Event September 1-Will Port of Oslo become a PIRATE PORT?

I have been asked to post this by Svein Lundeng on behalf of the Norway Dockers

March 22

Dock workers accuse the Port of Oslo of social dumping
Low-wage sailors assist in the unloading and loading of ships at the Port. The dockworkers are pissed.

The head of Oslo Dock Workers' Association follows the freighter MV "Karmsund". It was in June 2016 under the control of one of the ITF's inspectors former Nor Lines ship with its foreign crew both loaded and unloaded the boat as it was in Oslo, but the crew did not get paid. Now it has been in Oslo again.

Angelica Gjestrum, Norwegian ITF coordinator was aboard the "Karmsund" while it was docked. Her message is short and crisp.

• This is just like last year. The crew load and unload and do not get paid, she says.
• For several years they have fought for the operators at the Port to use the registered dock workers, but more often they have to stand outside and watch others do the jobs they should have. ILO Convention 137 was ratified by Norway in the 70s and still apply. Article two states that "It shall be the competent national policy to encourage all those affected by this to obtain dockers permanent or regular employment as far as possible" and in Article three: "The Registered dockworkers shall have priority when allocating of port work. " 
• It is not long since the staff thought the problems at the Port of Oslo was resolved. It is October 20, 2015 press conference in Oslo City Hall. There sits Raymond Johansen of Labor, Marianne Borgen from the Socialist Left Party, Lan Marie Nguyen Berg from the Green Party and Bjørnar Moxnes from Red party. Before them is a cooperation agreement between the four parties who are signed in turn. The agreement lists a number of points the four parties agree. In one of the items reads: "These parties have agreed that Oslo will follow ILO Convention. 137." 
• Head of the Red party, B. Moxnes react strongly to the news that the crew load and unload ships in Oslo harbor.

- Contrary to ILO Convention we see ships being loaded and unloaded by the crew on board. This means that dockers lose their jobs they are entitled to do to seafarers who go on far lower wages. There is no other term for this than social dumping. This also means that it committed a breach of a binding international convention in Oslo harbor. It is very serious, he thunders.

He points out that Red's director of Port Authority, Silje Kjosbakken, have tried to raise the matter several times.

May 15

Oslo's harbor is risking becoming Europe's first port with "garbage status".

Oslo's port workers are being eradicated. Now the port workers ask that the port to be classified as a so-called port of convenience(POC).

For more than two years, the harbor workers in Oslo have been illegally banned from their jobs. After the closure of the loading and unloading office, the number of port workers has fallen from 38 to 22. Recently, they have been getting fewer missions and they fear to be eliminated if nothing drastic happens.

May 9th dockers from Oslo and large parts of the country demonstrated outside Oslo City Hall to show dissatisfaction with the city council and their operation of Port of Oslo.

"It's not unlimited how long we can keep the crew up. As the situation is now, we will at least have to halve the workforce after the summer if no new clients should appear, "says Tommy Torgersen, head of Oslo Bryggearbeideres forening(OBF).

In the absence of assignments in Oslo harbor, Torgersen and his colleagues have instead taken assignments in other ports in the eastern region. This has helped something in the workload, but is far from enough to keep the crew up.

This is simply madness, the port workers themselves mean.

"It's absolutely meaningless that we have to go on a trip to carry out our work and it is quite special that Oslo harbor together with Tromsø and Mosjøen are the only ports in Norway that do not comply with international conventions as to who have the right to loading and unloading in the ports, he says. '

The convention Langaard talks about is ILO 137, which is intended as a protection for the harbor workers and their duties in ports internationally.

"It's amazing to see how much we are appreciated outside of Oslo. We only get positive feedback and have a very good relationship with the ports that make use of us, " the docker says.

"We are best served using people who can do their jobs, so we have gone to the step of ordering people from Oslo when we are short of people," says department manager at Greencarrier Shipping & Logistics Moss, Ulf Raab.

Nor are all the operators in Oslo negative to Langaard and his companions. Terminal Manager at Port Operator Norsteve, Ole 

Kristian Stenslet, is one of the few who make use of the SFUs from OBF. He is very pleased with the job they do.

"We have chosen to focus on quality and service rather than just compete on price, and therefore we are one of the few operators in Oslo harbor who have chosen to use the excluded port workers," he told FriFagbevegelse.

