http://seafarerslog.org/archives/files/original/bc6c2f425eb0e0c6369dbd78b8e45e7c.PDF ba96404674768734123e538671b4ce8a PDF Text Text SEAFARERSteOG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT • AFL-CIO SlU Scholarships Now $10,000 Continuing the SIU tradition of help for the union's members, the SIU Scholarship Committee announced that future scholarship winners will receive $10,.000 toward their college education, an increase from the current level of $6,000. The new scholarship level wiU take effect May I. Increased benefits will not be retroactive. rr The committee said it took the action because it feels that the JSIU scholarships should he the best available, and because the price of a college education continues to rise above the average person's ability to pay. Scholarships have been awarded to 26 Seafarers and 62 dependents of Seafarers in the pro­ gram's 17-year history. Eligible candidates are judged on the basis of high school grades and scores achieved on the College Entrance Examination Board tests or the American College Tests. The judging panel consists of a number of college and university professors. Winners of the SIU scholarships are free to study any discipline of their choice at the accredited college or university of their choice. Previous winners have received degrees in science, social science, humanities and the arts, and their college majors have ranged from anthropology to zo­ ology. In sum, the scholarship winners have broadened their horizons and increased their knowledge when costs and other factors might have prevented them from attaining a higher education. I . J tr It is a proud history of accomplishment and one that the new SIU scholarship level will add to in years to come. In This Issued: SIU Education Conference: Another Step Forward...Page 3 Congress Conducts Hearings on Hospital Closings... Page 11 r Prompt U.S. Action Urged to Halt Tuna War...Page 13 Maritime Future Discussed at Tulane Forum Page 15 Great Lakes Ships Get Ready for New Season... Page 16 �Unity the Key to Maritime Future Says Rep. Garmatz V V ^ A portion of the large gathering of labor, business and government olBcials listen as Rep. Garmatz delivers his address calling for mari­ time unity in the years ahead. New SlU-Manned Vessel Joins Fleet A ship that will provide more jobs for Seafarers, the new built Overseas Arctic is now making trial stops at a number of Mediterranean ports. The SlU-contracted vessel was launched in September at the Bethlehem Steel Corpora­ tion's Sparrows Point shipyard in Baltimore, Md. She was built for a subsidiary of Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. and is the second of two vessels of her class built at the yard. The first is the Overseas Alaska, launched last summer and now making the run along the East Coast. The Overseas Arctic has a capacity of approximately 524,000 barrels of oil in her 15 tanks and can discharge a full cargo in about 15 hours. Single Accommodations Her overall length is 731 feet and she weighs 62,000 deadweight tons. Each Seafarer will have a single, fully air-conditioned room which the company says is "of the most modem design." The ship operates at a normal sea speed of 15Vi knots gen­ erated by a 20,000-shaft horse­ power turbine driving a single screw. The Arctic has an extended cruising range of about 15,700 miles and her storerooms are large enough to hold a sixmonths supply of stores. The Overseas Arctic is equip­ ped with Bethlehem centralized control which allows control of the engine from the bridge. This system uses remote opera­ tion of the main propulsion plant for all ahead, astern, and maneuvering conditions, includ­ ing standby. According to the company, "the latest in navigation and safety-at-sea equipment is pro­ vided, all of which are in ac­ cordance with the latest regula­ tions of the U.S. Coast Guard." The chairman of the House Merchant Marine and Fisheries Committee urged management, labor and government to work together to aid the American shipping industry until imple­ mentation of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 provides new ships to reverse oiu: mari­ time decline. Rep. Edward A. Garmatz (D-Md.) told guests at a limcheon sponsored by the AFLCIO Maritime Trades Depart­ ment that American-flag ship­ ping is in a doldrum between passage and implementation of the legislation. "Let's be brutally honest about it. Let's all of us—in govermnent, in management and in labor — concede that hard times are still with us and they're going to be with us for some time to come," the Balti­ more Democrat told guests of the 7.5 million member MTD in Washington, D.C. Maritime Blueprint He called the 1970 legisla­ tion merely a "blueprint" of a plan to rejuvenate the Ameri­ can maritime industry. "We have acted on an au­ thorization bill that will begin funding that program. It will be followed by an appropria­ tions bill to make the dollars available. If the appropriations bill matches the authorization dollar for dollar, we will have enacted the largest peacetime maritime budget in the nation's history," he told the assem­ blage. "But ... the fact that we have made the dollars available doesn't automatically bring about the revitalization of our fleet," he warned. "Applica­ tions must be filed by the to fully utilize American-flag shipowners. They must be merchant ships to carry gov­ processed by the Maritime Ad­ ernment - generated cargo — ministration. Ships must be de­ military, foreign aid and agri­ signed. Components must be cultural. Anything else would assembled. Keels must be laid. be more than just a mistake. It The long and arduous task of would be a total abrogation of building ships must be begun, the responsibility the governAnd each of these steps takes ment accepted when it joined time, So it will be a long in enactment of the 1970 mari­ time perhaps as much as time law," Garmatz said. three years — before the ships The committee chairman we're talking about today hit also called for American busi­ the water, are fitted out, and ness and industry to shoulder are ready to be put into service." responsibility to keep American ships on the high seas. Citing Offers Program economic advantages that some He predicted that during private American shippers have these preparations many of our used as an excuse to place their antiquated vessels still in serv­ ice will be sold for scrap since cargoes on foreign vessels, Gar­ they will have "worn out com­ matz urged business to heed pletely and can no longer be the call to rescue our maritime patched up and held together tradition in its hotir of need. with scotch tape, chewing gum Cooperation Needed and baling wire." "Enjoying the American The 24-year House veteran offered a program to keep the standard of living is one thing. merchant marine operating Killing the goose that just might lay the golden egg is during the interim. "First of all, of course, we something else again. So I urge have to maximize the Ameri­ you to be realistic—to keep can carriage of cargo aboard the economics of your industry the ships now sailing," he de­ on an even keel. And most of all, I urge you to keep Amer­ clared. "The world's biggest shipper ican ships operating," he told is the United States govern­ the MTD representatives and ment. And that government has guests from government and already made its commitment industry. "We need a productive mer­ to the merchant marine — a chant marine. Small as it is, old commitment in terms of its participation in the drafting of as it is, slow as it, the Amer­ the Merchant Marine Act of ican merchant marine must b6 1970 and its signing into law— kept alive during the next few a commitment in terms of the crucial years. And keeping it largest peacetime budget re­ alive is the business of everyquest on record for a maritime body in this room—of everyprogram. This commitment body involved in maritime atfmust be matched now, by the fairs—in government, in indusgovemment making every effort try, in labor," he concluded. THE PRESIDENTS REPORT by PAUL HMl '^his issue of the LOG carries a six-page report on the recent Seafarers Educational Conference held at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship at Piney Point, Maryland. There is much about this Educational Conference that is significant: • It is the most ambitious program in the educa­ tion field undertaken thus far by the SIU—a pro­ gram that covered every phase of the union's activities, not only in the day-to-day administration of the con­ tract, but in the functioning of all of the SIU's pro­ grams that serve the members asea and ashore. • It is the forerunner of a continuing series of Education Conferences—conferences that each month will bring a steady flow of members to the union's education nerve center, where they can remain fully informed about the union's programs and fully in­ volved in shaping the programs of the future. • It is consistent with the accelerating pace of the SIU's entire educational effort—an effort that now includes the opportunity for young men, just entering the industry, to receive the equivalent of a high school diploma; an effort that soon will be expanded so that the high school equivalency opportunity will be made available to veteran Seafarers who were denied this educational opportunity in their younger days; an effort that, over time, will be augmented by a special university extension program geared to Page 2 helping Seafarers pursue higher education while still going to sea. • It focuses renewed attention on the SIU's up­ grading program—a program which makes it pos­ sible for the man who is making the sea his career to attain higher skills, and thus qualify for higher wages in this industry. The Education Conference at Piney Point was, in every sense of the word, a two-way street. General sessions at the end of each day's workshop exposed the union's leadership to the ideas, suggestions and recommendations of the men who had come to the conference after being elected by their fellow Sea­ farers in each major port. of this conference have come a series of recom­ Outmendations which are being taken back to the membership for appropriate action at membership meetings—and the rank-and-file decisions on each of these subjects will become the basic policy for the SIU. (A full report on the members' policy decisions will be published in a special issue of the LOG.) This first Educational Conference—and those which will follow—are in keeping with a tradition that has been a part of the SIU since its earliest days. It has always been this union's belief that an informed mem­ bership is a responsible membership; that an involved membership translates into a union that serves the Seafarer and the organization best. -t, We think this tradition has served the members and the union well. Over the years, we have been able to defend ourselves against the onslaught of an industry bent on our emasculation—and we did it through an informed, active membership. In the early days, we beat back the attacks of the Communist Party bent on our destruction—and we did it through an in­ formed, active membership. Over the years, we have battled back against those in government who would like to tie our hands at the bargaining table and render us impotent in the political arena—and we have done it through an informed, active member­ ship. -1-1 ~ Some of those who have sought to put us on the mat are, themselves, virtually extinct. But others who oppose us are still very much alive, still very active, still determined—^if they can—to take us to the wall. It will take an increasingly informed, and increas­ ingly active membership to stand up against these new assaults. W 41 members to do this job. WeWehavehavethethededicated tools to do the job—in the fonn of our programs of action and in our educational en­ deavors. The continuing challenge is to bring the members and the programs together. Because that's the only way that we can achieve maximum effective­ ness. And that is our goal. 'i - JTJ J r2 Seafarers Log �Seafarers Educational Conference 250 Delegates from 14 Ports Examine Their Common Problems Piney Point, Md. They came from 14 ports -250 rank-and-file Seafarers in search of a new understanding of their imion and of their common problems. From Baltimore, Boston, Houston, Jackson­ ville, Mobile, New Orleans, New York, Nor­ folk, Philadelphia, San Francisco, San Juan, Seattle, Tampa and Wilmington, by plane and bus, they came to the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship for the first full-scale Seafarers Educational Conference. They came to study, to learn, to question and to discuss the problems facing their union and their industry. Finally, they came to make rec­ ommendations concerning the operation of the union, its rules, regulations and responsibilities. On the first morning of the two-week meet­ ing, with study brief bags in hand, delegates headed for the auditorium aboard the Charles S. Zimmerman, one of the school's training ships. There, they were greeted by SIU President Paul Hall who quickly set the main theme of the meeting when he declared: "The purpose of this conference is to allow us an opportunity to review some of the problems which face us. It will give us a chance to see where we are coming from. It will give us a chance to see whwe we stand today and where we are going. "This industry is in a difficult position," he declared, "so difficult, in fact, that for the next two or three years we're going to go through one of the most trying periods in the history of the American maritime industry." The trying times ahead, he asserted, could best be met if "we all work together to make the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 work and work right." He continued: "The problems of today are quite different from those we faced years ago. All of our struggles then were at the point of production —the picket lines, the docks, the streets. "Today, the enemy is different. He comes in the form of federal agencies and nmaway flags. The game today is quite different and we have to play it a different way. We have to answer our problems with a higher degree of intelligence. We have to understand the day in which we live. "I see a lot of familiar faces in this room and a lot of them I was on the bricks with—taking on the toughest, meanest group of shipowners in the world. It's been brutal. "Those of us who have lived in this business and have accumulated some degree of experi­ ence, know that the best thing that we can do for om- people, for our sons and brothers—^for the next generation of sailors—the best thing we can do for them is to leave them a better world. We're the product of our time and by our II fight we've made it possible for another genera­ tion to come into a world where a sailor has some degree of respect. We've given this new generation a good maritime law and a union which has the respect of the entire labor move­ ment. "But remember, this will mean nothing if we do not pass on the benefit of our experience. We've got to tell the new generation that the game is different. Times change, ships change, ports change, and sailors change. Even our problems^ change. "We have to change, too. No longer can just a stout heart win the day. We have to be able to think and to understand. We have to know who we are, what we are, and what we are trying to do." Hall then told of plans to "develop here, near this school, something that is new and different. We want to build a model village for seamen— a village for 500 to 800 families—where sailors will be in the majority." Hall told the delegates that "we'll have a community where the majority know us and know our problems and face the same problems. We'll do for ourselves what other communities cannot do." Summing up, he concluded: "We are attempt­ ing to bridge the gap between the professional sailor and a better life and bridge it in a fashion less painful than in the past. We've made great progress. "We must recognize that to have a better world, we must make it for ourselves. We owe it to ourselves to do the best for ourselves that we can. "We'll do that through the process of educa­ tion, through the process of knowing how to fight for a better life and a better world. "One way to do this is through implementa­ tion of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. We fought for that law. We won the victory. Now we have to win the implementation. We must nail it down and make it work. "If we were big enough to win it, then we're big enough to keep it." From these general discussions came a series of recommendations now being considered throughout the union. A full report on these recommendations will appear at a later date in a special issue of the Seafarers Log. Photos on this page show Delegate Ed Casey from New York being greeted by New York Port Patrolmen George McCartney, left, and E. B. McAuley, right; delegates heading for the first general session; seated in the audito­ rium; and Delegates Frank Conforto, New Or­ leans, and Alvin Smith, Mobile, listening in­ tently to speakers. Other photos and articles about the conference appear on the following pages in this issue. Wir^ - liS;.'-' • • April 1971 Page 3 �HLSS: A Stake In the Future "I wish we had something like this when I first went to sea." That's what many delegates to the Seafarers Educational Conference said after spending a full day learning about and examining the Harry Lundeberg School of Sea­ manship at Piney Point, Md. For most delegates, it was a first look at the growing facility and, both in workshops and general sessions, they expressed surprise and pleasure at the smooth efficiency of the opera­ tion. Delegates learned that the school is the largest training facility for merchant seafarers in the United States, approved by the Coast Guard and the result of joint cooperation between the SIU and ship operators under contract with the union. Hazel Brown, director of academic education, told delegates that the school is providing op­ portunities for young people—many of them drop-outs—to take vocational and academic training in preparation for careers as profes­ sional sailors. She explained that the school provides entry training in three general areas, as follows: Vocational. For the young man seeking a career at sea, the emphasis is on learning through doing. Trainees learn basic skills in all ship departments—deck, engine and steward. Academic. The school offers academic courses for trainees who wish to further their education. Those who want to earn a High School Equiv­ alency Certificate participate in the General Educational Development Program. Trainees also may participate in remedial reading and independent study programs. Labor HIstoiy. Each trainee receives a solid background in the history of the merchant marine, the American labor movement and their own union, the SIU. The school also offers upgrading training to help Seafarers move up the seniority ladder. The curriculum includes classroom instruction, onthe-job training, labor movement history and academic assistance, if desired. Delegates were informed during the general session that SIU members may participate in school programs, particularly the academic and high school equivalency programs. They also learned that plans are underway to provide similar programs through correspond­ ence courses being prepared by the University of Nebraska. Examining the physical facilities at the school, delegates found that virtually all training takes place aboard ships. They also found, aboard the Zimmerman, a modern library—possibly the finest maritime labor library in the world. They examined another aspect of the Piney Point operations—the Seafarers Vacation Cen­ ter. This is a center where SIU members, their wives and children can enjoy rest, relaxation, sports, fine food and excellent accommodations at a fraction of the cost of other vacation re­ treats. For SIU vacationers, there are facilities for sailing, swimming, fishing, water skiing, bowling, billiards, tennis, horseback riding, basketball and a golf driving range. In addition, baby sitting services are available and soon there will be a "summer camp" for the youngsters. During the general session on the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, conference delegates were told that the school "is an ex­ pression of faith in ourselves—an expression of our hope for a better tomorrow for all Seafarers. It is our stake in the future." Delegate after delegate approached the audi­ torium microphones to comment favorably on all they had seen and learned about the school at Piney Point. There was only one criticism— voiced often—that "we should have done all this years ago." Workshop chairmen, who delivered special reports at the general session, included Carlos Canales, Wilmington; Pete De Capua, Seattle; Walter Grosvenor, New York; Lee Gillain, Jacksonville; Thurston Lewis, New Orleans; Michael OToole, New York; Jim Thomas, New, Orleans; and Lucien Drew, Norfolk. Delegates James Parrish, left, and Irwin Sherman, probably the young­ est and oldest delegates at the conferenee, discuss their careers as professional sailors. Delegates^ 18 to 68, See No 'Generation Gap Despite the fact that there is more than 50 years difference in their ages, SIU Brothers Irwin "Monk" Sherman and James Parrish have much in common. Both are professional sailors; both served as delegates to the Seafarers Educational Confer­ ence; and both have been at the Piney Point facility before. Sherman, who wiU be 69 in August, was making his second visit to Piney Point. He at­ tended a Crew's Conference last November. Parrish, just turned 18, graduated from the Harry Lundeberg School in June 1969, and also attended a Crew's Conference last year. The delegates, possible the youngest and oldest at the con­ ference, agreed that the twoweek meeting offered a chance to learn about every facet of SIU operations. Parrish, who started sailing as a wiper, has since upgraded to FWT and qualified for his Coast Guard QMED certifica­ tion through the SIU upgrading program. He hopes now to take advantage of the high school equivalency program either at HLSS or through shipboard cor­ respondence courses. Pointing out some of the changes made recently, Parrish explained that "trainees really learn more about a ship with the new vocational training set­ up and the academic program is really a blessing. I intend to participate all I can." The young Seafarer came from a sailing family. He, a brother and a cousin all were referred to the school by his stepfather, Billy K. Nuckols, an SIU man also at the confer­ ence as a delegate. Sherman, the father of four children and grandfather of seven, sails in the steward de­ partment out of New Orleans. He joined the SIU in 1951 after sailing with the Army Trans­ port Service during World War II. He had high praise for the training facilities at Piney Point. "I'm glad that we can help kids like Jim Parrish go on to a better place in life. It's good to know we're able to help bring aboard a new and well-trained generation of sailers." Conference Delegates, HLSS Alumni, 'Rap' with Trainees It was "homecoming" for some delegates at the Seafarers Educational Conference. These were dele­ gates who had graduated from the school at Piney Point. . Seven former Harry Lundeberg School of Seaman­ ship trainees took advantage of their visit to hold a "rap session" with members of the current class of future Seafarers. They took a tour through the trainees' quarters and found that their future ship­ mates were full of questions about life at sea and how things were at the school in bygone years. Between the two groups—alumni and studentswas a bond that resulted in frank and earnest con­ versation. The younger men were quick to ask about the good and bad points of shipboard life and the alumni were just as quick to answer. The former HLSS students fielded questions from the trainees about all departments. The group in- Page 4 eluded: Mike O'Toole, New York; John Coleman, Mobile; Dan Abraham, Houston; Ben Varela, New York; Bill Mackey, New York; John McFall, New York; Tom Kelly, Philadelphia. One of the big points of concern for the trainees was the reception "by the oldtimers when we get aboard ship." Ben Valera answered the question with: "Don't worry about it. You'll all be working together. Do your job and no one will bother you. In fact, most of the crew will go out of its way to help you." The trainees were especially interested in the way in which Tom Kelly, younger than some of his questioners, qualified for his Third Assistant Engi­ neer's license. Kelly told how he progressed through the SIU engine department upgrading program following his graduation from Piney Point and enrolled in the Engi­ neer's License school, co-sponsored by the SIU and District 2 of MEBA. Kelly, who received his license last October, stressed the fact that he did not intend to stop at his present license but hoped to upgrade to Chief Engineer as he accumulates sufficient seatime. The round robin discussion included questions about the changes in the school facility over the years. The 1967-68 alumni told how they had helped to construct parts of the school during their training. John McFall summed up his thoughts on the over­ all progress of the school since 1967, saying: "It's really changed. They learn so much more now. I wish it was like this when I went through." The group broke their discussion when the trainees were called for the daily colors parade. Graduates returned to their work as conference delegates, im­ pressed with the progress they had seen. Seafarers Log / �I*- Describe Contract As The Book by Which We Work' good benesakl "h he for over^m bard over many years. We want Fi'S^LrS bene'fe TO%OT:.