HMM Seamen Hold Onboard Protest for Two Days: "Overtime Pay and Rest Must Be Guaranteed"

by Lee Dongwoo

Published 01 Sep.2021 16:04(KST)

Representatives of 24 affiliated seafarers' unions from the National Maritime Labor Union Council are taking a commemorative photo as they declare solidarity struggle with HMM.

[Asia Economy Reporter Dongwoo Lee] HMM seafarers announced that they will hold onboard protests for two days starting from the evening of the 1st.

According to the HMM Seafarers' Union (Maritime Union), regardless of the results of labor-management negotiations, the seafarers decided to conduct onboard protests twice: from 8 PM to midnight on the 1st, and from 10 AM to 6 PM on the 2nd.

They explained that since all labor disputes are prohibited under the Seafarers Act, they chose onboard protests. Through the protests continuing until tomorrow, they plan to demonstrate all possible actions to raise awareness of the seafarers' hardships and efforts.

First, at midnight on the day, all HMM vessels docked at Busan Port will sound their horns and ship whistles. The ship whistle, referred to as a long blast onboard, will last for 15 seconds. Vessels affiliated with the National Maritime Labor Union Council will also participate. Registered member shipping companies include Daehan Shipping, SK Shipping, H-LINE Shipping, HMM, and Koryo Shipping.

The seafarers plan to chant slogans such as “Seafarers are not slaves,” “Seafarers are not machines,” “Seafarers are people too,” and “Seafarers are citizens too.”