The complaint from the ship covered by the collective agreement was not confirmed

Two inspections on the research vessels "Akademik Boris Petrov" and "Akademik Sergei Vavilov" at the port of Kaliningrad ended  with no observations on the part of the  Kaliningrad Territorial Organization of the Seafarers' Union of Russia (KTO SUR), although the KTO SUR Labor Inspector Petr Dzendzelyuk came on board of the ship  on request of  a crewmember. He stated his  rights were undermined.

According to that seafarer, he is forced to wear a medical mask all the time and obliged to take a coronavirus test, though  he strongly opposes that. In addition, allegedly because all of that he has been suspended from duty, and the employer is seeking to sign him off. 

“I talked to the Master, and he assured me that no medical examination, including tests, has been planned. Moreover, the seafarer in question is listed in the actual  ship's roll»,  -  Petr Dzendzelyuk said after visiting the m/v Akademik Boris Petrov (IMO 8211150, Russian flag) in the midst of a working day.

“The Union has not received any other claims against the employer from other crew members. That is, the complaint of the crew member has not been confirmed», - the KTO SUR Labor Inspector added. 

The second research vessel - "Akademik Sergei Vavilov" (IMO 8507729, Russian flag) – is anchored at the fishing port. According to the crew,  all sorts of misunderstandings regularly arise between them and their employer. Nevertheless they refused  to address the issues officially, with the help of the trade union.

This is rather strange, because both ships are covered with a collective agreement concluded between the PP Shirshov Institute of Oceanology and the Seafarers' Union of Russia, which are long-term social partners.

Besides, Petr Dzendzelyuk noted that although both research vessels are far from new, they are neat and comfortable inside. The Inspector is planning  to bring the crews of research vessels together  to tell them  about the SUR work. “Today the trade union is, perhaps, the only effective way to protect labor rights and safeguard  themselves from the troubles that everyone can face,” the  Labor Inspector of the KTO SUR argued.

The crews of the "Akademik Boris Petrov" and  the "Akademik Sergei Vavilov" were handed over the magazines "Maritime Union's Herald", Seafarers' Bulletin and KTO SUR calendars.