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Brussels demo calls for ‘more and better jobs at sea’

10 October 2008

The European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) will hold a demonstration in Brussels at 12.00 on 14 October (route map available on request from l.castaldo@etf-europe.org) as one of several events promoting more and better jobs at sea in the EU. Unions from across Europe will attend to lobby European decision makers in favour of increased employment for EU Seafarers, standardised conditions, and against replacement of crews with cheaper labour.

The demonstration is part of a long term campaign by the ETF and its affiliated unions for a fundamental review of the terms and conditions of employment of those working in the EU maritime sector. It will be followed two days later by a public seminar at the European Parliament from 09:15 to 13:00 on Thursday 16 October in Room A3G-2, Altiero Spinelli Building, EP. Held under the auspices of the Party of European Socialists (PES) at the EP, this will bring together MEPs, European Commission and IMO/ILO representatives, shipowners, ETF members and others to examine the social dimension of the EU maritime policy.

Philippe Alfonso, ETF Maritime Political Secretary commented: “We need to reverse the decline in the number of EU seafarers and young people entering into a maritime profession. There is no evidence to substantiate that young EU nationals do not wish to seek a maritime career. By providing good living and working conditions and attractive remunerations, the industry can avoid a shortage of skilled personnel”.

He continued: “There is an urgent need to put an end to the discrimination between Seafarers working on board the same vessel on grounds of nationality and/or place of residence. Moreover, European seafarers should no longer be excluded from the EU social and labour legislation applying to other sectors. We are seeking to ensure that their rights are the same as those enjoyed by EU citizens on land.”

The ETF hopes that European policy makers will embrace its Charter for European Seafarers and for a sustainable maritime industry which will be handed over to Commission Vice-President responsible for Transport, Antonio Tajani, on the day of the demonstration. The Charter’s aims include: more employment opportunities; no social dumping and race to the bottom in salaries; equal rights; more regulation of the maritime sector including the revival of the so-called “Manning Directive”; the right to safe conditions of employment; the right for social security and state pension entitlements.

The Charter will be available on request, on the day of the demonstration, along with the programme for the EP seminar on the 16th from p.alfonso@etf-europe.org and l.castaldo@etf-europe.org).

ENDS

For more details of the Brussels events and ETF campaign please contact Philippe Alfonso, Political Secretary, Maritime Transport, Dockers and Fisheries, ETF. Tel: +32 (0)2 285 45 84. GSM: +32.496.65.79.15. Email: p.alfonso@etf-europe.org

Or Laila Castaldo, Assistant for Maritime Transport, ETF. Tel: +32 (0)2 285 45 83. Email: l.castaldo@etf-europe.org

Related documents:

Press Release 14 Oct Demonstration (43kb PDF)

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