An International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) inspector from the SIU, assisted by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA), recently secured more than $4,000 in back pay and transportation costs for the captain and bosun of a Gibraltar-flag ship.On July 13, ITF Inspector Don Thornton received a call from the ITF’s London headquarters, which was tracking the Noord due to a back-wage claim. “The ITF had been getting the runaround from the company,” Thornton said, referring to ship operator EMF ConBulk of Leer, Germany. “Because of the tools the ITF has in place, I learned that the ship’s name recently had been changed to Flinternoord. It was due in to Toledo, Ohio and then Cleveland.”
Thornton contacted Cleveland-based ILA International Vice President John Baker, “who assured me that whatever the ITF needed, the ILA would provide. With the backing of the ILA, I was very confident.”
When Thornton contacted EMS ConBulk, the company initially denied its obligation. However, faced with the prospect of ITF action, the case quickly was resolved July 15 when Thornton boarded the Flinternoord in Cleveland. In addition to the back pay and transportation reimbursement for the crew members, Thornton also recovered the costs for his expenses related to this case.
“The ILA’s cooperation was crucial,” Thornton said. “It was a team effort and another successful outcome.”
The SIU is affiliated with the ITF, a federation of more than 600 transport-worker unions in 140 countries.
SIU Secretary-Treasurer David Heindel is vice chair of the ITF’s Seafarers’ Section.
Printer Friendly Page