2015 saw some big wins for the ITF and successes in supporting new unions, despite serious attacks on the union movement around the world.
2015 was a year of great successes for the ITF nationally, regionally and globally (see our 2015 review for more on this).
ITF affiliate the MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) has been in dispute with Alcoa for nearly two months over the global miner’s plan to sack 40 local seafarers, sell their ship after 27 years of continuous service, and replace them with cheap, exploited foreign labour on board flag-of-convenienc
An ITF delegation visited the home of the family in the small rural village of Duma in the West Bank and met with relatives during a union mission to Israel and Palestine in September last year.
The ejected crew were defending the Portland’s status as an Australian-flagged and crewed ship dedicated to Australian coastal routes, and protesting against its owner, Alcoa’s, decision to scrap it and outsource the work to a flag of convenience vessel.
ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel stated: “The ITF is investigating apparent non-payment of crew on the Gold River, which arrived right after the MV Portland was forcibly removed and sailed off for destruction.
In Japan, a rally will be held at the Kotoku Kaiun company, over its refusal to talk with trade unions.
The new Guidelines, developed by the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), can be downloaded from the ICS and ITF websites.
On the agenda were the challenges set by rapid technological developments, such as growing global mobile connectivity, artificial intelligence and autonomous vehicles, and the reshaping of production, consumption, transportation and delivery systems.
ITF seafarers’ section chair Dave Heindel said: “We have now completed a full legal analysis of the court’s judgment and we firmly believe there are grounds for appeal. We will match our determination with funds.
