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:
Date: 2/13/14
Telex Times
#07
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 7
FEBRUARY 13, 2014
In this issue…APL Shift of POID Unit to Tennessee Causes Friction…Guidance on Renewing
Engineer Endorsements under New Rules…Coast Guard Bill Reported to House with New
Maritime Amendments…Farm Bill/Food Aid Provisions Signed into Law…Note on MLP
Vessels, Etc…Union Plus Credit Card Program…Chief Engineer Needed for CARAT…Obama
Nominates Selva to Succeed Fraser at USTRANSCOM…
APL SHIFT OF POID UNIT TO TENNESSEE CAUSES FRICTION
American President Lines (APL), one of M.E.B.A.’s contracted shipping companies, operates a
fleet of containerships. Supporting the movement of this extensive shipping network are the
experienced shoreside professionals at the Professional Office and Industrial Division (POID).
POID is a division of the M.E.B.A with members primarily located in Denver, Colorado where
they use their wealth of experience to ensure APL vessels move on time and are loaded with
revenue-producing freight.
Last year, APL announced the logistical operations conducted by the POID members were to be
relocated to Tennessee which is a “right-to-work state.” The company announced their
preliminary relocation plans as required by the POID contract. APL also promised to provide
additional details, including wage, benefits and if elected, a severance package. They have not
offered our members relocation expenses.
The contract between APL and POID requires the company provide existing employees an
option to relocate while continuing employment. The CBA also requires M.E.B.A. and APL to
negotiate the wages of relocated members, an issue that has become a major sticking point. APL
has proposed considerably lower wages for the Tennessee-based members. M.E.B.A.’s position
is the new wage rates should be significantly higher taking into account the cost of living in the
new destination.
Employees located in Colorado have sought assurances from the company, through our Union,
on a definitive wage package should they choose to relocate. The M.E.B.A., on behalf of the
POID employees working at APL, has made a proposal that reflects what those wages should be
as required by the contract.
APL’s failure to provide a realistic wage rate and relocation expenses for employees interested in
remaining employed with APL has prevented their ability to make an informed choice to accept
the contractually bargained severance package or accept relocation. M.E.B.A. believes POID
members and their families have a right under the contract to vital financial information before
uprooting family, removing children from school and moving hundreds of miles from their
existing homes.
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Based on the contract and need for economic certainty, the M.E.B.A. requested APL submit the
outstanding issues to expedited arbitration. M.E.B.A.’s goal on behalf of the employees is to
have a definitive fair wage and benefit package so that our members can make a clear and
informed decision. M.E.B.A. will pursue all options including legal relief in Colorado as
necessary.
GUIDANCE ON RENEWING ENGINEER ENDORSEMENTS UNDER NEW RULES
According to the USCG Final Rule that implements the 2010 Manila Amendments, the
requirements to qualify for, or renew an STCW endorsement as Chief Engineer (46 CFR Part 11,
Subpart C, 11.325) or First Assistant Engineer (Second Engineer Officer) (46 CFR Part 11,
Subpart C, 11.327) on vessels powered by main propulsion machinery of 3,000 KW propulsion
power or more, to be valid after January 1, 2017, must provide evidence of successful
completion of approved training in the following:
1. Engine-Room Resource Management (ERM) if not completed at the operational level
2. Leadership and Management
3. Management of Electrical and Electronic control equipment
What this means is that if you upgrade or renew an STCW Chief Engineer’s, or First Engineer’s
license after March 24 of this year and before January 1, 2017, you will need to show successful
completion of these courses. If you cannot, then NMC will issue your license with a restriction
on your STCW. The restriction will be that if you do not complete these courses before January
1, 2017 your STCW engineer’s endorsement will NOT be valid. After January 1, 2017 you will
not be able to upgrade or renew without these courses.
The School already has an ERM approved course and a "Management, Communication and
Leadership" course, and is working on an Electrical and Electronic control equipment course.
We are asking for clarification from USCG as to whether all three courses will be required, or if
only the leadership and management course will be required before January 1, 2017.
If USCG responds that all three courses are required, we will put the ERM course into this year’s
schedule and perhaps increase the offerings of the "Management, Communications and
Leadership" course to meet expected demand. We will develop the "Management of Electrical
and Electronic Controls" course and get it into the schedule as soon as possible. We may also be
able to get the USCG to recognize individuals who had previously taken our "Instrumentation,"
"Industrial Electronics" or "Marine Electric Systems" as having met the requirement for the
Electrical and Electronic Control training. The USCG has not historically given back dated
approvals but we may be able to argue that this is a special case.
COAST GUARD BILL REPORTED TO HOUSE WITH NEW MARITIME
AMENDMENTS
This week, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee reported the Coast Guard
Authorization Act of 2014 out of Committee. Along with funding provided to the Coast Guard, it
does a number of things for our industry. It mandates greater consultation between the Coast
Guard and the State Academies with regard to licensing issues, it strengthens the Maritime
Administration’s cargo preference enforcement authority and it authorizes a study by the
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Government Accountability Office to examine the economic benefits to the industry to export
LNG on US-flag vessels. In addition, the bill in its current form restores the Food Aid cargo
preference requirements to 75% and it provides for a more streamlined process for Coast Guard
credit for military service. The bill will next be sent to the full House for consideration.
