Global daily news 11.08.2014 |
***ITF’s 43rd Congress opened in Bulgaria capital (ROUNDUP) Source: Focus Information Agency Sofia. 43rd Congress of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) began in the Bulgarian capital Sofia on Sunday, August 10, FOCUS News Agency reported.
***Public transport one of top priorities in Bulgaria capital mayor’s programme 10 August 2014 | 17:28 | FOCUS News Agency Source: Focus Information Agency Sofia. Yordanka Fandakova, Mayor of the Bulgarian capital Sofia, attended on Sunday the opening of the 43rd Congress of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) at the National Palace of Culture (NDK), FOCUS News Agency reported.
***Bulgaria’s interim PM to take part in ITF’s 43rd Congress 10 August 2014 | 09:12 | FOCUS News Agency Picture: http://www.president.bg Sofia. Bulgarian interim Prime Minister, Professor Georgi Bliznashki, is to take part in the 43rd Congress of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) on Sunday, the press service of the government announced.
***ITF’s 43rd Congress begins in Bulgaria capital 10 August 2014 | 15:55 | FOCUS News Agency Source: Focus Information Agency Sofia. 43rd Congress of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) has begun in the Bulgarian capital Sofia, FOCUS News Agency reported.
FROM SHIPPING TRIBUNE (INDIA):
***Campaign for justice for Panama Canal workers Posted on August 11, 2014 by admin The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has ramped up its campaign against the Panama Canal Authority over its ongoing failure to provide decent pay and safe working conditions for more than 9,000 affiliated maritime workers in the canal zone. The 44-mile canal is currently undergoing a $5.25bn USD redevelopment, which will see the addition of two new locks and two new channels. Representatives from four Panamanian unions, accompanied by ITF leadership, today met with International Labor Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria. The ITF leadership, together with the Panamanian unions, submitted an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) against the Government of Panama. They allege violation of Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining by the Panama Canal Authority. Unions allege the Panama Canal Authority has failed to adequately recognise:
ITF president Paddy Crumlin said the ITF will continue to put forward the best interests of workers. “Panama is now a major transport, logistical and financial hub yet despite several meetings the Panama Canal Authority refuses to budge,” Mr Crumlin said. “The ITF is very concerned about the lack of proper respect and bargaining on issues surrounding health and safety provision on the job and workers being forced to undertake double shifts and 18-hour workdays. “This has an unacceptable impact on safety and there are also concerns around pay, training and freedom of association. “That’s why we’ve taken the step to submit an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association against the Government of Panama.” The ILO set up the CFA for the purpose of examining complaints about violations of freedom of association, whether or not the country concerned has ratified the relevant conventions. Complaints may be brought against a member state by employers’ and workers’ organizations. “It is important for the Panamanian workers to know that the entire ITF congress is behind them and we will fight for better rights and conditions,” ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton said. “Freedom of association and collective bargaining are among the founding principles of the ILO and we hope our intervention leads to an improvement in working conditions for the Panama Canal workers.” An ITF video on the dispute can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5BQo2riqvg The 43rd ITF congress in Sofia brings together almost 2,000 participants from 379 unions in 116 countries. News about congress is available at www.itfcongress2014.org, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ITFglobal and Twitter at https://twitter.com/itfglobalunion (hashtag is #ITFcongress2014).
FROM NOVINITE (BULGARIA):
***Bulgaria's Capital Hosts Transport Federation Congress Society | August 10, 2014, Sunday // 12:08| Views: 527 | Comments: 0 Photo by BGNES
Over 1700 delegates from 115 countries have gathered for the 43rd International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Congress due to kick off in Sofia. Vice President Margarita Popova, interim Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki and major trade union representatives, Plamen Dimitrov and Konstantin Trenchev, are attending. - See more at: http://www.novinite.com/articles/162631/Bulgaria%27s+Capital+Hosts+Transport+Federation+Congress#sthash.pkQkzppv.dpuf
Bulgaria's Capital Hosts Transport Federation Congress
Over 1700 delegates from 115 countries have gathered for the 43rd International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Congress due to kick off in Sofia. Vice President Margarita Popova, interim Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki and major trade union representatives, Plamen Dimitrov and Konstantin Trenchev, are attending. - See more at: http://www.novinite.com/articles/162631/Bulgaria%27s+Capital+Hosts+Transport+Federation+Congress#sthash.pkQkzppv.dpuf
Bulgaria's Capital Hosts Transport Federation Congress Over 1700 delegates from 115 countries have gathered for the 43rd International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) Congress due to kick off in Sofia. Vice President Margarita Popova, interim Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki and major trade union representatives, Plamen Dimitrov and Konstantin Trenchev, are attending.
