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SEAFARERS' UNION OF RUSSIA
A NON-UNIONIZED SEAFARER
IS AN UNPROTECTED SEAFARER
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On October 18, during the 44th Congress of International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) in Singapore, a milestone event happened. For the first time in the history of global trade movement, one of the ITF transport sections was headed by Federation's representative from Russia. The Chairman of the Seafarers' Union of Russia (SUR), Yuri Sukhorukov was elected as a Chief of ITF Inland Navigation Section. The delegates of Congress voiced for the candidate an unanimous support. The union leaders from the USA, Argentina, Bangladesh and Belgium were elected as Deputy Heads of Yuri Sukhorukov.
“Be at the head of Inland Navigation Section is a high privilege and huge responsibility”, said Yuri Sukhorukov in his speech addressed to Congress. “I know that the inland shipping is in a bad way. I know what kind of challenges we meet following a continuous economic crisis, on the one hand, and emerging advanced technology, on the other. But I'm sure that together we will build a sustainable and bright future for industry. To identify a strategy and tactics to achieve goals is in ahead, although I clearly see our main mission — to do a life and labour of our members, who are simple workers, better and easier. Thanks for your confidence”. Congress's delegates were greeting of Sukhorukov's electing with continuous applause. They favorably pointed out that it was first time in 122-year ITF history, one of its transport sections was helmed by the representative from union movement in Russia.
The ITF Secretary-General Steve Cotton congratulated the SUR leader and noted that the function of the ITF Inland Navigation Section plays an important role for million workers around the world, where exists a vast network of natural or human-made rivers, lakes and channels, which are being used for shipping all kind of cargoes. The ITF represents the interests of crews and port workers engaged in inland trade waterways and passenger tourism. There are 86 unions joined about 560,000 members. Under the ITF umbrella, they hold campaigns for improvement of labour conditions.
It should be noted that the Inland Navigation Section and also other transport sections of ITF will have to address such difficult tasks as globalization, industry deregulation, education, retraining, retention and job creation, rights of women and youth, innovation, automation and many others. A coordinated and international team is needed for successful realization of these tasks. Therefore, deputies, who were elected by vote, will work upon these issues in cooperation and under Yuri Sukhorukov’s command. Among his deputies are: Secretary-General of the Bangladesh Federation of Unions Alam Chowdhury Ashiqul, Secretary-General of the Argentina Fisheries and Cabotage Union Julio Gonzalez Insfran, National Secretary and Treasurer at the Inland Shipping Union in the US Terri Mast, representative of the French Democratic Confederation of Labour Valerie Latron (on behalf of women) and representative from the Argentina Fisheries and Cabotage Union Cinthia Diaz (on behalf of youth). Tomorrow the Congress will continue its work.
Reference: The International Transport Workers' Federation was established in 1896. The ITF includes following sections: seafarers, dockers, railway workers, road transport workers, civil aviation, inland waterways transport, fisheries and tourism. In 140 countries the Federation represents 19,7 million transport workers in 670 trade unions. It protects their interests through global campaigns and solidarity actions. The ITF is a part of the International Trade Union Confederation.
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