***ITF forms group to lobby for African offshore workers’ rights
The group aims to protect the rights of African workers and to prevent abuses in the offshore sector.
Official urges Nigeria to review its cabotage regulations and waiver system
A NEWLY formed taskforce is to lobby for African offshore workers’ employment rights and ensure that companies comply with Maritime Labour Convention 2006.
The African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group was launched on Thursday at an International Transport Workers’ Federation-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya.
The ITF said the group would protect the rights of African workers in the offshore sector and prevent abuses, particularly where companies contravene the MLC, dubbed the seafarers’ bill of rights.
The MLC came into force on August 20, hailed as the fourth pillar of global maritime regulation, which supplements international conventions on safety at sea, marine pollution and seafarer training and certification.
AROTFG will campaign to secure national cabotage and continental shelf jurisdiction in the offshore oil and gas sector and campaign for more jobs for African nationals in the continent’s hydrocarbon industry.
ITF Africa regional secretary Joe Katende said the group would signal to governments and hydrocarbon firms that African workers were sick and tired of hearing the industry making excuses.
“It is time the industry backed African workers in developing their skills and finding job opportunities on their own continental shelf,” he said.
ITF offshore task force group has backed the launch of AROTFG.
Chairman Norrie McVicar called on the Nigerian government to become the first country to review its cabotage regulations and, in particular, alleged abuse of the waivers system that has undermined prospects for employment and training for the country’s seafarers.
FROM SHIP MANAGEMENT:
***New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights
October 10, 2013
Representatives at the meeting launching the AROTFG
An ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya today (Thursday) launched a new taskforce dedicated to protecting the rights of African workers in the offshore sector – and to fighting for more jobs for African nationals in the indigenous hydrocarbon industry.
As part of its aims, the new ITF African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group (AROTFG) will campaign to secure national cabotage and continental shelf jurisdiction in the offshore oil and gas sector. It will also be checking for any abuses by companies of African workers’ rights, particularly where they contravene the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC) which came into force on 20th August.
Speaking from the meeting, Joe Katende, ITF Africa Regional Secretary, said: “This is a historic event. The AROTFG, backed by the ITF and its global Offshore Task Force Group (OFTG), will send a signal to governments and the hydrocarbon industry that African workers are sick and tired of hearing excuses from the industry. It is time the industry backed African workers in developing their skills and finding job opportunities on their own continental shelf.”
ITF Offshore Task Force Group chair Norrie McVicar applauded the developments in Africa and called upon the Nigerian Government to show leadership in the region by being the first to review its own cabotage regulations, particularly where it is known there is a clear abuse of the ‘waivers system’ that is undermining job and training opportunities for Nigerian seafarers. He also thanked the Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa for its support for the meeting and its involvement in the opening ceremony.
FROM THE ETF:
REMINDER
Dear members of the press,
Please find attached and below the ETF Press Invitation regarding the ETF Air Traffic Management Demonstration that will take place on Monday 14 October 2013, which you are cordially invited to follow from 13.00 to 15.00 at “Place du Luxembourg” in Brussels.
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PRESS INVITATION
EUROPEAN TRANSPORT WORKERS’ FEDERATION
FEDERATION EUROPEENNE DES TRAVAILLEURS DES TRANSPORTS
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ETF Air Traffic Management Demonstration
“Stop jeopardizing jobs in European Sky”
When? Monday 14 October 2013 at 13.00
Where? Place du Luxembourg, Brussels
Members of the press are cordially invited to follow the demonstration organised by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and its affiliated trade union organisations on Monday 14 October 2013 from 13.00 to 15.00 at “Place du Luxembourg” in Brussels.
Approximately 200 air traffic management employee’s delegates from all over Europe will gather in Brussels in front of the European Parliament. There will be an opportunity to interview delegates from the ETF affiliates present. Some of them will attend the meeting of the European Parliament Transport Committee.
Why are we demonstrating?
After the new Commission proposal on the Single European Sky and the debate on the Performance Scheme, the European Parliament Transport Committee will vote very soon on the proposed Regulation with regard to this issue. The ETF will raise the concerns of the Air Traffic Management Staff:
· No to more competition, liberalisation and more and more market principles in the ATM industry
· No to mandatory unbundling of the so-called support services (MET, CNS, Training, AIS)
· No to a performance scheme dominated by cost reduction that mainly aims to cut on jobs!
