Relief for crew of detained scandal ship
The owners of the Turkish registered ship currently being detained off the Cornish coast have agreed to pay and repatriate its crew.The International Transport Workers’ Federation had set a deadline for the owners of the Mazur to pay allowed wages and help the seafarers home.But is says it has now decided to delay the legal arrest of the vessel on behalf of its crew and because the owners have demonstrated good faith by putting putting food onboard as well as washing machines.Darren Procter from the International Transport Workers’ Federation says “the company is now promising to pay them all the money it owes them, and to repatriate them. If all that is owed is paid to the crew we will cease the arrest of the vessel.”about 13 hours ago
An International Transport Workers Federation spokesperson says that legal action by them on behalf of the Munzar’s crew has resulted in the company responsible promising pay.Darren Proctor told ITV News West Country that should there be any delay to the agreed schedule for payment, they will not hesitate to proceed with the arrest.The company is now promising to pay them all the money it owes them, and to repatriate them.While that money is transferred they have demonstrated good faith by putting food onboard, along with two much-needed washing machines.If all that is owed is paid to the crew we will cease the arrest of the vessel. If the crew don’t get what they reserve we resume that arrest.– Darren Procter, ITF about 14 hours ago
The company in charge of a boat that has been moored off the coast of Cornwall for months, leaving crew living in filthy conditions, has agreed to pay all wages owed to them and help them to return home.The International Transport Workers’ Federation says the Munzur, which is detained in Fowey, says two washing machines have been delivered to allow crew members to wash clothes and bedding.The ITF believes that as well as paying the owed money the company is likely to sign an ITF agreement which will hold them to providing decent pay and conditions for crew in the future.about 16 hours ago
by John Andrews
A Turkish ship which has been moored off the coast of Cornwall for months has been “arrested” by its own crew.They claim they haven’t been paid and are living in horrendous conditions off Fowey.They say they have been unable to get any agreement from the owners and are about to seize the vessel and hold it against the money they’re owed.
about 19 hours ago
A Turkish ship which has been moored at Fowey for months has now been “arrested” by its own crew, after they claim they’ve not been paid and are living in horrendous conditions.They’ve been unable to get any agreement from the owners and are about to seize the vessel and hold it against the money they’re owed.Darren Procter from the International Transport Workers’ Federation says conditions on board the Munzur are the worst he’s ever seen:-FROM THE SIU, ALSO THE SHIPPING TRIBUNE (INDIA):***Federation Reports Progress in FOC Case (4/23)
The International Transport Workers’ Federation has issued the following update:23 April 2014Relief for crew of detained scandal shipThe ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) is able to report progress in the case of the filthy and unsafe vessel Munzur, which is detained in Fowey in Cornwall, United Kingdom. Following the passing of a deadline for action by the owners to pay and repatriate its crew, the company has now agreed to pay all owed wages and help the seafarers home. The ITF has accordingly decided to delay the legal arrest of the vessel on behalf of its crew.Speaking from the Munzur, ITF inspector Darren Procter reported: “Following our legal action on behalf of the crew, the company is now promising to pay them all the money it owes them, and to repatriate them. While that money is transferred they have demonstrated good faith by putting food on board, along with two much-needed washing machines. If all that is owed is paid to the crew we will cease the arrest of the vessel. If the crew don’t get what they deserve we resume that arrest.”There are 12 crew members, from five different nationalities on board the Panamanian-flagged, Turkish-owned Munzur, which was detained by the UK’s Maritime and Coastguard Agency for multiple failings. The ITF believes that as well as paying the owed money the company is likely to sign an ITF agreement which will hold them to providing decent pay and conditions for seafarers on the Munzur in future.