Trade unions have launched a week of action to push for European Union intervention in the ferry sector. The Fair and Safe Ferries for All event, which runs from 27 to 30 September, is intended to highlight unequal working and pay conditions in the sector and the use of seafarers to carry out work that should be done by safety-trained dockers.
The week commenced with a rally yesterday by dockers and seafarers from Belgium, France, the Netherlands, the UK and Ireland outside Stena Ferries’ office in Hook of Holland to protest against the company’s attitude to the employment of British and European seafarers, and against comments by Stena manager Pim de Lang Stena Manager that British ratings are all ‘fat and tattooed’.
The UK & Irish delegation travelled to the protest from Harwich on the Stena Britannica and, while on board, met with crew and passengers to explain the ITF and its member unions’ ferry campaign and why Stena Ferries is being targeted for its treatment of non-EU nationals – which includes paying Filipino seafarers 2 euros an hour. They also collected signatures for a petition calling on Stena to respect the rights of all workers to be represented by a trade union, stop forcing crew to do dockers’ work and to employ all seafarers on an equal and fair basis.
Meanwhile in Zeebrugge a delegation from the ACV Transcom and BTB unions met with the port authorities to explain their concerns over lashing (cargo stowage/fastening) being done by seafarers on some vessels calling at the port. The position and concerns of both unions and ITF was explained and noted. The port authorities confirmed that they stand by their earlier statement that lashing and securing is a dockers' job and that owners, stevedores and operators should respect the rules and regulations of lashing.
Speaking at the Hook of Holland rally, Ferry campaign coordinator Norrie McVicar, said that he was very proud to be involved with this campaign to establish a new “threshold of decency” in the ferry industry that would rid it of the charge of “institutional race discrimination” which is driving the ferry sector into a “race to the bottom” and compromising safety.
On behalf of the ITF, its European arm the ETF and its member unions he once again called on the European Commission to reopen discussions on the Passenger Ferry Manning Directive which was withdrawn in 2004.
The ITF is also holding a Baltic Week of Action from 27 September to 1 October.
