Padmesh Prabhune –
A meeting was held recently at the Mumbai office of RLC Labour Commission (central) for verification of membership of Unions operating as trade unions in Indian National Shipowners Association. The meeting for discussion of verification process was organized by the deputy RLC of the central division.
All the stakeholders, including Capt. Daniel Joseph, DDG Crew, along with major registered seafarer unions of the likes of National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI), Forward Seamen’s Union of India, (FSUI), and Bhartiya Navik Sena Union, (BNSU), attended the meeting to discuss the modalities of verification and election process slated for the year.
While there are many seafarer trade unions in the country claiming to represent seafarer (rating) wellbeing, in a true sense it would be ideal to have a single major union represent seafarers to ensure smooth interaction and co-ordination happens in one voice at a single source for ensuring the betterment of seafarers.
The RLC will determine the mode and methods for such an election process.
NUSI has requested that the process be conducted through record verification and on-site inspections, as conducting a secret ballot is not feasible due to the majority of seafarers being onboard ships. “Further it is also important to note that in the past also the verification was conducted through record verification”, said Milind Kandalgaonkar, General Secretary- NUSI.
Manoj Yadav, General Secretary FSUI, said, “This is a good initiative and the system has been in place for some time. The meeting is at its first stage and we are open with both secret ballot and on-record verification.”
Yadav added: ‘Trade unions work to protect the rights of seafarers and their wellbeing; however, where on one side over 22 crores of population which is approximately 16% of population are earning INR 1268 monthly in the city and 1089 in rural as per UNDP, union task is more challenging to meet the minimum standards.”
Agrees, Ravindra Baing, President, BNSU. He says “While the process is a good one, we suggest to increase the wages of Ratings, for the process of verification and declaration of major union process might take its own time to complete.”
The next round of discussions is scheduled for 22 January, 2025.
Marex Media