Sweatships

Suggested motion

Please use and adapt the motion below in support of the Sweatships campaign. Let us know if you submit the motion to your branch/region or national conference and whether it is approved.

This Union Notes:

The findings of the ‘Sweatships’ report published by War on Want and the International Transport Workers' Federation which details working conditions on board cruise ships including the facts:

Some cruise workers get paid as little as £29 a month on the grounds that guests will give them tips. For example, in 2001, a bar waiter working for Carnival Cruise Lines worked 12-14 hours a day and earnt just £32 month.
Some crewing agents illegally charge workers fees to get jobs, which can amount to £1,200 or more. Many people from poor countries have to borrow at high interest rates for a loan just to get a the job.
On some lines, workers who try to form unions are threatened with instant dismissal. If workers try to form unions, they are threatened with instant dismissal.
Gender, nationality and skin colour often determine who gets which jobs.
The ‘Flags of Convenience’ system which allows shipping companies to register in countries with weak laws and weak trade union regulation to subvert international maritime standards.
Disney says it will consider a union agreement if the majority of crew members want it. But Disney does not let union representatives on board and workers are scared to be seen with them in case they lose their jobs.

This Union Believes:

Cruise companies must end the hidden world of long hours, low pay, insecurity and exploitation which workers on board ships too often have to suffer.
The right to join a trade union is a fundamental human right which allows workers to fight against poverty and injustice.
Legislation must be introduced to effectively abolish the ‘flags of convenience’ system.
Cruise operators must play a lead role in ending the illegal practice of agents charging workers fees to get jobs.

This Union Resolves:

To join the War on Want/ITF Sweatship Campaign.
To distribute the Sweatship materials to members.
To write to Disney and other cruise operators expressing our concern at the abuse of workers rights.
Write to the Department of Transport asking them to work towards phasing out the 'flags of convenience' system.
Ask the International Labour Organisation (ILO) ‘Decent Work at Sea’ programme to investigate and stop agents’ fees turning developing country workers into a captive workforce.
(To affiliate to War on Want)

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	Sweatships Suggested motion Please use and adapt the motion below in support of the Sweatships campaign. Let us know if you submit the motion to your branch/region or national conference and whether it is approved. This Union Notes: The findings of the ‘Sweatships’ report published by War on Want and the International Transport Workers' Federation which details working conditions on board cruise ships including the facts: Some cruise workers get paid as little as £29 a month on the grounds that guests will give them tips. For example, in 2001, a bar waiter working for Carnival Cruise Lines worked 12-14 hours a day and earnt just £32 month. Some crewing agents illegally charge workers fees to get jobs, which can amount to £1,200 or more. Many people from poor countries have to borrow at high interest rates for a loan just to get a the job. On some lines, workers who try to form unions are threatened with instant dismissal. If workers try to form unions, they are threatened with instant dismissal. Gender, nationality and skin colour often determine who gets which jobs. The ‘Flags of Convenience’ system which allows shipping companies to register in countries with weak laws and weak trade union regulation to subvert international maritime standards. Disney says it will consider a union agreement if the majority of crew members want it. But Disney does not let union representatives on board and workers are scared to be seen with them in case they lose their jobs. This Union Believes: Cruise companies must end the hidden world of long hours, low pay, insecurity and exploitation which workers on board ships too often have to suffer. The right to join a trade union is a fundamental human right which allows workers to fight against poverty and injustice. Legislation must be introduced to effectively abolish the ‘flags of convenience’ system. Cruise operators must play a lead role in ending the illegal practice of agents charging workers fees to get jobs. This Union Resolves: To join the War on Want/ITF Sweatship Campaign. To distribute the Sweatship materials to members. To write to Disney and other cruise operators expressing our concern at the abuse of workers rights. Write to the Department of Transport asking them to work towards phasing out the 'flags of convenience' system. Ask the International Labour Organisation (ILO) ‘Decent Work at Sea’ programme to investigate and stop agents’ fees turning developing country workers into a captive workforce. (To affiliate to War on Want) « top
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