Media
Issue Date
1939-06-09
Volume
1
Issue Number
11
Plaintext
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
I
1
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1939 446 NO. 11
¥
If
EASTERN STRIKE CONCLUDED AFTER
SHIPS REMAIN TIED UP NINE DAYS
SiU PORT ARTHUR HALL TO
OPEN AND START DRIVE
Gulf Membership on Record to Fight
Fink Hall Issue to Last Ditch
GULF NMU SHORT OF FUNDS
New Orleans, La., June 6—C. P. Chase, former fir.st vice
president. of the Maritime BVderation of the Gulf, will open
'a Seafarers' Hall in Port Arthur, Texas, June 12.
The Port Arthur Trades and Labor Council financed aiid
supported the 198687 rank and file strike. Recently, however,
they have become disgusted with^
the NMUCIO Commycontrolled
policy in that port. The Council
now oners the Seafarers' their full
support, to organize the seamen
under the progressive policy laid
down by the SUP.
This is strictly a tanker town,
and the NMU have only the Gulf
Refining Co., under an OPEN
SHOP AGREEMENT.
lit^gardiiig Fink Halls
At the meeting last night, a "mo
tion to support the SUP and the
MFOW&W 100 percent both finan
cially and morally, carried unan
imously.
There is no fink hall in the Gulf
now. But the members realize
that' we will have this fight in the
near future. For the past month,
all Lykes Bros, ships have been
laying up. Apparently only the
M.C. are willing to operate the
Mediterranean ships.
When the West Coast beats the
fink hall, we will have a prece
dent to follow here. Otherwise
we will have to fight the same
ihsue. The SIU ,Gulf District Is
on record to fight the fink halls
with all ouf economic power
The Gulf District NMU is figuring
to do independent, and fighting
the fink halls also. Of course, if
the comical Party takes over the
control of the Gulf again, we will
have a tough fight, a» they will
advocate shipping through the
Fink Rail. If they send their
members through our picket lines
to ship out of the fink halls,
THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO
FIGHT FOR EVERY JOB THEY
GET. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE
TO KEEP THE JOB, AS WE
WILL MEET THE M.C. SHIPS
IN EVERY PORT. A campaign of
guerilla warfare Is the only way
to wipe the M.C. finks off the
waterfront.
NMU Running Short of Dough
The NMU here Is pinched for
dough. Their income is the same
as ours,—about $1,1'00 per week.
They have more" branches and
officials than the SIU. The top
faction in N. Y. are trying to
starve them into submission. The
men walked off the struck tank
ers here. They are moved North
with farmers, and return with
bona fide seamen shifJped by the
Comical Party for $25 a throvv.
What with the strikers and the
seamen from the laid up Lykes
ships, the beach is flooded with
N'MU men. Many of them wi.sli
to transfer to the SIU, but are
told they mi^t be on a ship, and
bring the job with them.
SIU Carries Vote on P&O Ships
A vote was just conducted on
the P&O ships, and the SIU
won by a count of 246 to 2.
The Headquarters meeting went
on record to.Instruct' Jqhn.Gupni
son, Miami Agent, to open nego
tiations for a new agreement. We
already have gained closed shop
and West Coast conditions, and
overtime. The only thing to get
under the agreement is a a sub
stantial increase over the prevail
ing wage scale. The Seatrain scale
of wage.s would be Acceptable.
They are the highest in the coun
try, with the exception of the
tankers.
NMU Rank ami ̂ Filers Busy
A NMU rank and file bulletin
has appeared on the streets here,
and it has built a fire under the
fenceriding officials. These are
the .same men who helped throw
the ISU labor fakers out. So all
fakers had better look out for
their pie!
Roland Dean
Colonial Agreement
New York, June 8—Voting
on the. terms of a 'hew agree
ment with the Colonial Naviga
tion were completed last Mon
day, and the results were an
nounced at the regular joint .
meeting that night. Tlie agree
ment was signed by Arthur
Kelcey for the Union, and
J. B. Dunbaugh for the com
pany. The ballot count was as
follows:
General Rules . .Yes, 102; No,4
Steward Dept. ..Yes, 62; No, 3
Engine Dept. .. Yes, 15; No, 0
Deck Dept. T...Yes, 19; No, 7
As the count indicates, ac
ceptance of the agreement was
carried by a goodly margin,
and for vessels of this class,
the agreement is a very good
one. Included among'the gains
was a two week annual vaca
tion.
The agreement ,of course,
contains the usual airtight
closed shop, and hiring through
the Hails clauses.
Warns Membership
Of Fink Herders
New Orleans. La., May 30—
Made a trip into Texas, covering
Port Arthur, Houston and Beau
mont, along with Roland Dean.
The situation in Texas is the
same as in New Orleans. "Prac
tically no fight at all on the part
of the NMU to help win the
tanker strike."
But the situation looks very
good for the SIU as soon as the
tanker strike is called off. We
will then open a SIU Hall in Port
Arthur.
ALL SIU MEMBERS PLEASE
NOTICE: McGhee in Port Arthur,
and "Cowboy" Parke in ftaiyeston
are in no way connected with
the SIU, THEY ARE BOTH
HERDING FINKS FOR THE
STANDARD OIL. Any SIU mem
ber being herded by these finks
shall be automatically suspended
by the membership of the SIU.
Of course, this does not apply to
the NMU memL'jrs being herded,
because the iNMU is probably
going to reorganize their finks
anyway!
Finn Schefstad
S.LU. MAKES GULF
DISTRICT PROGRESS
{From Previous Minutes)
November 28, 1939—Charter in
stalled New. Orlean Headquarters.
M.S.G. to use S.U.P. Constitutiou
until convention.
MISSISSIPPI SHIPPING CO.
After direct action on several of
these ships, installation of Frigi
daires, plenty of fresh milk, all
hands on deck while tying up and
letting go, good overtime clauses
for all departments gained.
It was necessary to replace sev
eral members on Mississippi ships
so that they coujd attend regular
Union meetings since S.7.U. char
ter was installed. Most of these
men have since been shipping and
have proved 100% Union mm who
• know the score.
WATERMAN LINE
Conditions improved 100% on
these ships. All hands on deck
while tying up and letting go;
good overttoc clauses for all de
partments; good living conditions.
Also gained extra utility man for
Steward's Department which was
never carried before.
SEATRAIN LINES
Strike called March 27, 1939.
Strike settled April 6, 1939.
This strike gave us $7.50 per
man over any freighter Union
scale.
After strike was settled, Frigi
daires weVe put in messrooms,
chow conditions have become ex
cellent, no limit feeding, and
crews are going strong after bet
ter living conditions which shall
be cleared up in the very near fu
ture with a little more direct ac
tion, if necessary.
(Contiiiiied on page 2)
COMPANY CONCEDES SOME
POINTS IN CONDITIONS
Rank and File Negotiating Committee
Exerts All Possible Pressure
COMPANY REMAINS ADAMANT
New York, Juno 8—Eollowin;r a strike of nine days dura
tion, the Deck and Engine departments voted to accept the
revised agreement with the Ea.stern Steam.ship Co., and re
turn to the"ships, last Saturday afternoon. The count of the
ballots Avas as folloAvs: ~ " "—
General Rules . .^ Yes. 168; No. 146
Eastern Division US • No, 147
Southern Division .... Yes, 167; No, 144
The strike started in Boston on May 26, Avhen the mem
bers of the Deck and Engine departments voted against
acceptance of the proposed agree.^
ment with the Eastern Steamship
Co., and also voted to strike the
ships. Action «was taken the fol
lowing day in New York, Norfolk
and Richmond, and by Saturday
afternoon, all fourteen vessels of
the ESSCO were tied up 100 per
cent.
Stcward.s Locked Out
Although the members of the
steward's department voted to ac
cep their part of the agreement,
and against any strike action,
they were advised by the Com
pany that they were also being
paid off. In other words, the
steward's department was LOCK
ED OUT BY THE COMPANY.
The steward's department mem
be'"3 were not required to do
picket duty, but many of them
volunteered thei« services, aiid
did duty on the picket line and
the stewpot.
On the agreement as originally
presented, the deck department
Voted against the agreement, and
voted to strike by a count of 137
to 72. The engine department
voted aaginst the agreement, and
116 to 34 in favor of striking. The
steward's department voted to ac
cept the agreement, and against | Board Chairman Dushane, and
striking to the tune of 451 to 47.; Emergency Board member Arthur
their own Wages and conditions.
The deck department voted to
strike 65.5 per cent, and 77.3 per
cent of the engine department
voted the same way.
Departmental V'ote
When the vote was taken on the
Eastern agieement last year, it
was taken without regard to de
partments, and although a major
ity of tlie deck and engine depart
ments actually voted against ac
cepting the terms of the agree
ment, they were nevertheless
forced to continue working under
the same conditions, because they
were in the minority. They had
never been satisfied with the old
agreement, and it was a constant
source of dissatisfaction, and a
headache to all concerned. We did
not want a reeurrance of the same
mistake this year, so the depart
mental vote was taken. The offi
cials of the Eastern Steamship
Co., did not. e.xpect such a move,
and hollered loud and long about
the method of handling the ballot
count.
^ NegotiatY.jns Resumed
In any event, on Monday, May
29, In company with Emergency
However, regardless of the fact
that the steward's department
voted against striking, the deck
and engine departments voted
strongly in favor of it. In a vote
of this sort, which concerned only
one particular company, no one
department can deny the right of
another to strike for the better
ment of wages and conditions.
ESSCO Offlcials Object
ESSCO officials went to great
lengths in their statements to the
press to stress the fact that a ma
jority of the men concerned had
voted against striking by a ratio
of three to one. As a matter of
record and fact, the total vote cast
was 300 in favor of a strike, and
557 opposed—or less than two to
one. However, the A'ote, as it was
taken, was not' a blanket vote of
the three departments, but a sep
arate vote by each department on
Kelcey, a committee of three men
off each ship tied up in New York
met with the company oflacials,
and made arrangements to resume
negotiations, and to send for all
the delegates from all ships tied
up at the other port's.
fNegotlations were then resu.med
on Wednesday, May 31 by a rank
and File Negotiating Committee,
composed of a man from each de
partment off of every ship tied up.
Negotiations continued all day
Wednesday, and through Thurs
day, and the company officials
reiterated that they absolutely
could not do anything that would
increase their operating costs. A
few concessions were gained in
the working conditions, and nego
tiations were completed Thursday
evening.
Start Ballotting
Friday afternoon special meet.
{Continued on page 4) '
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THE S E A F A R E R S' LOG Friday, June 9,1939
S«:,l
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Published by the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
11 Steuart Street, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston 1 Rowes Wharf
Providence ..465 So. Main Street
Philadelptiia 6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk 307 East Main Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico ...55 Tetuan Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans SOS Chaitres Stieet
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East" Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa .T 206 Franklin'Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Thiid Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, aturch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
fofe-:'' mz'
ON THE HONOR ROLL
(Donations to Seafarers' Log)
H. Johnston
G. Emrick, No. 1928
,SS Carrabulle ,
n. MfiAllister ......
$ .50
.50
5.00
.50
DONATIONS TirSMEniND
The foiiowing donations were contributed to aid in tile
Diaintenance of tlie recent .strike against the Ea.stern Steam
ship Co.
