In 1950, the ITF Congress in Stuttgart adopted the "Action Plan", which is still the basis for practical campaign measures. The Stuttgart Plan states that the ITF should seek collective bargaining with shipowners based on established minimum conditions, as well as boycott those owners of ships flying flags of convenience who refuse to enter into such negotiations. In addition, it was decided to conduct an open registration campaign among the crews of ships aimed at rallying them "under the auspices of the ITF", if national trade unions cannot do this...


However, without delving into the distant history, we would like to point out that the current campaign against "convenient" flags was formalized at the ITF Congress in Vienna in 1971.


Congress has decided that a standard ITF agreement should be provided for all ships flying flags of convenience. At the same time, the ITF established the International Foundation for Assistance, Donations and Protection of Seafarers. Shipowners who sign an ITF-approved contract are required to pay a fee to the fund (currently $230 per person per year). This fund, which is not included in the total income of the ITF from its branches, can only be spent on campaign-related activities or on special projects to improve the welfare of seafarers. It is he who allows the ITF to provide legal and medical assistance to seafarers, and reimburse employees who are involved in the campaign. The Foundation also makes contributions to the ITF Seafarers' Trust, a separate charitable institution with its own trustees who provide grants to seafarers' missions and other organizations involved in the welfare of seafarers in port and on board ship.


The Congress of Vienna also established the ITF Inspectorate. Since then, the unions of the Federation have been providing full-time inspectors in major ports who visit ships flying "flags of convenience", advise and provide other assistance to seafarers on board, verify the implementation of ITF contracts and persuade shipowners who do not have an ITF acceptable contract to sign one.


Of course, the nature of the inspectors' activities is determined by many factors, including the legal environment. In some ports, they come into contact with dockworkers, tugboat crews, and other workers, calling for strikes against ships that do not meet ITF standards. In others, they resort to the help of judicial authorities in ensuring the enforcement of existing collective agreements. Where the payment is made in violation of the contract (which is very common in shipping), inspectors can take measures to ensure that the local court arrests the vessel and thereby forces the owner to settle the dispute with the crew.


All seafarers covered by the ITF agreement must be members of one of the Federation's trade unions. This is usually a union from the country to which the ship belongs, or from the country whose crew works on it. In some cases (when there is no trade union that would defend the rights of the crew, or if the crew is mixed) The ITF acts directly and enrolls interested seafarers in a special department.


The Department also performs other functions: it liaises with inspectors and branches around the world, monitors the filing of lawsuits and strikes against ships, monitors the signing of collective agreements, while ensuring that shipowners provide sufficient documents necessary to initiate legal proceedings in case of non-payment, and also makes demands for delayed wages and compensation in in the event of death or bodily injury on behalf of seafarers who are unable to do so themselves. Speel op Lizaro online casino en test je geluk.