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MARINE ENGINEERS' BENEFICIAL ASSOCIATION
(AFL-CIO)
"On
Watch in Peace and War Since 1875"
MEBA
TELEX TIMES MARCH
13, 2009
The Official Union Newsletter
NUMBER
11
In
this issue...
EFCA bills introduced...Full funding for
MSP is a done deal...HMT bill introduced...Latest M.E.B.A. ship christened...In
an award-winning edition that deserves a medal, we congratulate you for
selecting the newsletter MVP that belongs in your trophy case. There's no
consolation for meritless, runner-up newsletters worthy of the Booby Prize --
they'll get their "just deserts!" We pay tribute to the news and honor you with
the blue ribbon industry items of the week that earn the maritime seal of
approval. Reading the Telex Times is a rewarding experience!
EMPLOYEE
FREE CHOICE ACT INTRODUCED IN HOUSE & SENATE
The push to bring about much-needed change
in the way unions organize workers officially began this week when the Employee
Free Choice Act (EFCA) was introduced in both House and Senate. EFCA would amend
the National Labor Relations Act to establish an efficient system to enable
employees to form, join, or assist labor organizations and to provide for
mandatory injunctions for unfair labor practices during organizing drives. Rep,
George Miller (D-CA) introduced the House measure (H.R. 1409) with Sen. Tom
Harkin (D-Iowa) forwarded the Senate bill (S. 560).
Sen. Harkin said that the bill would help rebuild the middle class and
reinvigorate the economy. "Today is one of those defining moments in history as
we introduce legislation that puts power back into the hands of the people who
are truly the backbone of this economy."
"Americans' wages have been stagnating or falling for the past decade, Rep.
Miller noted. "For far too long, we have seen corporate CEOs take care of
themselves and shareholders at the expense of workers. If we want a fair and
sustainable recovery from this economic crisis, we must give workers the ability
to stand up for themselves and once again share in the prosperity they help to
create."
Already, anti-union attacks have come to the forefront in various media outlets
as have many mischaracterizations of the bill that opponents hope will drum up
furor against the legislation. One of the misconceptions being pushed about the
bill is that it would put an end to secret ballots. However, under the
legislation secret ballots would be mandated in an election if okayed by a mere
30% of the employees. The change would be that the bill gives the power to the
workers to decide whether they want a secret ballot rather than the matter being
decided by the employers.
Bill supporters say that the Act is needed to level out the current broken
system that allows intimidation of workers who try to form unions. They also say
that the Act will help serve as part of an economic stimulus package aiding
workers. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Health,
Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, pointed out that "the current crisis
has shown us the dangers of an economy that leaves working families behind. The
people who work in our factories, build our roads, and care for our children are
the backbone of this great nation. The Employee Free Choice Act will give these
hardworking men and women a greater voice in the decisions that affect their
families and their futures. It's a critical step toward putting our economy back
on track, and I hope that we can act quickly to send it to the President's
desk."
AFL-CIO President John Sweeney said that he is confident the Act "will become
the law of the land.. Independent polling shows that 73 percent of the public
supports it - and that support comes from every region, every demographic group
and every political party. Still, the debate will be tough. Wealthy corporate
interests don't want to give up power and they are spending hundreds of millions
of dollars to lie about what the bill does. But hard working Americans will not
let their voices be silenced by wealthy CEOs and corporate lobbyists. Passing
the Employee Free Choice Act will allow workers to have a voice at work, lift
their standard of living and build stronger communities as well as stronger
families. The bill will allow workers to form a union if a majority indicates in
writing that they want one, taking away the right of corporations to demand a
ballot election they can readily manipulate. Workers can also choose a ballot
election if they prefer -but it will be their choice, not their company's."
