Pulling Together: The Making of a Global Maritime Trade Union

The book "Pulling Together: The History of Nautilus International" explores the history of the ship masters and officers' union, Nautilus International, and its struggle for decent jobs, fair pay, and conditions in the international shipping industry. It traces the union's evolution from its roots in the Victorian-era expansion of the merchant fleet to its modern-day role in advocating for seafarers' rights.

Format: Hardback
Length: 192 pages
Publication date: 12 October 2023
Publisher: Whittles Publishing

Ship masters and officers may not seem like pioneers of trade unionism. However, this history of their unique union, Nautilus International, shows how they have been pitched into the forefront of a long struggle for decent jobs, fair pay and conditions, employment rights, and health and safety – all in an international industry marked by savage and cut-throat competition. This book traces the evolution of today's trans-boundary organization from its roots in the Victorian-era expansion of the merchant fleet and the moves to raise the status and professionalism of its seafarers. It tells how successive unions have sought to overcome such seemingly perennial problems as piracy, criminalization, substandard ships, excessive working hours, and the threat of being replaced by low-cost crews – not to mention the battle against government indifference and public ignorance of an industry that is essential for an island nation. From the formation, in 1857, of the Mercantile Marine Service Association (MMSA) – the foundation stone in the building of today's union – the book explains the remarkable ways in which the union has adapted and developed to meet the changing and complex challenges faced by members. From the provision of specialist welfare services and a global network of legal support to its leading role in the development of the international 'bill of rights for seafarers, the union and its forerunners have been at the cutting edge of cradle-to-grave support for members. Pulling Together also describes the way in which the union has helped to produce trail-blazing systems of structure and organization to represent members against the backdrop of a volatile 'boom and bust industry, often in the face of intense shipowner hostility. Helping to build national negotiating machines.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781849955737