Media
Issue Date
1940-08-04
Volume
2
Issue Number
9
Plaintext
I'
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The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y.. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1940 44fi No. 9
NEW BEDFORD SEAMEN BACK
DEMANDS WITH 4.DAY STRIKE
MANNING SCALE HEARINGS
All Vessels Short-Handed,
Unions Tell Commission;
Danger to Safety Seen
Hearings on the question of manning scales for subsidized
vessels have been held by the Maritime Commission in San
Francisco, New Orleans and New York during the past week.
At each port representatives of the seamen offered an abun
danee of evidence that American merchant ships have been
woefully understaffed. Particularly stressed was the fact that
the type of ship which used to carry eight A.B.'s nowadays
only carries five or at most six seamen of that qualification.
Union representatives called the undermanning of vessels by
the shipowners a shortsighted policy and detrimental to
safety at sea.
At 8an Francisco, Acting Prealdent Harry Lundeberg of th«
8.1.U. appeared at the hearingk, speaking for seamen on that ooast.
We publish beiow excerpts of his testimony given before the Mari
time Commission on July 23, 1940. The facts presented are of vital
interest to seafarers everywhere.
(Continued on page 4)
WARNING TO DISRUPTERS! t
it .has been called to our attention that certain members,
disregarding the expressed will of the membership, have taken
It upon themselves to mislead crews Into actions detrimental
to the union as a whole. As a warning against such phoneys
and for the purpose of putting all 8.1.U. seamen on guard
against them, we reprint beiow the RESOLUTION on this
subject adopted by the Atlanta Agents Conference:
RESOLUTION
Adopted by Atlantic and dulf District Agent« Con
ference, June 69, Atlanta, Georgia.
WHEREAS: Certain conditions have arisen on account
of the European war which have virtually placed
this country on an emergency status, and
WHEREAS: Hostile shipowners in conjunction with
various antiunion men on government bureaus are
trying to destroy our unions, and
WHEREAS : Saboteurs may have crept into our ranks
with the specific purpose of disrupting our organi
zation, be it therefore
RESOLVED: That we go on record instituting the fol
lowing measures in conformity with our constitution
and for the benefit of the membership as a whole:
1. In ships and companies where our organization
Iws an agreement, no direct action to tie up a
sMp shall be taken either by an individual crew,
by an individual official of the union or by an
individual branch before contacting district
headquarters thru the secretarytreasurer.
2. The headquarters shall have the final say before
a ship is tied up and they shall at all times be
guided' by the constitution, which in the final
analysis, is the law of the membership as a whole.
3. No action shall be taken by the Atlantic District
to %e up a ship with an agreement with the Gulf
District and vice versa, until the respective dis
tricts where the ship belongs has been contacted,
and be it finally
RESOLVED: That anyone that breaks these rules shall
be made to answer to the membership.
FLASH!
Attempts by the NMU
officials to put over scabby
coastwise agreements with
out any effort at all to get
an increase in overtime,
have caused a stiffening of
shipowner resistence. They
have provided one more
obstacle for S.I.U. negotia
tors to hurdle, in order to
get a 10 cents boost in
hourly overtime pay—and
bonuses—with the SEAS
SHIPPING COMPANY.
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
(Atlantic District)
Seatrain Texas Reports
Manning Scale Hearing
——NEW YORK
S.S. Seatrain Texas
The S.S. SEATRAIN TEXAS
blew into town this week. Aii'a
going well there, the boys say.
We are reliably informed that the
crew Is organizing a baseball
team to take on local competition
in ths Lone Star State.
• • •
Dispatcher's Reports
At the last meeting, on
Dispatcher Goulding
shipping 33 men, with
registered and a total of
now on the shipping list'.
Dispatcher Gonsarchik
shipping 127 men, with
registered and a total of
now on the shipping list.
July 29,
reported
14 men
30 men
reported
82 men
123 men
Mamiing Scale Hearings
Hearings on minimum manning
scales for government and subsi
dized vessels are being held by
the Maritime .Commission in New
York this week. Unions represent
ing the unlicensed personnel are
presenting the case for the sea
men. Evidence has been presented
by the latter to prove that most
American passenger and freight
ships are sailing undermanned.
• * •
Union representatives stated
that the new C2 and C3 ships,
being built by the Maritime Com
mission, are carrying nearly
twice as many derricks as the old
Hog Island type . vessels and 5 ot
are carrying only six A.B.'3 as
against eight on the older type
ships. The Unions are calling for
twelve A.B.'s on these vessels.
{See Lundejterg's testimony on
the Manning Scales elsewhere in
this issue.)
. . v.
Ships Tied Up When NESSCO
Said "No Dice" to S.I.U.
Request for 10-10 increases
Company Agrees to Talk Terms With
Union After Militant Picketing,
Intervention by Governor
Taking the operators completely by surprise, 260 S.I.U.
men manning* the ship.s of the New Bedford, Martha's Viue
yai d and Nantucket Steamboat Line, hit the bricks on Satur
day morning, July 27, in support of the union's demand for
the 1010 from the New England Steamsliip Company. The
New Bedford Line operates four boats between the mainland
and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
Deadline Set
Negotiations for
<S>
increases
similar to those obtained from
other coastwise companies had
been handled for the Sea
farers International Union by
John Hawk, SecretaryTreas
urer of the Atlantic District;
John Mogan, Boston agent,
and John Manchester, Provi
dence agent.
The company had been notified
of the request to amend the
agreement in good time, but
failed to respond satisfactorily.
Finally, after several flat re
fusals of concessions, the union's
negotiators notified the operators
on Friday, July 26 that a deadline
for strike action to reenforce the
demands had been set for 6:30
the next morning.
Company Ruses
Ilea'izing that the union meant
business, the shipowners attempt
ed to get a postponement of the
deadline. But the seamen's rep
resentatives had already seen
enough of the stalling tactics of
the company to concede to this
request without definite commit
ments by the company.
For weeks before, the opera
tors of the NESSCO had been
using ail kinds of ruses and sub
terfuges to Intimidate the men on
the ships and sow dissension
among them. Company stooges
were planted among the crew to
plead poverty for the shipowners,
wringing their hands and tearing
their hair in an effort to convince
the crews that the NESSCO was
practically losing its shirt. To no
avail. During the week preceding
the action, the crews voted by
secret ballot to authorize strike
action.
Then the operators pulled an
other card from the deck: Com
pany cops were stationed all
along the wharves and on board
ship, so that even the passengers
began to feel the intimidation in
the air. The company thought the
situation was well in hand.
But . . .
Strike 100% SoM
Promptly at 6:30 A.M. on Sat
urday, July 27, the crew of the
S.S. Martha's Vineyard hit the
docks at New Bedford. Picket
lines were formed at once. Then
one by one, as each of the three
other vessels of the line pulled
into port, the deck and engine de
partments of the S.S. Naushon,
the S.S. Nantucket and the S.S.
iNew Bedford joined the picket
lines in a body. IN SPITE OF
ALL OF THE CLEVER TRICKS
AND COUNTLESS MANEUV
ERS OF THE SHIPOWNERS,
THE STRIKE WAS 100 PER
CENT EFFECTIVE,
Backed by Labor
A special meeting of the strik
ers was called at once by Brother
Hawk and a Strike Committee was
elected. The International Long
shoremen's Association offered
the committee the use of its hall
for the strike's duration. After
listening to Bro. Hawk, the New.
Bedford Central Trades and La
bor Council voted full support of
the S.I.U. No longshoreman, no
teamster would pass that picket
line.
"Public Pressure" on Tap
immediately after news of the
strike began to spread, the ship
owners, unsuccessful with their
company stooges In attempting to
dissuade the men from action and
unable .for all of their horde of
cops to threaten the union with
strikebreaking tactics, began to
tap another source of intimida
tion: The strike had not been on
for more than a few hours when
spurious telegrams from the "pub
lic" began to pour into strike
headquarters!