After over two years trying to find a solution to the conflict, the port workers now need to take the fight a step further, in order to save what remains of their jobs. They have therefore asked the Norwegian Transport Workers' Union to initiate a process so that Port of Oslo will be internationally recognized as a port of convenience. Port of conveniance is a status the International Transport Authorized Issuer to Ports, where no organized port workers take care of loading and unloading of the ships that are arriving.

This is a status that, according to deputy chairman of OBF, Roar Langaard, will ensure that many of the serious shipping companies, especially within cruise, will avoid Oslo.

"It is clear that only economy will affect the conflict. If Oslo harbor is a POC, the municipality will most likely lose both visits and money, says Langaard.

It would make Oslo the only POC in Europe.

"It will be dramatic if Oslo Harbor is declared a POC and embarrasing for the political majority in Oslo. Then Oslo port becomes the only convenience port in the world next to Mogadishu, says leader of the party Rødt(Red) Bjørnar Moxnes.

Moxnes and his party have all the way supported the dockers and have been clear that they mean Oslo port and the city council 

must ensure that the dock workers get their jobs back. And that port workers are given priority to carry out loading and unloading work, in accordance with UN ILO Convention Paragraph 137.

Deputy chairman Langaard believes the city council can thank themselves if Oslo port gets convenience status and shipping companies flee from the city.

"For more than a year, we have been waiting for them to maintain their electoral promises that the ILO Convention must be observed in Oslo port. Not surprisingly nothing has happened. Things have rather gotten worse, he states.

Deputy chairman of OBF, Roar Langaard, sayes it is madness that his member must go out of town to find a job

The recent dramatic development of the harbor labor conflict is primarily due to the fact that OBF has lost the bid fight for another loading and unloading assignment. Also this time, the bidder has put an offer in which they assume that the ship crews themselves provide for loading and unloading of the ships.

This is high-level social dumping!

Both the Port of Oslo and the Port Authority refuse to do anything despite the fact that they have received reports from inspectors in the International Transport Workers' Union, Torgersen states.

Despite the fact that they have been submitted reports from the International Transport Workers' Union that show that there is a social dumping in Oslo port, neither acting Harbor Director, Åsa Ness nor the head of the Port Authority, Roger Schjerva, acknowledge that this is the case. Both believe Oslo port is operated according to the ILO Convention.

The agency for industry and ownership, Geir Lippestad, is the top manager for the operation in Oslo port. We're unable to get in touch with him.

June 2

Port of convenience.
Oslo Harbor became a discussion topic at the ITF conference.
Seafarers and port workers from all over the world met in Cape Town.Norwegian transport workers federation announced that the issue of declaring Oslo POC would be raised.
This means that the ITF had a conference in Cape Town at the same time as the annual international ILO conference in Geneva. 

June 9

One step closer to Port of Convenience in Oslo.
ITF gave the Transport Workers Association and seamen's organizations authority to make the Oslo Harbor declaration as a Port of Convenience.
Must realize the seriousness:
"I hope this will make politicians understand that we have evidence that social dumping is being conducted and that ports must comply with the regulatory framework that is in place. Oslo Harbor must assume that this is serious and that the threat of declaring Oslo Harbor as a convenience port is seriously considered by NTF and ITF. We have requested a meeting with Raymond Johansen for a week, and Oslo Havn will have a board meeting on Thursday. Then this power of attorney is exactly what we need for the politicians in Oslo with Raymond Johansen at the top to take seriously into the matter, he points out, adding that the international support ITF is crucial"

June 16

Good result that needs to be followed up closely...
The Port Authority in Oslo has decided to comply with ILO 137 and not accept social dumping. "A light in the tunnel," says Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund.

Last afternoon, the port council in Oslo met with great suspicion that Oslo Harbor would make a decision that would increase or curb the conflict level.

Harbor workers in the capital have for a long time accused Oslo Harbor of looking at their fingers with what they believe is social dumping at the port, and several reports made by ITF on board ships that have been docked in Oslo have confirmed breach of international regulations.

Last week, the International Transport Workers' Federation, ITF, gave its Norwegian Co-ordination Committee a mandate to declare Oslo Harbor as a convenience port, if there was no solution with the authorities at both the harbor and the town hall in Oslo. At the same time, both the Seamen's Confederation and the Transport Workers' Federation demanded a meeting with city council leader Raymond Johansen or city council Geir Lippestad to explain to politicians what such a statement would mean.