###FROM UNI GLOBAL UNION, ALSO THE LOADSTAR:***Turkish union secures DHL bargaining dealThe ITF (International Transport Workers¨Federation) and UNI Global Union today congratulated Turkeyħ TUMTIS union, which has secured a nationwide collective bargaining agreement (CBA) with logistics giant DHL. The agreement will provide 2,200 workers at DHL Turkey with social security, regulate DHLħ use of subcontracting, and make 750 subcontracted employees into permanent workers. This CBA follows a two and a half year struggle by TUMTIS ¨with the support of the ITF, UNI and the international union movement ¨that culminated last November with it securing recognition as the lawful union of choice for DHL Turkey Supply Chain staff (see www.itfglobal.org/press-area/index.cfm/pressdetail/9603/region/1/section…).TUMTIS president Kenan Ozturk explained: ╘his agreement includes social, economic and administrative regulations ¨including assistance with family education and at times of marriage, maternity and death in the family. With wage increase and bonus provisions, workers¨remuneration will increase between 32 and 46 percent.o:p>He continued: n behalf of TUMTIS, I thank the ITF, UNI, the ETF (European Transport Workers¨Federation), ver.di, the NTF (Norwegian Transport Workers’ Union) and all our union friends worldwide for their support and solidarity, their visits to the picket line and their worldwide mobilisation.o:p>FROM EURACTIV (BELGIUM):***France concerned over ‘cabotage’ abuses–A +A23/04/2014 – 07:50Truck crossing Danish border. [Shutterstock]Just days after the European Union passed new rules on posted workers to fight social abuses in the construction sector, France is back on the attack, this time asking for an update of cabotage rules in road freight. EurActiv France reports.The European Commission pushes for greater liberalisation of short distance road freight, yet it is complicating the struggle against social dumping in road transport, Paris argues.French parliamentarians, European transport ministers, representatives of employer organisations, and trade unions met in Paris on 16 April for a conference on the main challenges facing the transport of people and goods.Organised by the French Secretary of State for Transport, Frédéric Cuvillier, the international conference was a chance for France to cooperate with other EU member states in fighting social dumping.“We hope that abuses are fully taken into account so that progress can be made,” stated the Secretary of State before his Danish, British, Polish and Romanian counterparts during his opening speech.France’s demand on road freight come days only after the European Union agreed updated rules for posted workers, after Paris successfully led a battle to denounce the abuses of European firms employing low-cost labour, mainly from Poland and Romania.Low cost hauliersAt issue is the partial liberalisation of road transport in 2009, which allows European transporters to deliver goods in another EU country as part of the same journey within seven days of their initial trip – or cabotage.Through the liberalisation of this practice, the European Commission was hoping to reduce the amount of empty running (vehicles with no merchandise), the costs of transport, traffic and pollution.However, the misuse of cabotage and the range of wages, social laws and fiscal laws across the EU have resulted in competition between EU member states. It has also led to a ‘deadweight’ effect where certain companies profit by creating supply chains in countries where the cost of labour is cheaper, such as Poland or Romania.The temptation of low cost labour has pushed certain French companies to develop “supply chains in Romania or Poland […] By playing with cabotage rules,” explained a report by French senator Éric Boquet. “These drivers spend a month in France and are remunerated under the conditions of their country of origin,” he wrote.Confronted with this liberalisation, damages have been substantial in certain member states, notably France, where transport companies have been hit hard. French concerns are high, especially because the transport market provides a substantial amount of employment. According to the European Commission, the market represented approximately 3 million jobs in 2011, and is the main inland transport mode in the EU.Social dumpingAccording to Roberto Parrillo, Road Transport Section President of the European Transport Workers Federation (FET), by increasing competition between European countries in spite of social differences, pressure on wages and social rights has increased.“In road transport, wages represent 45% of costs. The rest (vehicle maintenance, insurance and fuel) are closely tied.” he explained. “Companies accept markets that are below normal prices and then have to attack wages, which are the adjustable variable,” he continued.