The ITF is extending the campaign against flags of convenience (FOCs) to the cruise ship sector. Most cruise vessels fly the flags of the FOC nations of Liberia, Panama or the Bahamas, with their owners taking full advantage of tax concessions and the lack of employment rights.

The multinational nature of cruise ship crews means that the ITF is often the only recourse for crew members against the inevitable exploitation and abuse of a system based on the lowest wage rates. Seafarers can end up working 12-hour days, seven days a week for several months just to pay back crewing agents and to pay for flights to and from the ship.

The ITF has developed a cruise ship collective agreement for FOC vessels, covering conditions of employment, wages and benefits, and which guarantees crew a certain wage each month. For example, a pastry cook would get US$587 guaranteed total per month, and a room steward $739. It also regulates death and disability benefits, sickness, working hours, and vacation time.

Well-trained ITF inspectors also visit cruise ships to offer trade union services to any crew members who request them, for example those who have not been paid their wages, or have been unfairly dismissed. In some ports the ITF might recommend no action, in others it might want time to prepare.

But before they do anything, cruise ship crews are being urged to talk to the ITF, or an ITF Cruise Campaign Co-ordinator. The ITF would, of course, like to see the demise of the FOC open registry system. Until that time, however, it strives as an organisation, to protect the rights and look after the interests of those individuals who either need to or choose to work on board FOC vessels.

The ITF seeks a cruise industry regulated by negotiated trade union agreements, based on respect for basic human rights and a fair wage. In the first instance the ITF is approaching the companies that operate cruise ships and asking them to conclude ITF-acceptable agreements.

If they refuse, their ships will be targeted for action by ITF port unions and the ITF will also be mounting a consumer boycott campaign against unorganised vessels.

ITF prepares campaign >>