the U.S. continue to open and a slew of cities join the parade in the coming
weeks.
The Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program is being
implemented to ensure that any individual who has unescorted access to secure
areas of port facilities and vessels has received a thorough background check
and is not a security threat. TSA said that nationwide, more than 1 million
workers with unescorted access to secure areas will apply for TWIC during 2008.
Online pre-enrolling speeds up the process
by allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to
complete the application process in person. This eliminates waiting at
enrollment centers and reduces the time it takes to enroll each individual. You
can get related information by visiting TSA's website at
www.tsa.gov/what_we_do/layers/twic/index.shtm. Members can register online
by creating a username and password which will allow you to pre-enroll. Once
your information is entered online you need to schedule an appointment at one of
the enrollment centers. This can be accomplished by calling the TWIC helpline at
866-347-8942.
It should be noted that the enrollment centers are still being established and
there may not be one in your area at this time. Once your appointment has been
scheduled, you will need to bring identification to the enrollment center and a
form of payment. Your valid U.S. passport or MMD can be used for identification.
More than 40 ports have begun enrollment in the nationwide program. Ultimately,
TSA will establish fixed enrollment centers at 147 ports and will deploy mobile
enrollment centers to dozens of other locations as needed.
NATIONAL
M.E.B.A. NOMINATION FORMS ARE IN THE HALLS
The National Marine Engineers' Beneficial
Association (N.M.E.B.A.) will hold its 109th National Convention on March 17,
2008. The recently elected Convention delegates will meet to conduct the
business of the N.M.E.B.A. including the election of a National President,
National Secretary-Treasurer, National Vice President and two National Executive
Committee Members.
A Notice of Nomination and Election of N.M.E.B.A. Officers and National
Executive Committee members was contained in the October-November 2007 M.E.B.A.
Marine Officer sent to the membership. Nomination qualifications and procedures
are outlined in the notice. In order to assist nominees to make their
nomination, a nomination form is available at all M.E.B.A. Union Halls.
To be timely, nominations must be received at National Headquarters located at
444 North Capitol Street, NW, Suite 800, Washington, DC 20001 during the month
of February 2008. Nominations received after February 29, 2008 will not be
considered valid nominations. If you have any questions, please call M.E.B.A.
Headquarters at (202) 638-5355.
JOBS
FOR MEMBERS ABOARD HAYES AND WATERS
As noted last week, Patriot Contract
Services has been named as the apparent winner of a Military Sealift Command
contract to operate Special Mission ships USNS HAYES and USNS WATERS.
Patriot is accepting résumés for officer positions aboard the two ships. It is
anticipated that Patriot will take over the WATERS by the first few days of
February followed by the HAYES soon after. A secret security clearance is
required for all officers prior to assignment to the ships, so early
identification of all officer crewing is vital. The Memorandum of Understanding
will be available for review at the M.E.B.A. Union halls.
Résumés should list your most recent training and should be sent by e-mail to
john.howe@asmhq.com or faxed to him at
(925) 296-2051.
The USNS WATERS is a Hydrographic Survey Ship built in 1993 that supports
missile range instrumentation and submarine navigation research missions. The
USNS HAYES, "the quietest research ship in the world," was converted into an
Acoustic Research vessel in 1992.
UPDATE
ON LUMP SUM FACTORS
The Plan Actuary has calculated lump sum
factors using the interest rate corresponding to the months of August,
September, October and November and the "applicable mortality table". The lump
sum factors determined using the month of November currently result in the most
favorable lump sums for Plan Participants planning retirement during 2008.
Unless the interest rate for December produces more favorable lump sum factors,
the Pension Plans 2008 lump sum factors will be based on those corresponding to
November.
In the table, each hypothetical participant is assumed to retire with a $50,000
pension annuity, payable immediately at the distribution date. The ages provided
in Column A are the assumed ages at the distribution date. For example, a
participant with a $50,000 annuity who took a distribution in 2007 at age 61
would have received a lump sum distribution of $668,322. Using the factors
corresponding to the month of November (the "most favorable" so far) a
participant with a $50,000 annuity who receives a distribution when they reach
age 61 in 2008 will collect a lump sum of $669,365.
The table illustrates that for Participants under age 59, the actuaries are
projecting that the PPA method of calculating your lump sum will produce a
slightly smaller lump sum than using the regulations in effect for 2007.
However, in making your retirement decision, you should also consider other
factors, including increased accruals, changes in final pay, and the impact of
the changes in the benefit limitation under IRC 415, which increased from 2007
to 2008. The old lump sum limitations are included and the Plan Actuary's best
estimate of the new lump sum limitations are in the table in Columns I & J
respectively.
Also included, in the table in Columns E & F, are the calculation of the
participant's lump sum for 2008 if the changes required by PPA were not to take
effect in 2008. A bill was introduced in the United States House of
Representatives to delay the effective date of the lump sum provisions of PPA
until 2009.
