***Transport workers map global fightback at ITF World Congress

by Tamara Gausi

The International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) 43rd World Congress opened in Sofia on Sunday with a passionate rallying cry for its 4.5 million members to “fight back” against global inequality.

ITF President Paddy Crumlin acknowledged his fellow transport workers as “essential to human life."

(ITF)

ITF President Paddy Crumlin acknowledged his fellow transport workers as “essential to human life. We run the trains and buses and airplanes. Our dock workers are moving goods. We are in the fishing industry. We are everywhere and we demand justice.”

But he warned those gathered that they would be in for a long, hard fight.

“We live in a world where the wealth created by 3.5 billion people is equal to the wealth controlled by 80 individuals. There is something fundamentally sour and wrong with that.”

Crumlin also called for trade unionists to come together to end the most extreme and pervasive forms of exploitation ranging from precarious work to child labour and modern day slavery.

“We must protect the weak because if we don’t , one day “those people” will be us and our children.

Over 1800 workers from 116 countries attended the opening ceremony, in which women took centre stage.

As well as speeches from the Federation of Transport Trade Unions in Bulgaria (FTTUB) president Ekaterina Yordanova and the mayor of Sofia Yordanka Fandakova, International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) General Secretary Sharan Burrow made a strident call to end the attack on Gaza.

“The killing must stop. The blockade must end. The occupation of Palestine and the settlements in the West Bank must end.

“Palestine must be recognised as an independent state in line with our two state policy. Peace for both the people of Palestine and Israel is the only answer.”

She called on delegates to join the ITUC’s Peace Like Mine postcard campaign, while the ITF reiterated its call for contributions to its Gaza Fund which is helping to transport food and medical aid to the Gaza Strip.

Almost 2,000 people have been killed since the start of Israel’s Operation Protective Edge in July.

A further 500,000 people have been displaced and more than 10,000 homes and 300,000 livelihoods have been destroyed in one of the worst attacks ever on the besieged Gaza Strip.

Speaking at Monday’s plenary, the ITF Arab Region Secretary Bilal Malkawi told delegates that the Gaza Bus Drivers Union building, which was in the process of being rebuilt following previous Israeli air strikes, had been destroyed once again.

Under attack

On a lighter note, the ceremony featured a number of musical performances from artists including Bulgarian folk legend Valya Balkanska and Eurovision contestants Elitsa & Stoyan.

Other distinguished speakers included the Bulgarian Prime Minister Georgi Bliznashki who urged delegates to work together in the fight against inequality.

“Solidarity is crucial during difficult times. And these are very difficult times”.

Guy Ryder, Director-General of the International Labour Organisation (ILO) commended the ITF for its “blunt diagnosis” of the challenges facing transport workers globally as laid out in the congress theme document, and pledged the ILO’s support in helping to tackle those challenges.

Meanwhile, the Bulgarian pilot Captain Yanko Stoimenov provided moving testimony about the power of Bulgarian trade unions after he was the victim of a witchhunt following a deadly plane crash.

“You can never imagine what the union has meant to me in my life. When I was on the verge of a life catastrophe, I found out how strong the unions are.

"In order to make justice prevail, you need a lot of effort to stand up to power. And strength and courage is something that you all have.”

As the plenary got under way on Monday, ITF Acting General Secretary Stephen Cotton shone a light on the ITF’s campaign successes including the Global Delivery campaign to organise workers in multinational logistic companies, and the hugely successful Flags of Convenience campaign which has helped strengthen the health, safety and rights of seafarers working on FOC ships across the world.

But it was a speech by Victor Crespo, a Honduran trade unionist who went into exile in Nicaragua following deaths threats and intimidation, that earned a standing ovation and rapturous applause. “Being a trade unionist meant that my life was in danger but I will never give up,” he said.

FROM CRITICA (PANAMA):

***Trabajadores de transporte en el Canal presentan queja en la OIT

La Federación Internacional de los Trabajadores del Transporte (ITF) acusó a la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) de no ofrecer condiciones de trabajo "decentes y seguras"

Encuentro en Bulgaria

La Federación Internacional de los Trabajadores del Transporte (ITF) acusó a la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá (ACP) de no ofrecer condiciones de trabajo "decentes y seguras" a sus más de 9,000 trabajadores, por lo que presentaron una queja contra Panamá en la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT).

