THE MASTERS, MATES & PILOTS'
WHEELHOUSE WEEKLYonline

- Bridging the Information Gap With E-News You Can Use -

Volume 8 . . . . . Number 52 . . . . December 23, 2004

STORIES COVERED
ALSO
REMINDERS



 
 

Did you miss a week? Back editions of the Wheelhouse Weekly are available in the Archives section.

Friday, December 24:
MM&P HEADQUARTERS, MM&P PLANS AND MM&P FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WILL BE CLOSED FOR THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY.

Monday, December 27: 
MM&P PLANS AND MM&P FEDERAL CREDIT UNION WILL BE CLOSED. MM&P HEADQUARTERS WILL BE OPEN.


 

NEWLY RE-ELECTED MM&P OFFICIALS BEGIN WORK ON NEW TERM

After being re-elected by overwhelming margins, MM&P officials were back at work last week charting the future direction of Union as the General Executive Board met at MM&P HQ in Linthicum Heights, MD.

In reflecting on the election, International President Capt. Tim Brown said, “I am grateful, humbled and appreciative that the membership of the Masters, Mates and Pilots has re-elected me for a fourth consecutive four-year term and am also pleased that the membership has once again returned to office the current Offshore Vice Presidents, Rich May, Bob Groh and Don Marcus, who also ran in contested elections.

“Capt. Glen Banks, International Secretary-Treasurer, ran unopposed as did Capt. George Quick, Pilot Vice President, and Steve Demeroutis, United Inland Vice President. I am very pleased that the membership has placed faith in those officials who will lead the union over the next four years.”
 

Back to Stories Covered


 

REMINDER ON MM&P-CREWING OF T-AGS OCEANOGRAPHIC VESSELS

MM&P is working with Horizon Lines to get crew assignments for the T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels. The last two ships to be crewed will be in Norfolk, VA in mid-January.

MM&P and Horizon Lines will soon start on the crewing of the RELIEF CREW that will commence in early to mid-February. Resumes are needed from those mariners interested in ALL positions aboard the T-AGS vessels and their resumes should be sent to MM&P’s Director of Special Projects Richard Plant at rplant@bridgedeck.org.

Plant advisies that the following is the response he gets from Horizon lines regarding billets aboard T-AGS vessels: “This message ("get the training") should be part of your standard response to all the individuals who are asking you what their status is and what their chances are of obtaining employment aboard one of the T-AGS ships.”

Those MM&P members interested in employment aboard the T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels must acquire the proper training needed. All inquiries regarding T-AGS employment opportunities should be sent to Richard Plant at the above Email address.

Plant also advises that, “Mariners who have obtained training at schools OTHER than MITAGS or PMI should verify with MITAGS and PMI the equivalency in the course so that the MITAGS and Union Port Shipping databases can be updated and properly maintained. This is especially important for Hawsepipers and Applicants from Maritime Academies and Schools. Some MM&P Collective Bargaining Agreements and Memorandums Of Understanding that MM&P and the Shipping Companies have agreed to stipulate that LDO positions require that certain courses be taken. Please verify your records to see that you are in compliance with these requirements and that you have the proper equivalency where appropriate.”

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USCG ENHANCES HOMELAND SECURITY CAPABILITIES

The USCG has commissioned its new Maritime Law Enforcement (MLE) Academy located at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) Charleston, SC. The new facility is designed to harden the nation's maritime homeland security through improved training.

Following the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, increasing homeland security requirements placed a greater demand on the USCG's law enforcement capabilities requiring an expansion of its training program. Working with its fellow Department of Homeland Security agency, FLETC, the USCG began planning to establish the MLE Academy.

The December 1 action marks the culmination of an 18-month reorganization effort that combined the USCG's two previous training programs, the Maritime Law Enforcement School in Yorktown, VA, and the Boarding Team Member School in Petaluma, CA, into one single facility co-located with FLETC Charleston. This move will standardize training, leverage the powerful resources of FLETC and increase the USCG's training capacity.

The USCG began its first courses at the MLE Academy on Nov.1. In a typical year, the school will train and graduate 768 boarding officers and 1080 boarding team members. In addition, each year 128 state marine resource officers will attend its marine patrol officer course, which facilitates the sharing of expertise and resources between federal, state and local enforcement officers.