™« President Earl tracf tract and industry problems'con­ are They learned that the cnn ai7h V ^^^^'"ent negotiated" atthe bargaining table between SeTwa^"" ^"'' '"-e wVte the union and thp shir. It snells «. / shipowners. rater oh overtime IsBsH c;s,"£Sl 4'ZoLri7z'''^^'"That's u/hw ' ™atrsu«\r.aw"' be said. thTLit few aon'JSrleS h , HefrS^egrisZS " P' I Md later described It aT'X' book by which Seafarers work a ptarantee of diptity on te " ^a^ali ~ w'te |; r ( • -t^XTdrS?' r pllier unions have nnr „ r Delegates in a ^ "acon^ic cha?s'^ "''»' 'ace Delegates then went on tr> projected and expanded in the ta"ht'tSe.'%rrst'^^Houston; Duke TOson "K thfbackdrop offhTLd^^f"!^ P'oWems anS ' N ward Wilson, New YoA "''^" S/U ConsfituHon: Self-imposed isciplme for All Seafarers whfchT""-"°° "•= 'aw by consttaioT't 'r- 4 WW Se^ «ve as'Taiio'^ thk. nnjon members. It ic «U mSr' hin^self'Lr^flld u® ."ominate 'b7'Z'ZJ2"r «ocin.hrLn"^,''°''''''"yofseif fSty"S',i: "-'SSI's; SiVTarl;? was organized in I Q?s ™on nteeting or in "coretnT ''-'"a; Sc'ltHan, nLSr'tt' cts, San ScisS" EA study of the SIIT „ of "yVtS'fnd'lhrT'^'' Workshop chni^f r sessions on the Sm ^ 0 constitu- is-ii . ..• . :NVV.X Barron. New otS Lantb, San Francis^ .*s££=*s~ 4 Wd' ?y '^'•^ary-treas. constitution fa ?^"hv- """n ment which cha o^u- amended severef ever it ;« «w L "nies. How- lb "dS! change and tha • ' Jaws of laws change » ""^f^ation .i 1 y "iWonXt tast'^h' is the result rJr^ ! ^PPon. "It acrvingX d °' ""<''' aod ob­ it's our law b "Zd"''" "P'tonduct Tt'c ' snides our con• "s our textbook " Jife better and m ^bipboard and more peaceful " Delegates found that the Sin -"narbi^arH" : "»orne~ - .* \ tees every Seafarer; • The right to vote. April 1971 , 'aw: ?o™ rstTn^r " i::';i;r ~ ^ t Becaufe I jSve i~r'.sr.",sr5^«'bich helps me^ ^ ^'^^^ ini^rior. I movent th.^^ " -^•'-PP PP'on 'mok assures nut a we,conte are ^ "" r Because it is a comforting th u ^ ^ong seamen all over me the full support of an int ought to know that a oaid ' • "m ' ^^0 to be able"^"^ °'"®'""^®tion having thoLanr r that I have DIIVJ other seaman inThe "^embers. , with him ^s man to • •••V- .•>. Page 5 �r• Political Action—Our Fight To Improve the Sailors Life How important is political action and political education to the rank-and-file Seafarer? SIU Executive Vice President Cal Tamier had a ready answer. He told delegates: "The Merchant Marine Act of 1970 is the only meaningful maritime legislation since 1936. We're not completely happy with it. It's not Utopia. But it could help to solve many industiy prob­ lems. It could result in more union jobs. "Understand this. If we didn't have some political savvy and some political clout and some political guts, there would be no new maritime law. "That's how important political action and education are to every Seafarer. It's just another way in which we fight for our­ selves to improve our lives, to build something better for our­ selves." These are just some of the reasons for the Seafarers Political Action Donation (SPAD), Tanner said. Voluntary contributions to SPAD are put to work to help candidates dedicated to a strong merchant marine, and against candidates who would "short- At the mike, in general session, G. Quinones, Wilmington, asks a question. change" the merchant marine, he declared. Delegates learned that political action such as this is an Amer­ ican tradition and an American right actually written into the nation's Constitution by the founding fathers. This is the right of the people to choose their own goveniment representatives. Delegates found it is a tradition, too, in the U.S. labor move­ ment. In their studies of the subject, they harked back to the words of Samuel Gompers: "Reward your friends and punish your enemies." Study materials provided delegates pointed out that sailors still might be "slaves" if they hadn't taken some political action back around the turn of the century. And it was maritime labor that fought for passage of the Cargo Preference program so that American ships would get at least some government cargo and jobs for American sailors. Today, delegates learned, the fight continues to preserve the right of American ships to carry a share of government cargo and to implement the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. Delegates diseased how anti-labor forces use political action in attempts to beat down the trade union movement—action dating back to 1794 when the first union was established in America. They studied some of the results of this anti-labor political action—the repressive Taft-Hartley and Landrum-Griflin Acts and other moves to imdermine the labor movement. With this in mind, delegates went on record in favor of expanded political action through a continuation of SPAD. One after another, in general session, delegates approached the microphones to condemn attempts to force the SIU and other unions to curtail and even end their political action and education programs. The consensus was that as free Americans and as union mem­ bers, Seafarers have the right to make contributions for political action in any way they see fit, firm in the knowledge that their contributions are being used to help assure a better future. Workshop chairmen for this session were Robert Cotton, Houston; James Dixon, Mobile; Everett Perry, Wilmington; Frank Lebda, New York;. Asa Moore, New York; George Quinones, Wilmington; Jack Ryan, Seattle; Frank Conforto, New Orleans. Legal Action^A Weapon To Thwart the Labor Movement The scales of justice are shifting and the weights are be­ ing stacked solidly against the labor movement, especially the SIU. The shift is taking the fight off the bricks and into the courts and the halls of Con­ gress. That's what SIU Counsel Howard Schulman told confer­ ence delegates in a session in­ volving the legal issues affect­ ing the SIU today. The prime topic of discus­ sion was the grand jury indict­ ment of the union itself and its officers, an indictment for "poli­ tical activity." "It was because we moved into the political arena—and moved with great success— that our so-called friends have moved against us in this fash­ ion," Schulman declared, add­ ing: "This indictment contains not a single charge of skull­ duggery. There is not a single charge in this indictment ex­ cept one slim count holding that the SIU violated the law Page 6 by—'conspiring' to give contri­ butions to politicians. "This is strictly a political action. You don't have to take my word for it. You've seen the indictment. It was printed in your imion newspaper. The SIU probably is the only union in the world with enough guts to print that kind of a docu­ ment in its newspaper." In both workshops and in the general session, Schulman explained some of the legal problems facing unions today. "Did you know that your officers must file reports which even lawyers have difficulty understanding?" he asked. "At the bottom of each form is a certification. If the union offi­ cer fails to certify, he could wind up in the can. "There is no authority in law for these certifications. It is simply a Labor Department rule. We've been telling the De­ partment for two years that they are making their own laws, but they have never re­ plied. "It's a fact of life that fed­ eral agencies, such as the La­ bor Department, prostitute their powers. The bureaucrats prostitute their powers and they are not subject to any redress. It's unique in our society that such unelected servants of the people sit at the switch and turn loose some awesome powers on the people. There is no re­ dress. They hide behind thenimmunity." Schulman went on to say that the fact that the union has enemies today is just a sign of the union's success. Conference delegates were in full agreement with this con­ clusion. They agreed, once again, that SPAD should be expanded and they called for a similar expansion of the Mari­ time Defense League. MDL, established in 1967 to provide legal assistance to SIU members, is of special impor­ tance to all Seafarers, delegates declared, and should be given their full support. Schulman capped the day's discussion by reminding that "we're the kids from the other side of the tracks. We are re­ cognized in small ways. But when it comes to meaningful things, the things that count, we get them only through our own efforts, our own labor, our own blood, our own money. That's why SPAD and MDL are so important to each of us." Chairmen for workshops were Harry Houston, San Francisco; Gilbert Delgado, Houston; Barney Kasmierski, Houston; William Koflowitch, New York; Tony Arcenaux, New Orleans; Paul Hunt, New Orleans; S. Cieslak, Boston; and Ed Brewer, Seattle. Delegates and instructors in a workshop session. Seafarers Log V 1 ^ * •-.'1 �'• History Points 4^.[ • t •i' 1,1 >,( Way to Future History is made by men and "you are making history today as members of the SIU." That's what SIU Vice President Lindsey Wil­ liams told conference delegates as they took iip the study of labor movement history and the development of their own union. Williams, both in workshop and general ses­ sions, referred to his personal involvement in the early days of the unions and declared: "In those days we fought for survival. We fought to make the union live. Today, the fight is different. To­ day we fight to make the industry live, to keep it a vital industry, to keep it alive and with jobs— union jobs." To find out how the SIU reached this critical point, delegates delved deeply into history—^first into the general story of the American Labor movement, then into the explicit details of the Seafarers' past. Study materials told them that the fight for a free labor movement in the United States dates back to the years immediately following the Revolutionary War. That's when low wages, long hours and poor working conditions forced workers into banding together into loose-knit unions. The first real labor union came into being in Philadelphia in 1794 when the Society of Journeyman Cordwainers (shoemakers) was formed. It was this union which called the na­ tion's first "organized" strike'in 1799. The Cordwainers fought back a proposed cut in wages. A few years later, however, the union asked for a modest pay raise. Again a strike was called and this time the employers were ready. The Cordwainers found themselves indicted on trumped up charges of criminal conspiracy. It wasn't until the late 1800's that the labor movement mustered enough strength to fight back effectively. The fight was brutal. Labor lost many battles but even in the losirfg, gathered strength through unity. Conference delegates found that the history of maritime , unions parallels that of the whole labor movement. One of the highlights of the conference was the "premiere" of a new SIU motion picture— Tomorrow Is Also A Day—a history of mari­ time labor and the SIU. The movie tells of the struggles of Seafarers to break the shackles of slavery. It graphically replays those days when a sailor was a slave to the ship, the ship's captain and the ship's owner. It tells of the first efforts by seamen to break their bonds, to organize unions. It tells of the heroic fight of Andrew Furuseth to win a measure of equality and decency for seamen. Tomorrow Is Also A Day covers the span of history through passage of the Seamen's Act of 1915 which stands as a tribute to Furuseth's determined effort to free his fellow seafarers. The film takes up the time following World War I when shipping companies went for the union jugular. It documents the brutal battles of the 1930's including the terror of the West Coast strike during which scores of seamen were killed or wounded. Finally, its studies the formation of the mod­ em union and discusses its early fights against communism, against unscrupulous shipowners, and climaxes with the victory of the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. As various speakers declared, the Merchant Marine Act of 1970 is the most meaningful maritime legislation in history, designed to re­ vitalize the faltering industry. It must be im­ plemented. It must be made to work. Con­ ference delegates declared that the union should work now for that implementation. Workshop chairmen for sessions on history were I. K. Coats, Wilmington; Vincent Pizzitolo, New Orleans; Harold Ducloux, Mobile; Eric Joseph, New York; Don Bartlett, San Francisco; Albert Saxon, Mobile; R. Byrd, San Francisco; W. Simmons, Mobile. SIU Fringe Benefits: ^ f] 'Reality from a Dream' I/',' i kn •>> Fringe benefits, such as the SIU Welfare, Pension and Vacation Plans, took up a full day of study for conference delegates who termed them "the most far-reaching improvements ever achieved for Seafarers." C. J. "Buck" Stephens, port agent from New Orleans, declared: "Our plans are the best in the entire maritime industry. No other union can approach these benefits. They are a reality shaped from an old dream. They are part of our stake in today and in tomorrow." The Seafarers Welfare Plan, delegates learned, was created as a result of collective bargaining between the union and its contracted companies. The companies first contributed to the plan in 1950 and it has been regularly improved since that time. The Welfare Plan provides many benefits for Seafarers including daily in-hospital benefits, death benefits, and maternity benefits. It covers a Seafarer's dependents and provides for regular physical examinations and eye care. The Seafarers Pension Plan provides two types of pension, one for disability, one for normal retirement. Either type gives the mem­ 7\pril 1971 ber a monthly annuity of $250—guaranteed. Under the disability provisions, a member may retire at age 55 after 20 years of service should he become totally disabled. He still gets the full annuity of $250 a month. Another unique feature of the plan provides that a member retains other benefits when he retires. Pensioners continue to be covered by the SIU Welfare Plan and so do their dependents. Vacation benefits for seamen were unheard of only a few years ago. The Seafarers Vacation Plan came into existence in 1950 and provided a vacation allowance of $115 a year. As aU other SIU fringe benefits have im­ proved, so has the vacation plan. Today, a member can count on a vacation allowance of from $1,000 to $1,400 per year—a benefit un­ equalled in many shoreside industries. Workshop chairmen for sessions on the SIU Pension, Welfare and Vacation Plans were George Annis, New Orleans; Jose Castell, Puerto Rico; J. W. Allen, Seattle; Charles Mazur, New Orleans; Earl Harrison, Tampa; Tom Garrity, New Orleans; Fernando Munoz, Puerto Rico; James Sanders, New York. •I.N MKMORV ' ItOUE BROTH 1.K g^^OFTHt. .SEAF'A'RERS IN rERNATiONAl. %/UNION WHO GAVETHEIR I.IVK.S INlTrtE^RVICF. of . THSR COulTTSVi The motion picture "The Enemy Below," a story of a duel between a German submarine and an American vessel dur­ ing World War II, stirred some unpleasant memories among some conference delegates. Three of them, who were aboard torpedoed ships during the War, recalled that it was a "pretty frightening experience" to have your ship sunk from under you. Edward Robinson and Lewis "Curley" Goodwin from New York and Elmer Barnhill, who sails out of Houston, lived through that experience. Robinson, 63, was sailing aboard the SlU-manned Robert Bacon in July 1943 off the coast of Madagascar when a torpedo struck his ship at 3 a.m. "We had just discharged a load of tanks in Egypt and were headed to Durban, South Africa by way of the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean when we got hit," he recalled. "I was down below," the fireman-oiler said, "when it hit. The cap­ tain gave the order to abandon ship and we took to the boats. "When we were away, the sub put two more torpedoes into her and she went down pretty fast. We lost four men who had been sleeping on the deck when the first torpedo hit." Goodwin remembers the day "War" was declared. He was aboard the Algic in port at Durban, South Africa, when the war broke out. He and other crew members, including SIU Vice President Earl Shepard, painted the hull and super­ structure with fish oil, as a makeshift camouflage, and sailed to Savannah safely. He later survived a torpedoing in 1943. Elmer Barnhill, a bosun now sailing out of Houston, saw extensive action during the war. Among his recollections, he maintains that he was probably the first member of the American merchant marine to visit Rome after its liberation. "I was on a ship tied up for unloading when the news came that the allies were approaching Rome," he remembers. "I got the captain's permission to go ashore and I decided to hitch-hike to Rome. I arrived there about a day after our troops had gone in. It was quite an experience." EarUer in the war, Barnhill had another memorable ex­ perience while sailing aboard the Benjamin Harrison, loaded with trucks, tanks and ammunition. Their 33-ship convoy was sailing about 150 miles south of the Azores, enroute to Algiers, when a torpedo attack crippled five ships in the convoy. "I was in the messhall, playing cards, when the attack started. The general alarm sounded and then we got hit," he recalled. "The captain rang abandon ship and I hung on a Jacob's ladder for 45 minutes waiting to get into a lifeboat. Four of our lifeboats had swamped in the heavy seas. I finally got into a boat and we drifted for about two hours before we were picked up by a Norwegian ship, the Alan A. Deal. "We continued to Oran and returned to the states aboard a troop transport. The Shawnee. We lost six men from our ship and there were many others lost from other ships that were sunk. We were lucky." In the top photo, Lewis Goodwin, left, and Ed Robinson look over the union's Honor Roll of those who lost their lives during the war. The bottom photo is of Elmer Barnhill. �The E SlU Education: A Turning Point Means Effort' During the discussion of education, one of the workshop chairmen told delegates what his research on the subject had discovered. Delegate Joe Galliano from New Orleans first gave the audience the dictionary definition of the word, but added his own thoughts to expand the topic and define it in a much broader sense. He took the word apart, letter by letter, and came up with the following: E The "E" in education means effort. The kind of effort that is necessary to put into something in order to get anything out of it. It also means efficiency, ex­ ploration, experience, economy, expression, enrich­ ment. It is, in fact, essential, etc., etc. D "D" means dedication, desire, distinction, develop­ ment, dignity, diplomacy. It is, in fact, a duty, etc., etc. U "U" means understanding. Usefulness, utilization, uniqueness, and unquestionably unity, etc. "C" means communication, cooperation, contribu­ tion, curiosity, capability and consistency and con­ structive criticism. It is the confidence and courage that it takes to make a public speech for the first time. "A" means accomplishment and achievement. It means ability and ambition. It is authority and ac­ ceptance, etc. The central theme of the conference at Piney Point was education, an in-depth study of where the union has been, where it is today, and where it is going. Part of the study was a full-day session on the SIU Education Program, a program of vo­ cational, academic and trade union education. Delegates learned that education programs for workers have been a part of trade union ac­ tivities for many years. Generally, these pro­ grams are limited to the teaching of a particular skill or trade, but many unions today also cany on special courses for shop stewards, courses in organizing, on labor law, even in time study. The SIU program, however, is a full educa­ tion plan providing training in many areas. There is entry training, to help young men qualify for jot® as seamen. There is upgrading training, to assist professional sailors. And there is a full-scale academic program. Hazel Brown, director of academic education at HLSS, reported that the SIU program em­ phasized the development of the "total person" rather than individual facets of a personality. This is done, she said, through a wellrounded program placing equal emphasis on kcademic as well as vocational training. The program deals with individuals, she declared, with personal attention and counseling wherever possible. "Learning is unique and extremely personal," Miss Brown said. "We try to keep ffiat in mind in our teaching practices. I think we've met with some success." In their general session, delegates heard of the need for more improvement in the program. "We need to develop techniques to suit our own individual wants and desires. We must develop a program based on the knowledge gained here —a program for both sea and shore. The foundation for such a plan exists here at Piney Point, at the Harry Lundeberg School of Sea­ manship." SIU President Hall told delegates: "You are seeing here what may be the turning point in the life of a sailor. We have the staff here to do the job. We have the tools. All we need is your full support and understanding." He then ticked off some future plans: Corre­ spondence coiu^es for Seafarers, asea or ashore; General Education Development Courses to help SIU members gain the diplomas many passed up years ago to pursue a file at sea; courses to help the individual raise his own level of knowl­ edge and understanding. In their discussion of the SIU College Scholar­ ship Program, delegates learned that 88 Sea­ farers and dependents of Seafarers have received SIU scholarships during the last 17 years. The cash value of these awards approaches the mil­ lion dollar mark. The SIU scholarship program has helped to produce lawyers, doctors, engineers, teachers . . . giving young people and Seafa/ers alike an opportunity for advancement that might other­ wise have been denied to them. Delegates had high praise for the program and concluded that it should be expanded in every way possible to make such opportunities avail­ able to as many as possible. Workshop chairmen for sessions on education were Ballard Browning, Baltimore; Tom Foster, Baltimore; Joe Galliano, New Orleans; Francis Gomez, Mobile; Elmer Bamhill, Houston; Frank Pasaluk, Philadelphia; John Ferro, Jacksonville; Willar McMillion, San Francisco. ^•,1 "T" in education is spelled think. The capacity to think is probably our most valuable possession. It is the only single fact that separates man from other forms of life. This is the power that generates ideas, and ideas are the embryo of all creativity. "I" is ima^ation, interpretation, identification, in­ volvement, initiative, and influence, etc. O N •' "O" means organization and occupation, originality and observation. It is objectivity and opportunity. It is, in fact, an obligation, etc. Under "N", among the many etcs., it means negotia­ tion. Effective negotiation comes as a result of edu­ cation, and when speaking of negotiation, you auto­ matically think of contract. That is not only synonymous, it is superfluous. Negotiation and con­ tract go together like bread and butter, and for us, isn't that what it's all about? 