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Marine Engineers’ Beneficial
Association (AFL-CIO)
444 N. Capitol Street, N.W., Suite 800
Washington, DC 20001-1570
Hot Off the Press
TEL: (202) 257-2825
FAX: (202) 638-5369
To: All Ports
From: Marco Cannistraro
Total Pages Including Cover: 5
Date: 5/7/15
Telex Times
#19
E-Mail: marco@MEBAunion.org
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MARINE ENGINEERS’ BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION (AFL-CIO)
“On Watch in Peace and War Since 1875”
M.E.B.A. TELEX TIMES
The Official Union Newsletter
NUMBER 19
MAY 7, 2015
In this issue//Important Plans Info Sent Out//MarAd Tabletop Breakout Exercise – Members
Needed!//House Defense Bill Expresses Support for U.S.-Flag Shipping/MarAd Advisory for
Ships in Strait of Hormuz//Selva Nominated to Joint Chiefs//3rd A/E Needed on NCL Ship// NW
Michigan College Opening for Engineering Instructor//Maritime Issues Discussed with DOT
Secretary//FRC Report Accepted//MOU for SEAKAY SPIRIT//Fast Track to Lower Wages?
IMPORTANT PLANS INFORMATION SENT TO PARTICIPANTS
Notice of important changes made to the M.E.B.A. Pension Plan was mailed to the homes of all
participants last week. The information was also made available and discussed at membership
meetings this week. In addition, Headquarters sent the Pension mailing and additional follow-up
information electronically to all Members and Applicants through their email address on file.
PAPER BREAKOUT: M.E.B.A. MEMBERS BEING SUMMONED FOR SIMULATED
BREAKOUT ON TUESDAY; MEMBER PARTICIPATION IS CRUCIAL
The Maritime Administration is testing whether our mariners are ready for action as it launches
its annual tabletop activation of MarAd and Military Sealift Command Surge sealift vessels on
Tuesday. M.E.B.A. accounts for almost 30 of the ships that will need to be crewed up virtually.
This is a paper exercise and mariners are not actually required to report to the vessels. MarAd
will attempt to make telephone contact with a sampling of mariners taking part to verify their
readiness to crew the vessels.
Once the paper activation starts, agreeing to a virtual ship assignment does not preclude a
mariner from subsequently taking an actual shipping job.
M.E.B.A. Deck and Engine officers in all positions will be needed for this exercise. It is
important to check in with your hall and let them know you’re available. Member participation in
this exercise should take no longer than 5 minutes on the phone. Make sure your local hall has
your latest contact information and expect a quick phone call from an M.E.B.A. official or
Dispatcher between Tuesday and Friday of next week. Deck officers are especially encouraged
to add their names to the list.
The two-week Command Post Exercise will simulate the activation of the Ready Reserve Force
and MSC surge fleet to test procedures and coordination necessary to meet strategic sealift
requirements. The exercise runs from May 12 through May 22, though the virtual ship crewing
will consume the first week, beginning on Tuesday, with the second week dedicated to agency
follow up and verification of data.
M.E.B.A. members have been through this many times before and have always come through –
in virtual breakouts and for the real thing. Please help us ensure that the mariner workforce holds
up its end in Breakout 2015.
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HOUSE DEFENSE BILL CONTAINS STRONG STATEMENT
ON BEHALF OF U.S.-FLAG FLEET
The National Defense Authorization Act that is winding its way toward a vote on the House
Floor contains a Sense of Congress statement expressing strong support for the U.S.-flag fleet
and Maritime Security Program. Section 3502 of the NDAA points out that losses in the U.S.flag international fleet have helped diminish the nation’s pool of qualified U.S. mariners
critically needed for crewing the U.S. commercial fleet and surge sealift vessels. The statement
acknowledges that a lack of defense and food aid cargoes continues to impair U.S. shipping and
has dire repercussions for national security. The Sense of Congress statement says that they are
concerned “that future reductions in U.S.-flag commercial vessels, especially militarily useful
vessels in the Maritime Security Program, could put at risk the Nation’s ability to fully activate,
deploy, and sustain Armed Forces around the globe.”
