You have options with M.E.B.A.

The wide range of deck officer jobs that M.E.B.A. offers, and the M.E.B.A. benefit plans are not the only reasons to choose the M.E.B.A. for your future. Here are some of the other practical reasons that make M.E.B.A. your best choice.

When you consider whether to join M.E.B.A., or stay nonunion, you should fully understand the variety of options M.E.B.A. provides to you that are simply not available in a nonunion job.

First and foremost, M.E.B.A. continually seeks out new job opportunities for our members. Over the past five years, we have secured new contracts with new employers. We are actively growing and flourishing, so that our members can also.

Moreover, many of the new employers we have secured job opportunities with are not limited to sailing jobs. This is one of the ways M.E.B.A. is growing our Union.

M.E.B.A. recognizes that most people who join this industry go to sea to start their careers. Many of these same people, however, may find that they need alternate shoreside work opportunities to address family events or emergencies. These alternatives may only be needed for a short time or, in some cases, for the remainder of their careers.

Those moving on to shoreside opportunities sometimes stay in the industry and sometimes move on. Understanding this, M.E.B.A. has actively sought shoreside opportunities for both deck and engine officers. These opportunities allow mid-career short stints as your life may require, or permanent shoreside positions that maintain your participation in all the M.E.B.A. Plans. M.E.B.A.’s latest goal is set on expanding our shipyard contracts for both deck and engine officers as well as survey work for deck officers in M.E.B.A. This will provide even more shoreside options for our members who may need them.

Regardless of why our members may need to shift over to shoreside work, M.E.B.A. wants to offer them the option to do so while still enjoying the opportunity to secure the best pension in the industry with full medical coverage after reaching their 20 years of service, something no other Union offers.

We strongly believe that one of the best aspects of joining M.E.B.A., rather than going it alone, is the ability to have many different job opportunities and adventures (including the shoreside options discussed above), all while your retirement and health benefits continue to accrue.

M.E.B.A. offers the flexibility to work when you want, where you want, and for who you want.

This flexibility allows you to avoid feeling pressured to remain someplace longer than you want for fear of losing the benefits you’ve already accrued. We truly view this as the best of both worlds and encourage you to join us to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

In Solidarity,

Adam Smith

Gulf Coast Vice President

Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association