'All these are merely links in the chain of education.' Page 8 A Teacher's Idea Of Seafarer Hazel Brown, director of academic education at HLSS, spoke to delegates several times during the two-week conference. In one such talk, she defined a Seafarer. Her definition is a personal one, arrived, at after many months of working with members of the SIU. Here is a portion of her definition: Seamen are interesting and interested, curious, continually searching for knowledge. Some seamen are real philosophers with definite ideas about things, about the way the world is, about how seamen fit into the world. Seamen are interested in self-improvement and, I've found, some of you are more educated than some of us here at HLSS. You've been self-improving for a long time, working hard at education in your owui way. You are quite proud of the past and the heritage of things and events which affect you as seamen. People who discovered different parts of the world were explorers. But they were also sea­ men. Most of you at this conference have traveled much more than any of us at this school. You have met interesting people in the world from all different countries. You have observed their customs. That means that you are not as narrow as people in most professions. You get an over­ view of things most other people never get. None of you run away from problems. You're not like some professionals who put the blame for problems on everybody else. Instead, you fact the problem and say "What are we going to do about it?" "How are we going to find the answer?" I know that in the past some of your prob­ lems were answered by strength, not only strength of mind, but ^o physical strength, some of it quite brutal. But here you are today, at this conference, talking about other ways to solve problems and asking, "Can education help?" Seamen are tolerant men. You are able to tolerate the closeness of your job and tolerate the problems of others. Most of us, ill other professions, can throw in the towel at the end of the day and say, "I can go home to my chosen family." But you are with your "family" day and night on that ship. I guess you need to be some sort of psychologist to cope with the different personalities that you have to live with day and night. Seamen are capable men and they are able to improve themselves educationally in many ways. You have broad vision. You are ex­ plorers. You are searching for something new. I believe that what you are searching for is a new kind of world for seamen. It's a great honor to be part of that search with you. Seafarers Log o M �' i' 'tm ir^' IV I'.; Union Meetings Keep Us Strong il-Vw 'V. ••v C' « c I/'' The importance of both ship­ board and port union meetings was stress^ throughout the Educational Conference. Dele­ gates declared that it is the duty of every union member to par­ ticipate in the business of the union. The best way to do this is through attendance at union meetings. Conference delegates learned that the SIU is a union which takes actions and sets programs based on the desires of its mem­ bership. The decisions made at union meetings, whether aboard ship or in port, serve as the foundation for the union's future moves. To have a voice in future programs, members must at­ tend and participate in union meetings, making their own de­ sires known and understood. The easiest way to give the union the knowledge based on our own personal experience is through the union meeting. This is the way to keep the SIU strong—and a union of, by, and for seamen—delegates said. Study materials discussed the ways in which union meetings are conducted. Whether the meetings consist of a group of 30 men on ship or 1,000 in port, they are all part of the same process and serve the same purpose. Knowing the rules results in more productive meetings. The rules which apply to SIU meetings are the same rules which apply to a Senator or Congressmen. They are Robert's Rules of Order, generally ac­ cepted throughout the Englishspeaking world. These rules state that every meeting should have an agenda. Aboard ship, the agenda should include; Action on the previous meeting's minutes; reports from department delegates and from any special committees; a dis­ cussion of old business; motions and resolutions on new business. In port, the agenda is similar, but broader. Typically, it in­ cludes the call to order, appoint­ ment of meeting officers; actions on minutes of previous meeting; presentation of financial re­ ports; report from branch agent; reports from committees, patrol­ men, auditors; communications; charges and appeals; action on written motions and resolutions; the verbal report of the presi­ dent; and new business. Every SIU meeting also in­ cludes a minute of silence in honor of deceased Seafarers. Delegates learned from these study materials that the chair­ man is the conductor and regu­ lator of any meeting. It is up A porthole view of a conference workshop in session. to the chairman to see that each member is given the right to include: Keeping to the point; the communication link between speak, if he so desires, and that sticking to ffie facts; avoiding the crews of all SIU ships this right is not infringed upon personalities; and keeping it throughout the world. Delegates talked about ship­ short. by any other member. In addition to meetings board behavior and the ne^ Delegates went on to talk about the methods of conducting aboard ships and in port, dele­ for aU Seafarers to conduct a meeting. They studied the gates took up the question of themselves always as profession­ need for a quorum; the method the ship's committee. They al sailors. Workshop chairmen included of making a motion, the author­ discussed the makeup of the ity of the chairman; the ways to committee—a chairman, secre­ Bumell Butts, Houston; Ray amend, substitute or table a tary-reporter, education direc­ Knoles, Wilmington; Lewis tors and elected delegates from Goodwin, New York; Tony motion. Ferrara, New York; Henry They also discussed some each department. They learned that this com­ Roberts, Mobile; Vince Fitz­ personal rules for an orderly meeting, especially when they, mittee is "the vital link between gerald, New Orleans; Dan as individual members, are SIU members at sea and union Abraham, Houston; William speaking from the floor. These headquarters ashore. It is also Anderson, New York. Brotherhood of the Sea tf". v:.. I y f Before their encounter in the hospital, ii. The words "Brotherhood of the Sea" tbok on a deeper meaning when two SIU both men had never met. They shared the men met again during the Seafarers Edu­ same room and Pron told Joseph about the accident and his rapidly failing sight. cational Gonference. The two have been close friends since The doctors said that a new surgical pro­ 1951 when Eric Joseph gave up one of cedure, a corneal transplant, offered a his eyes to restore the sight of Phil Pron, possible cure if a donor could be foimd. another Seafarer whom he met in the After Joseph's offer, a specialist was Staten Island Marine Hospital. Joseph, called into perform the delicate surgery. who was in the hospital for treatment of When the bandages were removed in a an injured right eye—the result of an few weeks, Pron could see his benefactor injury while boxing professionally—of­ for the first time. Since then, both men have continued fered to give up any chance he might their sailing careers. Both bachelors, Pron have had to recover normal vision. He agreed to donate a cornea for transplan­ lives with his parents in Secaucus, N.J. tation into Pron to attempt to restore his and Joseph lives in New York City. Both men sail out of New York, Pron as a failing eyesight. Brother Pron had been losing vision Third Cook and Joseph as a Bedroom in both eyes after he was hit in the head Steward. Brother Joseph, who was bom in Cal­ in a 1950 shipboard accident. The trans­ cutta, India and joined the SIU after his planted cornea restored vision to one eye following an operation on March 28, arrival in this country in 1942, loves the 1951. A subsequent corneal transplant, travel opportunities offered as a profes­ in 1959, using a cornea provided by an sional sailor. As a result of his travel eye-bank, restored vision to his other eye. hobby, he was a guest on the Johnny Seafarers Aid In University Research The 250 Seafarers who attended the Educational Conference in Piney Point didn't know it when they arrived but, beside their sessions to leam more about their union, they were going to teach a group of eminent psychologists what makes the typical seaman tick. On the first working day of the two-week conference, the delegates were given a job study questionnaire to test their attitudes and opinions. A team of psychologists from the Department of Psychology of the University of Maryland, in conjunction with the union, hopes that the examination will give some sort of picture of the typical SIU man—his likes, dis­ likes and some of the reasons that make him follow a life at sea. The photo shows delegates answering the questionnaire. Drs. C. J. Bartlett and Duncan Dieterly, who administered the questionnaire, said that too little is known about specific professions and very little is yet known about tlie professional sailor. In comparison with the same type of examination given to persons in other lines of work, they hope that it will show how a seaman's job can-influence his thinking. April 1971 Phil Pron, left, SIU President Paul Hall, and Eric Joseph, right, at the Seafarers Educational Conference. Carson show on television in 1960 to let the country know what life was like in­ side Russia. Both he and Pron sailed on grain ships delivering wheat to the U.S.S.R. and Joseph took advantage of a six day layover to visit Moscow. Since the start of the Vietnam sealift, Pron has made eight trips to the South­ east Asian war zone and Joseph has sailed into Vietnam three times. Asked about his feelings for the man who gave up a chance for normal vision to restore his sight. Brother Pron said, "I can see. Before he gave me the cornea, I was going blind. There aren't many words to describe how I feel about it. Let's just say we are friends—good friends." �Letters to the Editor Praise for Union, Ship, Shipmates Education and the Seafarer T he Seafarers' fight to stay aUve (as com­ mented on below) forms one of the two dominant themes in this issue of the Log. The second theme is education. Trade union education is the first in a series of conferences to be held at Piney Point: Aca­ demic and vocational education for young men entering the industry—and for men upgrading themselves in their profession; .higher educa­ tion for Seafarers and their depehdents, under the SIU's newly enlarged scholarship program. These two themes—^jobs for our members, and education for members and their children— really go hand in hand. Because better under­ standing means men better qualified for their jobs. Perhaps all workers have the same desire to improve themselves. But the SIU, uniquely among most trade unions, has consistently de­ voted a major share of its time, attention and money to this cause of education. The union has always operated on the belief that its mem­ bers are searching for a better way of life. Seafarers are able and capable of improving themselves educationally. They are interested in what is happening in the world around them. They are travelers, and in their travels they search for knowledge and enlarge their areas of interest. Life is an education for all men. It is particu­ larly so for the Seafarer. For his job takes him to the far comers of the earth, while the jobs of most men keep them close to their own fire­ side. The world, in short, is the Seafarer's work­ place. And he learns from each new experience, in each new place he visits. This is the root of education. And the SIU's broad range of educa­ tional activities is a natural offshoot from that root. Over the years, the SIU has helped nourish the educational desires of its members and their dependents. With the programs which have come into being—^with the programs which are being constantly improved—with the programs which are scheduled to be launched in the future—^the SIU will help make the tree of education flourish. The Fight for Life Goes On t^phe folk song which reminds us that "the times, they are a-changing" says an awful lot about the Seafarers. About the business we're in. About the problems we have. About the way we have to work to deal with those problems. Back when the Seafarers labor movement was started, we had to fight and bleed for every inch of progress we made. We had shipping manage­ ment to fight on one side. We had the Com­ munist Party to fight on the other. And in those days, you got only what you were big enough and strong enough to win. We were fighting for our jobs. For our lives. And we fought with the only weapons that were available in those days: The job action. The strike. The picket line. And because we were strong—because we stuck together—we won. Our union survived. Our jobs were more secure. Our members were able to achieve first-class citizenship. But the weapons of the old days are not enough for the problems of today. Not enough because "the times, they are a-changing." And so we have had to devise new weapons—new strategies—to fit these changing times. Our jobs are still in jeopardy—because of the changes in this industry and because of the years of neglect to which it has been subjected. Our lives—in real terms and in economic terms —are in jeopardy, too. Page 10 To the Edifon It seems as if each time I go on the beach, our negotiating com­ mittee goes to work and when I return I have to thank them all over again for a substantial raise and a helluva good job on the welfare side of the ledger. That pension plan is really shaping up also. At this stage of the game, this old boy has a real keen inter­ est in it. I won't mention dates because I dmi't want the young boys to get any ideas about the age. Thanks again to our negotiating conunittee for a fine job. I just shipped out of Balti­ more, and I must say Baltimore has really been tops since I started shipping from there. There were five chief steward jobs available in the past three months. This is my second chief stew­ ard's job in two months. For per­ sonal reasons, I threw back the other one. Now I am glad that I did, be­ cause this ship, the Overseas Alaska, is really the last word. We are making her maiden voy­ age. The crew is performing as if they were a hand picked group. On sailing day, things went as smoothly as if it was an every­ day thing to sail a maiden voy­ age. I didn't witness any lost mo­ tion in the performance of duty by anyone. In other words, the operation was handled in typical SIU fashion. ^ My department, as far as I am concerned, outdid itself. They really made me look good. This is my first automated ship, and the night before starting the plant, I could not sleep because of my experience with this type of ship. But, when the action started on sailing day, I had only to watch in amazement. My de­ partment got to their duties like ducks taking to water. We are having a small prob­ lem with adjusting the air condi­ tioning which we need at this writing as we are off the Florida coast, but we are enjoying the weather on our way to our first port of call. Empire, La. We are scheduled to run coast­ wise for a year. Best wishes to all my ship­ mates. Overseas Alaska William Rhone When the government attempts to close down the Public Health Service hospital net­ work, that poses a direct threat to the health, safety and welfare of Seafarers. When Latin American nations fire on Ameri­ can fishing trawlers, take them captive and hold them for ransom, that poses both physical danger and economic loss to Seafarers. When the manner in which the federal gov­ ernment implements the new Merchant Marine Shipmate Praises Act carries with it a life-or-death sentence for Fellow Members our segment of the maritime industry, then our To the EditOR jobs and our futures are involved. The crew of the Steel Worker These are the fronts on which the SIU is is now due to sail back to Chitfighting. They are different than the fronts on tagong. East Pakistan, where which we fought in the earlier days. They re­ they were at the time of the quire different tactics. Different weapons. recent typhoon which caused so Times have changed. Tactics have changed. much damage and loss of life. But our goal remains the same: To make cer­ When we were there during tain that there are jobs for our members—^jobs the typhoon, we were very for­ at decent wages, with decent fringes, with decent tunate to have been secured shipboard conditions. To make certain there's a properly to our dock, which future in this industry. To make certain that our enabled us to maintain our po­ members have the security and dignity to which sition through the storm. Our they are entitled. deck department, under Chief Changing times? Changing ways of doing Mate H. Fry and SIU Bosun things? Sure. But for the reason that has always Eddie Parr, deserve a lot of been uppermost in the minds of Seafarers: The credit for a job well done. The right to stand tall—asea or ashore. Stonewall Jackson and her SIU crew had a rough time when her lines parted. She had to head into the wind and anchor Out to wait out the storm. Thanks to excellent seaman­ ship, the crew of the Steel Worker survived that terrible disaster with no trouble. WUliam M. Hand Steward /Tl ^1 « 9 Appreciation For C aim Assistance To the EditiH': My family and I wish to con­ vey our deepest appreciation and sincere thanks for the prompt assistance in handling the claim of our brother, Anthony Faust We are very grateful that my brother was a member of the SIU. I only wish we had asked for your assistance in making the funeral arrangements. It would have made things much easier for us at such a difficult time. Mrs. Geraldine Gorum and Family Los Angeles, Calif. <.1 «I «. »l Member Rates Welfare Plan Best To the Editor: My wife and I want to thank the SIU Welfare Plan for the help we received when she was in the hospital. I don't know what we would have done without it, as hospitals are out of sight with their prices now, especially for the working man. I have been a seaman for close • to forty years, and have sailed every union on the waterfront at one time or another, and can truthfully say there is no other with conditions as good as they are in the SIU today. Certainly none of them anywhere near the welfare coverage we have in the SIU. My wife says: "God bless the SIU, and all the men connected with it." Thank you again for every­ thing. Jack (Said Jack) Dolan Mllford, NJ. SEiUBUIKBS^^^I.OO April 1971 Vol. XXXIII. No. 4 Offlcial Publication of the Seafarers International Union of North America. AtlanUc, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District. AFL-CIO Executive Board Paul Hall, President Gal Tanner Earl Shepard Sxeo. Vioe-Prea. Vice-PreMdent Llndsey Williams AlKerr Vice-President Seo.-Treas. Robert Matthews A1 Tanner Vice-President Vice-President Published monthly at 810 Rhode Island Avenue N.E., Washington, D.C. 20018 by the Seafarers Interna­ tional Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFLCIO, 676 Fourth Avenue, Brook­ lyn, N.T, 11232, Tel. 499-6600. Sec­ ond class postage paid at Wash­ ington, D,C. POSTMASTER'S ATTENTION: Form 3579 cards should be sent to Seafarers International Union, Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District, AFL-CIO, 676 Fourth Avenue, Brooklyn, N.T. 11232. Seafarers Log ' j| �House Hearings Focus On PHS Hospitals Congressmen Testify Hospitals Must Stay Open, Be Expanded Washington, D.C. The eight remaining Public Health Service hospitals and clin­ ics must remain open, must be expanded and must be modernized. That's what a number of congressmen said when the House Subcommittee on Public Health and Welfare opened hearings on legislation requiring the Department of Health, Education and Welfare to maintain and improve the hospital and clinic system. The legislation, spoonsored by more than 250 members of the House, is a response to the Administration's plan to "convert' and possibly close PHS facilities which provide care for thousands of merchant seamen and their families. Here are highlights from some of the statements made during hearings. Congressman John M. Mur­ Murphy, one of the leaders phy (D-N.Y.) blasted "dollar in the fight for retention and conscious accountants" in the expansion of the existing PHS Office of Management and Bud­ system, accused HEW of acting get for precipitating a crisis in response to an edict of the in the Public Health Service. OMB—and severely criticized He also accused HEW of the advice and consent of Con­ "secret" maneuverings to dis- gress. "The Public Health Service both agencies for failure to seek mantle the Public Health Serv­ was created by the Congress," he said, "and its future role will ice. I I Rep. Murphy- Rep. Adams be determined by the Con­ gress." The result of the inter-agency maneuvers was the deletion of funds in the Administration's budget for Fiscal Year 1972 for continued operation of the eight PHS hospitals and 30 outpatient clinics. Reasoning Questioned Closure of the facilities would place thousands of mer­ chant seamen. Coast Guards­ men, and dependents in the position of seeking care from other facilities—either the al­ ready over-loaded Veterans' Administration hospitals or private facilities, which charge nearly double the rate for treat­ ment that the PHS does. Rep. Brock Adams (DWash.), told the subcommittee that he supported thorough Congressional inquiries on the PHS facilities: "I do not feel the . . . Ad­ ministration and HEW have been completely honest with the Congress or tihe country ..." about the facts of the proposed closings. "While the Administration talks about 'quality health care' for the American people, it slashes the entire $84 million BARBER EQUIPMENT— LIQUORS—Stitzel-Weller Dis­ budget for all PHS hospitals tilleries products—Old Fitz­ and clinics," he said. Wahl Clipper Corp., pro­ "While it talks 'better deliv­ ducers of home barber sets. gerald, Cabin Still, Old Elk, ery of health services,' it also W. L. Weller. (Distillery (Int'l. Assoc. of Machinists plans to curtail treatment for and Aerospace Workers) Workers) Vietnam widows, retired mili­ CIGARETTES—R. J. Reyn­ MEAT PRODUCTS—Poultry tary, American Indians and Packers, Inc. (Blue Star olds Tobacco Co.