MARAD ADVISORY FOR SHIPS IN STRAIT OF HORMUZ
The Maritime Administration has issued an advisory to mariners sailing near the Strait of
Hormuz after a pair of worrisome recent incidents. The Marshall Islands-flagged MAERSK
TIGRIS was seized from the Strait last week by Iranian authorities, allegedly based on a nonpayment issue. (Negotiations finally paid off and the MAERSK TIGRIS and her crew were
released today and on their way to Jebel Ali). In addition, four Iranian gunboats shadowed the
M.E.B.A.-crewed MAERSK KENSINGTON off the coast of the UAE a few days before the
TIGRIS was taken. The KENSINGTON didn’t acknowledge the boats which eventually broke
off their pursuit without further incident. The Navy had been escorting U.S. and British-flagged
ships through the Strait following the incidents but ended that protocol on Tuesday.
The Advisory issued this week prescribed the following actions for any future incident:
If a U.S.-flag vessel engaged in transit through the Strait of Hormuz or its approaches is hailed
by Iranian forces, it should provide its vessel name and affirm that it is exercising the right of
transit passage in accordance with the international law of the sea.
If boarding of a U.S.-flag vessel engaged in transit through the Strait of Hormuz or its
approaches is requested by Iranian forces, the ship's master should, if the safety of the ship and
crew would not be compromised, decline permission to board by noting that the vessel is in
transit passage and not subject to coastal state enforcement jurisdiction.
If a boarding by Iranian forces occurs even after declining permission, the boarding should not
be forcibly resisted by persons on the U.S.-flag merchant vessel. Refraining from forcible
resistance in no way indicates consent or agreement that such a boarding is lawful.
U.S.-flag vessels are advised to report such incidents immediately to coalition naval vessels on
VHF channel 16, via e-mail to cusnc.bwc@me.navy.mil, and by phone to 011-973-1785-3879
and are also encouraged to report such activity to MarAd at opcentr1@dot.gov
SELVA NOMINATED AS JOINT CHIEFS VICE CHAIRMAN
The Commander of the U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM) General Paul Selva
has been nominated by President Obama to be the next Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff. At the same time, Marine General Joseph Dunford was nominated as the next Joint Chiefs
of Staff Chairman – the principal military advisor to the President and his national security team.
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Gen. Selva recognizes the importance of U.S.-flag shipping and has made many statements of
support for our industry saying that the U.S. would be ill-equipped to project its power in any
future contingency without the invaluable contributions of a robust U.S. Merchant Marine.
TRANSCOM is responsible for the global, joint movement of combat units, sustainment cargo,
and service member household goods and privately owned vehicles. A successor at
TRANSCOM has not yet been nominated. Gen. Selva is expected to face relatively smooth
sailing through his Senate confirmation.
3rd A/E NEEDED FOR NCL CRUISE SHIP
Norwegian Cruise Line, America is looking for a relief 3rd Assistant Engineer on the PRIDE OF
AMERICA. The job runs approximately from May 9, 2015 to August 29, 2015. Preference will
be for Group I Members. A valid physical and drug free certificate is preferred. If you are
interested in the position please e-mail or fax a resume to Headquarters c/o Mark Gallagher at
mgallagher@mebaunion.org or by fax to (202) 638-5369. Even if you have sent a resume to HQ
prior to this, M.E.B.A. needs to know your availability.
NW MICHIGAN COLLEGE SEEKS ENGINEERING INSTRUCTOR
Northwestern Michigan College is seeking to fill three full-time positions including Maritime
Engineering Instructor - Department Head; President's Office Assistant; and Nursing Instructor Mental Health.
Applications must be submitted online. For more details or to apply, go to https://nmc.edu/jobs "Click here to apply" to view the posting and job description. At the bottom of the posting under
"Apply," click "New Resume" or "Existing Resume/CV" to apply to this posting.
