Members have confirmed their desire for a true national shipping card in a lopsided vote that was tabulated this week following a 90-day referendum. "This allows needed flexibility for our hardworking members and ushers in a more efficient system suitable for a national union," M.E.B.A. President Don Keefe ascertained. "This is something I’ve been working towards since I came into office and I’m gratified by the almost 3 to 1 vote in its favor."

At issue was whether the membership wished to change the Shipping Rules to avoid having to re-register at another M.E.B.A. location to seek work when traveling between halls. Currently a member wanting to ship out of another hall has to first go to his or her port of registration to fill out paperwork and secure copies to bring to the second Union hall. After traveling to the hall, the registration process begins anew before the member can seek work. The new simplified transfer system spares the paperwork at the member’s hall of registration and allows the member to travel directly to the hall where they wish to ship out – thus saving them from additional travel and expense. Approximately 73% of the votes favored a National Shipping Card.

A seven-person rank and file committee had been elected by members at the March meetings to travel to Washington D.C. earlier this week to oversee the counting of the ballots. This Tallying Committee joined the independent arbitrator – the American Arbitration Association – to ensure the accuracy of the count. Bill Cadden (New York) chaired the Committee that included Dave Nashif (Seattle), Tom Bands (Baltimore), Tim Smith (Houston – Recording Secretary), Jim Rowe (Oakland - Alternate), Mark Collins (New Orleans - Alternate) and Martin Wolf (Los Angeles).

Details to implement the new system are being worked on. It is expected that it will be put in place in the very near future.

When completed, the 600-foot long vessel will be sold to American Shipping Company and bareboat chartered to OSG America for use transporting petroleum products. Expert M.E.B.A. officers will crew the vessel.

M.E.B.A. Port Engineers are needed immediately in both New Orleans and Jacksonville for LMSR work with ASM/Patriot.

Members should e-mail their resumes as soon as possible to Baltimore Branch Agent Tom Suneson at tsuneson@mebaunion.org as well as ASM/Patriot’s Lisa Hernandez at crewing@ASMHQ.com.

Union representatives meeting in Berlin voted to launch a new campaign to persuade all governments to commit the resources necessary to end the increasing problem of Somalia-based piracy.

Seafarers’ delegates at International transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) meetings in Germany authorized the Federation to build a campaign that is hoped to deliver half a million signatures to governments by World Maritime Day, September 23rd. The campaign will call on them to close the circle on protection of ships, and for those states now ducking their responsibilities to stand up and follow the example of those which are actively involved in combating the threat.

The petition will call on nations to: Dedicate significant resources and work to find real solutions to the growing piracy problem; Take immediate steps to secure the release and safe return of kidnapped seafarers to their families; and Work within the international community to secure a stable and peaceful future for Somalia and its people.

The Berlin meeting also agreed to support the inclusion, where appropriate, of armed military personnel on ships in addition to the commitment by flag states of naval vessels. The ITF remains firmly opposed to the arming of seafarers. It is also gravely concerned by attempts to prevent the payment of ransoms and considers that it is the duty of shipowners and flag states to take all necessary measures to swiftly reunite seafarers with their families when they are held hostage. The ITF also stated that it is unforgiveable that the major flag of convenience states have done little more to fight piracy than sign pieces of paper. They have taken no other concrete action, nor have they used their flag state jurisdiction to enable the prosecution of any pirates.

The report identifies the line haul, commodity carrying fleet of inland barges operating on the Mississippi River system, its connecting waterways and the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The report, which is compiled through an annual survey of operators as well as information from the Army Corps of Engineers, also summarizes the size and average age of the fleet by barge operator for each type of barge. Included are covered barges that move grains and oilseeds, fertilizers, steel and other products, as well as open barges that haul coal, sand, gravel and similar product types. Details on tank barges that transport liquid products, such as crude oils and renewable fuels, also are incorporated into the report.

The Coast Guard issued a new safety alert to serve as a reminder about the importance of properly maintaining and repairing vessel electrical systems including those located in inaccessible or confined areas. They cited the example of a young mariner employed onboard a Great Lakes bulk carrier being electrocuted while working in a dark and confined cargo tunnel beneath the ship's cargo holds. Another crewmember discovered the fallen mariner, went to his aid and received an electric shock sustaining a serious injury.

