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Port Industry Update, Issue 2, January 2006 (153kb PDF)
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Port Industry Update, Issue 2, January 2006
Contents:
The Port Industry Update is available to View Online or download below
1. UNION UPDATES / NOTICES
174 jobs to go in the Netherlands following P&O Nedlloyd takeover
In October 2005, the FNV reported that following the takeover of P&O Nedlloyd by Maersk earlier in the year, 174 employees in the new company Maersk Line were due to lose their jobs as a result of efficiency measures. This figure represented about 20% of the total workforce of Maersk Line in the Netherlands. The union said that the number was unacceptable and the move contradicted earlier statements by the management. It promised to do all it could to minimise the forced redundancies. The Secretariat circulated this information to all affiliates via e-mail and asked for feedback on whether similar actions had taken place or been planned in other countries. There have been no responses to date.
ILWU Blue Diamond Day of Action gains international support
ITF affiliates around the world supported the ILWU’s International Day of Action on 21 November 2005. The Day of Action targeted distributors of Blue Diamond almonds in key countries and highlighted the right of workers at the company’s plant in Sacramento to decide whether to join a union. ITF affiliates coordinated actions in South Korea, Japan, India and the UK on 21 November. Activities took place in the Netherlands in the run up to the Day of Action. Affiliates of the International Union of Food Workers, another global union federation also stepped up to assist the workers, organising activities in France and Spain. The ITF hopes that the solidarity shown by affiliates will help promote a dialogue with the company and assist the workers in their campaign for the right to organise.
Korean trade unionists oppose privatisation
The Korean Federation of Port & Transport Workers’ Union has called on ITF affiliated unions to support its efforts to oppose the Korean government’s privatisation drive. On 25 November 2005, a Bill that aimed to restructure the employment of import industry workers was passed in the country’s National Assembly. This was despite huge opposition from the trade unions who worked hard to block the Bill as massive job losses are likely to result from the restructuring process. The Bill included a clause setting up a tri-partite committee to work on implementing the restructuring process. The union has decided to participate in this committee even though it is against changing the employment system. It has the support of its members to take industrial action if necessary. Our Korean brothers and sisters need the support of ITF affiliates in their struggle against this unfair and unwanted legislation. The Secretariat sent out an urgent request on 12 December 2005, calling for solidarity messages to be sent to the KFPTWU.
International Bargaining Forum update
The IBF consists of the ITF and the Joint Negotiating Group, which is an employers’ group made up of a number of ship management and ship owner associations. The IBF agreement arising from negotiations in this forum is the newest of the ITF agreements covering seafarers. Like other ITF agreements relating to seafarers, the IBF agreement includes a cargo handling clause. The Dockers’ Section has a number of representatives in the IBF negotiations. In the last round of negotiations, the IBF acknowledged the right of dockworkers to participate in union activities and to be protected against acts of anti-union discrimination, consistent with protections provided by ILO Conventions 87 on freedom of association and 98 on collective bargaining. Consistent with the understanding and intent agreed between the parties, JNG members will recommend to their principals that they should not use stevedoring services that do not comply with the terms of these Conventions for their employees.
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