Press release: ITF welcomes ILO meeting’s decision on migrant fishers

Please find this press release attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

 

 

22 September 2017

ITF welcomes ILO meeting's decision on migrant fishers

The ITF (International Transport Workers Federation) has welcomed today's adoption by the ILO (International Labour Organization) tripartite meeting on issues relating to migrant fishers of a fundamental resolution on those issues.

 

The resolution aims to address matters such as close cooperation between UN agencies for a rapid implementation of international instruments, including a formal campaign to increase ratification of Convention 188, as well as the development of guidelines on labour recruitment. It also calls for member states to effectively cooperate on criminal cases and abuses against migrant fishers.

 

In the conclusions of the meeting, the tripartite discussion agreed that the promotion of decent work for migrant fishers is fundamental to providing a fair and healthy labour market in such a challenging industry 

 

Johnny Hansen, chair of the ITF fisheries' section and the spokesperson for workers at the meeting, commented: "Today we moved a step closer to ensuring that migrant workers are better protected and considered equal to all other fishers. It would be unrealistic to claim that what was agreed today is the solution to the problems they face. The issue of abuses is a global one, as we have well documented at the meeting – including the difficult situation of migrant workers in Ireland. But we consider the adoption of the resolution is a first step on the road toward improving migrant fishers' living and working conditions."

 

He continued: "We are pleased that the employers have fully committed to working as reliable social partners, sharing most of the contributions tabled at the meeting. Together with the ILO, and with the commitment of governments at the meeting – including the positive intervention of the Thai government, which reported on the steps they are taking to address the situation of migrant workers that has been documented and denounced by the ITF, among others – we are confident that the future may be brighter for migrant fishers. It is now time for action."

 

ENDS

 

 

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: JICT workers ramp up campaign calling on Hutchison-owned Watsons to stand up for workers’ rights

Please find this release attached and below, in English and Indonesian, with illustrations in English. Similar leaflet illustrations in Bahasa are available on request.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

20 September 2017

JICT workers ramp up campaign calling on Hutchison-owned Watsons to stand up for workers' rights

As a result of Hutchison's refusal to negotiate in good faith, ITF affiliate, Serikat Pekerja Jakarta International Container Terminal (SPJICT), has been forced to ramp up its campaign. Today, in Jakarta, union members and their supporters took the campaign from the waterfront to Hutchison-owned health and beauty retailer Watsons.

Paddy Crumlin, President of the International Transport Workers' Federation, and Chair of ITF's Dockers Section issued a call to Hutchison: "In response to Hutchison's ruthless attack on workers' rights at the Port of Jakarta, Indonesian dock workers are hitting the streets to remind the public, and their management, that they deserve respect and dignity.

"These workers have built up Hutchison's Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) to be one of the strongest performing terminals in Asia, continually lifting productivity to deliver sustained growth for the company, and the Indonesian economy.

"Yet, JICT management continue to crack down on union members. Workers' wages have been cut by between 15-42% in the last three months, and union members have been specifically targeted – and their jobs threatened – for raising concerns."

Workers are visiting Hutchison-owned Watsons' stores today to deliver a message that Watsons' commitment to create a "healthy and supportive environment for all employees" and provide "a working environment that is free from all forms of discrimination" should extend to all workers in the Hutchison network.

"Watsons strives to work smarter and create more value for its customers and shareholders – just like the workers at JICT. For the Indonesian public to have any faith in Watsons' commitments, Watsons should act to help fix this situation and tell Hutchison to respect workers' rights," said Crumlin.

 

Background

JICT has been run as a joint enterprise between Indonesian state-owned enterprise PELINDO II and Hutchison since 1999. JICT was just granted an extension on its operating contract until 2039. However, in June, Indonesia's Audit Board (BPK) announced that the JICT extension was potentially contrary to local laws and is could be depriving the Indonesian state of hundreds of millions in revenue. 

The Indonesian anti-corruption commission, Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) is currently considering initiating a full scale investigation into the extension. According to the union, management is using the port extension as a smoke-screen to extract more profit from the enterprise by crushing workers' rights.

For more details, please contact

Luke Menzies | ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney, Australia

Tel: +61 433 889 844 | Email: mediasydney@itf.org.uk

 

 

 

20 September 2017

Pekerja JICT Meningkatkan Kampanye Kepada Jaringan Bisnis Hutchison 'Watsons' Terkait Pembelaan Hak

Sebagai konsekuensi karena Hutchison menolak niat baik bernegosiasi, afiliasi ITF, Pekerja Jakarta International Container Terminal (SPJICT), berupaya untuk menaikan level kampanye. Hari ini, di Jakarta, para pekerja melakukan kampanye dari pelabuhan sampai ke retil kesehatan dan kecantikan dari Hutchison, Watsons.

