Don Keefe

Don Keefe is an American labor leader who serves as the President of District No. 1-PCD, Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, (AFL-CIO) (M.E.B.A.). Founded in 1875, M.E.B.A. is the oldest and largest maritime officers’ union in the United States. (^[1]

Elected in 2007, he represents a membership of over four thousand U.S. merchant mariners as well as industrial, service, government and other professional workers. In March 2008, Don was elected as the National M.E.B.A. President at the Union’s tri-annual Convention.

Don has spent his entire adult life with the M.E.B.A. and is one of the few M.E.B.A. Presidents to ascend to the office after working himself up through the ranks. For nearly three decades, Don has sailed the deep sea and walked the docks alongside his M.E.B.A. brothers and sisters in unity and friendship.

His career at sea began at the Massachusetts Maritime Academy from where he graduated in 1978 with a Bachelors of Science in Marine Engineering. Upon graduation, Don joined the M.E.B.A. ranks committing himself to the mission and the vision of the Union. Don’s commitment to maritime is also evidenced in his attainment of a U.S. Coast Guard Chief Engineers’ Unlimited License (steam/diesel/gas turbine).^[2]

Don began full-time service to the membership of the M.E.B.A. in 1996 when he became the Representative in the Port of New York. In 1999 Don was appointed as the M.E.B.A. Representative in the Port of Boston and during this time also served as a delegate to the Greater Boston Labor Council and the Massachusetts State AFL-CIO.

In 2002 he was elected Atlantic Coast Vice President and was reelected to that post in 2005. Based in Jersey City, Don also served as a delegate to the New York Central Labor Council, the New York State AFL-CIO, and the New Jersey State AFL-CIO.

As M.E.B.A. President, Don is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the M.E.B.A. Benefit Plans and is also the Chairman of the Board of the American Maritime Congress. Additionally he has served as Director of First American Bulk Carrier Corp., as a delegate to the Seaman’s Church Institute and on the board of the Maritime Trades Department (AFL-CIO) in New York.

Don is a native of Newton, Massachusetts where he maintains his house with his wife Sandy. They have three children and two grandchildren.

References

1. ^ www.mebaunion.org
2. ^ www.meba.us/ABOUT_MEBA/biography_don_keefe.html

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Name	Keefe, Don
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