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Wage agreement for Estonian seafarers
24 September 2008
Some 2000 seafarers in Estonia are set to benefit from a three-year wage deal, following lengthy negotiations between their union and their multinational ferry company employer.
The ITF-affiliated Estonian Seamen’s Independent Union (ESIU), which represents the seafarers working on board Tallink Group’s vessels, reached the agreement during negotiations that began in January. The deal will provide the 2000 seafarers with a 25 per cent pay increase this month, nine per cent in 2009 and a further six per cent in 2010. Workers with more than four and nine years’ service will also receive a seniority bonus of five or 10 ten per cent respectively from 1 April, 2009.
The settlement follows a one-hour long warning strike on 4 August when five ferries were stopped in Estonia’s capital Tallinn, as well as in ports in Helsinki, Finland, and Stockholm, Sweden, where Finnish and Swedish unions organised solidarity action.
“We acknowledge the company’s will to secure jobs and pay for the next three years,” said Kaia Vask, ESIU Chairperson. “The increase will boost employees’ motivation and help to improve the quality of service on ferries. The seniority bonus system also recognises the input of skilled and experienced workers. The company management has additionally promised to find solutions for other problems that the ESIU raised around the negotiating table. This was a victory for all of us.”
Stephen Cotton, ITF Maritime Coordinator Stephen Cotton, added: “Both sides can congratulate themselves on achieving such a positive outcome, and we are also pleased to see that the ESIU not only made these gains for their members, but also significantly increased their membership during the negotiations.”
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