07/10/2010
Seafarers on board vessels in the Baltic have won a substantial sum in back pay thanks to last week’s ITF Baltic action week.
During the week, which ran from 27 September to 1 October, ITF inspectors from affiliated unions inspected 258 vessels in Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden. The national maritime section of the Polish ITF-affiliated union Solidarnosc hosted the week of action this year.
The inspectors secured US$212,955 in back wages owed to seafarers on board the vessels. Apart from helping seafarers with payment complaints, the teams also inspected conditions on board the vessels and checked that crewmembers were not carrying out work that should be carried out by dockers; compensation was received from one vessel owner for lashing carried out by seafarers.
Andrzej Koscik, ITF inspector in the Polish port of Gdynia, said: “We showed it was possible to take action in each of the Baltic Sea countries. A number of collective agreements were signed and some negotiations began on improving seafarers’ employment terms and conditions. Back wages were also received and we prevented seafarers from undertaking cargo handling and other work traditionally done by dock workers. We showed the port authorities and ship owners that the coordinated action of seafarers and dockers can bring benefits to both seafarers and dockers. It was a good success.”
Baltic week of action: dockers and seafarers unite
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