—Camels, Eskimos . . .," who also use the label products). (Amalga­ Winston, Salem, Tempo, PHS facilities, he explained. mated Meat Cutters and Brandon, Doral, and Cava­ A Matter of Semantics Butcher Workmen) lier. (Tobacco Workers Un­ Adams noted that HEW ion) PRINTING—Kingsport Press officials carefully avoided the CLOTHING—^Reidbord Bros., "World Book," "Childcraft." word "closure" in reference to Co., Siegal (H. I. S. brand) (Printing Pressmen, Typog­ the hospitals and instead used suits and sports jackets, Kayraphers, Bookbinders, Ma­ such words as "conversion" or nee boyswear, Riclunond chinists*, Stereotypers, and "transfer,"—^perhaps in hopes Brothers men's clothing, SeElectrotypers) that Congressional opposition well suits. Wing shirts, Met­ NEWSPAPERS—Los Angeles would wane. ro Pants Co., and Diplomat Herald-Examiner. (10 unions "I do not believe that mem­ Pajamas by Fortex Mfg. Co. involved covering 2,000 bers of Congress are so easily Amalgamated Clothing) workers) dissuaded," Adams continued, Judy Bond Blouses—(Inter­ Britannica Junior Encyclo­ "If the Administration does not national Ladies Garment pedia (Int'l. Allied Printing mean 'closure,' why is there no Workers Union) Trades Assn.) money in the budget for the CASKETS—Capitol City Cas­ operation of these hospitals and ket Company—(United Fur­ RANGES—^Magic Chef, Pan clinics? And if it really means Pacific Division. (Stove, Fur­ niture Workers) nace and Allied Appliance 'transfer' of these faculties to FLOURMILL PRODUCTS— medical schools, why is there Workers) Pioneer Products, San An­ no information available on tonio, Texas (United Brew­ SHOES—Genesco Shoe Mfg. what such a transfer wUl cost?" Co—^work shoes . . . Sentry, ery, Flom*, Cereal, Soft Adams said that if the Seattle Cedar Chest and Statler; Drinks and Distillery Work­ PHS hospital were transferred men's shoes . . . Jarman, ers) Johnson & Murphy, Crest- to the University of Washing­ ton, the costs of contracting FURNITURE—^James Sterling worth (Boot and Shoe Work­ care and leasing the building Corp., White Furniture Co., ers) would . . . probably would be Brown Furniture Co., (Unit­ SPECIAL—^All West Virginia significantly higher than at ed Furniture Workers) camping and vacation spots, present. Economy Furniture—B i 11(Laborers) He also lashed out at HEW Rite, Western Provinicial and Smithtown Maple. (Up­ TOYS—Fisher-Price toys (Doll spokesmen for claiming that the PHS facilities are under­ & Toy Workers Union) holsterers) April 1971 Rep. Eilberg utilized—operating at only 64.5 percent capacity. The hospitals have not been funded on a 100 percent basis, are lacking a full nursing force and are short of medical supplies, and have been denied funds to buy new or. replacement equipment. "The Administration seeks to make political mUeage out of an under-utUization rate which it has caused," Adams ex­ plained. Rep. Joshua Eilberg (D-Pa.), also testifying at the hearing, said: "It confounds me to under­ stand how this Administration can propose the closing of 38 operating medical facUities in this country at the very time in our history when it has become apparent to all of us, including the President, that there is a major crisis in the delivery of health care services." VA Hospitals Not Solution EUberg discounted the no­ tion that VA facUities would be avaUable for those displaced by the closing of PHS hospitals and clinics: "In PhUadelphia, the VA Hospital operates at fuU capacity, has been forced to lease beds at the Naval Hospital to fulfill its obligations and hardly has the budget or per­ sonnel to duplicate the services of the PHS clinic." State and city health agen­ cies are also overburdened, he added, and private facUities are no solution: "The Congress is Rep. MacDonald now considering a national health • plan, largely because the private sector can no longer deliver health services at rea­ sonable costs to everyone." The subcommittee heard the Congressional testimony while considering "sense of Congress" legislation that not only would require HEW to maintain the PHS hospital and clinic system, but to modernize and expand it. Congress Wants Final Say Congressmen Torbert H. MacDonald, (D-Mass.), one of the 250-plus Representatives who are sponsoring such legis­ lation, noted that the elimination of funds from the budget was unexpected, in that Congress had been assured that no final decision had been nfade on the closings. "But the budget request speaks for itself," he said. "It is my firm intention . . . to make certain that Congress has the final responsibility." MacDonald said he was es­ pecially concerned about the role that the Office of Manage­ ment and Budget has played in the PHS crisis. "For years the budget people have purposely held down funds for these facilities," the congressman said, "and now that the facilities have aged and are in bad repair these same people decide to close them down altogether. It seems to me as if this kind of arbitrary action can only add to present health crisis." Status of Hospitals Remains Uncertain The eight PHS hospitals will not close down in the im­ mediate future, it has been announced, but everything else about them is still very uncertain. A study will be started to examine if the hospitals can be transferred to community control, according to New York regional director Dr. William J. Putnam who was making the announcement for Dr. Vernon E. Wilson, administrator of the Health services and Mental Health Administration (HSMHA) of the U.S. Department of Health, Education and Welfare. Putnam, who spoke at the PHS hospital on Staten Island, N.Y., said the study will look into the possibility of making unoccupied space within the hospitals available to the community. In a release issued by HSMHA, it was stated that "the bed occupancy rates for the PHS Hospitals now average be­ low the optimum, and in fact more than half of the beds are available for such community use." Dr. Wilson, according to the release, instructed his six regional health directors to visit the PHS hospitals primarily "to reassure our beneficiaries, for whom the hospital system was originally created, that no action will be taken unless they are assured equivalent or better care. We also want to reaffirm to our hospital employees that we will protect their interests." Page 11 �combination payoff and sign-on was held aboard the SlU-contracted Transontario (Hudson Waterways) last month when the 523-foot-long vessel docked in Weehawken, New Jersey after a voy­ age from Europe and the British Isles. The Transontario began her sailing career in 1944 as the Mission Soledad, a tanker. She was re­ named several years later to sail as the Seatrain California. In 1969 she underwent a drastic modernization which changed the configura­ tion of her bow and dramatically reshaped her overall lines. She is now a 10,595 deadweight ton containership capable of carrying 450 forty-foot long multi-purpose containers. The sign-on payoff went smoothly as S^eafarers with the urge for some time on the beach turned over their slots to others ready for more seatime. A /V,.. ibr I * V v>-" Looking forward to a smooth voyage with good shipmates, deck department Seafarer Eugene Greaux (white jacket, standing) signs on as an able-bodied seaman. New York Port Agent Leon Hall (far right) assists Brother Aromando Vidal (seated, left) with union busi­ ness during payofi* as C. Jackson and H. Oakes look on. .i'J Messman Pedro Rodricpiez sets out silverware in preparation for the noon meal aboard the Trans­ ontario. As usual, crew members displayed good appetites worthy of the fare. Page 12 Third cook Manuel Droz prepares pan of cheese and tomatoes for a hearty lunch, which the Transontario crew thoroughly enjoyed. Chief cook Jose Chocon prepares a ham for the oven in the Transontario's galley. Crew members bad high praise for the steward department. I. Seafarers Log �Labor, Congressmen Attack Seizure of US, Fishing Boats j^* iiv Ir Washington, D.C. Congressional forces are be­ ing mustered for passage of strong measures to end the 15year-old "tuna war" in South American waters. Rep. Thomas Pelly (RWash.) has introduced a meas­ ure that would force the U.S. State Department to deduct all "fines" imposed on U.S. fishing boats seized by other nations from the foreign aid money al­ located to those nations. Pelly and Rep. Charles Wil­ son (D-Calif.) expressed their views on the subject at weekly luncheons sponsored by the AFL-CIO Maritime Trades De­ partment. The luncheons serve as a continuing forum for dis­ cussion of the problems and the needs of the U.S. maritime industry. Rep. Pelly, second ranking Republican on the House Mer­ chant Marine and Fisheries committee, said that Ecuador has seized 26 American tuna boats this year and has extracted more than $1.3 million dollars in so-called fines. Faults State Department He said that the State De­ partment already has the au­ thority to deduct fines from foreign aid payments but has said it has no intention to use it. Rep. Pelly said that his amendment has become neces­ sary since, "it's obvious that the State Department is doing noth­ ing more than soothing over the diplomatic situation." This requires "stronger legislative action," Rep. Pelly said, "and in a way which cannot be cir­ cumvented by the State De­ partment." He added that, "American citizens deserve protection on the high seas and I am dedi­ cating my efforts to see that they get it." The congressman said the tima war began in 1955 when a Peruvian gunboat shot at an American fishing ship and territorial limits over the sea. While we're held to the tradi­ wounded the chief engineer. Since that time, Peru, Ecua­ tional three-mile limits, Wilson dor and Chile have seized many said, Ecuador with its 200-mile U.S. fishing boats and ef­ limit forced us to recognize a forts to negotiate a settlement 12-mile area of the sea as of the dispute have produced theirs. In addition. Rep. Wilson only two four-nation meetings. said, we asked to be left alone Efforts by Rep. Pelly and in the other 188 miles. others in Congress, such as "The net score for these amendments to the Military talks," Wilson said, "sums up Military Sales Act preventing the frustrations that have fol­ the Navy from selling old gun­ lowed in a trail of failure—the boats to nations that seize U.S. United States gave up the right ships, have failed to bring to fish for nine miles, Ecuador about serious negotiations to gave up nothing." end the "tuna war." Wilson said the "epidemic of More Than Money Involved Ecuadorian acts of piracy" has And, Rep. Pelly said, the led to further actions. First the toll is more than the money U.S. excluded Ecuador from its paid in "fines" to South Ameri­ military sales program, and the Ecuadorians replied by ex­ can governments. "Let's not forget," Rep. pelling a group of U.S. military The tunaboat. Quo Vadis, was recently seized by the Ecuadorian navy for fishing within Ecuadtor's self-declared 200-niile extension of terri­ Pelly cautioned, "that each advisors. torial. waters, not recognized by the United States. Thus far this year, Fishing Industry Suffers seizure involves an American 26 American tunaboats have been seized and forced to pay fines total­ tuna vessel being escorted into "In the meantime our tuna ing more than $1.3 million to the South American nation. a foreign port from 30 to 150 industry has been suffering miles at sea, and it takes time. heavy losses due in part, at from the belligerent Ecua­ the Pacific, said the picketing It also costs money because the least, to the slowness in our dorians even the amount of was just the beginning of a uni­ crew is dependent on the catch, government's reimbursement of money that they are con­ fied labor-based action of and each man is out of pocket fines that first come out of the fiscating from our nation." cargo boycott against Ecua­ operators' pockets. Insurance Suggests Corrective Measures dorian products. for the days he isn't fishing." More important. Rep. Pelly rates for tunaboats have sky­ Rep. Wilson said that among Edney said the situation was said, there is a toll in human rocketed, adding an additional the preventive measures the na­ regrettable, but that Ecua­ burden to the industry," Rep. tion could take right now is dorian cargoes, especially per­ emotions as well. "Imagine how the wives Wilson said. implementation of the machin­ ishable bananas, would be the suffer when their husbands are He said, "our State Depart­ ery to deprive Ecuador of subject of picketing until the away," Rep. Pelly said. "The ment is conducting a program foreign aid so long as they con­ piracy of U.S. fishing vessels is question continudly on their of international permissiveness. tinue their "piracy against our ended. minds is: will he be shot; will And we are toying with a situ­ fishing vessels." Rep. Pelly said that the boy­ he be a victim of irresponsible ation that contains all the ele­ Also, Rep. Wilson suggested, cott was understandable in attacks on our fishing fleet; will ments for tragedy." "we can, and should, impose Rep. Wilson said he found economic sanctions banning the terms of the State Department's he end up going to a foreign it "appalling that the United imports of goods from any na­ refusal to protect fishermen and jail?" He reported that other mem­ States government has the au­ tion that confiscates our ships fishing boats. "All I have to say is that bers of Congress were irate at thority under the 1968 Fisher­ when they are operating with­ the recent rash of seizures and man's Protective Act, to with­ in the world's law of freedom when the government won't protect and support its citizens the nation's payment of ransom hold foreign aid to Ecuador on the high seas." by some peaceful means, some­ for fishermen caught in the web. equivalent to the amount of Thirdly, said Rep. Wilson, one else must," Rep. Pelly fines—and we have done noth­ naval vessels should be as­ Similar Complaint These sentiments were echoed ing to abate the raid on our signed to escort fishing vessels said. Possible Violence? by Rep. Charles H. Wilson (D- Treasury. as long as the South Americans Rep. Pelly said the continu­ "Our foreign aid to this small continue to confiscate ships and Calif.) who described the seizure ing piracy of American vessels of U.S. tuna boats as "piracy nation—a country the size of their crews. Arizona—is set at $29 million on the high seas." "The British utilized the and rising resentment at home Rep. Wilson said he was this fiscal year," Rep. Wilson Royal Navy to enforce the have brought about a climate angered that "tiny Ecuador pointed out. "And still no move rights of its citizens in interna­ in which there can be violence. "If a government won't pro­ broke us" in negotiations about has been made to withhold tional waters when Iceland be­ tect its citizens on the high gan harrassing British boats in seas, does a citizen have a right the 1950s. The strategy work­ to protect himself? The fisher­ ed," Rep. Wilson said. men talk about arming them­ "Any or all of these steps selves. They talk about ram­ should be taken," he said, "and ming an Ecuadorian patrol taken immediately to bring an end to piracy of ships bearing craft, which probably would be the American flag, and to re­ one of our own Naval vessels turn to this beleaguered fleet on loan to Ecuador. Who can the right to operate freely say there won't be violence?" Negotiation Only Answer within international waters He said, "The path to settle­ around the world." ment of the tuna war is negoti­ Labor Lends Support ation. The Latin Americans Anger at the seizure of have refused to take their claim American fishing boats among of 200 miles to the World members of organized labor was shown in recent picketing Court; they have refused medi­ and blockading of ships that ation. "Now by every means the carry Ecuadorian cargoes such as fishmeal, sugar and bananas. United States should press for In San Pedro, Calif., a pick­ negotiations. We can't settle et line organized by the Com­ dispute by paying the fisher­ mittee Against Tunaboat Seiz­ men's fines which just en­ ures (CATS) protested the de­ courages more seizures," Rep. livery of a cargo of Ecuadorian Pelly said. He said he was sure the fish­ bananas. The ship, the German freighter Aldenberg, was pick­ ing fleet could count on the eted for two days and dock un­ support of maritime labor un­ ions respected the picket line. ions, support that has already Members of the Committee Against Tunaboat Seizures picketed unloading of a cargo of Ecuadorian bananas Steve Edney, vice president proven itself in such efforts as to protest seizure of 26 American tunaboats on the high seas this year. The picketing, which was supported of SIUNA and president of the the boycott of Ecuadorian by other unions, was organized by Steve Edney, SIUNA vice president and president of the SlU-afliliated Fish and Cannery Workers of bananas and other products. United Cannery and Industrial Workers of the Pacific. UP 10UR April Page 13 �-:r- - Unique Mail Delivery on River Economy Move Jeopardizes Mail-in-a-Pair Ship Service Detroit, Mkh. The unique mail-in-a-pail service that ships on the Detroit River have relied upon for 75 years is facing extinction under a Post Office Department edict, which says the historic opera­ tion is not profitable. Freighters plying the Detroit River welcome the sight of the little Awaiting a final decision on •/. W. Westcott 2nd, which offers "mail-in-a-paU" delivery service, the threatened closing, the De­ around the clock. troit River Post Office con­ tinues its 24-hour-a-day, sevenday-a-week service to the T & T 8 ( A > 4 s freighters that pass Detroit on <* to H a f T their way to the Great Lakes or 1* At n >t lH IS the ocean. a as a* A7 •Lower flie Pail' J* A3 xl M ae 31 Some 75 times a day, from April to December, the /. W. Westcott 2nd greets passing SlU-AGLIWD Meetings Buffalo May 12—^7:30 p.m. vessels and signals them to New OrleansMay 11—2:30 p.m. Duluth May 14—7:30 p.m. lower their "pail"—a five gal­ Mobile May 12—^2:30 p.m. Cleveland ..May 14—7:30 p.m. lon paint can, usually—on a Wilmington ..May 17—2:30 p.m. Toledo May 14—^7:30 p.m. heaving line. When the day's collection of San Fran. ....May 19—^2:30 p.m. Detroit May 10—7:30 p.m. letters and packages is deliver­ Seattle May 21—2:30 p.m. Milwaukee ..May 10—7:30 p.m. ed, the pail is retrieved and the New York ..May 3—2:30 p.m. ship continues its journey, while SIU Inland Boatmen's Union Philadelpliia..May 4-—2:30 p.m. the /. W. Westcott returns to New Orleans May 11—5:00 p.m. Baltimore ....May 5—2:30 p.m. its slip on the 24th Street dock. May 12—5:00 p.m. Detroit May 14—2:30 p.m. Mobile Senior Captain of the opera­ ^Houston ....May 10—2:30 p.m. Philadelphia May 4—5:00 p.m. tion is Wilfred E. Adamek, who Baltimore (li­ has been delivering mail on the United Industrial Workers censed and Westcott for 23 years. He heads New OrleansMay 11—7:00 p.m. unlicensed)May 5—5:00 p.m. the crew, which includes two Mobile May 12—7:00 p.m. Norfolk May 6—5:00 p.m. other captains and three deck­ New York ..May 3—7:00 p.m. Houston ....May 10—^5:00 p.m. hands. All are members of the Philadelphia..May 4—7:00 p.m. Railway Marine Region Baltimore ....May 5—7:00 p.m. Houston May 10—7:00 p.m. Philadelphia May 11—10 a.m. & 8 p.m. Great Lakes SIU Meetings Baltimore ....May 12—10 a.m. & Detroit May 3—^2:00 p.m. 8 p.m. Buffalo May 3—7:00 p.m. •Norfolk ....May 13—10 a.m. & Alpena May 3—7:00 p.m. 8 p.m. by Sidney Margolius Chicago May 3—7:00 p.m. Jersey City ..May 10—10 a.m. & Very soon, as the result of 8 p.m. Duluth May 3—7:00 p.in. government actions, you and Frankfort ....May 3—7:30 p.m. tMeetings held at Galveston your family will no longer be wharves. Great Lakes Tug and troubled by that old and often tMeeting held in Labor Tem­ costly sales device used by book Dredge Section and record clubs and encyclo­ Chicago May 11—7:30 p.m. ple, Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. pedia companies—^the negative •Meeting held in Labor Tem­ tSault option plan. In this method of Ste. Marie May 13—7:30 p.m. ple, Newport News, selling, you sign up for a "mem­ bership" and the so-called "club" sends you a book or record unless you notify them within a certain time that you don't want it. The plan takes advantage of DULUTH, Minn .JS014 W. 3d St. normal forgetfulness or delay SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes (218) BA 2-4110 in sending back the billing card FRANKFORT, Mich P.O. Box 287 & Inland Waters 415 Main St. stating that you don't want the (616) EL 7-2441 HOUSTON, Tex 5804 Canal St. item. Often, too, because of Inland Boatmen's Union (713) WA 8-3207 some mix-up—claimed or ac­ JACKSONVILLE, Fla. 2608 Peari St. United Industrial (904) EL 3-0987 tual—^in receiving the notifica­ JERSEY CITY, N.J. .,99 MontKomery St. Workers (201) HE 5-9424 tion or returned items the book MOBILE, Ala 1 South Lawrence St. PRESIDENT or record club continues to (205) HE 2-1754 Paul HaU NEW ORLEANS, La 630 Jackson Ave. send merchandise, and bills you - (504) 529-7546 EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT for it. Sometimes, readers have NORFOLK, Va 115 3d St. Gal Tanner (703) 622-1892 complained, they have been VICE PRESIDENTS 2604 8. 4th St. Earl Shepard Lindsay Williams PHILADELPHIA, Pa (215) away and received notices too DE 6-3818 A1 Tanner Robert Matthews PORT ARTHUR, Tex 534 Ninth Ave. late to stop shipments. SECRETARY-TREASURER SAN FRANCISCO, CaUL 1321 Mission St. A1 Kerr (410) 626-6793 Problem Widespread SANTURCE, P.R. ..1313 Fernandez Juntos HEADQDABTERS ....675 4th Ave.. BUyn. The problem has been es­ Stop 20 (212) HY 9-6600 724 2848 ALPENA, Mich fiOO N. Second Ave. pecially widespread in the book SEATTLE, Wash 2005 First Ave. (517) EL 4-3616 (206) MA 3-4334 business with many complaints BALTIMOBE, Md. ..1216 E. BalUmoie St. ST. LOUIS, Mo 4577 OravoU Ave. (301) EA 7-4000 also about record clubs and en­ (314) 752-6500 BOSTON. Mass 663 Atlantic Ave. TAMPA, FU 312 Harrison St. cyclopedia supplements. But (617) 482-4716 (813) 229-2788 BUFFALO, N.Y 290 Franklin St. negative option plans also have SIC (716) TL 3-9259 TOLEDO, 0 935 Snnunlt St. IBU (716) TL 3-9259 (419) 248-3691 been used to seU monthly sup­ CHICAGO, ni 9383 Ewlny Ave. WILMINGTON, CaUf 450 Seaside Ave. plies of vitamin products and SIU (312) SA 1-0733 Terminal Island, CaUf. IBU (312) ES 5-9570 (213) 832-7285 other goods. CLEVELAND, 0 1420 W. 25th St. YOKOHAMA, Japan Iseya BIdK., (216) MA 1-5450 At hearings on the negative Room 810 DETROIT, HIeh. 10225 W. JeSerran Ave. 1-2 KalKan-Dorl-Nakaku option plan held by the FTC (313) VI 3-4741 2014971 Ext. 281 w Schedule of Membership Meetings Inland Boatman's Union, an affiliate of the Seafarers Inter­ national Union. It was in 1948 that the West­ cott Company bid for and won the government contract for the river mail deliveries, that began in 1896. But Westcott Company has been serving ships on the De­ troit River for even longer than that—since 1874—^with a shuttle service, delivering laun­ dry, messages, orders, and other items of importance to the crews on the passing ships. Service Vhal If the service were stopped, mail would be delivered to a series of docks up and down the river, for pick up by the ships. But the shipowners feel this is inefficient, b^ause many of the self-loading boats stay far from the docks in order to position the cargo properly when they are off-loading. In other cases, the ships find they must stop off-shore because of shallow water. In addition to the fact that mail service to the freighters would be much poorer, it would eliminate a one-of-a-kind serv­ ice, believed unique in the world. Joseph J. Hogan, vice-presi­ dent of Westcott Company, said that there are many vessels de­ livering mail from one shore point to another throughout the world, and pilot ships es­ corting large vessels in and out of port—but this is the oniy known ship-to-ship maii de­ livery service. Visitors from post offices aroimd the worid have made a point of stopping in Detroit to see the Westcott in action. •Neither Rain or Snow .. The action is wildest for the crew in October and November —right before the river freezes, and the season ends. The winds are gale force on many days, and the 45-foot Westcott must struggle to keep its appointed rounds. Hogan said he and the com­ pany's attorney went to Chicago, regional post office for the area, and protested the proposed closing. Officials said that thq action was being "contemplated" for economic reasons, and that a decision would be made soon. So far, there has been no word. Meanwhile, another season is underway for the /. W. West­ cott 2nd. Ml j\ 11 M -4 FTC May Soon Issue a Plan On 'Negative' Option Sales Directory Of Union Hails Page 14 last winter, representatives of consumer organizations protest­ ed this selling device. The Vir­ ginia Citizens Consumer Coun­ cil told about one woman who had complained about the negative option plan operated by CBS's Columbia Record Plan, and was told: "We do not wish to obtain any significant number of members on a posi­ tive order basis as it is not prof­ itable for us to operate in such a fashion." As this is written, the FTC is expected to issue an order banning such selling plans very soon. According to Salvatore Sangiorgi, an FTC consumercontact official, the commission is doing preliminary investiga­ tions and trying to get the com­ panies involved to handle com­ plaints as though the order al­ ready is in effect. The FTC itself initiated its forthcoming new rule because it believed, among other com­ plaints, that sellers using neg­ ative option plans failed to dis­ close clearly in ads to prospects how the plan really worked. The commission also felt that the sellers did not give sub­ scribers enough time to reply to the notices of forthcoming shipments, and failed to ter­ minate memberships immedi­ ately after receipt of cancella­ tion notices. Often negative op­ tion sellers have continued to send merchandise for several months after being told to can­ cel. Computers Blamed Sometimes the claimed ex­ cuse is that these problems are caused by computers. Bess Myersbn Grant, New York City's crusading consumer commis­ sioner, has just won a victory for consumers all over the coun­ try by getting an agreement from Reader's Digest to drop the computerized claims against people who get a "Condensed Book" they claim they never ordered. Mrs. Grant explained that the Reader's Digest sends out mil­ lions of entry forms for sweep­ stakes contests. In some cases a person enters the contest by checking "yes" or "no" on a card which also asks if he wants to subscribe to the "Condensed Book Club" and buy a series of books. Once these order forms are received, the information is transferred into a computer and the cards are destroyed. Thus, "a consumer who claims he checked the 'no' box and refuses to pay for the books is automatically dunned by a computer unable to understand the problem," Mrs. Grant points out. "Human interven­ tion was impossible because there was no way to check the accuracy of the information fed to the machine." Seafarers Log -M -Sj �Kinsman to Build Two New Vessels 1^ I"" Cleveland, Ohio The construction of two new proto-type ore vessels on the Great Lakes was recently ap­ proved in principle by the Maritime Administration, ac­ cording to a MARAD spokes­ man, heralding what could be­ come a shipbuilding boom on the Lakes by implementing the Merchant Marine Act of 1970. The new 630-foot self-unloaders, costing approximately $12.5 million apiece, will be built for the Kinsman Marine Transit Co. at the Lorain, Ohio, shipyards of the American Ship Building Co. Construction will start in August. The first ship is scheduled for completion in early 1973 and the second a year later, "This is only the start of 1 -i- S... y .