Union blitz on foreign ships successful

A union blitz on foreign ships trading in Australian waters has won 
$280,000 in back pay for cheated seafarers plus wage rises for up to 1000 
underpaid crew members.

Surprise raids by inspectors from the International Transport workers 
Federation (ITF) exposed flag of convenience ships paying able seamen as 
little as $200 a week and $1 per hour for overtime.

ITF Australia Co-ordinator Dean Summers said that during the week of 
action, which ended on November 16, 2002, ITF Inspectors swooped on 85 
vessels in ports around Australia with authorisation to examine wage books 
and crew conditions.

"We've had an enormous success. One measure is reports that ships were 
diverted from Australian ports to avoid scrutiny and frustrate ITF 
inspections", said Mr Summers.

ACTU Secretary Greg Combet said the use of flag of convenience ships using 
low-wage foreign crews is increasing in Australia as the Federal Government 
issues more special voyage permits to foreign vessels.

"The Federal Government's support for sub-standard flag of convenience 
ships is costing Australian jobs and undermining Australian wages, 
conditions, safety and environment standards", Mr Combet said.

The week of raids uncovered five ships where crew were signed up with ITF 
agreements but short-changed, and another 12 vessels where seafarers were 
paid sub-standards wages. In some cases seafarers had no guarantee of 
leave, compensation in case of injury, or limits on hours.

"All these seafarers are now protected with ITF collective agreements", Mr 
Summers said.

"Salaries have been doubled for crew on the Singaporean vessel Safrana D-
Urville, where able seamen were earning $200 a week plus 25 hours 
overtime at $1/hour.

These seafarers are also for the first time now guaranteed compensation in 
case of death or injury."