The International Bargaining Forumrn(IBF) has been an example of two extremely capable negotiating teams - the International Transport Workers' Federation (ITF) and the international maritime employers that make up the Joint Negotiating Group (JNG) - at work. With a downturn hitting shipping, the pressure is on for employers and unions to ensure a renewal of the IBF agreement in December.rnTalks were set for May, but there was little expectation that an agreement would be reached. The bargaining round is taking place against the backdrop of bad feeling over thernfailure of the talks on the International Labour Organization (ILO) basic rate of pay in February. The employers, through the International Shipping Federation (ISF), refused to increase the minimum rate of $545 a month.
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