The International Bargaining Forum Stephen Cotton Maritime

The International Bargaining Forum Stephen Cotton – Maritime Coordinator, ITF Giles Heimann – Secretary General, IMEC

Overview l l l l Background of ITF Background of IMEC The FOC Campaign The IBF Negotiation rounds Current situation Future of Collective Bargaining

ITF The International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) is an international trade union federation of transport workers' unions allied with the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC). 654 unions representing 4, 500, 000 transport workers in 148 countries are members of the ITF. The ITF's headquarters are located in London, it has regional offices in Nairobi, Ouagadougou, Tokyo, New Delhi, Rio de Janeiro, Amman, Moscow and Brussels

How was the ITF Created? l 1898 dispute in Holland l British seafarers on strike l British employers tried to use Dutch seafarers to break strike l Dutch seafarers and dockers refused to work l Strike was a success

IMEC The International Maritime Employers Committee (IMEC) is an employer’s organisation based in London IMEC represents over 130 companies located all over the world that operate over 7, 500 ships and employ over 185, 000 seafarers of all nationalities Main areas of IMEC work with employers: l l l negotiate pay rates and employment conditions recruitment and training HR issues

How was IMEC created? l l l Formed in 1940 as the London Committee of Asian Seamen. Set up by shipowners employing seafarers from the Indian Sub-Continent. Helped establish the Indian Maritime Board. Established similar bodies in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Re-branded in 1992 as IMEC with 10 members. Commenced bargaining directly with the ITF in 1998.

FOC Campaign l l What is an FOC? Genuine link Campaign officially launched at Congress 1948 Oslo Fair Practices Committee (FPC) established 1952 Campaign Objectives: l l Political arm - Elimination of FOC system Industrial arm - Protect and enhance conditions of employment Both – Attack substandard shipping and strengthen solidarity Tools – Affiliates, Inspectorate, Political bodies (ILO, IMO, UN etc)

Employers response to FOC Campaign l Employers disagree with ITF view of FOC l Previously responded in the following ways: l l l Ignore Take legal action “Duck and dive” Regulate Placate Negotiate?

International Bargaining Forum l What is the International Bargaining Forum (IBF) l Who is in the IBF KSA ITF Fair Practices Committee ITF Negotiating Team International Bargaining Forum JNG IMEC ISEG

Joint Negotiating Group l Who is in the JNG? l IMEC l ISEG (IMMAJ and Evergreen) l KSA

Bargaining Process l Elected representation l l JNG negotiators ITF negotiating team l Wish lists l Sub-group discussions l High Level Officers

What’s in the Collective Bargaining Agreement? l l l l l Set working hours and guaranteed overtime Minimum leave entitlement Free use of email system Dock work clause Compensation for Death and Disability Maternity pay Repatriation at company’s expense Medical treatment Sick pay

Partnership outside the CBA l Work together on industry issues: l l l Criminalisation of Seafarers l l Shore leave Health and Safety Training and career development Seafarers Employment Promotion (SEP) Fund ILO Maritime Labour Convention 2006 Hebei Spirit case Support to Dockers

IBF Welfare Fund l Rebate for companies to use for the following: l l l Onboard entertainment, sports or welfare facilities Crew communication systems On-board educational or training material Social, welfare or educational material for events or for seafarers’ families Grants to enable seafarers’ children to train to become seafarers Grants such as the Philippines disaster fund

Warlike Operations l Clause in agreement: l l l Benefits double Basic pay doubles Can refuse to enter high risk area with no consequences to employment l High risk areas agreed between ITF and JNG l Regularly reviewed

Dispute procedure l 3 Level dispute procedure l Shipboard – seafarers complaints l Local negotiations – signatories of agreement l Forum level – interpretations or escalations of unresolved lower level disputes l Limited Inspections

Outcome of IBF Negotiations 1 st Round (November 2003) l IBF framework TCC agreement effective 1 January 2004 finalised – duration 2 years l Cash increase l Membership entitlements agreed for both sides (including 5% allocation of welfare fund contributions to joint fund) l Disputes procedure agreed l New model ship TCC methodology agreed l IBF special agreement l Total package 8%

2 nd Round of Negotiations l Final outcome in Tokyo (October 2005) l A two stage increase, based on the IBF model of 23 seafarers, from US$46, 170 to US$48, 478 on January 1 2006 and to US$50, 787 on 1 January 2007 l A two stage increase on contractual death & disability compensation of 5% on 1 January 2006 and an additional 5% on 1 January 2007 l The provision of free shipboard email for all seafarers, where appropriately equipped

3 rd Round of Negotiations l Final outcome September 2007 (London) l An increase, based on the IBF model of 23 seafarers, from US$ 50, 787 to US$ 54, 850 with effect 1 st January 2008 l An increase on contractual death & disability compensation of 8% on 1 st January 2008 l Incorporation of ILO Maritime Labour Convention compliant clauses

Economic Crisis l Effect on shipping l l Volume drop New build delivery flood Rates plunge Effect on employment l l l Job losses Pay freeze/cuts Cuts in overtime

4 th Round of negotiations l Most difficult since beginning l Further negotiations 2010 l Agreed to review IBF methodology l Seafarers Employment Promotion Fund

Growth of IBF l How many ships are involved? 2004 – 2, 529 2008 - 4, 795 l In which sectors? Cargo, tankers, reefers, LNG/LPG, containers l How many seafarers are covered? 2004 – 38, 696 2008 - 85, 952 l Nationalities of crew? Filipino, Indian, Russian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Polish, Burmese, Korean, Latvian

Future l Collective Bargaining l Only International Collective Agreement l Increasing number of: l l l Partnerships Ships covered Seafarers protected