As a snapshot of the USCG's law enforcement efforts the following statistics for the last year are provided:
Conducted more than 50,000 law enforcement and security boardings; enforced 103 security zones; served as the lead maritime law enforcement agency for five National Security Special Events (Superbowl, G-8 Summit, Pres. Reagan's funeral, DNC and RNC); seized a record-setting 242,000 pounds of cocaine and 25,000 pounds of marijuana and arrested 326 suspected smugglers; and interdicted 10,899 illegal migrants, the most since 1994.

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SECURITY EXPERT SAYS AL-QAEDA PLANS ATTACK ON SEA ROUTET

Al-Qaeda is set to stage a waterborne Sept.11-style attack in the next 12 months, UK security experts claimed last week. The terror "spectacular" would not even have to succeed to throw the global economy into chaos.

Simply capturing a ship on the key Red Sea route between Europe and Asia could cause a world trade crisis. And an attempt can be expected following the recent appointment of the maritime terrorism specialist Saud Hamund al-Utaibi as the head of al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia.

The warning comes from Aegis Defence Services, the British firm headed by Lieutenant-Colonel Tim Spicer, which holds a $293 million US government contract to provide "security services" in Iraq. The firm’s intelligence director, Dominic Armstrong, said: "Ideally from their point of view it would be a spectacular, a big bang to get people’s attention, but it would not need to be."

Armstrong noted that, “Even if attempts to blow up a vessel carrying a hazardous cargo were foiled, the impact on insurance premiums could put the Red Sea out of bounds. That would roughly double the shipping time for goods from China to the West, drastically hitting global trade.”

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IRIDIUM ANNOUNCES AT-SEA CREW CALLING PROGRAMS FOR 2005

Iridium Satellite has announced that it is extending and expanding its popular Crew Calling programs for 2005, to make it easier and less costly for crew members to place satellite calls at sea.

Iridium is waiving its monthly fee for crew-calling service for qualified new SIM activations through June 30, 2005. “The $0 monthly fee promotion, which we launched in 2004, has proven to be very popular,” said Don Thoma, executive vice president of Iridium Satellite. “We are extending it through the first six months of 2005 to make it easier for crew members to stay in touch with their families and friends while they are at sea.”

Iridium Satellite has also announced that it will continue its Family First program through 2005. The program provides discounts of 35-percent for satellite phone calls on the first day of each month, weekends and holidays. The holidays covered under the plan for 2005 include New Year’s Day (Jan.1), Eid al Adha (Jan.21), Lunar New Year (Feb.9), Valentine’s Day (Feb.14), Easter Sunday (March 27), All Saint’s Day (Nov.1), Dipawali (Nov.1), Eid al Fitr (Nov.4), Christmas (Dec.25) and New Year’s Eve (Dec.31).

“The Christmas and New Year holidays are popular for Family First calling, and we expect to see high usage during the 2004 holiday season,” said Thoma. Iridium applies Family First discounts automatically to calls made with Iridium Crew Calling prepaid cards, which are available from Iridium’s service partners. The discounts apply for 24 hours, based on GMT, and are independent of the location of call origination or termination.

Iridium Satellite LLC (www.iridium.com) is the only provider of truly global satellite voice and data solutions with complete coverage of the earth (including oceans, airways and Polar Regions). Iridium delivers essential communications services to and from remote areas where no other form of communication is available. Iridium makes this possible through its constellation of 66 low-earth orbiting satellites. For further info, contact Liz DeCastro at 301-571-6257 or Email her at liz.decastro@iridium.com.
 

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LIFEWORKS CAN HELP RELIEVE HOLIDAY STRESS

A note from the MM&P Plan's EAP Provider at LifeWorks that may help all those members and their spouses, families and loved ones at home (and working!) during the holidays: Make your holidays shine this year, with help from LifeWorks.

Feeling overwhelmed by the holidays? If thoughts of shopping, cooking, family visits and travel leave you feeling stressed out, take a minute to get in touch with LifeWorks. You'll find professional, caring consultants on the phone who can help you refocus, put things in perspective, and find new ways to make the holidays a happy time for you and your family. Call any time and you'll get lots of ideas, advice and resources to help you handle a wide range of issues, from managing your time to managing your budget.

