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The International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) is facing a strike from its employees for the very first time in its history. More than a hundred unionized staff members in London, represented by the British trade union Unite, have voted to take industrial action against ITF's management due to a significant restructuring plan.
The organization has proposed cutting its workforce by 25% this year. Unite claims these layoffs come at a time when executive salaries at ITF have surged by 47% between 2021 and 2024. The total compensation for the general secretary has reached between £309,000 and £420,000, making it one of the highest in the global union sector. However, this figure is still less than half of what Harold Daggett, president of the International Longshoremen's Association (ILA), earns—around £900,000 annually. The ILA is one of ITF's largest regional affiliates.
Unite has pointed out that the number of senior management positions will not decrease under the restructuring plan. Concerns have also been raised that ITF management is asking staff to abandon their current collective bargaining agreement in favor of a new version prepared by outside consultants. Unite has criticized this new proposal as lacking essential protections for workers.
In a recent vote among ITF's London workforce, 89% supported the strike action, with 90% in favor of other forms of industrial action. The turnout for the vote was 89%. Unite has announced strike dates for July 22 and 29, and a work-to-rule along with an overtime ban will commence on July 17. If the dispute remains unresolved, the union has warned that further actions may follow.
Unite has also alleged that the restructuring plan disproportionately affects female employees. Many jobs with a higher concentration of women are being targeted for downgraded pay and increased workloads, while male-dominated senior positions remain protected. ITF has cited financial difficulties as the motivation behind the restructuring; however, Unite claims that ITF's leadership has declined to provide requested financial documents for the union on behalf of the staff.
A complaint has been submitted to the UK's Central Arbitration Committee to address this issue. Mercedes Sanchez, Unite's local officer, stated that ITF employees are being treated unfairly, emphasizing the need to reverse job cuts and efforts to undermine collective bargaining. She affirmed Unite's full support for the workers in their struggle.
Sanchez also noted that ITF members had approved an ambitious five-year work plan at the October 2024 congress, but the current cuts would hinder achieving that vision. In some departments, the proposed restructuring would leave just one employee, which Sanchez described as shortsighted and counterproductive.
The planned reductions could also impact the services and support ITF provides to its members and seafarers. ITF plays a crucial role in advocating for seafarers' rights globally, assisting in reporting abandonment cases, providing legal aid, and leading international negotiations on seafarer minimum wages. Currently, ITF collaborates with the International Chamber of Shipping to establish the minimum wage for foreign-flagged vessels, which stands at approximately £690 per month.
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