Workers' Memorial Day: ITF comment

Please find this statement attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

28 April 2016

Workers' Memorial Day: ITF comment

Speaking on Workers' Memorial Day, ITF president Paddy Crumlin said: "Workers and their unions come together today not just to remember the injured and dead but also to fight for the living. That fight is renewed every working day, and will be until every workplace is a safe one, and every worker who sets out for work makes it home at the end of the day."

 

He concluded: "As we always say, we must remember the dead and fight like hell for the living."

 

ITF general secretary Steve Cotton commented: "Far too many workers are still dying in preventable accidents. Transport workers run a daily gamut of risk, on land, at sea and in the air. We are dedicated to putting in place the conditions and standards that protect them. Unions are at the forefront of this struggle and in proposing new models of working – such as safe rates – to win it."

To find out more about the day and what unions are doing to mark it visit http://28april.org

 

To find out more about safe rates visit http://goo.gl/hhGLYc

 

ENDS

 

 

 

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

Press release by IPA: UPS Pilots to Honor German Picket Lines at Cologne Bonn Airport

Hello,

Our member union the IPA has asked us to assist with circulating this press release (below) to aviation media.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

For Immediate Release - Contact: Brian Gaudet, bgaudet@ipapilot.org, (301) 957-4323

UPS Pilots to Honor German Picket Lines at Cologne Bonn Airport

Louisville – Approximately eighty members of the Independent Pilots Association (UPS pilots) working in Cologne, Germany will honor the picket lines of ver.di at the Cologne Bonn airport.  The strike is scheduled to last 24 hours beginning at midnight local Germany time tonight.

"Ver.di, which represents the ground staff at the Cologne Bonn airport, has asked the IPA to withhold our services as pilots during their 24 hour strike," said IPA President, Captain Robert Travis.  "We will honor their strike and not cross the ver.di picket lines."

It is estimated that the ver.di strike will impact about sixty UPS flights into and out of the Cologne Bonn airport.

"Last week we opened our strike center in anticipation of a potential strike of UPS by our pilots.  Now, less than a week later, we are operating the strike center in support of our German co-workers," said Travis.  "We will demonstrate our solidarity with our co-workers in Germany, and we are confident they will support us, should that time come."

XXX

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

Joint press release: IMEC, ITF agree USD 3m investment in Ukraine maritime training

Please find this joint press release from IMEC and the ITF, along with photos. Apologies if you receive it from both organisations.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

26 April 2016

 

IMEC, ITF agree USD 3m investment in Ukraine maritime training

The International Maritime Employers' Council (IMEC) and the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) have agreed to invest USD 3 million in Ukrainian marine training. The donation is being made from the Seafarers' Employment Promotion Fund (SEPF), a unique training fund sourced from collective bargaining agreements negotiated by the two organisations.

 

IMEC and the ITF work together as social partners to administer the SEPF. The funds will support the work of the Kherson State Maritime Academy (KSMA) and the National University 'Odessa Maritime Academy' (NU-OMA).

 

In 2015, a substantial amount of unclaimed SEPF funds remained, meaning that both parties, along with the ITF's affiliated union in Ukraine, the Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU), were able to make a substantial investment there. In total over USD 3 million has been invested in Ukraine by the social partners.

 

As a result, a full mission TRANSAS DP offshore simulator, GMDSS simulator suite, desktop engine room simulator suite and a full mission engine room simulator, have been inaugurated at the KSMA. This was followed by the inauguration of a full mission Kongsberg engine room simulator at the NU-OMA.  Phase two of the investment will consist of developments to the boat station and fire ground of the Kherson Maritime Specialised Training Centre and an engine room simulator upgrade in the Odessa Maritime Training Centre.

 

Speaking after the inaugurations, IMEC CEO Mr. Francesco Gargiulo said:

 

"Training budgets have been significantly reduced in the current economic downturn that the shipping industry is experiencing.  However, across IMEC's 224 member companies, Ukraine is the third most utilised country in terms of Officers' employment.  It was therefore important to invest in the country, to ensure the sustainability of future quality officers."

 

MTWTU's First Vice Chairman Mr. Oleg Grigoryuk added:

 

"This is an important project for both IMEC and the MTWTU, as our union is the only maritime ITF affiliate in Ukraine. Participation in this project presented the strength of the ITF and social partnership. Moreover MTWTU members will receive an additional benefit - substantial discount for training on equipment installed in Kherson and Odessa. We are looking forward to new partnership projects of the ITF and IMEC."

