The ITF has been successful in forcing many of the ships flying flags of convenience to sign ITF contracts that lay out wages and conditions of employment. The big problem for the ITF comes when they try to enforce the contract. Typical of this problem is what took place in Bayonne, N.J., during the week of April 3. Ricky Esopa, a former port agent for the National Maritime Union and now an ITF inspector, got a message from the Ukrainian crew of the motor vessel Baron. This ship, a tanker of 38,500 dead weight tons, is owned by the Magnus Carriers Corp., a Greek company, but flies the flag of Malta.
Double booking shows the crew being paid wages much higher than they are actually receiving.
Esopa asked to see the books and confirmed the crew's charges of a phony wage account. When the ITF inspector told the crew about the double booking, the crew demanded all the proper wages due them. They threatened to strike if not properly paid. Esopa informed them that he would be back in the morning and that the skipper should inform the owners about the situation or the ship would not sail. The next morning, Esopa spoke by phone with a Mr. Stathis, the operations manager for Magnus Carriers.