Because of the difficulty of reproducing this chart in our newsletter format,
the columns have been split up. The Plans Office has posted a notice and chart
on its website
www.mebaplans.org. Click on "What's New" and then on "Notices" where
after you will soon find the information you seek.
The following is the key:
- Column (A): Participant Age at Distribution Date
- Column (B): Annual Annuity at Distribution Date
- Column (C): 2007 Lump Sum Factors (Monthly Annuity)
- Column (D): Lump Sum for $50K Annuity in 2007 2007 Regulations (Pre-PPA)
- Column (E): 2008 Lump Sum Factors Ignoring PPA Lump Sum Provisions
- Column (F): Lump Sum for $50K Annuity in 2008 Ignoring PPA Lump Sum Provisions
- Column (G): Actuary's Best Estimate of 2008 Lump Sum Factor Updated Mortality
and Blended October Interest Rates
- Column (H): Lump Sum for $50K Annuity in 2008 Using Column (G) Factor
- Column (I): Benefit Limitation under IRC §415 for Lump Sum Distribution during
2007 (Old Law)
- Column (J): Actuary's Best Estimate of Benefit Limitation under IRC §415 for
Lump Sum Distribution during 2008
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
(E) (F)
(G)
50 $50,000 195.842
$816,009 199.679 $831,995
194.477
51 $50,000 193.074
$804,477 196.788 $819,952
191.901
52 $50,000 190.210
$792,543 193.801 $807,504
189.214
53 $50,000 187.252
$780,215 190.719 $794,662
186.419
54 $50,000 184.199
$767,494 187.542 $781,424
183.518
55 $50,000 181.047
$754,363 184.266 $767,777
180.511
56 $50,000 177.802
$740,842 180.897 $753,739
177.414
57 $50,000 174.469
$726,956 177.441 $739,339
174.243
58 $50,000 171.058
$712,743 173.908 $724,616
170.980
59 $50,000 167.575
$698,230 170.303 $709,596
167.626
60 $50,000 164.020
$683,415 166.627 $694,279
164.179
61 $50,000 160.397
$668,322 162.885 $678,689
160.648
62 $50,000 156.721
$653,004 159.092 $662,882
157.050
63 $50,000 152.995
$637,479 155.250 $646,875
153.387
64 $50,000 149.237
$621,821 151.379 $630,745
149.681
65 $50,000 145.449
$606,039 147.480 $614,501
145.911
Age (H)
(I)
(J)
50 $810,321 $1,146,356
$1,178,200
51 $799,588 $1,207,101
$1,240,632
52 $788,392 $1,271,333
$1,306,647
53 $776,745 $1,339,319
$1,376,522
54 $764,658 $1,411,340
$1,450,544
55 $752,128 $1,487,674
$1,528,999
56 $739,226 $1,568,696
$1,612,271
57 $726,011 $1,654,840
$1,700,808
58 $712,417 $1,746,626
$1,795,144
59 $698,443 $1,844,610
$1,895,850
60 $684,081 $1,949,348
$2,003,496
61 $669,365 $2,061,535
$2,118,800
62 $654,376 $2,182,061
$2,242,673
63 $639,113 $2,134,103
$2,193,384
64 $623,672 $2,085,537
$2,143,469
65 $607,964 $2,036,388
$2,092,955
MARAD/APL
REACH DEAL TO LET CADETS SAIL IN APL FOREIGN FLEET
The Maritime Administration has announced a
new agreement to allow U.S. maritime cadets to serve on international container
vessels. The training and experience they receive will give them more employment
opportunities worldwide after graduation. There is currently a worldwide
shortage of licensed mariners. U.S. federal and state maritime academies have
geared up to train more students, but students need sailing time on working
vessels to obtain the necessary licenses, and there are not enough opportunities
currently available on U.S. ships.
The agreement, signed by Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton and Ronald
D. Widdows, Chief Executive Officer of APL Liner Ltd., allows sea tours for
maritime academy cadets on board vessels trading internationally. Under the
terms of the agreement, cadets from the maritime academies across the country
will be able to sail on board vessels operated by APL. This is the third such
public-private agreement to be signed in the past six months, and more
agreements are being negotiated. The previous two agreements were signed with
Overseas Shipholding Group and SeaRiver, which operate tanker fleets.
"We are working to open up new opportunities to cadets and active mariners,"
said Connaughton. U.S. cadets have long had training opportunities on APL's
U.S.-registered vessels. This agreement opens up opportunities on its vessels
registered in other countries, Connaughton added. APL is the first liner company
to sign such an agreement. Liner companies provide regular service among
specified ports. The agreement is available on the Maritime Administration web
site, www.marad.dot.gov.
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---------