E. Carton
R. Thomp,son .....
W. Padlan
J. Poturalski
C. Yearwood
J. Player
A, Wesolowskl ...
$ .50
1.00
l.OO
2.00
2.00
J50'
.50
GULF PROGRESS
(Continued from puye 1)
AMEHIC^AX RA.NGE LINES
After direct job action on these
ships, one of the best closed shop
agreements ever made was signed.
Good overtime clauses and 100%
union men on all ships, to see that
It is paid. These pien a4e also
going after better living condi
tions.
BULL JANE
Bull Line ships hit several Gulf
ports. Direct action has been
taken to force payment of over
time. Also to gain refrigerating
units, improved quarters and food.
JSTH.MIAN LINE
The Istlimian Line is being or
ganized here in Mobile. This com
pany paid the ISU and NMU offi
cials off to keep from being or
ganized. Now they^ can not buy
their way off, and are being or
ganized as fast as contacted. This
is a tough outfit. They have never
been beaten. This flght will be
tough, but well worth, the battle,
as they have 27 ships. Every man
shipped on these ships in the last
five months is an .organizer who
will do everything possible to help
win an agreement for tlie SIU.
P # O STEAMSHIP LINE
After a hard flght in Florida,
Brother Gunnison is really shap
ing these ships up. We are ex
pecting, in the very near future,
one of the flnest agreements ever
to be signed in the Gulf. Condi
tions already Improved, with good
overtime cl^iuse already in effect,
plus closed shop. These ships also
carry 100% SIU men.
JACKSONVII.LE. FliA.
Fred Lauritano is settling all
disputes to the satisfaction of the
mem be I ship.
RESUME
We have closed shop agreements
with all these companies. Ship
ping is done through our Union
Halls. All ships have white linen,
good refrigerators, good living
conditi^ns, no limit feeding,, with
plenty of fresh milk; and best, of
all—a fighting membership that is
not afraid to go after the bosses
to better themselves and condi
tions. Also a membership that re
spects all picket lines.
Finn Schefstad, Gulf No. 4
Baltimore Highlight!
liiiltimorc, iltl., Juiie 7—Shipping is showing indications
of pirtving np out of tliis port witli 61 members shipped'and
68 registered during tlie past week. The laying np of the
Maine of the Robin ]jine and several of the Bull Line
freighters is being eompensated for by the tied up ship.s of
otlier lines reentering service for^
the summer season. Standard
Fruit's Teapa, Masaya, and Mata
galpa are back on the run again
with their usual 100 percent SIU
crews. The average of beefs has
been dropping lately showing that
the Company's are .beginning to
realize it's just as easy for them
to go aliead and get things
fitraighteued out. rather than wait
for the Union to take action.
1
. d
More "Hot" Oil
SIU crews, have been contacting
the office here asking about what
action should be taken when they
have to fuel up from one of the
oil companies now hPing picketed
by the NMU. It's a tough decision
for the militant union man to
make since he's firm in tlie belief
that a picket line is a picket line
and something to be respected.
But what's he going to do when
he sees NMU ships going along
side "hot" oil docks to get their
bunkers and then calmly sailing
away withoyt as much as a nod
to tlieir own brothers on the
picket lines. What's the SIU or
SUP man going to think when he
looks right across the street from
his Hall and sees a "hot" oil
barge loaded with ."Hot" bunkers
tied up alongside an NMU ship
his own pocket. The regular Doc
tor who used to do that work has
been taken off the payroll and is
now on bis own. The order la
hew, so we'll do a little more in
vestigating and find out just how
it Affects the membership before
we express our opinion about it.
Paddy Whalen an Ass
Glancing over Paddy Whaien's
daily scandal sheet on the Tanker
strike we note the muchworried
Patrick Is making a qomplete and
glorious ass of himself in' hfa dW
peraie attempts to pass the blame
for the tanker flzzle on to some
one else. His latest masterpiece
is a deep, dark hint to his mem
bership that the strike was lost
because a couple of SUP men
were seen taking a drink in the
same Cafe where Tanker Pete
(Esse Scab Herder) happened to
be quenching his thirst and rest
ing his legs weary from escorting
NMU men through their own
picket lines. Paddy of course is
back to his old habit of judging
everyone by his own habits. He
thinks that because he has a
speaking and drinking acquain
tance with the scabherders every
one else must havejx). However,
as u.sual, he isn't ifooling anyone
\i • :
J. Prohownik 1.00
J. Ba.sari , ~ .50
8. Placek .j. !50
J. Martinez 1.00
, E, Hartners " • 2.00
J. T. Freeman LOO
WrWithycombe ........ 2.00
; ,E. Keating i.oo
Wm. Watkins 8.00
H. E. Edwards ..... 1.00
S. D'Ollva .50
T. Jlipple ...,. .. 1.00
Baltimore memhershrp ..^j 5.08
E. Gih.son , .25
R. Moore .... .50
L. Laml>ert .. ' 1.00
; J. F. Sullivan, SUP 3020. . 1.00
: J. Axelsou 2.50
E. Prien j 1.00
Crew of Plow City . 14.00
Crew of Catahoula 10.00
H. Collins 1.00
Crew of Calmar ... 5.41
Crew of Robin Hood .,.. 21.00
Crew of Angelina 8..50
Seatrain New York ..... 19.75
R. Cliapdelaine ... .:.j..... 1.00
Crew of Bellingham ... 12.50
GULF DISTRICT
PROGRESS (?)
MADE BY THE NMU
.r IWe wish' to thank all the,ge brothei'S for their kind as.si.st
ance, and we assure them that the' funds "were used to tjie
JQU'X best adyantag^^^^ ' i z
.^(From Disappointed Membership)
Phoney sellout of the tanker
strike.
• NMU siiipping members to
struck tankers out of hall on
Broadway, New York.
Men on Lykes Bros, ships work
ing time back in lieu of overtime.
Lykes paying off in checks. O.K.
by District; Committee in Gulf.
NMU agreement ships bunker
"HOT" OIL.
P. "J. Luckenbach sailing with
"HOT" BUNKERS at the insist
aaee of "NoCofteeTime Curran.
Attempt to raid West Coast
tankers with phoney beef,
NMU" members shipping off
picket line, whicli is a proven jfact.
, All meetings controlled by Com
mie jcliqpe.
Pickets getting in jail,, and no
attempt made to get them out.
Men still in. The only one who
was gotten out was the NMU dele
gate at. Baytown. ~ ...
Ships sailing shorthanded with
hundreds of men on the beach,
vyith no action on the part of the
officials to stop it.
No financial statement, given to
the mcmbei's since the beginning
of the strike, covering up all
shortage by excuse of bookkeeper
and agents who run away with ,
money collected by them.
Sabotaging all lione,st eiforts
made by other Trade Unions.
Two Disappointed Rank & Filers
NMU No. 2495 — Engine
RMU No., 12149.M.6. & s.
fss Atenas) the NMU crew jump ! but himself. We still get a laugh
ing to the lines and hoses, ship
the finky oil aboard and sail on
schedule as if they never heard of
the tanker strike. The Siu and
SUP men are pretty unanimous
that of all the phoney, funny
strikes ever pulled on this or any
other waterfront this NMU tanker
strike is sure the phoneyist and
funniest. However, that strike
fund has beep an awful tempta
tion to the NMU officials for a
long time now and any kind of
.strike, no matter liow'phoney, was
probably a good enough excuse for
them to dip tljeir sticky finger.s
into the fund.
thinking, about the awestricken
looks on the faces of the NMU
pickets peering across at th& SUP
crew of the Mahi Mahi as they
cleaned up and chased the fink
crew off the SS Garnet Hulings.
The buys on the Mahi Mahi "will
be interested to know that another
100 percent fink crewwent aboard
the Hulibgs, Which • means, of
course," that she is still 100 per
cent NMU.
Mu.st Pay for Exainination
The branch here has been noti
fied that hereafter t any seaman
who has to undergo a medical ex
amination for'anything connected
with the U.S. Government (Sea
man's papers, etc.) will have to
pay for that examination" out of
P.S.—Paddy had a piece In the"
Bulletin where he stated that four
SUP nien were seen drinking in
the Chesapeake tavern at Fairfield
with tanker Pete. These men
were of the Peter Kerr and they
never seen tanker Pete in their
lives before, so the hoys went up
to the NMU hall and told Pat that
if he did not retract that state
wfen'l they would dump him right
there. Well, Pat retracted it, all
right.
EDITORIAL
A UNION MAN'S QUTY
f-
.The real work of labor organizations, the work that will
he lasting in its influence an^l beneficial Jo mankind, is not
found in the puhlie function of protecting the immediate
right.s of the laborer, hut in the education which as.sociation
develop.2» When the great body of wojking men know the
ecouoniir', law by whicli they are.euiitrolled; when they nnder
stand that the ills which they hear are the re.sult.s of condi
tions within their control rather than the perverseness of
individual employers when they understand that they are •
esppnsihle foi" injustice, for want, crime and wretchedness,
and that it ,is only heeause they have not learned the lesson ,
and applied remedies that the necesf^ity for labor, organiza •
tions has risen, there ivill he a better condition of the race,
and the work of labor organizations will hfive been aecom
py.shed. As a means to this end, men should he taught to he
brave, selfreliant and helpful to their fellow workers and
to mankind in general; they .should he taught that a man
has only partly fulfilled his duty when he has inforraed'^him ,•
self; that he does the duty of infoming his neighbor, and of
usinghis influence, his voice, and his vote in the working out
of the problems of government in their relation to the eeo , •
nomic welfare of the people."
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
r ' Friday, June 9, 1939 THE SEAFARERS* LOG r' • :
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HERE and THERE in the GULF
NEWS/roni NEW ORLEANS
GULF DISTRICT NMU TORN
WITH STRIFE AND DISGUST
Houston Branch Passes Resolution
For Complete Local Autonomy
DISGUSTED WITH CURRAN
New Orleans, La., May 30—The NMU has sigrnecl two move
open shop agreements.with the Oulf Oil Co. and the Penn
sylvania Shipping Co.
The strategy of the top fraction has cut the mustard.
They beat the resistance of the membership down with a
socalleid stiike against Standard •
0(1. This strike was poorly con
ducted by the local offlclals and
sabotaged by the policy commit
tee. After watching the struck
ships sail for three weeks, and no
action forthcoming, the NMU
members are willing to let any
agreement go over to be able to
return to work. They want no
part bf any kind of a strike untif
they get an organization.
Gulf NMU in Tuniioll
• The Houston Branch of the
NMU passed a resolution declar
ing themselves an AUTONOMOUS
UNIT OF THE NMU! New Or
leans, Mobile, Baytown and Prowl
ocnce ceneufred. Corpus Christ!
withdrew from the Gulf District
and affiliated directly with the
Atlantic. This marks the end of
Guff District autonomy. The July
3rd convention of the NMU, to be
held in New Orleans, will dissolve
the Gulf District Committee and
concentrate all the official control
in New York. That Is, granting
the Commies can hold a conven
tion here. The good guys say no
smoke!
As an example, there was a re
port that Curran was in town yes
terday. If he was, he contacted
no one except party members.
IF HE HAD ATTENDED THE
JV1EETING LAST ,NIGHT, HE
WOULD HAVE BEEN DUMPED.
THE MAJORITY OF THE MEN
HERE ARE CONVINCED TH.4T
HE HAS SOLD THEM OUT FOR
THE LAST TIME!