Según se conoció, representantes de los sindicatos de Panamá, acompañados por varios líderes de la ITF, se reunieron ayer con Guy Ryder, director general de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (ILO), en el Congreso de la ITF en Sofía, Bulgaria.

Los líderes de la ITF, junto a los sindicatos panameños, presentaron la queja contra el Gobierno de Panamá ante el Comité de Libertad Sindical (CLS) de la OIT, en la que acusan a la ACP de violar los Convenios N.° 87 y 98 relativos a la libertad sindical y a la negociación colectiva por parte de la Autoridad del Canal.

Crumlin dijo: “La ITF está muy preocupada ante la falta de respeto adecuado y de negociación colectiva en torno a las disposiciones relativas a la salud y a la seguridad en el trabajo y los turnos dobles de 18 horas al día a los que los trabajadores se ven obligados a cubrir.

FROM THE MANILA BULLETIN:

***AMOSUP makes presence in 43rd ITF Congress in Sofia

(c) 2014 Manila Bulletin Publishing Corp. All rights reserved.

The more than 100,000-strong Associated Marine Officers' and  Seamen's  Union  of the Philippines (AMOSUP) has  sent its delegation  to the 43rd  Congress of International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) in Sofia, Bulgaria.

AMOSUP Chairman and President Dr. Conrado  F. Oca and executive vice president VAdm. Eduardo Ma. R. Santos, also the president of Maritime Academy of Asia and the Pacific (MAAP), led the delegation. AMOSUP, an affiliate of PTGWO and ITF, is the world's  largest union of seafarers-officers, ratings and service providers.

[caption id="attachment_172822" align="alignleft" width="130"] OCA[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_172823" align="alignleft" width="128"] SANTOS[/caption]

Around 1,800 transport trade unionists, staff  and  participants  from 371 trade unions in 116 countries, including those from the Philippines, have registered to attend the ITF's 'supreme decision-making' event, said  Oca and Santos. The congress, which opened last last Sunday until August 16 is the first 'full digital' event of the 118-year old ITF.

During the weeklong event, the ITF affiliated trade unions will set the agenda for the next four years and elect its executive board, president, vice presidents and general secretary.

Earlier, seafarers' unions and organizations from Asia endorsed ITF acting general secretary Stephen Cotton as the federation's general secretary. AMOSUP's Oca and All Japan Seamen's Union (AJSU)  acting president Yasumi Morita led the nomination for Cotton during the 31st Asian Seafarers Summit Meeting (ASSM) hosted AMOSUP  in Manila last year. Oca  and  All-Japan Seamen's Union (AJSU) Yasami Morita led in nominating Cotton for  the  ITF's top post.

The ITF is a global organization representing  over 4.5 million transport workers  in some 700 trade unions in over 150 countries worldwide.

FROM NOTITRANS (ARGENTINA):

***Congreso ITF: lanzan una campaña de justicia por los trabajadores del Canal de Panamá

Por (Enviado especial - Bulgaria) | 11.08.2014 12:34
En la primera jornada del Congreso de la Federación Internacional de los Trabajadores del Transporte (ITF, por sus siglas en inglés) que se desarrolla en Sofía, Bulgaria, sindicalistas panameños y representantes de la ITF presentaron ante la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT) una queja contra el Gobierno de Panamá por violación contra la libertad sindical y las condiciones laborales de 9 mil trabajadores.

En el marco del 43º Congreso de la ITF, que reúne a dos mil gremialistas de 116 países, representantes de los sindicatos de Panamá, acompañados por varios líderes de la ITF, presentaron ayer a Guy Ryder, director general de la Organización Internacional del Trabajo (OIT), una queja contra el Gobierno panameño por violación contra la libertad sindical y de la negociación colectiva.

