The International Maritime Organization has proclaimed 2010 “The Year of the Seafarers” and the S.I.U. supports this initiative by continuing the fight to improve the working and living conditions of our members..

Tentative Agreement reached at Coastal shipping

As expected, negotiations with Coastal Shipping have proven to be difficult but knowing they had the enthusiastic support of the crews, members of the Negotiating Committee, including Licensed and Unlicensed crewmembers, succeeded to make important gains. Terms and conditions of the agreement are currently being voted on by permanent crewmembers and the ballots will be counted in the presence of a Ballot Committee in St John’s on June 16th.

We thank crewmembers for their support throughout the negotiations, with special thanks to members of the Negotiating Committee.

Seamanning

Seamanning recently decided to withhold payment of seniority bonus to some employees on the basis of their interpretation of the law governing the Newfoundland Work Health and Safety Centre (WHSC). The law states that in the event an employee receives from his employer any money other than the WHSC benefits, the money shall be remitted to the WHSC.

We do not agree with Seamanning’s decision to withhold payment and their interpretation of the law since an important portion of the seniority bonus was earned while the worker was working and obviously entitled to payment of the bonus. In some cases, Seamanning employees got injured while at work a few days before the payment of the seniority bonus and as a result of their interpretation of the WHSC law, the bonus owed was retained by the Company.

We are also concerned that an employee may not report a work related accident occurring a short time before he becomes entitled to the seniority bonus. In such an event, his condition may worsen and his health may be endangered.

Oceanex Sanderling

Oceanex Sanderling crew members are preparing their proposals for upcoming contract negotiations. Two new masters were recently appointed and they can rest assured that all crewmembers and the Union will cooperate to maintain the good working relations as was done in the past with their predecessors.

ITF news

The world wide ITF Inspectorate was recently requested to board flag of convenience (FOC) vessels in their ports following receipt of a letter from the ITF General Secretary, Mr David Cockroft.

The letter is addressed to all seafarers and reiterates they must abide by the terms and conditions of the collective agreement governing FOC vessels with respect to dockers work and refrain from doing any work that should be performed by dockers.

We will continue to monitor FOC vessels and intervene in the event of any default to adhere to this article. We have also asked stevedore union officials to advise us of any breach of this article.

Have a safe summer.