14 March 2008

Maersk Line labour dispute solved after union pressure - but Danish jobs are still in danger, says union.

Maersk Line has decided to withdraw the dismissals of 200 Danish seafarers who were due to be replaced with international crew as part of a major cost saving programme.

After pressure from Danish unions, Maersk now states that none of the seafarers involved is being fired. Instead the Danish crew is being offered benefits if they choose to resign voluntarily.

The unions 3F, Metal and DSRF have accepted Maersk Line’s decision. This means that a case at the Danish labour court about the dismissals is now withdrawn.

Chairman of The Seafarers Union in 3F, Søren Sørensen, called the agreement a positive outcome from a difficult situation.

“Unfortunately this does not change the fact that Maersk intend to get rid of Danish seafarers and Danish collective agreements as fast as possible. Danish jobs and Danish conditions will soon be totally removed from the mercantile marine of which Denmark is so proud of,” 3F stated.

Because of the dismissal notices, the Metal and DSRF unions threatened to stop accepting the Danish DIS-law, which allows shipping lines to pay international crew lower wages than Danish crew on Danish-flagged ships.

More details at http://forsiden.3f.dk/