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Edited on Wed Aug-18-04 04:03 PM by Quetzal
Nice to hear about the NALC union endorsement of Kerry.
I am a part of the Seafarers union. We need to get organized as a crew if we are to put up a firm resistance to management.
Honesty, I really don't mind working long hours - it is just the number of months we work. We have to work a five month contract as oppose to a three month one. When the Patriot ( a cruise ship that sailed in Hawaiian waters pre 9/11) was here, they offered their employees three month contracts. Although they worked 14 hours a day, 7 days a week, their crew didn't go crazy because they got a one month vacation over a relatively short period of time. We work for five months - that is just way too long to be on a cruise ship. You WILL go crazy after being that long on a ship.
Many of the employees are pissed at the company. They made many promises to us - but soon after broke them. Many waiters who have self-respect for their profession left in protest.
For example, we were explicitly promised that we would receive a 15 percent automatic commission on wine sales - only to have it taken away from us. They made up this bullshit reason why they wouldn't give it to us - something to sound of "It is illegal to impose a automatic commission on wine sales".
OK, so even if there is a law against it, there was nothing in place to replace the "illegal" wine sale commission. There is also a systemic and aggressive push by the company to tell the customer that tips are not necessary. When the customer is signing the receipt for the wine purchase, it basically says in bold letters "Tips are not necessary". Every single ship in the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet has some sort of commission on wine sales - save the Pride of Aloha. And wouldn't the company want the waiter to emphasize to the customer the purchase of wines? Where the incentive for the waiter to sell wines?
You might also be wondering why the company is emphasizing to the customer that tips are not necessary. Well, the company has set up a system known as a gratuity pool. What happens is that the passenger is charged 10 dollars a day while on the cruise. They are not informed of the service fee until they embark on the ship. If I were a passenger, I would view this as extremely unfair. You shouldn't have to pay extra money when you get onto the ship. Imagine if you brought your entire family. 70 dollars x 5 persons = 350 dollars EXTRA that you need to pay. Frankly, most of the waiters would rather want to make tips of their own instead of submitting to this gratuity pool.
Now when do we get this money? Lo and behold, this is the money that goes into our paid vacation - this is actually a front to compensate for American wages. On top of that, some of my co-workers have not even been paid by the company for the vacation. Something funny is going on here, and I don't like the smell of it. I hope the NRLB gets on their ass soon.
Have you heard horror stories about the ship? Well guess what, they are probably all true.
Any other questions?
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