ONE SUCH TELEGRAM WAS
SENT TO THE STRIKERS IN
CARE OP THE NEW BEDFORD *
CHIEF OF POLICE! It was
dated 2 P.M. on Saliirday, hardly
eight hours after the strike had
begun! But already there was
fuming and frothing in the name
of the "people" that the signers
would "make public" (?) the
name of the union if it refused to
accede to a demand to call the
strike off at once. The telegram
was signed "Irving A. Soverino,
{Continued on Page 3)
V...
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, August 5^ 1940
Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with ike American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNHEBERG, Acting President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calit
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwling Green 93457) ......2 Stone Strwt
BRANCHES
Boston . ; i:.......... >1.. .550 Atlantic Avenue
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia 6 litorfh ^th Str^t
Baltimore ... i...' .'14 North Gay Sti'eet
Norfolk 60 Commercial i^lace
Sttn Joan, Puerto Ricoi 8 Covadoni^ Street
GtUf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans ^ 7.1.."..".'.I'.'.'....309 Chartr^ Street
BRANCHES
S&TSUIII&IL • • • • • • • «• • *» e • *• • • • • • • • • • • • • • '• *2X8 Esflt Str6Ct
Jacksonville ......186 Bay Street
Tampa .J..... ..206 South PrankSn Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Texas City ....105 4th Street N.
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Hetroit i 1038 Third StrjMt
'• AJa'DRESS ALL CQRBESPOJiDENCE CONCERNING THM
PUBLICATION TO:
;; "THE SEAFAREFtS' LOG"
Pr. O. Box 522, Oiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
OUT OF THE MAILBAG
^Silence Is the Better
Part of Wisdom"
Reports Coocj
Results on 6e^
July 26, 1940
At Sea
Editor, Seafarers' Log
i)eqr Brother;
Militant action aboard the S.S.
BIRMrf^GH^M" hits brought the
ship a fong way toward (op stand
ardi. From "one bf tliie waclifest
waggons in the coast trade, she
has been turned into one of the
Up to a fe^' wee^s ago the deck
department Was sleeping forward
in a fbc'sie, reminiscent of Clip
per Ship days. On sailing days
the deck would be cluttered up
with mates (all of them) giving
contradictory orders to everyone
in sight.. The food was nota,ble
mainly for its absence of green
vegetables and fruits in seabbn.
• * •
A committee visited the com
pany's offices in N. Y. with in
structions to get those things
changed or else, and came back
" ' SILENCE is the better part of wisdom—that seems to
hethe Pljeit's feeling fately about the attempted $2.50
sellout.
We have turned the pages ̂in issue after issue of the
rag for the past four, weeks. But there's narry a line in it
on the subject. Nothing to explain why the NMU Negotiat
ing Committee, tried to put across the measly $2.50 on the
membership. Nor why it persisted in the attempt even
while the S'.I.U. was signing with one coastwise company
after another for $10 monthly increases and 10 cents per
hour increases in overtime? Nor, how come that even his
own operators—who,. Gurran and his stooges claimec
would go broke if they granted any increases at all, let
alone the $2.50—^finally tossed the NMU $2.50 more than
the "Negotiating Committee" itself had asked for?
Nothing hut silence on this touchy subject in the Pileit
Not a woifd concerning coastwise negotiations in thewhole
five d^ys of blahblah gushed forth at the recent meeting
of the NMU's "National Council."
• And for good cause: No aniount of highpower;ed bl^b
can explain away the /act that the.S.I.U: showed up the
attempted sellout in action.
• The NMU membership cannot be made to forget the
* factthat the S.I.U.'s successful negotiations for the $10 was
whai got them an unexpected $5 increase too.
The NMU rank and file cap't be kidded out of asking:
Ho,w, come the S.I.U. has obtaineci a 10" cents per hour in
crease in overtime pay on the coastwise ships, when we
(the NMU) haven't even got it on the offshore.
The S.I.U.'s achievements in the coastwise negotiations
are solid facts. Facts are stubborn things. Facts are hard
to argue against.
Curran'Calls far Help !
Joe Curran sent a letter "to the shipowners urging' them to sup
jort thte NMU in . opposing the amendmefit >bf the "Wagher act: He
Mid:
"You are aware of the chaos that existed In the shipping
ILndustry before the passage of the Wagner act and the fbi*.
I matlph of the National Maritime Union. x;ertaih elements
1 among the shipowners vyere cohstantiy preeipifsting Job ae^
tipns on the part of the' seamen by the siniple (!) process
Ofattacking their conditions and job security, dertain ele
ments in our union (long since cleaned put) provoking thei;e
job'actionsj
"As* part of your contribution to the national defense,
we urge that youJoin with us in opposing the Smith amend
Nidnts." • '
tears just roll down Curran'g face at the thought: of the
' U' "
with (he faacom After almost two
hours of argument, we won 6ur
point.
* m *
The crew is now sleeping aft,;
two men in a rpbha. The food has
improved and orders are . given
tliiough the bos'n.
There aie still plenty of things
to be changed^ but with the re
suits so far everyone can see,
these can be taken care of in the
near future, Tf we keep up the
good Work. Such thin^ as a sani
tary drinking foiintain for the
creiV, a blackboard for the course
in the wheelhouse are on the
next order of business along with
payment on arrival at sea, in
stead of during noon hour.
<Sr
TRBEE MUS^TEERS GIVE
^3¥frcls of Advke
tiq^eart^
Philadelphia, July 29, 1340.
It seems that the shipowners
are always down In Washington.
tryin|: to add to the welfare of
the union. In the docalled bene
d'clal legislation that they are' try
ing to havd enact^ in favor of
the union, one criterion Of their
heartrending efforts is the so
called Compensation Bill that Is
supposed to help the seamen and
protect them.
» m *
How many of us stop to real
ize that? Can you'beat'it—^11 tb'e
representatives of the shipowners
going down to Washington and
be'ggfrifi ' the jgovernmint to 'do
right by the seamen!
-- ^ :-0 ^
Now, hoys. Isn't that jiist
ducky. Just think, your potential
enemies are professlhg tlieir' tin
dying love fore yoii. Where is
your gratitude, men?
We are circulating a donation
list among the crew for the'Sea
farers;'. Log, and vye wish (o take
(his opportunity fo thdhk the N.
Y. office for its tirriely, prompt,
and effective coojjOratipn' during
these actions.
For the Deck Department,
J. H. Copenhaver, No. 6145,
Recording SeO'y.
Won't You Kick
Us in the Pants?'
• m.7;c::
:fla!itldh'bf " NatloAAl iiaritiihe' Udicii:" If liese Job, actions wefe
"l^re^^pltatdd*' by tW" s^poWnefd • "liefore' the" 'forniaflon "'bf
(heu how WM it j^bflsible for "cert^lp elemei^s in pur "(NMU)
bfeahed bat)''ptbvokiagthesb Joib'aotlbttsrr "Which
igit jofe't" ' ' "• "• "• .
.What an elevating aight to a^e the "powerful NMU" appealing
the PhlJIdWniro to gave the union! What an outfltl^.7
As onery a critter as we know
is the species kiiown as the com
pany stooge. This bird usually
does its dirty work in the dark,
like the groundmole. Recently,
however. We have discovered a
new breed. This one comes but
of its hole and eveU boasts about
its 'onefinesS! Thus l^e read in
the liapers:
'"CHICAGO, July 31 (UP)7
Almbst three ihbnths ago the
Martifi Auto Farts Co. paid
$13,141 in overtime allowances
to'ttliietythfee employees Oh ah'
order from theFederal Wages
and Hours Administration.
"Ten of the employees ap
pealed from fhat order. (!) •
."After ten weeks' deliberar
tioa, Alex EIaoh,,^:^age8. and
hours diyislpn attorney, ruled
hat those ten may
turp to tjie rampapy' i^,6|6
awarded td them! ' P ,
' ' "bae of the (en is <;jupted ,aa !
expi|Bdnlng;
V Arrhe 'eompdny hf^: • done us
ffavoi* and one' '
, in: return'."
