FINLANDS SJÖFART ■ SUOMEN MERENKULKU 53 A Dutch member of parliament joined Nautilus International’s Council meeting in June to discuss strategies for combating ‘fake’ unions that undermine workers’ rights. Mariëtte Patijn, a labour parliamentarian with extensive union experience, shared her concerns about ‘yellow unions’ like the International Seafarers’ Union (ISU), which she described as commercial operations designed to favour employers over workers. The MP is exploring potential legislation to restrict these unions, focusing on ensuring genuine membership, independence from employers, and protecting workers’ rights. She specifically sought input from members of the Nautilus Council on how to define and regulate these organisations. Key challenges highlighted in the discussion included migrant worker exploitation, and the difficulty of organising workers in increasingly fragmented employment markets, noting that only 55% of Dutch workers have permanent employment contracts. Members of the Nautilus Council also raised specific concerns about fake unions in the maritime sector arranging employment contracts that fail to comply with Dutch regulations, which the MP acknowledged as a critical area for potential intervention. CREDIT: NAUTILUS INTERNATIONAL Dutch member of parliament Mariëtte Patijn, second from left, with Nautilus International assistant general secretary Sascha Meijer, Nautilus Federation director Mark Dickinson and chair of Nautilus International Council Wilco van Hoboken Dutch MP targets ‘fake’ unions win maritime sector
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