Seafarers' Union of Burma
Encyclopedia
The Seafarers Union of Burma (SUB) is a trade union
in exile
from Burma (Myanmar). It represents an estimated 20 - 30,000 workers in the international shipping industry, many of whom work on Flag of Convenience
ships and suffer from poor work and pay conditions.
Founded in 1991 by the Burmese seafarers who are in trouble and get contact with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and its affiliated maritime unions around the world and supported by the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) in opposition to the government sanctioned "Myanmar Overseas Seafarers Association" (MOSA), SUB remains banned in Burma (Myanmar) but is recognized as the legitimate representative of Burmese sailors by other maritime unions, and is a member of the International Transport Workers' Federation
.
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
in exile
Exile
Exile means to be away from one's home , while either being explicitly refused permission to return and/or being threatened with imprisonment or death upon return...
from Burma (Myanmar). It represents an estimated 20 - 30,000 workers in the international shipping industry, many of whom work on Flag of Convenience
Flag of convenience
The term flag of convenience describes the business practice of registering a merchant ship in a sovereign state different from that of the ship's owners, and flying that state's civil ensign on the ship. Ships are registered under flags of convenience to reduce operating costs or avoid the...
ships and suffer from poor work and pay conditions.
Founded in 1991 by the Burmese seafarers who are in trouble and get contact with the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and its affiliated maritime unions around the world and supported by the Federation of Trade Unions of Burma (FTUB) in opposition to the government sanctioned "Myanmar Overseas Seafarers Association" (MOSA), SUB remains banned in Burma (Myanmar) but is recognized as the legitimate representative of Burmese sailors by other maritime unions, and is a member of the International Transport Workers' Federation
International Transport Workers' Federation
The International Transport Workers' Federation is a global union federation of transport workers' trade unions, founded in 1896. In 2009 the ITF had 654 member organizations in 148 countries, representing a combined membership of 4.5 million workers....
.