Win »omeone;:ge<hthe^fiittfX
Just the same, we would like to
know a few more things before
prostrating ourselves with grati
tude. For instance: Hovv mahy'of
these champions of the seamen's
welfare Went to Washington to
beg the government for the
Three Watch System? For the
Eight Hour Day? For clean, dry
I'^oc'sles? For clean, wholesome
fcod? Rjr the right of'SeaVneri to
organize? Eor the abolition of
crifnps? Fop the 'riddance df the
Shanghai Artist? For doing away
with conditions where seamen
we're practically forced to the
pieceoff system for their Jobs,
With the Old' phoney boarding
house rackets, the blue iinens
(and very little of the same), old
bn plates and agate war, and lord
knows ' how many other things
too numerous to'mention here?
Well, j/ow know how many. But
they air have the guts to go
down to Washington' and claim
that they would like to see this
"Compensation" legislation go
through, as they want to see the
seamen be protected. OK, tby,
ain't that sump'mt It really
grieves us to think that we' have
misjudged our Good Sapiarltan
shipowner friends ail thead yea'ts,
'V
Well, that's the curse of being
a seamaii) uneducated and' iill
that stuff. Woo! woo!
k ' * <*
W« fnitik that the ahlpownsrs
and their stooges would do well
to leave the seamen protect
themselves. If they really MU»T
>=fe8t their poor hearts break
lend us a hand, they might begin
with starting to fismfcdy''some of
the evils rathpanf today, siich as:
Improper food in the tropical
fuHs; storing a vessel with green
vegetables to run to the W.G. ind
half of them rotting before they
reach the Panama Canal, when
they bould store up enough te
reach there and purchase fresh
stuff on their arrival In the
Canal; thg same with the meat
supply and with fruit and other
perishabie foods.
!»' • •
Just think, storing "fresh"
fruit' and vegetables from Phllly
to Pedro! One day the chill box
is 38 or 40, the next day it is 56
or over. There is no fruit or
vegetable that will stand thPt
yhd of treatment.
^ « » e
Of course^ this Is only one of
the evils that ' the shipowners
could remedy. But (t is of the uU
most Importance. For, when a
man's belly Is full, he is in a
better position to handle other
evils with a clearer mind.
« * «
"Well, guess we've said enough
for this tltne. So. until next (im^,
we remain as before.
Fraternally,
The Three Musketeers
W. B., No. 1994
J. F., No. 542
H. J. C., No. 496
^ i
NOTICE
T. Lane, No. 42(l^Get in.
toucH with your'wife. Your
son is very sick.
• • If'.
S.S. BOSTON (Deck, Dept.) $10.4.5
S. S. ANGELINA 5.15
$.S. CALMAR
James Deidrick 1.00
Pat Masterson ....... 1.00
C. B. Collins
Chester Jakowiski ........... ....... 1.00
"VNm. Zjmmer 1.00
J. Vesta T.OO
Fred'Ryler 1.00
S.S. BliRl^IINGHAM 18.10
S.S. SEATRAINTEXAS ...... 10.00
^.S. SBATRAXN NEW JERSEY .. ...... T.'/5
^.S. COLLIE,E (Crew) ......, ...... ::.2.50
George Nutting ' ;;i.ooi
Thomase Tooma • 3.00
ifirgil Sandberg ....... i ........ ...... l.pQ
Walter P.^kius .50
^m. AB Ijlneklroy..,.:... . ....... ......" .50
E G'.'jkloQtgop^ery ................ 7l.pp
^ptal ...—...... $64.45
I
^':'r
^r.A' I
$64.45
L'ST OF DONAT(QN^ TO SEAFARERS' LOQ
gj. S. 8A©®<«APPA: Siayfer; Ah" l.flf0: 'Sd«h,' R7' ;60: ̂ Mitchell,
Xi., .60; Eeyea, L..CS(iF); .EOl^iColIths, H., J60; Brown! Gi7.2ff;
fsll, C.,.W; Welboni; IL, 1.06; Hlrah, B., Thelas, 7
'I
M^wapch. T.,' ,26; Davis. B,, .60. Total 48.M
y't'Mi
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Monday, August 5. 1940 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
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iP: h a t's Doing
J'5^^^:'
MORE 41iOUT'.
TEXAS CITY
July 27, 1940. *
JEditor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
To start off this week. I've
news that will warm the heart
of an Editor. The sulphur scow
S.S. FRANCIS SALMON came
bouncing into the slip, and the
first thing 1 heard was, "We have
taken a donation to the Log, give
us a receipt for |9.00."
Not 80 bad. As we pointed out
at the agents' conference, the
members realize the need of a pa
per to combat the rantings of the
Commies and will support it with
out any high pressure salesman
ehlp being exerted by the partol
meii.
^ *
One W. E. Mosely earhe bounc
ing into the haii last week and
itated that he had itist his book.
Asked if he was'the member that
wais pulled off In' 'JacksdhVille, 'fte
denied'it. So, as every member
has the right of another, i pot hfs
name On' the p'Orihit li^ and
wi^ote to New York on the gent.
t received a most emphatic let
ter', which took two paSes 'to list
this Quy'i "errors'."
• He left hOre two days before
the letter from New York arrived,
and since thfen he has been hang
ing around the turning basin In
Houston, trying to ship out with
the tankers. So, if he turns up on
another ship anywhere, ask him
to come back here. Some of tlie
boys want to play.
What price for a NMU
book, now that the new reguia
trons are going into effect on the
tankers? If the boys are willing
td take some advice, I'd suggest
that the ante be raised to three
bucks (one for the Union; two to
buy a cushion for the gullible
sucker that takes ^he $1.00 book
to rest on till he ships through'a
NMU hall). They rrii^ht even buy
a few looms ala Ghahdi, to renevv
the seat of their pants while
wait.
* « «
Shipping has slowed down some
here at present", but the Phlla,
Navy will come groaning in next
week, so things should' pkk up.
Shipped an oher to firoTTOsville
the other night for the S.S. RAN
KRAFT. She is leaving there for
tiie Far East, so don't know how
come tlie ship's short.
* * *
Oh the Del Alba in Houston
the "other day; found the Steward
having his me^sboy's hitting the
dock to pack stores aboard. Also
fOiihd thb crew Squawking about
the chow. Cooked O. K., just no
variety. Talked to Stev/ard and
hotiffed New Qfieans. So this
gent should be squared away be
fore feH'e''ieaVesTer the" S^oulh.
Why, nh whYi do those guys who
didn't have the guts to beef for
their own betterment—who have
got everything through the'action
of others—^now, that they are
fixed fip in gdod" Shape; fiof re
spect and try to work with those
who" made ' thdifs possible? They
6hould .be able to remember what
the '"fcotapanife 'thought ' of them
during the depression era. I can't
remiefiibei' ah'y' of • these fcompany
stoogee, settipg fmy thanks for
robblh'g the'Beiliertff the''S^en,
• hiseling on the beddlpg, etc. Rut
now that they are making' enough
to live like men, theite still
OTOUgh ot them left ^tiO" oversh^
W' me majority' of vetewards who
take care of the crew first and
the r^t after.
The PileIt seems to be getting
scarce around'here. Haven't got
one for the last fSw weeks. How
the hell are the Commies going
td keep the boys In line If they
slack off on ^he baloney rag. Or
bre they getting wise to them
selves.
A. W. Armstrong.
mWORlEANS
July 25. 1940.
Editor. Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Shipping for the past week was
very good in all departments.
Shipped a full SUP crew for
the S.S. NARCISSUS. Cleaned up
the beach for SUP men. QulY two
SUP inen are now registered here
oti the list.
« « «
The S.S. PAN KRAFT came In
last week and changed' from
Coastwise to Far Edsi. Shipped
about 20 men On her. The PAN
GULF came in yesterday and Is
also going Fdr East. Shipp'Cd 10
nfeh on her so far. Expect'to ship
more before she sails.
• • • .
The S.S. WACASTA signs on
Friday for the Far East. Shipped
quite a few men on he'r also.'