Los representantes sindicales panameños alegan que la Autoridad del Canal de Panamá ha fracasado a la hora de reconocer adecuadamente “el respeto apropiado ante las normativas laborales, las decisiones tomadas por la Junta Nacional de Relaciones Laborales, las garantías compensatorias debido a la naturaleza única de las condiciones del Canal de Panamá, la disposición para mantener negociaciones colectivas de buena fe y los principios de libertad sindical de la OIT”.

La falta de garantías de condiciones de trabajo decente y seguras por parte de las Autoridad del Canal de Panamá afecta a más de 9 mil trabajadores afiliados al sector marítimo de la zona del canal”, según señaló la ITF en un comunicado. En el texto, Paddy Crumlin, presidente de la ITF, afirmó que la ITF continuará superponiendo los intereses de los trabajadores y trabajadoras por encima de todo. “Ahora, Panamá es una plataforma logística y financiera y, a pesar de haber mantenido varias reuniones, la Autoridad del Canal se niega a negociar”, añade Paddy.

“La ITF está muy preocupada ante la falta de respeto adecuado y de negociación colectiva en torno a las disposiciones relativas a la salud y a la seguridad en el trabajo y los turnos dobles de 18 horas al día a los que los trabajadores se ven obligados a cubrir.

“Estas circunstancias tienen unas repercusiones inaceptables sobre la seguridad de los trabajadores y trabajadoras y además hay inquietud sobre los salarios, la formación y la libertad sindical” “Es por esto que hemos dado el paso para presentar una queja ante el Comité de Libertad Sindical (CLS) de la OIT contra el Gobierno de Panamá”.

Por su parte, el secretario general de la ITF, Steve Cotton, indicó: “es muy importante para los trabajadores y trabajadoras de Panamá saber que tienen el apoyo de todo el Congreso de la ITF y que lucharemos para que mejoren sus derechos y sus condiciones”.

“La libertad sindical y la negociación colectiva son parte de los principios básicos fundamentales de la OIT y esperamos que nuestra intervención conlleve a una mejora de las condiciones laborales de los hombres y mujeres que trabajan en el Canal de Panamá”.

***La ITF inaugura hoy su congreso mundial en Bulgaria

Por Redacción | 10.08.2014 10:49
El encuentro, que se desarrollará del 10 al 16 de agosto, es el número 43 en 118 años de historia de la Federación Internacional de Trabajadores del Transporte (ITF). A su vez, la actividad reunirá a casi 2 mil personas de 379 sindicatos de 116 países. Los gremios argentinos maritimo portuarios, ferroviarios, aeronautios y del sector automotor, participarán activamente a través de su alineamiento en la Unión General de Asociaciones de Trabajadores del Transporte (UGATT) y en la Confederación Argentina de Trabajadores del Transporte (CATT).

Teniendo lugar en el Palacio Nacional de Cultura de Sofía, el congreso internacional organizado por la ITF que comienza hoy reunirá a casi 2.000 personas, incluyendo el personal y los participantes de 379 sindicatos en 116 países, y es el número 43 en 118 años de historia de la ITF. A través de dicha organización, sus sindicatos afiliados establecen la agenda para los próximos cuatro años, y eligen a su Junta Ejecutiva, el presidente, vicepresidentes y secretario general. También es el primer congreso de la ITF-papel libre y totalmente digital, de manera que incluso los sindicatos que no puedan asistir podrán participar en nueve idiomas a través de la página web interactiva en www.itfcongress2014.org .

En ese sentido, el presidente de la ITF, Paddy Crumlin, explicó: "El Congreso es una parte integral de la ITF y la herramienta que asegura que es totalmente democrático y responsable. Reúne a representantes de los trabajadores que mantienen los sistemas de transporte del mundo en movimiento y el funcionamiento de la sociedad y alimentados. Se les da una voz y el mandato de decidir cómo vamos a luchar, construir y hacer campaña juntos por los próximos cuatro años y más allá ".