FARM BILL/FOOD AID PROVISIONS SIGNED INTO LAW
President Obama has signed the Agricultural Act of 2014 (Farm Bill) into law, a temporary
hiatus for the maritime industry in the battle against opponents of the Food Aid (PL-480)
program that benefits U.S. shipping. The Administration had lobbied for a proposal that would
have allowed much of the money allotted every year for food assistance to be sent to foreign
countries as cash rather than U.S. grown/shipped food assistance. M.E.B.A. helped lead the
battle to win continued Congressional support for the U.S. maritime industry and to block this
proposal.
In the end, the Administration's proposal to switch to a cash-based system was rejected though
the compromise reached increases the amount of funds that can be taken from PL-480 for
expenses incurred by private voluntary organizations. M.E.B.A.’s legislative team will continue
to work with Congress and the Administration to help policymakers understand the importance
of programs like PL-480 to the U.S. maritime industry.
NOTE ON MLP VESSELS, ETC.
M.E.B.A. is pleased that the U.S. Navy is authorizing the construction of new vessels that will
provide jobs for U.S. mariners well into the future. But concerning the Mobile Landing Platform
vessels – a series of three ships being constructed at San Diego’s NASSCO shipyard that will be
turned over to the Military Sealift Command – we got a little carried away last week stating that
our members would be serving on those particular ships. The three vessels in the class will be
operated by a non-M.E.B.A. contracted company. However, M.E.B.A. officers will serve on at
least the first five ships in the Spearhead class of Joint High Speed Vessels operated by MSC. In
addition, M.E.B.A. officers recently crewed up a newly reflagged MSC shallow draft tanker
through our contract with Patriot Contract Services - the SLNC PAX. In addition, M.E.B.A.
engineers are prepared to crew up eight Watson-Class Military Sealift Command LMSRs with
Patriot once a protest is resolved and the vessels are handed over. That could happen as soon as
next month. In other recent news, the Maritime Administration Ready Reserve Force vessel
CAPE RACE, operated by Keystone Shipping, has been shifted into Full Operating Status. It is
set to leave its Portsmouth, VA berth in support of a 60-day mission to retrieve important
Government equipment. Once underway, the vessel will change over to MSC operational
control.
UNION PLUS CREDIT CARD PROGRAM
The Union Plus Credit Card program offers union members two card choices that can help
eligible cardholders in times of need. M.E.B.A. is enrolled in dozens of moneysaving Union Plus
programs
ranging
from
life
insurance
to
legal
and
travel
discounts.
Two credit card options are available: 1. A Cash Rewards Card that earns unlimited 1.5% cash
back on every purchase with no rotating categories or complicated rewards structures. This card
is great for those who want to earn cash rewards every time they make a purchase. 2. A Rate
Advantage Card that offers a low intro APR for 15 months and is a good choice for those who
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want to transfer higher-rate balances and save on interest. Regardless of which card you choose,
after just three months, eligible cardholders also have access to assistance grants, including:




Job Loss Grants of $300 aid eligible cardholders who have recently been laid off.
Strike Grants of $300 provide assistance to eligible cardholders who are on a union
sanctioned strike or experiencing a lockout.
Disability Grants of $1,600 to $2,700 help eligible cardholders who have lost significant
income due to a long-term illness or disability.
Hospital Grants of $1,200 aid eligible cardholders with large, unreimbursed hospital
expenses.
All approved grants are paid to the cardholder by check, and they never have to be paid back. In
addition to these features, both cards continue to offer benefits like U.S.-based customer service
and $0 fraud liability protection if the card is lost or stolen. For more information on the Union
Plus Credit Card program visit UnionCardApply.com
CHIEF ENGINEER NEEDED FOR CARAT
A Chief Engineer is being sought to serve aboard the M/V CARAT, a container shuttle ship that
runs between Germany and Baltic ports. M.E.B.A. serves on the vessel through our contract with
Marine Personnel and Provisioning (MP&P/MTL). The company is looking to have the Chief
onboard by February 25th in Bremerhaven. Resumes should be sent to
Jenny.Terpenning@crowley.com. Requirements include: VSO or VPDSD; MMC with Chief
Engineer Unlimited (front & back); All associated STCW endorsements; Valid US Passport;
Drug Free Certificate; M.E.B.A. Physical stating Fit for Duty and TWIC Card (front & back).
OBAMA NOMINATES SELVA TO SUCCEED FRASER AT USTRANSCOM
President Obama has nominated Air Force General Paul J. Selva to relieve Gen. William M.
Fraser III as commander of the U.S. Transportation Command. There will likely be a March
Senate confirmation hearing on the nomination. Gen. Fraser has served as Commander since Oct.
14, 2011. Selva currently commands USTRANSCOM’s air component, Air Mobility Command.
TO SEE JOB LISTINGS PLEASE VISIT: http://mebaunion.org/MEBA/available-jobs/
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, March 3 – Boston@1200; Jacksonville@1300; Seattle@1300;
Tuesday, March 4 – Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School@1430; Charleston@1400;
Houston@1315; San Francisco (Oakland)@1230;
Wednesday, March 5 – New Orleans@1315;
Thursday, March 6 – L.A. (Wilmington)@1230; New York (New Jersey)@1300;
Norfolk@1230; Tampa@1300;
Friday, March 7 – Honolulu@1100;
--------FINISHED WITH ENGINES--------
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