LAUTENBERG
BILL WOULD PAVE WAY FOR SHORT SEA SHIPPING
Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-NJ) has
reintroduced a bill that would remove a major impediment standing in the way of
a more expansive short sea shipping system in this country. Specifically, the
bill amends the Internal Revenue Code to exempt the waterborne transportation of
cargo between domestic U.S. ports from the Harbor Maintenance Tax (HMT). Under
present practice, the HMT is imposed on cargo entering a U.S. port from an
overseas market. The tax is assessed again on the same cargo when it moves by
water on U.S.-flag vessels along our coasts to other American ports thus putting
U.S. flagships at a competitive disadvantage.
The multiple taxation of cargo under the HMT only applies to waterborne
transportation. It does not apply to cargo moving domestically by truck or rail.
The M.E.B.A. legislative team has been working hard on behalf of this
legislation. There is a good chance that the bill will be successful in the
current legislative session.
FULL
FUNDING FOR MSP PASSED, SIGNED
President Obama signed off on an Omnibus
Appropriations bill this week that includes full funding for the Maritime
Security Program. The bill contained nine appropriations bills that were left
over from the last legislative session.
$174 million is provided for the 60-ship Maritime Security Program which is
overseen by the Maritime Administration.
REP.
THOMPSON PLEDGES JONES ACT, TWIC FOCUS
The AFL-CIO's Maritime Trades Department
has reported that the chair of the House Homeland Security Committee has
promised to make maritime issues a priority in this Congress - most notably port
security, the Jones Act and the Transportation Workers' Identification Card (TWIC).
Speaking before the Maritime Trades Department's 2009 executive board meeting,
Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-MS) said of the Jones Act, America's preeminent cabotage
law, "We are going to protect it." Not only that, but House Democrats plan to
"take it one step further." He believes that some waivers that are routinely
given by federal offices like the Department of Defense and the Federal
Emergency Management Agency should be more closely scrutinized.
Another matter of importance is port security. "We want to make sure that it
remains a priority," he said. Technology is important, and as head of the
Homeland Security Committee he will do all he can to promote it. However,
technology isn't the only answer. "It's the eyes and ears of your members," he
told the MTD board members. "They know what's going on."
Finally, Thompson addressed continuing problems with the TWIC program. The
federal, state and local governments are having difficulty in meeting the April
deadline for compliance. He promised, "Your members still will be able to work
if their card doesn't come."
He also talked about the need to streamline the program, pointing to the fact
that there have been instances where four separate TWIC cards have been
required. Moreover, the federal government through its contractor is far behind
schedule in ensuring that scanners will be available in a timely manner. "We are
going to make sure that the readers actually read," he said.
He pointed to his track record so far in making that promise. Thompson was
responsible for ensuring that the government's overly restrictive and at times
vague standards for issuing TWIC documents were put in line with how the real
world operates. While well meaning, the congressman noted some of the standards
were "the right string, wrong yo-yo." "Whatever problems come up (concerning
TWIC), we will correct them," he promised.
WALLY
SCHIRRA IS CHRISTENED
M.E.B.A. took part in a ceremony last
weekend at NASSCO Shipyard in San Diego to welcome in the dry cargo/ammunition
ship USNS WALLY SCHIRRA. The christening for the M.E.B.A.-crewed vessel took
place on Sunday for this eighth ship in the T-AKE program. M.E.B.A. President
Don Keefe as well as Government Fleet Representative Randi Ciszewski attended on
behalf of the Union. The Navy expects to build 14 T-AKEs, the first 11 of which
will serve as combat logistics ships. The remaining three are expected to be
part of the Maritime Prepositioning Force (Future). All 14 of the ships will be
owned and operated by MSC. The Lewis & Clark class T-AKEs are built to deliver
ammunition, provisions, stores, spare parts, potable water and petroleum
products to the Navy's underway carrier and expeditionary strike groups. This
underway replenishment allows the Navy ships to stay at sea, on station and
combat ready for extended periods of time. M.E.B.A. engineers serve aboard all
of the T-AKEs.
