“I would like the seafarers to become more conscientious”

The Azov and Don Territorial Organization of Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR ADTO) in 2017 assisted to recover about RUB 8,5 million of back wages to more than 80 seafarers. 

- There have always been problems with unscrupulous employers in the Azov Sea region, - Leonid Glushak, the Chairman of SUR ADTO said. 

- The delays with salary payments mainly took place on their vessels. Perhaps, the two most deliberate nonpayers are the companies “Rusship” and “Imflot Logistic”.

For example, there are regular delays of currency payments – the most part of the salary – on the vessels owned by “Rusship”. That was the case with the crew members of “Omskiy-106”, who wrote a collective complaint to SUR ADTO. And immediately after the interference of the Union in the resolving of this issue the shipowner fully repaid the debt in the amount of $21 000 in few days. 

 The crews of OOO “Imflot Logistic” also found themselves in the similar situations. For example, the M/V "Magellan" was detained by the Port State Control after Leonid Glushak conveyed to the PSC Inspectors the information about a number of technical deficiencies identified during the vessel's visit. The crew members of the M/V "Whitebox Volga" declared a termless protest action because of the nonpayment of wages by the company, and SUR ADTO sent an appeal to the Volga-Don Transport Prosecutor's Office.

“I remember the same cases with the vessels owned by “Rusship” and “Imflot Logistic” in the past year either“, Leonid Glushak shared. “I'm afraid, that in 2018 the naive seafarers will come to us again. They rely on a bit of luck: “yes, there are cases of back wages but what if I would be lucky?” But the reality is that they are rarely lucky. I really want the seafarers to become more conscientious. They should check information about the shipowner before the signing of the contract and not be afraid to maintain their rights. And SUR is always ready to help them in this matter“. 

For a year 106 people joined our Organization, the most of them are just those who faced injustice on the part of the employer. So, it turns out that just in critical situation seafarers understand that only trade union is ready to stand up for them. 

In November-December 2017 the SUR ADTO received requests from four seafarers and on-board trainees who had worked by contracts on the vessels “Azori Karabakh” (Flag of Russia, IMO 9352705), «Chingiz Mustafaev» (Flag of Russia, IMO 9354636), «Pal-2» (Flag of Russia, IMO 9092144) and «Pal-6» (Flag of Russia, IMO 9097240). They were signed off without money and with total back wages exceeding 400 000 roubles.

Initially, the Rostov-based company promised to repay the debt. But time goes by, and the seafarers have not seen their honestly earned money still. The Union's requests have not pushed things along yet either. The inspectors were also confused by one more thing: the company didn't conclude a contract of employment with the trainees, instead they signed a contract for rendering of services with them, which makes the recovering of the debt a much more difficult task.

Besides, it contained a strange duty list: in addition to the usual work the cadets had to help the cook, as well as to keep clean and tidy the ship's library and cabins, and for all this work they were paid just 380 rubles a day.

- We have already applied to the Harbour Master, now we are going to involve in a handling of this case the prosecutors and the Federal Transportation Inspection Service (Rostransnadzor). In any case, the Seafarers' Union of Russia will do utmost to succeed in recovering back wages to seafarers, - Leonid Glushak said.