Nautilus general secretary calls for union solidarity in TUC President's Address

Nautilus general secretary Mark Dickinson issued a clarion call for solidarity between trade unions in his President's Address to TUC Congress, the prestigious annual gathering of UK trade unions which took place this year from 7-10 September.

Speaking in his role as TUC president – the first seafarer to hold the position since 1958 – he highlighted how own experiences leading Nautilus International have shown him the value of co-operation across the movement – from his ITF investigation on behalf of the families of those lost on the MV Derbyshire, to the campaign against Flags of Convenience, the creation of the Maritime Labour Convention, and the fight to achieve keyworker status for seafarers following the Covid-19 lockdowns.

‘Seafarers know all-too well the need for strong and supportive trade unions and, in an increasingly inter-connected world, their struggles have significance for workers all over the world,’ he said.

'Congress, our values of equality, fairness, justice, dignity, respect, solidarity, and internationalism have never mattered more. Where others seek to divide, we bring working people together. Trades unionism is first and foremost about friendship between workers. And as someone who works in one of our most globalised industries, let me say this: that friendship crosses borders, crosses continents and crosses oceans.'

Mr Dickinson also highlighted Nautilus's campaigning for the UK government's Employment Rights Bill, which includes particular protections for seafarers following the P&O Ferries sackings of 2022.

'What P&O Ferries graphically represented to me was the true value of solidarity. I was truly humbled by the way the whole of the labour movement rallied around us. In that campaign I saw for myself why we are all part of the TUC: because when unions stick together, and fight together, we win together.

'The Labour government is now delivering a mandatory Seafarers' Charter. It is a key plank of the Employment Rights Bill. It is not perfect, there is still work to do, but it is a generational leap forward. Never again will the likes of P&O Ferries, or indeed any ship operator, be able to exploit agency workers, slashing wages and working conditions to international minimum levels in UK waters.’

Looking back to his term as general secretary of Nautilus, he expressed his pride in leading the Union through major changes and achievements for members over the past 17 years:

'Colleagues, I will be stepping down from the General Council at the close of this Congress and as general secretary of my Union next May, after 17 years at the helm. We have come a long way in that time, building on the strong foundations laid by my predecessors to become the world's first international union – organising across borders in a global industry;  committing to international solidarity through our own multi-lateral relations but also significantly enhancing our engagement with ITF and ETF; becoming a more diverse union; and defending our members' interests and taking a firm stand for a fair deal for maritime professionals.

Mr Dickinson ended his address with a rallying cry for the trade union movement:

'From my time at sea to my work at the ITF, NUMAST and Nautilus International, I know that collective action is the best way to raise wages, raise standards and raise horizons. With Labour in power, with new employment rights coming soon, we have a unique opportunity to rebuild.

'We must seize that chance, use those rights, and go for growth. But whatever happens, and whoever happens to be in government, never forget: we remain powerful agents of change in our own right, Britain’s largest democratic mass movement of, and for, working people.

'It does not matter whether it is shipping or any other industry. Workers will always be stronger together, in a union. So, let us get ourselves organised, show the world who we are and what we stand for, And win the change workers need. Solidarity!'