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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           AUGUST 01, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 31

In this issue...
Revised Constitution...Plans changes...ILWU contract...TWIC news... Cool beans! Come veg-out as we produce a vitamin-packed, Caesar-salad-sized harvest of news leeks mushrooming with the maritime cream of the crop. We squash pea-brained, garden-variety newsletters and drop those corny, 'tomato cans' like a hot potato! An organic experience, the Telex Times is as cool as a cucumber!

NATIONAL M.E.B.A. CONSTITUTION AVAILABLE
The updated and current National M.E.B.A. Constitution is now available in the Union halls and on the M.E.B.A. website. Amendments put forward by Delegates at past National Conventions have been incorporated into the document and a series of necessary revisions updating archaic references (also approved by Delegates and the National Executive Committee) have been made. A copy of the Constitution is available on the M.E.B.A. "Hotsite" which you can visit at http://www.meba.us/hotnews.html.  Paper copies can be obtained from any of the union halls or from Headquarters.

SUMMARY OF CHANGES TO PLANS MADE BY TRUSTEES
A series of alterations to the M.E.B.A. Plans were made by Trustees in mid-July. A summary of these changes follows:

Health Plan Changes:
As of 9/1/08, the 6% mandatory contribution on converted overtime will no longer be deducted from members utilizing this option.

• Effective immediately, the trustees approved an additional option for members eligible to retire or members with retirements now pending. This extra option includes a 50% partial lump sum buyout with a continuing monthly annuity giving members who are eligible to retire, the option of investing a portion of their pension while still maintaining the security of an M.E.B.A. pension fund backed annuity.

• Travel reimbursement for participants who live at least 75 miles from the nearest M.E.B.A. diagnostic center will be subject to the same terms as for the training program outlined below except for the following:

  • Reimbursement is limited to one trip per year for participants and dependents.

  • All travel reimbursements will be limited to the cost of a round trip coach ticket between Miami, FL and New Orleans, LA.

  • There will be no ground transportation allowance for participants flying to a diagnostic center but the $20 miscellaneous allowance per family will continue to be paid.

Pension Plan Changes:
Effective immediately, the trustees approved an additional option for members eligible to retire or those members with retirements now pending. This extra option includes a 50% partial lump sum buyout with a continuing monthly annuity giving members who are eligible to retire, the option of investing a portion of their pension while still maintaining the security of a M.E.B.A. pension- fund backed annuity.

Vacation changes:
As of January 1, 2009, members will be able to file for vacation five times instead of three times effectively giving members the opportunity to take smaller vacations and time their return to work dates more efficiently. If you have filed three times to 1/1/09, this change will not affect you.

In an effort to further reduce escalating costs of M.E.B.A. Plans programs, the trustees have approved the following changes at the July Trustees meetings:

Training Plan Travel Policy:
The travel allowance previously paid to participants in Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School training classes has been replaced by reimbursement for actual travel expenses.

• In order to qualify for reimbursement, all travel arrangements must be made with Egencia, the Training Plan's travel agency. Travel can be booked at egencia.com  24 hours a day or via phone between 8 am and 5 pm. Agent assisted reservations outside of these normal hours will incur extra booking fees which will not be reimbursed. Change and cancellation fees will not be reimbursed.

• Air travel will be reimbursed for any class of at least one week's duration (not to exceed two reimbursements in one calendar year). Round trip coach airfare will be reimbursed from the Participant's Home of Record (address on file with the Plans Office) and BWI airport. A $100 ground transportation fee will also be paid upon course completion.

• Train or bus travel will be reimbursed on the basis of actual fare paid not to exceed the cost of air travel from Participant's Home of Record.

• Automobile Travel will be reimbursed based on actual miles traveled (as calculated by automobile club maps) at the IRS mileage allowance rate not to exceed the cost of air travel. Trips over 400 miles will require extra documentation.

