International solidarity last month helped Offshore Mariners United (OMU), the federation of four U.S. maritime unions (including the SIU) that is working to help mariners in the Gulf of Mexico win union representation, take a big step forward in its campaign at Trico Marine.Facing pressure in the form of a boycott from the Norwegian Oil and Petrochemical Workers Union (NOPEF), Trico’s Norwegian branch signed a consent decree Nov. 7 in the local court in Volda, Norway.
According to the agreement, Trico has agreed to send a letter to every one of its U.S. mariners ensuring that the company accepts the right to organize and declares that there shall be no discrimination or harassment of pro-union workers.
NOPEF, meanwhile, agreed not to reinstate the boycott as long as Trico lives up to its end of the pact.
“I hope that this will show to be a positive contribution to the Trico workers’ struggle to achieve unionization,” said the president of NOPEF, Leif Sande. “NOPEF will carefully follow up their obligations in practice. If Trico will not end their union-busting campaign, they risk that we restart our boycott.”
NOPEF International Secretary Jarle Vines pointed out that this case shows that international solidarity in the trade union movement can bear fruit.
Captain Michael Cheramie, who works at Trico in the U.S. and who came to Norway as a witness in this case, said he looks forward to working with Thomas Fairley, CEO of Trico’s U.S. operations, with a just process that covers union organizing in Trico. “Now the workers in Trico have a fair chance to organize without being afraid for their jobs,” Cheramie said.
An OMU spokesman described the case as a victory for Trico workers. “This is the first time that a union has negotiated with Trico USA, and OMU looks forward to following this up,” stated Wayne Savoie.
OMU is a federation composed of the SIU; the Marine Engineers’ Beneficial Association; the International Organization of Masters, Mates & Pilots; and the American Maritime Officers.
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