THE DARK SIDE OF UNITED FILIPINO SEAFARERS

Entry on Journal : September 25, 2016

Location : Sembawang Shipyard, Singapore

 

 

"United Filipino Seafares is no longer a self proclaimed workers union but is now a commercial enterprise that harasses critics and brutally exploits its member sailors , and acts as an unofficial police force on its member shipping companies on any of their employees who would go rogue. They cannot protect Filipino sailors rights nor even its interest "  

 

                                                                                           - Unknown Filipino Sailor -

 

Lots of things have went by in a couple of days, most the time I spent was exploration of the whole Singapore island. Trying to see things , afterall I think there's not going to be another opportunity to see this place in years or maybe not at all in the future - so I'm seizing the moment.

 

Lately since communications are now better , I decided to post something on the social media - actually in facebook groups. I posted the topic about the discriminatory and racist bond store treatment here on this ship, I posted a picture telling that Filipino's are the only ones that should pay for their bond in cash, Of course it caught the attention of one of the members of UFS (United Filipino Sailors) and turns out they said a reply saying that I shouldn't post anything damaging to a company and its principal as it jeopardizes Filipino jobs. If I post any more negative remarks on the social media , there is a possibility that the principal will pull out and leave some Filipino's job less. If I have a complaint about discrimination on why Filipino's are the only ones that have to pay for the bond store in cash. I should directly file a complaint on CF Sharp (the manning agency responsible) and tell them my grievances, even threaten that they will report me (indirectly implied "black list" me and will never find work again as a sailor) that I'm posting a "black propaganda" and will feel the full fury of CF Sharp and Norstar principal on my "irresponsible" social media posting. In simple terms they are siding with the company and its principal, and have sold me out - plain and simple. Bastards even threatened me and gave example of people in the past who questioned the wrong doings of the companies ended up being blacklisted

 

WHAT THE FUCK ??!! JESUS. H. CHRIST !!! , Well never saw it coming, Anyway Haven't they thought that the reason why I'm posting this was because it jeopardizes Filipino's jobs because of unfair treatment , This so called seafaring industry should not be based on numbers alone but on what quality of working conditions there is. Filipino's may have the highest numbers of sailors out there but that doesn't mean that we are treated fairly and equally. The problem with them is that they base the quality of Filipino work in number's on a paper and not on the standard working conditions.

 

For the record the thing I posted in Facebook group "Tinig ng Marino" , is not a complaint but an inquiry. Meaning I'm not complaining but asking, whether the answer is positive or negative - it doesn’t matter and let the readers in public decide for themselves. 

 

It's a shame and ironic that they call themselves "The workers union" and yet they are powerless to protect people and even favour huge companies and principal (and as matter of fact even help the companies). Its true that they do most of the time, they do fight for workers' rights , but when it comes to questioning the authority and company principals - the wind shifts and all of a sudden, "the worker's Union" become foe than an ally and they "sell-out" people. Their main reason to them is "that if we question the principal and its policies, chances are that principals will pull out their business and there will be no more jobs left for Filipino sailors" . To simply put any negative inquiry to them , of any wrong doing is considered taboo and should not be discussed. To simply say , the United Filipino Sailors is either afraid of the companies (or principals) or protecting them.

 

Nelson Ramirez reply on my posting made even emphasis that some of the Filipinos sailors who filed a million dollar medical claim for industrial accidents like the 2nd engineer he specifically mentioned that got his hand chopped off. He said that the engineers claim was malicious and was plainly money driven, and that he jeopardized Filipino jobs because of this. Now the point here is this, would Mr. Nelson Ramirez think that it's easy for the 2nd engineer to get his hand chopped off in the accident ? What would Mr. Nelson Ramirez feel if it was his hand that get severed ? . The labour court have already decided that the 2nd engineer should be awarded on his accident claims and it is only his right to do so after what happened to him, the court in the Philippines are not that stupid and analyze thoroughly the case of the claimant and found the engineer to be valid. Of course as a retaliation from the principal, they axed a few jobs. To him the bad guy on his story was the 2nd engineer, not the principal who unethically launched a retaliation which axed a few jobs.

 

So to them my understanding is that , its ok to be discriminated, treated poorly and unfairly like a dog as long as we get to keep those jobs. If that is they're way of life according to "UFS" and Mr. Nelson Ramirez. - THEN ITS SURVIVING, BUT NOT LIVING. They reason out that compared to Myanmar and Indian's, Filipino's have more benefits. Yes it's true that Filipino's might have some edge over those nationalities but those benefits are just only paper when you can't use them because of discrimination and racism. Basically to them the meaning of being number 1 in the maritime industry is by numbers on the paper, that do not reflect the actual good working conditions and that the principal is the absolute authority of this business, and of course their so called "Workers Union" who acts more of like its own private police force, to protect not the people but their business. The reason why their organization became a lapdog was because the UFS itself benefits on the sponsorship money (advertisements on their propaganda material "TINIG NG MARINO") given by the companies thus in exchange give them protection in return to any would be threats and complaints from any of their former crews , either valid or not.

