75 years on protecting of seafarers' interests

Today, April 17 is the 75th anniversary of the establishment of the Seafarers' Union of Russia Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company". The anniversary is not only a festive occasion, but also a certain milestone in the development of the trade union movement: 75 years is the age of great maturity and many years of experience. There are not many trade union organizations that can boast such a glorious history.

The years of establishment and formation of the primary organization came in a tough post-war time, which was challenging but  exiting. A copy of the collective agreement for 1947 of the Vladivostok Sea Arctic Shipping Company under the Council of Ministers of the USSR has been preserved to date. It is noteworthy that the tasks specified in it, as well as the sections and obligations of the parties, are still relevant today.

Over the years, the trade union organization has had to go through a challenging  but eventful path. Every step of this path was inextricably linked with the protection of the rights and interests of seafarers: the priority was always to improve the standard of living of seafarers, occupational safety and health, representation and protection of the social and labor rights of trade union members.

With the establishment of the Seafarers' Union of Russia in 1991, the seafaring personnel of FESCO  expressed a wish to join SUR, since, according to the conference delegates, the previous trade union structures were outdated and, in fact, did not protect the interests and rights of the shipping company's  workers.

In 1993, SUR joined the international trade unions structure, and SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company" for 30 years was a signatory party  of the collective agreement on foreign flag vessels, owned by FESCO.

All the Chairmen who headed SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company" in different years of its existence - P.V. Frolov, A.P. Gantsovsky, V.I. Abonosimov, N.G. Zadoyanov - contributed to its formation and development. At the end of 2023, the FESCO transport group replenished its fleet with a container ship "Kapitan Abonosimov" named after the master mariner, polar explorer V.I. Abonosimov. In 1989-2001, he headed SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company". 

Thanks to these leaders of the trade union movement, their life principles, position, the trade union organization continues its work today under the leadership of the Chairman of the SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company" V.V. Berezinsky. SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company" has been protecting the interests of seafarers for 75 years. The organization continues the work begun in the late 1940s, proving by its own example that trade unions were, are and remain the only organizations that can really protect the interests of seafarers. This is a time-tested truth. 

Photo – staff of SUR Primary Organization at PAO "Far Eastern Shipping Company"