«I learned about the trade union during shipboard training»

Evgeniy Shakhov, a 4th-year cadet of the nautical faculty of the Ushakov State Maritime University, applied to the Southern Territorial Organization of the Seafarers Union of Russia. During the shipboard training, he became convinced of the advantages of being a member of a trade union. The effective assistance provided by the ITF inspectors to his colleagues prompted him to decide to join the SUR, an affiliated member of the ITF.

During the search for a cadet position, he passed a rigorous selection process in a large company Thome Group. Out of a huge number of applicants, the employer selected only six people from the nautical faculty and three from the faculty of marine engineering.

«At the first stage, we were tested online for the level of general intelligence and psychological readiness to work on the ship. The interview was conducted in English so they tested our knowledge of a foreign language, and then, of course, there were more tests», – he shared.

So Evgeniy got a job on board the Thome’s tanker , where seafarers from the former CIS countries, as well as India and the Philippines worked. And it was following the example of the latter that he decided to join the trade union.

«The Filipinos worked on board for about a year, and there was no certainty about their change. When they found out that the crew of the same company’s vessel was successfully changed, they applied for the ITF assistance. As a result, they were repatriated. I personally was not affected by the forced extension of the contract.  I stayed on board for the prescribed six months. But looking at the Filipinos, I thought about the fact that in the future I may have some controversial situations during the voyage, and who will help me in this case?», - recalls the Novorossiysk cadet.

Evgeniy returned to Novorossiysk and began to search for information about the ITF representative office in Russia. In social networks, he read about the SUR and its work, and so came to the STO SUR.

Igor Kholyavka, technical labor inspector of the SUR, told the cadet about the advantages of membership in the trade union such as free legal advice before the voyage, financial assistance in difficult life situations and sport activities at the union’s gym. And of course that a trade union member can always count on practical help in any controversial situation. In addition, the cadet asked about the work of the ITF and the possibility of contacting the federation's inspectors in ports around the world in case of problems.

The young man was also told about the newly created SUR Youth Council. Recall that at the meeting of the Council of the SUR held in early April, a fundamental decision was made to form a structure that will engage young people in the ranks of the organization. At the initial stage, it included representatives of the SUR from Moscow, St. Petersburg, Novorossiysk, Vladivostok and Nakhodka. The first face-to-face meeting of the Youth Council is scheduled for September. All territorial and primary organizations of the SUR are invited to delegate their representatives up to and including 35 years of age to the event.

Source: SUR STO