Protection to Groups
Many NMU men want to trans
fer over to the Seafarers'. We
will not transfer them^i, unless
they have a job. Since their
agreements are signed In the
name of the National .tliey can
not see how they can bring their
jobs over. ANY GROUP WHO
COME OVER IN A BODY WITH
JOBS WILL GET AMPLE PRO
TECTION. THE LOiNGSHORE
MEN WILL BACK US IN THIS
BEEF, AND HELP PROTECT
SUCH A GROUP!
The CTU just won an election
In Waterman. Tliey carried 20
votes to 2 for the ART A. The ra
dio operators in the P O Steam
ship Co. have authorized the CTU
as their sole representatives for
the purpose of collective bargain
ing.
MM & P Strikes Waterman
Last week the MM & P hung the
hook on the Waterman Line for
an agreement. They threw, out a
picket line, which was respected
for Longshoremen, SIU and CTU.
only a few CIO engineers recog
nized the picket line. In two
hours the agreement was signed.
The secretary of the Wobblles
here transferred from the NMU
to the SIU at the meeting last
night. He told the meeting that
he had endeavored to help build
a democratic union out of the
structure of the NMU. Finding
this impossible, he now wished to
join a democratic union—^namely,
the SIU!
Roland Dean*
Explain Method of
JoinlngNowMombors
New Orleans, La., May 22—It is
rumored around the Gulf that a
—. few seamen who do not carry
SIU books are advertising that it
is easy to get into the SIU. We
consider all SIU seamen as equal.
Each man is given a fair trial
before a duly elected investigat
ing or trial committee before he
is declared guilty of nonunion
activities. No personal beef is
^^considered.
It Is easy for those working on
ships that carry no agreements
to join the SIU,providing they
want real working conditions, and
true shipping rules.
' Occasionally, we are forced to
lake in new members, with sea
service, to fill vacancies; butdhly
those worthy of becoming true
SIU members.
Shipping is very good. We liave
very few SUP, MPOW&W and
SIU men qn the beach here at
New Orleans, and the Gulf
branches arq crying for men.
Baidy Bqtlinger, SIU No. 300
TO TAKE VOTE
New Orleans, June 6—The meet
ing at headquartei's went on rec
ord to refer the vacation question
to a referendum vote. The two
previous meetings had acted to
Instruct members to legister on
the shipping ILst when their vaca
tions were due.
This will be referred to a refer
endum which will be instituted to
vote on coastwise shipping rules.
Also there are no more promo
tions for wipers or ordinary sea
men. A sailor must have a green
A. B. ticket to sail as Q.M. or
Bos'n.
There are some branches in the
Gulf that spend too much, dough
for transportation and office ex
penses. This was referred to the
Audit Gommiftee who are to meet
today. They are to bring back
recommendations next week. We
hope they can find a way to make
the branches economize.
Red Dean
SIU BACKS MM&P
STRIKE »LF
Demands Won After
Two Hour Strike
New Orleans, La., May 30—The
Masters Mates & Pilots called our
hall on May 26, and told us that
they were going to strike the
Waterman Line ships for a fourth
mate and ca.sh overtime in their
new agreement, and a.sked us if
we would support them. We told
them to put their picket line out,
and that we would respect it. So,
on May 26, at noon, the picket
line was put on the Fan Kraft,
and the three mates'started pack
ing. The crew also started pack
ing, but the engineers were still
working, and didn't say anything
about respecting picket lines.
They have an agreement that
calls for no overtime, so I guess
that they are satisfied with any
thing.
T>vo Hour Strike
The ILA also was going to
knock oft and respect the picket
lines, but no one had a chance to
hit the dock, because the agree
ment was signed before two
o'clock; less than two hours.
That shows what solidarity can
do!
The crew of the Delplata, a Mis
sissippi ship, refused to take SO
drums of Humble oil in Hou.ston,
heeaiise it was not." Standard
Oil products. Every time the SIU
of NA gets a chance, they turn
down "hot" oil, trying to help the
tankermen. That is more than
the NMU is doing, because a
United Fruit scow was seen load
ing Standard case oil here.
"Hot" Oil Question
On May 25, we received a" tip
that the Seatrain New Orleans
• was going to take bunkers from
the Standard Oil Co., and we con
tacted the NMU hall and asked
them to put out a picket linq
tliei'e, and tlie crew would refuse
to take "hot" oil for bunkers. The
NMIJ informed us that there
would be 110 use in our sticking
ouf necks out, as Joe Curran
would wire them to take the
picket line away, and "the crew
would have to take the "hot" oil.
HOW DO OFFICIALS LIKE
THAT EXPECT TO WIN A
STRIKE FOR THE MEN? Most
of the NMU men who are militant
In this port are hanging around
the SIU hail, because they can
see which union is fighting for
the seamen, and getting results!
Baldy Bolinger, SlUI No. 300
FRESH MILK
New Orleans, June 6—The Ka
trina. Taickenbach was the first in
that company to go for fresh millc,
but it looks like the Deck Dept.
and the Black Gang Delegate,
namely, Burns, are tlie only ones
who drink it; the rest of the En
gine Department, I guess, have t'o
wait for. the commy party to tell
them if fresh milk is good for
them, just like Joe Stalin does to
them in Russia.
There are a few commies on her
who don't want anyfliing but a
job because some of the boys are
growling about the chow, but that
comes under the Stalinites and
the Commies in the Black gang
cannot say anything about' it.
Took two N.M.U. men off the
Matthew Luckenbach today, and
replaced them with W.C. men;
told the crew about fresh milk on
the Katrina but never heard any
more about' it, so I guess no one
on her drinks it.
Fraternally,
L. Bollinger, S.I.U. No. 300
HAPPENINGS in MOBILE
Mobile Port Rules
Progress Repoited
Mobile, Ala., May 23—What's
the matter with all the members
of this outfit—did none of them
ever learn to write? This A.M. a
brother who has just come back
from the other side said they met
a NMU ship in Glasgow, and that
in talking with the crevv, it was
the concensus of opinion that as
So n as it was possible they
wanted to get in the SIU. Now
why can't these men who run
across this sort of thing (it's get
ting frequent ae hell) write in and
let all hands know, instead of
passing it along by word of
mouth?
Tanker SellOut
Here in the Gulf, the NMU is
getting fed up in no uncertain
manner with the CIO style of In
dustrial Unionism. You know,—
strike Standard Oil, but take their
bunkers from the Standard Oil.
Who was it that said "WE MUST
PROTECT OUR AGREEMENTS
AT ANY COST?" Yes, even if it
means selling out the tanker men
who went down the line and got
off the tankers!
In the near future, all seamen
wiii he a Die to say Our union,"
and when they do there will be
no doubt as to what is meant. It
will be the one that is proving it
self to be the member's Union,—
run by the members,—not by a
commie committee in New York!
And one Avhere a member in New
York can have his say the same
as one ia Tampa or Boston—THE
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL
UNION OF NORTH AMERICA!
Port Rules
Some of the ports are not go
ing ahead very fast on their port
rules, and thi.s creates a lot 6f
confusion in the minds of the
members. In this port, a member,
in order to take his vacation,
must pay off and take his place
on the list, and live up to the
shipping rules. Some men came
in here, and state that in some of
the ports they are told that they
can get a man to relieve them
for a trip, Now it seems to nie
that the main issue is to get. aipd
keep the list turning over. If a
man can pay off, and knows that
he can ship within a week or two,
then all hands will be willing to
hit the dock. By granting these
relief trips we will stagnate the
shipping list, and we will have a
crew on each ship, and a few men
around the halls waiting for a job
that will last a few weeks,—aqd.
then back on the beach.
Further,—some member? still
want to got off in one port, and
catch the ship in the next, and
the members of the crew aid and
abet them in this, as when you
ask about it, all hands dummy
up. Port rules are made to im
prove conditions for all hand?,
and should be lived up to, and
strictly enforced. So, how about
it, men? You are as guilty as the
one who does the chiseling, if
you dummy up
Shipping Good
Since the $6.40 a day for re
liefs went into effect, the ship
ping has kept the dispatcher very
busy. For the week ending on
the 22nd, 20 A.B.'s, 8 O.S.'s and
2 Bosn's went out of the hall. 18
in the engine department ,and 18
in the feeding department. Also
shipped 6 members to the SUP.
Not bad at all.
A. W. Armstrong,
SUP No. 2983
NEW ORLEANS
RULES
New Orleans, May 31—The fol
lowing are six rulings by our
meinbership at Headquarters dur
ing • the past meetings. Member
ship voted that they be given wide
publicity."
1. When members go on vacation,
they go to bottom of shipping
list.
2. Mcmbere of crew are not to be
promoted aboard ship. They
must register at the hall under
rating they wish to sail. If no
qualified m.en are available,
then they must be sent back
to ship from regular shipping
list.
3. Any man not checking info
meeting by 7:30 and those at
tending meetings after 7:30
will not get credit on shipping
list for attending such meet
ings.
4. All unsafe working gear on any
s'ulp to be reporl'ed to Shore
Patrolman on arrival of ships
in por t.
5. Any man ashore 90 days who
does not ship, to go to bottom
of shipping list. Membeig in
hospital 30 days or over to be
given 30 days exemption from
this rule.
6. Any member must have three
years' sea experience Before
faking a job as quartermaster
or boatswain.
Fraternally,
Earl Ward
WEST COAST MAN
PRAISES GULF
New Orleans, La.,
Juno 6, 1839.
Brothers;
I have just completed a 17day
coastwise trip as boatswain on the
S.S. Delplata, of the Missiseippi
Shipping Co. I was anxious to
see how the Gulf ships are com
ing along under our present set
up.
Believe me, brothers, the boys in
the Gulf are going places now tliat
they have officials who will back
them. up.
On the Delplata this trip we
had the messroom completely
overhauled, a frigidaire installed
and fresh milk every day in port.
Also everybody received more
overtime than ever before. The
sailors averaged 37 hours apiece
for 19 days coast trip. ^
What impressed me is the groyr
ing spirit of unionism among the
members, as expressed in the
meetings at the hall and aboard
ship and on the job.
Everybody was liotoilconscious
and as a result a carload of Stan
dard Oil products that was to be
loaded on the ship was left on the
dock in Houston.
The members in all departments
realize that the great Improve
ments they now enjoy are due
solely to militant unionism of the
S.U.P. sl^le and that if they lose
the union they lose all.
I am certain that any WesiS
Coast man who contacts tlie Gulf
and sees for himself the progress
being made cannot be other tliua
enthusiastic over our present set*
up. Fraferiuilly,
G. F Newman, SUP No. 162®
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, June 9, 1939 1
NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
ij
BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street
CHICAGO
810>/^ N. Clark Street 1
PHONEY STATEMENTS
IN WOBBLY SHEET
re-
re-
the
Member Describes
Undermining Moves
The foUuioing tetter mut
cewed try the Flditor, with a
quest that it be printed in
LOO:
June 2, 1939.
Editor, Industrial Worker,
Chicago, 111.
The INDUSTRIAL WORKER of
June 4th, Page 4, which I have
just received, charges me in an
article dated Detroit, under the
head of "Rebel Editor Takes Fink
Book," with carrying a Copeland
fink book.
