Foreign nationals on British ships

[Keith Tindell]

RMT protest on seamans wages in Southampton today, foreign crews being used on very low wages, on ferries and cruise ships using Southampton port. Dont know how far they will get, but at least they can high lite the greed of the said companies. KT

[Captain Kong]

Maybe after a few backhanders it might quieten down.

[Ray McCerery]

Maybe after a few backhanders it might quieten down.

Backhanders who too

Ray

[Captain Kong]

to someone to keep quiet, maybe, It has gone on in the past.
Cheers
Brian.

[robpage]

to someone to keep quiet, maybe, It has gone on in the past.
Cheers
Brian.

We tried to get an interest in this in 1985 , when there were still operating ferry companies , Most of the people active in protectionism were from the MNAOA , the NUS showed absolutely zero interest then , with his fight against First Group getting the West Coast Mainline services s, I think Mr Crow is flexing his muscle , it is a shame that it is the one between his ears . The pay was good , the service had a future in 1985 , but nobody cared ! But the Union men were always ready to accept a beer or three


BEER = Brown Envelopes Easy Reddies

[bill roberts]

Here is a link to tonights local news itv meridian all the best BILL BE GOOD . http://www.itv.com/news/meridian/201...ise-ferry-pay/

[j.sabourn]

Regarding wages during the hey days of the Shipping Federation. As these wages for mates and engineers were laid down in the book, the only way to get an increase in wages was to negotiate seniority when at any job interview. So sometimes you joined a company with 10 years seniority. As the unions were against personal negotiations regarding wages etc. as it took the ball out of its court it was a small way round it. Cant remember if the seamen worked on a seniority system re. wages. Brian has an old book so maybe in there. Cheers John Sabourn.

[leratty]

Nothing to do with the protest yesterday which with respect may be just shutting the door after the horse bolted though relative in regards cheap labour now being the norm around the world. In Hong Kong & Middle East Filipinos are used as domestic's, bar workers, (seamen also internationally) etc the former getting as little as HK$6-8,000per month working six & half days per week, often twelve hours + per day & living in shocking conditions often treated appallingly. Strangely they always have a smile. The the multi national clothing-shoe industry is now (has been for some time) shifting from mainland Chinas to Bangladesh etc due to cheaper labour costs there. Whether the employer is wrong or trying to get the lowest cost to sell at the lowest cost or make greater profit is a moot point. It seems that this is now the way of international commerce & sadly much of what is produced is poor quality yet people in EU, US etc buy it as it is cheap. Who is wrong, the peoples demand for cheap goods/services or the work given to 3rd world people at cost of less work for us I don't know, it is a conundrum? Oh NUS did b....er all for seamen whilst I was at sea & got our fee without any say from us. Only banks act like that now days ): fees I mean!

[j.sabourn]

Ref. seamen on foreign flag vessels. They were paid according to nationality. This I was told by a Malayasian owner. Most foreign seamen are quite happy with this, as in most cases it is far above their own countries domestic wages. The only case where I saw discontent was where a Ch. Eng. (Russian) was being paid less than a Polish 2nd. Eng. they were serving on different ships thank goodness, but in the same company. For a philipino to be paid the same as an Australian seamen unless he was a resident of Australia would be completely out of step. This International so called union I have never seen them have any influence apart from causing a lot of strife to all concerned. Cheers John Sabourn.

[happy daze john in oz]

Whilst many of these ships saiol from UK ports they are mainly foreign owned and as such can set what ever rules they wish. But from my conversations with crews of many cruise shisp they appear happy with the conditions which are often as much as ten times what thye would be paid in their own country. Not saying that is right, just stating the facts. China now uses Cambodia to produce much of the clothing ity sells as wages there are lower than in China. Here in Oz we are heading for the wall with our wages now amongst the highest in the world, result, more companies going off shore.