•••j--n;o-T"..".-.v-i«f«rt»,-i.•..••• ..' * .•ViiiV"' -'.7vy'"-«i- '.. ,'r-...•ii;;i;\:;llri;-'-• -.j^ J - • - v.' ..rt-:; jj—-•^' This is an artist's conception of the design of two new self unloading ore vessels to be constructed for service on the Great Lakes. The ships will be used to transport iron ore from the upper Lakes to steel plants near Cleveland. Note the forward "crows nest" on the bow to facilitate river navigation. DISPATCHERS REPORT AricmSe, Gutf & Inland Waters Disfriet MoKh 1.197119 MOKII 31.1971 DECK DEPARTMENT TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED " 0 ir Groups Port Clara A Clara B 10 4 Boston hJfew York .......... 130 119 Philadelphia ........ 15 11 Baltimore v..Ui^..... 38 14 Norfolk : .............. jv: 22 .. 17:Jackconville 31 26 Tampa 8 13 Mobile 43 23 New Orleans 89 45 Houston 92 73 Wilmington .......... 23 29 San Francisco 86 101 39 37 Totals , 611 527 All Groups All Groups Oass A Class B Clara C Clara A Clara B 3 9 0 15 1 73 89 10 215 172 0 „ 9 5 23 25 7 88 49 22 45 3 ;1 24 , A;', . 28 16 24 17 45 57 2 0 16 17 4 2 17 76 19 1 22 56 183 29 4 120 84 61 131 99 6 23 39 0 61 44 107 84 2 129 128 30 49 38 11 , 1 462 397 \ 28 1042 839 ENGINE DEPARTMENT TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED Port Boston ..ih....'. New York Philadelphia ........ Baltimore Norfolk Jacksonville Tampa Mobile New Orleans Houston Wilmington ........ San Francisco ...... Seattle .................. Tptal^. ................, REGimERED ON BEACH All Groups Clara A ClassB 5 2 . 97 88 17 9 35 20 15 31 40 10 6 6 32 22 77 75 47 70 16 23 79 112 46 25 389 544 All Groups QassA ClassB ClaraC 3 0 -6 56 110 14 8 5 0 0 24 12 0 12 20 2 14 29 0 0 2 0 17 11 49 0 40 38 19 9 18 23 3 76 38 11 20 26 1 335 335 46 REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups QassA ClassB 5 147 20 67 29 19 9 49 112 80 21 100 37 695 4 214 19 65 53 65 15 35 193 101 40 104 32 940 what will be a series of great years ahead for the ship build­ ing industry, predicted Ameri­ can Ship Building's executive officer George M. Steinbrenner III in making the announce­ ment. "These two new type self-unloaders, for example, represent the first completely new design for a specific usage authorized under that same Merchant Marine Act." The new ships, with a beam of 68 feet, will be rated at 19,000 deadweight tons and be capable of carrying 15,500 tons of taconite ore. The self-unload­ ing machinery, capable of handling 5,000 tons an hour, will empty the holds in three hours, compared to 12 to 15 hours with manual unloading. Tulane Conference Keynoted by Hall New Orleans, La. SIU President Paul Hall keynoted the recent Tulane Uni­ versity Institute on Foreign Transportation and Port Opera­ tions with a message of hope for the future of the U.S. merchant marine. Hall said that he expected the next two years to be the "worst in recent history for the industry." But, said Hall, the nation's new maritime policy will be in effect after two years, and the situation will show marked improvement. He was the speaker at the institute's 22nd annual dinner. "For two years or more," he said, we'll be hanging by our toenails until these new U.S. ships are built." After the new ships are sailing. Hall forecast, the U.S. merchant marine will be competitive with fleets of other nations. An essential part of the re­ surgence of the U.S.-ffag ffeet, he said, will be a spirit of co­ operation among the labor, shipping and government inter­ ests in the maritime field. Cooperation was essential. Hall said, "because maritime is more than a way of making a living, it's a way of life. If we're going to preserve our way of life we're going to have to learn to live together better." In the past he said, "we've paid the price of not under­ standing the problem." He called for full utilization of the new maritime policy by all in­ volved in the industry. "It doesn't make sense to die together," he said, "when to­ gether we can live a wonderful way of life." The institute, sponsored by the Tulane University Graduate School of Business Administra­ tion, included five days of dis­ cussion of topics ranging from military shipping operations to marine insurance problems. As keynote speaker. Hall was presented a plaque by the Rev. David Boileau, SJ, direc­ tor of the Loyola Institute of Human Relations at the univer­ sity in New Orleans. STEWARD DEPARTMENT TOTAL REGISTERED TOTAL SHIPPED REGISTERED ON BEACH All Groups AH Groups All Groups QassA Clara B Class C QassA ClassB QassA ClassB 3 6 4 4 4 4 1 Boston ....M.^^,....v. 62 16 68 94 61 136 94 New York 3 . 9 8 3 8 11 Philadelphia ........ • • 4 75 49 Baltimore 26 10 16 5 1 Norfolk 28 9 9 9 11 17 '! Jacksonville ........ 33 19 13 14 19 12 12 Tampa . . 16 7 6 4 0 1 1 Mobile 64 ^ 17 32 7 • 0 20 New Orleans •V 61 39 -•3 147 87 34 16 Houston 14 46 46 32 v:V^s-a..50 Wilmington .......... 25 19 :• • 17 ;9 6 16 2 San Francisco 69 99 58 69 60 66 22 Seattle . ^ 58 23 ••• 41 25 • 19 6 1 511 Totals 376 357 . 82 ! - 707 225 Port n April 1971 SIU President Paul Hall, right, receives plaque of appreciation for an address on merchant marine affairs given at the Tulane University Institute on Foreign Transportation. Presenting the plaque is the Rev. David Boileau, SJ, of the Loyola Institute. Page 15 �Great Lakes Fleet Refits for A Aboard the S.S. Diamond Alkali in Detroit, Ordinai7 Seamen Scott Roach, left and J. SouUiere, pull some deck maintenance. AU, decks are chipped and painted to remedy the wear of a winter in port. Aboard the C, C. West, docked in Toledo, Chief Engi­ neer Robert Leavey, rear and Second Assistant David Grant check an air pump for preventive maintenance. Page 16 Crewmen manhandle a heavy liferaft to ita final destination atop the wheelhouse aboard the Hennepin, A crewman wrestles a new liferaft aboard the Hennepin as it is lifted aboard by a winch. The safety equipment is checked during the winter layup. Seafarers Log �Another Busy Shipping Season 'ven before the ice floes start to break up on the Great Lakes and ^ the Coast Guard icebreakers grind their way through frozen waters to open paths of commerce for another season, the men who work the ships of "America's Fourth Seacoast" are laboring aboard their ships in drydock to make them ready for sailing. From Duluth, Minn., on western Lake Superior to eastern ports bordering the eastern tip of the St. Lawrence Seaway, Seafarers start to get their ships in top shape for the busy season lasting from April until December. Their labors are necessary since a breakdown during the abbreviated shipping season can not be made up during the ice­ bound winter months. Before the fleet takes to the water after four months of inactivity, they must be reconditioned, provisioned and fueled. The engineers examine and overhaul their engines and the .deck crews correct the external damage caused by a winter of inactivity on the Great Lakes. It is also the opportunity for shipyard workers to do any necessary major repair work. The two work forces, shipboard and shoreside, and the merchants who provision the ships make the dockside a mass of activity. After the Lakes start to thaw and the icebreakers open the floes for the thinner-hulled merchantmen, the more than 60 ships in SlU-contracted fleets return to their home waters. They include bulk carriers and self-unloaders to feed ore from the upper Lakes to refineries and steel and iron mills on the lower Lakes; tankers to bring fuel to run much of the industry in the midwest; car ferries to bring American auto products throughout the United States and to the rest of the world and tugs and barges. Great Lakes shipping is vital to the continued growth of the rich industrial and agricultural producers of the midwest. The Lakes fleet allows grain and other agricultural needs to be shipped to the eastern and midwest population centers at the lowest practical cost. ff® William King, Second cook aboard the Hennepin, lends a hand with outside wm-k during the overhaul. Harry Posey, second cook, front, and Leon Furman, porter, whip up a meal for the crew aboard the /. F. ScAoelkopf. Great Lakes ships have a reputation as good feeders. A shipyard woricer puts the finishing touches on a new hull plate for the C. C. West. The deck crew of the Hennepin prepare a sling to hoist equipment aboard.. April 1971 The ship's provisioner comes alongside the Hennepin, docked in Toledo, where crewmen hoist aboard the ingredients for meals for the shipping season. Page 17 Y- • �Retired Seafarer Becomes Genealogy Expert New York CHy How many Seafarers can call to mind the maiden name of their great-great grandmother, the number of children she had, or her date of birth? Seafarer Ira Bishop can an­ swer these questions about his ancestors and scores of others like them with ease. Now retired from the sea on his SIU pension. Brother Bish­ op's extensive knowledge of his forefathers traces them back to at least the 1600s in England and colonial America. His research represents not a mere hobby, but nearly 13 years of extensive and creative study in the subject of geneal­ ogyAbout 10 years ago, an ill­ ness forced Bishop, who began seafaring in 1922 and sailed his last voyage as wheelsman on the Great Lakes vessel Highway 16, to retire. He then found he had the spare time to satisfy his curiosity about his forebearers. Working in his "dungeon," which is really the basement of his home in Homewood, 111., he began by compiling more than '200 pages of facts on four families who descended from 15 im­ migrants named Bishop who arrived in America before 1640. Rewarding Exp^ience "Genealogy is fascinating and I have found it to be one of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had," says Bishop. "I think everyone, if given the opportunity to do so, would like to know who they are and who their ancestors were. Wouldn't you? "My relative James Bishop was lieutenant governor of the colony of New Haven, Conn, in the year 1690. Records show that he rose to the high position because he had more than the average education offered to young men in those days," notes Brother Bishop. Further research leads Bish­ op to believe that he is also related to Richard Bishop, a wealthy English merchant who was one of the richest men in England dming the reign Of King James I and one of the. main supporters of the British Empire during financially bad years in the 1600s and 1700s. A bit of delving into the subject of heraldry has enabled Bishop to reconstruct what he believes to be an accurate draw­ ing of his family Coat of Arms. By translating written de­ scriptions of the components of the Coat of Arms into draw­ ings, he has pieced together what the family emblem looke4 like hundreds of years ago. Publishes Magazine From a small press in his basement. Seafarer Bishop pub­ lishes a quarterly magazine called "Bishop Families in America" and distributes it to subscribers all over the coimtry who are also named Bishop or have expressed an interest in the history of the name. As researcher and editor of the publication. Bishop answers letters from subscribers asking for names, dates and other facts relating to early settlers in America. "I began my feseMch by ex­ clusively dealing with the name Seafarer Ira Bishop at work in his study. Bishop, but since many Bishops married and changed their names since the early days, there are many questions that can be answered about other early American and English families," says Bishop. His files, which now run the • length of his basement, stacked drawet- upon drawer, contain over a million separate facts, by his own estimate, along with thousands of old birth, death and marriage certificates. "There are also many photo^aphs, books, and other fam­ ily heirlooms which make for a priceless library of informa­ tion." Set Library Goal The increased growth of this genealogical library is an im­ portant goal of the South Cook and North Will Counties Gen­ ealogical and Historical So­ ciety, a new organization formed by Bishop, which uses the slogan "A genealogical library and historical museum by the year 2000, second to none." Pensioner Bishop is presi­ dent of this society and also editor of its quarterly magazine "Where The Trails Cross." A broad sampling of the latest news in the science of genealogy, historical informa­ tion and articles from Bishop and other genealogists are pub­ lished in the magazine. He and the society are dedi­ cated to the himting down and preservation of genealogical material and informtion. "By preserving already exist­ ing records and by compiling new ones as births, death and marriages occur, it is hoped that future genealogists will find it easier than we have to do their work," says Bishop. "This is the legacy we hope to leave for future generations." Do/a 20 Yeors Old Clue fo Pollufion? Suitland, Md. Oceanographic data taken as much as 20 years ago from American, Canal Zone and Puerto Rican coastal waters as part of a program for the de­ fense of those areas may help provide today's scientists with a base on which to determine whether or not significant pol­ lution has invaded these waters, the Oceanographer of the Navy, Rear Admiral W. W. Behrens, Jr., USN, reported. The data not only included biological information in the form of analyses of the waters' plankton content—the tiny marine organisms that are at the bottom of the ocean'^ food chain—but also contained com­ prehensive information on much of the harbor-areas' water temperature, its salt, sedi­ ment and mineral content, and current flow. The data also in­ cluded analyses of the bottom sediments and topography. SIU Welfare, Pension and Vacation Plans CASH BENEFITS PAH) REPORT PERIOD FEBRUARY 1, 1971 to FEBRUARY 28, 1971 SBAFABEBS' WEI.FABE FUIN Scholarship Hospital Ben^ts Death Benefits Medicare Benefits ....• Maternity Benefits Medical Examination Program Dependent Benefits (Average $478.50) Optical Benefits Meal Book Benefits Out-Patients Benefits Summary of Welfare Benefits Paid Seafarers' Pension Plan—Benefits Paid Seafarers' Vacation Plan—Benefits Paid (Average—$489.60) Total Welfare, Pension & Vacation Benefits Paid This Period NUMBER OF BENEFITS AMOUNT PAID 6 1,757 26 641 34 1,805 1,670 313 220 3,871 10,343 1,731 $2,096.00 42,369.65 64,505.35 3,395.70 6,686.80 7,542.45 80,777.08 4,630.84 1,099.15 29,840.00 242,943.02 421,810.70 1,309 669,377.51 13,383 1,334,131.23 Seafarers Log �yiiu Converted Tanker Pays Off in Jersey m'fil\...-}rW> rilhe SlU-contracted Fort Hoskins (Cities Service) is a 633-foot X long T-2 tanker capable of carrying 220,000 barrels of oil per voyage. She was built in Portland, Oregon in 1945 for the Mari­ time Commission. In 1961 she was converted by Cities Service to her present lines. Her usual assignment is the Gulf-East Coast run. The oil-laden tanker recently paid off after a voyage from Houston and other ports in the Gulf at her dock in New Jersey and the pay­ off was put on film by the Log. |<"—IriiUMIfiliiiliyiiNi'i'i •• ' -^-VN J: =;i- ^''-'J Although he enjoys working with engines, Carl Pelh, who sails as oiler, looks forward to spending some time in port at voyagers end. Jim Robak, a 1970 graduate of the SIU's Harry Lundeberg School of Sea­ manship, flakes lines on deck. The young Seafarer has been sailing as an ordinary seaman aboard the Fort Hoskins since December and intends to earn as much seatime as he can. i t * . ft -a a a 1 f- . • >! 3 •» »• * « St f. >4 ;;nV'^ B-v Hn B - Bt. •••' -K a a » W ««r <! -...itkki ^^alilSSESS:-: Deck department Seafarer M. J. Danzey (left) receives an assist with union business from SIU Patrolman "Red" Campbell. SIU patrolmen re^arly visit ships to bring'members up to date on union a if airs. April 1971 A native of Texas, veteran Seafarer Jake Nash has been sailing SIU ships for nearly 19 years. He is a fireman-watertender aboard the Fort Hoskins. Page 19 �24Members Added to SlU Pension Roll Juan A. Coipe Juan A. Colpe, 58, joined the SlO in the Port of Philadelphia in 1946 and sailed in the steward department. A native of Puerto Rico, Brother Colpe now makes his home in Brook­ lyn, N.Y. His retirement ended a sailing career of nearly 25 years. Carlos Dall Carlos Dall, 65, is a native of the Philippine Islands and now lives in Manhattan, N.Y. He joined the SIU in Texas in 1941 and sailed in the deck department. He was issued picket duty cards in 1961 and 1962. Seafarer Dall retired after nearly 31 years at sea. LeRoy Rinker LeRoy Rinker, 62, is a native of Kalamazoo, Mich., and now makes his home in New Orleans, La. He joined the Union in the Port of Nor­ folk in 1944 and sailed in the stew­ ard department. Brother Rinker re­ tired after 26 years at sea. Jan Swiatek Jan Frank Swiatek, 65, is a na­ tive of Poland and now lives in Pas­ adena, Tex. He joined the union in the Port of Baltimore and sailed in the engine department. Brother Swi­ atek is a U.S. Army veteran of World War II. Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton, 66, is a native Brooklyn, N.Y. He joined the union in the Port of Baltimore in 1943 and sailed in the steward de­ partment. He is an Army veteran of World War II. When he retired. Brother Hamilton had been sailing for 30 years. Peter Charles Seroczynskl Peter Charles Seroczynskl, 67, joined the Union in the Port of New York in 1947 and sailed in the en­ gine department. A native of Penn­ sylvania, Seafarer Serocznyski con­ tinues to make his home there. Brother Seroczynskl retired after 25 years at sea. Daniel Michael Alvino Daniel Michael Alvino, 61, is a native of New Jersey and now lives in Brooklyn, N.Y. He joined the Un­ ion in the Port of New York in 1947 and sailed in the deck department. Brother Alvino has been active in the Union. He stood in the Greater ^ New York Harbor strike of 1961; the ^ Moore-McCormack-Robin Line strike of 1962, and the SIU District Council #37 beef in 1965. Seafarer Alvino retired after sailing 33 years. Bibiano ReboUedo Bibiano Rebolledo, 65, joined the union in the Port of New York in 1948 and sailed in the steward de­ partment. A native of the Philippine Islands, Brother Rebolledo now lives in New Orleans, La. He is an Army veteran of World War II. When he retired. Seafarer Rebolledo had been sailing 25 years. Israel Ramos Israel Ramos, 65, is a native of Puerto Rico and now makes his home in the Bronx, New York. He is one of the first members of the union, having joined in 1938 in the Port of Philadelphia. Seafarer Ramos sailed in the engine department as a fire­ man-oiler. When he entered the un­ ion he was also skilled as a cook. Brother Ramos was issued a number of picket duty cards in 1961. Joseph Giardina Joseph Giardina, 43, is a native of Pozzallo, Italy and now makes his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. He joined the SIU in the Port of New York and sailed in the deck department. Brother Giardina had been sailing 21 years when he retired. Ramon Roque Ramon Roque, 59, joined the union in 1940 in Miami, Fla. and sailed in the steward department. A native of Key West, Fla., Brother Roque now makes his home in New Orleans, La. When Seafarer Roque joined the union he was skilled as a barber. His retirement ended a sailing career of 33 years. John J. Metsnit John J. Metsnit, 66, joined the union in the Port of New York in 1944 and sailed in the deck depart­ ment. A native of Estonia, Brother Metsnit now makes his home in Middle Island, N.Y. He is an Army veteran of World War II. Seafarer Metsnit retired after 44 years at sea. Andrew Oliver NIcide Andrew Oliver Nickle, 63, is a native of Maryland and is now spend­ ing his retirement in New Orleans, La. He joined the SIU in the Port of Tampa in 1949 and sailed in the engine department. He retired after 29 years at sea. Five Seafarers Get 1st Pension Checks Charles Erwin Ritchards Charles Erwin Ritchards, 63, is a native of Thomsonville, Mich, and now lives in Elberta, Mich. He joined the union in the Port of Frankfort in 1953 and sailed on the Great Lakes in the engine department. Henry Hernandez Henry Hernandez, 62, joined the union in the Port of New York in 1945 and sailed in the steward de­ partment. He often served as depart­ ment delegate while sailing. In 1961 Brother Hernandez was issued a picket duty card. A native of "Puerto Rico, Seafarer Hernandez is now residing in New York City. Celso Rodriguez Celso Rodriguez, 59, is a native of Puerto Rico and now makes his home in Brooklyn, N.Y. One of the first members of the union. Brother Rod­ riguez joined in 1938 in the Port of New York. He sailed in the engine department. Brother Rodriguez retired after 34 years at sea. Harry Clarence Bennett Harry Clarence Bennett, 65, is a native of Frederick, Md. and now makes his home in Baltimore, Md. One of the original members of the SIU, Seafarer Bennett joined in 1938 in the Port of Baltimore. He sailed in the deck department. Brother Bennett retired after 39 years at sea. Fred Raymond England Fred Raymond England, 63, is a native of Missouri and is now spend­ ing his retirement in Seattle, Wash. One of the original members of the union. Brother England joined in 1938 in the Port of New York. He sailed in the engine department and retired after 34 years at sea. Thomas Francis Vaughan Thomas Francis Vaughan, 55, is a native of Boston, Mass. and now makes his home in Dorchester, Mass. He joined the union in the Port of Boston in 1947 and sailed in the en­ gine department. He is a Navy vet­ eran of World War II. Brother Vaughan retired after 30 years at sea. Travis Franklin Dean Travis Franklin Dean, 65, joined the union in the Port of Mobile in 1946 and sailed in the deck depart­ ment. A native of Alabama, Seafarer Dean currently lives in Harahan, La. He is a Navy veteran of World War II and served in the Navy from 1923 until 1945. Evangelos BoubouUnls Evangelos Bouboulinis, 63, joined the union in 1956 in the Port of Balti­ more and sailed in the deck depart­ ment. A native of Greece, Seafarer Bouboulinis is spending his retirement in Freeport, N.Y. He retired after 22 years at sea. A^house (Frenchy) MIchelet Alphonse (Frenchy) Michelet, 60, joined the SIU in the Port of New York in 1941 and sailed in the engine department. A native of Louisiana, Brother Michelet now makes his home in Metairie, La." William Gerard Siesfeld William Gerard Seisfeld, 55, is