The Volga Shipping Company and the Seafarers Union of Russia have signed a collective agreement

The document was signed by the chairman of the Seafarers Union of Russia Yuriy Sukhorukov and the Managing Director of JSC Volga Shipping Company Yuriy Gilts on June 8 in St. Petersburg during an official ceremony. The new agreement applies to the part of the company's fleet-88 dry-cargo and bulk vessels out of about 250 cargo ships owned by the company.

The SUR notes that the collective agreement guarantees that the conditions on the shipping company's ships meet international standards regarding the work of seafarers, first of all, the MLC 2006. As well the agreement meets all the requirements of ITF.

«This is a significant step for both us and our new social partner. We look forward to successful cooperation and, for our part, we will represent the interests of the crewmembers before the employer, seeking further improvements in working conditions for them. All seafarers will be provided with consulting support, and we plan to provide various bonuses for trade union members - from New Year's gifts to accident insurance for crewmembers who are on shore», - said Yuriy Sukhorukov, Chairman of the Seafarers Union of Russia.

The seafarers working in the company, who will decide to join the Seafarers Union of Russia, will be able to take advantage of a number of other benefits that membership in the trade union gives. First of all, this is an opportunity to receive full legal assistance, as well as material support in case of difficulties. In the near future, SUR plans to open a full-fledged office in Nizhny Novgorod, where the main office of the Volga Shipping Company is based. Here, the crewmembers will be able to contact the trade union representative Sergey Gorin directly, and not just by phone.

We should add that the Volga Shipping Company is currently one of the largest shipping companies in Russia. The total deadweight of about 250 cargo ships under its operational management is more than 1.4 million tons. Every year, they transport more than 14 million tons of cargo not only on the inland waterways of Russia, but also on international sea routes.