In addition, it says that I am
editor of REVOLT, published
by the Revolutionary Workers
League. It describes me as a coal
passer on the SS Fitch, of the D
& C Steamship Line. The only
thing omitted was my address and
social security number. The IN
DUSTRIAL WORKER gives me
"seven days from publication to
drop the book, or drop out of the
seagoing industry on the Lakes."
The.so are the facts:
PiesenJ Policy AVeak
I do not carry the Copeland
book. I cany a Seaman's Certi
cate of Identification. I am not
editor of REVOLT. I am a mem
ber of the Seafarers' International
Union of North America, in good
standing. By conservative esti
mate, over 75 percent of the Union
membership on the Lakes carry
the Copeland books. , The policy
of the Union is to ditch the fink
book after the first trip. I got my
certificate when the ship tied up
In May.
I think the policy of the Union
should be more aggressive. It
should take up, and fight' the fink
book like the SUP did on the West
Coast. This is one of the issues
arciind which the 3IU can be
built into a powerful Union on
the Lakes.
All of these facts are known to
the IWW in Detroit. I have dis
cussed this many times with your
members here.
IWW Undermines
Now that the article appeared
in the INDUSTRIAL WORKER
when the author was in full pos
session of all the facts, can mean
only one thing: that the IWW pol
icy Is NOT to build the SIU;—
that is is using the weak policy
of the Union on the fink book is
sue as part of its general strategy
of factionally undermining it, and
building its own private Marine
Transport Workers Union No. 510.
Apparently, as far as the IWW
is concerned, anything goes in this
fight. Many of the statements ap
pearing in the INDUSTRIAL
iWORKBR about various individu
als in the SILT and SUP have been
exposed as tissues of lies and half
truths. The present finky attack
on me can be used by. the D & C
Line to fire me off the job. It
can be used by certain forces in
the Union, should they be so in
clined, for redbaiting purposes.
Phoney Racket
• Early in May I was approached
^y "Fellowworker" Crotchet, Ver
laine, or whatever monicker it is
the Detroit secretary of the IWW
• goes by, to join I.U. No. 510 of the
LW.W., paying that I was a sap
Sfcor paying the regular $10 initia
tion fee into the SIU, when I
Auto Strike Fait
By Buffalo Seamen
Secord Loses Out
Buffalo, May 29 — The Briggs
auto strike in Detroit isn't doing
us a Hell of a lot of good, but
then, of course, we are heart and
soul with the men. But to judge
by past performances of the CIO,
we know what to expect. Natural
ly, a lot of auto boats are tied up.
The iNMU IS still fighting the
tanker strike In Buffalo by picket
ing the gas stations, which does
not tfie Socony at all, but
some poor sonofaseacook of a
commission man. The subsidiaries
of the company are peddling the
oil.
48 Hour Week lor NMU
The NMU is negotiating with
the Great Lakes Transit for the
48 hour week .in port, whereas all
of our boats got the 44 hour week.
This is the outfit the NMU got
last year by accepting $118 per
month, when the ISU had signed
for $125. The guy who is doing
the negotiating is Ralph Rogers,
expelled from the SUP, and the
champion picket line crasher on
the Pacific Coast.
The Carrol, ol the Buitalo Ssiid
& Gravel paid the men off single
time for Sunday, and when the or
ganizer came to see the skipper,
he was chased off the ship. But
he paid alright enough. The man
ager phoned the next, .day, and
wanted to meet with us, but we
are so damned busy, we told him
to keep on paying, and walk the
straight and narrow until we got
around to it.
Sect)rd Plops
Mr. Secord, for thirty yeais a
piecard in the ISU, who started
a racket of his own after being
kicked off the payroll, held a meet
ing of the stewards' department
on the Detroit III, but the gang
walked out on him, pledging
themselves to fhe SUJ.
On the Canadiana, the steam
boat inspectors decided in our fa
vor. Secord had signed an agree
ment for eight men—his family
and neighbors—and left th'6 other
nine out', claiming that they
didn't belong to the steward's de
partment. But due to the work of
Vincent Mitchell, our Agent, he
knows better now.
This is an open shop town. We
may not' set the worl afire, but we
are getting there just the same.
Steady as she goes
J. Johannessen, SUP No. 3652
MILITANT SHIP
San Juan, P. R.
May 25, 1939.
The Editor,
The "LOG"
Dear Sir and Brother:
I have just contacted tbe crew
of the SS Manuela, and found
same to be 100 percent SIU mili
tant men.
With the removal of the boat
swain Juan Nieves. there will be
no mare disruption and dissension
amongst the crew. The ship Is
now sailing on an even keel.
The mate has given his 100 per
cent cooperation for the ieland
workers, and everything now looks
rosy.
Please publish this in your com
ing number, for the knowledge of
the brother members.
Fraternally yours,
A. H. O'Neill, aPtrolman
GRANGE,BROWNANDCOMPANY
ATTEMPTING TO MUSCLE IN
Critcize Policies and Actions of
Officials But Offer No Substitute
OLD ISU PHONIES UNWANTED
RESPECTING STRIKE
could get transferred into the
Union from the MTW for a buck.
(The SIU honors for transfer all
bona fide maritime Union cards,
including the MTW.)
Had I accepted, I am sure this
attack on me would never have
been published; but I refused be
cause I believe that this transfer
privilege should not be abused,
or used for factional purposes.
Whether or not other workers
have fallen for this proposition, I
do not know.
The IWW talks a lot about
fighting the fink book. The fink
book cannot be fought without a
strong UNION. BUSTING UP
THE SIU IS NOT GOING TO
BEAT THE FINK BOOK. IF
THE IWW REALLY MEANS
BUSINESS, LET ITS MEMBERS
IN DETROIT STOP HANGING
AROUND THE SIU HALL TO
REGRUIT MEMBERS INTO THE
MTW. LET THEM GET INTO
New Orleans, La.,
June 6, 1939.
Brothers; To the N.M.U.
and the. (t.T.U. members:
We, the members of the S.I.U.
of NA. have gone on record to
re?pect the Tanker strike 100%.
WiiyT i't'j? S Siniiafidc
Strike.
The N.M.U. is out' to get closed
shop shipping and better agiee
ments which we, the S.I.U. of
N.A., have already.
According to the "Pilot" the
N.M.U. has 100 or more ships tied
up. .
Well, I would like to say that
is a lot of propaganda; in port
of New York there are four ships
tied up, and they were tied up be
fore the strike began.
Had a talk with several N.M.U.
members in New York, and they
are sure fed up being dictated to
by the ofllcials of the N.M.U. such
as "no coffee time Joe,"'"Phillfps,"
"king," and the socalled "Arthur
Thomas" of the Gulf District: and
other commie stooges,
So, all members of the N.M., you
know what the S.U.P. stands foi
ls strength, so why not wake up
and let's have one big militant or
ganization—the S.I.U. of ^'I.A.
Steady she goes,
C. M. Rogers, Gulf No.
EASTERN STRIKE
iContimied from page l)
ings were called at all branches
concerned, and balloting on the
terras of the revised agreement
was started. The results from the
oilxer branches were in Headquar
ters Saturday afternoon, and were
announced at a special meeting.
The agreement was signed the
same day by Matthew Dushane,
for the SIU, and by A B. Sharp
for the company,
All of the vessels affected by
the strike are now back In ser
vice, with the exception of the SS
Acadia, which will resume service
on June 12. The agreement will
remain in effect until June 15,
1940.
THE SIU AND BUILD IT AS A
UNION IN THE INDUSTRY.
LET ALL THOSE WHO REAL
LY WANT TO FIGHT THE
FINK BOOK GET TOGETHER
/>iND HELP SHARPEN THE
POLICY OF THE UNION.
. In the spirit of solidarity, I ask
you to publish this reply.
Ca.I Cowl, SIU Deck No. 985
The recent strike ajrain.st the Eastern Steamship (^'ompany .
afforded all the propajrandists an opportunity to dispense
much of the old well known hooey, and gave the plionies a
chance to stand around telling how tliey would handle the
affair IP they were the Union oiflcials.
Among the bull slingers was none other than the redoubt
able Dave Grange, the erstwhile Rajah of Ronkonkoma. The
Rajan took it upon himself to criticize the policies of the
SIU in handling the Eastern strike, and the policies of the
organization in general, but ivhen as^ed what he Avould offer
as a substitute, he clammed right up. His criticism could
have had no other purpose than to deliberately attempt to
sabotage the strike, and perhaps once again build himself up
with some of the membership in the steward's department.
But still,—^what has he to offer any sane seaman? He makes
.big talk, but it is meaningless. It has been luunored tliat
Grange has been broadcasting the story that the Emergency
Board really wants him to come into the SIU, but that he
Avill not do so except on his terms. Such a statement is a
damned lie! The seamen on this coast do not want Dave
Grange as a member of the SIU, and he is NOT going to be
one! He is also broadcasting considerable antiWest Coast
propaganda, none of which contains even a trace of 'the
truth. But, of course, some of the boj's are gullible enough
to believe any sort of a .story from the mouth of the loqua
cious Dave.
OTHERS ALSO GUILTY
However, Grange was not '' e only guilty party, as many
of the side line quarterbacks stood around beating their
gums, and telling all and sundry,—or rather, the few: who
would listen to them,—how they would run things TP they
were in the saddle. Well, all of the old ISU top phonies had
their chance to show the seamen on this coast just how things
should be done, but failed miserably in doing so, because they
did not have tlie general welfare of the membership at heart;
—^which is the big reason why they are now on the outside
looking in. '
PHONEY MOVE FIZZLES
But th.se phonies don't expect to remain on the outside,
and are even now making desperate efforts to muscle in on
th Eastern ships. They jumped at the opportunity afforded
by the Eastern strike to get in their nefarious ivork. Gu.«i ^
Brown hied himself to Boston, and We understand that he
managed to get a few pledge card| signed; while his pal^
Reynolds held the fort here in New York. However, the
.strike ended a bit too soon for them^ and they were forced \
to alter their plans somewhat.
WHO REPRESENTS SEAMEN?
All these phonies, including Grange, Brown, Reynolds,
and .several others, arc like a bunch of vultures, hovering
around and waiting for their chance to pounce in. Angle,
another of the old line labor faker.s, has the nerve to say that
the SIU does not represent the seamen;—basing his state
ment on the fact that the NLRB has not verified us as suc
cessors to the APLSU. However, don't let him overlook the
fact that we have a signed contract with the Eastern Steam
ship Co., and that also*' the men on these ships are shipped
through our halls.
OLD PHONIES NOT WANTED
It has also been brought to our attention that Dixon, who
once worked for the APLSU, has been urging members of
the steward's department to join the ISU. Apparently he has
also been promised a slice of the pie if and when the old
phonies get the seamen back in their clutches, and prepare
to sell them out again. ^
THE SEAMEN ON THIS COAST ARE NOT GOING TO
ALLOW ANY OF THESE OLD ISU PHONIES BACK INTO
THEIR LABOR MOVEMENT. THEY SOLD THEM OUT
BEFORE, AND THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN, AND HAVE
CLEARLY SHOWN THAT THEY ARE NOT TO BE
TRUSTED! WE DEFINITELY DO NO WANT THEM, SO
LET THEM TAKE WARNING, AND KEEP THEIR NOSES
OUT OF OUR AFFAIRS! ^
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
I
1
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1939 446 NO. 11
¥
If
EASTERN STRIKE CONCLUDED AFTER
SHIPS REMAIN TIED UP NINE DAYS
SiU PORT ARTHUR HALL TO
OPEN AND START DRIVE
Gulf Membership on Record to Fight
Fink Hall Issue to Last Ditch
GULF NMU SHORT OF FUNDS
New Orleans, La., June 6—C. P. Chase, former fir.st vice
president. of the Maritime BVderation of the Gulf, will open
'a Seafarers' Hall in Port Arthur, Texas, June 12.
