Hundreds of trade unions from across the world will join together in protest in key ports in North America, Europe, Australia and the UK against the Danish-based renewable energy company Ørsted, a specialist in offshore and onshore wind farms.
The news came to light yesterday by the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) which claims that over 215 unions, affiliated to the ITF and to the International Dockworkers Council (IDC), from 100 countries have signed an open letter to Mads Nipper, Group President and CEO of Ørsted, calling on him to directly intervene and resolve the issues between Ørsted US and US maritime unions.
The ITF said yesterday that the company Ørsted US has “failed to negotiate in good faith, breaking promises to workers and union members represented by the International Longshoremen’s Association (ILA) in New London, Connecticut.”
In the letter, which will be submitted today to key Ørsted offices, it is stated that ILA and ITF met with Ørsted A/S and Ørsted US representatives on 13 June 2023, to resolve an ongoing dispute.
ITF says that at that meeting, it was agreed that Ørsted US would:
· Negotiate with the ILA to reach a memorandum of understanding for New London and other ports the company plans to expand to.
· Negotiate a training program for the ILA, akin to agreements they have already signed with other unions, including the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE).
· Negotiate with the ITF to reach an agreement for all ITF maritime unions in the United States, akin to the agreement signed with the Building and Construction Trades Unions.
ITF explains in the letter addressed to the company Ørsted that there has been no progress made on these commitments. They are also calling on the company to engage directly with the US maritime unions, including resolving the issues with the ILA.
“Seafarers and dockers are vital to Ørsted’s supply chain and our members are ready and able to cooperate with you to ensure the smooth delivery and continued service of Ørsted’s offshore wind projects globally,” the ITF statement says.
Maritime Union of Australia National Secretary, ITF president and dockers’ section chair Paddy Crumlin said, “ITF stand united against what is essentially union busting. We don’t believe that companies like Ørsted can call themselves green on one hand, while being prepared to exploit workers on the other. Climate justice and worker justice must go hand in hand. Today we are planning protests wherever Ørsted have a presence, so they can expect to hear from us loud and clear that union busting is not welcome.”
The Maritime Union of Australia is also calling on Ørsted to “sign union agreements with all unions with coverage of work required in the development and ongoing operation of offshore wind in Australia, including the MUA, the Electrical Trades Union, the Plumbing and Pipe Trades Employees Union, the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union and the CFMEU Construction Division.”
