Swazi trade unionists demonstrate
An international delegation investigating labour rights abuses in Swaziland today called on the government there to take immediate action. The delegation, organised by the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) travelled to the country last week to investigate allegations of anti-trade union actions – and has decided that its government has a serious case to answer.
The investigative mission was made up of: Stuart Howard, ITF assistant general secretary; Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary; and Abner Tabudi Ramakgolo, ITF regional chair and an official of SATAWU (the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union). During meetings with government bodies and ministries, they highlighted a number of major concerns, including repressive legislation such as: the Public Order Act (POA), which gives the authorities almost unlimited power to ban or limit public gatherings; the King’s Proclamation of 1973, which criminalised political dissent and banned political parties; and the Suppression of Terrorism Act 2008. All are being used to restrict the ability of trade unions to organise.
One priority of the mission was to visit Basil Thwala, the jailed legal advisor of the ITF-affiliated Swaziland Transport and Allied Workers Union (STAWU), who was unjustly sentenced under the POA to two years imprisonment for trade union activities. Despite the presence of guards writing down everything he said he was able to tell them about his mistreatment at the hands of the police, and that although he had appealed against his conviction over a year ago there was still no sign of it being taken forward.
In repeated meeting they also challenged the government over moves by the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority to classify almost all airport operations as ‘essential services’ in revenge for industrial action in December.
The delegation also exposed the harassment by police of union leaders, who are being subjected to fines, arrest and imprisonment. Several STAWU leaders currently have charges hanging over them following the airport action. The mission members went on to put the government on notice over its failure to register the national union organisation, TUCOSWA .
Stuart Howard reported: “Our mission was met with no real willingness to listen. It’s clear that only strong action is likely to bring about change in Swaziland. Such action will include the ITF joining with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in calling for the trade privileges from which Swaziland benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Agreement (AGOA) to be withdrawn, unless it radically reforms its position. AGOA comes up for review on 15 May.”
He continued: “We are already in contact with US unions, who first pushed for labour standards to be included in AGOA. We shall also be looking at trade relations with the European Union and will raise the constant harassment of STAWU with the International Labour Organization (ILO).”
Joe Katende added: “Our unions organise along the transport corridors on which Swaziland depends. For example, just last week SIMPOCAF, the rail and port union in the port of Maputo, where many of landlocked Swaziland’s exports are loaded for international markets, passed a motion calling for solidarity action.”
Tabudi Abner Ramakgolo will be taking a similar call for solidarity back to SATAWU. “South Africa is the other major transport route for Swazi exports,” he said. “I believe when our unions learn the full extent of union repression of transport workers in Swaziland they will not stand idly by.”
FROM THE PRMTU:
***Профсоюз и Благотворительный фонд “МОРТРАНС” помогли укр
GOOGLE TRANSLATION: Union and charity fund “Mortrans“ helped Ukrainian sailors
TO SEE THIS REPORT GO TO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d7e0HLK7Hdo&app=desktop
FROM THE MARITIME EXECUTIVE:
***Crew of FOC Ship Wins Two-Year Fight Over Unpaid Wages
By MarEx
A claim to secure wages owed to the Ukrainian and Russian crewmembers on a flag-of-convenience (FOC) vessel under detention in Liverpool for more than two years was settled as 2013 came to a close, thanks to the intervention of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF).
The crew received a total of $75,000 in back wages, plus repatriation expenses.
The case began after the Antigua-and-Barbuda-registered DYCKBURG was stopped in Birkenhead, U.K., in September 2011 when a coast guard inspection discovered 17 deficiencies, including problems with safety management and life-saving and firefighting equipment. The story was reported in Nautilus Telegraph, the magazine of the British, Dutch and Swiss maritime officers’ union.
“It has been a difficult and long wait for the crew,” said Tommy Molloy, the Nautilus/ITF inspector who worked on the case. “The ship arrived in Liverpool in September 2011, under tow because of serious engine failure, and by Christmas that year we repatriated the crew at ITF expense pending settlement.”