The Port Arthur Trades and Labor Council financed aiid
supported the 198687 rank and file strike. Recently, however,
they have become disgusted with^
the NMUCIO Commycontrolled
policy in that port. The Council
now oners the Seafarers' their full
support, to organize the seamen
under the progressive policy laid
down by the SUP.
This is strictly a tanker town,
and the NMU have only the Gulf
Refining Co., under an OPEN
SHOP AGREEMENT.
lit^gardiiig Fink Halls
At the meeting last night, a "mo
tion to support the SUP and the
MFOW&W 100 percent both finan
cially and morally, carried unan
imously.
There is no fink hall in the Gulf
now. But the members realize
that' we will have this fight in the
near future. For the past month,
all Lykes Bros, ships have been
laying up. Apparently only the
M.C. are willing to operate the
Mediterranean ships.
When the West Coast beats the
fink hall, we will have a prece
dent to follow here. Otherwise
we will have to fight the same
ihsue. The SIU ,Gulf District Is
on record to fight the fink halls
with all ouf economic power
The Gulf District NMU is figuring
to do independent, and fighting
the fink halls also. Of course, if
the comical Party takes over the
control of the Gulf again, we will
have a tough fight, a» they will
advocate shipping through the
Fink Rail. If they send their
members through our picket lines
to ship out of the fink halls,
THEN THEY WILL HAVE TO
FIGHT FOR EVERY JOB THEY
GET. THEY WILL ALSO HAVE
TO KEEP THE JOB, AS WE
WILL MEET THE M.C. SHIPS
IN EVERY PORT. A campaign of
guerilla warfare Is the only way
to wipe the M.C. finks off the
waterfront.
NMU Running Short of Dough
The NMU here Is pinched for
dough. Their income is the same
as ours,—about $1,1'00 per week.
They have more" branches and
officials than the SIU. The top
faction in N. Y. are trying to
starve them into submission. The
men walked off the struck tank
ers here. They are moved North
with farmers, and return with
bona fide seamen shifJped by the
Comical Party for $25 a throvv.
What with the strikers and the
seamen from the laid up Lykes
ships, the beach is flooded with
N'MU men. Many of them wi.sli
to transfer to the SIU, but are
told they mi^t be on a ship, and
bring the job with them.
SIU Carries Vote on P&O Ships
A vote was just conducted on
the P&O ships, and the SIU
won by a count of 246 to 2.
The Headquarters meeting went
on record to.Instruct' Jqhn.Gupni
son, Miami Agent, to open nego
tiations for a new agreement. We
already have gained closed shop
and West Coast conditions, and
overtime. The only thing to get
under the agreement is a a sub
stantial increase over the prevail
ing wage scale. The Seatrain scale
of wage.s would be Acceptable.
They are the highest in the coun
try, with the exception of the
tankers.
NMU Rank ami ̂ Filers Busy
A NMU rank and file bulletin
has appeared on the streets here,
and it has built a fire under the
fenceriding officials. These are
the .same men who helped throw
the ISU labor fakers out. So all
fakers had better look out for
their pie!
Roland Dean
Colonial Agreement
New York, June 8—Voting
on the. terms of a 'hew agree
ment with the Colonial Naviga
tion were completed last Mon
day, and the results were an
nounced at the regular joint .
meeting that night. Tlie agree
ment was signed by Arthur
Kelcey for the Union, and
J. B. Dunbaugh for the com
pany. The ballot count was as
follows:
General Rules . .Yes, 102; No,4
Steward Dept. ..Yes, 62; No, 3
Engine Dept. .. Yes, 15; No, 0
Deck Dept. T...Yes, 19; No, 7
As the count indicates, ac
ceptance of the agreement was
carried by a goodly margin,
and for vessels of this class,
the agreement is a very good
one. Included among'the gains
was a two week annual vaca
tion.
The agreement ,of course,
contains the usual airtight
closed shop, and hiring through
the Hails clauses.
Warns Membership
Of Fink Herders
New Orleans. La., May 30—
Made a trip into Texas, covering
Port Arthur, Houston and Beau
mont, along with Roland Dean.
The situation in Texas is the
same as in New Orleans. "Prac
tically no fight at all on the part
of the NMU to help win the
tanker strike."
But the situation looks very
good for the SIU as soon as the
tanker strike is called off. We
will then open a SIU Hall in Port
Arthur.
ALL SIU MEMBERS PLEASE
NOTICE: McGhee in Port Arthur,
and "Cowboy" Parke in ftaiyeston
are in no way connected with
the SIU, THEY ARE BOTH
HERDING FINKS FOR THE
STANDARD OIL. Any SIU mem
ber being herded by these finks
shall be automatically suspended
by the membership of the SIU.
Of course, this does not apply to
the NMU memL'jrs being herded,
because the iNMU is probably
going to reorganize their finks
anyway!
Finn Schefstad
S.LU. MAKES GULF
DISTRICT PROGRESS
{From Previous Minutes)
November 28, 1939—Charter in
stalled New. Orlean Headquarters.
M.S.G. to use S.U.P. Constitutiou
until convention.
MISSISSIPPI SHIPPING CO.
After direct action on several of
these ships, installation of Frigi
daires, plenty of fresh milk, all
hands on deck while tying up and
letting go, good overtime clauses
for all departments gained.
It was necessary to replace sev
eral members on Mississippi ships
so that they coujd attend regular
Union meetings since S.7.U. char
ter was installed. Most of these
men have since been shipping and
have proved 100% Union mm who
• know the score.
WATERMAN LINE
Conditions improved 100% on
these ships. All hands on deck
while tying up and letting go;
good overttoc clauses for all de
partments; good living conditions.
Also gained extra utility man for
Steward's Department which was
never carried before.
SEATRAIN LINES
Strike called March 27, 1939.
Strike settled April 6, 1939.
This strike gave us $7.50 per
man over any freighter Union
scale.
After strike was settled, Frigi
daires weVe put in messrooms,
chow conditions have become ex
cellent, no limit feeding, and
crews are going strong after bet
ter living conditions which shall
be cleared up in the very near fu
ture with a little more direct ac
tion, if necessary.
(Contiiiiied on page 2)
COMPANY CONCEDES SOME
POINTS IN CONDITIONS
Rank and File Negotiating Committee
Exerts All Possible Pressure
COMPANY REMAINS ADAMANT
New York, Juno 8—Eollowin;r a strike of nine days dura
tion, the Deck and Engine departments voted to accept the
revised agreement with the Ea.stern Steam.ship Co., and re
turn to the"ships, last Saturday afternoon. The count of the
ballots Avas as folloAvs: ~ " "—
General Rules . .^ Yes. 168; No. 146
Eastern Division US • No, 147
Southern Division .... Yes, 167; No, 144
The strike started in Boston on May 26, Avhen the mem
bers of the Deck and Engine departments voted against
acceptance of the proposed agree.^
ment with the Eastern Steamship
Co., and also voted to strike the
ships. Action «was taken the fol
lowing day in New York, Norfolk
and Richmond, and by Saturday
afternoon, all fourteen vessels of
the ESSCO were tied up 100 per
cent.
Stcward.s Locked Out
Although the members of the
steward's department voted to ac
cep their part of the agreement,
and against any strike action,
they were advised by the Com
pany that they were also being
paid off. In other words, the
steward's department was LOCK
ED OUT BY THE COMPANY.
The steward's department mem
be'"3 were not required to do
picket duty, but many of them
volunteered thei« services, aiid
did duty on the picket line and
the stewpot.
On the agreement as originally
presented, the deck department
Voted against the agreement, and
voted to strike by a count of 137
to 72. The engine department
voted aaginst the agreement, and
116 to 34 in favor of striking. The
steward's department voted to ac
cept the agreement, and against | Board Chairman Dushane, and
striking to the tune of 451 to 47.; Emergency Board member Arthur
their own Wages and conditions.
The deck department voted to
strike 65.5 per cent, and 77.3 per
cent of the engine department
voted the same way.
Departmental V'ote
When the vote was taken on the
Eastern agieement last year, it
was taken without regard to de
partments, and although a major
ity of tlie deck and engine depart
ments actually voted against ac
cepting the terms of the agree
ment, they were nevertheless
forced to continue working under
the same conditions, because they
were in the minority. They had
never been satisfied with the old
agreement, and it was a constant
source of dissatisfaction, and a
headache to all concerned. We did
not want a reeurrance of the same
mistake this year, so the depart
mental vote was taken. The offi
cials of the Eastern Steamship
Co., did not. e.xpect such a move,
and hollered loud and long about
the method of handling the ballot
count.
^ NegotiatY.jns Resumed
In any event, on Monday, May
29, In company with Emergency
However, regardless of the fact
that the steward's department
voted against striking, the deck
and engine departments voted
strongly in favor of it. In a vote
of this sort, which concerned only
one particular company, no one
department can deny the right of
another to strike for the better
ment of wages and conditions.
ESSCO Offlcials Object
ESSCO officials went to great
lengths in their statements to the
press to stress the fact that a ma
jority of the men concerned had
voted against striking by a ratio
of three to one. As a matter of
record and fact, the total vote cast
was 300 in favor of a strike, and
557 opposed—or less than two to
one. However, the A'ote, as it was
taken, was not' a blanket vote of
the three departments, but a sep
arate vote by each department on
Kelcey, a committee of three men
off each ship tied up in New York
met with the company oflacials,
and made arrangements to resume
negotiations, and to send for all
the delegates from all ships tied
up at the other port's.
fNegotlations were then resu.med
on Wednesday, May 31 by a rank
and File Negotiating Committee,
composed of a man from each de
partment off of every ship tied up.
Negotiations continued all day
Wednesday, and through Thurs
day, and the company officials
reiterated that they absolutely
could not do anything that would
increase their operating costs. A
few concessions were gained in
the working conditions, and nego
tiations were completed Thursday
evening.
Start Ballotting
Friday afternoon special meet.
{Continued on page 4) '
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THE S E A F A R E R S' LOG Friday, June 9,1939
S«:,l
vsri
Published by the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
11 Steuart Street, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston 1 Rowes Wharf
Providence ..465 So. Main Street
Philadelptiia 6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk 307 East Main Street
San Juan, Puerto Rico ...55 Tetuan Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans SOS Chaitres Stieet
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East" Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa .T 206 Franklin'Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Thiid Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, aturch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
fofe-:'' mz'
ON THE HONOR ROLL
(Donations to Seafarers' Log)
H. Johnston
G. Emrick, No. 1928
,SS Carrabulle ,
n. MfiAllister ......
$ .50
.50
5.00
.50
DONATIONS TirSMEniND
The foiiowing donations were contributed to aid in tile
Diaintenance of tlie recent .strike against the Ea.stern Steam
ship Co.
