Sep-Oct 2008

Women@Work: Events

Women’s Seafarers Conference – Rio de Janeiro 10th April, 2005.

Forty five women attended the ITF’s women’s seafarers’ meeting in Rio de Janeiro on Sunday the 10th of April, 2005. Ranging from the bridge of tankers off the east coast of Argentina to the hotel side of cruise ships in the smoother waters of the Mediterranean - officers, captains engineers and ratings all were represented at this the 2nd women’s seafarers meeting of the ITF

From left to right: Karen Leavy, Maritime Union of Australia, integrated rating. Natalia Prosdocimi

This impressive gathering of women seafarers, whose participants originated from fifteen different countries, called for greater attention to be paid to issues such as job prospects and discrimination, for new guidance on bullying and harassment, and for unions to improve pregnancy and maternity provisions. The delicate issue of harassment was discussed and the fear of recriminations of what could happen to our members bought another edge to the forefront. Women are still being abused and fear of the social and personal implications if they report it is part of the ongoing problem. It was discussed that through the support of the network which we had created at this meeting, can only help to improve these situations and with the support and strength of the women, the men and the broader international union movement we can work together to give women in these situations the strength to beat this totally unacceptable behaviour.

From the discussions held throughout the course of the meeting, the following action points were agreed upon:

Job opportunities, promotional prospects and discrimination

To share information between women seafarer trade unionists on discrimination issues.
To request the ITF to collect and develop appropriate materials for the use of unions wishing to improve their work in this area.
To recommend the development of ITF policy together with education proposals aimed at both new and existing members.

Harassment and bullying

To affirm the existing ITF and ETF-ECSA guidance on this issue, with minor amendments to help overcome possible culture clashes and to improve the definition of harassment.
To develop materials to assist unions wishing to design their own policies on this problem.
To encourage global cooperation with the international shipowners bodies with the aim of putting in place worldwide guidelines.

Family friendly policies, maternity and reproductive issues

To gather best practise examples of these policies, for the use of seafarers' unions.
To request action to develop policy provisions for the cruise ship industry on these issues.

Occupational health and safety and medical health.

To address issues of confidentiality, free and easily accessible contraception for women seafarers as well as for men.
To examine measures to improve sanitation facilities and supplies on board ships.
Trade union representation of women seafarers

To support the collection , development and piloting of materials for trade union organising and representation of women seafarers, for use initially in the cruise sector - but which could be extended into other areas of seafaring.
To work with maritime education and training institutions to make contact with women trainees before they start work on board, placing special emphasis on the role of ILO standards.
To examine the use of mentoring programmes to support women and young seafarers.
Improving networking

To use the ITF website and ITF women's network to improve feedback on seafaring issues, with the support of network volunteers from among participants.
Finally, participants welcomed the commitment and ongoing support of the ITF seafarers' section in pursuing these issues, and looked forward to further positive debates that will assist to strengthen seafaring trade unionism today and in the future.

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