MARITIME ISSUES MULLED DURING ROUNDTABLE WITH DOT SECRETARY
Last week, the M.E.B.A. took part in a roundtable hosted by the AFL-CIO’s Transportation
Trades Department (TTD) to promote its policy agenda with Secretary of Transportation
Anthony Foxx. M.E.B.A. is a founding member of the TTD which represents 32 member unions
in the maritime, aviation, rail, transit, trucking, highway, longshore, and related industries. There
was extended conversation on highways, aviation and rail, but maritime issues important to the
M.E.B.A. were addressed at the meeting. M.E.B.A. President Marshall Ainley and SecretaryTreasurer Bill Van Loo attended on behalf of the Union.
“Working to ensure critical investments in our transportation system has always been
one of TTD’s greatest strengths,” said Secretary Foxx. “At the Department of
Transportation, we recognize our transportation union partners as essential allies in
keeping workers safe and maintaining America’s competitiveness in the global
economy.”
“Washington, DC is too often defined by dysfunction and inaction,” said TTD
President Edward Wytkind, following the roundtable. “Today’s dialogue with
Secretary Foxx focused on how we can cooperate to break this cycle of gridlock and
make meaningful progress on the transportation issues that confront the nation.”
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FRC REPORT ACCEPTED
The report presented by a member-chosen rank and file committee that reviewed the Union’s
finances from the year 2014 was accepted in a vote this week at the M.E.B.A. Union halls. The
six-person Financial Review Committee spent three days at M.E.B.A. Headquarters in April.
Their findings were presented at the May membership meetings and put to a vote to either
“accept” or “reject” the report. This year’s committee consisted of Brian Evjen (Houston Chairman), Scott Bell (Seattle - Recording Secretary), Gabriel Gillogly (Oakland), Vincent
Quinones (NY/NJ) and Ray Rokicki (Norfolk).
MOU COVERING NEW SEAKAY SPIRIT
M.E.B.A. has agreed to terms With Keystone Shipping on a new Memorandum of
Understanding covering the SEAKAY SPIRIT, a tanker recently brought into the U.S.-flag fleet.
Expert M.E.B.A. engine and deck officers will be crewing up the vessel next month. The
Suezmax tanker will operate between the East and Gulf Coasts making stops at oil refinery ports.
The MOU will be sent to Union halls for review by members. It will be put before the
membership for a ratification vote at the regular membership meetings in June.
The company is still considering resumes from committed PIC-qualified steam engine and deck
officers for this great opportunity. You can send them to Keystone’s Dave Schultze at
dschultze@keyship.com.
FAST TRACK TO LOWER WAGES?
Labor continues its opposition to legislation that would allow trade deals (like the Trans-Pacific
Partnership) race closer to reality without the necessary debate to ensure worker protections. Fast
Track legislation introduced in both House and Senate would establish a process that would help
speed up trade deals toward a vote in Congress with no amendments and limited debate. Pres.
Obama has been championing the effort with Republican support. So far, the legislation has
drawn support from only a handful of Democrats which promises a tight vote on the respective
House and Senate floors later this month. Labor has been pushing hard to stop the legislation in
its tracks. They say that once legislators have the Fast Track ticket in their hands, they are free to
agree to provisions that will send jobs overseas, reduce the bargaining power of workers,
jeopardize health and safety regulations and give corporations more control over our economy
and our trading partners' economies. “We say ‘no’ to Fast Track, we say ‘yes’ to fair trade,”
declared Larry Cohen, president of the Communications Workers of America (CWA). “We’re
tired of the race to the bottom, we’re tired of an $11 trillion trade deficit in the United States.”
M.E.B.A. DATABASE UPDATE
Make sure to help update our database with your latest info. Fill out the form at a hall or online
at http://mebaunion.org/update.pdf
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, June 8 – Boston@1200; Seattle@1300;
Tuesday, June 9 – Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School@1430; Charleston@1400;
Houston@1315; San Francisco (Oakland)@1230;
Wednesday, June 10 – Jacksonville@1300; New Orleans@1315;
Thursday, June 11 – New York (New Jersey)@1300; Norfolk@1430; Tampa@1300;
Friday, June 8 – Honolulu@1100; L.A. (Wilmington)@1230.
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