The ITF and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust were in Odesa last week, seeing the conditions faced by the workers keeping Ukraine and the world moving forward.
It is now more than four years since the deadliest war seen in Europe since World War II began – and through that time, in the face of lethal attacks, unending fear, trauma and risks to their lives, Ukraine’s maritime workers have held firm, keeping trade moving.
This week, Stephen Cotton, General Secretary of the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), and Katie Higginbottom, Head of ITF Seafarers’ Trust, visited the country to learn more about what Ukraine’s maritime workers are facing – and to join discussions focused on ensuring that the country’s post-war recovery puts opportunities for the country’s renowned maritime workforce front and centre.
“In the midst of war, it is very difficult to simultaneously provide support, ensure safety and keep operations going – but Ukrainian seafarers and dockers are doing everything they can to keep the sector functioning and to ensure Ukraine maintains its role in global trade,” said ITF General Secretary, Stephen Cotton.
The visit was bookended by the Congress of ITF affiliate, the 80,000-strong Marine Transport Workers' Trade Union of Ukraine (MTWTU): marked by the election of Oleg Grygoriuk, who will now serve a second, consecutive five-year term as Chairman of the federation.
Grygoriuk said: “Serving as Chairman of MTWTU is a huge honour, and I’m delighted that MTWTU’s members have again chosen me to lead this great federation for the next five years.
“Throughout the long period of war that my country has endured, all Ukrainians have taken strength and great pride in seeing the unwavering commitment and dedication of our maritime workers – they are the backbone of Ukraine’s civilian workforce, and they will be at the heart of our post-war recovery, ensuring Ukraine realises its huge potential.”
As part of the visit, Cotton and Higginbottom travelled to HHLA subsidiary Container Terminal Odesa (CTO), in Odesa port, to see first-hand the conditions port workers endure as they work in the midst of war. Ukraine's port terminals have been repeatedly targeted by Russian attacks, yet its dockers continue to handle cargo every single day, taking cover in air raid shelters, before return to cargo-handling under immense risk to their lives.
Oleksandr Shuturmynskyi, Chairman of the MTWTU's Local Trade Union Organisation, Unity, at CTO, told the delegation about the terminal's operations under martial law, while they also met port workers and discussed the daily challenges they face. Particular attention was paid to worker protection, the availability of shelters, and work in the terminal's most high-risk areas, especially on the port’s cranes.
Katie Higginbottom said, “It is very affecting to witness the day-to-day experience of port workers whilst under constant attack. We were lucky to avoid sirens during our visit but the day before was constant. Imagine being in a crane in a bullet proof vest in 30 degrees knowing that it takes 2 and a half minutes to get down to the ground - which may not be enough.”
Alongside representatives from the Odesa Regional State Administration, the ILO Office in Ukraine and maritime employers, the ITF and the ITF Seafarers’ Trust joined a strategic roundtable discussion hosted by MTWTU – “Ukrainian Transport Workers: International Solidarity, Labour Rights and Post-War Recovery”.
The discussion addressed issues ranging from securing national ratification of international maritime conventions, the strategic and economic importance of Ukrainian transport workers and MTWTU’s work implementing humanitarian and social projects funded by the ITF Seafarers’ Trust from the start of the war.