a native of Texas and is now spending his retirement in Belle Harbor, N.Y. He joined the union in the Port of New York in 1945 and sailed in the deck department. He served as de­ partment delegate while sailing. Five veteran Seafarers retired to the beach last month after long sailing careers. Together in New York from left are: C. Cans, P. Kronbergs, R. Svanherg, F. Nielson, and A. Diaz. They each received their first monthly pension checks following the membership meeting at the SIU Brooklyn hall. Page 20 Do Lleh Chen Do Lieh Chen, 66, is a native of China and now makes his home in Houston, Tex. He joined the union in 1943 in the Port of New York and sailed in the steward department. He retired after 28 years at sea. Seafarers Log I �Medicare Benefits Can Begin at 65 Seafarer Guss Janavaris, who has retired on an SIU pension, relates some of his experiences during a long career at sea spanning over 25 years and three wars. Pensioner Recalls Memorable Career New York City He was so anxious to serve After a sailing career filled that he joined the Coast Guard with dedication and a few reserve and was taught the ironies, Seafarer Guss Janavaris skills of seamanship in Sheepshas retired to the beach. head Bay, Brooklyn, N.Y. He hopes to move from his He began shipping in the Long Island, N.Y. home to a Atlantic and, ironically, a ship warmer climate—perhaps Ror- he was sailing during D-Day ida—and there relax with his was carrying the same "500 family and pursue his hobby of pound bombs" Janavaris had painting. been making back home in the At 53, Brother Janavaris steel mills. would have liked to continue He was born in Indiana and sailing awhile but circum­ at the age of ten went to Greece, stances prevented this and he staying there seven years while recently went on disability pen­ he attended high school and sion. prepared for college. At the Since he joined the union in the Port of New York in 1944, age of 17, however, a revolu­ Janavaris "served picket duty tion broke out in the country whenever there was any" be­ and he had to leave or be cause, as he says, "that's what drafted. Back in the United States he made the union." traveled all over the country Began Sailing in '40s Seafarer Janavaris began with his brother and got as far sailing during World War II as the state of Washington where when his job in a steel mill he worked in a Civilian Con­ made him ineligible for service. servation Corps (CCC) camp. Now, because of his pension, He volunteered for all branches of the Armed Forces but his he is able to stop his traveling job kept him from any accep­ and relax with his wife and two children, ages nine and fourteen. tances. It By A. A. Bernstein From time to time, some of our brothers, who are nearing. the age when they will be eligi­ ble for Medicare benefits, visit the SIU Pension and Welfare Plan office to get information on these benefits. From their questions, the staff has compiled a list of the most often asked questions for the information of Seafarers and their families. Anyone who has a question relating to Medicare and Med­ icaid or any other social security benefits should write to A. A. Bernstein, Director of Social Security Services, Seafarers Welfare and Pension Plans, 275 20th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215. Q: I will be 65 next year. Will I get hospital and medical insurance under Medicare or will I have to buy private in­ surance. I have always worked under social security. A: First, you will have the hospital insurance part of Medicare upon application at 65. This is protection you have already paid for and do not have to duplicate. It helps pay for in-patient care in a partici­ pating hospital and for posthospital care in an "extended care facility" or in your home. Second, you will also be able to sign up, if you wish, for Medicare Medical Insurance which helps pay doctor bills and other medical costs. You should receive a form in the mail several months before you are 65, asking you if you want this part of Medicare. If you want the medical insurance, complete the form and return it in the envelope furnished. This part of the plan is financed by monthly premiums of $5.30 from people who sign up for medical insurance and matching contributions from government funds. NOTICE Special Meeting In Accordance with the By-Laws of the Seafarers You may not be able to buy Illinois Building Corpora­ private health insurance that tion, a special meeting of equals the coverage of Medi­ the membership of the cor­ care. Many policies have "after poration will be held in con­ 65" clauses that cover only the junction with the May, 1971, expenses that Medicare does general membership meet­ not cover. If you do want addi­ ing of the Seafarers Inter­ tional health insurance, your national Union of North agent can tell you what your America-A 11 a n t i c. Gulf, policy will cover after 65. Lakes and Inland Waters Q: I just turned 65 and ap­ District AFL-CIO, for the plied for Medicare last week. I purpose of authorizing an now find that I will have to go amendment of Article III of to the hospital very soon. What the By-Laws of the Corpo­ will happen if I do not have ration. my card before I am admitted? A; You will be covered just as if you had your card. If necessary, the hospital can call the social security office to verify the Medicare coverage. Q: How is Medicare fi­ nanced?' A: Separate trust funds have been set up, one to finance the hospital insurance part of the Sacramento, Cal. program and the other to fi­ A bill which would exempt nance the medical insurance goods and supplies sold to ves­ part. Contributions to the hos­ sels engaged in interstate or pital insurance fund are made foreign trade or deep sea fishing during a Seafarer's career and from California's sales tax has are deducted automatically. been reintroduced in the state The shipowner pays an equal legislature by State Senator amount. The trust fund for Ralph Dills (D-San Pedro). medical insurance is maintained The measure, which passed through monthly premium pay­ both houses of the legislature ments, with half the cost com­ last year, but was vetoed by ing from the Seafarer and the Governor Ronald Reagan, pro­ other half from the federal vides for a four-year morato­ government. Q: I have a friend who is rium on collection of the tax under 65 and he gets help on on sales of ship's stores. California is the only state his medical bills and prescrip­ tions. Is this possible under on the West Coast which has not exempted ships's stores Medicare. A: No. Your friend may be from sales taxes. As a result, getting help under Medicaid. shipping companies have This program does help people avoided where possible the pur­ under 65 and, in some states, chase of supplies in California pays for prescribed drugs, eye ports, according to Sen. Dills. Dills said that lifting of the glasses and other items not cov­ ered under Medicare. Medicaid sales tax could bring nearly varies from state to state. On $74 million more a year in the other hand. Medicare, a ship business to California and program for people over 65, is provide more jobs on the uniform throughout the nation. waterfronts. Bill Introduced Killing Tax On Ship's Stores Safety Requires Readiness S afety is a prime concern of every Sea­ farer, and preparedness is a vital part of safety. The crew of the Portland (SeaLand) took time during mid-period drill in Port Elizabeth, N.J. to test their readi­ ness for calamity at sea. In the photo at left, the number 2 hfeboat has just been rapidly lowered from its davits, and the crew prepares to shove off from the side of the Portland as soon as the lifeboat . April 1971 touches water. At bottom, out on the open water, the men of the Portland strain at the oars, practicing a procedure that could someday make the difference be­ tween life and death. Observers said the lifeboat crews, many of whom received lifeboat endorsements at the Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship, earned a "well done" for their efforts during the safety drill. Page 21 �Jobless Rate Goes Up Again Washington, D.C. Unemployment topped the 6 percent level during die month of March, exceeding the "sub­ stantial imemployment" mark, according to figures released by the Department of Labor. The announcement also set off a partisan debate between Republicans and Democrats as to the effectiveness of Admin­ istration measures to fight the rise in joblessness. The official figures, as re­ ported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, show that the per­ centage of unemployed, which dropped to 5.8 percent be­ tween December and February, climbed back to the 6 percent plateau during March. The analysis ^so showed that most of the increase af- Mailmg Address Change? In recent months many requests have been received by the Log Mailing Depart­ ment to change addressess for those receiving copies of the paper. To effectively comply with these requests the mailing office has to know both the old and the new mailing ad­ dresses. Supplying both the old and the new addresses will help alleviate the prob­ lem of duplicate mailings. For yom convenience and for ours, please supply your old address and your new address when requesting a mailing address change. fected workers in the 16- to 24year-old age bracket. Economic Committee Itebate Secretary of Labor James D. Hodgson was in California with President Nixon and was un­ available for conunent but the rise .triggered questions from the Joint Economic Committee of Congress, under the chair­ manship of Sen. William Proxmire (D-Wisc.). Though Proxmire declared that committee questions should have no political implications, the session left no doubt that Democratic members had seri­ ous reservations about Repub­ lican claims of progress in fight­ ing joblessness, while Repub­ lican comments tried to ^ow a more optimistic viewpoint. The ELS statistics showed that 6 percent, or about 5.2 million Americans were out of work. Month by month gains in the construction industry and state and local government em­ ployment were countered by a decline in manufacturing jobs. There was also an increase in the average duration of un­ employment from 10.4 weeks to 10.8 weeks which increased the strain on state unemploy­ ment compensation funds. The out-of-work rate for white coUar workers rose from 3.5 percent to 3.7 percent and the jobless rate for workers covered by state unemployment insurance went up from 3.7 percent in February to 3.9 per­ cent in March. Earnings of rank-and-file workers were up slightly. This indicated a slight gain in buy­ ing power since average week­ ly earnings were up 5.1 percent in comparison with an increase in the cost of living of 4.8 percent. Witaesses Called During the Joint Economic Committee session. Sen. Prox­ mire called in Ewan Clague, former commissioner of the. Bureau of Labor Statistics, to recount the history of the BLS and its efforts to keep statistics out of politics. Clague said that the bureau had formerly used a technical briefing, no longer used, to present and explain the month­ ly figures. He said that he thought this former system worked well after much trial and error. Robert Geoffrey H. Moore, current commissioner and a Nixon appointee, told the com­ mittee that he agreed with the Administration's decision to scrap the briefings because they were not efficient and subjected the technical staff to "policy" questions by the press which, he said, were "awkward" to an­ swer. Harold Goldstein, assistant BLS commissioner, offered his normal analysis of the unem­ ployment statistics before the committee and faced questions from members of both political parties. At the conclusion of the ses­ sion, Chairman Proxmire warn­ ed that he intended to continue holding committee briefings on unemployment and cost-of-liv­ ing statistics to further examine the Administration's programs to overcome the high unem­ ployment problem. HLSS Grads Prepare to Leave for First Ships Graduates of Harry Lundeberg School of Seamanship Class 64 receive the congratulations of some older hands as they prepare to leave Piney Point for their first ships. From lefts Norfolk Port Patrolman Marvin Hauf, Trainee Bosun Doug Bledsoe, Hubert Crews, Dave Backrak, Richard Oay, Steven Battan, Dave Qeghom, Nicholas Lapetina, Robert Fowles, Juan Ayala, Thomas Qanton, Trainee Bosun Warren Houghton and SIU Seniority Upgraders Thomas K. Curtis, Robert H. Caldwell and William L. Haynie. Cannon salvaged from wreck discovered off Virginia Beach, Va. is hoisted from the deep to deck of a research vessel. Experts believe wreck was once a Union Qvil War revenue cutter or a Confederate blockade runner. Civil War Wreckage Located off Virginia The wreck of an armed sail­ ing vessel, possibly a Union Civil War revenue cutter or a Confederate blockade runner, has been located near the en­ trance to Chesapeake Bay off Virginia Beach, Va. The 19th century wooden wreck was found in 11 feet of water by two National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administra­ tion vessels, the Rude and the Heck, while both ships were dragging wire used to siuvey the bay bottom. Lt. Cdr. Merritt Walter, com­ manding officer of the vessels, said the wreck had apparently been hidden for years by tons of sand which had been dis­ lodged by recent dredging operations. Estimates are that the vessel had been 60 to 100 feet long and was equipped with several six-foot cannons of 3V4-inch bore. One of the 500 pound cannons was brought to the surface in "beautiful condition." No markings were detected on the black cast iron cannon which, despite the long years it was submerged, showed no sign of corrosion. The discovery of rock ballast in the wreck identi­ fies it as a sailing vessel with­ out mechanical power. No positive identification of the vessel can be made at pres­ ent, but if it was not a Con­ federate or Union ship, it may have been a smuggling craft or an inter-island trader. Civil War trading vessels were often heavily armed for a variety of reasons, including protection against coastal pirates that preyed on both Confed­ erate and Union ships alike. Scuba divers have so far not discovered exactly what man­ ner of cargo, if any, the vessel carried. If she was a smuggling craft, there is always the pos­ sibility of a hidden horde of gold. Tbe following Seafarers have checks waiting for them at union headquarters, 675 Fourth Ave., Brooklyn, N.Y. for wages earn^ aboard the Sapphire Steamship Co. vessels Sapphire Etta, Sapphire Gladys and A&J Mid-America. ^ ^ & J Mid'-Atnericd Frederick L. Bailey Robert A. Beevers Charles A. Carlson Frederico A. Gallang Victor A. Manero | Peter M. Meyers :: Jesse James Mciso Matthew J. Nolans Jr. Arthur D. Payton Alger R. Sawyer Edward Cr W. Wiedenhoeft Sapphire Etta Terry Gene Adams Nils C. Beck John P. Campbell Houston Jones Angel Rodriquez Donald T. Swaffar Warren W. Tarkington Larry E. Weilacher Calvin Winston ire Gladys Oass 61B graduates receive the congratulations of Baltimore Port Patrolman Ed Smith before departing for their first ships. Class members are: from left, front row, David Singelstad, Barry Saxon, Richard Maclntyre, Edward Perryman, Michael Mason and Trainee Bosun Robert Sharp. Back Row: Jay Sherhondy, Esau Wright, Charles Lehman, Larry Muzia and Earl Whitsitt. Page 22 William N. Bassett Thomas Benford $ Freddie Brown J. W. Johnson Thomas F. Kennedy Spiros B. Panagatos Epieanio Rodriquez Martin Sullivan E. Vargas Seafarers Log �Ziereis Cherishes a Lifetime of Memories Mementos After 50 Years of Seafaring St. Louis, Mo. The 50 years that John Ziereis spent at sea have given him a fascinating collection of mementoes and memories. . . . Of visiting nearly every comer of the globe. Of ports that are now closed to the free world, such as Shanghai, China, and Tientsin, North China. Of heavy seas and near misses. Of the changing life style of a Seafarer over nearly half a century of sailing. His interest in the sea was sparked by adventure stories he read as a young boy, living in Dubuque, Iowa, and watching the Mississippi roll by. The spirit that captured him did not dwindle as he grew older—and at 18 he signed on the cargo ship Archer, as an ordinary seaman, and headed for Cebu, Philippine Islands. A news clipping Ziereis saved from The Daily Bulletin of Manila, dated March 1923, talks of the problems of foreign bottoms carrying U.S. cargo— similar to stories he reads to­ day about the same problem, but written in a little different style: "The Archer's Captain, B. E. Hansen, is proud of his ship, will back her against any cargo boat afloat for good time and good service to patrons; so he just naturally wonders, when foreign ships bring lusty car­ goes out from the Atlantic sea­ board and his ship, sent out here to haul sugar cargoes to the best market in the world, gets leavings, if any 100 per­ cent Americans are responsible for the situation. He just wonders, that's all." Recalls 1928 Wages Now enjoying an SIU pen­ sion Zeireis remembers when, in 1928, he worked on the Minnekahoa for 25 days as quarter master—and was paid $50 for the voyage. After a brief stay in Colorado Springs, Colo.—where he found too much land and too little water—the urge to sail struck again, and he was soon work­ ing on ships on the Great Lakes, from both coasts, and on South American and Indian runs. In January of 1939, just a few months after the SIU was formed, Ziereis joined the un­ ion in the Port of Baltimore, and promptly sailed on the stUlactive coffee run made by Delta Lines to South America. Ziereis kept a copy of the ship's log, during a 1940 voy­ age of Delta's Delmar, which lists the return cargo from a Brazil run as 68,373 bags of coffee. Not all memories are of cargo and ports and the oceans. On a run during the Battle of the Bulge in 1944, Ziereis re­ calls that he helped a room­ mate build a Christmas gift for his son, using "scraps of any­ thing" they could find aboard the Walter E. Ranger. The three-year-old boy, who received a rocking horse called Pinto that Christmas, had no idea of the ingenuity involved. Like unraveling a piece of rope for the flaxen mane and tail, and using caps from Coca-Cola bottles for the bridle orna­ ments. And using an old piece of metal for a star on the saddle. "Pinto was a beauty," Ziereis recalls. Korean Mail Mix-up And, the veteran Seafarer re­ calls the time that in 1950, aboard the MSTS-chaitered cargo ship Coral Sea, that no mail was received for four months while the ship was in Korea. "The captain looked into the matter and found that our mail The yacht Aloha was a picture of beauty as she sailed the Seven Seas back in the early '20B when Ziereis sailed abodrd her. The yacht was owned by Arthur Curtiss James. April 1971 |i Back in • 1926 Seaman John Ziereis (inset) sailed aboard the yacht Crthera, which was owned by Mrs. William L. Harkness. Ziereis recalls that the Cythera "was one of the finest sailing vessels I've ever been aboard." was being forwarded in San leave the ship. Firemen from pairs were made and the Sea Francisco to the USS Coral Sea, Beaumont pumped water and Pioneer soon sailed and de­ a Navy ship in the Mediter­ foamite into the engine and livered cargo to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii." ranean. The error was straight­ ened out and we received four Ziereis was also on board the months accumulation of mail, Connecticut when her engine which made the crew a happy room was flooded in heavy one again." seas two days out of San Pedro, Calif, in 1969. And, shortly thereafter, the After the crew pumped out name of the MSTS ship was the engine room the ship was changed to SS Sea Coral. towed back by a Coast Guard Of the ships that stand out cutter with all hands safe. in Ziereis' mind, one is the The many adventures and Ponderosa which he sailed the many years at sea cannot aboard in 1963 and 1964. be easily forgotten. And even After leaving New York though Ziereis is enjoying his harbor on Nov. 4, 1963 on her retirement, he still misses the way to Pakistan and India "the sea. ship soon encountered a storm However, a part time job at the like of which ... no one the SIU Union Hall in St. Louis, aboard had ever experienced." Mo., keeps him in touch with Her cargo included fifteen 17-ton caterpillar tractors, auto­ pump rooms and the tanker seafaring. mobiles, 700-pound drums of was ordered away from the In a way it could be said he's caustic soda, huge crates of tin- docks "as it was a hazard to been making a long round-trip plate, and grain. voyage these many years. He the city." Ziereis vividly recalls what Ziereis along with the cap­ began on the Mississippi River happened: tain, mate and pilot "shifted in Dubuque, and is now back "The ship rolled, tractors the ship to the Old River near on that great river just some­ broke loose smashing the auto­ Port Neches, Tex., where re­ what south of where he started. mobiles flat as pancakes, the tinplate into bits and pieces; one tractor got stuck between decks which prevented it from SECTION 43. ROOM AND MEAL, plunging through the bottom of ALLOWANCE. When board is not furnished unlicensed members of the the ship ... the storm con­ crew, they shall receive a meal allow­ tinued for four days." ance of $2.00 for breakfast, $3.00 for The captain brought the dinner and $5.50 for supper. When ship and crew back to New men are required to sleep ashore, they York and then "resigned, say­ shall be allowed $10.50 per night. Room allowance, as provided in this ing he had had it." Section, shall be allowed when: Ziereis notes that the 1. Heat is not furnished in cold Ponderosa was repaired and weather. When the outside tem­ sailed again on Nov. 15. "All perature is sixty-five degrees (65°) went well from then on." or lower for 8 consecutive hours, this provision shall apply. Seafarer Ziereis has been on 2. Hot water is not available in other ships where there were crew's washrooms for a period of dangerous situations. twelve (12) or more consecutive Survived Refinery Explosion hours. He recalls that in the sum­ mer of 1967 "while docked and loading JP4 fuel on the Sea Heat beefs must be reported i»a Pioneer at Lake Charles, La., bninediately to the Department Delegate and Chief Engineer. several of the cracking plants You must keep a written record at the Cities Service Company of the beef Including: Refinery blew up." At least three men were killed in the blast. No one on the vessel was • Date hmt but the ship was moved • Time of Day to Beaumont, Tex. where it was • Temperature found that the explosion caused damage to the tanker and fuel was leaking into the engine and Ail heat beefs should be re­ pump rooms. corded and submitted on on After shutting down the boil­ individual basis. ers the crew was ordered to Page 23 �Iceberg Patrol Prevents Maritime Disasters uring the more than half a century since of the worst maritime disasters in Done history—the sinking of the supposedly "unsinkable" British passenger ship, Titantic, with the loss of 1,517 lives after she struck an iceberg in the shipping lanes off the coast of Newfoundland—the United States Coast Guard has maintained an iceberg patrol to try to prevent further such disasters. Apparently they have succeeded, since not one life has been lost in the Atlantic shipping corridors due to a collision with an iceberg in the past 57 years. The SS Titantic was enroute from South­ ampton, England, to New York, with a com­ plement of 2,224 passengers and crew when she struck an unreported iceberg 95 miles south of the Grand Banks off Newfoundland. The supposedly unsinkable vessel, the longest and most luxurious of her time, ripped a 300foot section of her hull beneath the water line and went down in the frigid waters in little more than two hours. The extent of the disaster shocked the ship­ ping nations of the world into gathering for an International Covention for the Safety of Life at Sea in 1913. The delegates recom­ mended that the menace of icebergs could be minimized only by thorough patrols during the danger season to chart floating "bergs" and warn vessels of their position and direc­ tion of drift. The ice islands of sizes up to thousands of feet long and almost 600 feet high, as high as a 50-story building, break off from the glaciers of western Greenland and follow the prevailing currents south and into the shipping lanes. During early springtime, hundreds of these floes, mostly submerged with only about a ninth of the ice showing above water, drift through the lanes of commerce until they are melted by warmer conditions in the southern Atlantic. ollowing the recommendations of the 1913 convention. President Woodrow Wilson charged the United States Coast Guard, then the Revenue Cutter Service, with maintaining a patrol to keep track of such floating shipping hazards. The International Ice Patrol was started in 1914, with the Coast Guard patrolling the icy waters below the 50th parallel, compiling and correlating all sightings and broadcasting the information to all the ships at sea. Before World War II, cutters were used to ply the sealanes and chart the positions of the bergs.After the war and with the development of long-range airplanes, aerial surveillance was substituted for the slower ship patrols. This year, C-130 "Hercules" aircraft, normally based at the Coast Guard Air Station at Eliz­ abeth City, N.C., are detached to fly out of a Canadian Air Force field on Prince Edward Island during the ice patrol season. Techniques of dye marking the bergs en­ ables the plane crews to chart their position from day to day and warn mariners of their expected headings. In conjunction with the airborne surveillance, two cutters, the Ever­ green, homeported in Boston, and the Rockaway, which sails out of ice patrol headquar­ ters at Governors Island in New York Harbor, share oceanographic duties to chart the cur­ rents that influence the drifting of the islands of ice. The agency hopes to develop a system of satellite tracking which will give exact posi­ tions of floating hazards during every orbit around the earth, about every 90 minutes. The patrol is supported by 18 nations who pay assessments according to the number of their ships that sail the Atlantic corridor. Cur­ rently, Belgium, Canada. Denmark, France, West Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Liberia, the Netherlands, Nor­ way. Panama. Spain. Sweden. Yugoslavia and the United States maintain the patrol. hatever the cost, it is certain from the number of ships lost to icebergs before Wthe patrol was initiated 57 years ago and the fact that not one ship has been lost from a collision with an iceberg during its operation, that ships and lives have been saved by cooperation of the maritime nations of the world. Mammoth icebergs, such as this giant found drifting off the coast of Newfoundland, are a mariner's night­ mare at night or when fog reduces visibility. This "herg" was marked with dye to help track its course. A C-130 ice patrol plane crewman prepares to drop a dye marker to stain an iceberg and facilitate future identification and tracking. Crewmen are also trained to estinaate icebergs' course and speed of drift. A U.S. Coast Guard C-130 "Hercules" ice patrol plane determines the position of icebergs and tracks their course of drift from day to day to maintain up-to-date warnings for ships at sea. Page 24 Seafarers Log �.