Articles Tagged with worker rights

A bold and landmark ruling was recently handed down by the U.S. Supreme Court. The Court held that long term disability payments for longshoremen will now be determined by the date the disability or death occurred rather than the date the employee was first awarded compensation.

This clarification removes confusion as to when to begin payments; a date which determines the ultimate payment amount for an injured longshoreman. This decision will have implications across the U.S.

The Supreme Court explored the example of two workers hurt in the same incident on the same day who may have been awarded different compensation amounts based on arbitrary court dates. This new ruling will ensure something like this does not happen again.

Seafaring work poses unique dangers that land-based work does not. As a result, American mariners are entitled to the protection of a number of federal laws that regulate shipboard safety and provide remedies for workers who are injured in maritime accidents. In addition to those laws, nearly all seamen – whether they are American or not – are protected by the International Safety Management (ISM) Code for ships.

The ISM Code is an integral part of the Safety of Life at Sea Convention. It serves a dual purpose to protect the safety of workers and protect against pollution of the sea.

The ISM Code sets a base standard that all ships must follow, regardless of the country in which they are registered.

Seafaring work has long been thought of as a male profession. To a certain extent, that is still true. Although women are increasingly finding their way into maritime work, they still make up less than two percent of all seafaring professionals.

However, just because women are in the minority doesn’t mean they don’t have rights. Like men, female mariners have a right to fair wages, a safe working environment that minimizes the risk of maritime accidents and to equal protection under the law. In addition, women mariners are entitled to certain protections if they become pregnant.

Below is an overview of some important rights of which every female mariner should be aware.