Norfolk Line to pursue pay entitlements for seamen

THE company which chartered the vessel at the centre of allegations of massive underpaying of crew members, has told unions it will do what it can to ensure all outstanding monies will be paid to the seamen by Thursday.

Norfolk Line representatives met with Ken Fleming of the International Transport Workers Federation yesterday and he handed over documentation showing workers on the Merchant Bravery ferry had two different contracts, some were being paid as little as €2 an hour and that some had not been paid for more than four months.

“They accepted the documentation and did not dispute any of the contents,” said Mr Fleming.

“They said they would do all they can to see that the matter is resolved. Some of the crew agents working on the vessel were not even known to Norfolk Line.”

He said that it appeared the salary for the 22 crew was being paid by Norfolk Line to the owners of the boat, but it was not all being passed onto the seafarers.

Mr Fleming is claiming for well over €200,000 in unpaid wages.

Meanwhile, SIPTU general president Jack O’Connor said that this latest incident was further evidence that workers’ rights need a strong enforcement system, particularly where vulnerable groups of migrant workers were concerned.

“While the new national agreement ‘Towards 2016’ provides a mechanism for tackling these issues, the actual legal and organisational structures needed to prevent exploitation have still to be enacted.

“People must not think the ‘race to the bottom’ is over and, if the pressure is relaxed on unscrupulous employers, they will very quickly get their second breath and begin expanding their operations all over again,” Mr O’Connor said.