• * «
Plenty of jobs around here for
men who wahf to gb out East.
* * •
Shipped 10 Permit Card men
last few days.
Fraternally yours,
C. J. Stephens, Dispatcher.
JACKSONriLlE
July 26, 1940
Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Everything is quiet on the
Boutheast'ern front, with a couple
of Bull Line ships due lu here
the later part of the wee^. This
port reminds me of a ghost fdiiiTi,
since the fruit season wfent out of
existence.
It is getting so that the few
ships that do come In here once
In a while have no beefs. I don't
like ttiat at all. 1 like to have a
few beefs once in a while because
yb'u begin to get stale if you
don't.
» * »
There are 14 members regis
tered on the three shipping lists
at present. That's all for th^s
week.
Steady as she goes.
Fred Lauritano.
PVERTO RICO
July 30, 1940.
The Seafarers' Log
Dears Sirs and Brothers:
Shipping for the past week was
fair. Shipped 22 Deck, 10 Engine,
11 Steward Dept.. 10 Extras, six
Reliefs, two SUP. Total 6l. 31
registered.
• • «
• yVe had quite a few beefs with
different sh'Ihs hitting this port.
It lo'qke as if the men wait and
bring' their befefs tb New Cleans
for action, at least it looks that
why, anyway; but we can still gb
on, and they are straightened out
beforh departing from this port.
But wb stiMy. don't" go for phohy
beefsi
* ' * «
The S.S. William Salman ar
rived a couple of days ago' with
a few beefs, which were settled
to the crew's satisfaction; with
new springs and bunks and ve'n
tilators on" pobpdeck.
The Narcissus left here a few
days ago with a ifull West Coast
crew, headed for Mobile. "Hie
Captain made a slipup and did
not want to sign the men on iar
ticles or any other fom of pay
roll until they arrived in Mobile;
so the Commissioner upheld the
crew, stated the Qld Man viplated
the law by not signing on in New
Orleans. Therefore the' ct^bw aR
uit in MoWle.
Furthermore, the crew could
have pressed chhrgeO" against the
Captain "for''leaving ^ thlb'* port
without signing any kind of ar
ticles at aif or payrbliS,^^b^ th'e^
^liid 'not ' prest' any • ''charges.
They trlbcl to get a ricjfep bhlik to
the'Quif, hut the^ki^^^^^
smbt(e,"sb I'Ke men dWS 'rib^''t)ack • >
Editor, Seafarers' Log:
Re: the recent balloting being
conducting uii " and ' down the
Coast.
* « «
A balloting booth was con
structed for the purpose of hav
ing a'secret ballot. A coUple Of
members and the agent went
through great pains and Work
cbhatructing it, but nobody ever
used It.
» » •
It was impossible to get five
full bopfc members to act as a bal
lotiiig committee. The members
do'wh here dither have sick piofh
efh or brothers, or they are sick
themselves. The metnhers on tlie
ships when they arrive here 'inake
a draw and go out and have a
good time.
• . • • »
There never was anybody
around to go on the committee.
(I wish to thank the members for
their willingness to come' around
and volunteer to go on the Bal
loting Committee.)
Shipping has been pretty fair
here in San Juan. Most of the
Rum Testers have been shipped
oiit, and the hall is pretty' quiet
now. Had to ship two permit men
last week (ordinary seamen at
that).
Fraternally yours,
D. Butts, Agent.
thla ppit.
TEARS UP HIS
NMU BOOK
July 21, 1940
To the Delegate,
Seafarers' International Union
I, Richard E. TUnison, in the
presence of vyitnesses do r6
riounce all cb'nnections and
sever my reTatiohshlp ' hnd
rights to membership in the
Seafarers' Infernational Union:
denounce its'p'oiicies a's' unfa!r
to me atid" union men
Four-Pay Strike
{Continued from Page 1)
Chairman of Selectmen, Nan
tucket, Mass."
All But Call for Marines
Another tefegram—sent to the
regular officers of the S.I.U. this
time, without benefit of the Police
Chief's seryiceslarrlved the next
day from the Nantucket Chamber
of Commerce, screaming that "the
present strike hot only Is causing
immeasurable inconvenience to
upward of twenty thousand per
sons on the islands, but also con
stituted a 'THREAT TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
SAFETY OF ALL THE ISLAND
COMMUNITIES,"
In hairraising language, these
"impartial" representative.s of the
people warned that continuance
of the strike would "sap the life
blood of wholfe communities of in
nocent and hardworking people^
The whole machinery of "public
pressure" was on full blast!
Rising "Figures" ... or
Tempers.
The figure of those allegedly
affected continued to climb from
day to day. On Sunday, the
Chamber of Commerce claimed it
was '20,000. On Monday, the
BOSTON TRAVELER boosted it
to 45,000. By' Tuesday, Governor
Saltohstalf entered the situation.
claimed that no less than
90,000 persons were affected!
'A whole battery of state and
federal mediators, conciliators
ami arbitrators flocked to the
scene fioui the first hour of the
strike, to add their pressure.
BALTIMORE
and
NEWS
<j. 'ttagin, Deeic Pit
IS "unfair
J. ,.""'h
era1. As evidence bf samd,' I
hereby destroy my book wkich
ehiltied 'rtq' to' menibeVshVjt "in
Na^ibhal'Maritime tin ' '
Richarcf'Euge'ne Tuhlson.
'Witn'i86e's:'t«lgneif) tloJin P.
Doyle, ' $07%" bdhiln ibk"' G'fan
te: 8r'Al^ln'''%>iney;''^'G.''
(From AS. WiMit Kysksf.y ^
Governor Issues Ultimatum
Finally, oh Monday, the Gov
ernor, after calling a conference
between union and company rep
resentatives, issued an "ultima
tum" demanding that ail officials
involved remain in continual con
ference at the State House in
Boston until an agreem( .t con
cluding the strike had been
reached. Both sides agreed to
notify the governor before leav
ing.
The negotiators continued in
session from 10 A.M. on ivionday
until 3 A.M. the next morning.
Finally, the company, represented
among others by Vice" Presidents
Frank j. Wall and Robert u
Pearson of the New Haven R.R.,
operators of the NESSCO, after
having constantly .said "no dice"
to the union, buckled under and
agreed to arbitrate the 'demands,
if the strikers followed suit;
Agreement Reached
After withstanding the tremen
dous pressure from all sides for
four days, the S.I.U; iepresenta
tiVes, anxious not to jeopardize
the closed shop contract in force
with the NESSCO. likewise
agreed, following some arguments
back and forth regarding the com
position (if the Board which is to
have final Say; The latter is to
be composed of one union repre
sentative, one represfentative of
the line and General Cole, Chair
man of the Massachusetts Bdard
of Conciliation and Arbitratioh.
Rrovisions of Settlement
Included in the agreement
w:hich settled the strike are the
following provisions:
(1) ALL men bh 'strike are to
bd relhstatea te' thelf' former' p6
WITHOUT DlSfeFilMINAi
TI<JN; With the* cldled' shop' eon
trgfct ii tb'remain In force f^r tff
bthi^'yeanr.•
Important Decision!
Of Importance to all seamen is
the decision handed down by a
Federal Judge In the United
States District Court in the case
of a brother member against the
Hawaiian Steamship Company,
The member had joined the ship
on the West Coast and was
forced to quit her at Savannah
and enter the Marine Hospital
there for treatment for a swollen
knee, allegedly brought on by a
rheumatic condition. The com
pany paid the member off (n Sa
vannah and the brother, repre
sented by Lawyer Sol Beren
holtz, sued the company for full
wages to the ending of the Inter
coastal articles and return trans
portation to the Coast. It vyas the
company's. claim that dince the
member's sickness wasdue to
something he had before ho
joined the ship, they were not Ii
able. However, the Court thodght
otherwise, pointing out in their
decision "the practical inconve
nience and the attendant danger
to seamen in the application of a
rule which would encourage the
attempt by master or owper to
advance of
maintenance and ei
• the illness was caused by the
employment are manifest."
any
whether
Second Point
On the .second Point the court
ruled: "The seaman is entitled
to be transported free of ch^irge
ick to the port where he ofigi
nally signed on. provided iia
riiak^ tlie demand for such trans
portation within a reasonable
time after he has recovered 'hi«
health, and provided also that at
thb time he makes his demand ho
has not assumed a position wliicii
is dfrectly contradictory to his
asserted desire to seek empldv
menfat that port." As this fs 'the
first decision of this kihd a^hd
one wiiicli will undoubtedly 'be
used as a precedent in othei sini
ilar cases, members should make
due note of it.