· No to a structural mandatory separation between supervisory and service provision
· Yes to better quality jobs
· Yes to Functional Airspace Blocks built on the bottom-up approach and based on cooperation
· Yes to a binding human factor pillar
Further information on the format & timing of the event, please contact:
François Ballestero, ETF Political Secretary: +32474916979; f.ballestero@etf-europe.org
François Ballestero, ETF Political Secretary: +32474916979; f.ballestero@etf-europe.org
The ETF represents more than 2.5 million transport workers from 243 transport unions and 41 European countries, in the following sectors: railways, road transport and logistics, maritime transport, inland waterways, civil aviation, ports & docks, tourism and fisheries.
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 105, Bte 11, B – 1000 Brussels ( +32.2.285 46 60 7 +32.2.280 08 17
Kind regards,
ETF Administration
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Galerie Agora
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 105, Boîte 11
B – 1000 Bruxelles
BELGIUM
Tel: +32 2 285 46 60
Fax: +32 2 280 08 17
www.etf-europe.org
European Transport Workers’ Federation
Galerie Agora
Rue du Marché aux Herbes 105, Boîte 11
B – 1000 Bruxelles
BELGIUM
Tel: +32 2 285 46 60
Fax: +32 2 280 08 17
www.etf-europe.org
FROM REBANADAS DE REALIDAD:
| ***New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights | |||||
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Rebanadas de Realidad – ITF, Londres, 10/10/13.- ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya today launched a new taskforce dedicated to protecting the rights of African workers in the offshore sector – and to fighting for more jobs for African nationals in the indigenous hydrocarbon industry.
As part of its aims, the new ITF African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group (AROTFG) will campaign to secure national cabotage and continental shelf jurisdiction in the offshore oil and gas sector. It will also be checking for any abuses by companies of African workers’ rights, particularly where they contravene the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), the seafarers’ bill of rights. The MLC came into force on 20 August, and is the ‘fourth pillar’ of global maritime regulation, alongside existing international conventions onsafety at sea, marine pollution, and seafarer training and certification. It aims to promote decent living and working conditions in the shipping industry, and to prevent exploitation and unfair competition. It also upholds the principles of freedom of association and the rights to fair terms of employment.
Speaking from the meeting, Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary, said: “This is a historic event. The AROTFG, backed by the ITF and its global Offshore Task Force Group (OFTG), will send a signal to governments and the hydrocarbon industry that African workers are sick and tired of hearing excuses from the industry. It is time the industry backed African workers in developing their skills and finding job opportunities on their own continental shelf.”
ITF Offshore Task Force Group chair Norrie McVicar applauded the developments in Africa and called upon the Nigerian Government to show leadership in the region by being the first to review its own cabotage regulations, particularly where it is known there is a clear abuse of the ‘waivers system’ that is undermining job and training opportunities for Nigerian seafarers. He also thanked the Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa for its support for the meeting and its involvement in the opening ceremony.
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The ITF is a global union federation that represents around five million transport workers in nearly 700 trade unions in 150 countries worldwide. El presente material se publica en Rebanadas por gentileza de Sam Dawson, Oficial de prensa de la ITF.
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FROM THE RMTU ACTIVIST:
***25 November 2013, UN Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women
To see this article pls go to page 6 at http://www.rmtunion.org.nz/publications/documents/Activist-17-2013.pdf
FROM EURACTIV”
***EU vote on flight time rules leaves pilots in dismay
Published: 10 October 2013
“A sad day for European flight safety” tweeted the European pilots’ association, minutes after the European Parliament rejected a motion that would have stopped new flight time limitations (FTL) rules from coming into force.
Background
Pilots operating in the European Union can now be on duty up to 13 hours during the day and 11 hours and 45 minutes if their shift involves night-flying, typically defined as 2 am to 4:59 am.
On 1 October 2012, the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) tabled regulations to tighten existing rules, chopping up to 45 minutes off the maximum time European pilots could fly when their shifts involved nighttime hours.
Trade unions for pilots and cabin crews want to cap night duty to 10 hours.