< •! This iceberg, sighted by a Coast Guard plane off the coast of Labrador, is 100 feet high and 1,600 feet long. The blocks of ice and snow atop the berg are the size of large houses. This Is the highest iceberg ever spotted by the Coast Guard. The towering mon­ ument of ice was estimated to be 550 feet high, as high as a 50-story building. It was discovered by the ice patrol near western Greenland. /I A Coast Guard plane hedge-hops an ice­ berg field and "bombs'* one of the bergs with dye to mark it for further tracking. ' Coast Guard cutters, such as this one, work with the airborne observation planes to spot the bergs, track them and study the currents that propel them into shipping lanes. f. w I '• • , ft I -'d - FINANCIAL REPORTS. The constitution of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District makes spe­ cific provision for safeguarding the membership's money and Union finances. The constitution requires a detailed audit by Certified Public Accountants every three months, which are to be submitted to the membership by the Secretary-Treas­ urer. A quarterly finance committee of rank and file mem­ bers, elected by the membership, makes examination each quarter of the finances of the Union and reports fully their findings and recommendations. Members of this committee may make dissenting reports, specific recommendations and separate findings. TRUST FUNDS. All trust funds of the SIU Atlantic, Gulf, Lakes and Inland Waters District are administered in accordance with the provisions of various trust fund agree­ ments. All these agreements specify that the trustees in charge of these funds shall equally consist of Union and management representatives and their alternates. All expen­ ditures and disbursements of trust funds are made only upon approval by a majority of the trustees. All trust fund finan­ cial records are available at the headquarters of the various trust funds. SHIPPING RIGHTS. Your shipping rights and seniority are protected exclusively by the contracts between the Union and the shipowners. Get to know your shipping rights. Copies of these contracts are posted and available in all Union halls. If you feel there has been any violation of your shipping or seniority rights as contained in the contracts between the Union and the shipowners, notify the Seafarers Appeals Board by certified mail, return receipt requested. The proper address for this is: Earl Shepard, Chairman, Seafarers Appeals Board 275-20th Street, Brooklyn, N.Y. 11215 Full copies of contracts as referred to are available to you at all times, either by writing directly to the Union or to the Seafarers Appeals Board. April 1971 CONTRACTS. Copies of all SIU contracts are available in all SIU halls. These contracts specify the wages and con­ ditions under which you work and live aboard ship. Know your contract rights, as well as your obligaticms, such as filing for OT on the proper sheets and in the proper manner. If, at any time, any SIU patrolman or other Union official, in your opinjon, fails to protect your contract rights prop­ erly, contact the nearest SIU port agent. EDITORIAL POLICY—SEAFARERS LOG. The Log has traditionally refrained from publishing any article serving the political purposes of any individual in the Union, officer or member. It has also refrained from publishing articles deemed harmful to the Union or its collective membership. This established policy has been reaffirmed by membership action at the September, I960, meetings in all constitutional ports. The responsibility for Log policy is vested in an edi­ torial board which consists of the Executive Board of the Union. The Executive Board may delegate, from among its ranks, one individual to carry out this responsibility. PAYMENT OF MONIES. No monies are to be paid to anyone in any official capacity in the SIU unless an official Union receipt is given for same. Under no circumstances should any member pay any money for any reason unless he is given such receipt. In the event anyone attempts to require any such payment be made without supplying a re­ ceipt, or if a member is required to make a payment and is given an official receipt, but feels that he should not have been required to make such payment, this should immediately be reported to headquarters. CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS. The SIU publishes every six nionths in the Seafarers Log a verbatim copy of its constitution. In addition, copies are available in all Union halls. All members should obtain copies of this constitution so as to familiarize themselves with its contents. Any time you feel any member or officer is attempting to deprive you of any constitutional right or obligation by any methods such as dealing with charges, trials, etc., as well as all other details, then the member so affected should immediately notify headquarters. RETIRED SEAFARERS. Old-time SIU members drawing disability-pension benefits have always been encouraged to continue their imion activities, including attendance at mem­ bership meetings. And like all other SIU members at these Union meetings, they are encouraged to take an active role in all rank-and-file functions, including service on rank-andfile committees. Because these oldtimers cannot take ship­ board employment, the membership has reaffirmed the long­ standing Union policy of allowing them to retain their good standing through the waiving of their dues. EQUAL RIGHTS. All Seafarers are guaranteed equal rights in employment and as members of the SIU. These rights are clearly set forth in the SIU constitution and in the contracts which the Union has negotiated with the employ­ ers. Consequently, no Seafarer may be discriminated against because of race, creed, color, national or geographic origin. If any member feels that he is denied the equal rights to which he is entitled, he should notify headquarters. SEAFARERS POLITICAL ACTIVITY DONATIONS. One of the basic rights of Seafarers is the right to pursue legislative and political objectives which will serve the best interests of themselves, their families and their Union. To achieve these objectives, the Seafarers Political Activity Do­ nation was established. Donations to SPAD are entirely voluntary and constitute the funds through which legislative and political activities are conducted for the membership and the Union. If at any time a Seafarer feels that any of the above rights have been violated, or diat he has been denied his constitu­ tional right of access to Union records or information, he should immediately notify SIU President Paul Hall at head­ quarters by certified mail, return receipt requested. Page 25 'sm\ '• •f-v.;;--- �' r; . ^ • ;T' •V3-- •" In Pdrt^of N^w^^rlear^ ^ Crew members aboard the City of Alma (Waterman) relar in the mess room as they await ship's payoff. Frqpi the left are: Tony Escote, deck engineer; Ben Ladd, steward; Don Pase, electrician, and John Glover, 3rd cook. SIU Patrolman Louis Guarino checks matters with crew members dur­ ing payoff while the City of Alma was docked in New Orleans. From the left are: Ken Floyd, messman; Eduardo Padilla, messman, and Guarino. EUZABETHFORT (Sea-Land), Jan. 17—Chairman James S. Shcrtell; Secret^ Angeles Z. Deheza, $400 in ship's fund. No beefs and no disputed OT. Discussion held regarding wiper's chances of mak­ ing OT. FORT HOSKINS (Cities Serv­ ice), Jan. 31—Chairman Bill Feil; Secretary Juan Milendez. $11 in ship's fund. Vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done. Discussion held on delayed sailing. PENN CHAMPION (Penn Ship­ ping), Jan. 17—Chairman T. R. Sanford; Secretary Z. A. Markris; Deck Delegate S. A. DiMaggio; En­ gine Delegate B. Schwartz; Stew­ ard Delegate G. P. John. No beefs and no disputed OT. A hearty vote of thanks to the steward depart­ ment for a job well done. Vote of thanks was extended to the crew by the steward for their coopera­ tion. PENN CHAMPION (Penn Ship­ ping), Jan. 24—Chairman T. R. Sanford; Secretary Z. A. Markris; Deck Delegate S. A. DiMaggio; En­ gine Delegate B. Schwartz; Stew­ ard Delegate G. P. John. Repair Page 26 list was turned in and repairs have been started. No beefs and no dis­ puted OT. Vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done. PONCE (Sea-Land), Jan. 31— Chairman Dan Butts; Secretary Alva McCullum; Deck Delegate Victor Aviles; Engine Delegate James L. Cady; Steward Delegate Oscar Sorenson. $208 in movie fund. Repair list has been drawn up and turned over to the Captain No beefs. ANCHORAGE (Sea-Land), Jan. 24—Chairman B. E. Swearingen; Secretary J. C. O'Steen; Deck Dele­ gate M. Silva; Engine Delegate F. Buckner; Steward Delegate Robert Lee Scott, Sr. $25 in ship's fund. Some disputed OT in deck and eagine departments. Steward depart­ ment extended a vote of thanks to the crew for helping to keep pan­ try and messroom clean. Repair list turned in. JAMES (Ogden Marine), Jan. 24—Chairman Francis D. Finch; Secretary Frank L. Shackelford; Deck Delegate Joseph C. Wallace; Engine Delegate Joseph T. Ryan; Steward Delegate Bert M. W«i- field. Some disputed OT in deck and steward departments. Water problem still exists. Drains in gal­ ley need to be repaired. YORKMAR (Calmar), Dec. 31— Chairman 1. Moden; &cretary S. Gamer. No beefs were reported. Discussion held regarding SIU Hos­ pital Plan being increased due to the high cost of medical care. Vote of thanks to the steward depart­ ment for a job well done. OVERSEAS PROGRESS (Mari­ time Overseas), Dec. 27—Chairman William E. McCay; Secretary Har­ old P. DuCloux; Deck Delegate Milton R. Henton; Engine Delegate Douglas R. Laughlin; Steward Del­ egate Nathaniel Ayler. Motion was made that each man donate $.50 to build up a ship's fimd. Disputed OT in engine department. Vote of thanks to the steward department for the wonderful Christmas din­ ner. FORT HOSKINS (CiUes Serv­ ice), Jan. 24—Chairman B. Feil; Secretary Juan Milendez; Deck Delegate J. Paschall; Engine Dele­ gate Nathaniel P. Davis; Steward Delegate Melito Maldonado. $10 in ship's fund. No beefs. Everything .is nmning smoothly. Vote of • 24—Chairman R. D. Eisengraeber; thanks to the steward department. Secretary G. P. Thlu; Deck Dele­ SEATRAIN LOUISIANA (Hud­ gate Bertis H. Schenk; Engine Del­ son Waterways), Jan. 31—Chair­ egate Fred R. Kidd; Steward Dele­ man William Tillman; Secretary gate Hazam A. Ahmed. $61 in Wilson Yarbrough; Deck Delegate ship's fund. No beefs were report­ Frank E. Guitson; Engine Delegate ed. Kelly R. Graham; Steward Dele­ HOUSTON (Sea-Land), Feb. 7— gate William Armshead, Jr. Chairman George Ruf; Secretary beefs were squared away. $37 in A. A. Aragones; Deck Delegate M. ship's fund. Some disputed OT in Saliva; Engine Delegate James C. engine department. Donnell; Steward Delegate Arturo COLUMBIA BANKER (Colum­ Mariani, Jr. Few repairs still to be bia), Feb. 7—Chairman C.. Webb; done. No beefs. Vote of thanks to Secretary L. Bennett; Deck Dele­ the steward dq)artment for the gate S. Brunette; Engine Delegate good food and good night limch. A. F. Kuauff; Steward Delegate F. TOPA TOPA (Waterman), Dec. A. Cruz. No beefs and no disputed 20—Chairman J. Cisiecki; Secre­ OT. Repair list turned in. Vote of tary A. Rudnick; Deck Delegate G. thanks to the steward department H. Atcherson; Engine Delegate J. for a job well done. W. Wood, Jr.; Steward Delegate PENN CHAMPION (Penn), Jan. John G. Katsos. No beefs. Every­ 31—Chairman T. R. Sanford; Sec­ thing is running smoothly. Good retary Z. A. Markris; Deck Dele­ harmony amongst crew. Should be gate S. A. DiMaggio; Engine Dele­ a good trip. Some repairs have been gate B. Schwartz; Steward Dele­ completed. gate G. P. John. Repair list tumed STEEL ROVER (Isthmian), Dec. in. Everything 'is running smoothly 27—Chairman H. Treddin; Secre­ with no beefs and no disputed OT. tary A. Maldonado; Deck Dele­ Hearty vote of thanks to the stew­ gate J, R. Clowes; Engine Delegate ard department for a job well done. P. P. Pappas; Steward Delegate LOS ANGELES (Sea-Land), Jan. Alex Alexander. Motion made Seafarers Log i y 0 Ci �> Y' > >1* I • ( Francisco EscandeD Francisc6 Escandell, 68, was an SIU pensioner who passed away Jan. ?8 in Manhattan, N.Y. of heart dis­ ease. A native of Spain, Brother Es­ candell was a resident of Manhattan when he died. He joined the union in 1943 in the Port of Baltimore and sailed in the steward department as a chief cook. When he retired in 1967, Seafarer Escandell had been sailing 33 years. Among his survivors are his wife, Milagros. Burial was in St. Raymond's Cemetery, Bronx, N.Y. Manro Pacleb Mauro Pacleb, 60, passed away v July 30, 1970 from heart disease while on board the New Orleans in the Pacific. A native of the Philip- C; pine Islands, Brother Pacleb was a resident Of Seattle, Wash, when he died. He joined the union in the Port of New York in 1960 and sailed in the engine department. He had been sailing 12 years when he died. His body was removed to Honolulu, Hawaii. Among his survivors are a brother, Placido Pacleb of Aiea, Hawaii. Willie H. Cniker • ' « Willie H. Craker, 45, passed away Aug. 29, 1970 in E>eLisle, Miss. He and his wife accidentally drowned when the vehicle they were in went off a bridge. A native of Ellisville, Miss., Brother Craker was a resident of Picayune, Miss., when he died. He joined the union in the Port of New Orleans in 1967 and sailed in the engine department. Seafarer Craker was an Army vet­ eran of World War II and served in the Army until 1957. Burial was in Sand Hill Cemetery in Ellisville, Miss. J<An Perry Brooks John Perry Brooks, 59, passed away Jan. 18 in New Orleans, La. He joined the union in the Port of New Orleans in 1947 and sailed in tbe steward department. A native of Flor­ ida, Brother Brooks was a resident of New Orleans, La. when he died. Sea­ farer Brooks had been sailing 23 years when he passed away. Among his survivors are his wife, Ethel. Burial was in St. Ber­ nard Memorial Gardens in Chalmette, La. Armando A. Meriltti Armando A. Merlitti, 53, passed away Jan. 30 after an illness of some months in the USPHS Hospital in San Francisco, Calif. A native of Akron, O., Brother Merlitti was a resident of Long Beach, Calif, when he died; He joined the union in the Port of Wil­ mington in 1967 and sailed in the steward department. He was a Ma­ rine Corps veteran of World War II and served in that branch of the Armed Forces from 1941 to 1952. Among his survivors are his brother, Anthony Merlitti of Long Beach, Calif. Burial was in Holy Cross Cemetery in Sum­ mit County, O. Gariand E. Scho^iert Garland E. Schuppert, 51, passed away Dec. 5, 1970 from pneumonia in Seattle, Wash. He joined the union in the Port of Seattle in 1969 and sailed in the deck department. A na­ tive of Depauw, Ind., Brother Schup­ pert was a resident of Seattle, Wash, when he died. Brother Schuppert was a Navy veteran of World War II. He served in the Navy from 1937 to 1960. Among his survivors are two daughters and three sons. Burial was in Veteran's Cemetery in Seattle, Wash. James Raymond Simms James Raymond Simms, 59, passed away Jan. 15 from heart trouble at Naval Hospital in San Diego, Calif. A native of Jersey City, N.J., Brother Sinuns was a resident of San Diego, Calif, when he died. He joined the union in the Port of New York in 1952 and sailed in the engine depart­ ment. He served in the A&G strike of 1961, the District Council #37 beef in 1965 and the Chicago beef in 1965. Brother Sinuns is an Army veteran of World War II. Among his survivors are his sister, Mrs. Mary Place of San Diego, Calif. Burial was in Veterans Cemetery in Sawtelle, Los Angeles, Calif. Hartdd Peter Scott Harold Peter Scott, 49, was an SIU pensioner who passed away Feb. 21 of heart disease in the USPHS Hospi­ tal in New Orleans, La. He joined the SIU in the Port of Mobile in 1945 and sailed in the deck department. A native of Louisiana, Brother Scott was a resident of New Orleans, La. when he died. He had been sailing 22 years when he retired. Among his survivors are his brother, Edlred Scott of New Orleans, La. Burial was in Garden Memories, Jefferson Park, La. James A. Myiidt James A. Myrick, 49, passed away May 30, 1970 from heart disease in New Orleans, La. A natice of Tennes­ see, Brother Myrick was a resident of Chicago, 111. when he died. He joined the union in the Port of San Fran­ cisco in 1967 and sailed in the stew­ ard department. Seafarer Myrick was an Army veteran of World War II. when he reitred from the sea. Among his survivors are his sister, Mrs. Cornelius M. Neely of Chicago, 111. Burial was in Burroughs County Cemetery in Chicago, 111. David K. Jones David K. Jones, 54, passed away Nov. 17, 1970 from heart disease in Portland, Ore. Brother Jones joined the union in the Port of New Orleans in 1967 and sailed in the steward de­ partment. A native of Louisiana, Sea­ farer Jones was a resident of Los Angeles, Calif, when he died. Previ­ ous to joining the union. Seafarer Jones worked nine years for a broadcasting company. Among his survivors are his wife. Ruby. His body was removed to New Orleans, La. Don J. Af^i^ate Don J. Applegate, 41, passed away Feb. 20 in Benicia, Calif. A native of Ohio, Brother Applegate was a resident of San Pedro, Calif, when he died. He joined the union in the Port of Wilmington in 1960 and sailed in the deck department. He had been sailing over 11 years when he died. Among his survivors are his aunt, Mrs. Sally Lucci of Mt. Vernon, O. Burial was in Green Hills Memorial Park in California. William Robert Mcllveen William Robert Mcllveen, 72, was an SIU pensioner who passed away Feb. 23 of heart trouble in USPHS Hospital in San Francisco, Calif. A native of New York, Brother Mcll­ veen was a resident of San Francis­ co, Calif, when he died. He joined the union in the Port of New York in 1944 and sailed in the steward department. When he retired in 1962, Seafarer Mcll­ veen had been sailing 39 years. Burial was in Olivet Memorial Park in Colma, Calif. - Digest of SIU Ships' Meetings * that each crewmember donate $1 to build up ship's fund. Everything is running smoothly. No beefs and no disputed OT. Vote of thanks to the steward department for a job well done. BRADFORD ISLAND (Steuart Tankers), Feb. 14—Chairman J. R. Thompson; Secretary T. Savage; Deck Delegate Arthur P. Finnell; &igine Delegate Raymond M. Da­ vis; Steward Delegate F. R. Strick­ land. Some disputed OT in deck department. Motion made to have retirement with 15 years seatime and no age limit. JEFF DAVIS (Waterman), Jan. 17—Chairman T. Chilinski; Secre­ tary F. Sylvia. $58 in ship's fund. Everything is running smoothly. No beefs and no disputed OT. STEEL APPRENTICE (Isthmi­ an), Feb. 14—iChairman A. J. Surles; Secretary Paul Lopez; Deck Delegate C. Callahan; Engine Dele­ gate Paul Aubain; Steward Delegate C. Modellas. $40 in ship's fund. Some disputed OT in engine de­ partment. Patrolman to be con­ tacted regarding water condition aboard ship. COLUMBIA (U.S. Steel), Jan. April 1971 10—Chairman R. H. Schemm; Sec­ retary M. S. Sospina; Deck Dele­ gate Tames S. Rogers; Engine Dele­ gate Florian R. Clarke; Steward Delegate C. Winskey. No beefs. Everything is running smoothly. The entire crew and officers en­ joyed the Christmas and New Year's Day dinners and extended a vote of thanks to the steward de­ partment for a job well done. BUCKEYE PACIFIC (Buckeye), Jan. 24—Chairman Joe Carroll; Secretary W. H. Todd; Deck Dele­ gate A. V. Trotter; Engine Dele­ gate William C. Koons, Jr.; Stew­ ard Delegatee Sidney C. Lane. $22 in ship's fund. Discussion held cm various matters. No disputed OT. Vote of thanks was extended to the steward department for a job well done. ARIZPA (Sea-Land), Feb. 14— Chairman D. Fitzpatrick; Secretary W. Lescovich; Deck Delegate Frank Rodriguez, Jr.; Engine Dele­ gate Daniel Butts, Jr.; Steward Del­ egate H. Connolly. $5 in movie fund and $7 in ship's fund. No beefs and no disputed OT. TRANSPACIFIC (Hudson Wa­ terways), Feb. 7—Chairman Ber­ nard Fenowicz'r Secretary Maximo Bugawan; Deck Delegate Walter Page; Engine Delegate Bernardo Tapia. No beefs. Few hours dis­ puted OT in deck department. Vote of thanks was extended to the stew­ ard department for a job well done. CHARLESTON (Sea-Land), Feb. 21—Chairman John C. Alberti; Secretary Ramon Aguiar; Deck Delegate Tony Kotsis; Steward Del­ egate Juan Fernandez. $16 in ship's fund. Discussion held regarding Sea-Land overtime control guide. Vote of thanks to the steward de­ partment for a job well done. INGER (Reynolds), Feb. 14— Chairman James Mann; Secretary Harold M. Karlsen; Deck Delegate Joe R. Bennett; Engine Delegate William J. Jones; Steward Delegate Victor O'Briant. $25 in ship's fund. Motion made to go back to the old form for vacation, welfare bene­ fits or simplify the present form. Discussion held regarding hospital benefits—they should be raised from $56 to $112 per week. STEEL VENDOR (Isthmian), Feb. 12—Chairman Daniel Dean; Secretary George W. Gibbons; Deck Delegate B. B. Darley; Engine Delegate Thomas P. Toleda; Stew­ ard Delegate James P. Barclay. No beefs except that the crew com­ plain about not receiving any commimications from the Union. Vote of thanks to the steward depart­ ment for the good food. DEL SUD (Delta), Feb. 12— Chairman A. Doty; Secretary E. Vieira; Deck Delegate L. Lachapell; Engine Delegate E. Fairfield; Stew­ ard Delegate J. Kelly, Jr. No beefs were reported. Few hours disputed OT in deck department to be set­ tled by patrolman. Written resolu­ tions regarding working rules was submitted to Headquarters. Vote of thanks was extended to the stew­ ard department for a job well done. YORKMAR (Calmar), Feb. 21— Chairman Irwin Moen; Secretary Sidney Gamer. Everything is run­ ning smoothly in all departments. STEEL MAKER (Isthmian), Jan. 7—Chairman Charles Stennett; Sec­ retary H. Bennett. $30 in ship's fund. Some disputed OT in deck and steward department. KYSKA (Waterman), Feb. 14— Chairman W. G. Thomas; Secre­ tary E. O. Johnson; Deck Delegate David D. Dickinson; Steward Dele­ gate J. C. Roberson. $72 in ship's fund. Some disputed OT in deck department, otherwise everything is miming smoothly. EAGLE TRAVELER (United Maritime), Feb. 21 — Chairman John Bergeria; Secretary Algernon W. Hutcherson; Deck Delegate George T. McKenna; Engine Dele­ gate Octavian Bogdan; Steward Delegate Emanuel Low. $5 in ship's fund. No beefs and no disputed OT. OVERSEAS JOYCE (Martime Overseas), Feb. 21 — Chairman Ame Hovde; Secretary Edwin Cooper; Deck Delegate Thomas L. Magras; Engine Delegate James Schols; Steward Delegate R. Bol­ lard. One man in deck department missed ship in New Orleans. No beefs were reported. Motion made to lower the age requirement for retirement to 50, with 20 years seatime. TAMPA (Sea-Land), Feb. 21— Chairman G. Castro; Secretary E. B. Tart; Deck Delegate C. Mann; Engine Delegate J. Hagner; Stew­ ard Delegate F. LaRosa. Everything is running smooth with no beefs. Some disputed OT in deck and en­ gine departments. Page 27 �HLSS Lifeboat Trainees Complete Coast Guard Examination ,IV.. .