dockers 

A number of unions and global union federations have written to the International Labour Organization (ILO — part of the UN) asking it to urgently intervene on behalf of the 800 seafarers who were illegally fired and cruelly mistreated by P&O Ferries.

Officials at the Port of Dover yesterday refused access to ITF Inspectors who were present in order to investigate welfare issues that had been raised by replacement crew members on board P&O Ferries’ vessels in the port.

A campaign from the Marine Transport Workers’ Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU), supported by the ITF and the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), is highlighting the key role of maritime workers to keep the world supplied with essentials during the Covid-19 crisis.

The ITF and the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS) have jointly written an open letter to the United Nations agencies for the global maritime industry calling on them to recognise the vital role of seafarers in this extraordinary crisis.

The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) today call upon ship operators to return lashing to shore based dock workers.

On February 11, the Dutch registered container vessel OOCL Rauma spilled seven containers overboard during a stormy passage from Kotka, Finland, to Rotterdam in the Netherlands.

Dockers unions, shop stewards and legal advisors from ten countries gathered in Rotterdam yesterday and pledged to take action to ensure that the new “Dockers’ Clause” is correctly implemented, forming an international team of legal advisors to prepare for action against companies that do not comply with the clause.

The ITF “Dockers’ Clause” comes into force in Canada and Europe today. A lot has been said about what is commonly called the Dockers Clause, but it’s worth reviewing exactly what the clause is and what it means to ITF affiliated dockers’ unions.
 
Let’s start from the beginning:

The Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) of maritime employers and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) strongly urge companies to ensure that they are in full compliance with the upcoming changes to the terms and conditions which will affect ships’ cargo handling operations in ports.

The Sri Lankan second officer, Ravindu Lakmal Pieris Telge, fell overboard the Maersk containership Patras at approximately 9:30am and despite an extensive search and rescue operation his body has not yet been recovered.

Investigations by Transport Canada and the ITF indicate that the man fell overboard whilst lashing, and crew claim that he was the only crew member not wearing fall protection.

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.