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FSUI

Successful Struggle

SUCESSFUL STRUGGLE

  1. KUMUD BANSAL AWARD (Structured wages for Indian Seafarers) –An historical thirteen-day strike was successfully conducted by FSUI to protect the seamen from anti-seafarer wage agreements signed by a Yellow Union. The strike was tremendously supported by all the seafarers. That Yellow Union and shipowners were challenged by FSUI against the exploitation of seafarers. As a consequence, Yellow Union used muscle power to crush the struggle by attacking their leader, Shri. Naresh Birwadkar.  However, the strike continued even after the attack. Now, it was proved that FSUI was a majority union in home-trade and offshore sectors. The case went to Bombay High court and court ordered Smt. Kumud Bansal to be appointed as the chairmen of the tribunal. She heard the arguments of FSUI, and by her orders the historic wage agreement was signed by FSUI. For the first time the Indian seamen, especially those working in the offshore sector enjoyed their rightful and structured wages because of FSUI’s struggle.
  2. FSUI GOT MEJORITY STATUS –FSUI had 100% majority in the home trade and offshore sectors all across India. Because of the hard work and continuous struggle of FSUI, more and more seafarers showed their faith and joined the organization. This strengthened it slowly and steadily to the extent that FSUI became the largest union in shipping industry with maximum seafarers and bargaining power. FSUI equally signed all the wage agreements with NUSI since year 2002 and successfully achieved better wages for the seafarers. And after this, FSUI successfully achieved many landmarks in the betterment of seafarers. Because of continuous increase in the membership, FSUI claimed the majority status.  As per courts order, verification of membership was done by the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Office of Chief Labour Commissioner (C) to check the majority status of unions in the shipping. FSUI won the elections by defeating NUSI; got the majority status and thus became the biggest union in the Shipping industry (Annexure 2) FSUI’s membership had risen up to 20000 by the year 2002.
  3. SUCCESSFULLY OPPOSED SCI PRIVATISATION –* Government in the year 2002 had decided to privatize the Shipping Corporation of India and FSUI in the leadership of Com. Naresh Birwadkar and guidance of Com. M K Pandhe. Opposing privatization, a united SAVE SCI FORUM of all the shore employees’ unions, officer’s association and seamen union was formed, chaired by Com. Naresh Birwadkars. There were number of agitations and demonstrations carried out under the leadership of Com. Birwadkar. Even the then Minister of Shipping was denied entry in to SCI by the protesters of FSUI. The struggle was successful because of the guidance of Com. M K Pandhe; not only that privatization was stopped but BJP government was also defeated by the united proletariat struggle.
  4. BROUGHT OUT PROVIDENT FUND SCAM & GOT BACK THE MONEY –* FSUI brought out the provident fund scam of Rs.92.78/- crore in the year 2005 and initiated huge struggle through strikes and agitations to bring back the worker’s hard-earned money. Ship owners went to court against the strike called by FSUI, even filing an affidavit against Com. Naresh Birwadkar. It was stated that if the strike is not called-off immediately, industry will suffer losses of $6.5 millions per day. The court ordered the government to intervene and with continuous follow-up under the guidance of Com. M K Pandhe, FSUI was successful in the struggle. Government was forced to pay back the hard-earned money of the seafarers.
  5. PRATIMA UMERJI AWARD (Got Seafarer status & Wages for Catering Crew) –Catering crew working on board Indian ships were paid with very low wages, a meager sum of Rs.3000/- as they were not even considered as seamen. But FSUI demanded that as the catering crew worked on ships and sailed in the deep oceans away from their families, taking the same risk like the engine and deck department crew, hence they should also be given the status of seafarers and should get a similar salary. FSUI fought for this cause since 2000; both through agitations and legal fight in court. FSUI won the struggle and the court gave order in their favor. Smt. Pratima Umerji was appointed as the chairperson of the tribunal. After listening to the arguments, she gave orders in favor of FSUI in the year 2007. Thus, all the catering crew got the status of seafarers and got the salary in accordance with the engine and deck department seafarers. The result was that the salary of catering crew was directly increased to Rs.50,000/- from the earlier salary of Rs.3000/- Not only this, they were also paid arears from the year 2000 to 2007. The seafarers got the checks of arears ranging from Rs.2,00,000/- up to Rs.22,00,000/- depending on the period of their service. This was a historical win and because of this, thousands of more seafarers joined FSUI.
  6. OPPOSED FORCED MEMBERSHIP & Fought for FREEDOM OF ASSOCIATION for INDIAN SEAFARERS –* Earlier NUSI had monopoly in many shipping companies and seafarers were forced to be a member of NUSI if they wanted a job. Hence, NUSI always falsely increased its membership to proclaim their majority status. But Com. Naresh Birwadkar with his aggressive approach, broke this monopoly of NUSI.  As a trickle-down effect, seafarers even working in private shipping companies got the opportunity to choose their union.
  7. ITF AFFILIATION –* Because of FSUI’s continuous increasing membership, FSUI received affiliation from International Transport Federation (ITF). The affiliation letter was sent in the name of Shri. Naresh Birwadkar by ITF, and special permission of politburo was taken by Com. M K Pandhe to accept the affiliation of ITF.
  8. SEAFARERS BENEFITS – * Seafarers enjoyed many other advantages because of FSUI like, good overtime hours, Dangerous cargo allowance, less exploitation from officers and the most important of them all was RESPECT and no doubt this was possible because of the struggle and leadership of a powerful leader like Com. Birwadkar…
  9. FSUI STAND STRONG FOR SEAFARERS WAGES –  The wage agreement signed for the period of year 2008 to 2010 was also an example of how FSUI always stood for the betterment of seafarers. The NUSI and ship owners had planned a wage agreement but FSUI was adamant on many points. Among the benefits, seafarer’s victualing allowance (Food money) was set up only at Rs.255/- per day. FSUI did not

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