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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: 4
Date: 3/19/15
Telex Times
#12
E-Mail: [email protected]
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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 12
MARCH 19, 2015
In this issue//POID Votes to Raise Dues Percentage//Chevron Wage Reopener//Golden Gate
Ferry Members Ratify Contract//Uniform Dispatch Policy for CG Medical Certs//Members
Sought for Starring Role on M.E.B.A. Facebook Page//MAERSK KENSINGTON Flags-In//
POID MEMBERS VOTE TO BOOST DUES LEVEL
Our shoreside members working for American President Lines are enthusiastically embracing
the benefits of Union membership and have signed on for continued effective representation.
Members in the Professional Office and Industrial Division (POID) overwhelmingly endorsed
raising their own dues to continue the outstanding level of service that helped secure huge gains
for POID workers following APL’s relocation of its Colorado office to Tennessee, a right-towork state. M.E.B.A. POID members are also looking forward to an additional 2.5% contractual
wage increase in May.
The POID division is the backbone of American President Lines’ administrative workforce
performing the clerical work that helps ensure that APL vessels move on time and are loaded
with revenue-producing freight.
In a 30-day referendum conducted online, POID members voted strongly in favor of raising their
own dues from 1.3% to 2.5% of their base pay. The polls closed this morning at 10 a.m. and the
tabulated results were available immediately. TrueBallot, Inc., which conducted M.E.B.A.’s
Officers election in 2013 as well as an online POID election several years back, served as the
election administrator. They facilitated a secure process that made it extremely easy for our
members to exercise their democratic right.
POID Representative April Fleischer noted that, “The M.E.B.A. has been incredibly supportive
of POID, especially over the last few years – during closures, relocations, negotiations, and
arbitrations…Many of the members said it was time to pay back and show our appreciation to
this great Union that we are honored to belong to.”
83% of voting POID members supported the increase which won’t go into effect until June. The
dues bump was necessary to help offset the costs expended over the last tumultuous year and a
half battling on behalf of the POID unit, as well as for continued future challenges. The current
POID contract will expire in May 2016 and our negotiators will work tenaciously to improve the
benefits our hardworking POID members deserve.
Executive V.P. Adam Vokac was gratified by the POID unit’s decision. “The members have
spoken. They want to provide the resources for the Union to defend each POID member and all
the well-earned contract language of the POID unit. With this victory, the M.E.B.A. has the tools
to maintain POID benefits, as well as prepare for 2016. I want to thank Ms. Fleischer and all the
POID delegates for their continued hard work, dedication, and values; they have truly made a
difference.”
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M.E.B.A. CONCLUDES SUCCESSFUL WAGE REOPENER WITH CHEVRON
M.E.B.A. recently wrapped up successful negotiations with Chevron USA and closed on a
tentative agreement. M.E.B.A. represents the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Engineers in the U.S.-flag Chevron
fleet as well as the Second and Third Mates.
Even with the huge drop in crude oil prices and Chevron curtailing major projects, M.E.B.A.
negotiators were able to achieve an 8 ½ % raise over two years including a front-loaded 5% this
year. The M.E.B.A. team was headed up by Executive V.P. Adam Vokac and included Oakland
Patrolman Christian Yuhas, who assumed a leadership role in the talks and L.A. Patrolman John
McElhone. Negotiations were aided by rank and file members who included 2nd A/E Robert
Hayward, 1st A/E Dave Cash, 2nd A/E Ryan Cash, Junior First Officer Varun Bhalla and 2nd A/E
Jeff Jones. M.E.B.A. Retiree Duncan Ballenger should also be thanked for his participation.
M.E.B.A. and Chevron also pledged to work closer on training and future work and both sides
agreed to sit down in the next few months to improve collaboration in all areas.
GOLDEN GATE FERRY MEMBERS RATIFY NEW CONTRACT
M.E.B.A. Ferry Masters sailing aboard the vessels in the Golden Gate Bridge, Highway and
Transportation District have unanimously ratified their new contract. The Golden Gate Ferry
System has been operating since 1970 on the San Francisco Bay, serving Marin and San
Francisco. The M.E.B.A. has represented the Ferry Masters since the inception of the Golden
Gate Ferry System.
Wage increases for the contract were set at 3%, 3% and 3% for the three year Memorandum of
Understanding, negotiated in concert with the Golden Gate Bridge Labor Coalition. Additional
training programs were instituted and a myriad of side table issues which benefit our Ferry
Masters were agreed upon including a substantial bonus for Captains when they lead training
evolutions.
