SUR Sets Priorities for Activities for the Next Five Years

The main task of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia (SUR) remains protection of seafarers, ensuring their rights to a decent salary and safe working conditions consistent with international maritime labor standards. Such a conclusion can be drawn from the Resolution On Priority Directions of the Seafarers’ Union of Russia for the Period 2016–2021 approved by the SUR Council meeting held 16–17 March in Moscow.

It is important not only to improve the qualitative indicators in the work of seafarers, but also to increase the number of union members. To do this, new "primaries" are to be created and efficiency of existing organizations, such as in Astrakhan, Rostov-on-Don, Samara, Kamchatka and Sakhalin, will be increased. The SUR ranks might be enlisted by fishermen who often turn to the territorial organizations for assistance. The union will continue to provide them legal support and establishment of a separate fishing section will be considered.

Since its major resource is people, the SUR intends to develop training systems for personnel and union activists. For example, the institute of technical inspectors of the SUR will be strengthened to improve control over occupational safety and health protection on board. Even at the stage of training in specialized institutions future sailors will be told about the importance of safe working conditions. There are plans to expand the coverage of seafarers by voluntary medical insurance and accident insurance during stop-overs. In addition, the union will seek to establish a minimum insurance payment in the event of death or occupational disability as a result of an accident on board the ship of not less than $40,000 USD.

The SUR experts will continue to conduct dialogue to regulate labor relations with representatives of government bodies. This activity is a permanent and important element in the work of the union. It may result in increase of wages for the crews of vessels flying the Russian flag, strengthening of control over seafarers' employment, including curbing of "shadow" relations, ensuring the rights of Russian seafarers employed on national and foreign vessels in accordance with the Maritime Labor Convention (MLC-2006). The union strives to protect the interests of all sailors without any exception. For example, among the SUR’s initiatives is the motion for the Ministry of Labor to reconsider the List of Hard Works, Involving Harmful or Dangerous Working Conditions Which Women May Not Perform with regard to exclusion of jobs performed by crew members according to their ranks on board sea and river fleet vessels.

An important area of the SUR’s legal work remains upgrading Russian legislation according to the requirements of international labor standards on the right to unionize, collective bargaining and concluding of collective bargaining agreements as required by MLC-2006. Moreover, the issue of implementation of the Convention to the Russian legislation has not been yet solved. One of the most painful issues remains medical examination of seafarers: prior to 1 July, it is necessary to create in Russia a list of certified medical organizations or doctors authorized to conduct medical examination of seafarers.

In the field of social partnership, the work will be continued to conduct constructive dialogue with the Russian Chamber of Shipping and other industry associations of employers in the field of maritime transport. The union hopes that in the very near future it will be possible to conclude the Federal Industrial Agreement for Maritime Transport for 2016–2019 with the Russian Chamber of Shipping.

The SUR is building a dialogue with industry participants at the international level as well. In this field, efforts will be made to ensure that the SUR collective agreements be applicable for vessels flying a foreign flag. The union also considers it necessary to participate in conclusion of collective agreements for cruise vessels, ferries and in the offshore sector, and to assert its right to enter into collective agreements for Russian seafarers employed on foreign ships.

The information on all achievements in the field of protection of seafarers' rights could be found through the SUR’s Maritime Union’s Herald and its website where seafarers may ask their questions through the SUR direct line.