Dear colleagues,

I am obliged to begin my intervention by protesting the unfair treatment suffered by my organization and by extension our hundreds of thousands of members, particularly in the maritime sector for which we are here now.

It is clear that the representation of workers is systematically monopolized, and the opinions of hundreds of millions of workers represented by the WFTU and other international organizations are underrepresented or even marginalized and ignored.

The WFTU will not stop fighting and demanding a genuinely representative and pluralistic ILO, with democratic and participatory functioning, as dictated by its role and the reasons for its creation.

Regarding the document before us, we would like to make the following observations:

The wording of the convention should be clearer and more explicit regarding the responsibilities of shipowners and the substantive intervention of flag states.

Τhe most important of all is the faithful implementation of the Convention and its universal incorporation into the national law of all States, as well as the consequent responsibility of shipowners and flag States.

Recognizing the particularly difficult political conditions that humanity experiences with wars, we ask that seafarers be exempt from any disciplinary proceedings by shipowners and any legal proceedings by a member country that has adopted the Convention in the event of rescuing migrants who are facing difficulties or in the event of refusing to participate in the escort of weapons and military equipment to war zones.

Thank you for your attention.

The post Intervention of the  TUI Transport, Harbour, Fisheries and Communications of the WFTU in the Fifth meeting of the Special Tripartite Committee of the Maritime Labour Convention first appeared on Labor Today.

On February 22, a protest was held by Nakliyat-IS Union in front of the U.S. Consulate in Istanbul under the slogan “Killer Trump, Killer Netanyahu, Get Out of Gaza, Get Out of Palestine!” The protest began with a short march, during which participants chanted slogans such as “The People of Palestine Are Not Alone,” “Down with U.S.-EU Imperialism,” “Long Live the Struggle of the Palestinian People,” and “Murderer U.S., Get Out of the Middle East!” WFTU Vice President Ali Riza Küçükosmanoğlu delivered a speech at the demonstration, which was joined by the TUI Transport Executive Committee members. They expressed their support for the Palestinian people in their native languages. The protest was held in a mass and spirited manner, with Palestinian flags and WFTU banners waving together in solidarity.

The post From Discussion to Action: TUI Transport Executive Committee Meets in Istanbul, Protests for Gaza first appeared on Labor Today.

The G.S. PEO briefed the members of the preparatory committee on the labour issues in Cyprus, which are before the Trade Union Movement in Cyprus today. The WFTU spoke about the importance and the role of TUIs so that they can meet the needs of workers in the sector and assert their rights vigorously.

On behalf of SEGDAMELIN PEO, which hosted the preparatory meeting, G.C. Natia Kyritsis stressed the importance of the organization of the Maritime Sector under TUI Transport and the specialization in the issues of seafarers and their collective convention as well as the safeguarding of their rights.

The preparatory committee decided to hold in October 2024 a founding Conference of the Maritime Sector under the International Transport Union of the WFTU.

The post TUI Transport: Preparatory Meeting for the Maritime Sector in Cyprus first appeared on Labor Today.

The more than 70 delegates from trade unions from 26 countries, unanimously adopted the documents of the Congress. Furthermore, the Congress adopted a Resolution in solidarity with the struggling Palestinian people, and also resolutions for other labour issues.

Finally, the Congress has unanimously elected comrade Matthieu Bolle Reddat as the new General Secretary of the Trade Union International, comrade Ali Riza Küçükosmanoğlu as the new President, and comrade Ricardo Maldonado Olivares as the Honorary President of the TUI.

The WFTU wishes all the best to the new leadership and the elected bodies of the TUI, and expresses the sureness that the implementation of the decisions of the 15th Congress will be a strong reinforcement of the class-oriented trade union movement in the crucial sectors of Transport, Fishery and Communications.

The post Completion of the Fifteenth World Congress of the WFTU TUI Transport, Fishery and Communications first appeared on Labor Today.