You can also go to www.lifeworks.com anytime to use a quick online tool, "How Resilient Are You?" or to read or download articles including the following:

Make this year's holiday season the best ever. Call LifeWorks at 877-234-5151 anytime to speak with a LifeWorks consultant. To read or download articles, visit the LifeWorks web site at www.lifeworks.com (user id: mmp; password: 5100) and click on "This Month's Feature". You can also order free materials or email a consultant.

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December 31st Deadline to Obtain Tickets...

PCF RAFFLE FEATURES ORIGINAL PAINTING OF SS SEAWANHAKA

Raffle tickets for a chance on winning a beautiful original painting of the SEAWANHAKA by MM&P member, Maryland Pilot and artist Capt. Brian Hope commissioned by the MM&P are available at $25 each, 5 for $100. Proceeds will benefit the Masters, Mates & Pilots Political Contribution Fund. (The fire aboard the SEAWANHAKA and the scapegoating of Capt. Charles Smith are the beginnings of the MM&P.)

Ticket purchases should be made payable to the MM&P PCF with a notation for the raffle in the memo line, and mailed to the MM&P PCF, 700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090. Tickets can also be obtained by members making PCF contributions through the Members Only section of the MM&P website, noting that the contribution is for the raffle. Tickets are also available through MM&P port offices.

Time is running out. Cutoff for ticket purchases is Dec.31, 2004. Drawing for the prize will take place at noon on Jan.7, 2005 at MITAGS.

The fine print:
Raffle tickets are available only to those individuals who are otherwise eligible to make a contribution to the MM&P PCF. Contributions in exchange for raffle tickets or for a signed and numbered print do not qualify for any other PCF contribution incentive premiums. All contributions to the MM&P PCF, including contributions in exchange for raffle tickets, are voluntary contributions for political purposes and no physical force, job discrimination, financial reprisals or thereat thereof has been or will be used to secure such contributions. PCF contributions are not deductible for tax purposes.
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MM&P FCU NEWS

SPECIAL LOAN RATE FOR HOLIDAY SHOPPERS
Now is a great time to start thinking about the holidays and the Masters, Mates & Pilots Federal Credit Union is offering a special Holiday Signature Loan to give you some extra shopping cash or to pay off those higher-rate credit card balances.

From November 12004 through January 31, 2005, eligible MM&P FCU members may borrow up to $1,500 for 10 months at a Standard Rate of 8.75 percent or a Preferred Borrower Rate of 8.00 percent. Special terms and conditions apply and funds for this promotion may be limited.
 
 

GET NEW WHEELS OR LOWER EXISTING PAYMENTS WITH MM&P FCU VEHICLE FINANCING
Is it time to replace that car you're driving? Vehicle loan rates are looking great at MM&P FCU.

Drive away in a new or used vehicle for a standard loan rate of:

Standard loan rates for longer-term loans are: You can lower your loan rate even more -- by 0.75 percent -- by becoming a Preferred Borrower.

Are you paying a higher rate on your current vehicle loan at another institution? Consider refinancing your outside loan at the MM&P FCU and taking advantage of our lower loan rates.

MM&P FCU will finance up to 100 percent of your new vehicle loan, and up to 90 percent of NADA Book Value on a used vehicle. Maximum vehicle loan amount is $30,000.
 
 

PREFERRED BORROWERS GET LOWER LOAN RATES
MM&P FCU members can reduce the interest rate they pay on any new loan even further by becoming a preferred borrower. What is a preferred borrower? That's a member who deposits at least 10 percent of the original loan amount into their MM&P FCU savings account and keeps those funds on deposit until the loan is paid in full. By doing this you save twice - first, your deposit works for you by earning our regular dividend savings rate, and second, you save money by reducing the interest rate on your loan by 0.75 percent.
 
 

Contact the MM&P FCU for full details on all loan programs by email to mmpfcu@bridgedeck.org or call 1-800-382-7777 toll-free.
 
 


Loan percentage rates for all loans are APR, or Annual Percentage Rate. Savings percentage rates are APY, or Annual Percentage Yield. Loan and Dividend rates are subject to change without notice. Loan approval is subject to income requirements and credit review.
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MITAGS ACADEMIC NOTES

DO YOU NEED THE BASIC COMPUTER COURSE?

COMP-OPSYS (Computer Operating Systems), designed for members with little or no computer experience, will be offered January 17-21, 2005. Don't miss the opportunity to attend this seldom-offered course.
 