Rest in Peace
Ship's Delegate Biid Ray of the
S.S. Coelleda has notified the
brahch of the death by drowning
of Brother Joseph Maszthk No.
2555, while the ship was lying at
Ge.orgetown, British Guiana.
Brother Masztak was a good
union brother and well known
along this waterfront. The branch
regrets his passing.
W. H. Elkins. Agent
the following union demands:
a) an upward adjustment in the
monthly rates of watchman and
quartermaster; b) an increase oY
$10 in the monthly rates; c) ah
extra day's pay for time worked
on 'holidays; 'd) an increase in the
overtime rate from 70 to 80 cents
per hour.
The Board is to begin deiibera
tiqns within fifteen days. Its <ie*
cisions are to he RETROACTI'VTa
as of the day the strike was
ended, July 30.
Strikers ̂howed Figkting
(2) The board Id to eettt* on
. Once again the S.I.U.' flatting
feiv' Th®
tant men of the New' Bei|fprd
life proved to John Shipowner
when" th?
umoh calls. Once' agalh,^ the
that it waf Jan pr^,
ganlzatiop dAjicated tp^
that " it packs up.. . wor^ wlth'
deedsl '
ASI
H
• =^1
• .K I
I
• JSf 1
• 4>ii
C'V
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
M 'm- THESEAFARERS' L O G Monday, August 5, 1940
f COMPENSATION BILL
Hearings Rushed to Close
Without Seomen's Answer
S.U.P. Brief Discloses Phoney Provisions
In Bill Supported by Shipowners' Stooges
SHIPPING
NEWS
MORE ABOUT%
i!
WASHINGTON, D.C.—After listening to reams upon
reams of shipownerinspired testimony from corporation
lawyers, "expert" professors and "impartial" skypilots
favoring extension of the Longshoremen and Harbor Work
ers Compensation Act to seamen, Senator John A. Overton's
#ubeommittee of the Committee on Commerce rushed hear
ings to a close without affording the assembled representa
tives of the seamen's unions an opportunitj'' for rebuttal.
The unions have been opposing the Bill under discussion (H.R.
€881) as a measure that will sharply curtail beneflts enjoyed by
seamen under the present law. The suddenly turned kindhearted
operators and their stooges have been sponsoring It with unprees
eiented vigor as "beneficial" to the men who man the shipa.
Members of the S.I.U. must be on guard to take further actio*
against any attempt to jam this Greek gift to seamen through the
Senate. Similar hills were Introduced last year and were sidetracked
after strenuous Union protests. At that time, the SUP presented
a brief which presents the matter In a nutshell. The brief follows
herewith;
Union Brief Setting Forth Objections to BUI
compensation act fhat he has not
now? NothlngI He'll stand to
lose « lot.
Under the prevailing Compen
sation Act he would he limited to
For a period of many yean,
Congress through the earnest rep
resentation of seafaring organlza
tiona has set up various laws for
fhO protection of seamen.
Under the general maritime
fdw now In effect the seamen are
entitled to what is known as
MUhlntenance and cure. By this It
Is meant that if a seaman be
oOmea 111 or is Injured In the ser
vice of his ship, he can obtain
medical service, Including hospl
tatlzatlbn. In addition, a seaman
is entitled to recover maintenance
while outside of the hospital untfl
hin physical condition becomes
fixed. Maintenance while outside
of the hospital has been paid at
nothing less than $2.00 per day.
Absolute Liabilities
!f the seaman happens to be on
article, he is also entitled
to his wages until the end of the
Toyage. These are absolute liabil
ities upon the vessel. Irrespective
of any question of negligence.
In addition to this If the sea
man is Injured due to the negli
gence of the shipowner, the mas
ter or any other officer or through
the negligence of a fellow worker,
hb Is entitled to not alone main
tenance and cure but also to a
Otaim of damage by reason of
tiegllgent conduct of the vessel's
(Owner. •
i.The claim of damage would in
cldde besides maintenance and
curd 'the full amount of wages
10st,'> payment for permanent dis
ability md for pain and suffering.
What can a seaman gain by a
recovery of compensation only for
the actual time that a politically
appointed compensation commis
sioner. in his opinion, found the
seaman was actually disabled.
Present Maximum
Under the present compensa
tion laws called the Longshore
men A Harbor Workers' Act, all
a man can recover for total dlf
ability Is $7,SOO. This is the max!
mum set by law. Total disability
means that a man is physically
unfit to do any kind of work for
the rest of his life. How long can
a man who Is a physical wreck
live on $7,5007 It Is fair to as
sume that after a period of five
years this man will be a burden
upon society and will depend on
charity in order to live the rest
of his life. What a future for
man, who, say, for Instance, was
totally disabled at the age of 25.
If a man is permanently par
tially disabled, according to the
present Compensation Act, he is
entitled to two thirds of his week
ly wages for a stipulated length of
time, depending upon the injury.
So, according to the compensation
law, the seamen who are now
paid $72.50 per month in wages
would receive twothirds of that,
approximately $48.50 per month—
or $12 per week for the following
injuiles:
lifj—
COMPENSATION LAW TABLES
Arm lost, 280 weeks compensation at $12 per week .$3,3«0
Leg lost, 248 weeks compensation at $12 per week 2,97®
Hand lost, 212 weeks compensation at $12 per week ".... 2,544
root lost, 173 weeks compensation at $12 per week 2,07#
Eye lost, 140 weeks compensation at $12 per week.,.. 1,680
*rhumb lost, 51 weeks compensation at $12 per week 612
First finger lost, 28 weeks compensation at $12 per week...... 336
Oreat toe lost, 26 weeks compensation at $12 per week 312
Second finger lost, 18 weeks compensation at $12 per week.... 216
Third finger lost, 17 weeks compensation at $12 per week.... 204
Toe, other than great toe lost, 8 weeks do 96
Fourth finger lost, 7 weeks do 84
Loss of hearing, 1 ear, 51 weeks do 812
Mea ol" hearing, both cars, 200 weeks do 2,400
R:
This is the approximate com
pensation allowed for these in
Juries under the Longshoremen
& Harbor Workers' Compensation
Act
When a seaman loses an arm,
leg, foot, hand, eye, or loses the
bearing of one ear, he Is FIN
ISHED as far as going to sea la
concerned. He will be unable to
pass the RIGID physical examina
tion that now exists for seamen.
How much of a chance would a
jl^rippled seaman have for getting
work ashore7 Very little. If any
At alll
So it comes down to this: That
After a seaman is crippled up and
becomes useless, he will bo paid
oft with a couple of thousand dol
lars, to be a burden on society
and depend on charity for the
yest of his life. That Is the PAY
OFF for seamen, after giving
their lives and limbs for the bene
fit of making profits for ship
owners.
It is the firm opinion of ths
membership of the SAILORS
UNION OF THE PACIFIC and of
the AMERICAN SEAMEN AS A
WHOLE which is borne out by
facts, that the teamen have noth
ing to gain by a compensation
act, but have everything to lose
The American seamen as a
Another Fink Training Ship
The Maritime Commission has
announced the establishment of
another "station" to train finks.
It's location Is to be Hueneme,
near Oxnard. California. The S.S.
AMERICAN SAILOR Is being
converted at the Bethlehem plant
in Baltimore for service in the
CommisslQu's flnktraining pro
gram. The Hueneme station Is to
start operations In January, 1941
It will bear watching for phoney
moves.