Presiden International Transport Workers' Federation Paddy Crumlin and Ketua Seksi Pekerja Pelabuhan ITF menghimbau Hutchison: "Terkait respon terhadap serangan Hutchison terhadap pekerja di pelabuhan Jakarta, para pekerja pelabuhan Indonesia ini turun ke jalan untuk menyadarkan publik bahwa para pekerja JICT layak dihargai.

"Para pekerja telah membangun terminal Hutchison, Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) menjadi salah satu terminal berkinerja prima di Asia. Mereka secara berkelanjutan meningkatkan produktivitas untuk menjaga pertumbuhan perusahaan dan ekonomi Indonesia.

"Namun, manajemen JICT malah berupaya menghancurkan para pekerja tersebut. Hak mereka dipotong 15-42% dalam 3 bulan terakhir dan mereka terancam PHK karena menyuarakan perpanjangan kontrak jilid II Hutchison di JICT yang melanggar aturan dan merugikan keuangan negara."

Para pekerja mengunjungi gerai Watsons Hutchison di Jakarta untuk mengirimkan pesan terkait komitmen retil tersebut yakni "lingkungan yang sehat dan mendukung bagi pekerja" dan menyediakan "suasana kerja yang bebas dari segala bentuk diskriminasi". Pesan ini juga ditujukan kepada seluruh pekerja di jaringan bisnis Hutchison.

"Watsons berusaha bekerja dengan cerdas dan menciptakan nilai bagi pelanggan dan pemegang saham - seperti halnya pekerja di JICT. Bagi publik Indonesia yang memiliki keyakinan terhadap komitmen Watsons sudah semestinya retil tersebut membantu memperbaiki situasi JICT dan menyatakan kepada Hutchison untuk lebih menghargai pekerja," ujar Crumlin.

Latar Belakang

JICT merupakan perusahaan patungan antara PELINDO II and Hutchison yang beroperasi sejak tahun 1999. Perpanjangan JICT jilid II sampai 2039 telah diupayakan. Akan tetapi, di bulan Juni, berdasarkan hasil audit investigatif Badan Pemeriksa Keuangan (BPK) menyatakan perpanjangan kontrak JICT kepada Hutchisom melanggar aturan dan merugikan keuangan negara.

Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK) saat ini sedang melakukan investigasi secara mendalam terhadap perpanjangan kontrak tersebut. Saat ini manajemen JICT menggunakan isu perpanjangan kontrak untuk memotong hak-hak karyawan dalam bentuk mengaburkan keuntungan perusahaan.

 

Informasi lebih lanjut:

Luke Menzies | ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney, Australia

Tel: +61 433 889 844 (Watsapp) | Email: mediasydney@itf.org.uk

 

 

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: Australian Government Wants To Kill Off Cabotage And Must Be Stopped

Please find this release attached and below. If you have any inquiries relating to it please forward them to Darrin Barnett, whose contact details appear at the end of the release.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

 

13 September 2017

 

Australian Government Wants To Kill Off Cabotage And Must Be Stopped

 

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) says the conservative Australian Government is again trying to kill off cabotage by introducing a Bill today that waters down the rules surrounding foreign ships gaining temporary licences to operate between Australian ports. 

 

ITF President Paddy Crumlin, who is also MUA (Maritime Union of Australia) National Secretary said it was clear the Government's intention was to decimate Australia's domestic shipping fleet.

 

"A strong, viable domestic shipping fleet makes absolute sense for Australia given it has the fourth largest shipping task in the world.

 

"Put simply, the proposed changes would make it more difficult for Australian ships with Australian crew to compete in the coastal trade. Instead of enhancing a vital national industry with a long and proud tradition, the Turnbull Government wants to send the jobs offshore."

 

Australia has a very strict cabotage regime for aviation where foreign companies can't just come here and operate on domestic routes but there has been a very liberal approach to cabotage for the maritime sector.

  

"Without strong rules, Australian companies have to compete with cheap, exploited foreign labour on Flag of Convenience vessels, the owners of which pay no tax and often flout safety laws," Crumlin said. 

 

"Today's new laws lacked consultation and ignored proposals put forward by the industry via exhaustive meetings with key stakeholders over a long period of time."

 

The recent Senate Inquiry Into Flag of Convenience Shipping found that unlike Australian seafarers, foreign crews have no background checks yet they are carrying petroleum products, ammonium nitrate and LNG around the Australian coast.

