Global daily news 08.10.2014

***Indonesia’s Seafarer Union Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia agrees to federate with PNG, Australia and and NZ transport unions

KPI to enter into regional federation
7 October 2014 received via email

Indonesia’s Seafarer Union, Kesatuan Pelaut Indonesia (KPI) has agreed to enter into a federation with transport unions from Papua New Guinea, Australia and New Zealand after a formative meeting in Kupang today.

The Maritime International Federation (MIF) aims to bring together unions with similar intentions in order to secure jobs for local maritime workers to ensure wealth created in the region is benefiting local communities.

The meeting also endorsed an official launch date of the MIF at the beginning of the next financial year.

In addition to KPI, the MIF consists of the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA), Maritime Union of New Zealand (MUNZ) and Papua New Guinea Maritime and Transport Worker’s Union (PNGTWU), and has the potential to include the East Timorese union, SMETL and other unions in the Asia Pacific region.

International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) president and MUA national secretary Paddy Crumlin said private companies supported by certain neo-liberal governments were consistently trying to undermine organised labour and to defend against these attacks, and unions had to work together.

“One of the major growth areas for jobs is the Asia Pacific, and the international trade union movement hasn’t been able to keep up with this growth,” Crumlin said.

“We need a new model and a federation of like-minded unions is one of the ways we can change the old, tired model to build capacity and drive membership.”

KPI president Hanafi Rustandi said the MIF was an exciting concept and would give the union more bargaining leverage and ability to organise members.

Mr Rustandi talked about how a MIF would help the union extend into the burgeoning hydrocarbon industry, at places like Kupang.

MUNZ national secretary Joe Fleetwood said unions need to secure decent paying jobs to create a future and a career path for all.

“A federation with our neighbours works in the interest of New Zealand’s working class, as well as the working class in the other countries,” Fleetwood said

“Some of the companies we come across have the wealth to influence Governments, some companies, like Chevron, are financially bigger than New Zealand.

He concluded: “As a result we need to grow our strength using our sheer numbers.”

FROM THE ETF:

 

PRESS RELEASE

EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION

FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES TRAVAILLEURS DES TRANSPORTS

Brussels, 8 October 2014

No to EUROPEAN COMMISSION’S PROPOSALS ON
maRKET PILLaR OF 4TH RAILWAY PACKAGE

ETF calls to reject proposals on market opening for rail passenger transport and further destruction of integrated railway companies

Today, Wednesday 8 October 2014, the European Transport Ministers are discussing the so-called political pillar of the 4th Railway package. The Ministers will discuss the Commission’s proposal for market opening of national rail passenger services, for submitting all rail passenger public services to competitive tendering and for further restrictions and splitting up integrated railway companies.

In parallel with the meeting of the European Transport Ministers, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) is organising a protest action, a picket line at Kirchberg in Luxemburg, to demand the rejection of the Commission’s proposals.

The ETF will hand over a petition to the European Transport Ministers with the following demands:

· No cherry picking on profitable railway lines to the detriment of an integrated and area-wide offer of public passenger services for the people. No open access competition for domestic rail passenger services.

· No further strangling of integrated rail companies. Respect different organisational models. The most successful railways are integrated railway systems. Preserve the internal labour market that offers perspectives, for example to those railway workers with safety relevant tasks who are not able to carry out their job anymore due to health reasons.

· No compulsory tendering of rail public passenger services across Europe. Respect the freedom of choice of competent authorities on how to organise their public services, which is guaranteed by Protocol 26 of the EU Treaty.

· Don’t make public transport workers and their jobs subject to competition; don’t allow a race to the bottom on working conditions when public transport services are tendered. Ensure a social level playing field for all competitors and ensure job security for workers by a compulsory transfer of staff in the case of change of operator.

“We do not want to see the railway sector turned into another opportunity for private actors to make profits” stresses Sabine Trier, ETF Deputy General Secretary. “Europe needs affordable, accessible, quality railway services for the people. The 4th Railway Package will not bring any of this. There is a direct link between the quality of services and the quality of jobs: enhanced competition will inevitably lead to cost-cutting measures, increasing the pressure on working conditions and on employment.”

