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

MEBA TELEX TIMES           OCTOBER 31, 2008

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 44

In this issue...
Support the U.S. Merchant Marine on Election Day...P.A.F.reward program expands...TWIC info...Boo! Back from the dead, we scare up another haunting manifestation of maritime news in a paranormal, chain-rattling issue with a sixth sense. We see right through ghoulish, phantom newsletters that won't let you rest in peace. Give up the ghost on those soulless spooks and take possession of a spectral, die-hard edition that'll help raise your spirits. A real phenomenon, the Telex Times is an out-of-body experience!

ONLY ONE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE SUPPORTS THE U.S. MERCHANT MARINE - VOTE YOUR JOB
The M.E.B.A. urges you to get out and vote on Election Day this Tuesday - and asks you to vote for the candidate who will best support the United States Merchant Marine. U.S. shipping continues to stay afloat primarily because of the delicate balance of the three-legged stool that supports the U.S. Merchant Marine - the Jones Act, the Maritime Security Program and cargo preference laws.

Sen. Barack Obama has pledged his support to our industry and has emphasized the importance of the Jones Act, MSP and cargo preference laws. Sen. John McCain has expressed his disdain for the Jones Act on numerous occasions while urging its repeal. He has advocated that the MSP be scaled back and he has a history of fighting against cargo preference statutes. Offered the chance to clarify or revise his remarks upon his candidacy for President, Sen. McCain declined to respond to the M.E.B.A. questionnaire. He also snubbed the Transportation Trades Department (AFL-CIO) on their request for his policy positions on key transportation issues including maritime. Earlier this month, the McCain camp released a statement that claims that the candidate "supports a strong American merchant marine and the infrastructure that is vitally important to maritime commerce." His vague statement makes no mention of the Jones Act, MSP or cargo preference laws but does declare that U.S. mariners and port workers should undergo "strict security background checks." The statement says that "as a retired Naval Officer, John McCain is himself a seafarer" and that he is "the right choice of the U.S. maritime community to be America's next President." Yet if his positions on the Jones Act, MSP and cargo preference are manifested into law then the three-legged stool that keeps U.S. mariners employed will come crashing down - leaving us without a leg to stand upon. He has spoken of no alternative plan that would enable a commercial U.S.-flag fleet should he undermine these maritime-friendly laws.

Sen. McCain's contempt for these critical maritime statutes would be unprecedented for an American President. As a primary rule, the industry asks of our Presidents to "first, do no harm." Sen. McCain's past statements would seem to violate that dictum and would likely create a situation in which our livelihoods could be put under siege in the next administration. A President McCain submitting zero-funding recommendations for important maritime statutes would necessitate annual tooth and nail battles from the maritime unions to restore appropriation levels - in order to keep the Stars and Stripes flying over our ships.

Under that scenario, the hard-earned money contributed by M.E.B.A. members and retirees to our Political Action Fund will need to be dedicated towards the desperate battle just to simply RETAIN critical maritime statutes instead of STRENGTHENING and EXPANDING those laws that benefit American mariners.

Not only does Sen. Barack Obama vow to fight to uphold and fortify the three-legged stool of the U.S. Merchant Marine, he brings a 98% voting record on pro-labor issues including his unqualified support for the Employee Free Choice Act - a bill that seeks to strengthen labor unions.

Recently, the six maritime unions banded together on behalf of Sen. Obama in a joint letter. M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe joined by MM&P's Tim Brown, SIU's Mike Sacco, AMO's Tom Bethel, SUP's Gunnar Lundeberg and MFOW's Anthony Poplawski signed off on the letter that was sent to their respective memberships. The text of that letter follows:

October 15, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

As Presidents of America's seafaring unions we may not always agree on everything, but on this -- the importance of electing Senator Barack Obama to the office of President of the United States - we stand as one. We are, without exception, united in our conviction that the future growth and viability of the U.S.-flag fleet and the jobs of American maritime workers in all segments of our industry depend heavily and directly on the election of Senator Barack Obama.

We ask that you and your family think very carefully about how the outcome of this election will affect your job and the jobs of all American maritime workers.

Think about whether you want a President like Barack Obama who will work with us to keep the Jones Act strong and excluded from international trade negotiations. We need a President like Barack Obama who agrees that only U.S.-flag vessels built in American shipyards and crewed by American mariners will carry commerce along our coasts and on our rivers and Great Lakes, rather than a President like John McCain who wants to repeal the Jones Act, a move that would give our jobs away.

Think about whether you want a President like Barack Obama who will work with us to make sure the Maritime Security Program is funded each year. We need a President like Barack Obama who agrees that U.S.-flag vessels and U.S. crews will be available to support our troops and to support our country's economy and security, rather than a President like John McCain who tried to change and weaken this program.

Think about whether you want a President like Barack Obama who supports our cargo preference laws. We need a President like Barack Obama who agrees that American vessels should carry U.S. government cargoes, rather than a President like John McCain who has consistently voted against cargo preference so that foreign vessels with foreign crews would carry U.S. taxpayer-funded commodities.

There is too much at stake in this election for any of us to be misled and sidetracked into looking at things that are not important and relevant. When all is said and done, this election is about your job, your future and your families' future. We ask that you do what we will be doing on Election Day: VOTE YOUR JOB!