Poor, Starving Shipowners
Every time seamen ask for
wage raise, they are confronted
by the heartrending, hardluck
stories of the operators. What
are the facts? Here Is something
that will give you an Inkling:
"Gross earnings of American
vessels engaged In overseas pas'
cenger traffic In 1939 were ap
proximately $42,000,000, an IN
CREASE of $5,000,000 over earn
ings In 1938, It was reported by
Dr. Amos E. Taylor, Chief of the
finance division, Department of
Commerce. . . The GAIN In edrnj
Ings occurred DESPITE a 13 psr
cent decline in the total volume
of passenger travel between thei
United States and overseas couni
tries, Dr. Taylor explained."
(Journal of Commerce, July 29,
1940). . .
Poor shipowners! They are
practically being forced to go on
relief.
New Kind of Beef
A sign of the times Is the fol^
lowing item culled from the
same paper: ? !
"Crew trouble, which delayed
the Dutch Oranje Line freighter
Prins Wliiem II at Sandusky, O..
for some time, has also beset
All Vessels Short-Handed,
Unions Tell Commission;
- Danger to Safety Seen
(Continued from page 1)
LUNDEBERQ'S TESTIMONY PRESENTS SEAMEN'S CASE
that company's Prins Wlllem^^tll,
which lay outside the break
water at Chicago last week (July
26), as the crew refused to sail
aboard an unarmed vessel. Crew
members said that the 2800ton
freighter was the target of Ger
man bombers off Flushing, Hol
land, on May 10 and that they
wanted armament to protect
themselves in the event of future
attacks."
EXAMINER RING: I think for
the purpose of the record you
had better state your name.
THE WITNESS: Harry Lunde
berg. Sailors Union of the Pacific,
. Well, we feel that all the Amer
ican. ships, regardless of whether
they are subsidized or what they
are, are shorthanded on deck. Of
course, you can go back In the
records from the time the old
Shipping Board ran the ships
The records" will prove that they
h^ a bigger manning scale on
deck.
UNFAIR TO LABOR
Rice Hotel Laundry
(Houston, Texas)
Has been placed on the "We
do not patronize list" by the
Laundry, Linen, and Cleaning
Sales Drivers Local Union No.
602 (A. F. of L.). Watch out
when this firm makes the
ships!
• r .1113
Canadian Seamen
Win Wage Boost
TORONTO, Can.—Seven Great
Lakes shipping companies signed
agreements with the Canadian
Seamen's Union, affiliated with
the S.I.U., providing wage raises,
Increased manning scales, prefer
ential hiring, and the hiring of
an extra deckhand on ships op
erating in the lower St, Lawrence
Canal. • »
whole are opposed to the passage
of any kind of a compensation
act for seamen and ask that these
bills be rejected. The fact that
all seamen are against enactment
of this bill and that no seamen
have asked for this type of legis
lation should be enough.
On the other hand, only the
shipowners and their representa
tives are asking for the passage
of the Compensation Act for sea
men.
Had 8 AB's Then
Take, for Instanco, the 8800's,
They had three men more on
deck. They had eight A.B., they
had threeordinary teamen and
two deck boys, a boatswain and
a carpenter. Today, the same
ships are rifnnlng out here with
Six A.^.'s, three seamen and
boatswain and a carpenter. That
le one Instance.
Then you have the 535'8 In the
transPaelfle run, which have
smaller crews today than some
ten or twelve years ago when
they were, subsidized under, the
White Act. t guess, wasn't It?
MiL, SCHELL: The mall con
tracts." : >
THE,. WITNESS: Then they
had fat subsidies under the
White Act. ' • • • •
..MR. SCHELL: That was a mall
contract.
. THE.. WITNESS: Yes. "Then
they used to have bigger crews
You take, for ln.stance, the COO
I.IDGE now. It Is about, eight
men. She has eight ablebodied
seamep less than she had about
ten years ago. True enough, they
have put a night watchman "there
nowadays/ but that doesn't help
the upkeep of the vessel. So, in
reality she is eight A.B.. seamen
short, which the records will
prove. • .
ShortSiifhted Policy
We always thought It was
very shortsighted policy of the
shipowners to run ships short
handed on deck because in the
long run they are going to pay
for it anyway through upkeep
when the vessel gets into port;
shore repairs and so forth. We
• feel that all work, from the keel
to the trunks, which Is the sailor's
work, should be. done at sea.
, According to the laws that are
in effect, all hands must be on
watch. You have three men to
each watch In the freighters, and
in the passenger vessels all hands
divide up the watches. You have
no people working day work to
keep up the upkeep of the vessel,
the gear and so forth. And there
should at least be two or three
day mcin on at least each Ameri
ican freighter.
Not so long ago the Maritime
Commission run the line up to
Seattle and the West Oriental
Line, which, I believe is the 8800
type of ships, isn't it?
EXAMINER, RING: That is
right.
THE WITNESS: When the
Maritime Commission run those
ships they had one maintenance
man on deck besides the boat
swain and the carpenter. As
soon as the private concern took
It over they Immediately tried to
get rid of this day man. That
was only last week. Of course,
we couldn't allow such a thing to
happen after the Maritime Com
mission had already established
the precedent and we feel that
the Maritime Commission should
know what Is required In the line
of crews on board those ships.
They more or less sponsor the
American Merchant Marine. So
we feel that the shipowners were
kind of shortsighted and I be
lieve they finally saw our point.
So the ship Is now sailing with
the same requirement as the Ma
ritime Commission, although we
don't think It Is enough even at
that. There should he two more
day men like it had during the
Shipping Bop.rd days.
ThreeWatch System
EXAMINER RING: Mr. Lunde
berg, you have spoken of the
threewatch system that requires
all sailors to be assigned to
watches.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
EXAMINER RING: If the ex
isting law providing that all bail
ors be assigned to watches should
be amended whereby there would
be no necessary reduction, in the
number of men who are carried,
but a division between sailors
who would be on watch and those
who would not be on watch were
accomplished, do you think that
would be a good thing?
THE WITNESS: Well, we have
no objection to that, providing
that you don't cut the crew list,
of course.
EXAMINER RING: That la
what I say: Providing that the
crew list Is not cut. but that it is
divided. We will take, for In
stance, a ship like the €00
LIDGE, of which you spoke, and
suppoeing for the sake of inustra
tlon here "that they run 18 A.B.'a
and 12 ordinary's: and that it is
found that six A.B.'8 and three
ordinary's would be sufficient for
watch duties and that the others
could be assigned to day work;
would a law that "would make
that permlssable be in your opin
ion a good thing?
THE WITNESS: Well, of
course, I disagree with you on the
amount of men to be on watch.
EXAMINER RING: Take any
number. I am not Interested in
the number. You can make them
12 £(nd six on watch.
THE WITNESS: We are not
opposed to that. Of course, the
way the law has worked since
they put this all hands on watch.
We liave lost on it. We have lost
on it due to the fact that they
have used less men on deck now
than they did, and we thought
that they were going to be uslng
more men on deck. Our organiza
tion was. In fact, responsible for
getting this law passed, that all
hands on watch. But it hasn't
worked out in practice that way.
We lost men.
ATTENTION I
iM
• i/ I
/lit:. I
tiii
V
. ,J—.y-
All branches are re-
quested to cooperate
with Headquarters in
the publication 'of the
"Log" by submitting
news of local and gen-
eral, interest at regular
intervals.
/.• *v
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
iv •
V4'
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y.. MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 1940 44fi No. 9
NEW BEDFORD SEAMEN BACK
DEMANDS WITH 4.DAY STRIKE
MANNING SCALE HEARINGS
All Vessels Short-Handed,
Unions Tell Commission;
Danger to Safety Seen
Hearings on the question of manning scales for subsidized
vessels have been held by the Maritime Commission in San
Francisco, New Orleans and New York during the past week.