This latest vessel is named in honor of the fifth American launched into space,
Navy Captain Walter M. "Wally" Schirra, Jr. NASSCO began constructing the ship
in October 2007 and is scheduled to deliver it to the MSC in the third quarter
of 2009. When the WALLY SCHIRRA joins the fleet, its primary mission will be to
deliver more than 10,000 tons of food, ammunition, fuel and other provisions to
combat ships at sea.
Mrs. Josephine Schirra, the widow of Wally Schirra and the ship's sponsor,
christened the ship by breaking the traditional bottle of champagne against the
bow before the 689-foot-long ship slid into San Diego Bay. Approximately 1,500
people attended the ceremony, including former astronauts Bill Anders, Scott
Carpenter, Jim Lovell and Tom Stafford.
Schirra (1923-2007) graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in June 1945. After
World War II ended, he trained as a Navy pilot and later became the second naval
aviator to log 1,000 hours in jet aircraft. Chosen as one of the original seven
American astronauts, he was the only person to fly in America's first three
space programs: Mercury, Gemini and Apollo. He retired from the Navy and
resigned from NASA in July 1969, and he later lived in retirement in San Diego.
All of the Lewis and Clark ships are named in honor of American explorers and
pioneers. The names selected for the next four ships will be USNS MATTHEW PERRY,
USNS CHARLES DREW, USNS WASHINGTON CHAMBERS and USNS WILLIAM McLEAN.
ONE
MILLION ENROLLED IN TWIC
One million transportation workers at ports
around the country have enrolled in the TWIC program, the Department of Homeland
Security's Transportation Security Administration (TSA) reported.
According to the TSA, 1,004,376 workers have enrolled for TWIC, and 767,549
cards have been issued. Those figures are up dramatically from December 8th when
it was reported that 692,523 were enrolled and 451,691 cards had been issued.
"American ports from coast to coast are more secure today because of the
significant progress this program has made," said Gale Rossides, acting
administrator, Transportation Security Administration (TSA). "Enrolling 1
million workers in less than 18 months is a testament to the collaborative
efforts of TSA and the United States Coast Guard on this important maritime
security effort."
As of March 9, thirty-six of the 42 Captain of the Port Zones across the country
require workers to have a TWIC. All ports must be in compliance with credential
requirements by April 14, 2009. Port security personnel are trained to ensure
workers have valid cards and Coast Guard officials are conducting random
compliance inspections at these ports. More than 150 fixed enrollment centers
will ultimately vet more than 1.2 million maritime transportation system workers
by the April deadline. In addition to fixed sites, more than 450 mobile
enrollment sites have been deployed, registering workers at locations convenient
to their places of employment.
Workers are able to pre-enroll for TWIC online at
www.tsa.gov/twic or the
Coast Guard's Homeport site,
http://homeport.uscg.mil. Pre-enrolling speeds up the process by
allowing workers to provide biographic information and schedule a time to
complete the application process in person. This eliminates waiting at
enrollment centers and reduces the time it takes to enroll.