The decision

Following a thorough debate, the following decision was made late last afternoon:

1. Oslo port shall comply with ILO Convention 137

2. Oslo Port KF believes that the parties, NHO LT and NTF, must jointly resolve disagreement on how ILO Convention 137 should be understood and implemented in Oslo port.

3. Oslo Havn KF will, by knowledge or suspected breach of applicable regulations, notify relevant supervisory authorities and, if necessary, address this with its own customers and actors in Oslo port.

4. If shipping companies use seafarers on vessels with flags of convenience to carry out unloading and cargo work at the port, this is likely to be at a wage level that creates undesirable competition with Norwegian labor. The Port Authority believes that this may mean a violation of current regulations that can be classified as social dumping, and expects shipping companies to avoid such practices.

5. The Harbor Board encourages everyone to know possible breaches of current regulations in how the work will be organized to report this to the Norwegian Maritime Directorate as the responsible government agency.

6. The Port Authority refers to and supports NHO LT's letter of 6 October 2016 where the organization "encourages both NHO LT members and other actors in Oslo harbor, to use the OBF Loose and Load Office."

- Shows will

Port Authority member Silje Josten Kjosbakken from the party Rødt - and in addition, is a cohabitant with the deputy head of the Oslo Bryggearbeideres Forening, Roar Langaard - says there was debate around several of the points, but she is very pleased with the decision.

"The cooperation agreement between Red and city council parties said that Oslo should comply with ILO 137, but the decision added" port "so that there is no doubt as to where and for whom that convention will apply. Thus, the preferential rights of the harbor workers are also taken care of. We have also received a decision saying that Oslo Havn KF should be an active party and ensure compliance with the resolutions and regulations in the harbor, as well as defined social dumping and made the board active in suspicion of breach of current regulations. All I'm disappointed is that my initial proposal that "registered port workers should be used for unloading and loading operations on board ships in the port" was not adopted, "said Kjosbakken.

She believes the decision can contribute to better relations at the port.

"Despite the controversy and disagreement about some of the resolutions, I believe that the final outcome of the meeting shows that the seated board wants to see that the port is being managed in the right direction and that we take active responsibility to get clean conditions. I also find that the board has shown willingness to get into the situation by deciding in March to postpone the case to obtain more information from NTF, seamen's organizations and NHO LT, "she said.

Kjosbakken also promises to follow if the situation does not change at Oslo port.

"It will be natural for me to resume the matter in the board if conditions in the port do not change in line with the decisions made," emphasizes Silje Josten Kjosbakken.

Exposes POC statement.

Terje Fenn Samuelsen, 1st Deputy Head of Transport Workers' Union, is also pleased. He says that declaring Oslo as a convenience port after these decisions will not come immediately.

"We must assess the impact of these decisions, and must give it some time," says Fenn Samuelsen.

However, he does not hide the fact that the decision of the Harbor Council provides reason for careful optimism.

"There is a light in the tunnel with this decision," says Fenn Samuelsen.

The manager of the Norwegian Harbor Workers' Union, Bjørn Steffensen, says to the Transport Worker that most of the decision is good, but he would like to have even more tougher and more concrete decisions. He points out, however, that the experience gained from the conflict in Oslo Harbor in recent years makes it too early to put the threat of declaring the port of POC (Port of Convenience) away.

"The story shows that we must still work on the POC campaign in Oslo. So it will be a surprise if we do not have to introduce it to Oslo, "he says.

Tommy Torgersen, head of Oslo Bryggearbeideres Forening, is completely in line with Steffensen.

"The decision to Oslo harbor is good, but we expect it to be completed and that we will see the results of this.If we do not get the port cleaned up in the social dumping that has been going on for a long time, we must work on POC, he says.

Transportarbeideren has also been in contact with Thor Christian Hansteen in NHO Logistics and Transport. He does not want to comment on the decision.

