ITF targets Dowa

Rallies are planned for Japan and Trinidad to protest Dowa Line's lawsuit against a labour union, the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) says.

The All-Japan Seamen's Union (JSU) has planned a Saturday rally at the Tokyo headquarters of the bulker owner.

The ITF and the Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union will hold another demonstration in Trinidad, where Dowa's ships often call. The company's 24 bulk carriers trade primarily in the Carbibbean, as well as North and South America.

The ITF says Dowa Line is suing the JSU in an attempt to muzzle the union after its September rally at Dowa's head office.

Crews of the company do not have an internationally recognised collective bargaining agreement, unlike most Japanese companies, the ITF said.

"Dowa Line risks undermining the principles of dialogue between employers that we believe is an essential part of fair global trade – endangering decent wages and conditions and making it more difficult to maintain hard-won high standards on other companies’ fleets,” ITF maritime operations head Graham Yong said in a statement.

Dowa Line's US office referred calls to the Tokyo headquarters, which could not be reached after business hours Friday.

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