• Participants may be reimbursed for travel from a location other than their Home of Record provided the reimbursement amount does not exceed that from their Home of Record. Permanent ROS employees will be reimbursed for travel from their ROS vessel.

• For all reimbursement, actual documentation must be presented including but not limited to tickets, boarding passes and receipts. Travel expenses paid by a participating employer are not entitled to reimbursement.

Training Allowance
The $50 per day training allowance has been eliminated although pension credit for each calendar day enrolled in a course (excluding arrival and departing weekends) will still be earned subject to a four week per year maximum.

January Classes
2008 classes will end on December 19 and C.M.E.S will be closed for the month of January in 2009. These changes were necessary and unanimously agreed upon by management and Union Trustees.

Please refer to the complete notice posted at mebaplans.org for full details.

GERRY CHARLTON, GFC CRANE LEADER, HAS DIED
Gerry Charlton, owner and President of M.E.B.A.-contracted GFC Crane Consultants, Inc. died unexpectedly on Sunday at the age of 61. M.E.B.A. members serve as crane maintenance port engineers and crane technicians at Port Everglades, FL under our contract with GFC.

There will be a memorial service on August 25th at the Fred Hunter Memorial Home at 718 South Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 4 p.m.

ILWU, PMA AGREE ON NEW SIX-YEAR DEAL, SUBJECT TO MEMBER RATIFICATION
After a marathon weekend bargaining session, leaders from the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) and the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) announced a preliminary agreement on terms for a new six year contract covering more than 25,000 dockworkers at 29 West Coast ports.

The agreement is subject to ratification by the ILWU and PMA membership. In the meantime, the ILWU and PMA have agreed to extend the previous agreement and resume normal port operations.

ILWU President Bob McEllrath and PMA President Jim McKenna said the proposed agreement meets the needs of both workers and the industry. It allows West Coast ports to be competitive and provides the good jobs that workers and communities need. The parties have agreed not to discuss details of the agreement until the ILWU and PMA leadership teams have communicated with their respective membership.

TSA, COAST GUARD UPDATE TWIC COMPLIANCE DATES FOR SOME PORT ZONES
The U.S. Coast Guard and the Transportation Security Administration announced that Dec. 1, 2008, is the Transportation Worker Identification Credential program compliance date for owners and operators of facilities located within the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port Zones of Charleston, S.C., Long Island Sound, Jacksonville, Fla., and Savannah, GA. Ports affected by the Dec. 1, 2008, deadline include among others Port Canaveral, Fla., Brunswick, Ga., Port Royal, S.C., New Haven, Conn., Port Jefferson, N.Y., and New London, Conn.

Mariners may use their valid Coast Guard-issued merchant mariner's document, license or certificate of registry, along with a valid photo ID, to be eligible for unescorted access in secure areas of any facility regulated under the Maritime Transportation Security Act of 2002 that has a TWIC compliance date earlier than April 15, 2009.

Owners and operators of facilities regulated under MTSA are responsible for notifying employees of their personal responsibility to apply for and maintain a TWIC. The TWIC final rule, published Jan. 25, 2007, also requires owners and operators of MTSA regulated facilities to inform employees of the deadlines and methods for TWIC application.

"Our goal has always been, and continues to be, to minimize the impact of this critical maritime security initiative on industry nationwide," said Cmdr. David W. Murk, Chief of the U.S. Coast Guard's Cargo and Facilities Division and new TWIC program manager. "To meet this goal as partners in this important undertaking, we need each and every TWIC eligible candidate to help by enrolling for their TWIC as early as possible. As more port compliance dates are rolled out, those who choose to wait until the last minute run the risk of not getting their TWIC prior to compliance deadlines."

The Coast Guard plans to announce those additional ports scheduled for the compliance phase of the TWIC program in coming weeks. Compliance will be phased in by Captain of the Port Zones between Oct. 15, 2008, and April 15, 2009, after which all ports must be in compliance and all credentialed mariners must be in possession of a TWIC.

A framework showing expected compliance dates by Captain of the Port Zone is available on the U.S. Coast Guard's Homeport Website at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic.