July 19

Here we go again in Port of Oslo : Here is Tinto IMO 7369168 to unload at Kneppeskjær (BMC) in Oslo July 19-17 without registered dockworkers.
BMC and other employers in Oslo harbor have obviously not accepted that the Oslo Port has made a decision that ILO 137 SHOULD BE COMPLETED IN PORT OF OSLO https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRQWuGEZexU Oslo Docker Roar Langaard claims: "ITF has given Norsk Transportarbeiderforbund mandate to make the Port of Oslo a POC. So we now have to set a date for when to be back 100%, or else Oslo will be declared a POC. And to be clear, the ITF inspectors has been doing a good jobb in supporting us in Oslo.
IDC has been in Oslo to support many times" 

Luly 28

END OF PATIENCE WITH PORT OF OSLO.
If Port of Oslo is classified as a garbage port in September, the city can lose at least NOK 200 million

Oslo may become a so-called Port of Convenience(POC) on September 1, and lose 200 million in revenue from cruise traffic alone.

The Norwegian Transport Workers' Union (NTF) and the harbor workers in Oslo threaten to make Port of Oslo to a POC from 1 September.

For almost two and a half years, the harbor workers in Oslo have been out of work. The conflict began in 2015 when a Turkish port operator was awarded the contract to operate the container port on Sjursøya. They mostly use temporary worker agencies and refuse to use the regular port workers.

Half a year later, Oslo's unloading and unloading office was bankrupt. Then the port workers lost about 90 percent of the remaining missions. Only three companies in the harbor continue to use the harbor workers.

However, following the decision in the port council in June that port workers should be given priority when loading and unloading in port, the port workers hoped that the conflict could be resolved.

In the last week, however, four ships have been loaded and unloaded in port without the port workers being used. Now it's the end of patience.

"Oslo harbor has had plenty of time to ensure that the port operators comply with the decision in the port authority. If we do not see a sharp change during August, we will ensure that Oslo is registered as a POC from September 1, says Oslo Bryggearbeideres Forening (OBF), Tommy Torgersen,to Vårt Oslo.

Same status as Barrow Island?

Port of convenience, is a status the International Transport Worker Association issues to ports, where no organized port workers take care of loading and unloading of the ships that are arriving.

Not long ago, Mogadishu port, in war-ridden Somalia, was the only one in the list of convenience ports worldwide. But they have actually managed to remove the term.

Barrow Island, an island outside Australia, is the only one today. This makes Oslo port number two.

"Going great, but not in Oslo?"

There is a clearly stated gang dockworkers VårtOslo meets Wednesday afternoon. The little glow of hope that came with the decision in the harbor government seems to have been washed away already.

"It's going just great at all ports, even in Drammen. But not in Oslo, Mosjøen and Tromsø., Says deputy chairman of OBF, Roar Langaard.

Both he and Torgersen are tired on the delaying tactics they believe the administration in Oslo port is doing in the case.

"It should not be difficult to get the port operators to comply with a decision of the port authority. This is probably the case with the will of Oslo Harbor, says Torgersen.

No empty threats

The dockers threats of making Oslo a so-called POC are not an empty threat. With full support from NTF, the decision will be released quickly.

"We have received a full explanation from the International Transport Workers Association that this is a decision we will launch as soon as we wish. This will have a major impact on shipping traffic to and from Oslo port, "says NTF leader Lars M. Johnsen.

Johnsen believes September 1 will be an optimal date to declare Oslo as a port of convenience.

"Every year in September, the major cruise lines meet in Miami to discuss next year's sailing program. A warning that Oslo has problems in the port could cause the big shipping companies to avoid visits to the capital, he says.

Can lose around 200 million just on cruise traffic.

There is no publicly available overview of what the cruise traffic gives the capital of income. A similar overview for Bergen shows that Westland City draws around 570 million on this traffic annually.

An estimate made by OBF and NTF shows that Oslo could miss around 200 million annually in revenues if the major cruise lines were to be lost.

"Cruise companies are very concerned that the ports they add you must be safe. This we saw most recently in the Islamic state case in Fredrikstad, and that Oslo could become a convenience port will provide a similar signal, says Johnsen.

A cruise company dropped its plans to visit Fredrikstad in 2018 because of a New York Times article from 2015 on foreign warriors from the city that traveled to Syria.

Thursday VårtOslo did not succeed to get comment on the case from Roger Schjerva(port council), or the management at Oslo port.

July 28

Vessel # 5 that breaks ILO 137 and conducts social dumping in Oslo harbor in 1 week!
Scanfjord unloads at BMC on Kneppeskjær without registered dockworkers.
They confirm that the crew is working on board. 

August 2 

Threatens to lift pirate flag in Oslo harbor
Harbor workers give the authorities and politicians a month to settle.