For more information, please contact:

FROM MM&P WHEELHOUSE:

IT’S CONFIRMED: PROPOSED TRADE AGREEMENT WOULD GUT CANADA’S CABOTAGE LAWS

Canada’s version of the Jones Act would be thrown to the winds under a new trade agreement worked out behind closed doors between negotiators for that country and representatives of the European Union. CETA, short for the Canada-European Union: Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement, was published last week in final form after months of speculation. The text of the agreement covers trans-shipment of international cargo on inland waters and “would be a serious breach of Canada’s cabotage laws,” said MM&P President Don Marcus.

Today, only ships that are Canadian registered and on which all relevant duties have been paid have free access to move passengers and goods between Canadian ports. CETA would mandate an end to “measures requiring that all or part of any international cargo be transported exclusively by vessels registered in that Party or owned or controlled by nationals of that Party.”

In the United States, cabotage law as embodied by the Jones Act provides an additional layer of national security, especially in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. It also serves to maintain an employment base of hundreds of thousands in the domestic maritime and shipbuilding trades, and makes possible the operation of a U.S.-flag fleet, crewed by American-citizen mariners, to respond in time of war or other national emergency.

Last month, MM&P joined three other U.S. maritime unions in condemning efforts to compromise Canada’s cabotage law. “We stand in solidarity with our Canadian counterparts, and we categorically oppose current attempts to cripple Canadian maritime law via the EU/Canada CETA negotiations,” the unions wrote in an official release to the press. “If the CETA agreement is approved, it could mean the end of Canadian-flag shipping,” Marcus said, adding that it could well portend similar attempts to undercut the Jones Act.

“Instead of seeking to attack Canadian cabotage, the EU should welcome a similar policy package to protect European shipping by introducing a level playing field for intra-community trades that would help stop the downward spiral in salaries and discriminatory practices against seafarers,” the unions wrote. Besides MM&P, the other unions that signed on to the statement were the American Maritime Officers, the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association and the Seafarers International Union.

***DOCKERS AND MARITIME WORKERS IN WORLDWIDE “TRANSPORT ACTION WEEK”

Longshoremen and maritime workers in a number of countries are joining forces with hundreds of thousands of transport workers worldwide as part of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) action week. From October 6 to 12, members of road transport and railway unions will take action to highlight issues of local and national concern, including deregulation, outsourcing, safety, fatigue and labor law enforcement. This is the first time that maritime industry workers, including longshoremen, will participate in the event. Oct. 9 is dedicated to the safety of containers, which are handled by transport workers in a variety of sectors, including road, rail and maritime. Actions are planned in the United States and the United Kingdom, as well as in Australia, Canada, Japan and a number of European and African countries. The week will also include activities around the World Day for Decent Work Oct. 7.

“Deregulation, privatization and liberalization have dramatically changed the road and rail industries in recent decades, usually for the worse for transport workers and the travelling public alike,” said ITF Inland Transport Section Secretary Mac Urata. “This action week allows transport workers and their national unions to focus on the areas most important to them while speaking with one united, global voice. Public transport, for example, is under threat as never before. Together during the action week we will defend these vital services and the jobs, working conditions and rights of those who work in them.” To find out more about Action Week, including Container Day, visit www.itfactionweek2014.org.

FROM THE NCTU:

Press Release

8 October 2014

Contact: Jaime Aguilar +63 920 968 6129

Transport workers belonging to the National Confederation of Transportworkers Union (NCTU) picketed the LTFRB today to call the attention of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) about the growing use of taxi apps, particularly Uber, GrabTaxi and Easy Taxi, and to conduct an investigation to ensure that they use only accountable, regulated and knowledgeable taxi and courier services.

“The companies than own these apps – like Uber Technologies Inc. (Uber) – promote themselves as electronic marketplaces that connect customers and drivers using mobile apps, but they may be in conflict with existing taxi service regulations,” Ernie Cruz, chairperson of NCTU said.

“As a regulatory agency, the LTFRB has a duty to promote fair competition and protect all taxi franchise holders,” Cruz added.

In its statement, the NCTU said that it took action today as part of the global day of action launched by taxi unions who are members of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) to prevent potentially unsafe competition by non-regulated freelance companies using app technologies.