Molloy had lodged a protest with the Ukrainian ambassador to the United Kingdom after uncovering evidence that the mariners had been threatened for seeking the wages they were owed and asking to be repatriated. “No employee should have to wait two years for wages legitimately earned,” Molloy said.
FROM ALL ABOUT SHIPPING, ALLVOICES:
***International mission calls for Swazi labour rights action
ITF, Labour Disputes — By admin on March 4, 2014 at 5:30 PM
The ITF HQ’s in London
4 March 2014 – An international delegation investigating labour rights abuses in Swaziland today called on the government there to take immediate action. The delegation, organised by the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) travelled to the country last week to investigate allegations of anti-trade union actions – and has decided that its government has a serious case to answer.
The investigative mission was made up of: Stuart Howard, ITF assistant general secretary; Joe Katende, ITF Africa regional secretary; and Abner Tabudi Ramakgolo, ITF regional chair and an official of SATAWU (the South African Transport and Allied Workers’ Union). During meetings with government bodies and ministries, they highlighted a number of major concerns, including repressive legislation such as: the Public Order Act (POA), which gives the authorities almost unlimited power to ban or limit public gatherings; the King’s Proclamation of 1973, which criminalised political dissent and banned political parties; and the Suppression of Terrorism Act 2008. All are being used to restrict the ability of trade unions to organise.
One priority of the mission was to visit Basil Thwala, the jailed legal advisor of the ITF-affiliated Swaziland Transport and Allied Workers Union (STAWU), who was unjustly sentenced under the POA to two years imprisonment for trade union activities. Despite the presence of guards writing down everything he said he was able to tell them about his mistreatment at the hands of the police, and that although he had appealed against his conviction over a year ago there was still no sign of it being taken forward.
In repeated meeting they also challenged the government over moves by the Swaziland Civil Aviation Authority to classify almost all airport operations as ‘essential services’ in revenge for industrial action in December.
The delegation also exposed the harassment by police of union leaders, who are being subjected to fines, arrest and imprisonment. Several STAWU leaders currently have charges hanging over them following the airport action. The mission members went on to put the government on notice over its failure to register the national union organisation, TUCOSWA .
Stuart Howard reported: “Our mission was met with no real willingness to listen. It’s clear that only strong action is likely to bring about change in Swaziland. Such action will include the ITF joining with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) in calling for the trade privileges from which Swaziland benefits under the African Growth and Opportunity Agreement (AGOA) to be withdrawn, unless it radically reforms its position. AGOA comes up for review on 15 May.”
He continued: “We are already in contact with US unions, who first pushed for labour standards to be included in AGOA. We shall also be looking at trade relations with the European Union and will raise the constant harassment of STAWU with the International Labour Organization (ILO).”
Joe Katende added: “Our unions organise along the transport corridors on which Swaziland depends. For example, just last week SIMPOCAF, the rail and port union in the port of Maputo, where many of landlocked Swaziland’s exports are loaded for international markets, passed a motion calling for solidarity action.”
Tabudi Abner Ramakgolo will be taking a similar call for solidarity back to SATAWU. “South Africa is the other major transport route for Swazi exports,” he said. “I believe when our unions learn the full extent of union repression of transport workers in Swaziland they will not stand idly by.”
FROM HGV UK:
***CLOSER project gets green light
March 4, 2014
The European Commission has given the go-ahead to the Combined Learning Objectives for Safer European Roads – CLOSER project enabling the International Road Transport Union (IRU) to create safer European road operations through the development of new training materials in the fields of cabotage, cargo securing, and driving and rest time rules, to improve the efficiency and harmonisation of roadside and company checks. Training materials will be aimed at all key road transport professionals, including controllers, transport managers and drivers.
CLOSER will allow the IRU to further build on established partnerships with Euro Contrôle Route, TISPOL and CORTE from the enforcement community, also extending the existing cooperation with the European Transport Workers’ Federation.
The project will be coordinated by AFT, a vocational educational training provider in transport and logistics in France.