“Social conditions should be good, but economic activity must also be profitable,” emphasised Michael Nielsen, International Road Transport Union’s General Delegate to the EU. He claims that without this, “we will have a shortage of drivers in 15 to 20 years”.Simultaneous translationA persistent problem for freight inspections is that the language used in the drivers’ official documents is often not understood by inspectors. “When we inspect a Polish or Slovakian driver in France, we sometimes prefer to let him go,” explained the French deputy Gilles Savary, pointing out that “the administration of road transport inspections” is “very unequal between countries.”The UK has found a solution for the problem. “Our inspectors have a simultaneous translation system on their mobile phones so that non-English speaking drivers do not escape inspection,” explained Robert Goodwill, British assistant Secretary of State for Transport.The East disagreesAlthough Western Europe and trade unions agree that European legislation is weak, central and western European countries do not share this view.The Czech Republic believes that there is no need to legislate any further. “We have the means to apply this legislation,” stated the Czech Vice-Minister of Transport, Kamil Rudolecký.A Commission report on the road transport market published on 14 April disagrees with France and emphasises the will of the European executive “to increase the liberalisation of transport markets”. Fighting empty running is still the order of the day in Brussels.To counter social dumping, the Commission calls on member states to “intensify their efforts for a more efficient and homogeneous application of the law.”The disparity of wages between EU member states is also important, but according to the Commission, they are “gradually decreasing”. The average wage of a Romanian haulier is now comparable to that of a Spanish haulier – €4 to €5 per hour.Timeline:
- 8 May: informal meeting of European transport ministers on cabotage in Athens.
- 21-23 May: Annual Summit of European transport ministers in Leipzig, Germany.
- June: Council of Transport ministers in Luxembourg.
External links:European Commission
- Report on the state of the Union road transport market – 14 April 2014
- Press release on road transport – 14 April 2014
- Regulation on common rules for access to the international road haulage market – 21 October 2009
French Senate
- Information report – Social dumping in European transport – Éric Bocquet April 2014 (FR)
FROM TRADEWINDS:***Munzur owners cough upThe Turkish owners of a general cargoship detained in the UK have agreed to repatriate the crew and pay $35,000 in overdue wages.MunzurThe 3,331-dwt general cargo vessel Munzur (built 2008) was initially held in Fowey, Cornwall after failing a health and safety inspection earlier this month.A Maritime and Coastguard Agency (MCA) report cited dirty bathroom facilities, unsuitable food storage, corroded pipework, broken lights and inadequate laundry facilities, as the reasons for holding the ship.However the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) subsequently issued a Tuesday 5pm deadline for the company to pay and repatriate the crew of the “filthy and unsafe” Panamanian vessel or it would proceed with a formal arrest.“Living conditions are appalling, with the vessel having no hot water at the time of arrest, no washing machines, filthy bed linen, low levels of fresh food, unsafe electrics and a sanitary system which relies on a 45 gallon drum full of sea water,” the ITF said in a statement on Tuesday.All but one of the 12 seafarers were earning below the ILO minimum wage while one was earning just $400 per month and five of them had not been paid since joining the vessel earlier this year.Darren Procter, ITF inspector, said today: “Following our legal action on behalf of the crew, the company is now promising to pay them all the money it owes them, and to repatriate them.“While that money is transferred they have demonstrated good faith by putting food onboard, along with two much-needed washing machines.“If all that is owed is paid to the crew we will cease the arrest of the vessel. If the crew don’t get what they deserve we resume that arrest.”The ITF says that the owners are also likely to sign an agreement promising decent pay and conditions for seafarers on the Munzur.FROM THE MTWTU:Начала свою работы выставка “Обучение, подготовка и трудоустройство моряков” на Морвокзале. Торжественное открытие состоится в 12:00. Ждем всех желающих и приглашаем посетить стенд Профсоюза работников морского транспорта Украины и Международной федерации транспортников (ITF) – вы можете пообщаться с с работниками Профсоюза, с Инспектором ITF в Украине Натальей Ефрименко, получить много полезной информации.
На выставке также представлены крюинговые компании и представители судовладельцев, банковские учреждения, курсы повышения квалификации, а также много полезной информации для моряков.