 

"Exploited crew on Flag of Convenience vessels earn as little as $1.25 an hour, have less training and are often unaware of Australia's fragile coastal environment," Crumlin said.

 

"They do not meet the same national security screening applied to Australian resident seafarers and are directly making Australian seafarers unemployed by effectively taking their jobs through the FOC industry of rorting, poor safety standards and tax evasion. 

 

"Australian workers cannot and should not be expected to compete with slave labour and systemic tax avoidance under the Flag of Convenience system."  

 

ENDS

 

Media Contact: Darrin Barnett +61 428 119 703

 

 

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 invitation: Joint IMEC-ITF presentation tomorrow

Please find this reminder attached and below. If you've already registered please disregard it.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

ITF

 

 

 

 

11 September 2017

 

Joint IMEC-ITF presentation tomorrow

There is still time for press and all other interested parties to register to attend IMEC (International Maritime Employers' Council) and the ITF's (International Transport Workers' Federation) first every joint public event, in London tomorrow.

 

IMEC and the ITF invite you to come along to Sustainable Partnerships in Shipping from 12:00 to 14:30 tomorrow, September 12^th, at ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR.

 

Held as part of London International Shipping Week 2017, the joint presentation will be followed by Q&As and refreshments. Find out more and use the Click here link at www.itf-imec.org to attend.

 

The presentations will also be covered live at https://twitter.com/ITFglobalunion, https://twitter.com/IMEC_UK and www.facebook.com/ITFglobal

 

ENDS

 

For more details please contact

IMEC. Adam Lewis. Email: adam.lewis@imec.org.uk

ITF. Sam Dawson. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

 

 

About IMEC and the ITF

IMEC is the only international employers' organisation dedicated to maritime industrial relations. Established over fifty years ago, it operates from offices in London, UK, and Manila in the Philippines and represents over 220 shipping companies located all over the world. You can find out more at www.imec.org.uk

The ITF is a global federation representing over 16.5 million workers worldwide in 654 transport workers' unions in 148 countries worldwide. You can find out more at www.itfglobal.org

 

 

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.

Advance invitation to press: LISW event 12 September

Please find this joint advance notice invitation from IMEC and the ITF attached and below.

Yours,

Sam Dawson

 

29 August 2017. Advance notice invitation to press

LISW2017 event: Sustainable Partnerships in Shipping

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) and IMEC (International Maritime Employers' Council) invite members of the press and other interested parties to a special presentation on 12 September as part of London International Shipping Week 2017.

 

The event, Sustainable Partnerships in Shipping, will cover the challenges, breakthroughs and lessons learnt by both organisations during 14 years of working together. It will be held on Tuesday September 12th from 12:00 to 14:30 at ITF House, 49-60 Borough Road, London SE1 1DR. It will include a Q&A session, and refreshments will be served.

 

Find out more and join us on September 12th using the Click here link at www.itf-imec.org

 

ENDS

For more details please contact

ITF. Sam Dawson. Email: dawson_sam@itf.org.uk

IMEC. Adam Lewis. Email: adam.lewis@imec.org.uk

 

About IMEC and the ITF

IMEC is the only international employers' organisation dedicated to maritime industrial relations. Established over fifty years ago, it operates from offices in London, UK, and Manila in the Philippines and represents over 220 shipping companies located all over the world. You can find out more at www.imec.org.uk

The ITF is a global federation representing over 16.5 million workers worldwide in 654 transport workers' unions in 148 countries worldwide. You can find out more at www.itfglobal.org

 

 

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: International fashion brand leaders call on Madagscar to respect intl labour standards and reinstate workers

Please find this release attached and below.

 

If you have related inquiries please contact: ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney, Australia.

Tel: +61402399572.  Email: mediasydney@itf.org.uk

 

Yours,

Sam Dawson ITF

 

3 August 2017

International fashion brand leaders call on Madagascar to respect international labour standards and reinstate workers

The Government of Madagascar is coming under increasing international pressure to resolve a major industrial dispute at the ICTSI Port of Toamasina. Today, local union leader Lucien Razafindraibe will deliver a joint letter from international fashion brands to the Madagascan Labour Minister in the Madagascan capital, Antananarivo.

Paddy Crumlin, president of the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and chair of its dockers' section today welcomed news that Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) member brands Marks and Spencer, Skins Ltd, Next Plc and Men's Warehouse UK have joined the campaign to help end the exploitation of Madagascan dockworkers.

"These major international brands join Levi's and Esprit in demonstrating leadership and recognising that the transport workers, who move their clothing from the factory to stores around the world, deserve to be treated fairly.