E. Carton
R. Thomp,son .....
W. Padlan
J. Poturalski
C. Yearwood
J. Player
A, Wesolowskl ...
$ .50
1.00
l.OO
2.00
2.00
J50'
.50
GULF PROGRESS
(Continued from puye 1)
AMEHIC^AX RA.NGE LINES
After direct job action on these
ships, one of the best closed shop
agreements ever made was signed.
Good overtime clauses and 100%
union men on all ships, to see that
It is paid. These pien a4e also
going after better living condi
tions.
BULL JANE
Bull Line ships hit several Gulf
ports. Direct action has been
taken to force payment of over
time. Also to gain refrigerating
units, improved quarters and food.
JSTH.MIAN LINE
The Istlimian Line is being or
ganized here in Mobile. This com
pany paid the ISU and NMU offi
cials off to keep from being or
ganized. Now they^ can not buy
their way off, and are being or
ganized as fast as contacted. This
is a tough outfit. They have never
been beaten. This flght will be
tough, but well worth, the battle,
as they have 27 ships. Every man
shipped on these ships in the last
five months is an .organizer who
will do everything possible to help
win an agreement for tlie SIU.
P # O STEAMSHIP LINE
After a hard flght in Florida,
Brother Gunnison is really shap
ing these ships up. We are ex
pecting, in the very near future,
one of the flnest agreements ever
to be signed in the Gulf. Condi
tions already Improved, with good
overtime cl^iuse already in effect,
plus closed shop. These ships also
carry 100% SIU men.
JACKSONVII.LE. FliA.
Fred Lauritano is settling all
disputes to the satisfaction of the
mem be I ship.
RESUME
We have closed shop agreements
with all these companies. Ship
ping is done through our Union
Halls. All ships have white linen,
good refrigerators, good living
conditi^ns, no limit feeding,, with
plenty of fresh milk; and best, of
all—a fighting membership that is
not afraid to go after the bosses
to better themselves and condi
tions. Also a membership that re
spects all picket lines.
Finn Schefstad, Gulf No. 4
Baltimore Highlight!
liiiltimorc, iltl., Juiie 7—Shipping is showing indications
of pirtving np out of tliis port witli 61 members shipped'and
68 registered during tlie past week. The laying np of the
Maine of the Robin ]jine and several of the Bull Line
freighters is being eompensated for by the tied up ship.s of
otlier lines reentering service for^
the summer season. Standard
Fruit's Teapa, Masaya, and Mata
galpa are back on the run again
with their usual 100 percent SIU
crews. The average of beefs has
been dropping lately showing that
the Company's are .beginning to
realize it's just as easy for them
to go aliead and get things
fitraighteued out. rather than wait
for the Union to take action.
1
. d
More "Hot" Oil
SIU crews, have been contacting
the office here asking about what
action should be taken when they
have to fuel up from one of the
oil companies now hPing picketed
by the NMU. It's a tough decision
for the militant union man to
make since he's firm in tlie belief
that a picket line is a picket line
and something to be respected.
But what's he going to do when
he sees NMU ships going along
side "hot" oil docks to get their
bunkers and then calmly sailing
away withoyt as much as a nod
to tlieir own brothers on the
picket lines. What's the SIU or
SUP man going to think when he
looks right across the street from
his Hall and sees a "hot" oil
barge loaded with ."Hot" bunkers
tied up alongside an NMU ship
his own pocket. The regular Doc
tor who used to do that work has
been taken off the payroll and is
now on bis own. The order la
hew, so we'll do a little more in
vestigating and find out just how
it Affects the membership before
we express our opinion about it.
Paddy Whalen an Ass
Glancing over Paddy Whaien's
daily scandal sheet on the Tanker
strike we note the muchworried
Patrick Is making a qomplete and
glorious ass of himself in' hfa dW
peraie attempts to pass the blame
for the tanker flzzle on to some
one else. His latest masterpiece
is a deep, dark hint to his mem
bership that the strike was lost
because a couple of SUP men
were seen taking a drink in the
same Cafe where Tanker Pete
(Esse Scab Herder) happened to
be quenching his thirst and rest
ing his legs weary from escorting
NMU men through their own
picket lines. Paddy of course is
back to his old habit of judging
everyone by his own habits. He
thinks that because he has a
speaking and drinking acquain
tance with the scabherders every
one else must havejx). However,
as u.sual, he isn't ifooling anyone
\i • :
J. Prohownik 1.00
J. Ba.sari , ~ .50
8. Placek .j. !50
J. Martinez 1.00
, E, Hartners " • 2.00
J. T. Freeman LOO
WrWithycombe ........ 2.00
; ,E. Keating i.oo
Wm. Watkins 8.00
H. E. Edwards ..... 1.00
S. D'Ollva .50
T. Jlipple ...,. .. 1.00
Baltimore memhershrp ..^j 5.08
E. Gih.son , .25
R. Moore .... .50
L. Laml>ert .. ' 1.00
; J. F. Sullivan, SUP 3020. . 1.00
: J. Axelsou 2.50
E. Prien j 1.00
Crew of Plow City . 14.00
Crew of Catahoula 10.00
H. Collins 1.00
Crew of Calmar ... 5.41
Crew of Robin Hood .,.. 21.00
Crew of Angelina 8..50
Seatrain New York ..... 19.75
R. Cliapdelaine ... .:.j..... 1.00
Crew of Bellingham ... 12.50
GULF DISTRICT
PROGRESS (?)
MADE BY THE NMU
.r IWe wish' to thank all the,ge brothei'S for their kind as.si.st
ance, and we assure them that the' funds "were used to tjie
JQU'X best adyantag^^^^ ' i z
.^(From Disappointed Membership)
Phoney sellout of the tanker
strike.
• NMU siiipping members to
struck tankers out of hall on
Broadway, New York.
Men on Lykes Bros, ships work
ing time back in lieu of overtime.
Lykes paying off in checks. O.K.
by District; Committee in Gulf.
NMU agreement ships bunker
"HOT" OIL.
P. "J. Luckenbach sailing with
"HOT" BUNKERS at the insist
aaee of "NoCofteeTime Curran.
Attempt to raid West Coast
tankers with phoney beef,
NMU" members shipping off
picket line, whicli is a proven jfact.
, All meetings controlled by Com
mie jcliqpe.
Pickets getting in jail,, and no
attempt made to get them out.
Men still in. The only one who
was gotten out was the NMU dele
gate at. Baytown. ~ ...
Ships sailing shorthanded with
hundreds of men on the beach,
vyith no action on the part of the
officials to stop it.
No financial statement, given to
the mcmbei's since the beginning
of the strike, covering up all
shortage by excuse of bookkeeper
and agents who run away with ,
money collected by them.
Sabotaging all lione,st eiforts
made by other Trade Unions.
Two Disappointed Rank & Filers
NMU No. 2495 — Engine
RMU No., 12149.M.6. & s.
fss Atenas) the NMU crew jump ! but himself. We still get a laugh
ing to the lines and hoses, ship
the finky oil aboard and sail on
schedule as if they never heard of
the tanker strike. The Siu and
SUP men are pretty unanimous
that of all the phoney, funny
strikes ever pulled on this or any
other waterfront this NMU tanker
strike is sure the phoneyist and
funniest. However, that strike
fund has beep an awful tempta
tion to the NMU officials for a
long time now and any kind of
.strike, no matter liow'phoney, was
probably a good enough excuse for
them to dip tljeir sticky finger.s
into the fund.
thinking, about the awestricken
looks on the faces of the NMU
pickets peering across at th& SUP
crew of the Mahi Mahi as they
cleaned up and chased the fink
crew off the SS Garnet Hulings.
The buys on the Mahi Mahi "will
be interested to know that another
100 percent fink crewwent aboard
the Hulibgs, Which • means, of
course," that she is still 100 per
cent NMU.
Mu.st Pay for Exainination
The branch here has been noti
fied that hereafter t any seaman
who has to undergo a medical ex
amination for'anything connected
with the U.S. Government (Sea
man's papers, etc.) will have to
pay for that examination" out of
P.S.—Paddy had a piece In the"
Bulletin where he stated that four
SUP nien were seen drinking in
the Chesapeake tavern at Fairfield
with tanker Pete. These men
were of the Peter Kerr and they
never seen tanker Pete in their
lives before, so the hoys went up
to the NMU hall and told Pat that
if he did not retract that state
wfen'l they would dump him right
there. Well, Pat retracted it, all
right.
EDITORIAL
A UNION MAN'S QUTY
f-
.The real work of labor organizations, the work that will
he lasting in its influence an^l beneficial Jo mankind, is not
found in the puhlie function of protecting the immediate
right.s of the laborer, hut in the education which as.sociation
develop.2» When the great body of wojking men know the
ecouoniir', law by whicli they are.euiitrolled; when they nnder
stand that the ills which they hear are the re.sult.s of condi
tions within their control rather than the perverseness of
individual employers when they understand that they are •
esppnsihle foi" injustice, for want, crime and wretchedness,
and that it ,is only heeause they have not learned the lesson ,
and applied remedies that the necesf^ity for labor, organiza •
tions has risen, there ivill he a better condition of the race,
and the work of labor organizations will hfive been aecom
py.shed. As a means to this end, men should he taught to he
brave, selfreliant and helpful to their fellow workers and
to mankind in general; they .should he taught that a man
has only partly fulfilled his duty when he has inforraed'^him ,•
self; that he does the duty of infoming his neighbor, and of
usinghis influence, his voice, and his vote in the working out
of the problems of government in their relation to the eeo , •
nomic welfare of the people."
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r ' Friday, June 9, 1939 THE SEAFARERS* LOG r' • :
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HERE and THERE in the GULF
NEWS/roni NEW ORLEANS
GULF DISTRICT NMU TORN
WITH STRIFE AND DISGUST
Houston Branch Passes Resolution
For Complete Local Autonomy
DISGUSTED WITH CURRAN
New Orleans, La., May 30—The NMU has sigrnecl two move
open shop agreements.with the Oulf Oil Co. and the Penn
sylvania Shipping Co.
The strategy of the top fraction has cut the mustard.
They beat the resistance of the membership down with a
socalleid stiike against Standard •
0(1. This strike was poorly con
ducted by the local offlclals and
sabotaged by the policy commit
tee. After watching the struck
ships sail for three weeks, and no
action forthcoming, the NMU
members are willing to let any
agreement go over to be able to
return to work. They want no
part bf any kind of a strike untif
they get an organization.
Gulf NMU in Tuniioll
• The Houston Branch of the
NMU passed a resolution declar
ing themselves an AUTONOMOUS
UNIT OF THE NMU! New Or
leans, Mobile, Baytown and Prowl
ocnce ceneufred. Corpus Christ!
withdrew from the Gulf District
and affiliated directly with the
Atlantic. This marks the end of
Guff District autonomy. The July
3rd convention of the NMU, to be
held in New Orleans, will dissolve
the Gulf District Committee and
concentrate all the official control
in New York. That Is, granting
the Commies can hold a conven
tion here. The good guys say no
smoke!
As an example, there was a re
port that Curran was in town yes
terday. If he was, he contacted
no one except party members.
IF HE HAD ATTENDED THE
JV1EETING LAST ,NIGHT, HE
WOULD HAVE BEEN DUMPED.
THE MAJORITY OF THE MEN
HERE ARE CONVINCED TH.4T
HE HAS SOLD THEM OUT FOR
THE LAST TIME!
