They have Unions that functions as they are supposed to:
Negotiating wages, terms and conditions with the Shipowner’s organisation.
The agreement becomes applicable for all companies and ships in their fleet and applies to all employees, union members or not.
It is a triparty cooperation between the Unions, Owners and Maritime regulators.
It is seen by all parties as mutually beneficial, not a 1930s class struggle.
PS> And no Union Halls. Unions are not “crewing agents”.
Some unions use hiring halls, the longshoreman for example, do you considered the longshoremen unions to be similar to crewing agents?
I don’t know how the US Longshoreman union halls function, so I have no opinion on the matter.
AFAIK most of the stevedores in EU/EEA countries are permanently employed, unionized and covered by collective agreements.
In smaller ports and for ad hock work, casual workers are used. In that case they would be listed by the Stevedore companies and called up to check on availability whenever a short term job comes up. Usually limited to individual ships call, or because to sickness, holidays etc. among regular staff.
Ships crew are permanently employed by Owners/Managers and on annual salary + holiday pay, not day rate.
Terms, such as wages, time on/off, working hours and overtime etc. are set by collective bargaining.
Travel expenses, work cloths, medical expenses and additional training/renewal expenses are paid by employer.
Citizens of EU/EEA are covered by national medical insurance, pension, disability and unemployment benefits etc.
Yes, seafarers DO pay tax in their country of residence, so it is not a “free lunch”.
Johnny Friendly would like a word wit you…
Now I know a little more about Longshoreman’s Union.
They are living in the past, fighting 1960s battle: