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Unions target substandard shipping (1/7)

The International Transport Workers’ Federation has issued the following news release: Indian and Sri Lankan unions to target substandard shipping Seafarers’ and dockers’ unions across India and Sri Lanka will be joining forces between 7-11 January 2008 in a week-long protest against the continued growth of flags of convenience (FOC) and substandard shipping. Coordinated by the ITF, the India/Sri Lanka week of action is part of an ongoing global campaign against the FOC system. It aims to highlight its impact on crew members and their working environment and to protect and promote the rights of seafarers. During the week, ITF inspectors, assisted by activists and volunteers from seafarers’ and dockers’ unions will inspect FOC vessels in their ports and investigate, among other things, the condition of ships, crew contracts, and seafarers’ working and living conditions. The action week will also focus on issues facing port and dock workers. Privatization and deregulation of the ports industry has seriously undermined the terms and conditions of regular port workers. It has also led to a greater reliance on non-union casual, contract and temporary workers; the rise in the number of global network terminals dominating Indian and Sri Lankan ports in particular has exacerbated this trend and is presenting unions with a serious challenge. Solidarity between seafarers and dockers is crucial if the struggle against the FOC system is to be a success. Action is being taken in the following ports: Kolkata, Haldia, Chennai, Visakhapatnam, Tuticorin, Mumbai, Kandla, Kochi, Goa, New Mangalore, Paradip and Colombo. ###