Representatives of workers on Irish ferries are meeting their counterparts from across Europe today to unite over "appallingly low" pay and poor working conditions on some ferries.
Officials from Siptu's docks, marine and transport branch will join unions from France, The Netherlands, Britain and Belgium to undertake a campaign in Swansea.
General secretary of the British rail maritime and transport workers union (RMT) Bob Crow said: "Recruiting crews overseas, paying shockingly low wages, expecting them to work unacceptably long hours and sacking workers who dare even to contact a trade union adds up to a policy known as social dumping."
"We believe it is morally indefensible for employers to take advantage of workers like this, and I am delighted that trade unionists from so many countries are united in calling for minimum standards that apply to shore-based workers to be imposed on ferry operators," he added.
The meeting is being held two days after a protest at Ringaskiddy Ferry Terminal in Cork to campaign for improved rates of pay for ferry workers on ships sailing from Irish and British ports.
Tony Ayton of the International Transport Workers' Federation said the protest was to highlight the poor rates of pay being given to about 60 eastern European workers, who make up 80 per cent of the crew of Swansea Cork Ferries's MV Superferry.