Observation (CEACR) - adoptée 2000, publiée 89ème session CIT (2001)

The Committee notes the information supplied by the Government in its report.

Article 2 of the Convention.  The Committee recalls that for many years its comments have related to the exclusion of seafarers’ organizations from the scope of Act No. 1264, 1982, on trade unions. In its previous report, the Government stated that, in addition to the provisions of articles 12 and 23 of the Greek Constitution, seafarers’ freedom of association is governed by a special legal regime which provides protection for members of the administration of maritime organizations, the right to strike, the decision-taking procedure for proclaiming a strike, obligations during the strike for the safety of the vessel and the protection of vital needs of the community. In addition, the Government states that there are 14 seafarers’ organizations, according to maritime specialities (masters, engineers, sailors, electricians, cooks, etc.). These organizations are grouped together in the Pan Hellenic Federation of Seafarers which is a member of the Greek General Confederation of Labour.

The Committee takes due note of this information and requests the Government to submit with its next report all the texts and legislative provisions, with the exception of the Constitution, which govern trade union rights - the right to strike and the right of collective negotiation of seamen’s conditions of employment - so that it can ensure their conformity with the principles of freedom of association guaranteed by the Convention.