Executive Vice President Adam Vokac and Oakland M.E.B.A. Patrolman Christian Yuhas, as
well as M.E.B.A. Shop Steward Robert Barley and Retired M.E.B.A. Representative Dave Nolan
worked tirelessly with the Coalition and the District to help nail down the agreement.
UNIFORM DISPATCH POLICY FOR USCG MEDICAL CERTIFICATE
As of April 2, 2014 the USCG sent out the new Medical Certificates to all applicable mariners.
The Coast Guard stated that the expiration dates on these medical certificates “will vary
depending upon when the mariner’s MMC expires.” In order to ensure there is a consistent
policy, with regards to expiring Medical Certificates and the dispatching of jobs with STCW
requirements in all Outports, the M.E.B.A. District Executive Committee issued the following
dispatch policy now in place:
A member/applicant cannot be dispatched for a job requiring STCW credentials if the USCG
Medical Certificate will expire prior to the completion of the job called. For example, if a job is
called for 90 days, the member’s medical certificate must be good for 90+ days. If a job is called
for 45 days, the member’s medical certificate must be good for 45+ days.
Additionally if a Leave of Absence is taken during a job, for whatever reason, all documents will
be reviewed again, as per current procedure and in accordance with this policy, when the
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individual returns to work, i.e. the Medical Certificate will be reviewed to ensure it will not
expire for the duration of the remainder of the job. It is recommended that members request the
required Coast Guard medical form at each annual physical and submit the paperwork well in
advance of their certificate’s expiration date.
APL PORT ENGINEER AND/OR ASST. P.E. (TEMP./PERM.) NEEDED
American President Lines has opportunities for interested and qualified personnel for the
position of Port Engineer and/or Assistant Port Engineer (Temporary/Permanent). The
candidates should hold a valid license. Previous shoreside experience is a plus. The positions will
be located in Oakland, California. Qualified personnel should submit their resumes to: John
Dragone at [email protected] and Christian Yuhas, Oakland M.E.B.A. Patrolman
at [email protected].
MEMBERS SOUGHT FOR STARRING ROLE ON M.E.B.A. FACEBOOK PAGE
You’re at the top of your game. You’re an extremely hard worker – and you’re soooo good
looking! Send us your “on the job” photos and we’ll get it out to the world via the M.E.B.A.
Facebook page! So far talent agencies and Hollywood scouts aren’t beating down the doors. But
there’s always a first time! E-mail your photos to [email protected] and we’ll put you on a
pathway to the stars! Digital photographs should be taken at the highest resolution setting. In all
cases, make sure you I.D. your photos.
MAERSK KENSINGTON FLAGS-IN
M.E.B.A.’s Facebook site is supplemented with new content at least five times a week. Today
there was a photo of the first M.E.B.A. crew of the MAERSK KENSINGTON. Maersk Line Ltd.
is flagging out three of its older Champion-class vessels that had been sailing in the TP-5 trade
(SEA-LAND LIGHTNING, SEA-LAND INTREPID and SEA-LAND COMET). Flagging-in
are three newer vessels from the Maersk international fleet (SAFMARINE NGAMI, MAERSK
KENSINGTON and MAERSK KINLOSS). The KENSINGTON was flagged-in to the Stars and
Stripes on Tuesday in Houston. It will sail between the U.S. East Coast and the Middle East. Its
first M.E.B.A. crew consists of C/E Mike Pride, 1st A/E Richard Mossman, 2nd A/E Andrew
Conroy, 3rd A/E Andrew Egan and 3rd A/E Ethan Barlow.
SIGN UP FOR M.E.B.A. VACATION PLAN DIRECT DEPOSIT
Visit M.E.B.A. Plans website (www.mebaplans.org under Forms, Vacation). Contact (800) 8116322 or [email protected] for more info.
REGULAR MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, April 6 – Boston@1200; Seattle@1300;
Tuesday, April 7 – Calhoon M.E.B.A. Engineering School@1430; Charleston@1400;
Houston@1315; San Francisco (Oakland)@1230;
Wednesday, April 8 – Jacksonville@1300; New Orleans@1315;
Thursday, April 9 – L.A. (Wilmington)@1230; New York (New Jersey)@1300; Norfolk@1430;
Tampa@1300;
Friday, April 10 – Honolulu@1100.
-----FINISHED WITH ENGINES-----
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