ITF Delhi: 25 years of building workers’ power
The ITF has marked 25 years of its presence in Delhi, India.
During this time the office achieved significant milestones, including:
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ITF launches global news app
The ITF has a launched a new app to deliver the latest news from the ITF directly to smartphones.
The app includes:
Press Release
New OECD-ITF report: Subsidies in European shipping industry are failing European taxpayers and workers
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A new study released by the OECD and the International Transport Forum (ITF) on the current effect of direct and indirect maritime subsidies on the European shipping industry has found that the current system is failing European taxpayers and workers.
Press Release
California AB 5 law: now we need a global law for ‘gig’ workers
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is calling for the new AB 5 law in California to be the inspiration for global rules that protect ‘gig’ workers, and all workers, from exploitation and abuse, and deliver them their basic rights.
AB 5 makes it hard for employers to misclassify workers as independent contractors. Companies typically do this as a means of avoiding their duty to provide basic rights, such as minimum pay, sick pay, overtime pay and paid leave.
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26 Jul 2019
What should a union do?
The purpose of a trade union is to represent the interests of its members. It may do this in a variety of different ways.
Where a trade union is recognised by an employer it may engage in collective bargaining, that is to say negotiating with that employer for an agreement governing wages and working conditions. Some unions provide other services such as legal advice and representation for members. Where necessary, unions may organise strikes or other industrial action.
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26 Jul 2019
Union ships are happier
The results of a major survey (2006) on the working conditions aboard car carrier vessels have provided some useful, if unsurprising data for seafarers’ rights campaigners. Erol Kahveci reports…
The message from 627 non-officer-ranked seafarers, or ratings, surveyed over the past two years in a major international study is clear: seafarers feel happier, healthier and more valued when employed on national carriers than on flag of convenience (FOC) ships.
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26 Jul 2019
The importance of joining a union
Evgeniy Hizhyak, chief technical labour inspector of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SUR), describes the importance for seafarers of joining a trade union:
"I have been a member of the SUR since 1991 and took part in organising this union, which provides help and support for seafarers both in Russia and abroad. The union assists its members in claims for compensation following injury or death, solves any problems about receiving money owed to them in unpaid contractual wages and fights for decent pay.
Blumenthal ship detained for nine days in Belgium port finally released
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“The proper maintenance of ships’ equipment is just as important as the proper treatment of seafarers - a failure in either system can lead to serious accidents. Again, we’ve seen Blumenthal’s standards fail to stack up, with another Blumenthal vessel detained this time for serious safety breaches,” said ITF inspector, Sven Hemme.
Port State Control boarded the vessel at the Port of Ghent on July 1, 2019, following a complaint from a seafarer. Inspectors found 36 deficiencies, including major defects that resulted in the detention of the vessel.
ITF and UAE step up cooperation
The ITF has continued its cooperation with the government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with a high-level meeting in Dubai.
ITF general secretary Stephen Cotton, president Paddy Crumlin and Arab World regional secretary Bilal Malkawi met with Omar Bin Ghaleb of the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority and Dr. Abdullah Belheif Al Nuaimi, minister of infrastructure development and chair of the Federal Transport Authority (FTA): Land & Maritime.
'Anywhere there are transport workers, we'll be there'
Despite the name, the National Union of Seafarers Sri Lanka (NUSS) is not just for seafarers.
Since 2018 the NUSS has been organising informal dockworkers and fishers, contract logistics workers and, most recently, self-employed taxi drivers.
"Other unions didn't want to organise them because it's extremely difficult," said NUSS general secretary Palitha Atukorale, "because there is no check-off facility, and all the contractors are highly politically connected".