-•-t HLSS Lifeboat Instructor Paul Veralopulo, left, and Trainee Bosun W. Gregory, right, posed with graduates of Lifeboat Class 68. First row, from left: R. Perry, D. Ard, E. Carlson, R. Dawson, W. Davis, E. Garcia, J. Carroll, P. Baliukonis. Second row: S. Kusiak, E. Newman, R. Raymond, D. Jackson, E. Lambertson, D. Alford, J. Thomas, R. Frame. Third row: G. Milliken, D. Hudson, S. McEnhill, T. Brewer, K. Esannasan, K. Starcher, R. Ard. Fourth row: C. Macon, R. Conroy, M. Barlow, W. Snook, E. Givens, P. Wals^ R. Keith. Top row: T. Egan, S. Whitney, E. Owens, G. Carter, M. Borders, A. King, P. Kerney. Seafarer Mayturn Earns Chief Mate's License After launching his sailing career as an ordinary seaman with the SIU, followed by sev­ eral years seatime as a bosun. Seafarer John F. Maytum has become the ninth Seafarer to work his way up from the fos'cle to a Chief Mate's license after training at the Deck Officer's School jointly sponsored by the SIU and the Associated Mari­ time Officers Union. Brother Maytum joined the SIU in the port of New York in 1957, sailing in the deck de­ partment. He rapidly gathered the seatime which enabled him to sail as an able-bodied sea­ man and then bosun on SIUcontracted ships. "While reading the Log one day, I saw an announcement on the SIU-AMO Deck Of­ ficers School and decided to apply. I was accepted and be­ gan my schooling for a li­ cense," recalls Brother Maytum. Instruction 'ExceUent* "I found the instructors and the equipment at the school to be the best avaUable, and after several months was ready to sit for the examination." Brother Majtiun, right, Maytum had a winning com­ bination of good grades and seatime and received his second mate's license in August of 1968. It was then back to sea for Brother Maytum who had al­ ready decided to work towards a chief mate's license through more schooling and more sea­ time. He returned to the Deck Officers School in 1970 and completed his training early this year. Entails Hard Work Brother Maytum notes that the licensing examination given by the Coast Guard for a Chief Mate's license requires a good deal of study, combined with practical knowledge of the sea. "Again I found the SIUAMO school to be the best available schooling for mates in the industry, and I could not have made it up the ladder without the assistance it gave me," says Maytum. With his chief mate's license only a few months old, May­ tum is already working towards a Master's License. congratulated by SIU Representative Ed Mooney. Toby, canine mascot of the Lundeberg School, trotted into the picture of graduates of Lifeboat Oass 67. First row, from left: M. Hall, M. Shappo, G. Nickerson, L. Kittleson, S. Sylvester, J. Anderson, T. Frazier, W. Smith, J. Yokum, and Toby. Second row: W. Snow, E. Walker, D. Tolan, T. Martin, J. Gilmartin, B. Allen, R. Bridges, E. Kapstein, J. Williamson. Third row: S. Rose, F. Cassel, F. Collins, S. Jones, S. Lafferty, M. Ruscigno, S. Catalano, J. Butler. Top row: R. Nesinith, C. Redding, J. Hambleton, J. Szabary, C. Firman, D. Nickerson, T. Frederick. Instructor Veralopulo stands at right. SIU arrivals Blanton McGowan, born Sept. 16, 1970, to Searfarer and Mrs. Blanton L. McGowan, McCool, Miss. Ivy Peterson, born Dec. 17, 1970, to Searfarer and Mrs. Ron­ ald K. Peterson, New Orleans, La. 70114. Terrie Doyle, born Feb. 8, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. John T. Doyle, New Orleans, La. Ty GiHikln, born Nov. 3, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Nor­ man D. Gillikin, New Orleans, La. LDIian Gonzalez, born Feb. 22, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Pablo E. Gonzalez, Ponce, P.R. Jose Colls, bom Feb. 26, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Jose Colls, Lares, P.R. George Evans, Jr., born Feb. 2, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. George R. Evans, Newark, N.J. James Furman, bom Jan. 7, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. John A. Furman, Portsmouth, Va. Patricia Garza, bom Jan. 28, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Pete Garza, Texas City, Texas. Jason Proudlove, born Aug. 20, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Wayne J. Proudlove, Newark, Del. Constantinos Slmos, bom Mar. 4, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Simeon Simos, Brooklyn, N.Y. Rhonda Polling, born Oct. 27, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ron­ ald S. Polling, Duluth, Minn. Yictmia Beck, bom Feb. 20, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Arthur Beck, Newark, Calif. Deilsa Ctdeman, born Nov. 22, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ed­ ward L. Coleman, Theodore, Ala. Louis Miller, Jr., bom Mar. 12, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Louis J. Miller, Port Huron, Mich. Michele Trikogiou, born Feb. 19, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Antonois M. Trikogiou, Balti­ more, Md. Gustavo Morales, born Mar. 1, 1971 to Seafarer and Mrs. Angel L. Morales, Hatillo, P.R. Heather Shasld, bom Feb. 20, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. John A. Shaski, Jr., Sault Ste. Marie, Mich. Frankie Smith, born Nov. 21, 1968, to Seafarer and Mrs. Clyde J. Smith, Mobile, Ala. Annette LaCroix, bom Feb. 20, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Jon E. LaCroix, St. Clair, Mich. Sc<dt Jackson, bom Feb. 25, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Rich­ ard T. Jackson, Cudahy, Calif. Charles Martinez, bom Jan. 1, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. 29, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. William E. McKenna, Cleveland, Charles A. Martinez, Tampa, Fla. 0. Yarira Torres, born Dec. 31, Sharon Dngas, born Dec. 22, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ivan 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Law­ Torres, Ponce, P.R. rence J. Dugas, Houma, La. Ray Wright, born Mar. 1, 1971, Kathleen Gallagjiei': horn Mar. to Seafarer and Mrs. Ray A. 1, 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Wright, Sr., Aydlett, N.C. Charles J. Gallagher, Nederland, Yolanda Scypes, born June 13, Texas. 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Her­ Lamar . Lowe, bom Dec.' 24, bert L. Scypes, Mobile, Ala. 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Don­ Vkki Canard, born Feb. 24, ald R. Lowe. 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. James Brian Motve, bom Feb. 12, W. Canard, Hattiesburg, Miss. 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Enoch John Hudgins, born Feb. 9, B. Moore, Greeneville, Tenn. 1971, to Seafarer and Mrs. Wil­ Kelvin Wiley, bom Nov. 24, liam W. Hudgins, Virginia Beach, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ed­ Va. , Michael Daniels, bom Nov. 18, ward J. Wiley, Mobile, Ala. Tari Trow, bom Jan. 17, 1971, 1970, to Seafarer and Mrs. Masto Seafarer and Mrs. Rotert E. ceo E. Daniels, Belhaven, N.C. Collera McKenna, bom Nov. Trow, Port Arthur, Texas. WUIiam Datzko Aboard the Overseas UUa (Maritime Overseas) ship's sec­ retary-reporter William Datzko reports that during the regular Sunday meeting a long discus­ sion was held on the unhappy news that the government is considering closing the USPHS hospitals. All hands expressed deep concern over- the prob­ lems Seafarers will face the government goes ahead with such action. As part of its offi­ cial ship's minutes, the crew of the Overseas Vila asks every SIU member, at sea or on the beach, to write to their sena­ tors and representatives in Washington to protest against the closings. Letters of protest from the Brothers aboard the Overseas Ulla are already on their way to Washington. r Sea-Land Co. Plans Moderniiafion Elizabeth, New Jersey SlU-contracted Sea-Land Service plans to proceed with construction of 20 new vessels over the next few years at the cost of some $400 million, according to J. Scott Morrison, traffic vice president of Sea-Land. Morrison has said that some 47 ships will have to be replaced over the long run, and Sea-Land will be­ gin with its 20 oldest ships and keep modernizing its fleet. Seafarers Log - �r- SIU Ships Commitfees: The Union at Sea ^ nion men pay good money to keep their member­ ship. For their money they have a right to expect that wherever they go in this wide world, the union will be with them, continuing its tradition of services and protection for the member. about union affairs and linking them with the union's dem.ocratic processes. Members of the committee, as they perform their duties make a vast and important contribution to trade unionism, they serve their brothers. Seafarers throughout the world are tied to their union through a unique device—the Ships' Committee. Composed of delegates and ranking rated men, the committee is the vital link between the working man and his union. The committee stays in constant touch with head­ quarters, enabling the headquarters staff to maintain the necessary records on each man, records that will be the deciding factor for a host of benefits. And headquarters stays in touch with the committees around the world, relaying to them items of interest A 11 ships' committees are established and operated in line with the basic principle espoused by the SIU—the principle of democracy. Each Sunday while at sea a meeting is called by the ship's committee chairman. Each and every crew member knows that he has the right—and the duty— to speak on any matter important to his Union, his ship and his job. It is the responsibility of the ship's committee to see that this right is protected for all members of the unlicensed crew. There are six members of the ship's committee— chairman, secretary-reporter, education director and St$el Navigator STEEL NAVIGATOR (Isthmian)^—The Steel Navigator's committee includes from left, standing, J. D. Wilson, steward delegate; B. R. Kitcliems, ship's chairman; V. Szymanski, secretarx-reporter; II. Kaufman, deck delegate, M. Weikle, engine delegate. Seated is ship's educational director F. Wilkenson. three delegates, one from each of the three depart­ ments aboard ship. The chairman calls and directs the meeting. The secretary-reporter is responsible for all of the com­ mittee's correspondence with union headquarters and must keep the minutes of the meetings and report actions taken to headquarters. director is in charge of maintaining Theandeducation distributing all publications, films and mechan­ ical equipment to Seafarers wishing to study upgrad­ ing, safety, health and sanitation. The department delegates, elected by members of the deck, engine and steward departments, represent daily their men on the committee and contribute heavily to its decisions. All these men are part of that bridge between ship and shore. '. '< .'.y. Transoregoil 'yfi TRANSOREGON (Hudson Waterways)—Aboard the Transoregon are from left, standing: T. Ryan, deck delegate; A. Figueroa, steward delegate and J. Paszk, engine delegate. Seated from left area: E. Delande, educational director; H. Laner, secretary-reporter and A. Gylland, ship's chairman. Wransidaho •il TRANSINDIANA (Hudson Waterways)—With a North Atlantic voyage behind them, the members of the ship's committee on the Transindiana relax in port. From left are: C. Gemens, deck delegate; O. Lefsaker, engine delegate; D. Holm, ship's chairman, D. Keith, steward delegate; O. Smith, secretary-reporter, and J. Shipley, educational director. TRANSIDAHO (Hudson Waterways)—SIU Patrolman E. B. MacAuley (seated, right) and New York Port Agent Leon Hall (left) discuss ship's business with Bosun R. Burton. Looking on are, standing from left: E. Dale, steward delegate; J. Petrusenic, deck dele­ gate; J. McCellano, engine delegate, and A. Shrimpton, ship's secretary-reporter. Overseas Audrey i I* k t % M---' OVERSEAS AUDREY (Maritime Overseas)—Catching up with the latest news ashore are, from left seated: J. Sanchez, engine delegate; A. Josepson, d^k delegate, and A. Celestine, steward delegate. Standing are R. Wardlan, ship's chairman and T. R. Good­ man, ship's secretary-reporter. April 1971 WACOSTA (Waterman)—^Looking forward to some time ashore after a good voyage are from left: D. McMullan, deck delegate; R. Ramos, steward delegate; P. Korol, edu­ cational director; A. Sakellis, ship's chairman; M. Caldas, secretary-reporter, and P. Van Milican, engine delegate. Page 29 �':s -"<:'r - New Vessel Docks in New York Vv' i;T m k. The bell aboard the SL-181 is rung by Frank Mantbey who joined the union on April 11, 1947 in the Port of Baltimore. ri^he newest of Sea-Land's fleet came into New York X harbor last month and she was truly an iippressive sight. The ultra-modern, SlU-contracted containership SL-181 is 720 feet long, 95 feet wide and has a dead­ weight tonnage of 25,515 long tons. She is a sleek looking ship with a draft of 34 feet and a service speed of about 23 knots. The addition of this ship to the Sea-Land fleet along with her sister-ship the SL-ISO, means more ships under SIU contract. It means, therefore, that Seafarers will be traveling on an up-to-date ship with modem quar­ ters for living. Each crewman has his own room and heat­ ing and air conditioning he can regulate. Also, a big inno­ vation in the rooms are the square windows instead of the traditional portholes. The ship will soon go into permanent container service. Tbe ship's committee aboard tbe SL-181 are all baouy faces. From left are: Frank Sullivan, engine delegate; George Klovanicb, education director; Angelo Romero, steward delegate; Gary Waller re­ porter-secretary; Steve Kodziola, deck delegate, and Don Hicks, chairman. ^ tA /• Veteran Seafarer Frank Mantbey sits in bis modern room aboard ship. Tbe SL-181 has up-dated tbe design of seamen's rooms. Page 30 On tbe clean, neat deck of tbe ship, her anchor lies in its bousing and her ropes lie flaked. Tbe vessel will soon go into regular service. Seafarers Log . J �i ' I' i Today's Knowledge; Tomorrow's Strength Mark May 12 on your calendar. It all begins then. The date marks the beginning of a monthly series of education con­ ferences at Piney Point. Conferences on the workings of the SIU and the members' role in his union. Delegates to these conferences will be selected from SIU members across the nation, and those currently on ships around the globe. They will come to Piney Point and in that secluded spot in southern Maryland they will leam of the union's past... it is their past... of the union's present, since it is their today and their tomorrow, and they will leam of the union's future since it is inescapably their future as well. A Topics for the discussion groups are: % It 1?''I'r y: fvi r I u: i H" w If Trade Union Histoiy Development of maritime unions accompanied spreading of the word that united people can accomplish their goals while individuals were weak and prone to bend to forces more powerful. Unionism liberated the Seafarer and people in other walks of life from degrada­ tion and mistreatment. The SIU Contract The contract is the basic document of the SIU. Discussions will be held on all phases of the contract, including benefits newly won and projections for the future. Education Programs The SIU is deeply committed to education of every kind. The union conducts courses in union, labor, academic and vocational fields for the benefit of its members. Discussions of all phases of the SIU edu­ cation program are planned. The Constitution Constitutions—governmental and union—exert tremendous influenpe on people, whether at work or in the sanctity of their homes. Discussions will be held on constitutions in general and on the SIU constitution in particular, for it is the document that vests the Sea­ farer with his rights and privileges. The State of the Industry Realistic discussions of the state of the maritime industry and its *. • :1. A 'i /' t • i. \%r I 'V . •4MA T 'V J April 1971 ' i prospects for the future are scheduled so that Seafarers will under­ stand the industry's problems and their solutions. Pension, Welfare and Vacation Programs The union is really people committed to helping each other through the bad times as well as the good. Discussions will center on the un­ ion's efforts to comfort the ill, enrich the aged and provide leisure time for those who have worked long hours through long months. Ship and Shore Meetings Discussions will center around the SIU Ship's Committee and the regular port meetings. The meetings are the place where the member­ ship speaks and, thus, are vital to the formation and continuance of SIU policies. Political and Legal Activities The SIU is deeply involved in politics—particularly at the national level, but with an equally important amount at the local level. Why? Is it right? Shall it continue? Discussions are planned to answer all those questions and more about politics and the union and about the law and the union. The May conference then will bring together the men of the SIU. As the months wear on, more and more men, proud to bear the SIU banner will come to Piney Point and hear the record of accomplish­ ment in the past and help formulate the goals of the future. It all fits in with the union's policy of keeping the member informed and of allowing him to become the strongest and best union member he can. For a union cannot be strong unless its membership has all the facts upon which to make an intelligent committment to the common goals of all members. It cannot continue to grow and serve in the future unless the members have all understanding of the dynamics of the union and the facts on which to base recommendations for change. And an uninformed member will be a disinterested member. Disin­ terest can lead to apathy and the undoing of all those goals that Sea­ farers have struggled to achieve. Information ... the facts ... are bul­ warks in the effort to preserve the hard-won benefits of belonging to the SIU. So, mark May 12. It all begins then. Page 31 �SEAFARERSA^OG OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION » ATLANTIC, GULF, LAKES AND INLAND WATERS DISTRICT » AFL-CIO / k. y IVarcotics: The 'Grim Reaper' r "V When it comes to problems that affect the American people and their society, it's <:|uite obvious that this nation's No. I con­ cern is with the question of narcotics. That word "narcotics" covers the entire range of drugs. It in­ cludes everything from marijuana to heroin. It includes barbitu­ rates and amphetamines—the so-called "uppers" and "downers" —and everything in between. J>( \ The government has mounted a full-scale campaign against narcotics. In this fight, it has enlisted the press, radio and televi­ sion, the medical profession, the churches, the schools—every­ > body. 5^1 The attack is based on three key points: • The use of narcotics is illegal. • The use of narcotics is dangerous to the health—even the life—of the user. • The use of narcotics involves a serious "moral issue." -^1 These are legitimate points. But for the Seafarer, the question of narcotics comes down to an even more basic issue: • Any Seafarer using narcotics—ashore or asea—loses his sea­ man's papers forever! A man who gets "busted" once on a nar­ cotics charge gets busted economically, too—because he loses his right to go to sea—not just for awhile, but for the rest of his , life! That's a tough rap—losing your passport to life—but that's the way it is. A single "stick" of marijuana . . . just a couple of grains of the hard stuff ... and a man is through in the maritime industry! It's almost as tough on the shipmates of the man who useseven possesses—narcotics. r i. Any Seafarer caught with narcotics in his possession makes his ship—and his shipmates—"hot." It subjects the men and their vessel to constant surveillance by narcotics agents in this country and abroad. And, of course, any Seafarer who is an addict—who uses any drug that affects his mind and his ability to function normally— endangers the lives of his shipmates. The possibility of an emer­ gency is always present aboard ship—and only alert minds can react to an emergency. 'r Talk to Seafarers about the "grim reaper" and they'll tell you about accidents or storms at sea ... or about the hazards of com­ bat service. i "i They should put narcotics at the top of the list—because it can claim more lives, or it can threaten more livelihoods, than any other peril. y Narcotics. The "grim reaper." It's sure something to think about. P � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1970-1979 Description An account of the resource Volumes XXXII-XLI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource April 1971 Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU SCHOLARSHIPS NOW $10,000 UNITY THE KEY TO MARITIME FUTURE SAYS REP. GARMATZ NEW SIU-MANNED VESSEL JOINS FLEET SEAFARERS EDUCATIONAL CONFERENCE HLSS: A STAKE IN THE FUTURE DELEGATES, 18 TO 68, SEE NO 'GENERATION GAP' CONFERENCE DELEGATES, HLSS ALUMNI, 'RAP' WITH TRAINEES DELEGATES DESCRIBE CONTRACT AS 'THE BOOK BY WHICH WE WORK' SIU CONSTITUTION: SELF-IMPOSED DISCIPLINE FOR ALL SEAFARERS WHY DO I PAY UNION DUES? POLITICAL ACTION - OUR FIGHT TO IMPROVE THE SAILOR'S LIFE LEGAL ACTION - A WEAPON TO THWART THE LABOR MOVEMENT HISTORY POINTS WAY TO FUTURE 'THE ENEMY BELOW' SIU FRINGE BENEFITS 'REALITY FROM A DREAM' 'THE E MEANS EFFORT' SIU EDUCATION: A TURNING POINT A TEACHER'S IDEA OF A SEAFARER UNION MEETINGS KEEP US STRONG BROTHERHOOD OF THE SEA SEAFARERS AID IN UNIVERSITY RESEARCH EDUCATION AND THE SEAFARER THE FIGHT FOR LIFE GOES ON HOUSE HEARINGS FOCUS ON PHS HOSPITALS STATUS OF HOSPITALS REMAINS UNCERTAIN TRANSONTARIO BACK FROM EUROPE LABOR, CONGRESSMEN ATTACK SEIZURE OF U.S. FISHING BOATS ECONOMY MOVE JEOPARDIZES 'MAIL-IN-A-PAIL' SHIP SERVICE FTC MAY SOON ISSUE A PLAN ON 'NEGATIVE' OPTION SALES KINSMAN TO BUILD TWO NEW VESSELS TULANE CONFERENCE KEYNOTED BY HALL GREAT LAKES FLEET REFITS FOR ANOTHER BUSY SHIPPING SEASON RETIRED SEAFARER BECOMES GENEALOGY EXPERT CONVERTED TANKER PAYS OFF IN JERSEY 24 MEMBERS ADDED TO SIU PENSION ROLL MEDICARE BENEFITS CAN BEGIN AT 65 PENSIONER RECALLS MEMORABLE CAREER BILL INTRODUCED KILLING TAX ON SHIP'S STORES SAFETY REQUIRES READINESS JOBLESS RATE GOES UP AGAIN CIVIL WAR WRECKAGE LOCATED OFF VIRGINIA HLSS GRADS PREPARE TO LEAVE FOR FIRST SHIPS ZIEREIS CHERISHES A LIFETIME OF MEMORIES, MEMENTOS AFTER 50 YEARS OF SEAFARING ICEBERG PATROL PREVENTS MARITIME DISASTERS CITY OF ALMA PAYS OFF IN PORT OF NEW ORLEANS Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 4/1/1971 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. XXXIII, No. 4 Type The nature or genre of the resource Text 1971 Periodicals Seafarers Log