At each port representatives of the seamen offered an abun
danee of evidence that American merchant ships have been
woefully understaffed. Particularly stressed was the fact that
the type of ship which used to carry eight A.B.'s nowadays
only carries five or at most six seamen of that qualification.
Union representatives called the undermanning of vessels by
the shipowners a shortsighted policy and detrimental to
safety at sea.
At 8an Francisco, Acting Prealdent Harry Lundeberg of th«
8.1.U. appeared at the hearingk, speaking for seamen on that ooast.
We publish beiow excerpts of his testimony given before the Mari
time Commission on July 23, 1940. The facts presented are of vital
interest to seafarers everywhere.
(Continued on page 4)
WARNING TO DISRUPTERS! t
it .has been called to our attention that certain members,
disregarding the expressed will of the membership, have taken
It upon themselves to mislead crews Into actions detrimental
to the union as a whole. As a warning against such phoneys
and for the purpose of putting all 8.1.U. seamen on guard
against them, we reprint beiow the RESOLUTION on this
subject adopted by the Atlanta Agents Conference:
RESOLUTION
Adopted by Atlantic and dulf District Agent« Con
ference, June 69, Atlanta, Georgia.
WHEREAS: Certain conditions have arisen on account
of the European war which have virtually placed
this country on an emergency status, and
WHEREAS: Hostile shipowners in conjunction with
various antiunion men on government bureaus are
trying to destroy our unions, and
WHEREAS : Saboteurs may have crept into our ranks
with the specific purpose of disrupting our organi
zation, be it therefore
RESOLVED: That we go on record instituting the fol
lowing measures in conformity with our constitution
and for the benefit of the membership as a whole:
1. In ships and companies where our organization
Iws an agreement, no direct action to tie up a
sMp shall be taken either by an individual crew,
by an individual official of the union or by an
individual branch before contacting district
headquarters thru the secretarytreasurer.
2. The headquarters shall have the final say before
a ship is tied up and they shall at all times be
guided' by the constitution, which in the final
analysis, is the law of the membership as a whole.
3. No action shall be taken by the Atlantic District
to %e up a ship with an agreement with the Gulf
District and vice versa, until the respective dis
tricts where the ship belongs has been contacted,
and be it finally
RESOLVED: That anyone that breaks these rules shall
be made to answer to the membership.
FLASH!
Attempts by the NMU
officials to put over scabby
coastwise agreements with
out any effort at all to get
an increase in overtime,
have caused a stiffening of
shipowner resistence. They
have provided one more
obstacle for S.I.U. negotia
tors to hurdle, in order to
get a 10 cents boost in
hourly overtime pay—and
bonuses—with the SEAS
SHIPPING COMPANY.
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
(Atlantic District)
Seatrain Texas Reports
Manning Scale Hearing
——NEW YORK
S.S. Seatrain Texas
The S.S. SEATRAIN TEXAS
blew into town this week. Aii'a
going well there, the boys say.
We are reliably informed that the
crew Is organizing a baseball
team to take on local competition
in ths Lone Star State.
• • •
Dispatcher's Reports
At the last meeting, on
Dispatcher Goulding
shipping 33 men, with
registered and a total of
now on the shipping list'.
Dispatcher Gonsarchik
shipping 127 men, with
registered and a total of
now on the shipping list.
July 29,
reported
14 men
30 men
reported
82 men
123 men
Mamiing Scale Hearings
Hearings on minimum manning
scales for government and subsi
dized vessels are being held by
the Maritime .Commission in New
York this week. Unions represent
ing the unlicensed personnel are
presenting the case for the sea
men. Evidence has been presented
by the latter to prove that most
American passenger and freight
ships are sailing undermanned.
• * •
Union representatives stated
that the new C2 and C3 ships,
being built by the Maritime Com
mission, are carrying nearly
twice as many derricks as the old
Hog Island type . vessels and 5 ot
are carrying only six A.B.'3 as
against eight on the older type
ships. The Unions are calling for
twelve A.B.'s on these vessels.
{See Lundejterg's testimony on
the Manning Scales elsewhere in
this issue.)
. . v.
Ships Tied Up When NESSCO
Said "No Dice" to S.I.U.
Request for 10-10 increases
Company Agrees to Talk Terms With
Union After Militant Picketing,
Intervention by Governor
Taking the operators completely by surprise, 260 S.I.U.
men manning* the ship.s of the New Bedford, Martha's Viue
yai d and Nantucket Steamboat Line, hit the bricks on Satur
day morning, July 27, in support of the union's demand for
the 1010 from the New England Steamsliip Company. The
New Bedford Line operates four boats between the mainland
and the islands of Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard.
Deadline Set
Negotiations for
<S>
increases
similar to those obtained from
other coastwise companies had
been handled for the Sea
farers International Union by
John Hawk, SecretaryTreas
urer of the Atlantic District;
John Mogan, Boston agent,
and John Manchester, Provi
dence agent.
The company had been notified
of the request to amend the
agreement in good time, but
failed to respond satisfactorily.
Finally, after several flat re
fusals of concessions, the union's
negotiators notified the operators
on Friday, July 26 that a deadline
for strike action to reenforce the
demands had been set for 6:30
the next morning.
Company Ruses
Ilea'izing that the union meant
business, the shipowners attempt
ed to get a postponement of the
deadline. But the seamen's rep
resentatives had already seen
enough of the stalling tactics of
the company to concede to this
request without definite commit
ments by the company.
For weeks before, the opera
tors of the NESSCO had been
using ail kinds of ruses and sub
terfuges to Intimidate the men on
the ships and sow dissension
among them. Company stooges
were planted among the crew to
plead poverty for the shipowners,
wringing their hands and tearing
their hair in an effort to convince
the crews that the NESSCO was
practically losing its shirt. To no
avail. During the week preceding
the action, the crews voted by
secret ballot to authorize strike
action.
Then the operators pulled an
other card from the deck: Com
pany cops were stationed all
along the wharves and on board
ship, so that even the passengers
began to feel the intimidation in
the air. The company thought the
situation was well in hand.
But . . .
Strike 100% SoM
Promptly at 6:30 A.M. on Sat
urday, July 27, the crew of the
S.S. Martha's Vineyard hit the
docks at New Bedford. Picket
lines were formed at once. Then
one by one, as each of the three
other vessels of the line pulled
into port, the deck and engine de
partments of the S.S. Naushon,
the S.S. Nantucket and the S.S.
iNew Bedford joined the picket
lines in a body. IN SPITE OF
ALL OF THE CLEVER TRICKS
AND COUNTLESS MANEUV
ERS OF THE SHIPOWNERS,
THE STRIKE WAS 100 PER
CENT EFFECTIVE,
Backed by Labor
A special meeting of the strik
ers was called at once by Brother
Hawk and a Strike Committee was
elected. The International Long
shoremen's Association offered
the committee the use of its hall
for the strike's duration. After
listening to Bro. Hawk, the New.
Bedford Central Trades and La
bor Council voted full support of
the S.I.U. No longshoreman, no
teamster would pass that picket
line.
"Public Pressure" on Tap
immediately after news of the
strike began to spread, the ship
owners, unsuccessful with their
company stooges In attempting to
dissuade the men from action and
unable .for all of their horde of
cops to threaten the union with
strikebreaking tactics, began to
tap another source of intimida
tion: The strike had not been on
for more than a few hours when
spurious telegrams from the "pub
lic" began to pour into strike
headquarters!