This summer, there were protests against Uber by registered taxi operators in cities including London, Berlin, Madrid, Paris, Milan and Seattle. In fact, Germany banned the Uber app at the start of September, while unions in Belgium are working with employers and authorities to confront Uber and protect standards for both drivers and passengers.

“The LTFRB must ensure that Uber, as well as other apps like Grab Taxi and Easy Taxi, are not doing the same thing here in our country,” Cruz said.

“Unions are certainly not against computer technology in the taxi sector. What we are against is these companies undermining public safety and the jobs of real, regulated taxi drivers by bypassing regulations and refusing liability in the case of accidents,” Frank Moreels, ITF road transport section vice-chair, said in a separate press release.

Uber is present in more than 205 cities in 45 countries across six continents. It is now operating in Manila.

The NCTU is affiliated with Sentro ng mga Nagkakaisang at Progresibong Manggagawa (SENTRO) and International Transport Federation (ITF).

FROM AP PLANNER:

***Container safety action day; AP Planner; Future News Item; International Transport Workers Federation

63 words

8 October 2014

AP Planner

APPLAN

English

Copyright 2014. The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

Organisation: International Transport Workers Federation

Description: Container safety action day, part of ITF Action Week

Start Date: 2014-10-08

End Date: 2014-10-12

Web Site: http://www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/index.cfm [http://www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/index.cfm]

Time Zone: EDT

Summary: Container safety action day

Event Type: Awareness Days & Campaigns

Country: International

FROM TELEGRAMME 228 AND ICILOME (TOGO):

***ÍActivités de la Semaine Internationale de l’ITF au Togo : Des délégués de syndicats de base instruits sur les notions du « travail décent »


Togo  - Débutée depuis hier lundi, les festivités inscrites à l’ordre du jour de la commémoration de la Semaine Internationale des Ouvriers du Transport (lTF), se sont poursuivies ce mardi 7 octobre à Lomé. Et au deuxième jour de cette célébration qui coïncide avec la Journée Mondiale pour le Travail Décent, la Coordination nationale de l’ITF-Togo a, au cours d’une causerie-débat, instruit des délégués de différents syndicats de base œuvrant dans le secteur du transport autour du thème : « Travail précaire et emploi décent ». la communication ayant été assuré par Komi Mawunam Viagbo, Inspecteur du Travail et des Lois Sociales.

 

Dans sa communication, l’Inspecteur du Travail a défini la notion du travail précaire comme un emploi « atypique » « mal rémunéré », «non protégé » et qui ne garantit pas au travailleur, un minimum de sécurité sociale. En terme clair, selon l’orateur, un travail précaire sous-entend « un travail qui ne permet pas à l’employé de subvenir à ses besoins, même les plus primaires et vitaux ».

S’agissant de ses caractéristiques, M. Viagbo ajoute qu’un travail précaire, par ricochet indécent, s’identifie par un accès difficile au travail, un niveau faible de rémunération, l’inexistence d’une représentation ou d’organisation syndicale pouvant porter les doléances auprès de l’employeur,  la non garantie de retraite ni de sécurité sociale puis l’accès difficile des services compétents de contrôle sur les lieux de travail.

Par contre, à l’antipode du travail indécent et dégradant, se trouve le travail décent qui a aussi fait l’objet de la communication de Komi Viagbo. Il l’a défini t relevé ses caractéristiques.

Selon lui, le travail décent repose sur quatre piliers essentiels. Notamment l’accès à l’emploi, la protection sociale, le droit du travailleur et le dialogue social. Ces caractéristiques permettent à accéder à un « emploi productif » à travers des valeurs cardinales telles la liberté, l’équité, la sécurité et la dignité, lesquelles créé les conditions favorables à l’émergence d’un « travail décent ».

Un débat général a permis aux participants de lever le voile sur certaines  zones restées jusque là encore non élucidées.  La célébration se poursuit ce mercredi 8 octobre avec une tournée dans les gares routières de Lomé. Objectif, sensibiliser les conducteurs routiers sur la nécessité de se mobiliser autour de la Convention Collective des Entreprises des Transports Routiers.