 

 

ENDS

 

Attached photographs:

 

1). Full mission TRANSAS DP Offshore simulator, Kherson State Maritime Academy

2). Kongsberg full mission engine room simulator, National University 'Odessa Maritime Academy'

 

For media enquiries, please contact:

 

Francesco Gargiulo, IMEC CEO: Francesco.gargiulo@imec.org.uk

Or

Sam Dawson, ITF press and editorial manager: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

 

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

ITF press release: ITF announces MLC implementation and enforcement study

 

25 April 2016

 

ITF announces MLC implementation and enforcement study

The ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) has commissioned an in depth study into the implementation and enforcement of the ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 (MLC), which came into force in August 2013. The study will be carried out by Seafarers' Rights International (SRI).

 

The ITF was a major mover in the development of the MLC, which sets out comprehensive and enforceable minimum standards for seafarers' working and living conditions, and which has been described as 'the most ambitious convention ever, covering the modern realities of working conditions on board a 21^st century ship'*. The MLC is the 'fourth pillar' in the maritime regulatory regime, along with Solas, Marpol and the STCW conventions.

 

ITF seafarers' section chair Dave Heindel explained: "Although the ITF is delighted that the convention is now in force, there is a clear need for a critical evaluation of its implementation and enforcement. Both port state control and ITF inspectors have reported numerous breaches of the MLC. That's why we've decided to commission SRI to do a thorough study to assess its effectiveness, and identify any areas where it may need strengthening. That study is likely to take around two years to complete."

 

He continued: "The MLC is a fine, pioneering achievement of which all of those who supported it can be proud. But there is no room for complacency. We've said all along that its enforcement and effectiveness must be monitored and checked. We're glad to be supporting that aim."

 

The ICS (International Chamber of Shipping) and the ITF had discussed a joint project, but it was decided that the ITF would commission the study.

 

ENDS

 

* Background information

http://www.ilo.org/global/standards/maritime-labour-convention/lang--en/index.htm

 

*For more information contact ITF Press and Editorial Manager Sam Dawson. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk. Tel: +44 (0)20 7940 9260

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.

Invitation: Panama Canal report press conference next week/Invitación: Conferencia de prensa sobre el informe del Canal de Panamá (la próxima semana)

Please find this invitation attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

Adjunto enviamos la invitación que aparece a continuación. 

Atentamente

Sam Dawson

ITF

22 April 2016. Advance notice to press

Invitation: Panama Canal report press conference next week

You are invited to a press conference in Panama City next Wednesday where the initial results of an independent study into the safety and operability of the new Panama Canal locks will be discussed.

 

The event will be held at 10:00 on 27 April 2016 in the Campo Alegre A suite of The Marriott Hotel, Calle 52 con Ricardo Arias, Panama City (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptypa-panama-marriott-hotel).

 

If you are able to attend please confirm by phoning +507 3179579 or emailing eventos@itf.org.uk. For those who can't attend there will be a press release after the event, which you will receive automatically.

 

ENDS

22 de abril de 2016 Notificación anticipada para los medios de comunicación

Invitación: Conferencia de prensa sobre el informe del Canal de Panamá (la próxima semana)

 

Nos complace invitarles a asistir a la conferencia prensa convocada en la Ciudad de Panamá el próximo miércoles, donde se presentarán y debatirán las conclusiones iniciales de un estudio independiente sobre la seguridad y operatividad de las nuevas esclusas del Canal de Panamá.

 

El evento se celebrará a las 10:00 h del día 27 de abril, en el salón Campo Alegre A del Hotel Marriott, en la Ciudad de Panamá. La dirección del hotel es Calle 52 con Ricardo Arias, Ciudad de Panamá. (www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/ptypa-panama-marriott-hotel).

 

Les rogamos confirmen su asistencia llamando al número  +507 3179579, o enviando un correo electrónico a la dirección eventos@itf.org.uk. Una vez que concluya la conferencia, se emitirá un comunicado de prensa que ustedes recibirán automáticamente, incluyendo aquellas personas que no puedan asistir a la conferencia.

 

FIN

 

 

 

 

ITF communications: getting the message out - when and where it matters

www.itfglobal.org 

www.facebook.com/ITFglobal 

Twitter: @itfglobalunion

This email is confidential and may be privileged. If you have received it in error, please notify the sender and then delete it immediately. You should not copy it or use it for any purpose nor disclose its contents to any other person. Any views or opinions expressed within the email are solely those of the sender and do not necessarily represent those of the ITF or the Seafarers' Trust.