LEGAL ACTION AGAINST SMEAR CAMPAIGN BY EXPELLED MEMBER
The Forward Seamen’s Union of India (FSUI) has decided to
proceed legally against expelled member Mr. Manoj Yadav for unleashing a
smear campaign against it. The Union, which has been taking a hard stance
against the shipping industry’s attempts to erode the legal rights of
seafarers, had recently become target of many malicious campaigns and false
charges. It finally decided not to take things lying down as the attacks were
beginning to threaten the working movement itself.
It had come to
the notice of FSUI that Mr. Manoj Yadav had been communicating misleading data
that were not only false but also malicious, libelous and defamatory. “We know
Mr. Manoj Yadav is working at the behest of vested interests who want to weaken
us. If we are out of the picture, there will be nobody to question unethical
wage agreements that sell out the interests of seafarers or expose
‘private understanding’ between ship owners and unethical trade unions,” says
Mr. P. G. A. Joseph, President,FSUI.
“Based on data provided by Mr. Manoj Yadav, a section of
the media has been led to believe that our General Secretary, Mr. Naresh
Birwadkar is involved in some kind of scam. He has been alleging that the
gratuity of seafarers have been diverted to a trust “owned” by him
called ‘Offshore and Home Trade Seamen’s Welfare Trust’ (OHTSWT) instead of
depositing it in the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society (SWFS). But what is skillfully
omitted is that the Seafarers Welfare Fund Society – the only welfare body that
exists for seafarers in India, and something that is equivalent to Provident
Fund in on-shore jobs – covers only foreign going registered seamen. It does
not cover seafarers working in any other sector and keeps them outside the
ambit of any welfare.”
“In a bid to correct this gross omission, the ‘Offshore and
Home Trade Seamen’s Welfare Trust’ (OHTSWT) was formed in 2003. Till date,
every single rupee collected as gratuity is safely kept in the Trust Fund. As
per norms, the accounts are audited and the report is submitted to the charity
commissioner’s office every year. It is also pertinent to note that 27
seafarers have been paid their due Gratuity from the OHTSWT fund as on their
superannuation, becoming medically unfit, upon death to the legal heir, etc, to
utmost satisfaction. At this point, I would also like to convey that it is a
matter of pride to us that we have been able to provide this huge service to
Indian seafarers, or otherwise their hard earned gratuity would have lost,”
explains Mr. Joseph.
“In the current
socio-political climate, trade unions, ship owners, financial sector, political
class and bureaucracy are all feeding off each other. In the bargain, the
rights of individual seafarers are consistently getting eroded. The basic wages paid to seafarers is less than the basic
wages paid to class four employees in shore-based jobs. Allowances like
dearness allowance and house rent allowances, which are paid to even contract
workers in shore-based jobs are denied to seafarers. In addition to all these,
in direct violation of the Merchant Shipping Act, ship owners have started
employing seafarers only on contract basis through manning agents. Trade Unions
that are supposed to protect interests of seafarers are seen to be signing
agreements that benefit ship owners. Under such circumstances, when we stick to
our core stance of protecting the rights of seafarers, we become an
inconvenience to others, and they resort to all kind of underhand methods to
weaken us,” adds Mr. Joseph.
“It is also pertinent to note the timing of the slur
campaign. The Supreme Court is expected to come out with its judgment on the
setting up of a tribunal to address the grievances of seamen. Vested interests
have tried their level best to delay and subvert the formation of the Tribunal,
which would have impartially reviewed the illegal wage agreement and given
justice to thousands of exploited seafarers. It is in the interest of these parties
to weaken us during this time and divert the attention of seafarers,” concludes
Mr. Joseph.
