NEWS IN BRIEF

August 2010
April 2010
March 2010
Februar 2010
December 2009
November 2009
October 2009

ABOUT US:
The association’s main purpose is to take care of its members’ economic and social interests, and to improve the overall safety at sea. By the end of 2005 the association had 7 800 members who served in foreign going vessels, domestic trade, offshore service, fishing vessels and other shipping trades. The association's headquarter is in Oslo, with branch offices in Bergen and Ålesund.

The association is affiliated to or represented in: 

• International Federation of Shipmasters' Associations (IFSMA) 
• International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) 
• European Transport Workers' Federation (ETF) 
• Nordic Transport Workers Federation 
• Nordic Navigator Congress
• International Labour Organiziation (ILO) 
• International Maritime Organization (IMO)

The Norwegian Maritime Officer’s Association is part in a number of Collective Bargaining Agreements for international seafarers employed on Norwegian owned ships.

Membership
Officers with non-Norwegian citizenship are welcome to become members if they are working aboard a Norwegian ship, subject to same legal rights and obligations as Norwegian officers (and thus are hired according to a collective bargaining agreement for Norwegians between the NMOA and a Norwegian shiopowners association.)

NB! The NMOA does not at this time offer all information pertaining to the obligations and benefits of membership in English. Members who do not read Norwegian are obligated to have important/financial information from the NMOF translated to them or obtained by other means. 

Benefits for members
All Norwegian maritime officers and officers of other nationalities of equal legal status, may choose membership of the NMOA. Most do – apporoximately 90 pst. of Norwegian maritime officers have joined a maritime union.

All NMOA members employed on Norwegian ships are part of a collective bargaining agreement. These agreements are negotiated every two years and secure adequate wages and vast number of social and economic benefits. Through individual membership, officers also help secure NMOA’s influence in national and international shipping and seafarers forums and matters.

Member benefits:

• Collective agreements
• Financial support in lawful collective strikes
• Collective Life Insurance Scheme
• NMOA Insurance Office
• Legal advice and/or representation in legal matters and conflicts. 
• Advice and representation in work-place issues: Termination, illness, accidents, retirement etc: 
• Elected officers in most workplaces
• Training, courses, stipends etc.

International seafarers covered by CBAs
Many foreign seafearers working aboard Norwegian controlled vessel are covered by a Collective Bargaining Agreements (CBA) where one or more of the three Norwegian Maritime Unions are part. NMOA representatives take part in the negotiations of the CBAs in order to secure decent wages and working conditions for all seafarers aboard Norwegian ships. The CBAs are negotiated every two to four years by the Norwegian Seafarers’ unions in cooperation with various national seafarers unions. A Collective Bargaining Agreement and your Employment Agreement stipulates your rights as an employee aboard a Norwegain ship. It governs your wages, working hours, sick benefits along with other regulations the company or shipowners’ association has obligated itself to in regards to your employment conditions.

The biggest CBA covers members of The Associated Marine Officers' & Seamen's Union of the Philippines (AMOSUP.) The CBA for AMOSUP members and other Asian seafarers unions is administered by the Norwegian/Asian Seafarers Committee (NASCO). For Eastern-European seafarers, CBAs are coordinated by SCOCEEN, the Seafarers Committee of Central, East-Europe and Norway.

Note: Seafarers covered by the international CBAs are not members NMOA or the other Norwegian Maritime Unions, and thus not required to pay union dues. The work on the CBAs is financed by the shipowners, who are obliged to pay a contribution per seafarer covered by the CBA. This money comprises a fund which benefits both international seafarers and NMOAs members.

Benefits for officers aboard Norwegian ships covered by CBAs

•   All the financial and social benefits of being affiliated with a maritime union in your country of origin
•   Wage negotiations  
•   An employment agreement governing your rights as an employee on a Norwegian-controlled ship.

Special benefits for Phillipino seafarers
Fil-Nor-GAIN, a service-centre for all Filipino seafares working aboard Norwegian controlled vessels.

The Fil-Nor-GAIN Office was established in 2003 to provide general assistance and information to Filipino seafarers covered by the CBA. The office offers assistance on questions regarding 

•  Wages and benefits
• Hire and dismissal
• Working hours/schedule
• Training
• Certification
• Health and working environment

Fil-Nor-GAIN is run jointly by the three Norwegian Maritime Unions and AMOSUP. 

Fil-Nor GAIN and ITF Manila Office
G/F ECJ Building, Real corner
Arsobispo St. Intramuros, Manila,  Phillippines
Phone: (632) 4050210 Fax: (632) 4050220