The European Parliament decided in a plenary vote in Strasbourg on Wednesday (9 October) not to follow the advice of its transport committee, which had rejected the European Commission’s draft law on flight time limitations in September.
With 387 votes against the proposed motion to reject the proposal, a Parliament majority backed the Commission.
“Despite the criticism this revision has raised, we believe that this proposal is a considerable improvement of the current status quo in a number of Member States and certainly better than managing separate arrangements for flying time around Europe,” said Gesine Meissner, a German liberal MEP (ALDE).
“Maintaining the status quo would have not made our European sky any safer,” she said in a written statement after the vote.
Harmonisation
The proposal on flight time limitations harmonises flight and rest rules at EU level, reducing the maximum flight duty time at night from 11.45 hours to 11, the maximum number of flying hours per year from 1,300 to 1,000 and the maximum duty time (airport standby + flight) to 16 hours, instead of the 26 or even 28 currently applying in certain member states.
But critics say these measures are insufficient and disregard scientific recommendations to limit flight duty to 10 hours maximum. The 16 hours duty time has been deemed excessive by doctors and sleep experts. Beyond this limit, they argue that a third pilot should be present, as is the case in the United States.
The Greens, who had introduced the motion rejecting the draft legislation, were disappointed.
Isabelle Durant, a Belgian green MEP and one of Parliament’s 14 vice-presidents, called the vote “damaging”, warning that the Commission was “playing a dangerous game”.
She said Parliament had accepted to surrender any leverage over future adjustments to flight time rules, as the legislation was subject to comitology, a procedure that gives no room for parliamentary amendments, and forces the assembly to “take or leave” any future tweaks to the rules.
British Green MEP Keith Taylor also expressed his disappointment. “Pilots’ unions had raised serious concerns about the proposals, which could see pilots working 22 hour shifts and having to work 7 early starts in a row. The proposal will lead to increased stress and working hours for pilots and increases passenger risk,” Taylor told EurActiv in an email.
Legislation ‘tailored for airlines, not passenger safety’
The European Cockpit Association (ECA), which represents pilots from all over Europe, expressed concern over the vote. Its secretary general, Philip von Schöppenthau, told EurActiv that the vote was “a shame and bad news for passenger safety”.
“The text approved [yesterday] still contains significant safety loopholes that have not been closed, such as excessively long night flight times and dangerously long combinations of standby and flight duty. As long as these holes remain wide open, and as long as scientific recommendations are deliberately ignored, the whole package remains unsafe. This text has been tailored around the airlines’ commercial needs, not around passenger safety”.
The two biggest parties in Parliament – the Socialists and Democrats (S&D) and the centre-right European People’s Party (EPP) – both backed the Commission’s proposal, even though many of their MEPs had previously rejected it in the transport committee.
S&D lawmakers said they could support the proposal, after having “brokered a deal between the Commission and the European Transport Workers Federation (ETF)”.
Adversaries of the deal admit that the new legislation will help those countries where safety standards are low. But they argue it will bring a “downward harmonisation” for those with good safety practices.
Meissner, however, says that “if a Member State or individual airlines want to put down better conditions they can do so”.
But such reassurances do not convince all stakeholders. In the UK for example, the British Pilots Association (BALPA) has already called on the UK government to “protect flights from dodgy backroom deals on EU safety cuts“.
Positions
The European Commission welcomed the vote in Parliament: “I am pleased with this vote which opens the way for new stricter EU-wide rules on pilot fatigue. It will bring better protection of passengers and safer working conditions for crew. This is a victory for common sense”, Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas said.
The European People’s Party (EPP) group in Parliament also welcomed the vote saying that “the safety of passengers and pilots has always been the EPP Group’s first priority in the preparation of the new European flight time limitation Regulation. The new rules will greatly enhance this safety: if we compare the current different national legislations with the new European rules, in nearly all cases, national safety levels are maintained and in most cases improved thanks to a better flight time-rest time ratio.”
The Socialists and Democrats said they supported the proposal because they had previously brokered a deal between the Commission and transport workers: “This has been a long drawn-out process with feelings running high on all sides. At the end of the day I believe the Commission proposal as it now stands should be supported so that we can ensure that Europe’s excellent safety record in aviation can be maintained and strengthened”, the British MEP Brian Simpson said in a statement.
