CASES
Brazil: Petrobras rejects sham union, ISU
The ISU made an unsolicited approach to Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – the Brazilian Petroleum Corporation) earlier this year, seeking to sell its fake union agreements for use on the Petrobras fleet of ships.
However, the approach was rejected out of hand by Petrobras, which only accepts International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) or ITF-equivalent agreements in the interests of protecting its seafarers from substandard pay and conditions.
Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transporte Aquaviário e Aéreo, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) President and ITF Executive Board member, Carlos Muller, said: “We don’t want an international union of shame endorsing poor working conditions on vessels. Our message is clear, no fake unions in Brazil.”
REPORT
Brazil – Petrobras rejects sham union, ISU
Notorious sham union, the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), has been rejected by Petrobras (Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. – the Brazilian Petroleum Corporation).
The ISU made an unsolicited approach to the multinational corporation in Brazil earlier this year, seeking to sell its fake union agreements for use on the Petrobras fleet of ships.
However, Petrobras only accepts International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) or ITF-equivalent agreements in the interests of protecting its seafarers from substandard pay and conditions.
Confederação Nacional dos Trabalhadores em Transporte Aquaviário e Aéreo, na Pesca e nos Portos (CONTTMAF) President and ITF Executive Board member, Carlos Muller, said: “We created a forum with Petrobras after a (Sindicato Nacional dos Oficiais da Marinha Mercante (SINDMAR) member suffered a very serious accident on a ship working for Petrobras.
“This is to ensure that we have strong agreements that will prevent such accidents from happening again: our seafarers deserve the very best working conditions, and this is a particular concern on ships flying ‘Flags of Convenience’ flags.”
In another case in Brazil, in December 2024, the ship Eleen Eva (IMO: 9527415) was abandoned in Paranaguá, Brazil, sailing under an ISU-Lanibra agreement – one many cases of abandonment, wage theft and arrests of ISU ships recorded by the ITF.
The crew of the ship, comprising 20 seafarers from India, Ukraine, Indonesia, Bulgaria, Türkiye and Russia, were left without USD178,000 in owed wages. Despite contacting ISU for help, the seafarers received no reply.
The ITF stepped in to record the abandonment, notify the flag state and – by the end of January 2025 – recover and return the wages to the seafarers.
The ITF is campaigning for ISU to be de-registered as a trade union in Slovenia, including hosting an e-action asking Slovenian Deputy Prime Minister, Luka Mesec, to deregister the organisation.
As outlined the ITF report, ‘A Sham Trade Union Undermining the Maritime Industry’, ISU is run by the same individuals behind Lanibra – a company openly selling anti-union services. This means that ISU directly violates international and national laws that forbid “interference” by employers in a union.
Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, covered the story of the sham union in June this year. Its evening news broadcast focused on this breach of international law and ISU Co-Founder and Executive Board President, and Lanibra Founder and Owner/Director, Branko Krznaric’s penchant for Rolex watches and Ferraris.
This clear conflict of interest and breach of international law was put to Krznaric by Slovenian national public broadcaster, RTV Slovenia, where it was also revealed that the ISU website was edited during the filming of the news broadcast to make it appear that Krznaric held no senior role in the organisation.
“We don’t want an international union of shame endorsing poor working conditions on vessels,” said Muller.
“Our message is clear, no fake unions in Brazil.”
CASES
Belgium – Seafarers on ISU ship left to suffer appalling conditions
Less than a year after the ITF documented the case of a seafarer aboard the Navi Vega failing to receive wages of more than USD2,000, seafarers on the ship were once again forced to reach out to the ITF for help. Seafarers on the ISU ship have been forced to endure appalling conditions, including a […]
Netherlands – Dutch MP targets ‘fake unions’ in maritime sector
A Dutch member of Parliament joined International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) affiliate Nautilus International’s Council meeting to discuss strategies for combating ‘fake’ unions that undermine maritime workers’ rights. Mariëtte Patijn, a labour parliamentarian with extensive union experience, shared her concerns about “yellow unions” like the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU) – which she describes as commercial […]
BRAZIL: SEAFARERS ABANDONED WITHOUT PAY
An international crew of seafarers on the Eleen Eva were abandoned in Brazil – and subject to wage theft of USD178,000. They reached out to ISU, but no one ever replied. The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) stepped in to help: the seafarers were repatriated and received their stolen wages in full. REPORT Brazil – […]
UK: Illegal wages in P&O scandal
On 17 March 2022, 786 seafarers were summarily dismissed by British company P&O Ferries to be replaced by a far cheaper agency crew.
Greece: “Defamation, illegal acquisition, accepting the products of crime”
The Greek union, the Panhellenic Seaman’s Federation, has filed a lawsuit against ISU President Ludvik Jesenicnik.
Finland: stolen wages, ISU binned
Finland is a hot spot for trade union action against ships with ISU-Lanibra agreements: the Finnish Seafarers’ Union (SMU) has taken action against ships from 2018 through to today. In one case, after a ship docked in Rauma in 2020 and refused access to an ITF inspector who was made aware of crew complaints, the […]
Sweden: blockades scrap ISU deals
Sweden’s Service and Communications Union blockaded a bulk carrier that tried to dock in Uddevalla with an ISU-Lanibra agreement.