"ITF challenged global brands sourcing from Madagascar to step up and support the rights of dockworkers at the Port of Toamasina, and the response has been positive. We've seen concrete steps to support these workers, with brands writing directly to the Government of Madagascar calling on them to enforce international labour standards, reinstate 43 unfairly dismissed dockworkers and allow SYGMMA to represent workers at the port.

Category Leader of Apparel and Textiles at ETI, Martin Buttle, said "Not only were we concerned for the dock workers themselves, we were also concerned that action against legitimate union activity would deter investor confidence in Madagascar as a future sourcing market.

"In the letter to the government, we confirmed that our members wanted to continue sourcing from Madagascar but equally had to consider obligations to comply with international standards. With the full support of our members, we therefore asked that the government of Madagascar take steps to enforce its labour laws, ensure that the 43 dock workers were reinstated and allow the union to organise at the port."

Mr Crumlin added that, "The success of the public campaigning and private engagement shows quite clearly that for transport companies, like ICTSI, labour rights abuses may be part of their business model, but for fashion brands labour rights violations in their supply chains represent such a significant risk to the value of their brand that they are prepared to use their market influence to advocate for these workers."

The garment industry is the largest employer of workers in the formal economy in Madagascar, employing 30 per cent of the formal workforce. As a result, this intervention from leading brands cannot be ignored by the Government of Madagascar.

"ITF is looking to the Government of Madagascar to show leadership, and step in to defend these workers' basic human rights against ICTSI's aggressive campaign to drive down their wages and conditions. These workers have waited long enough." Mr Crumlin said.

ENDS

 

For more details, please contact:

Luke Menzies, ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney

+61 433 889 844 | menzies_luke@itf.org.uk

 

 

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: ITF mobilises international support for Indonesian dockers

Please find this release attached and below.

 

If you have related inquiries please contact: ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney, Australia.

Tel: +61402399572.  Email: mediasydney@itf.org.uk

 

Yours,

Sam Dawson ITF

 

 

2 August 2017

ITF mobilises international support for Indonesian dockers

The ITF (International Transport Workers' Federation) is mobilising international support for dock workers in Indonesia, who are striking and protesting tomorrow.

 

ITF member union Serikat Pekerja Jakarta International Container Terminal (SPJICT) will be striking from 3 until 10 August over ruthless attacks to workers' rights – in particular to pension rights and performance bonuses – which terminal management has been pursuing in the course of negotiations over a new collective bargaining agreement.

 

The union has been organising at the largest container terminal at the Port of Tanjung Priok, Jakarta since 1999, and has worked since then to ensure that the port's workers are treated with respect and dignity.

 

Jakarta International Container Terminal (JICT) has been run as a joint enterprise between Indonesian state-owned enterprise PELINDO II and global port operator Hutchison since 1999. JICT has just been granted an extension on its operating contract until 2039.  However, in June, Indonesia's Audit Board (BPK) announced that the JICT extension was contrary to local laws and is actually depriving the local state of potential revenue.

 

The extension deal is now being probed by the Indonesian anti-corruption commission, Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK). According to the union, management is using the port extension as a smoke-screen to extract more profit from the enterprise by crushing workers' rights.

 

SPJICT chair, Nova Hakim, has issued a call for solidarity, saying: "We urge our comrades in the ITF to support our strike in defence of our national asset, and in protecting the rights of our members. This port extension is robbing the Indonesian people, and we cannot stand idly by."

 

ITF president and dockers' section chair Paddy Crumlin commented: "ITF dockers' unions everywhere will be backing our Indonesian colleagues with lawful solidarity action and messages of support. They say that a fish rots from the head down and this wave of industrial action, coupled with other action at Tanjung Priok proves that something is seriously wrong with labour relations in at the port – something that the employers and government must remedy immediately."

 

At the same time to the JICT action, dockworkers at ICTSI's terminal at Tanjung Priok will escalate their own fight for justice to coincide with the start of the SJICT strike, and take action to resist harsh management practices. The workers' union, the Federasi Serikat Buruh Transportasi dan Pelabuhan Indonesia (FBTPI) has announced it will hold a mass demonstration at the port on Thursday to demand that management end illegal outsourcing, pay unpaid overtime and settle a fair collective agreement with the union.

 

Follow the strikes and the solidarity from ITF unions on Twitter at #justice4jakarta

ENDS

 

For more details please contact

ITF Asia Pacific Campaign Centre, Sydney, Australia.

Tel: +61402399572 | Email: mediasydney@itf.org.uk

 

 

 

 

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.