Week of action steams ahead into final day

8 June 2007. For immediate release

Week of action steams ahead into final day

The ITF’s Northern European week of action has reached its final day with no let up in pace.

ITF Maritime Coordinator Steve Cotton described the event so far as “outstanding”. He commented: “Hundreds of ships have been inspected across the Continent and issues such as safety, owed wages and poor work conditions tackled. We’ve seen excellent support from our docker colleagues, from unions and across national boundaries.”

“With the final day not even over we can say that this event has made a difference that will last far beyond this week.”

The week of action has been held in Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Russia, Sweden and the UK (see www.itfglobal.org/campaigns/newa.cfm for more details).

Reports coming in as of 15:30 include:

Germany: ‘115 vessels visited since the beginning of the week, 12 new agreements signed, three boycotts in Hamburg, one in Wismar. Special mention for the signature of the M/v Libra Copacabana and CSAV Peru, part of the CSAV campaign.’

‘Here we are with a short overview of the boycott actions in German ports during the week of action.
On the 4th of June the master of the "Maersk Sheerness" (Li) was refusing the representatives of ver.di to inspect his ship. Therefore the German dockers stopped the loading and discharging of the ship. Finally - after a period of five hours - the master was willing to accept a union delegation aboard.

On the 5th of June CMA CGM Iguacu (Li) was arriving Hamburg without an ITF agreement. The company was not willing to sign an ITF agreement. But after a boycott for one hour by the dock workers the company signed an ITF agreement. On the 6th of June the same situation happened with the MSC Bremen (Li). After a boycott of two hours the company agreed to sign ITF agreement. On the 7th of June the motor vessel ‘Gerd’ was arriving Hamburg without an ITF agreement. But before the dockers could start their boycott action the company agreed to sign an ITF agreement.

On the 6th of June there was a boycott of warning for the ‘Polarlight’ (Li) for half an hour (next port of call is Rotterdam), and on the 7th of June for the ‘Smaragd’ (ATG) for one hour in Wismar (next port of call is Hamburg).’

Verdi has issued daily press releases in German. Please email dawson_sam@itf.org.uk if you would like to receive these in PDF form.

France: Solidarity actions have taken place in Cherbourg, where a blockade of the MV Normandy was lifted after Irish Ferries and Celtic Link were given a deadline of June 15th to begin talks about a collective bargaining agreement.

Following received earlier today: ‘Following our last mail we have met the manager of the port of Saint Malo. He said to us that he agreed with ITF request about CBA after that we have stopped the disembarkation of the vessel Condor 10 for two hours and we have met the manager of Condor and we have requested to receive his final answer before 19th June.’

‘This morning, we are in Saint Malo in front of an access ramp of vessel HD ferries, and company has cancelled its voyage and we have met the manager and we will have a meeting this month about ITF agreement.’

Poland: Report from Szczecin : ‘M/v Eleni K, PAN, IMO 7904463 – we re-visited this vessel with volunteers from NMS NSZZ ‘Solidarnosc’, Dockers Section NSZZ ‘Solidarnosc’ and Polish Seafarers Union as follow-up to visit of 6th of June. Today the company confirmed they had contacted Branko Krznaric and PNO to discuss ITF agreement for Eleni K. The result of the meeting will be known today at 17.00 local time.’

Report from Gdynia:
- m/v BALTIYSKIY-202 (MLT) IMO: 9057252 - no problems.
- m/v WIGRY (POL) IMO:7615529 - no problems.
- m/v Slotergracht (NLD) IMO:9197947 - cargo handling by seafarers.
I informed Master, crew and dockers. Dockers union ‘Solidarnosc’ will prepare letter to company.

Shipowner Columbia Shipmanagement Ltd is going to sign an ITF Collective Agreement for m/v CAPE FULMAR (MHL), IMO:9359313.

Estonia: ‘Two ships inspected so far today, nine since week began. Notice of warning was issued today to Merilin, EST, which has no CBA.’

Russia: ‘Eight vessels visited today, possible outcome and agreement signed for one. 41 vessels visited since the beginning of the week.’

Lithuania: ‘Vessel visited at request of crew, dispute in their support has been resolved.’

Belgium: Six vessels visited today

UK and Ireland: ‘The stoppage in France has been like a volcano for the Irish Sea campaign. As a result of it and of the work throughout the week it is now up to the companies to decide if they want to co-operate with us in the introduction of good quality employment of their ships.’

More details on the Fortuna 1:

Fortuna I to be sold as talks between the International Transport Federation and owners break down

June 7th, 2007.

Talks between the owners of Fortuna I, the Latvian vessel stranded in Ireland since March, and the International Transport Federation broke down this afternoon. The 11 man crew have been in Ireland for over two months and spent much of this time at anchor in Dundalk bay as the owners failed to pay berthing fees in Greenore. It is now docked in Dundalk.

The ITF had the vessel arrested when Spaider Shipping failed to honour promises to pay the crew arrears, now estimated at $135,000. Norrie McVicar, the ITF Co-Coordinator for Ireland and the UK said after meeting the owners that, “They failed to demonstrate they had sufficient funds to meet their obligations to the crew, or other creditors. The ITF will now assist the crew in the sale of the vessel so that they can be paid.

“Once again we have an unfortunate situation where the owners of a vessel have made statements about paying the crew, month after month, only to let them down. This should be a lesson to all shipping companies operating in Irish and British waters that such behaviour will no longer be tolerated.”

Contact: Norrie McVicar, ITF, 00 44 776 8 652 257
Padraig Yeates, PYE Comm, 832 4470, 832 6899 and 087 260 5297

The Netherlands: ‘The day started early at 6 am when we boarded the CMA CGM SAMBA in the Port of Rotterdam and stopped work from 07.15 till 12 noon. Master and crew all Chinese, with a crewmanager based in Cyprus. They refused to negotiate with us and after the stoppage we have informed them that we will go after them till the time that the agreement is signed.
The Portugal has had nearly a half day delay because they refused to negotiate with us, and now the charterer has stepped in. Discussions are taking place between all parties.
Furthermore the Polarlight is under stoppage because they refuse to conclude an agreement after Seatrade, where she does trade in the "pool" was informed well on time.

A remarkable success in the Dutch ports and all know that Rotterdam is not a port to forget when it comes to ITF solidarity.’

‘Another busy day in Rotterdam, ships were not operated for most of the working shift, The support of the dockers continues and there is a change for a full stoppage for a ship which refused access to the inspecting team.’

ends

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