TNAG-0357-FCO40-393-Registration-of-merchant-shipping-in-Hong-Kong-1972 — Page 85

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I.T.F. RESOLUTION

on the

to 4.3.

Appendix "... Circular 39/72 dafed 4th April, 1972,

DMPLOYMENT OF "CREWS OF CONVEMTENCE"

This ITF Committee for the Promotion of Pair Practices mooting in London on 11 and 12 January 1972,

HAVING CONSIDERED the ever-increasing tendoncy of cortain ship- owners of traditional maritime countries to man their ships with seafarers of nationalities other than that of the country of the flag of their vessels without prior consultation and agreemont with the bona fide seafarers' trade union(s) of that country,

DEPLORES the fact that tho working conditions and rates of pay under which these seamen sorvo are generally greatly inferior to the conditions and wage rates applicable in the countrios in which the ships in question are registered,

BELIEVES that this practice constitutos a threat to the standards of the seafarers of the whole world equal to the practice of

and registering vessels under flags of convenience;

DECLARES, therefore, that:

(a)

(b)

?

any shipowner who, without prior consultation and agreement with the bona fide seafarers' trade union(s), recognised as such by the ITF, in the country of the flag of the vessel(s), departs from the practice of manning his vessel(s) with tho seafarers of that country, shall be deemed to have engaged a crew of convenience;

where agreement is reached between the shipowner and such seafarers' trade union(s) concerned regarding the employ- ment of seafarers of nationalitios other than that of the country of the flag of the vessel(s), 'these seafarers shall, during the period of such service, and without prejudice to any agreement by, the union concerned, belong to the appropriate union(s) affiliated to or recognised by the ITF in the country of the flag of the vessel(s) and (except in the case of flag- of-convenience vessels) enjoy the wages and other conditions of employment negotiated for its members by such union(s).

It should be emphasised that ITF policy is directed towards establishing the principle that the wages and conditions of serving seafarers should, in all cases (except that of flag- of-convenience vessels), be governed by the conditions operating, by agreement with the bona fide seafarers' trade union(s) concerned, in the country whose flag the vossel is flying.

unions to take

URGES a11 ITF-affiliated scafarers' and dockers' whatever action it is possible for them to take in order to ensure compliance with the principles laid down in (b) above.