Workers are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible and can pre-enroll for their TWIC online at www.tsa.gov/twic.  Pre-enrollment speeds up the process by allowing workers to provide biographic information and to schedule a time to complete the application process in person. The pre-enrollment process reduces the time it takes to fully enroll in the TWIC program and eliminates waiting at enrollment centers. Additional information can be found at http://homeport.uscg.mil/twic and www.tsa.gov/twic.

DOT INTRODUCES NEW DRUG TESTING REGS FOR MARINERS
Effective August 25, 2008, the Department of Transportation has issued new drug testing regulations:

• The new rule provides for two types of drug tests-normal and direct observation.

• Both tests should only be administered by a trained collector who is not your direct supervisor, not officer onboard (unless no one else is present to administer the test and there is a need for the test).

• It must be a Department of Transportation certified test.

• Normal Tests

  • Required for all maritime personnel described by the Coast Guard as working in a position that affects safety, basically everyone on a ship.

  • Used unless you fall into one of the exceptions listed in the next part.

  • You must take everything out of your pockets and leave it outside the testing facility; you do have the right to keep your wallet with you.

  • You must provide positive identification.

  • You do not have to remove your clothes and can take the test in a private enclosed room.

• Directly Observed Tests

  • Will only be used in a follow-up test or return to duty tests.

  • This means that unless you have previously tested positive or there was some irregularity in the test (for example there was the intent to defraud the test, the lab was unable to get a clear result, you had this specific non-drug chemical in your urine) you should have the test above administered.

  • You are required to remove all of your clothes and demonstrate you are not wearing a prosthetic device.

  • The collector will observe you actually producing the specimen (this seems to imply that they will stand in such a way so that they can see the urine enter the specimen collection device).

  • The collector must be certified under 49 CFR 40.33.

  • You have the right to have your test observed by someone of the same gender although this person does not necessarily have to be a trained collector.

A complete copy of the rule can be found at: www.dot.gov/ost/dapc/NEW_DOCS/part40.html 

M.E.B.A. HOSTS FUNDRAISER FOR CALIFORNIA MEMBER OF CONGRESS
On Tuesday, July 29, 2008, the M.E.B.A. and ILWU, along with MIRAID, ILA and MM&P hosted a fundraising breakfast at M.E.B.A. Headquarters for California Congresswoman Laura Richardson who represents the State's 37th District. In 2007, Richardson succeeded 16 candidates in a special election and was elected to her first term in the House of Representatives to represent the culturally and economically diverse District setting a record of distinction for having served all three levels of government; local, state and federal in the span of less than a year.

The Congresswoman, shared stories of growing up in a family supported by union card carrying parents and how she herself, became a licensed machinist. As a member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, her background and first-hand knowledge of the importance of labor rights make her an invaluable ally in M.E.B.A.'s fight to protect your rights.

MARAD DELEGATION TALK LNG IN JAPAN
On July 24 and 25, Maritime Administrator Sean T. Connaughton led a delegation of U.S. maritime officials in meetings in Tokyo with Japanese counterparts to discuss issues of mutual interest and challenges facing the maritime industry, both around the world and in the bilateral trade. The talks reflected the major concern of both countries about the impact on the shipping sector of the rapidly expanding consumption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) around the world. With the surge of new specialized vessels to carry LNG entering service, the demand for qualified seafarers is becoming urgent. In meetings with Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Tourism (MLIT), the two sides discussed the U.S. LNG Deepwater Ports initiative aimed at meeting U.S. demand, using the latest technologies for LNG transport and promotion of employment for trained U.S. seafarers on LNG ships. Connaughton said, "There is a robust market for skilled seafarers and an opportunity for maritime training institutions worldwide to help meet this demand." Other topics of discussion included port development, environmental protection, trends in the bilateral shipping trade and maritime security.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, August 4 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, August 5 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, August 6 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, August 7 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, August 8 - Honolulu.

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