Ukrainian crew's protest backed by Maritime Union
Thursday 11 May 2006
Ukrainian crew's onboard protest in Lyttelton backed by Maritime Union
The Maritime Union says
that a group of Ukrainian fishermen in
Lyttelton are
victims of the lack of regulation of the fishing
industry.
The 27 crew members are currently onboard the FV
Malakhov Kurgan in
the port of Lyttelton where they are
refusing to leave until they are
paid backpay owing to
them, and held a picket this morning at the
gates of
the port.
Maritime Union General Secretary Trevor Hanson
says the 27 crew
members have not been paid the correct
wages for the time they have
worked.
He says a
further group of fishermen were sent home after accepting a
lumpsum payment, but the Maritime Union has concerns
about the way
the situation has been handled, and the
message this is giving
fishing companies and
charterers.
Mr Hanson says it appears that crew members
have been threatened that
they may be jailed when they
return home unless they give up their
claim.
He says
the Maritime Union will support the crew and is doing what
it
can to resolve the situation in a positive way for
them.
Ends