Overview

The Norwegian Maritime Unions organize seafarers of all categories in both national and international trade and in deep-sea fishing. The unions campaign internationally for better safety, cleaner environment and decent working and living conditions at sea.

Nationally, the three Norwegian Maritime Unions join forces to give strength to the voice of the individual seafarer in his/her relations to employers and the society at large. Internationally, the unions have an even closer cooperation and are often represented as a united body.

The three unions are Norwegian Maritime Officers Association (NMOA), Norwegian Seafarers’ Union (NSU) and Norwegian Union of Marine Engineers (NUME). NMOA and NUME organize certified deck and engine officers. NSU mainly organizes ratings, including catering and all groups employed on deep-sea fishing vessels. The Norwegian Maritime Unions organize around 25,000 seafarers in total, most are domestic members. The Unions also negotiate collective bargaining agreements for an additional 35,000 non-domiciled seafarers. This is done in close cooperation with ITF affiliated unions in the seafarers’ country of domicile.

In addition to negotiating collective bargaining agreements, the unions’ domestic aims include a wide range of maritime related issues that are important to insure safe and secure jobs for seafarers. The unions are active participants in several Norwegian governmental committees and panels and also work hard at building understanding in political parties for a positive and progressive national maritime policy.

Internationally, much of the work is channeled through the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), through the formal framework of the ITF and bilaterally with other ITF affiliated unions. The unions participate in the International Labour Organization (ILO) on maritime issues as workers’ representatives to the Norwegian national delegation and in the International Maritime Organization (IMO) through its participation in the ICFTU/ITF consultative delegation, both in various committee meetings and in plenary sessions.