 

The reality is this, any company (and principal) who is not a member of their UFS union can be criticize but any company (and principal) who is a member get protection. ( Hmpf sounds more like an organized "legal" mafia rather than a real workers union who fights for labour rights )       

 

It’s a shame that once I had high regards to Mr. Ramirez the leader of the so called self-proclaim workers union called "United Filipino Sailors", but now seeing this makes me turn my head in dismay and disgust probably because I didn’t knew better that his ideals had a price. He always waves about his awards accumulated , even brags he's the "Champion" of the Filipino Seafarers workers Union and yet his words and actions tell the opposite. Those awards he won are just basically wood made out of the blood of his fellow Filipino sailors which he sold out to the principal and companies. His lectures and propaganda in Facebook groups if examined closely tell more of being a "PRO-Company" than pro workers, one such example is his lecture about "AGE LIMITATION" - then after the lecture he advertises his so called "financial" seminar for sailors , which apparently I think has a fee and profits out of the misery of other rather instead of giving solutions to old over aged sailors . If you read it closely , the principals words to him are law - and from my understanding even above the Philippine law. He even scorns sailors who have medical claim disputes to principals. 

 

Even his so called help to "cadets" are basically not help at all - it might look as he was helping but if you look closely those "Volunteer" cadets are just making a tradeoff to work on the manual labour of his office in exchange for sweet words and recommendations and influence over shipping companies. In other words his exploiting them and taking advantage of the cadets desperation on the lack of jobs in this "Maritime Field", as like any other shipping company out there. If he is  really sincere and want to help those cadets (like other workers union in europe), then help them without asking anything in return or a tradeoff - plain and simple. For me it’s a form of enslavement as what Benvenido Lorque accused them when he defected from UFS. Basically he's letting those exploited and poor cadets work for free (unpaid) and without any proof of a "contract" that these cadets work , by the end of the day if the cadet is in bad terms with him (or any staff )  - he can just simply deny the fact that the cadet (or staff) didn't even worked at all or never even existed if he wants to .   

 

Despite my disgust over the "union" , I am powerless to tackle the "union" itself probably because they are backed by Collective union of the abusive shipping companies and principals. Anybody who would go against them or gets in their way (along with their so called "workers union" which is now private police force "United Filipino Sailors") will probably be crushed and incarcerated or in my situation "black listed" . I remember one of my favorite scientist , his name was "Galileo Galilei" who said that the earth was not in the center of the universe and incurred the wrath of the roman catholic church (a major authority and force to reckon with during that time). His inquires had him being condemned and put under house arrest for the rest of his life,,. Few hundred years later after his death , people found out he was telling the truth, and it was only in the 80's that a public apology from the church was made. His ideas stands as a symbol of a lifelong struggle to free inquiry over authority and the dogmas of theology

 

To begin with my ideas are unpopular and if there is any evidence that will be used against me , there is no safest place but inside my head. Keep it all up there nothing more and anyone who goes toe to toe against the "Union" (Called United Filipino Sailors) will get crushed or suffer a worst fate like harassment, threats and filing of numerous law suits against its critics , . They have the machinery and money to make things go their way plus a horde of overzealous fanatics,

 

United Filipino Sailors is no longer a workers union but now it's a commercial enterprise that harasses critics and brutally exploits its member sailors , and acts as an unofficial police force on its member shipping companies on any of their employees who would go rogue. They cannot and refuse to protect Filipino sailors rights nor even its interest   

 

I knew the risk of telling the truth would be a very high price, be as it may as this is the rule in the Philippine Maritime Community - I'm not telling people to believe me nor telling them not to believe, What I'm telling is that they should make their choice what I am saying is my story. 

 

 

EXTRA FACTS …..

 

Here is some clips I had accumulated on some research , it's up to the people reading this to balance the facts. This is a month long personal investigation on this person and some facts here are based on what he's former right hand , and former associate C/E Bienvinido Lorque, leaked in public. 

 

*Mr. Nelson Ramirez is not a Chief Engineer, as what he initially states in public, instead the truth was he was a Second Engineer instead and that he was only a high school graduate. He didn’t even went to a college course at all like Bachelor of Science in Marine Engineering. Compared to Filipino Sailors nowadays that are actual graduates of BSMT or BSME course. He fabricated the lie to brainwash the public thinking that he was a respectable person , but deep inside the mask is that he is no more than an extortionist thug

 

*He claims to be a graduate of Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) , but in reality he was only "adopted" by the said school. He didn’t even attended classes there at all (since he's only a high school graduate)

 

*according to lorque, United Filipino Seafarers and its Media Arm "Tinig ng Marino" is a dummy organization and practically doesn’t exist at all and that only Nelson Ramirez is the person who is pulling the string to make it look like the organization really exists. In reality the workers union was actually just a front for his numerous personal business

 

*According to Lorque, United Filipino Seafarers is engaged in widespread extortion activities in the Philippine Maritime Community.

 

*C/E Lorque stated and confirmed that Ramirez is involve in a conspiracy money scam , involving training centers and shipping companies. Using UFS organization as a front, claims that his "Dummy" board members were actually owners of shipping companies and Training Centers.

 

*He also added that the profits made by UFS , are being diverted to his assets (and farm / ranch) and personal bank accounts. In other words , he is pocketing the money from the workers union to himself. Making it his personal money making business and savings account

 

*Another information that Chief Engineer Lorque leaked was that the UFS and nelson ramirez was also engaged in "Ambulance Chasing" , Contrary to their propaganda against labour lawyers and law firms and accuse them of unethical  practice. He mentioned that UFS takes some cut on labour money court claims by sailors who sought their help and mentioned something like CBA 60 / 70 word, this involves a huge amount of money (as in millions of pesos) and always ends up Nelson Ramirez getting a huge portion of the claim, pocketing it to himself instead of the victim.  

 

*Nelson P. Ramirez, has been on the Philippines for almost 22 years and despite the fact that he's unofficially unemployed , He has amassed a huge wealth and brags about his farm and office even has its own quasi media arm news paper called "Tinig ng Marino"