Incoming general secretary Sascha Meijer has spent 11 years at Nautilus International fighting for maritime workers. Now she's at the helm – and she has big plans for the decades ahead. Helen Kelly asks her about the future of the Union
Ask Sascha Meijer what kind of general secretary she wants to be for the world’s first truly transnational trade union, and the answer comes quickly, clearly and with obvious feeling: ‘I want to lead a union that is strong, modern, diverse, and always on our members’ side.’
On 24 April, Ms Meijer officially assumed the role of general secretary, having run unopposed.
She steps into the role not as an outsider brought in to shake things up, but as someone who has been working inside Nautilus International for over a decade.
She is ready. And she has a plan.
One Union, one voice
‘Nautilus is one Union, in three countries, with one purpose,’ Ms Meijer says. ‘Our branches in the UK, the Netherlands and Switzerland each have their own character and their own history. But on the things that matter most – your pay, your contracts, your rights, your safety, we speak with one voice: wherever you are, so are we.’
That unity, she argues, is not just a nice idea. It is the source of the Union's strength. When Nautilus walks into a negotiation, we do so on behalf of 18,000 maritime professionals across three countries. That is a formidable position to negotiate from.
Ms Meijer knows those meeting rooms well. As assistant general secretary, she spent years representing members in discussions with the European Commission and European shipowners. She understands how these conversations work – who holds the power, how decisions get made, and how to win.
'I have sat at those tables,' she says. 'I know what it takes to get a result. And I will keep going back, for as long as it takes.'
A union fit for 2050
Ms Meijer is not just thinking about the next year or the next contract round. She is thinking about the long game: what the maritime industry will look like in 2050, and what kind of union members will need to navigate it.
I know maritime isn’t just a job for most of you – it’s a vocation. It takes you away from the people you love. It asks a great deal of you. That is exactly why the work of this union matters so much
The industry is changing fast. New fuels, new technologies, new trading patterns, new crewing arrangements. The legal frameworks that govern life at sea are constantly evolving. And the workforce itself is becoming more diverse, more international and more interconnected.
For Ms Meijer, this is an opportunity. ‘I want Nautilus to be the uUnion that shapes what comes next,’ she says.
That means building a genuinely modern union: one that embraces new ways of working, reflects the diversity of its membership, and is as confident in digital spaces as it is in the boardroom or on the ship’s bridge. It also means staying absolutely committed to the basics – strong legal representation, hard negotiation, and being there when a member needs help.
‘The world changes. The essence of a trade union does not,’ she says. ‘We are here to make sure maritime professionals are treated fairly, paid properly and kept safe. That will always be true.’
Behind the strategy and negotiation experience, Ms Meijer is driven by something more personal: a deep respect for what maritime life demands of people.
‘I know maritime isn’t just a job for most of you – it’s a vocation,’ she says. ‘It takes you away from the people you love. It asks a great deal of you. That is exactly why the work of this union matters so much. We stand with you and for you.’
A member-driven union
Nautilus International is not led from the top down. Ms Meijer reports to the Council, the elected body that represents members’ interests, and she is clear that this structure matters deeply to her.
‘This union belongs to its members,’ she says. ‘That is not a phrase I use lightly. It means that what you think, what you need and what you experience at work genuinely shapes what we do. I want to hear from you. I want to understand what matters most in your working life.’
She is particularly keen to get out and visit members in person, whether onboard ships, in ports, in offices, in depots. She wants to see the workplaces where members spend their days, talk to people directly, and bring those conversations back into the heart of the Union’s work.
‘You can’t represent people properly if you don’t know their world,’ she says. ‘So please invite me. I will come.’
Looking forward
Ms Meijer takes over at a moment of real challenge for the maritime industry, including geopolitical tension, rapidly shifting trade routes, the enormous question of decarbonisation, and ongoing pressures on crew welfare, particularly for those caught up in the Strait of Hormuz and Persian Gulf conflict.
‘To all our members in the Persian Gulf, in the Strait of Hormuz, and those affected by the ongoing conflict involving Iran –— we see you. And we are working for you,’ she says.
‘Nautilus is actively monitoring the situation and doing everything we can to support members caught up in these extraordinary circumstances, whether that’s providing advice, liaising with shipowners, or working with governments and international bodies. Also, we fight ‘sea blindness’ and make sure that the voices of these members are heard in the press.
‘Your safety matters more than any cargo, any contract, any deadline. Please make use of our support services. You are not alone in this.
‘Seafarers have been through crises before. Nautilus is there for you. And we are our members. When we are united, we are powerful.’
Invite Sascha to visit your workplace
Sascha wants to come to you – onboard your ship, in your office or at your depot. If you'd like her to visit, get in touch through the member portal or speak to your local representative.
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