 

CLASS OPENINGS

Between now and the end of March 2005 seats are available in the following courses:


CMM - Chief Mate and Master Courses

MSC - Military Sealift Command

ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION & CANCELLATION IS VITAL

If you are scheduled for a course, call, write, or Email admissions to advise whether or not you will attend. Many classes are in demand and maintain a Standby List. "No Shows" are missed training opportunities for other members.

SCHEDULES, UPDATED COURSE AVAILABILITY, INFO & REGISTRATION

Courses are subject to change. Check the MITAGS website for up-to-date course descriptions associated with all course title abbreviations, and for schedule revisions and updated course availability. You can also check future schedules, review detailed course descriptions and register on-line or contact Admissions at admissions@mitags.org or by calling toll-free, 1-866-656-5568.

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PMI MARITIME TECHNOLOGY & CAREER CENTER ACADEMIC SCHEDULE - Winter 2004 - Spring 2005

All the courses below will be conducted at the new Pacific Maritime Institute facility located in Seattle at 1727 Alaskan Way South, Pier 34. The new facility features a state-of-the art Ship Simulator that has to be experienced. PMI phone numbers remain the same. Come see the new facility at PMI's "Maritime Technology and Career Center".

December

January 2005

February 2005

March 2005

For registration and more info call DeeDee Lazik or Jennifer Fowler at 888-893-7829, check the PMI website at mates.org or Email PMI at admin@mates.org.

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MM&P MARKET WATCH AS OF DECEMBER 22, 2004 CLOSE

 D O W    N A S D A Q
 10,808.80 +117.35 for the week  2,155.31  -7.35 for the week
Fund Name & Trading Symbol
Closing
Price
 Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFINX)
111.81
 Vanguard Extended Market Index Fund (VEXMX)
31.20
 Vanguard International Growth Fund (VWIGX)
18.30
 Vanguard Morgan Growth Fund (VMRGX)
16.12
 Vanguard Windsor II Fund (VWNFX)
30.81
 Vanguard GNMA Fund (VFIIX)
10.44
 Vanguard High Yield Corporate Fund (VWEHX)
6.44
 Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX)
10.29
 Chase Growth Fund (CHASX)
17.35
 Fidelity Asset Manager (FASMX)
16.14
 Fidelity Growth and Income (FGRIX)
38.04
 Fidelity Magellan Fund (FMAGX)
103.17
 Spartan US Equity Index Fund (FUSEX)
44.39

Back to Stories Covered

~ Reminders ~


 

T-AGS OCEANOGRAPHIC SURVEY SHIPS MANNING REQUIREMENTS

REQUIRED COURSEWORK

All MM&P members are reminded that to sail aboard the T-AGS ships that MM&P-contracted Horizon Lines will be operating, you must have the required training certification and your certificates must be current in accordance with Military Sealift Command requirements. Members are also required to have had a MSC pre-employment physical and to possess Ship Security Clearance (see below).

The MSC Contract calls for all training certificates required for manning of these vessels to be no older than 5 years and that all STCW-95 courses be renewed every 5 years, or annually, as applicable.

Five-year renewable courses include, but are not limited to:

Small Arms certificates must be less than 1 year old.

Members interested in applying for one of the positions onboard the T-AGS vessels are advised to make sure your certificates are up to date. If not, contact Mary Matlock or Diane Ford at MITAGS Admissions, email: admissions@mitags.org, and schedule to take the course(s) needed.

Those MM&P members interested in obtaining more information and facts about the T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels are asked to email the Director of Special Projects requesting the "facts sheet". It will be provided by return email in an Adobe Acrobat PDF format.

Members interested in employment on the T-AGS ships are asked to provide a 1-2 page resume. Please list the desired position you are seeking along with the certificates of training you possess and their dates. Upon receipt it will be forwarded to Horizon Lines and a confirmation sent back to the member. Vessel turnover commences Oct.17, 2004 and will continue until Jan.3, 2005. Crew rotations will start beginning as early as January 2005 and will continue through as late as June 2005. Positions for all ratings remain open.