FROM THE HANDY SHIPPING GUIDE (UK):
***Transport Union Congress Slates Human Costs of Improving Freight and Passenger Vessel Passage ITF Takes Issue With Panamanian Government over Working Conditions as Canal Redevelopment Goes Ahead BULGARIA – PANAMA – WORLDWIDE – The largest ever world congress of the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) began today in Sofia, Bulgaria and one of the first items up for discussion was the safety and pay levels at the Panama Canal which is undergoing major works at the moment to accommodate larger vessels. In order to increase revenues by transiting ever larger freight and passenger vessels more than 9,000 affiliated maritime workers are currently employed within the canal zone as the 44-mile canal currently undergoes a $5.25bn redevelopment, which will see the addition of two new locks and two new channels. Representatives from four Panamanian unions, accompanied by ITF leadership, today met with International Labor Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria and submitted an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) against the Government of Panama alleging violation of Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining by the Panama Canal Authority. A video of the dispute can be seen here and the unions allege the Panama Canal Authority has failed to provide decent pay and safe working conditions. The ITF Congress, in Sofia’s National Palace of Culture, will bring together almost 2000 people, including staff and participants from 379 trade unions in 116 countries, and is the 43rd world congress in the ITF’s 118 year history. It is the organisation’s supreme decision making event, at which its affiliated trade unions set the agenda for the next four years, and elect its executive board, president, vice presidents and general secretary. Congress 2014 is being hosted by the ITF’s affiliated Bulgarian unions, with special support from the Federation of Transport Trade Unions of Bulgaria (FTTUB), whose president, Ekaterina Yordanova, commented: “It is with huge pleasure that we welcome our comrades from around the world. We are proud to be equal members of a multinational union federation where rich and poor, large and small, have equal rights and share the same values. Our youth, who are our promise for the future, have been preparing for months to participate, vote and welcome our visitors. “We know the power of being a member a member of the ITF and we want to share it with all transport workers in this region. We believe that regional co-operation will give more strength to cross-border initiatives and also more opportunities for global campaigning – because we are convinced that in a globalising world the challenges ahead can only be overcome through a global union response.” This is also the first paper-free and fully digital ITF congress, so that even those unions that can’t attend can participate in nine languages via the interactive website. A video message from Ekaterina Yordanova welcoming delegates to the event can be seen here. Photo: ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton hands over a complaint to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) to ILO director-general Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria.
FROM HELLENIC SHIPPING NEWS (GREECE):
***Campaign for justice for Panama Canal workers in International Shipping News 11/08/2014
The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has ramped up its campaign against the Panama Canal Authority over its ongoing failure to provide decent pay and safe working conditions for more than 9,000 affiliated maritime workers in the canal zone. The 44-mile canal is currently undergoing a $5.25bn USD redevelopment, which will see the addition of two new locks and two new channels. Representatives from four Panamanian unions, accompanied by ITF leadership, today met with International Labor Organisation (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria. The ITF leadership, together with the Panamanian unions, submitted an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) against the Government of Panama.
ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton hands over a complaint to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) to ILO director-general Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria. They allege violation of Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining by the Panama Canal Authority. Unions allege the Panama Canal Authority has failed to adequately recognise: ITF president Paddy Crumlin said the ITF will continue to put forward the best interests of workers. “Panama is now a major transport, logistical and financial hub yet despite several meetings the Panama Canal Authority refuses to budge,” Mr Crumlin said. “The ITF is very concerned about the lack of proper respect and bargaining on issues surrounding health and safety provision on the job and workers being forced to undertake double shifts and 18-hour workdays. “This has an unacceptable impact on safety and there are also concerns around pay, training and freedom of association. “That’s why we’ve taken the step to submit an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association against the Government of Panama.” The ILO set up the CFA for the purpose of examining complaints about violations of freedom of association, whether or not the country concerned has ratified the relevant conventions. Complaints may be brought against a member state by employers’ and workers’ organizations. “It is important for the Panamanian workers to know that the entire ITF congress is behind them and we will fight for better rights and conditions,” ITF acting general secretary Steve Cotton said. “Freedom of association and collective bargaining are among the founding principles of the ILO and we hope our intervention leads to an improvement in working conditions for the Panama Canal workers.” An ITF video on the dispute can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5BQo2riqvg The 43rd ITF congress in Sofia brings together almost 2,000 participants from 379 unions in 116 countries.
FROM CROSS (BULGARIA):
***Близнашки на конгреса на Международната транспортна федерация
София /КРОСС/ Министър-председателят проф. Георги Близнашки ще участва в 43-тия конгрес на Международната транспортна федерация (МТФ) днес, съобщиха от правителствената информационна служба. Форумът ще бъде открит с тържествена церемония от 15.00 часа в Зала 1 на НДК.