However, the French Socialists in Parliament distanced themselves from the vote. In a statement, MEP Bernadette Vergnaud said that the proposal is a “threat to the safety of passengers”. She also highlighted the fact that “the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) will be free to take other decision on that matter without any political control”. “We also regret the last-minute negotiations that only brought minor improvements without giving us the time to calmly examine the results”.
The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) welcomed the decision of the Parliament to back the proposal: “Under the harmonisation proposals, developed by the European Aviation Safety Agency, national aviation safety regulators, such as the CAA, will have a much enhanced monitoring role of pilot fatigue – including having access to airline flight data. This will allow regulators to analyse roster and shift patterns to identify problems on specific sectors or routes.”
A point of view that British pilots don’t share – BALPA regret the vote and called on their government to reject the deal: “To date the UK Government and flight safety regulator, the Civil Aviation Authority have wholeheartedly supported the planned EU cuts to UK flight safety, ignored the evidence presented by both Britain’s 10,000 pilots and the scientific community and failed to stand up for UK standards, which are currently the highest in Europe. British pilots are calling on the Government to look at the evidence and demand that the unscientific and unsafe new rules are voted on by the EU Council of Ministers, which includes UK Transport Ministers.”
The European Cockpit Association (ECA) has expressed strong concern and said in a press release that with this vote, the EP ignored scientific advice and put passengers at risk
FROM AFRICAN OIL AND GAS NEWS:
An ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya today (Thursday) launched a new taskforce dedicated to protecting the rights of African workers in the offshore sector – and to fighting for more jobs for African nationals in the indigenous hydrocarbon industry. As part of its aims, the new ITF African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group (AROTFG) will campaign to secure national cabotage and … Read More……
FROM EU OBSERVER:
***Long flying hours are deadly, say protesting pilots
06.10.09 @ 09:26
European pilots staged a series of protests in airports and cities across the region on Monday (5 October), calling for a reduction in flying hours to increase safety levels.
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A report published last year warns about the dangers of flying long hours (Photo: Ti.mo)
In Brussels, uniformed pilots handed out fake boarding passes outside the European Commission and Parliament buildings, warning pedestrians about the dangers of pilot fatigue.
“Pilot fatigue is considered to be a contributory cause to 15-20 percent of all fatal aircraft accidents,” Martin Chalk, head of the European Cockpit Association (ECA), told journalists.
“The effects of fatigue are as damaging as the effects of alcohol intoxication,” he added.
The protests were organised by the ECA along with the European Transport Workers’ Federation (EFT) and are aimed at putting pressure on the European Union, currently in the process of drafting new laws on flying hours.
Present EU rules allow for up to 14 hours flying time during the day and nearly 12 hours at night. However a scientific report – the Moebus Report – published last September recommends airline crew work no more than 13 hours during the day or 10 hours at night.
The document says the risk of accident is five-and-a-half times greater when pilots work 13 hours or more.
“What we are saying today is that they need to listen to the safety review,” said Mr Chalk.
“It was conducted by the best scientists in this field in Europe. It was commissioned by the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and therefore it should not be ignored when writing the rules.”
The new EU rules on harmonised flying hours are set to come into force in 2012, with the EASA currently in the process of considering responses to a consultation on a first draft.
EASA hits back
The EASA hit back at the pilots on Monday, questioning the timing and real motivation behind the protests.
“This is jumping the gun. It is not a constructive contribution to a debate which is yet to happen,” Daniel Hoeltgen, EASA communications director told CNN.
Mr Hoeltgen believes the protests are merely a first stage in an industrial debate between unions and airlines – many of which have struggled to deal with the effects of the financial crisis.
“It’s got nothing to do with safety regulations. We have made it clear that we will invite the unions and the airlines to take part in a review of the current rules and the timeframe for that has been made clear,” he said.
But the European Cockpit Association points to rules recently brought in by the US administration following a crash that killed 50 people in Buffalo, New York, this year.
“Without hesitation, the US regulator has taken swift and decisive action,” said the flyers distributed by pilots.
The association, that represents over 38,000 pilots and flight engineers in 36 European countries, is also fighting for better working conditions for stewards.
Here they cite another example in the US where a stewardess forgot to close the passenger door properly due to tiredness.