The investigation of this incident revealed that both crewmembers' heads had contacted a broken lamp fixture. The fixture lacked a light bulb, a globe, and a guard. It appears that, at one time the fixture was separated from its connection box and a repair was made using electrical tape to cover some open wires without properly replacing the connecting fitting between the fixture and the box. It also appears that the connection box was ungrounded due to the use of tie wraps instead of solid metal fasteners. This dangerous latent unsafe condition existed until the crewmember brushed his head against it and was killed. Likewise, the second mariner also brushed his head upon the fixture as he was responding to his fallen shipmate and was shocked. Fortunately, he survived.

The Coast Guard stated that, "All crewmembers must do their best to ensure their safety as well as the safety of their co-worker by reporting and acting to correct unsafe conditions. Further, it is critical that vessel and shoreside management personnel establish and maintain effective programs where unsafe conditions like this one can be reported, acted upon and effectively managed. Employees must not be hindered from or retaliated against for reporting and documenting such concerns. These principles have been widely adopted in maritime and other industries as Safety Management Systems."

"Eliminating unsafe conditions also makes good business sense. The associated post accident costs to the Owner/Operator can potentially be very substantial. Further, there's a societal cost to deaths and injuries caused by these casualties that can't be fully measured. Ultimately, no lengthy cost benefit analysis was needed in this case as the issue was very clear. A hazardous condition was found but the repair was grossly inadequate and didn't eliminate the unsafe condition."

"As a result of this casualty, the Coast Guard strongly recommends to vessel Owners/Operators, Port Captains/Engineers, crewmembers, and marine inspection personnel, especially those associated with older vessels, to be alert for such hazards and to take immediate action to report, properly document and correct any hazardous condition.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka issued a statement following the Senate passage of the new jobs bill that was sent to the President’s desk for signature:

"Millions of Americans who can’t find jobs can take some comfort in today’s Senate passage of a jobs bill. Not since the Great Depression have so many workers been out of work for so long. With more than 8 million jobs lost since the start of the recession and nearly 3 million new jobs needed to keep up with population growth over the same period, our country has an 11 million jobs hole. And the anguish is shared by small businesses and entire communities.

"While this legislation is a good start, we agree with Sen. Harry Reid that much more needs to be done. We need to restore the jobs that were lost to the financial debacle, and Wall Street should pay to create them. We must invest in rebuilding our crumbling infrastructure and in the green jobs of the future. We have to maintain funding for vital services by state and local governments and prevent destructive cuts in education, police and fire protection and more. We must take the additional steps needed to extend unemployment insurance and health care lifelines to the unemployed. We must increase funding for neglected communities to match people who want to work with jobs that need to be done. And we should move right now to use leftover TARP money to get credit flowing to Main Street.

"This week and next at 200 events across the country, working people are joining together with community activists at big Wall Street banks in a call for "Good Jobs Now, Make Wall Street Pay." We are demanding that Wall Street be held accountable for the jobs it destroyed and calling on lawmakers to act swiftly and boldly to put our country back to work, building on the legislation passed today."

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) wants to remind you about its new website billed as an "online lifeline" for world seafarers. Among other things, it is a source for news, advice and support with genuine world reach and accessibility for all users. Www.itfseafarers.org directly responds to ITF and seafarers’ mission-commissioned research that identified the need for new levels of electronic support for those working at sea. The ITF believes that the site is unique: the only ‘one stop shop’ for seafarers anywhere, with any level of web access and computer fluency. It offers them information on their health, their pay and safety and includes features such as: Crew Talk message boards; advice and help; Ship Look-up Tool showing vessel agreements and other information; Inside the Issues briefing area; interactive polls; trade union contact details, and an ITF inspectors’ blog.

In addition, a 3.5" square terracotta tile replica may also be purchased for $10.50. The tile is laser engraved with the same content as the donated brick. Most brick donors enjoy having this small replica to display and show to others. Benches are still needed for the park. These also have an engraved plaque attached, engraved with your dedication. Prices for benches are available upon request.

All donations to the MMMMF are tax deductible. Please contact Anne Higgins: (410) 822-9600 Ext. 338 - ahiggins@mebaschool.org for more information and price quotes.

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 Nina Timonina at (516) 488-8800 with any specific questions about these opportunities.

Monday, April 5 – Boston; Jacksonville; Seattle;
Tuesday, April 6 – Baltimore/Calhoon School@CMES, Houston, San Francisco (Oakland);
Wednesday, April 7 – Charleston, New Orleans;
Thursday, April 8 – L.A. (Wilmington), New York (New Jersey), Norfolk, Tampa;
Friday, April 9 – Honolulu.