Профсоюз работников морского транспорта Украины уделяет особое внимание будущим морякам – курсантам Одесской национальной морской академии, а также учащимся других морских учебных заведений. Так, работники Профсоюза постоянно проводят акции в учебных заведениях, участвуют в мероприятиях, которые проводят сами учебные заведения, помогают оборудовать компьютерные классы и др. Для ПРМТУ, как для профсоюза, который ежедневно сталкивается с проблемами моряков, очень важно, чтоб в случае беды, они (моряки) знали как себя вести, куда обращаться и кому звонить.
С целью информировать моряков ПРМТУ и ОНМА организовали встречу курсантов старших курсов с инспектором ITF Натальей Ефрименко. Более 100 курсантов получили возможность пообщаться лично с единственным инспектором в Украине и задать ей вопросы, которые волнуют их перед уходом на практику.
«Мы надеемся, что подобные встречи станут регулярными, потому что чем больше информации ребята получат сейчас, тем проще с ними будет работать в будущем» – подвела итог Наталья Валерьевна.GOOGLE TRANSLATION:*** Exhibition ” Education , training and employment of seafarers “
Began its work exhibition ” Education , training and employment of seafarers ” the seaport . Grand opening will take place at 12:00 . Everybody is welcome and invite you to visit the stand of Maritime Transport Workers’ Union of Ukraine and the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) – you can chat with with union workers , with the ITF Inspector in Ukraine Natalia Efrimenko get a lot of useful information.
The exhibition also presents crewing companies and representatives of shipowners, banking institutions , training courses , as well as a lot of useful information for sailors.
*** ITF inspector communicates with future seafarers
Maritime Transport Workers union Ukraine pays special attention to future sailors – cadets Odessa National Maritime Academy , as well as students of other marine educational institutions. Thus, the union workers are constantly carrying out actions in schools , participate in activities that conduct educational institutions themselves , helping to equip computer classes , etc. For PRMTU as for the union , which faces daily challenges sailors , very important that in the event of trouble, they ( sailors ) knew how to behave, where to go and who to call .
In order to inform seafarers PRMTU ONMA and organized a meeting with the senior cadets ITF inspector Natalia Efrimenko . More than 100 students had the opportunity to talk personally with the only inspector in Ukraine and ask her questions that concern them before going to practice.
“We hope that these meetings will be regular , because the guys get more information now, the easier it will be to work with them in the future” – summed up Natalia V. .
FROM THE SUR:
13 февраля 2014 года в порту г. Гдыня (Польша) инспектор Международной федерации транспортных рабочих (ITF), представитель польского объединения «Солидарность» Анжей Кощик поднялся на борт судна «Братислава» (флаг РФ), управляемого ОАО «Северо-Западное пароходство» (СЗП), чтобы пообщаться с моряками. Это был рядовой визит с целью проверки коллективного договора, Декларации по Сводной конвенции МОТ 2006 года о труде в морском судоходстве (КТМС) и индивидуальных контрактов моряков. Такой комплект документов должен быть на каждом судне страны, ратифицировавшей конвенцию, вступившей в силу 20 августа 2013 года. Россия была 30-м государством, которое утвердило у себя этот свод правил, а значит, вышеперечисленные документы на судах под флагом Российской федерации (РФ) должны быть.GOOGLE TRANSLATION:Targeted campaign against FFP is not conducted
February 13, 2014 in the port of Gdynia (Poland) Inspector International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), representative of the Polish union “Solidarity” Andrzej Koschik boarded the vessel “Bratislava” (the flag of the Russian Federation) , managed by JSC ” North- Western Shipping Company ” ( EWS) to communicate with the sailors. It was a private visit to check the collective agreement , the Declaration on the Consolidated Convention , 2006 ILO Maritime Labour Convention ( MLC ) and individual contracts of seamen. This set of documents must be on each vessel of the country to ratify the Convention , which entered into force on 20 August 2013. Russia was the 30th state , which approved at this set of rules , which means that the above documents on ships under the flag of the Russian Federation ( RF) should be.
