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

MEBA TELEX TIMES       AUGUST 27, 2010

The Official Union Newsletter

NUMBER 35

In this issue...
Ballots mailing out on Wednesday…Corcoran golf tournament set…NOAA commissions new ship…

BALLOTS MAIL OUT ON WEDNESDAY
Ballots will be mailed to the membership this coming Wednesday, September 1. Members will have until late November to fill them out and mail them back to a depository in Washington D.C. On December 6, 2010 the votes will be collected and tabulated by the American Arbitration Association overseen by an elected M.E.B.A. rank and file tallying committee.

A special election edition of the Marine Officer is available at M.E.B.A. Union halls and offices across the country. Members, applicants and retirees have already begun receiving their individual copies in the mail. The issue contains campaign statements of candidates running for office in this year’s M.E.B.A. District election. As per the nomination instructions and the direction of the Credentials Committee, statements that ran over the prescribed word length were scaled back to the 400 word mark. The issue also contains other key information relevant to the election.

Because of the disqualification on the Credentials Committee report, the numbers assigned to each candidate listed on the report have shifted accordingly on the ballots that are being mailed Wednesday.

As mentioned in a past issue, the Telex Times is adhering to M.E.B.A. election season rules. The newsletter will refer to candidates for M.E.B.A. office only by position and not by name until the ballots have been tabulated. This policy exceeds regulations laid down by Section 401(g) of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act of 1959 (LMRDA), 29 U.S.C. 481(g).

KEEP YOUR CONTACT INFO CURRENT
Be sure to inform Headquarters if you have recently changed your contact information. There is an address change form on our website to help expedite the process. You can get the form in either a .pdf or a Word document from www.mebaunion.org.  Under the “Members” tab click “Address Change.” Address changes require a signature for validation along with your new information. The form can be printed out by the member or retiree, filled out completely with a signature and faxed or mailed to Headquarters. Those of you with scanners can complete the document with your signature then scan and e-mail it back to us.

Those active and retired members who have not received mailings from Headquarters such as the Marine Officer or other important information may want to log onto our website to clarify their address. Because the M.E.B.A. Plans office in Baltimore and Headquarters databases are NOT linked you must also forward a signed change of address form to the Plans Office if you wish to update your information with them.

PAY YOUR DUES!
The M.E.B.A. By-Laws state, “No member shall be entitled to any benefits of the Union or be considered in good standing unless his [or her] dues are paid up for the full current calendar quarter or paid in accordance with any dues check-off system under any collective bargaining agreement maintained by the National or this District.”

According to our By-Laws, members who are not paid up to December 31, 2010 by November 15, 2010 are not eligible to vote in the upcoming M.E.B.A. election.

In addition, any member or applicant two or more years in arrears on their dues and/or service charges will be put under review by the District Investigating Committee (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. Members and applicants can make payments online now in a secure manner. Visit the M.E.B.A. homepage at www.mebaunion.org.

CORCORAN MEMORIAL TOURNAMENT SCHEDULED FOR SEPT. 17th
M.E.B.A. members will be supporting a fallen brother on September 17th for the 9th annual Jay Corcoran Memorial Golf Tournament. Jay was a popular M.E.B.A. member for 22 years who sailed out of the West Coast. On September 11, 2001, he was on his way back to catch his ship, the APL THAILAND, when his airplane was hijacked and flown into the World Trade Center. Since then, a memorial golf tournament has been set up in his name to benefit Norwell, Massachusetts high school students. Norwell was Jay’s hometown. The Foundation has awarded $270,000 in grants over the last nine years.

This year’s tournament takes place on September 17th at Bay Pointe Country Club in Onset, Massachusetts. You can sign up for the tournament and/or attend the dinner that evening. Members can also sponsor golf holes for the tournament at $100 apiece. To help support the event, organizers are asking for donations of goods or services for the raffle and silent auction that evening. The Jay Corcoran Memorial Scholarship Foundation is a non-profit organization, and donations are tax deductible. Checks should be made payable to the Jay Corcoran Memorial Scholarship Foundation and mailed to Laura Lundstedt, 112 Pond View Dr., Kingston, MA 02364. For more information call Laura at (781) 585-3318, Tom Piepenbrink at (781) 585-2667 or the M.E.B.A. Boston Union hall representative at (617) 261-2338.

NOAA COMMISSIONS NEW RESEARCH SHIP
Federal officials have commissioned the NOAA Ship BELL M. SHIMADA, a state-of-the-art research vessel that will study a wide range of marine life and ocean conditions along the West Coast. This fisheries survey ship and other NOAA vessels are crewed by expert M.E.B.A. officers.

“NOAA Ship BELL M. SHIMADA represents a major step forward in NOAA’s effort to modernize its fleet of fisheries, oceanographic and hydrographic survey ships,” said Rear Adm. Jonathan Bailey, director of the NOAA Office of Marine and Aviation Operations and the NOAA Corps. “This highly capable ship will enable researchers to collect data on sea life and habitats with unprecedented accuracy.”

BELL M. SHIMADA’s design allows for quieter operation and movement of the vessel through the water, giving scientists the ability to study fish and marine mammals without significantly altering their behavior. The vessel is the fourth of a new class of ships designed to meet the NOAA Marine Fisheries Service’s specific data collection requirements and the International Council for Exploration of the Seas’ standards for a low acoustic signature. The ship’s capabilities include a sophisticated sonar system and equipment for deploying buoys and sensorpacked underwater vehicles. In addition to studying fish and marine mammals, researchers will also use the ship to observe marine bird populations.