P.A.F. CONTRIBUTIONS NET ADDITIONAL REWARDS
With a grueling election period finally coming to a close, it's a good time to see your donations to M.E.B.A.'s Political Action Fund at work. M.E.B.A. continues to use the Fund to educate Members of Congress about the importance of our industry, broaden our relationship with maritime-friendly politicians and to help elect those who recognize the significance of the U.S. Merchant Marine.

However, less than 20% of the membership currently contributes to the P.A.F. If the U.S. Merchant Marine is to continue to remain healthy, we need greater participation in this important Fund.

In an effort to enlist more participation and encourage members to contribute, the P.A.F. has announced that it has expanded the rewards program that gives special mementos to those members who make generous contributions to the Fund. If you have helped out the P.A.F. in this calendar year, you may want to contribute just a little bit more before December 31, 2008 so you can be eligible for the following fabulous prizes:

Contribution Special Gift

$100-$249 Bronze M.E.B.A. medallion (challenge coin)

$250-$499 Silver M.E.B.A. medallion (challenge coin)

$500-$999 Logo Painted Gold M.E.B.A. medallion (challenge
coin)

$1,000 + M.E.B.A. custom watch OR a great M.E.B.A. multi-tool/mag-lite set OR a set of M.E.B.A. Meat Lover's steak knives (Your choice).

To help guarantee the future of our Union, please give to the M.E.B.A.'s Political Action Fund!

TWIC CARD ACTIVATION & COMPLIANCE RESCHEDULING
On October 21, the government facility that houses the TWIC system experienced a building-wide power outage. Though power was quickly restored, the part of the system that facilitates card activations was affected. While the Transportation Security Administration works to resolve the issue, workers nationwide will not be able to activate their cards until the week of Nov. 10. At that time, workers at a Great Lakes ports and a series of other COTP zones (visit the TSA website for specifics) will be able to activate their cards. Activation for all other ports will be available nationwide later in November.

As a result of rescheduling activations, the compliance date for workers located in the Great Lakes Captain of the Port Zones and others that had been scheduled to begin on Oct. 31 has been moved. They will now begin TWIC compliance on Dec. 1, 2008.  TWIC program enrollment and pre-enrollment are still available nationwide and mariners are strongly encouraged to enroll as soon as possible. The TWIC helpdesk can be called at 1-866-DHS-TWIC.

AFL-CIO READY FOR FINAL ELECTION BLITZ
The AFL-CIO and its community affiliate Working America is unleashing an unprecedented "Final Four" get-out-the-vote (GOTV) effort in the final four days of the election to reach more than 13 million union voters in 21 presidential battleground state.

Beginning tomorrow, tens of thousands of AFL-CIO volunteers will visit more than 3.9 million union households, make 5.5 million calls and distribute more than 2 million leaflets at worksites through Election Day urging union voters to get to the polls in support of working family candidates on November 4.

"This unprecedented effort is the culmination of months of hard work by hundreds of thousands of union volunteers who are leading the fight to turn around America," said AFL-CIO President John Sweeney. "Heading down the homestretch, there's more grassroots energy and enthusiasm for change among working families than ever before. We're hitting critical mass at precisely the right time."

The GOTV blitz is the final phase of a mobilization that has deployed an army of 250,000 union volunteers this year. The AFL-CIO GOTV program is the largest independent turnout program in the nation, aimed at electing candidates who will champion working families' priorities.

A key component of this year's Final Four push is Working America, the AFL-CIO community affiliate for workers without a union on the job. In the final four days, Working America will deploy 1,000 full-time canvassers in 11 battleground states to knock on more than 300,000 doors. Working America's effort is the capstone push of a year-round campaign aimed at engaging its 2.5 million members, many of whom are independents and moderate "Reagan Democrats," on economic issues.

APPLY NOW FOR 2009 UNION PLUS SCHOLARSHIPS
With college tuition costs skyrocketing and the economy plummeting, students from union families who are planning to go to college in 2009 should apply now for the Union Plus Scholarship Program. The program offers $150,000 in scholarships annually to union members, their spouses and dependents. This year, 108 students received scholarships ranging from $1,000 to $4,000 each. The children of M.E.B.A. members and of our affiliates have won scholarship money through the program in past years.

To download the application, visit www.UnionPlus.org/Scholarships -- or send a postcard with your name, return address, telephone number and international union name to: Union Plus Education Foundation, c/o Union Privilege, P.O. Box 34800, Washington, D.C. 20043-4800. Application deadline is Jan. 31, 2009.

Since 1992, the Union Plus Scholarship Program has provided more than $2.5 million to help fulfill the educational dreams of students who represent millions of working families across the nation. More than 5,200 applications were received last year in the annual scholarship program. All members of unions participating in the Union Plus programs (as well as their spouses and dependent children) are eligible to apply for scholarships.

In addition to demonstrating academic ability, applicants must submit essays of no more than 500 words describing their career goals, detailing their relationship with the union movement and explaining why they are deserving of a union scholarship. You also must be accepted into an accredited college or university, community college or recognized technical or trade school at the time the award is issued. Graduate school students also are eligible for Union Plus scholarships.

The scholarship program is sponsored by the Union Plus Education Foundation, an arm of Union Privilege, which provides consumer benefits to members and retirees of participating unions. HSBC, the issuer of the Union Plus credit card, funds the scholarships.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, November 3 - Boston, Jacksonville, Seattle;
Tuesday, November 4 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, November 5 - Calhoon School, Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, November 6 - L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, November 7 - Honolulu.

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