CASES

ISU ABANDONING SEAFARERS

Here are real stories of seafarers betrayed and abandoned by ISU-Lanibra and the genuine trade
unions stepping in to defend their rights.

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: 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 […]

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 […]