A Dutch member of Parliament has joined Nautilus International's Council meeting to discuss strategies for combating ‘fake’ unions that undermine workers' rights, particularly in the maritime industry.
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.
Ms Patijn said there was an urgent need for new organising strategies that can reach fragmented workforces and legislative approaches that protect workers' fundamental rights across changing employment landscapes. She stressed that unions must innovate or risk becoming irrelevant, calling for renewed focus on solidarity and protecting the most vulnerable workers.
Members of the Nautilus Council 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.
The discussion underscored a shared commitment to strengthening worker protections and maintaining genuine trade union representation in an evolving global labour market.
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