FROM TRADEWINDS:
***ITF readies for new leadership under Cotton The emergence of a challenger is ‘highly unlikely’ to Steve Cotton’s candidature for the post of general-secretary ahead of an all-important congress meeting
The world’s most powerful maritime union is set to confirm a new leadership structure at its congress meeting in Sofia, Bulgaria, next week. As things stand, Steve Cotton, who has been acting general-secretary at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) since David Cockroft stepped down in October 2012, is the sole candidate to take over on a permanent basis. While the emergence of a challenger is not being ruled out, even at this late stage, union insiders say it is “highly unlikely”. Cotton looks set to work alongside Paddy Crumlin, who is standing to be re-elected as the ITF president on completion of his first term of office. The ITF represents some 700 maritime unions and 4.5 million transport workers. The general-secretary holds office for four years. Cockroft, the union’s high-profile leader for 20 years, is expected to continue with roles in the union’s offshoot organisations, Seafarers’ Rights International (SRI) and the Seafarers’ Trust. Confirmation of Cotton is unlikely to bring any major change to ITF strategy, which last underwent a significant overhaul during a 2010 meeting in Mexico. No major policy reviews have been tabled for the Sofia meeting. However, prior to the gathering, ITF officials have suggested that there will be proposals to make the organisation more open and also to encourage a younger membership. Cotton will also urge the ITF to adopt a more unified and integrated approach to the multiple areas of the transport logistics chain that it represents. But the ITF appears set to remain committed to the collective wage negotiations under the International Bargaining Forum (IBF), having recently agreed a new three-year deal with employers. It is also set to continue with its flag of convenience (FoC) campaign and promote the growth of national ship registers. At the Sofia meeting, officers’ union Nautilus International will raise a motion suggesting that the ITF and its affiliates step up efforts to tackle what they consider to be the worsening problem of bogus employment agencies for seafarers. Nautilus is suggesting such agencies should be routinely named and shamed. The idea is to alert local authorities and Interpol to criminal activity in the hope that prosecutions will take place. Last year, TradeWinds reported how Internet fraudsters were falsely claiming to represent UK-based shipping firms like Lomar, NS Lemos and AM Nomikos, and were offering jobs to seafarers at these companies on payment of a commission. Dozens were taken in by the scam. Even well-known shipping outfits like Carnival have found their names used to con money out of seafarers. Although these agencies openly advertise on the Internet, examples of successful prosecution are few and far between. The updating of International Labour Organisation (ILO) regulations, in effect, to ban the payment of commissions to secure jobs from third-party agencies has also had little effect. Nautilus spokesperson Andrew Linington said: “All the feedback we are getting is that the problem is getting worse and if anything is becoming more sophisticated as a crime. “By naming and shaming, we can alert the authorities to where this is taking place and put pressure on them to take action.”
***Seafarer employment scammers should be named and shamed Bogus employment agencies undermine attractiveness of pursuing careers at sea, and the offenders should be publicly identified for the good of all
Cyber crime is a threat everyone now faces in their personal lives. From identity theft to bank fraud, we are all vulnerable as more of our lives move online. Companies are just as exposed, with the threat of financial fraud and corporate espionage growing day-by-day. Marsh, the leading insurance broker, has launched a new policy for owners to help fill the gap left by exclusions of cyber crime common in many hull and other shipping policies, as TradeWinds reported last week. Now, in another part of the market, attention is being focused on stopping exploitation of seafarers by the worsening problem of bogus employment agencies, often hiding behind fictitious virtual identities. Compounding the distress and loss to individuals who sign up with the fraudsters is the lack of international collaboration to expose those criminals when they are caught. The issue is expected to be raised at the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) congress in Sofia, Bulgaria, starting this weekend (see ITF leadership, page 33). The agenda-setting meeting, which convenes only once every four years, was set to discuss a motion from Anglo-Dutch officers’ union Nautilus International. Nautilus believes unions and industry could work together when they become aware of potential criminal scams, and alert both Interpol and local authorities for them to pursue enforcement action. The union hopes this “naming and shaming” will not only hit the fraudsters. It will also educate seafarers and potential seafarers to the risks of signing up and paying fees to unknown companies online. In the past year, we have reported that the names of a number of reputable owners, including AM Nomikos and Carnival, have been used to lure in gullible seafarers. In the absence of more concrete action, the industry and labour should work together to help eradicate the worst of this crime. Without that, the reputation of shipping as a worthwhile career will come under threat.
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