Sweatships
If you are going on a cruise
If you are planning to go on a cruise there are a few additional things you can do to make your voice heard.
- Ask questions when you book your holiday, and write to the cruise line you are using to challenge them about their support for cruise ship workers’ rights.
- Try to go with a cruise company that recognises trade union organisation. To date Disney and Carnival have proved the most intransigent operators in terms of union recognition.
- Support the UN sanctions against Liberia by boycotting ships which fly the Liberian flag. Ask which flag your chosen ship is flying. Remember, not only the workers’ rights are governed by the country under whose flag you are sailing, but also your own.
- Think carefully about what might be the pressures on the cruise workers who are serving you before making a complaint.
- If you see injustices on board, make your views known to the ship’s management. Remember, though, to be very careful - you may put individual worker(s) concerned at risk of being put off the ship at the next port.
- Report any injustices against cruise ship seafarers to the cruise line, your tour operator, your local newspaper, your friends, and the ITF. Use the Internet to air your views too.
- For more ideas, go to www.tourismconcern.org.uk