The point of contact for sending a resume for employment on the Horizon Lines T-AGS Oceanographic Vessels is Richard Plant, MM&P's Director of Special Projects. Send resumes in an email or as a Word file attachment to him at: rplant@bridgedeck.org, by fax to 410-850-0973 or by mail to:

Richard Plant, Director of Special Projects

IOMM&P
700 Maritime Blvd.
Linthicum Heights, MD 21090

SHIP SECURITY CLEARANCE NEEDED

Members who want to sail for Horizon Lines on the T-AGS Oceanographic Survey vessels the company is set to begin operating for MSC must have Ship Security Clearance before going aboard.

Special software must be downloaded from the US Government's Defense Security Service to complete the Security Clearance application. You must have an Internet connection and a Windows-based computer to retrieve the application and run the program.

Go to https://sclient.dss.mil/download/w9xfull.htm to download the software titled "EPSQ SUBJECT2_2".

After the software is installed and the program is launched, select "Create" from the menu bar at the top of the screen. You will be required to enter your Social Security Number and a case-sensitive password. A window titled "Type of Form" will appear.

All Deck Officers should select the first button titled "Request for Security Clearance (SF86)" and then click "OK" to go to the next screen, "Type of Investigation".

From the "Type of Investigation" screen:

After selecting the appropriate investigation type, click on "OK" to begin filling in the forms.

When complete and all information has been validated, click on "Communications" from the menu bar at the top of the screen and select "Transmit to Security Officer". Save the file to the hard drive on your computer using your last name (surname) as the file name. Send this file as an email attachment to Mike Bohlman at Horizon Lines, Mbohlman@horizon-lines.com. His phone number is 908-259-2803. You will need to provide Mike Bohlman with your name and the case-sensitive password you assigned to the file in order for Horizon Lines to open the file and process your Security Clearance.

MSC PHYSICALS

Horizon Lines requests all mariners seeking employment aboard the T-AGS Oceanographic vessels to take their MSC Physical at specially-designated facilities only after being advised to do so by the Company. This is to assure that all requirements of the MSC Physical are properly met.

On Dec.6, MM&P members will begin manning the third of seven T-AGS ships operated by Horizon. The USNS SUMNER will be crewed-up in Portland, OR. MM&P wishes the crew a safe voyage and happy holidays.

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MM&P HEALTH & BENEFIT PLAN NEWS

NOTICE TO MEMBERS WHO ARE TAKING VIOXX

On Sept.30, Merck & Co. voluntarily withdrew Vioxx, a popular anti-inflammatory medication, from the market. As a result, individuals who are currently taking the drug have been asked to contact their health care professionals to discuss discontinuing use of Vioxx and possible alternative treatments.

MM&P Plans Administrator Valerie Verrecchio reports that, "We have gotten a number of calls from members who want to know what to do with their remaining supply of Vioxx and whether the Plan or NMHC will refund their co-pay for the unused portion.

"Unfortunately, neither NMHC nor the Plan was aware of the Merck decision prior to the public announcement on Sept.30. As of that date, all deliveries of Vioxx to our members was suspended in accordance with Merck's announcement. Orders that had already been processed and were in transit could not be stopped.

"In regard to refunds, Merck has set up a website at www.vioxx.com where members can obtain information on how to recover refunds from Merck for the unused portion of medication. Members can also call following toll free number for information: 1-888-368-4699.

"We are sorry for any inc onvenience this may have caused to members currently taking this medication, however, the matter is out of the control of the Plans."

NMHC MAIL-ORDER PRESCRIPTIONS WEBSITE UPDATED & IMPROVED

MM&P Plans Administrator Valerie Verrecchio reports, "Good news! NMHC mail has finally gotten their website upgraded and functioning properly. I went in and tested it myself and found it to be quite user friendly."

To use NMHC's upgraded service, go to the NMHC Mail website at www.nmhcmail.com and click on "MEMBER LOGIN" at the bottom of the screen.

First-time and Registered users may bypass the welcome screen and go directly to the log-in page at https://members.nmhcrx.com/Login/Login.aspx.

After creating your account, NMHC will email you a password to gain entry into your records. With your first sign-in, the NMHC system will prompt you to change the NMHC password to one of your own choosing.

Once you are registered at NMHC, you can check the status of open orders by logging-in to the system through the "MEMBER LOGIN" page and going into the "MAIL ORDER" menu. You can look up all prescriptions and get the price our members will pay for any medication. You can also view an order history of all of your medication transactions (both retail and mail) for the last 24 months, locate 24-hour pharmacies in your zip code region as well as access other helpful member education information.