Protection to Groups
Many NMU men want to trans
fer over to the Seafarers'. We
will not transfer them^i, unless
they have a job. Since their
agreements are signed In the
name of the National .tliey can
not see how they can bring their
jobs over. ANY GROUP WHO
COME OVER IN A BODY WITH
JOBS WILL GET AMPLE PRO
TECTION. THE LOiNGSHORE
MEN WILL BACK US IN THIS
BEEF, AND HELP PROTECT
SUCH A GROUP!
The CTU just won an election
In Waterman. Tliey carried 20
votes to 2 for the ART A. The ra
dio operators in the P O Steam
ship Co. have authorized the CTU
as their sole representatives for
the purpose of collective bargain
ing.
MM & P Strikes Waterman
Last week the MM & P hung the
hook on the Waterman Line for
an agreement. They threw, out a
picket line, which was respected
for Longshoremen, SIU and CTU.
only a few CIO engineers recog
nized the picket line. In two
hours the agreement was signed.
The secretary of the Wobblles
here transferred from the NMU
to the SIU at the meeting last
night. He told the meeting that
he had endeavored to help build
a democratic union out of the
structure of the NMU. Finding
this impossible, he now wished to
join a democratic union—^namely,
the SIU!
Roland Dean*
Explain Method of
JoinlngNowMombors
New Orleans, La., May 22—It is
rumored around the Gulf that a
—. few seamen who do not carry
SIU books are advertising that it
is easy to get into the SIU. We
consider all SIU seamen as equal.
Each man is given a fair trial
before a duly elected investigat
ing or trial committee before he
is declared guilty of nonunion
activities. No personal beef is
^^considered.
It Is easy for those working on
ships that carry no agreements
to join the SIU,providing they
want real working conditions, and
true shipping rules.
' Occasionally, we are forced to
lake in new members, with sea
service, to fill vacancies; butdhly
those worthy of becoming true
SIU members.
Shipping is very good. We liave
very few SUP, MPOW&W and
SIU men qn the beach here at
New Orleans, and the Gulf
branches arq crying for men.
Baidy Bqtlinger, SIU No. 300
TO TAKE VOTE
New Orleans, June 6—The meet
ing at headquartei's went on rec
ord to refer the vacation question
to a referendum vote. The two
previous meetings had acted to
Instruct members to legister on
the shipping ILst when their vaca
tions were due.
This will be referred to a refer
endum which will be instituted to
vote on coastwise shipping rules.
Also there are no more promo
tions for wipers or ordinary sea
men. A sailor must have a green
A. B. ticket to sail as Q.M. or
Bos'n.
There are some branches in the
Gulf that spend too much, dough
for transportation and office ex
penses. This was referred to the
Audit Gommiftee who are to meet
today. They are to bring back
recommendations next week. We
hope they can find a way to make
the branches economize.
Red Dean
SIU BACKS MM&P
STRIKE »LF
Demands Won After
Two Hour Strike
New Orleans, La., May 30—The
Masters Mates & Pilots called our
hall on May 26, and told us that
they were going to strike the
Waterman Line ships for a fourth
mate and ca.sh overtime in their
new agreement, and a.sked us if
we would support them. We told
them to put their picket line out,
and that we would respect it. So,
on May 26, at noon, the picket
line was put on the Fan Kraft,
and the three mates'started pack
ing. The crew also started pack
ing, but the engineers were still
working, and didn't say anything
about respecting picket lines.
They have an agreement that
calls for no overtime, so I guess
that they are satisfied with any
thing.
T>vo Hour Strike
The ILA also was going to
knock oft and respect the picket
lines, but no one had a chance to
hit the dock, because the agree
ment was signed before two
o'clock; less than two hours.
That shows what solidarity can
do!
The crew of the Delplata, a Mis
sissippi ship, refused to take SO
drums of Humble oil in Hou.ston,
heeaiise it was not." Standard
Oil products. Every time the SIU
of NA gets a chance, they turn
down "hot" oil, trying to help the
tankermen. That is more than
the NMU is doing, because a
United Fruit scow was seen load
ing Standard case oil here.
"Hot" Oil Question
On May 25, we received a" tip
that the Seatrain New Orleans
• was going to take bunkers from
the Standard Oil Co., and we con
tacted the NMU hall and asked
them to put out a picket linq
tliei'e, and tlie crew would refuse
to take "hot" oil for bunkers. The
NMIJ informed us that there
would be 110 use in our sticking
ouf necks out, as Joe Curran
would wire them to take the
picket line away, and "the crew
would have to take the "hot" oil.
HOW DO OFFICIALS LIKE
THAT EXPECT TO WIN A
STRIKE FOR THE MEN? Most
of the NMU men who are militant
In this port are hanging around
the SIU hail, because they can
see which union is fighting for
the seamen, and getting results!
Baldy Bolinger, SlUI No. 300
FRESH MILK
New Orleans, June 6—The Ka
trina. Taickenbach was the first in
that company to go for fresh millc,
but it looks like the Deck Dept.
and the Black Gang Delegate,
namely, Burns, are tlie only ones
who drink it; the rest of the En
gine Department, I guess, have t'o
wait for. the commy party to tell
them if fresh milk is good for
them, just like Joe Stalin does to
them in Russia.
There are a few commies on her
who don't want anyfliing but a
job because some of the boys are
growling about the chow, but that
comes under the Stalinites and
the Commies in the Black gang
cannot say anything about' it.
Took two N.M.U. men off the
Matthew Luckenbach today, and
replaced them with W.C. men;
told the crew about fresh milk on
the Katrina but never heard any
more about' it, so I guess no one
on her drinks it.
Fraternally,
L. Bollinger, S.I.U. No. 300
HAPPENINGS in MOBILE
Mobile Port Rules
Progress Repoited
Mobile, Ala., May 23—What's
the matter with all the members
of this outfit—did none of them
ever learn to write? This A.M. a
brother who has just come back
from the other side said they met
a NMU ship in Glasgow, and that
in talking with the crevv, it was
the concensus of opinion that as
So n as it was possible they
wanted to get in the SIU. Now
why can't these men who run
across this sort of thing (it's get
ting frequent ae hell) write in and
let all hands know, instead of
passing it along by word of
mouth?
Tanker SellOut
Here in the Gulf, the NMU is
getting fed up in no uncertain
manner with the CIO style of In
dustrial Unionism. You know,—
strike Standard Oil, but take their
bunkers from the Standard Oil.
Who was it that said "WE MUST
PROTECT OUR AGREEMENTS
AT ANY COST?" Yes, even if it
means selling out the tanker men
who went down the line and got
off the tankers!
In the near future, all seamen
wiii he a Die to say Our union,"
and when they do there will be
no doubt as to what is meant. It
will be the one that is proving it
self to be the member's Union,—
run by the members,—not by a
commie committee in New York!
And one Avhere a member in New
York can have his say the same
as one ia Tampa or Boston—THE
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL
UNION OF NORTH AMERICA!
Port Rules
Some of the ports are not go
ing ahead very fast on their port
rules, and thi.s creates a lot 6f
confusion in the minds of the
members. In this port, a member,
in order to take his vacation,
must pay off and take his place
on the list, and live up to the
shipping rules. Some men came
in here, and state that in some of
the ports they are told that they
can get a man to relieve them
for a trip, Now it seems to nie
that the main issue is to get. aipd
keep the list turning over. If a
man can pay off, and knows that
he can ship within a week or two,
then all hands will be willing to
hit the dock. By granting these
relief trips we will stagnate the
shipping list, and we will have a
crew on each ship, and a few men
around the halls waiting for a job
that will last a few weeks,—aqd.
then back on the beach.
Further,—some member? still
want to got off in one port, and
catch the ship in the next, and
the members of the crew aid and
abet them in this, as when you
ask about it, all hands dummy
up. Port rules are made to im
prove conditions for all hand?,
and should be lived up to, and
strictly enforced. So, how about
it, men? You are as guilty as the
one who does the chiseling, if
you dummy up
Shipping Good
Since the $6.40 a day for re
liefs went into effect, the ship
ping has kept the dispatcher very
busy. For the week ending on
the 22nd, 20 A.B.'s, 8 O.S.'s and
2 Bosn's went out of the hall. 18
in the engine department ,and 18
in the feeding department. Also
shipped 6 members to the SUP.
Not bad at all.
A. W. Armstrong,
SUP No. 2983
NEW ORLEANS
RULES
New Orleans, May 31—The fol
lowing are six rulings by our
meinbership at Headquarters dur
ing • the past meetings. Member
ship voted that they be given wide
publicity."
1. When members go on vacation,
they go to bottom of shipping
list.
2. Mcmbere of crew are not to be
promoted aboard ship. They
must register at the hall under
rating they wish to sail. If no
qualified m.en are available,
then they must be sent back
to ship from regular shipping
list.
3. Any man not checking info
meeting by 7:30 and those at
tending meetings after 7:30
will not get credit on shipping
list for attending such meet
ings.
4. All unsafe working gear on any
s'ulp to be reporl'ed to Shore
Patrolman on arrival of ships
in por t.
5. Any man ashore 90 days who
does not ship, to go to bottom
of shipping list. Membeig in
hospital 30 days or over to be
given 30 days exemption from
this rule.
6. Any member must have three
years' sea experience Before
faking a job as quartermaster
or boatswain.
Fraternally,
Earl Ward
WEST COAST MAN
PRAISES GULF
New Orleans, La.,
Juno 6, 1839.
Brothers;
I have just completed a 17day
coastwise trip as boatswain on the
S.S. Delplata, of the Missiseippi
Shipping Co. I was anxious to
see how the Gulf ships are com
ing along under our present set
up.
Believe me, brothers, the boys in
the Gulf are going places now tliat
they have officials who will back
them. up.
On the Delplata this trip we
had the messroom completely
overhauled, a frigidaire installed
and fresh milk every day in port.
Also everybody received more
overtime than ever before. The
sailors averaged 37 hours apiece
for 19 days coast trip. ^
What impressed me is the groyr
ing spirit of unionism among the
members, as expressed in the
meetings at the hall and aboard
ship and on the job.
Everybody was liotoilconscious
and as a result a carload of Stan
dard Oil products that was to be
loaded on the ship was left on the
dock in Houston.
The members in all departments
realize that the great Improve
ments they now enjoy are due
solely to militant unionism of the
S.U.P. sl^le and that if they lose
the union they lose all.
I am certain that any WesiS
Coast man who contacts tlie Gulf
and sees for himself the progress
being made cannot be other tliua
enthusiastic over our present set*
up. Fraferiuilly,
G. F Newman, SUP No. 162®
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, June 9, 1939 1
NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
ij
BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street
CHICAGO
810>/^ N. Clark Street 1
PHONEY STATEMENTS
IN WOBBLY SHEET
re-
re-
the
Member Describes
Undermining Moves
The foUuioing tetter mut
cewed try the Flditor, with a
quest that it be printed in
LOO:
June 2, 1939.
Editor, Industrial Worker,
Chicago, 111.
The INDUSTRIAL WORKER of
June 4th, Page 4, which I have
just received, charges me in an
article dated Detroit, under the
head of "Rebel Editor Takes Fink
Book," with carrying a Copeland
fink book.
