Nautilus is supporting a new European river cruise campaign protesting against social dumping in the river cruise industry, according to the group. 

The joint river cruise campaign 2017, being organised by the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), will kick off on Wednesday April 5 in Amsterdam — where more half of annual European port calls are made.

Nautilus international officer and president of the ETF/ITF inland waters section Nick Bramley said the campaign will see an intensive week of ship visits in the major river cruise ports of call, with teams visiting vessels in Belgium, France, Netherlands, Germany, Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Switzerland.

Bramley said the launch event would provide an overview of the river cruise campaign and the current state of social dumping in the river cruise business. A personal testimony from a former river cruise captain will provide insights into the risks arising from fatigue, stress and substandard living and working conditions. these issues are the ‘hard reality for the more than 14,000 crew members who sail on the 335 river cruise vessels, whilst also ensuring first class services to their passengers, he noted.

Throughout the coming cruise season information will be circulated to crew members and passengers to raise awareness about the issues, Bramley said.

In Switzerland, the focus will be on long working hours – which in many cases are not being properly compensated for, and which are depressing already modest wages. There is also concern about the alleged tendency of river cruise companies to circumvent Swiss social security law by outsourcing employment contracts.