"We hope this welcome improvement will assist our members. Although you cannot order refills on line if you don't provide a credit or debit card number, you can phone in your refill. Once you register on the website, you will still have access to all of the other information including checking the status of your order once it is phoned in," said Ms. Verrecchio.

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WWII USCG VETERANS OUTREACH

The U.S. Coast Guard has announced an initiative to identify and collect the oral histories of its World War II veterans. Coast Guard WWII veterans, including SPARS and merchant mariners, are encouraged to record their histories online with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project at www.loc.gov/folklife/vets.

Those veterans needing assistance in recording their stories can receive help from their local Coast Guard Auxiliary public affairs contact by leaving a message at 1-877-875-6296, a toll-free call.

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COMPANY GIVES BUCKS BACK FOR BUYING SAFE SHOES

LMS Ship Management, the company that manages vessels for Central Gulf, Sulphur Carriers and Waterman Steamship, wants to remind MM&P members that they offer their crewmembers a $75 reimbursement on the cost of purchasing certain slip-resistant shoes and boots for use aboard ship.

This offer has been in place for some time and LMS reports that "we have been pleased with the participation to date, but feel a reminder may be in order." Their goal is for every crewmember to wear slip resistant footwear during working hours aboard their vessels.

The $75 reimbursement is available to each crewmember who provides LMS with an original receipt for the purchase of slip resistant footwear. In order for the crewmember to obtain the reimbursement, they must wear the shoes while on duty. Upon presentation of the receipt, the crewmember will be reimbursed on their pay voucher. The receipt will be retained by the Master and will remain aboard the vessel.
 
 

Vessels in the LMS footwear reimbursement program are:

LMS notes that in order to receive reimbursement, crewmembers must purchase one of the following recommended brands:

LOOK FOR THE UNION LABEL:

Of the boots listed above, Red Wing, Caterpillar and Wolverine boots are produced by US union labor.

Redwing's Union-made products are: Red Wing shoes and boots, Red Wing motorcycle boots and Craftsman (Sears).

Wolverine World Wide manufactures boots under the Caterpillar brand using US union labor. (Other union made safety-shoe brands by Wolverine are the company's Hy-Test, Durashock and Bates Military labels. The company's Wolverine brand combat boots are also produced using US union labor.)

Most Dr. Marten's shoes and boots are produced in the UK.

To find US, union-made products, visit the AFL-CIO Union Label Service and Trades website at www.unionlabel.org and click on "Union Made Product Search". To shop for union-made products online, go to www.ShopUnionMade.org.

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WEBSITE OFFERS UNION-MADE GOODS AND SERVICES

The Union Label recently went digital with a new website offering shoppers an array of union-made gifts, from clothing and chocolates to computers, games and greeting cards.

The website, www.shopunionmade.org, launches on the eve of the fall and winter holidays, when shoppers will spend an estimated $1 trillion on gifts, food, drinks and other seasonal items, explained Matt Bates, Secretary-Treasurer of the AFL-CIO Union Label & Service Trades Department. The all-union shopping site, however, will be a year-round operation because that is what consumers demand, he added.

"Shoppers spent $56 billion in Internet sales last year, and on-line spending is doubling every two to three years. Everyday we receive Email and calls from people who want to support good jobs by buying union-made goods and services. The website will reach millions of people, 24 hours a day, with a quick convenient way to shop union," Bates said.

"The public is ready for this. People have seen millions of good jobs disappear and they are looking for ways to take a stand and make a difference," he added.

The AFL-CIO will target the peak of the holiday shopping season by promoting "Buy Union Week" Nov. 26 through Dec. 5. The newly-launched, all-union shopping site will be a cornerstone of that campaign. MM&P has a link to the Shop Union Site on this website under "Links and Other Sources".

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The MM&P Wheelhouse Weekly is the official electronic newsletter of the International Organization of Masters, Mates, and Pilots, ILA, AFL-CIO, 700 Maritime Blvd., Linthicum Heights, MD 21090-1941. Phone: 410-850-8700; Fax: 410-850-0973; Email: iommp@bridgedeck.org. For further info or to subscribe contact John Peige at jpeige@bridgedeck.org. The Wheelhouse Weekly is sent via Email to MM&P-contracted vessels at sea, broadcast worldwide via FEC marine telex and is posted on our web page.

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