Slovenian sham union’s sub-standard agreements dismissed by major Brazilian oil company
Notorious sham union, the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), has been rejected by Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – the Brazilian Petroleum Corporation).
The ISU made an unsolicited approach to the multinational corporation in Brazil earlier this year, seeking to sell its fake union agreements for use on the Petrobras fleet of ships.
However, Petrobras only accepts International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) or ITF-equivalent agreements in the interests of protecting its seafarers from substandard pay and conditions.
Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transporte Aquaviário e Aéreo, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) President and ITF Executive Board member, Carlos Muller, said: “We created a forum with Petrobras after a (Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante (SINDMAR) member suffered a very serious accident on a ship working for Petrobras.
“This is to ensure that we have strong agreements that will prevent such accidents from happening again: our seafarers deserve the very best working conditions, and this is a particular concern on ships flying ‘Flags of Convenience’ flags.”
In another case in Brazil, in December 2024, the ship Eleen Eva (IMO: 9527415) was abandoned in Paranaguá, Brazil, sailing under an ISU-Lanibra agreement – one many cases of abandonment, wage theft and arrests of ISU ships recorded by the ITF.
The crew of the ship, comprising 20 seafarers from India, Ukraine, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Russia, were left without USD178,000 in owed wages. Despite contacting ISU for help, the seafarers received no reply.
The ITF stepped in to record the abandonment, notify the flag state and – by the end of January 2025 – recover and return the wages to the seafarers.
The ITF is campaigning for ISU to be deregistered as a trade union in Slovenia, including hosting an e-action asking Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, Luka Mesec, to deregister the organisation.
As outlined the ITF report, ‘A Sham Trade Union Undermining the Maritime Industry’, ISU is run by the same individuals behind Lanibra – a company openly selling anti-union services. This means that ISU directly violates international and national laws that forbid “interference” by employers in a union.
Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, covered the story of the sham union in June this year. Its evening news broadcast focused on this breach of international law and ISU Co-Founder and Executive Board President, and Lanibra Founder and Owner/Director, Branko Krznaric’s penchant for Rolex watches and Ferraris.
This clear conflict of interest and breach of international law was put to Krznaric by Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, where it was also revealed that the ISU website was edited during the filming of the news broadcast to make it appear that Krznaric held no senior role in the organisation.
“We don’t want an international union of shame endorsing poor working conditions on vessels,” said Muller.
“Our message is clear, no fake unions in Brazil.”
