Corrupt Union

[Brooklyn9582]

What is the name of your state? Florida

I recently came off working on the cruise ships and only now discovered that we are actually part of a union. I never knew this because when you sign on the ship no one asks you if you want to be part of a union, no one tells you you're in a union, you're union dues aren't deducted from you salary every pay day (the company pays the union directly without our knowledge or consent), you don't receive a union card, you don't attend union meetings, their presence is non-existent. When I did a large amount of digging and finally discovered the union's phone number and asked them about overtime pay they didn't want to tell me anything, they referred me to the company which won't give me the information either and they said they can't give out cards b/c there are too many members. The union is notorious for being in bed with the company and for protecting their interests as opposed to the workers and I want to know what steps I can take, what action I can take against them. The majority of workers on ships are not from the U.S. and have little knowledge about their rights as workers and the ships take complete advantage of them and the union does absolutely nothing to protect them.

Is there a way I can find out specifically what the duties of the union are and than take action against them for not doing those duties? I don't even know where to turn or where to start looking, can anyone suggest anything? I'm desperate and disgusted and frustrated. Please help.

[justalayman]

Ok, let's start with, what union are your supposedly a member of?

What acknowledgement of membership do you have?

There is a contractual agreement between a union and its' membership in any case or union I can even think of. Without some knowledge of membership, I find it very implausible you actually are a member of any union.

As well, where is the ship registered you were employed on and what company runs the ship, are they American or foreign?

[Brooklyn9582]

What acknowledgement of membership do you have?
I have a collective bargaining agreement that I received when I signed on the ship.

There is a contractual agreement between a union and its' membership in any case or union I can even think of. Without some knowledge of membership, I find it very implausible you actually are a member of any union.

The thing is is that they give you a stack of papers when you sign on the ship and no one reads them, so no one even sees the collective bargaining agreement and if they do see it they don't even really know what it means because all the language is very technical. That small booklet is the only implication we have of being in a union.

As well, where is the ship registered you were employed on and what company runs the ship, are they American or foreign?

The union is the Norwegian Seaman's Union. The ship is registered in the Bahamas and the company is Royal Caribbean all of whose ships are registered in the Bahamas or Liberia. They used to be registered in Norway several years ago, but no longer.

Originally Posted by Brooklyn9582

What acknowledgement of membership do you have?
I have a collective bargaining agreement that I received when I signed on the ship.

There is a contractual agreement between a union and its' membership in any case or union I can even think of. Without some knowledge of membership, I find it very implausible you actually are a member of any union.

The thing is is that they give you a stack of papers when you sign on the ship and no one reads them, so no one even sees the collective bargaining agreement and if they do see it they don't even really know what it means because all the language is very technical. That small booklet is the only implication we have of being in a union.

As well, where is the ship registered you were employed on and what company runs the ship, are they American or foreign?

The union is the Norwegian Seaman's Union. The ship is registered in the Bahamas and the company is Royal Caribbean all of whose ships are registered in the Bahamas or Liberia. They used to be registered in Norway several years ago, but no longer.

holy crap.... USA law only

Man you are in a mess

Good luck and sorry for the lame ass reply

[mw6pf]

You need to get in touch with the Norweigan Seaman's union and ask those questions if they can't anwser then I would move up the ladder in the union. I have a union at Norfolk Southern and I would totally agree that the unions are in bed with the companies, but there's a whole lot of politics that gone on too....