Published: 16 Apr 2010
Tributes to fallen comrade Nick Fanos from around the world
Great Sadness
It is with great sadness that we receive the news of another port death, this time in Australia.
Nowadays new technologies are available, but the security that workers should have when doing their work hasn't improved at all.
The companies are only worried about their own profits and don't really show care about the people that work for them. They are always demanding more work to achieve their goals. Safety is compromised in changing work situations that unfortunately are happening in all ports around the world.
From the SUPRA Uruguay, we would like to send our deepest condolences, knowing that even though we can't get a life back investigations are underway and all work mates and family know there is huge international solidarity.
Best Regards and we will never walk alone!
Carlos Ures
Latin America Area Coordinator
ADC
Your pain is our pain
Dear MUA Comrades, From Argentina we would like to send our deepest condolences and a fraternal hug to the brother of Nick Fanos.
We are joined in our feeling of anger and frustration. To all his direct work mates, your pain is also our pain.
We cry out loud so no more workers lose their lives while at work ever again!
We must not compromise in the fight to regulate all work practices so dockers' lives are not put at risk and prevent further accidents like this in ports around the world. Deaths that are avoidable are an infinite injustice.
Deepest Condolences.
Adolfo Barja
SUTAP Argentina
Great Sadness
Dear brothers and sisters,
It is with great sadness that we learned about this terrible tragedy.
On behalf of the Montréal's Longshoremen's Union and all their members, we wish to convey our sincere condolences to N. Fanos's family and all his relatives.
The fatality of a fellow worker is always one too many. It's just so sad that it takes a worker's life before people start taking measures to make our workplaces safer.
So again our best sympathy to his family and friends,
Sincerely yours,
Eric Collin
Health and safety officer
Montreal's Longshore Union
Extreme risk
This is just another sad example of the danger and extreme risk of working on the docks, and a reminder in the need to educate and regulate the health & safety practices of dockworkers to prevent accidents and deaths on the docks worldwide.
In solidarity,
Susana
Coordination
International Dockworkers Council (IDC)
All our support
Dear Comrade,
We would like to transmit our condolences to our Australian Comrades, further to the mourning that has just hit our jobs.
We pass you all our support
Fraternally
Dockers and stevedoring Union of Fos Gol
Solidarity Salute
Dear Bro. Paddy Crumlin,
At the outset we are shocked at the fatal accident of Com. Nick Fanos, a 49-year old, employed by Patrick Stevedores at Port Botany, Australia, in very tragic circumstances for being crushed to death while loading containers.
The Indian Port & Dock Workers and the Transport Workers constituting Indian maritime family, join the bereaved family of Com. Nick Fanos in their sorrow and condole his untimely death.
In this hour of sorrow, the Australian dock workers walking away from their duties to join the funeral is a great solidarity salute to the departed soul.
Bro. Paddy ! you being at the helm, I and the maritime fraternity in India are confident that the factors leading to the fatal accident will be thoroughly investigated leading to the introduction of a regulated National Stevedoring Safety Code of Practice.
We look forward to introduction of a National Stevedoring Safety Code of Practice, which would pave way for better safety of the dockers at work place.
We request you to convey our condolences to the bereaved family with the multitude of Indian dockers praying for them to overcome this tragedy with the strength from the Almighty.
Yours fraternally,
(S. R. Kulkarni ) India
Tragic loss
Paddy, I'm terribly saddened to hear of yet another death on the docks, that of brother Nick Fanos. On behalf of the entire ILWU family please accept our condolences over this tragic loss. It's a terrible reminder of the dangers of working o the waterfront and the employers' constant push for more and more production.
If there is anyway whatsoever we can be of assistant, please let me know and we will do what we can.
I would very much appreciate if you could pass along our condolences to Brother Fanos' family.
In solidarity
(Big) Bob McEllrath
International President
International Longshore and Warehouse Union
San Francisco
Untimely Death
Dear BrotherPaddy,
On behalf of the executive and membership of the SIERRA LEONE SEAMEN'S UNION, I extend our heart felt sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families of our deceased brothers whose untimely death was a shock and a big blow to us. May their souls rest in perfect peace in the name of JesusChrist AMEN.
The SLSU want to assure the MUA of their fullest support and cooperation at all times.
KAMARA PARKER
SECRETARY GENERAL
SIERRA LEONE SEAMEN'S UNION (SLSU)
Tragedy
Dear Paddy, We are deeply saddened by this tragedy. On behalf of all IDC port workers family I would like to share our most sincere condolences over this loss.
This is again a sad remainder of the high risk involved in our profession, a common feeling that all dockworkers from around the world certainly share wherever they are.
Unfortunatley, many ports all over the world have also had direct experiences with work mates passing away or suffering serious injury. It is for this reason that we must coordinate the development of Health and Safety programmes, as we discussed in the Assembly in Charleston 2010.
We would very much appreciate if you could pass on our condolences to the Fanos family, MUA work mates and all ITF affiliates.
Yours in solidarity.
Antolin Goya
IDC General Coordinator Spain
Solidarity Salute
Dear Bro. Paddy Crumlin, At the outset we are shocked at the fatal accident of Com. Nick Fanos, a 49-year old, employed by Patrick Stevedores at Port Botany, Australia, in very tragic circumstances for being crushed to death while loading containers.
The Indian Port & Dock workers and the Transport workers constituting Indian maritime family, join the bereaved family of Com. Nick Fanos in their sorrow and condole his untimely death.
In this hour of sorrow, the Australian dock workers walking away their duties to join the funeral is a great solidarity salute to the departed soul.
Bro. Paddy ! You being at the helm, I and the maritime fraternity in India are confident that the factors leading to the fatal accident will be thoroughly investigated leading to the introduction of a regulated National Stevedoring Safety Code of Practice.
We look forward to introduction of a National Stevedoring Safety Code of Practice, which would pave way for better safety of the dockers at work place.
We request you to convey our condolences to the bereaved family with the multitude of Indian dockers praying for them to overcome this tragedy with the strength from the Almighty.
Yours fraternally,
( S. R. Kulkarni )
ALL INDIA PORT & DOCK WORKERS' FEDERATION.
Mumbai, India
Heart felt sympathy
Dear Brother Paddy,
On behalf of the executive and membership of the SIERRA LEONE SEAMEN'S UNION, I extend our heart felt sympathy and condolences to the bereaved families of our deceased brothers whose untimely death was a shock and a big blow to us. May their souls rest in perfect peace in the name of Jesus Christ .... AMEN.
The SLSU want to assure the MUA of their fullest support and cooperation at all times.
PARKER KAMARA
SECRETARY GENERAL
SIERRA LEONE SEAMEN'S UNION (SLSU )
Tragic Accident
We have no words to express how deeply sorry we are to hear about the death of Nick Fanos who passed away at a tragic accident in Port Botany.
From Malta Dockers Union we send our most sincere condolences to his family, his colleagues and the MUA during such a sad and unfortunate event.
Kind regards,
Joe Saliba
President
Malta Dockers Union
Deepest Respect
From Las Palmas Port we would like to show our deapest respects and all our support to his family.
Lázaro Lemes Frías
Asociación Sindical de
Estibadores Portuarios (ASEP)
