Survey reveals alarming rates of harassment and bullying in Canadian maritime sector

Two-thirds of victims targeted by superior – but many not reporting misconduct

BY Jonalyn Cueto 07 Feb. 2024

The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) has released a report shedding light on the issue of workplace harassment and bullying within the Canadian marine sector.

The report reveals that 46% of seafarers have encountered harassment or bullying during their careers at sea. Particularly concerning is the finding that 69% of female seafarers and 9% of all seafarers have experienced instances of sexual harassment.

Highlighting the urgency of the issue, Michael Given, president of SIU Canada, stated, “Harassment in the workplace is not something we take lightly... the workplace needs to be a safe and healthy environment for everyone on board if we want to address issues of recruitment and retention within the industry.”

Harassment often involves superior

The survey offers a critical overview of the challenges faced by maritime workers amid difficulty in finding workers to fill available positions. It was conducted by the union during the summer of 2023 among members, who represent the majority of unlicensed seafarers across Canada, in hopes to prompt discussions on issues of harassment at sea to make seafaring a more sought-after career.

Key findings from the survey include:

46% of seafarers have experienced harassment at some point; 69% of female seafarers have faced harassment
9% of seafarers have encountered sexual harassment; 35% of female seafarers have experienced sexual harassment
67% of harassment victims were targeted by a superior
48% of victims did not report the misconduct to their employer
60% feel their employers are not doing enough to protect them from harassment

In a news release, SIU Canada has expressed its intention to collaborate with companies, shipowners, and government entities to tackle the systemic issues outlined in the report.

“The union is committed to finding solutions to address these problems and will be working diligently for all Canadian seafarers to help bring an end to harassment and bullying at sea.”

The SIU is affiliated with Seafarers’ International Union of North America serving unlicensed sailors since 1938. The union has been representing the majority of seafarers working aboard vessels on the Great Lakes, St. Lawrence River, East Coast, West Coast and Arctic since 1954.