WORKING TOGETHER - RACIAL & SEXUAL DISCRIMINATION ON BOARD

The world of work has changed. In today's workplace traditional roles have fast disappeared. Women increasingly follow careers once only pursued by men, while men are happy to do what was once known as ‘women's work’. Around the world companies now routinely employ workers of different nationalities and cultures. New technology and the need to keep down costs have meant that the modern worker is often a member of a small group or team. Trust, good communication and a willingness to share and solve problems are vital to their success. Nowhere is this need to WORK TOGETHER more important than in the shipping industry.

The modern ship's crew may contain people from several different cultures. Women are now employed at all levels of the industry. In the tight-knit community of a ship, misunderstandings, language difficulties and resistance to change can sour working relationships, leading to conflict and discrimination. This happens when people allow their behaviour to be dictated by assumptions, generalisations and prejudices about individuals and groups who are different from them. Often these are deep-seated attitudes learnt many years ago and hard to change. We need to build understanding and mutual respect to integrate groups of individuals into a motivated team.

This video package is designed to help those employed in the shipping industry tackle racial and sexual discrimination. It is designed to help highlight some of the difficulties that could arise when people of different nationalities and sex WORK TOGETHER. The video does not give answers, but simply points out the errors of our ways. It is designed to help the audience understand that we all have feelings and that WORKING TOGETHER should be a happy environment. A guide accompanies the video. At sea, as ashore, there is an urgent need to work out an acceptable code of behaviour, with mutual respect accorded to everyone, regardless of gender or culture. We should all be able to WORK TOGETHER without the fear of conflict and harassment.