FINAL
2009 LUMP SUM FACTORS & FINAL 2009 SECTION 415 LIMITS
The M.E.B.A. Plan Actuary has calculated
lump sum factors using the segmented interest rates corresponding to the months
of August, September, October, November and December. The lump sum factors
determined using the month of December result in the most favorable lump sum
factors for Plan Participants planning retirement during 2009. The Final Lump
Sum Factors based on the blending of segmented corporate bond rates of 4.41%,
4.57% and 4.27% for December and the final Section 415 annual limits for
calendar year 2009 are:
Column (A): Age Nearest Retirement
Column (B): 2009 Lump Sum Factor
Column (C): 2009 Monthly Annuity Limit
Column (D): 2009 Annual Annuity 415 Limit
Column (E): 2009 Lump Sum 415 Limit
Column (F): 2009 Lump Sum Annuity Equivalent
(A) (B)
(C) (D)
(E)
(F)
75 107.20 $36,302
$435,633 $3,634,608 $406,859
74 111.69 $33,261
$399,137 $3,457,589 $371,484
73 116.18 $30,529
$366,357 $3,289,177 $339,732
72 120.63 $28,070
$336,842 $3,128,959 $311,261
71 125.06 $25,849
$310,188 $2,976,544 $285,611
70 129.45 $23,843
$286,118 $2,831,558 $262,485
69 133.77 $22,029
$264,348 $2,693,642 $241,636
68 138.05 $20,381
$244,578 $2,562,456 $222,741
67 142.27 $18,881
$226,574 $2,437,675 $205,609
66 146.45 $17,508
$210,106 $2,318,984 $190,015
65 150.61 $16,250
$195,000 $2,206,087 $175,772
64 154.74 $16,250
$195,000 $2,259,332 $175,209
63 158.82 $16,250
$195,000 $2,311,944 $174,684
62 162.87 $16,250
$195,000 $2,363,899 $174,168
61 166.86 $15,132
$181,591 $2,248,873 $161,731
60 170.81 $14,104
$169,249 $2,139,461 $150,304
59 174.68 $13,157
$157,884 $2,035,388 $139,825
58 178.46 $12,284
$147,410 $1,936,394 $130,206
57 182.16 $11,478
$137,745 $1,842,233 $121,359
56 185.78 $10,734
$128,819 $1,752,668 $113,209
55 189.33 $10,047
$120,570 $1,667,475 $105,686
54 192.79 $ 9,411
$112,943 $1,586,442 $ 98,746
53 196.16 $ 8,823
$105,884 $1,509,366 $ 92,334
52 199.41 $ 8,278
$ 99,342 $1,436,054 $ 86,418
51 202.57 $ 7,772
$ 93,271 $1,366,322 $ 80,939
50 205.61 $ 7,302
$ 87,632 $1,299,994 $ 75,871
As an example, the lump sum factor for a 56 year old participant would be
185.78. In 2009, Section 415 would limit this 56 year old participant to an
annual annuity of $128,819, or a maximum monthly pension of $10,734. This
monthly annuity, when converted to a lump sum using the factor of 185.78 would
result in a lump sum of $1,994,162. However, because of limits originally
imposed by the 2004 Pension Funding Equity Act which have now been revived and
made permanent by the Pension Protection Act of 2006, the actual lump sum this
56 year old will receive is $1,752,668. This actual lump sum, when converted
back to an annuity equivalent using the 185.78 factor used above, results in an
annual annuity of $113,208 or a monthly benefit of $9,434.
SELF-ASSESSMENT
ELECTRICAL EXAM ON CMES WEBSITE
Are you qualified to take MEP, Electrical
Troubleshooting, Industrial Electronics, or PLC courses? If you are not sure, a
Self-Assessment Electrical Exam is now available on the Calhoon M.E.B.A.
Engineering School website (www.mebaschool.org).
The upper level electrical and electronics courses offered at the School now
include only very brief reviews of fundamental electrical concepts, or no review
at all. These courses include MEP, Industrial Electronics, Electrical
Troubleshooting, and PLC. Entrants for these courses are expected to possess a
basic electrical knowledge. For students that are unsure of their ability to
meet this expectation, a basic electrical self-assessment test is posted on the
school web site as a downloadable PDF file (see "What's New"). For those that
score marginally on this test, there is now a one-week Electricity refresher
course available. Those who score poorly on the test are recommended to take the
4-week Electricity course.
REGULAR
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Monday, April 6 - Boston, Jacksonville,
Seattle;
Tuesday, April 7 - Baltimore, Houston, San Francisco;
Wednesday, April 8 - Charleston, New Orleans, Portland;
Thursday, April 9 - Honolulu; L.A., New York, Norfolk, Tampa
--------FINISHED WITH ENGINES---------
