Joint efforts of maritime unions forced a japanese shipowner to sign ITF collective agreement

Minamoto Kisen Corp. Ltd.  signed the ITF collective agreement with the Japanese Seamen's Union after the receiving a notice from the Far Eastern Regional Organization of  Seafarers' Union of  Russia (SUR FERO). 

The SUR FERO inspected Minamoto Kisen-owned Basic Portland, berthed at Nakhodka commercial sea port, on November 7. The union's  representatives have learned that the ship wasn't covered by the ITF collective agreement. The Japanese shipowner employed the cheap crew, including 20 Filipinos. AB base rate was $626 here.

The seafarers knew nothing about working under flag of convenience (FoC). The inspectors told them that owners, employing foreign crews without the ITF collective agreement, cut the wage costs and as a result obtained significant profit. In cooperation with the crew it was decided to reach the shipowner and to demand holding negotiation with the union.

A notice was addressed on the same day. After receiving an information on the ship inspection in Nakhodka, Fusao Ohori, the ITF coordinator in Japan,  contacted  with the  owner and told him that the  ship would be inspected by the ITF inspector in Vancouver (Washington, US) and would be detained.

Afraid of the ship's idle and subsequent losses, Minamoto Kisen Corp. Ltd. signed the collective agreement with the Japanese Seamen's Union before the ship arriving into the port.

Thanks to the coordinated and joint actions the unions have been able to make impact on the owner and to improve working conditions of seafarers on FoC ship.