***The Agenda with Steve Paikin: Curing the Sea Blind
About the video:
Ships are growing larger and larger, and yet they take up less and less space in our imagination. So laments Rose George. The journalist has brought the significance of shipping back into the public sphere with her latest work, “Ninety Percent of Everything: The Invisible Industry That Puts Clothes on Your Back, Gas in Your Car, and Food on Your Plate,” where she played crew in multiple vessels across the world. She joins three leaders in the international shipping industry as they sit down with Steve Paikin to talk about the absence of shipping from the public consciousness, the business, seafarers and their safety, and the footprint it is leaving behind.
FROM THE ETF:
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PRESS RELEASE
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES TRAVAILLEURS DES TRANSPORTS
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24 February 2014
ETF demonstrates against the 4th Railway Package
European railway workers gather in Strasbourg
to call for quality railway services
On Tuesday the 25th of February, the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) organises a demonstration in front of the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The ETF calls the Members of the European Parliament not to ignore the voice of the railway workers when discussing and voting on the 4th Railway Package in the plenary.
Since the European Commission published its proposals of the 4th Railway Package, the ETF made clear that further liberalisation and fragmentation in the sector has to be rejected because it will undermine the accessibility, affordability and quality of railway passenger services.
The European railway workers stand together to defend the railways
The ETF will bring to Strasbourg railway workers from several countries. “We have already received confirmations of delegations from Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and United Kingdom” said Sabine Trier, ETF Deputy General Secretary. She added: “despite national situations that can partially differ from country to country, the European railway workers are united in rejecting a package that disregards the social impact of introducing further liberalisation and fragmentation in the European railways. This is unacceptable.”
The 4th Railway Package will not benefit the railways, the passengers and the workers
“We do not want to see the railways turned into another opportunity for private actors to make profits” stressed Guy Greivelding, ETF Railway Section President. “What is needed are affordable, accessible, quality railway services for the people and this 4th Railway Package will not bring any of this. There is a direct link between quality of the services and the quality of the jobs: enhanced competition will inevitably lead to cost-cutting measures that put increased pressure on working conditions and employment”, he added. “Railway passengers services are a public service and the Members of the European Parliament should better preserve them as such” he concluded.
European railway workers will be outside the European Parliament on the 25th of February while the Members of the Parliament will discuss and vote on the 4th Railway Package. The ETF and its affiliates will watch carefully their voting behaviour, also in view of the upcoming European elections.
For more information, please contact:
· Sabine Trier, ETF Deputy General Secretary, s.trier@etf-europe.org, +32(0)22854667, +32 (0)477512814
· Andrea Albertazzi, Assistant of ETF Railway Section, a.albertazzi@etf-europe.org, +32 (0)2 2854588
FROM THE SIU:
***IBF Wraps Up Negotiations (2/20)
The International Transport Workers’ Federation, to which the SIU is affiliated, has issued the following news release.
SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel is chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, and he oversaw the negotiations, as indicated in the release.
Industrial relations collective, the International Bargaining Forum, concludes second round of negotiations for 2015 IBF Framework Agreement
TOKYO, 20 FEBRUARY 2014 – The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and JNG (Joint Negotiating Group) met in Tokyo February 19-20 to continue discussions aimed at a new IBF Framework TCC (Total Crew Cost) Agreement following the first round of discussions held in St. Petersburg in October 2013 on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF).
Both sides outlined their responses to each other’s claims, as presented in St Petersburg, but little progress was made on the key issue of a pay increase with both ITF and the JNG setting out their assessments of the shipping market going forward.
The talks ended today with a commitment to return in April in London for further discussions.
Commenting on the two days of intense negotiation, David Heindel, Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, who chaired the talks said: “We have made some progress but clearly there is some way to go. The key sticking point is the industry’s ability to afford a pay increase for our members who have suffered the brunt of the financial collapse and its impact on world trade. We have differing views about that but the past two days have helped greatly to clarify the rationale behind many of the items that make up the JNG’s claim.”
Speaking at the IBF meeting in Tokyo, the JNG Chairman Mr. Tsutomu Iizuka said: “The JNG has commenced the 2014 negotiation process and has engaged in open dialogue with the ITF. There is certainly some common understanding that shipowners have suffered financially over the past few years, but both parties will actively engage to find a joint approach over the coming months.”
The IBF next meets in London April 14-16, 2014. The final round of negotiations is scheduled for June 3-5.
Notes to editors
The IBF was formed in 2003 as a mechanism for collective bargaining between maritime employers and maritime unions over the wages and conditions of employment for seafarers serving on foreign-flag ships covered by ITF Special Agreements.
Maritime employers are represented by the International Maritime Employers’ Council (IMEC), the International Shipping Employers’ Group (ISEG) which incorporates the International Maritime Managers’ Association of Japan (IMMAJ) and the Taiwanese company Evergreen, and the Korean Shipowners’ Association.
Together they form the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) which allows maritime employers to present to the ITF a coordinated view of employers from across the world.
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) represents 684 unions in 140 countries including maritime affiliates throughout the world representing in excess of 600,000 seafarers.
The IBF negotiations include both central negotiations and local negotiations which allow for development of core principles which can then be incorporated into specific local arrangements. This unique approach to pay negotiations is the only example of international collective bargaining.
FROM SEAFARER TIMES (PHILIPPINES):
***Industrial relations collective, the International Bargaining Forum, concludes second round of negotiations for 2015 IBF Framework Agreement
Submitted by Helmsman on Fri, 02/21/2014 – 00:11
Industrial relations collective, the International Bargaining Forum, concludes second round of negotiations for 2015 IBF Framework Agreement
TOKYO, 20 FEBRUARY 2014 received via email
TOKYO, 20 FEBRUARY 2014 received via email
The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) and JNG (Joint Negotiating Group) met in Tokyo between 19-20 February 2014 to continue discussions aimed at a new IBF Framework TCC (Total Crew Cost) Agreement following the first round of discussions held in St Petersburg in October 2013 on the occasion of the 10th Anniversary of the International Bargaining Forum (IBF).
Both sides outlined their responses to each other’s claims, as presented in St Petersburg, but little progress was made on the key issue of a pay increase with both ITF and the JNG setting out their assessments of the shipping market going forward.
The talks ended today with a commitment to return in April in London for further discussions.
Commenting on the two days of intense negotiation Dave Heindel, Chair of the ITF Seafarers’ Section, who chaired the talks said:
‘We have made some progress but clearly there is some way to go – the key sticking point is the industry’s ability to afford a pay increase for our members who have suffered the brunt of the financial collapse and its impact on world trade. We have differing views about that but the past two days have helped greatly to clarify the rationale behind many of the items that make up the JNG’s claim.’
Speaking at the IBF meeting in Tokyo, the JNG Chairman Mr. Tsutomu Iizuka said:
‘The JNG has commenced the 2014 negotiation process and has engaged in open dialogue with the ITF. There is certainly some common understanding that shipowners have suffered financially over the past few years, but both parties will actively engage to find a joint approach over the coming months.’
The IBF next meets in London on 14-16 April 2014. The final round of negotiations are scheduled for 3 – 5 June.