FROM SEAFARER TIMES (PHILIPPINES):
***New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights
Submitted by Helmsman on Fri, 10/11/2013 – 09:43
PALEA staged a solidarity action in the Turkish Airlines (THY) Ticket Office in Ayala Avenue, Makati City in support of the Hava-Is for fighting for workers rights. The solidarity action was called by the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights
10 October 2013 received via email
10 October 2013 received via email
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya today launched a new taskforce dedicated to protecting the rights of African workers in the offshore sector – and to fighting for more jobs for African nationals in the indigenous hydrocarbon industry.
As part of its aims, the new ITF African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group (AROTFG) will campaign to secure national cabotage and continental shelf jurisdiction in the offshore oil and gas sector. It will also be checking for any abuses by companies of African workers’ rights, particularly where they contravene the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), the seafarers’ bill of rights. The MLC came into force on 20 August, and is the ‘fourth pillar’ of global maritime regulation, alongside existing international conventions onsafety at sea, marine pollution, and seafarer training and certification. It aims to promote decent living and working conditions in the shipping industry, and to prevent exploitation and unfair competition. It also upholds the principles of freedom of association and the rights to fair terms of employment.
Speaking from the meeting, Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary, said: “This is a historic event. The AROTFG, backed by the ITF and its global Offshore Task Force Group (OFTG), will send a signal to governments and the hydrocarbon industry that African workers are sick and tired of hearing excuses from the industry. It is time the industry backed African workers in developing their skills and finding job opportunities on their own continental shelf.
ITF Offshore Task Force Group chair Norrie McVicar applauded the developments in Africa and called upon the Nigerian Government to show leadership in the region by being the first to review its own cabotage regulations, particularly where it is known there is a clear abuse of the ‘waivers system’ that is undermining job and training opportunities for Nigerian seafarers. He also thanked the Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa for its support for the meeting and its involvement in the opening ceremony.
FROM HAVA-IS:
***Solidarity Action for Turkish Airline Workers / Hava-İş
Monday, 07 October 2013
PALEA staged a solidarity action in the Turkish Airlines (THY) Ticket Office in Ayala Avenue, Makati City in support of the Hava-Is for fighting for workers rights. The solidarity action was called by the International Transport Workers’ Federation.
PALEA and the ITF and our solidarity partners from the AAWL urge Turkish Airlines to treat their workers with fairness, respect and dignity.
Click on the link below for more information and support to the Hava-Is campaign:
FROM THE SPH:
***New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights
Početna Članci ITF/ETF aktivnosti New taskforce launches to fight for African offshore workers’ rights
11.10.2013
ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation)-affiliated trade unions meeting in Mombasa, Kenya today launched a new taskforce dedicated to protecting the rights of African workers in the offshore sector – and to fighting for more jobs for African nationals in the indigenous hydrocarbon industry.
As part of its aims, the new ITF African Regional Offshore Oil and Gas Task Force Group (AROTFG) will campaign to secure national cabotage and continental shelf jurisdiction in the offshore oil and gas sector. It will also be checking for any abuses by companies of African workers’ rights, particularly where they contravene the Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), the seafarers’ bill of rights. The MLC came into force on 20 August, and is the ‘fourth pillar’ of global maritime regulation, alongside existing international conventions onsafety at sea, marine pollution, and seafarer training and certification. It aims to promote decent living and working conditions in the shipping industry, and to prevent exploitation and unfair competition. It also upholds the principles of freedom of association and the rights to fair terms of employment.
Speaking from the meeting, Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary, said: “This is a historic event. The AROTFG, backed by the ITF and its global Offshore Task Force Group (OFTG), will send a signal to governments and the hydrocarbon industry that African workers are sick and tired of hearing excuses from the industry. It is time the industry backed African workers in developing their skills and finding job opportunities on their own continental shelf.
ITF Offshore Task Force Group chair Norrie McVicar applauded the developments in Africa and called upon the Nigerian Government to show leadership in the region by being the first to review its own cabotage regulations, particularly where it is known there is a clear abuse of the ‘waivers system’ that is undermining job and training opportunities for Nigerian seafarers. He also thanked the Kenya Maritime Authority in Mombasa for its support for the meeting and its involvement in the opening ceremony. (ITF)