Transformations  in
Business & Economics

LABOUR MILIEU OF MERCHANT SEAMEN'S CREWS - ECONOMIZATION VERSUS HUMAN RELATIONS
Arkadiusz Kolodziej, Agnieszka Kolodziej-Durnas

ABSTRACT. Work at sea constitutes a major challenge both for crews and for the theory and practice of appropriate work organization. The article undertakes the problem of maintaining positive human relations on deep-sea vessels. For years of communism Polish maritime sociologists have carried out many research projects on deep-see vessels' crews. After the system transformation also the Polish maritime industry had to adjust to the free market economy rules which brings consequences such as seeking competitive advantage in costs cuts. The authors of the article conducted both qualitative and quantitative research to find out how the human relations among seamen changed, especially what are the forms and results of the economization of personal function in management on board, what is the impact of access to modern technologies and more multicultural labour milieu than ever before. The findings include the description of isolation strategy, consequences of computers' availability, the reduction of social system on board as a result of employment reduction.

KEYWORDS:  merchant seamen, economization, human relations, maritime sociology, Polish maritime industry.

JEL classification:  J24, L91, Z13.