In October 2001, the ITF Weeks of Action against flags of convenience were extended for the first time to Latin America. The seafarers’ and dock workers’ unions in Puerto Cortés, the biggest port in Honduras, made the week a particular success. They negotiated an ITF Standard Collective Agreement for the Maltese bulk carrier Ist, the first ever agreement of its kind in all Latin America.

Roberto de Jesus Contreras is adviser to SIREMAH (Honduras Offshore Workers’ Reformed Union) and vice president of the advisory council of SITRAENP (Dock Workers’ Union of the National Dock Company). He is also contact person for the ITF in the country. He speaks with pride about taking part in the Action Week and achieving the Ist agreement. His story is typical of many that can be told by ITF Inspectors and Co-ordinators around the world.

I had been contacted by the crew of 16 Croatians on board the Ist docked in Puerto Cortés. They had received no wages for three months. So, I got in touch with the two unions in the port representing offshore and dock workers and, in a joint action during the Action Week, they carried out an on-board inspection.

Apart from the non-payment of wages, they encountered several problems of sub-standard maintenance and hygiene. The Ist has a poor record. In 1999, it had already been arrested by Long Beach Port State Control in the US on safety grounds.

The captain was a little surprised by our visit. He wanted to avoid the press at all costs. But after a brief industrial action of some hours, he became more co-operative and admitted us on board, even allowing on the cameras of the TV channel which was interviewing us.

We conducted negotiations over three days and on the last day of the Action Week, 11 October, we signed the Standard Agreement. US$16,964.25 were paid in overdue wages and the six crew members were repatriated.

This kind of close co-operation is no novelty in the port. These two unions often collaborate, for example for the May Day parade and educational activities. When one needs the other, we intervene to help, not only as offshore or dock workers, but also as union members. This unity is important to strengthen us against false unions, called “yellow unions”, which are just agents who charge offshore workers for putting them on board.

But this kind of joint action to achieve an on-board agreement is new. We got a lot of help from the Spanish ITF Inspector David Echevarrieta. The regional ITF office in Rio de Janeiro sent him to Honduras especially to support us during the Action Week.

We learnt so much from him. The Honduras register is itself a flag of convenience, so I am hoping we can increase the number of inspections in the country and train national inspectors.