20 February 2008

After Maersk Line announces it will replace 200 Danish seafarers with low-paid non-Danish crew, union takes it to labour court.

Maersk Line’s plan to replace 200 Danish seafarers is being tested in a Danish labour court.

Despite a meeting between unions and the company it has failed to reconsider the dismissals. As a result 3F and the Danish metal workers’ union began the process of taking it to the labour court.

“We cannot accept the dismissals of Danish seafarers. It is a clear violation of the collective agreement signed by Maersk just a year ago”, Henrik Berlau, Transport Secretary of 3F, stated after the meeting.

He also pointed out that many Danish seafarers have set up homes in the Far East, where they live with their families. The labour court case is due to begin on Thursday 21st February.

Meanwhile Danish newspaper Borsen has alleged that last year Maersk Line wrote a letter to Danish chefs and stewards on their vessels with a guarantee that training of non-Danish crew would not cost them their jobs. Six months later this turned out to be false for a number of the employees, according to the paper.