In addition, it says that I am
editor of REVOLT, published
by the Revolutionary Workers
League. It describes me as a coal
passer on the SS Fitch, of the D
& C Steamship Line. The only
thing omitted was my address and
social security number. The IN
DUSTRIAL WORKER gives me
"seven days from publication to
drop the book, or drop out of the
seagoing industry on the Lakes."
The.so are the facts:
PiesenJ Policy AVeak
I do not carry the Copeland
book. I cany a Seaman's Certi
cate of Identification. I am not
editor of REVOLT. I am a mem
ber of the Seafarers' International
Union of North America, in good
standing. By conservative esti
mate, over 75 percent of the Union
membership on the Lakes carry
the Copeland books. , The policy
of the Union is to ditch the fink
book after the first trip. I got my
certificate when the ship tied up
In May.
I think the policy of the Union
should be more aggressive. It
should take up, and fight' the fink
book like the SUP did on the West
Coast. This is one of the issues
arciind which the 3IU can be
built into a powerful Union on
the Lakes.
All of these facts are known to
the IWW in Detroit. I have dis
cussed this many times with your
members here.
IWW Undermines
Now that the article appeared
in the INDUSTRIAL WORKER
when the author was in full pos
session of all the facts, can mean
only one thing: that the IWW pol
icy Is NOT to build the SIU;—
that is is using the weak policy
of the Union on the fink book is
sue as part of its general strategy
of factionally undermining it, and
building its own private Marine
Transport Workers Union No. 510.
Apparently, as far as the IWW
is concerned, anything goes in this
fight. Many of the statements ap
pearing in the INDUSTRIAL
iWORKBR about various individu
als in the SILT and SUP have been
exposed as tissues of lies and half
truths. The present finky attack
on me can be used by. the D & C
Line to fire me off the job. It
can be used by certain forces in
the Union, should they be so in
clined, for redbaiting purposes.
Phoney Racket
• Early in May I was approached
^y "Fellowworker" Crotchet, Ver
laine, or whatever monicker it is
the Detroit secretary of the IWW
• goes by, to join I.U. No. 510 of the
LW.W., paying that I was a sap
Sfcor paying the regular $10 initia
tion fee into the SIU, when I
Auto Strike Fait
By Buffalo Seamen
Secord Loses Out
Buffalo, May 29 — The Briggs
auto strike in Detroit isn't doing
us a Hell of a lot of good, but
then, of course, we are heart and
soul with the men. But to judge
by past performances of the CIO,
we know what to expect. Natural
ly, a lot of auto boats are tied up.
The iNMU IS still fighting the
tanker strike In Buffalo by picket
ing the gas stations, which does
not tfie Socony at all, but
some poor sonofaseacook of a
commission man. The subsidiaries
of the company are peddling the
oil.
48 Hour Week lor NMU
The NMU is negotiating with
the Great Lakes Transit for the
48 hour week .in port, whereas all
of our boats got the 44 hour week.
This is the outfit the NMU got
last year by accepting $118 per
month, when the ISU had signed
for $125. The guy who is doing
the negotiating is Ralph Rogers,
expelled from the SUP, and the
champion picket line crasher on
the Pacific Coast.
The Carrol, ol the Buitalo Ssiid
& Gravel paid the men off single
time for Sunday, and when the or
ganizer came to see the skipper,
he was chased off the ship. But
he paid alright enough. The man
ager phoned the next, .day, and
wanted to meet with us, but we
are so damned busy, we told him
to keep on paying, and walk the
straight and narrow until we got
around to it.
Sect)rd Plops
Mr. Secord, for thirty yeais a
piecard in the ISU, who started
a racket of his own after being
kicked off the payroll, held a meet
ing of the stewards' department
on the Detroit III, but the gang
walked out on him, pledging
themselves to fhe SUJ.
On the Canadiana, the steam
boat inspectors decided in our fa
vor. Secord had signed an agree
ment for eight men—his family
and neighbors—and left th'6 other
nine out', claiming that they
didn't belong to the steward's de
partment. But due to the work of
Vincent Mitchell, our Agent, he
knows better now.
This is an open shop town. We
may not' set the worl afire, but we
are getting there just the same.
Steady as she goes
J. Johannessen, SUP No. 3652
MILITANT SHIP
San Juan, P. R.
May 25, 1939.
The Editor,
The "LOG"
Dear Sir and Brother:
I have just contacted tbe crew
of the SS Manuela, and found
same to be 100 percent SIU mili
tant men.
With the removal of the boat
swain Juan Nieves. there will be
no mare disruption and dissension
amongst the crew. The ship Is
now sailing on an even keel.
The mate has given his 100 per
cent cooperation for the ieland
workers, and everything now looks
rosy.
Please publish this in your com
ing number, for the knowledge of
the brother members.
Fraternally yours,
A. H. O'Neill, aPtrolman
GRANGE,BROWNANDCOMPANY
ATTEMPTING TO MUSCLE IN
Critcize Policies and Actions of
Officials But Offer No Substitute
OLD ISU PHONIES UNWANTED
RESPECTING STRIKE
could get transferred into the
Union from the MTW for a buck.
(The SIU honors for transfer all
bona fide maritime Union cards,
including the MTW.)
Had I accepted, I am sure this
attack on me would never have
been published; but I refused be
cause I believe that this transfer
privilege should not be abused,
or used for factional purposes.
Whether or not other workers
have fallen for this proposition, I
do not know.
The IWW talks a lot about
fighting the fink book. The fink
book cannot be fought without a
strong UNION. BUSTING UP
THE SIU IS NOT GOING TO
BEAT THE FINK BOOK. IF
THE IWW REALLY MEANS
BUSINESS, LET ITS MEMBERS
IN DETROIT STOP HANGING
AROUND THE SIU HALL TO
REGRUIT MEMBERS INTO THE
MTW. LET THEM GET INTO
New Orleans, La.,
June 6, 1939.
Brothers; To the N.M.U.
and the. (t.T.U. members:
We, the members of the S.I.U.
of NA. have gone on record to
re?pect the Tanker strike 100%.
WiiyT i't'j? S Siniiafidc
Strike.
The N.M.U. is out' to get closed
shop shipping and better agiee
ments which we, the S.I.U. of
N.A., have already.
According to the "Pilot" the
N.M.U. has 100 or more ships tied
up. .
Well, I would like to say that
is a lot of propaganda; in port
of New York there are four ships
tied up, and they were tied up be
fore the strike began.
Had a talk with several N.M.U.
members in New York, and they
are sure fed up being dictated to
by the ofllcials of the N.M.U. such
as "no coffee time Joe,"'"Phillfps,"
"king," and the socalled "Arthur
Thomas" of the Gulf District: and
other commie stooges,
So, all members of the N.M., you
know what the S.U.P. stands foi
ls strength, so why not wake up
and let's have one big militant or
ganization—the S.I.U. of ^'I.A.
Steady she goes,
C. M. Rogers, Gulf No.
EASTERN STRIKE
iContimied from page l)
ings were called at all branches
concerned, and balloting on the
terras of the revised agreement
was started. The results from the
oilxer branches were in Headquar
ters Saturday afternoon, and were
announced at a special meeting.
The agreement was signed the
same day by Matthew Dushane,
for the SIU, and by A B. Sharp
for the company,
All of the vessels affected by
the strike are now back In ser
vice, with the exception of the SS
Acadia, which will resume service
on June 12. The agreement will
remain in effect until June 15,
1940.
THE SIU AND BUILD IT AS A
UNION IN THE INDUSTRY.
LET ALL THOSE WHO REAL
LY WANT TO FIGHT THE
FINK BOOK GET TOGETHER
/>iND HELP SHARPEN THE
POLICY OF THE UNION.
. In the spirit of solidarity, I ask
you to publish this reply.
Ca.I Cowl, SIU Deck No. 985
The recent strike ajrain.st the Eastern Steamship (^'ompany .
afforded all the propajrandists an opportunity to dispense
much of the old well known hooey, and gave the plionies a
chance to stand around telling how tliey would handle the
affair IP they were the Union oiflcials.
Among the bull slingers was none other than the redoubt
able Dave Grange, the erstwhile Rajah of Ronkonkoma. The
Rajan took it upon himself to criticize the policies of the
SIU in handling the Eastern strike, and the policies of the
organization in general, but ivhen as^ed what he Avould offer
as a substitute, he clammed right up. His criticism could
have had no other purpose than to deliberately attempt to
sabotage the strike, and perhaps once again build himself up
with some of the membership in the steward's department.
But still,—^what has he to offer any sane seaman? He makes
.big talk, but it is meaningless. It has been luunored tliat
Grange has been broadcasting the story that the Emergency
Board really wants him to come into the SIU, but that he
Avill not do so except on his terms. Such a statement is a
damned lie! The seamen on this coast do not want Dave
Grange as a member of the SIU, and he is NOT going to be
one! He is also broadcasting considerable antiWest Coast
propaganda, none of which contains even a trace of 'the
truth. But, of course, some of the boj's are gullible enough
to believe any sort of a .story from the mouth of the loqua
cious Dave.
OTHERS ALSO GUILTY
However, Grange was not '' e only guilty party, as many
of the side line quarterbacks stood around beating their
gums, and telling all and sundry,—or rather, the few: who
would listen to them,—how they would run things TP they
were in the saddle. Well, all of the old ISU top phonies had
their chance to show the seamen on this coast just how things
should be done, but failed miserably in doing so, because they
did not have tlie general welfare of the membership at heart;
—^which is the big reason why they are now on the outside
looking in. '
PHONEY MOVE FIZZLES
But th.se phonies don't expect to remain on the outside,
and are even now making desperate efforts to muscle in on
th Eastern ships. They jumped at the opportunity afforded
by the Eastern strike to get in their nefarious ivork. Gu.«i ^
Brown hied himself to Boston, and We understand that he
managed to get a few pledge card| signed; while his pal^
Reynolds held the fort here in New York. However, the
.strike ended a bit too soon for them^ and they were forced \
to alter their plans somewhat.
WHO REPRESENTS SEAMEN?
All these phonies, including Grange, Brown, Reynolds,
and .several others, arc like a bunch of vultures, hovering
around and waiting for their chance to pounce in. Angle,
another of the old line labor faker.s, has the nerve to say that
the SIU does not represent the seamen;—basing his state
ment on the fact that the NLRB has not verified us as suc
cessors to the APLSU. However, don't let him overlook the
fact that we have a signed contract with the Eastern Steam
ship Co., and that also*' the men on these ships are shipped
through our halls.
OLD PHONIES NOT WANTED
It has also been brought to our attention that Dixon, who
once worked for the APLSU, has been urging members of
the steward's department to join the ISU. Apparently he has
also been promised a slice of the pie if and when the old
phonies get the seamen back in their clutches, and prepare
to sell them out again. ^
THE SEAMEN ON THIS COAST ARE NOT GOING TO
ALLOW ANY OF THESE OLD ISU PHONIES BACK INTO
THEIR LABOR MOVEMENT. THEY SOLD THEM OUT
BEFORE, AND THEY WILL DO IT AGAIN, AND HAVE
CLEARLY SHOWN THAT THEY ARE NOT TO BE
TRUSTED! WE DEFINITELY DO NO WANT THEM, SO
LET THEM TAKE WARNING, AND KEEP THEIR NOSES
OUT OF OUR AFFAIRS! ^
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