The conflict is about who will unload ships in Port of Oslo. Harbor workers believe they are entitled to work, but this summer they have documented that more ships are being unloaded by the ships' own crew.

This is contrary to the promises that have come from politicians and authorities:

On 15 June, the Port Authority of Oslo adopted the ILO Convention 137, which will ensure registered dock workers the right to unloading and loading work, but the dockers have registered seven calls in Oslo in July where the seamen on board have done that job. Now the patience of the harbor workers is soon over.

"When you see what has happened in Oslo harbor in recent years, I'm not surprised that this has continued, even though I had a little hope that changes would occur," says working director at Oslo Bryggearbeideres Forening, Roar Langaard to Transportarbeideren.

First in Europe
According to the OBF leader, dock workers have documented that the cargo vessels Karmsund, Tinto, Klevstrand and Scanfjord have been unloaded by the crew crew. The first three have called Oslo twice in July, Scanfjord only once.

- It's possible there have been more than seven calls. They come on so many strange times of the day that if they have only been for a short time at night, we may have missed them. It is limiting how much we can handle, Langaard points out.

However, by September 1, Oslo harbor must have settled.

- We do not celebrate that date. It took Oslo Harbor one day to remove us from the harbor, and it should take no longer time to get back. If it is not in place by September 1, Oslo Port will be declared as a Port of convenience. Then the port becomes the first "pirate port" in Europe, he says.

- Acceptance of social dumping
Langaard emphasizes that the port workers themselves will not be affected by such a decision.

"It is still only Mesta, Toten Transport and Norsteve who use us, and there will be no change. We have the jobs we have. The only losers on this are the Oslo Port and the business sector that relies on tourists, he says.

The OBF leader finds it strange that operators at Oslo Harbor only continue as before, despite the decision the port board did in June.

- As a tenant at the port, one must relate to the decisions that are made. If the operators do not themselves, Oslo Port KF must ensure that it is done. I expect that to be done. If not, Oslo Harbor openly allows operators to conduct social dumping, he points out.

- Can not impose on operators
Traffic Director and Acting Port Director Einar Marthinussen, however, writes in an email to the Transport Worker that Oslo Havn KF has no opportunity to impose or on behalf of the Oslo actors decide that they will use certain suppliers or employees for unloading and cargo work.

- In its decision, the Port Authority has supported NHO Logistics and Transport's call for its own members and other actors in Oslo port to use the OBF Unload and Load Office. This call is also sent directly to current actors in Oslo port. Furthermore, a meeting with ITF was initiated on Monday, August 7, where we have been informed that the NTF will also participate. This in order to establish dialogue about what expectations they have for Oslo Havn KF in connection with any deviations in pay and working conditions for seamen aboard foreign vessels where crews are used for loading and unloading work, writes Marthinussen.

Ask the parties to enter into dialogue
He also repeats the call for NHO LT and Transport Workers to agree on how ILO 137 should be understood and implemented in Oslo port.

"In this context, we would like to repeat our request, and ask LO / NTF to enter into dialogue with NHO LT, rather than work to declare Oslo port as a convenience port," continues the acting port director.

What such a statement will have of consequences is uncertain.

"Oslo port is the gateway to Norway for large amounts of goods and passengers, and it is hard to have any idea of the consequences that such a statement might have on the traffic to Oslo Harbor," concludes Einar Marthinussen.

- Must change course
Roar Langaard believes the responses to Marthinussen do not mitigate the danger of a declaration of Oslo port as a convenience port.

"This only shows that Oslo Havn KF does not intend to undertake anything against operators who illegally use seafarers for unloading and loading at the port. I think neither city councilor Geir Lippestad nor chairman Roger Schjerva wants Oslo to become a port of convenience, but politicians must demand that Oslo Havn KF change course. If this continues we will raise the flag of the pirate on September 1st. The flag has been bought and the time goes by, says Roar Langaard.

Event September 1-Will Port of Oslo become a PIRATE PORT? 

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https://felixstowedocker.blogspot.co.uk/2016/01/norway-dockers-dispute.html

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WHERE IS THE INTERNATIONAL EUROPEAN SOLIDARITY FOR THE DOCKERS IN THE PORT OF OSLO???

The conflict is about who will unload ships in Oslo port. Harbor workers believe they are entitled to work, but this summer they have documented that more ships are being unloaded by the ships' own crew.