CASES
Australia: Fair Work Ombudsman investigates underpayment on ISU-Lanibra ships
The Fair Work Ombudsman, Australia’s workplace regulator, is investigating two vessels which sailed under ISU-Lanibra agreements – after ITF inspectors complained that crew are owed USD 240,900 in wages.
Australia’s Coastal Trading Act outlines that foreign vessels operating under temporary coastal trading licenses are obliged to pay seafarers ‘Seagoing Industry Award entitlements’ on every voyage once they have taken part in three coastal trading journeys within 12 months.
If the complaints are upheld by the regulator, the companies could be subjected to heavy fines, compliance notices or litigation.
REPORT
Australia – Pacific Wave (IMO 9801275), Union Mark – IMO 9775153: Fair Work Australia complaints, failure to pay seafarers wage entitlements May and June 2024
The Fair Work Ombudsman is investigating two vessels sailing under ISU-Lanibra agreements which the ITF Australian Inspectorate believes have failed to pay seafarers a total of more than USD 240,900 in owed wages – both cases have been filed in complaints made to Australia’s Fair Work Ombudsman, the country’s workplace regulator, in May and June 2024, respectively. Should the complaints be upheld, companies could be subjected to heavy fines, compliance notices or litigation.
Under Australia’s Coastal Trading Act, foreign vessels operating under temporary coastal trading licenses are obliged to pay seafarers ‘Seagoing Industry Award entitlements’ on every voyage once they have taken part in three coastal trading journeys within 12 months.
The Pacific Wave is operated by Union Commercial Inc., with Tri-Marine SA listed as its beneficial owner – however, the ITF believes that Union Commercial Inc is directly responsible for employing its seafarers. Due to the ship embarking on three voyages in 2024 from Townsville to Devonport, Adelaide and Port Lincoln, respectively, the ITF is calling for 22 days of Seagoing Industry entitlement to be paid to the ship’s crew, totalling more than USD 72,600.
The Union Mark is owned and operated by Union Commercial Inc. In 2020, it sailed on three voyages from Brisbane to Geelong, Adelaide and Port Lincoln respectively. It then re-loaded and sailed another voytage from Thevenard to Bundaberg, before re-loading again in Gladstone for a final voyage. In total, the ITF and MUA are calling for a total of 51 days of Seagoing Industry entitlement to be paid to the ship’s crew, totalling more than USD 168,300.
CASES
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.
Thailand: ITF answers seafarer’s plea for help
At no point did any ISU-Lanibra representative reply. After the ITF intervened, the seafarer received his owed wages.
Israel: Sham union agreement, stolen wages
Three months after failing to pay a seafarer in Thailand, the same ship – still under a sham ISU-Lanibra agreement – was abandoned in Israel.