East Asia week of action commences Monday

News Release International Transport Federation (ITF) February 3, 2012

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Unions and the ITF are
working together to stage an East
Asia week of action from 6 to 10 February. The action will take place in
Japan,
Korea,
Russia and
Taiwan.
 
ITF Japan coordinator
Fusao
Ohori
explained: “The campaign in this region focuses on the safety condition of
lifesaving appliances, cargo work equipment; the working terms and conditions of
the crew; and applying ITF acceptable agreements for FOC vessels.

 
“Del Monte-operated ships
will be receiving attention, following the company’s refusal to sign
agreements.”
 
“If the joint teams
find serious safety issues they will request the ship’s owners rectify them in
line with international conventions, or ask port state control to
investigate.”
 
He continued: “The
dockworkers’ union will pay particular attention to the port
of Mishima-Kawanoe where there have been reports of low wages, long working
hours and injuries among casual workers.
There will also be
rallies outside the offices of shipping line Kotoku Kaiun,
 which has refused to sign ITF agreements, as well as in front
of the head office of Dowa Line in Tokyo.”
 
HK Kim, ITF Korean
coordinator said: “Our strategy for this week is checking incoming ships one
week before arrival, sending a warning letter to the owner, then carrying out a
physical check.”
 
“Korean inspectors,
supported by local seafarer and docker union members, will make up four strong
volunteer teams. Our particular targets for oversight and action include Kotoku
and Dowa lines; highlighting safety issues; and education on the dockers’ ports
of convenience/global network terminals campaigns.”
 
She concluded:
 “We will also be collecting data on Chinese-owned flag of
convenience ships, which are using increasing numbers of Burmese and Vietnamese
crew – we have heard that these nationalities are being refused shore leave
passes on their first call at one port, and we will be investigating this
situation and raising it with the government.”
 
Huang
Yu-Sheng, ITF Taiwan
coordinator, said:
“At
Kaohsiung port we will focus on
the condition and provision of lifesaving appliances, safety equipment, and
cargo handling equipment, as well as on crew terms and
conditions. 
 
“Campaign activities
around the issues of flags of convenience and ports of convenience will be
staged in cooperation with the Kaohsiung branch of the National Chinese Seamen’s
Union.”
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