Wind farm giant Ørsted US has made many commitments to dockers in the US, but as yet has not lived up to its promises – leading to a failure to negotiate in good faith.
They have failed to respect the workers represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in the port of New London, Connecticut. Delegates at the International Transport Workers’ Federation’s (ITF) dockers’ and seafarers’ Fair Practices Committee (FPC) met in Santiago, Chile on the 8 December 2023 and called on Ørsted to return to the bargaining table with the ILA. Delegates at the conference urged the company to reach an agreement for all ITF maritime-affiliated unions in the United States, and to engage in a transparent and honest manner with ITF and its affiliates in other countries where Ørsted A/S has or will establish offshore wind projects.
FPC Co-Chair and ITF President Paddy Crumlin said: “All too often we see companies respect social dialogue and collective bargaining in one country but not another. It is the role of unions to ensure workers’ rights are respected regardless of the country – and that is what we intend to see done here.
“Seafarers and dockers are vital to the supply chain. We, quite literally, keep the world moving. ITF will hold companies to account that attempt to undercut due process with unions – so we are currently looking very hard at the actions of Ørsted, and I strongly encourage Ørsted US to work with us to resolve these situations.”
The ILA continue to take action in defence of their members’ rights in the port of New London and will today (21 December) hold rallies at Ørsted US’ offices in both New York City and Boston, supported by other unions.
The ILA have asked for supporters to write to Ørsted’s US leadership.
ENDS
Media contacts: ITF: media@itf.org.uk
About the ITF: The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) is a democratic, affiliate-led federation recognised as the world’s leading transport authority. We fight passionately to improve working lives; connecting trade unions from 150 countries to secure rights, equality and justice for their members. We are the voice for nearly 20 million working women and men in the transport industry across the world.
