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ITF condemns MV Portland seizure

ニュース 記者発表資料

The ejected crew were defending the Portland’s status as an Australian-flagged and crewed ship dedicated to Australian coastal routes, and protesting against its owner, Alcoa’s, decision to scrap it and outsource the work to a flag of convenience vessel.

The dawn raid came despite widespread opposition within Australia to the vessel’s loss, as well as from seafarers and their unions around the world.

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton said: “They came for the Portland like thieves in the night. This raid and the flight of this respected vessel – with its 27 year history of serving Australian industry – raises grave questions, not just about the future of Australia as a maritime nation but also about the fitness of the crew who have been parachuted in to take this vessel away. The ITF will be investigating these matters fully, including the role of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority in this affair.”

In a strongly worded statement MUA national secretary and ITF president Paddy Crumlin forcefully questioned the granting of a licence to Alcoa to use foreign ships for the Portland’s domestic route for the voyage, as well as the way the replacement crew were brought into the country. See his full statement at http://goo.gl/Eqghe1

The defence of the MV Portland has been supported by trade unions worldwide (see http://goo.gl/7V4xdq) . At the end of last year the ITF’s cabotage taskforce laid out the economic and national case for its retention. It explained that protecting maritime cabotage is a legitimate domestic policy, not protectionism. Forty-seven countries have some form of cabotage law,  because it is good for their economies. With a thriving maritime industry, people work in good quality jobs, consume goods and boost the economy.

Failing to protect cabotage undermines sovereignty and has national security implications. It also has serious economic implications for maritime regions and communities.

The taskforce also stressed that failing to protect cabotage will mean lost maritime skills and resources – and will remove the supply of qualified personnel from critical shore-based industries. Businesses whose livelihoods depend on local industry can be ruined, while job josses reduce government income from taxes.

For more about how cabotage laws protect skills see http://goo.gl/hzqkgE

現場の声

ニュース

カタールの政府・交通運輸企業との意見交換会

 ITF とカタール労働省は、カタール国内および国際的な運輸・物流企業と意見交換会を開催し、同国の交通運輸部門における国内労働法および国際労働基準の適用について議論した。  4 月末にドーハで開催されたこの会議では、経済、気候、衛生をめぐる不確実性の高まりを受け、交通運輸産業のレジリエンス(回復力)とサステナビリティ(持続可能性)を確保するために
ニュース

ETF会長の交替

クロアチアのスプリットで開催された欧州運輸労連(ETF)の執行委員会において、ジョルジオ・トゥティがETFの新会長に選出された。
ニュース

メーデー:より良い世界を築くために交通運輸労働者は団結する

ITFは世界の労働者とともにメーデーを祝う。メーデーは連帯と闘争、そしてすべての人々のためにより良い世界を築くための決意の日だ。