The ship's namesake served with the Bureau of Fisheries and Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission, and was known for his contributions to the study of tropical Pacific tuna stocks, which were important to the development of West Coast commercial fisheries following World War II. Bell Shimada’s son, Allen, is a fisheries scientist with NOAA’s Fisheries Service.

Launched in September 2008, the 208-ft. BELL M. SHIMADA was built for NOAA by VT Halter Marine Inc., in Moss Point, Miss., as part of the NOAA’s fleet replacement strategy to provide world-class platforms for U.S. scientists. The ship will operate primarily in U.S. waters from Washington State to southern California.

U.S. MARITIME COMMITTED TO CLEANING UP REMAINING GULF OIL
America’s Jones Act fleet is committed to completing the clean-up of the Gulf oil spill as swiftly and effectively as possible, the Maritime Cabotage Task Force (MCTF) pledged last week. While the Deepwater Horizon well has been capped, it is estimated that 1 million barrels of oil from the spill may remain in the Gulf of Mexico.

“Though the oil well in the Gulf has been capped, the need for considerable clean-up effort remains,” said Mark Ruge, counsel to the MCTF. “The U.S. Maritime Industry is committed to completing the task of cleaning the oil and ensuring we preserve the environment and natural resources that are critical to the economy of the Gulf region.”

The American maritime industry responded to the Gulf spill in an “all hands on deck” manner. U.S. vessels involved in the clean-up include scores of the world’s largest and best equipped oil spill response vessels, dozens of technologically advanced offshore supply vessels as well as thousands of fishing boats and other vessels of opportunity.

Claims that the Jones Act, the foundation of U.S. domestic maritime policy since 1920, has hindered the ability of foreign oil skimmers to share in the clean-up effort are false. In fact, the Jones Act does not apply to and does not constrain skimming outside of three miles from shore. The vast majority of skimming has occurred near the well, which is 50 miles from the U.S. coastline. Within the three-mile limit, the federal government has exercised its authority under a separate existing law and implemented an expedited waiver process to allow capable foreign skimmers to clean up oil.

“Broadly waiving the Jones Act for the oil spill is an unnecessary distraction that would do nothing to advance the clean-up effort or improve the region’s economy,” said Eric Smith, Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, OSG, Inc., and an MCTF Board member. “Foreign oil skimmers are needed and already being utilized under a separate law and waiver process. A broad waiver for foreign vessels would only take work away from those most impacted by the disaster, American workers in the Gulf.”

NEW USMMA SUPERINTENDENT IS NAMED
Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood has announced that Rear Admiral Philip H. Greene, Jr. will become the new Superintendent of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, NY. Admiral Greene holds a Merchant Marine Master’s license and is a 1978 Academy graduate. “Rear Admiral Greene will bring strong leadership to the Academy,” said Secretary LaHood. “His commitment to the midshipmen, his experience as an Academy graduate, and his distinguished naval career have given him the perspective and organizational strengths needed to move the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy forward.”

Rear Admiral Greene came to the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy from the U.S. Navy, where he was most recently Director of the Navy Irregular Warfare Office. There he developed and employed a global maritime preventive security strategy. Before that, Rear Admiral Greene served as Commander of the Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, where he helped establish the first multinational Maritime Center of Excellence in East Africa.

“Rear Admiral Greene’s background and enthusiasm make him not only an excellent choice for Superintendent, but also an important member of the leadership team at the U.S. Maritime Administration,” said Maritime Administrator David Matsuda.

Rear Admiral Greene’s Navy service also includes a post as Director of the Navy Europe/Africa Policy, Resources and Strategy in Naples, Italy where he formulated the Navy’s maritime security and safety strategy for the Gulf of Guinea.

LABOR DAY/MEETING DAY BBQ AT SEATTLE HALL – NEW TIME
The Seattle M.E.B.A. hall is celebrating Labor Day on September 7 with barbecue and history. Dr. Ron Magden, PhD, one of the foremost authorities on Puget Sound maritime and labor history, will be returning to the M.E.B.A. hall. Last year, he presented his research findings about M.E.B.A.'s Seattle founders. This year he presents the next chapter: "The Struggle for Safety." The talk begins around noon and will wind up before job call at 1230. Dr. Magden is a retired professor, member of the Pacific Northwest Historians' Guild, and the author of several books, including: The Working Waterfront: The Story of Tacoma's Ships and Men.

LIBERTY NEEDS CHIEFS
Liberty Maritime is seeking résumés from Chief Engineers interested in sailing for the company. Interested individuals should send their particulars including a résumé via e-mail to personnel@libertymar.com. You may also contact the Liberty Personnel Department at (516) 488-8800 with any specific questions about these opportunities.

REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Tuesday, September 7 – Baltimore/Calhoon School at CMES@1430; Boston@1200; Houston@1315; Jacksonville@1300; San Francisco (Oakland)@1230; Seattle@1300;
Wednesday, September 8 – Charleston@1400; New Orleans@1315;
Thursday, September 9 – L.A. (Wilmington)@1230; New York (New Jersey)@1300; Norfolk@1230; Tampa@1300;
Friday, September 10 – Honolulu@1100.

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