Four Russian seamen paid €49,000 in arrears

FOUR Russian seafarers, who were being paid €2 an hour, yesterday received €49,900 in arrears of pay after a trade union initiative to address their rights.

The workers on a ferry between Dublin and Britain complained of conditions onboard in recent months. Following an investigation by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITWF), it emerged most of the 22 crew were due over €200,000 in arrears.

After intense negotiations yesterday and fears complainants would be deported, four Russians were paid monies due to them, including €3,000 in expenses.

According to union representatives, the men were employed by Russian company and crewing agents Unimar, based in St Petersburg, which only emerged after a complex set of business links were checked.

Charters of the vessel Norfolkline yesterday said they would continue to work with union leaders to address concerns. A statement added the group was not responsible for crewing the vessel, but it was the commercial operator.

But angry union representatives hit out at moves to stall payments yesterday.

ITWF and SIPTU representative Ken Fleming said in a statement: “Everything has been agreed but it was very, very difficult.

“Despite prior commitments by ADG/Unimar, the crewing agency concerned, there were constant attempts today to deny these men their rights.”

At one stage it was necessary to initiate court proceedings with a view to having the vessel seized, added Mr Fleming.

“The four men will be returning to Russia in the next few days,” added the statement saying details of their flights were being withheld.

Mr Fleming added: “Seafarers are facing gross exploitation that can only be ended by constant vigilance and action.

“The coverage of this dispute in the media has played an important role in ensuring these men were paid and again I would like to thank the many journalists who covered the story for their help.”

The next priority for union representatives is to secure arrears due to a remaining 18 members, many believed to be Polish, of the Merchant Bravery crew, the ferry at the centre of the payments row.

Union representatives say seafarers have been getting below the internationally agreed rate, as well as no overtime.

Norfolkline added last night that over the coming days it would do “everything possible” to help resolve issues in discussions between the owners of the vessel, the managers and unions.