Además, el secretario general de la ITF, Steve Cotton, añadió: "El tema de este congreso es De la crisis mundial a la justicia mundial para la cual los trabajadores del transporte deben luchar. Este es el lugar donde los sindicatos, de manera equitativa y sostenible, muestran  como los trabajadores del transporte pueden cooperar para lograr una sociedad libre de la injusticia y la desigualdad. "

Vale aclarar que el congreso 2014 está siendo organizado por los sindicatos búlgaros afiliados de la ITF, con el apoyo especial de la Federación de Sindicatos de Transportes de Bulgaria (FTTUB), cuyo presidente, Ekaterina Yordanova, comentó: "Es con gran placer que damos la bienvenida a nuestros compañeros de todo el mundo. Estamos orgullosos de ser miembros iguales de una federación sindical multinacional donde ricos y pobres, grandes y pequeños, tienen los mismos derechos y comparten los mismos valores. Nuestros jóvenes, que son nuestra esperanza para el futuro, se han estado preparando durante meses para participar, votar y dar la bienvenida a nuestros visitantes ".

Asimismo la sindicalista agregó: "Sabemos el poder de ser un miembro de la ITF y queremos compartirlo con todos los trabajadores del transporte en esta región. Creemos que la cooperación regional dará más fuerza a las iniciativas transfronterizas y también más oportunidades para la campaña mundial. Porque estamos convencidos de que en un mundo en proceso de globalización los desafíos del futuro sólo pueden ser superados a través de una respuesta sindical global ".

FROM THE SIU:

***Federation Steps Up Campaign Protecting Panamanian Workers (8/11)

Back to News

The SIU-affiliated International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has issued the following news release, dated August 10, and accompanying photo at the top of this post. The photo shows ITF Acting General Secretary Steve Cotton (fourth from left) handing over a complaint to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) to ILO Director-General Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria.

Participants in the ITF meetings include SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel (who chairs the federation’s Seafarers’ Section), SIU Port Agent Tracey Mayhew, and AFL-CIO Maritime Trades Department Executive Secretary-Treasurer Daniel Duncan.

Campaign for justice for Panama Canal workers

The ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has ramped up its campaign against the Panama Canal Authority over its ongoing failure to provide decent pay and safe working conditions for more than 9,000 affiliated maritime workers in the canal zone.

The 44-mile canal is currently undergoing a $5.25 billion redevelopment, which will see the addition of two new locks and two new channels.

Representatives from four Panamanian unions, accompanied by ITF leadership, today met with International Labor Organization (ILO) Director-General Guy Ryder at the ITF congress in Sofia, Bulgaria.

The ITF leadership, together with the Panamanian unions, submitted an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association (CFA) against the Government of Panama.

They allege violation of Conventions 87 and 98 on freedom of association and collective bargaining by the Panama Canal Authority.

Unions allege the Panama Canal Authority has failed to adequately recognize:

-- An appropriate level of respect to labor regulations;

-- Decisions by the National Labor Relations Board;

-- Compensatory guarantees considering the uniqueness of the Panama Canal working conditions;

-- Good faith collective bargaining; and

-- ILO freedom of association principles.

ITF President Paddy Crumlin said the ITF will continue to put forward the best interests of workers.

“Panama is now a major transport, logistical and financial hub, yet despite several meetings the Panama Canal Authority refuses to budge,” Mr. Crumlin said. “The ITF is very concerned about the lack of proper respect and bargaining on issues surrounding health and safety provision on the job and workers being forced to undertake double shifts and 18-hour workdays.

This has an unacceptable impact on safety and there are also concerns around pay, training and freedom of association,” he continued. “That’s why we’ve taken the step to submit an application to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association against the Government of Panama.”

The ILO set up the CFA for the purpose of examining complaints about violations of freedom of association, whether or not the country concerned has ratified the relevant conventions.

Complaints may be brought against a member state by employers’ and workers’ organizations.

“It is important for the Panamanian workers to know that the entire ITF congress is behind them and we will fight for better rights and conditions," ITF Acting General Secretary Steve Cotton said. “Freedom of association and collective bargaining are among the founding principles of the ILO and we hope our intervention leads to an improvement in working conditions for the Panama Canal workers.”

An ITF video on the dispute can be found at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5BQo2riqvg

The 43rd ITF congress in Sofia brings together almost 2,000 participants from 379 unions in 116 countries.