ONE SUCH TELEGRAM WAS
SENT TO THE STRIKERS IN
CARE OP THE NEW BEDFORD *
CHIEF OF POLICE! It was
dated 2 P.M. on Saliirday, hardly
eight hours after the strike had
begun! But already there was
fuming and frothing in the name
of the "people" that the signers
would "make public" (?) the
name of the union if it refused to
accede to a demand to call the
strike off at once. The telegram
was signed "Irving A. Soverino,
{Continued on Page 3)
V...
i
• • "''H • "'^1
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Monday, August 5^ 1940
Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with ike American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNHEBERG, Acting President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calit
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwling Green 93457) ......2 Stone Strwt
BRANCHES
Boston . ; i:.......... >1.. .550 Atlantic Avenue
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia 6 litorfh ^th Str^t
Baltimore ... i...' .'14 North Gay Sti'eet
Norfolk 60 Commercial i^lace
Sttn Joan, Puerto Ricoi 8 Covadoni^ Street
GtUf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans ^ 7.1.."..".'.I'.'.'....309 Chartr^ Street
BRANCHES
S&TSUIII&IL • • • • • • • «• • *» e • *• • • • • • • • • • • • • • '• *2X8 Esflt Str6Ct
Jacksonville ......186 Bay Street
Tampa .J..... ..206 South PrankSn Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Texas City ....105 4th Street N.
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Hetroit i 1038 Third StrjMt
'• AJa'DRESS ALL CQRBESPOJiDENCE CONCERNING THM
PUBLICATION TO:
;; "THE SEAFAREFtS' LOG"
Pr. O. Box 522, Oiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
OUT OF THE MAILBAG
^Silence Is the Better
Part of Wisdom"
Reports Coocj
Results on 6e^
July 26, 1940
At Sea
Editor, Seafarers' Log
i)eqr Brother;
Militant action aboard the S.S.
BIRMrf^GH^M" hits brought the
ship a fong way toward (op stand
ardi. From "one bf tliie waclifest
waggons in the coast trade, she
has been turned into one of the
Up to a fe^' wee^s ago the deck
department Was sleeping forward
in a fbc'sie, reminiscent of Clip
per Ship days. On sailing days
the deck would be cluttered up
with mates (all of them) giving
contradictory orders to everyone
in sight.. The food was nota,ble
mainly for its absence of green
vegetables and fruits in seabbn.
• * •
A committee visited the com
pany's offices in N. Y. with in
structions to get those things
changed or else, and came back
" ' SILENCE is the better part of wisdom—that seems to
hethe Pljeit's feeling fately about the attempted $2.50
sellout.
We have turned the pages ̂in issue after issue of the
rag for the past four, weeks. But there's narry a line in it
on the subject. Nothing to explain why the NMU Negotiat
ing Committee, tried to put across the measly $2.50 on the
membership. Nor why it persisted in the attempt even
while the S'.I.U. was signing with one coastwise company
after another for $10 monthly increases and 10 cents per
hour increases in overtime? Nor, how come that even his
own operators—who,. Gurran and his stooges claimec
would go broke if they granted any increases at all, let
alone the $2.50—^finally tossed the NMU $2.50 more than
the "Negotiating Committee" itself had asked for?
Nothing hut silence on this touchy subject in the Pileit
Not a woifd concerning coastwise negotiations in thewhole
five d^ys of blahblah gushed forth at the recent meeting
of the NMU's "National Council."
• And for good cause: No aniount of highpower;ed bl^b
can explain away the /act that the.S.I.U: showed up the
attempted sellout in action.
• The NMU membership cannot be made to forget the
* factthat the S.I.U.'s successful negotiations for the $10 was
whai got them an unexpected $5 increase too.
The NMU rank and file cap't be kidded out of asking:
Ho,w, come the S.I.U. has obtaineci a 10" cents per hour in
crease in overtime pay on the coastwise ships, when we
(the NMU) haven't even got it on the offshore.
The S.I.U.'s achievements in the coastwise negotiations
are solid facts. Facts are stubborn things. Facts are hard
to argue against.
Curran'Calls far Help !
Joe Curran sent a letter "to the shipowners urging' them to sup
jort thte NMU in . opposing the amendmefit >bf the "Wagher act: He
Mid:
"You are aware of the chaos that existed In the shipping
ILndustry before the passage of the Wagner act and the fbi*.
I matlph of the National Maritime Union. x;ertaih elements
1 among the shipowners vyere cohstantiy preeipifsting Job ae^
tipns on the part of the' seamen by the siniple (!) process
Ofattacking their conditions and job security, dertain ele
ments in our union (long since cleaned put) provoking thei;e
job'actionsj
"As* part of your contribution to the national defense,
we urge that youJoin with us in opposing the Smith amend
Nidnts." • '
tears just roll down Curran'g face at the thought: of the
' U' "
with (he faacom After almost two
hours of argument, we won 6ur
point.
* m *
The crew is now sleeping aft,;
two men in a rpbha. The food has
improved and orders are . given
tliiough the bos'n.
There aie still plenty of things
to be changed^ but with the re
suits so far everyone can see,
these can be taken care of in the
near future, Tf we keep up the
good Work. Such thin^ as a sani
tary drinking foiintain for the
creiV, a blackboard for the course
in the wheelhouse are on the
next order of business along with
payment on arrival at sea, in
stead of during noon hour.
<Sr
TRBEE MUS^TEERS GIVE
^3¥frcls of Advke
tiq^eart^
Philadelphia, July 29, 1340.
It seems that the shipowners
are always down In Washington.
tryin|: to add to the welfare of
the union. In the docalled bene
d'clal legislation that they are' try
ing to havd enact^ in favor of
the union, one criterion Of their
heartrending efforts is the so
called Compensation Bill that Is
supposed to help the seamen and
protect them.
» m *
How many of us stop to real
ize that? Can you'beat'it—^11 tb'e
representatives of the shipowners
going down to Washington and
be'ggfrifi ' the jgovernmint to 'do
right by the seamen!
-- ^ :-0 ^
Now, hoys. Isn't that jiist
ducky. Just think, your potential
enemies are professlhg tlieir' tin
dying love fore yoii. Where is
your gratitude, men?
We are circulating a donation
list among the crew for the'Sea
farers;'. Log, and vye wish (o take
(his opportunity fo thdhk the N.
Y. office for its tirriely, prompt,
and effective coojjOratipn' during
these actions.
For the Deck Department,
J. H. Copenhaver, No. 6145,
Recording SeO'y.
Won't You Kick
Us in the Pants?'
• m.7;c::
:fla!itldh'bf " NatloAAl iiaritiihe' Udicii:" If liese Job, actions wefe
"l^re^^pltatdd*' by tW" s^poWnefd • "liefore' the" 'forniaflon "'bf
(heu how WM it j^bflsible for "cert^lp elemei^s in pur "(NMU)
bfeahed bat)''ptbvokiagthesb Joib'aotlbttsrr "Which
igit jofe't" ' ' "• "• "• .
.What an elevating aight to a^e the "powerful NMU" appealing
the PhlJIdWniro to gave the union! What an outfltl^.7
As onery a critter as we know
is the species kiiown as the com
pany stooge. This bird usually
does its dirty work in the dark,
like the groundmole. Recently,
however. We have discovered a
new breed. This one comes but
of its hole and eveU boasts about
its 'onefinesS! Thus l^e read in
the liapers:
'"CHICAGO, July 31 (UP)7
Almbst three ihbnths ago the
Martifi Auto Farts Co. paid
$13,141 in overtime allowances
to'ttliietythfee employees Oh ah'
order from theFederal Wages
and Hours Administration.
"Ten of the employees ap
pealed from fhat order. (!) •
."After ten weeks' deliberar
tioa, Alex EIaoh,,^:^age8. and
hours diyislpn attorney, ruled
hat those ten may
turp to tjie rampapy' i^,6|6
awarded td them! ' P ,
' ' "bae of the (en is <;jupted ,aa !
expi|Bdnlng;
V Arrhe 'eompdny hf^: • done us
ffavoi* and one' '
, in: return'."
Win »omeone;:ge<hthe^fiittfX
Just the same, we would like to
know a few more things before
prostrating ourselves with grati
tude. For instance: Hovv mahy'of
these champions of the seamen's
welfare Went to Washington to
beg the government for the
Three Watch System? For the
Eight Hour Day? For clean, dry
I'^oc'sles? For clean, wholesome
fcod? Rjr the right of'SeaVneri to
organize? Eor the abolition of
crifnps? Fop the 'riddance df the
Shanghai Artist? For doing away
with conditions where seamen
we're practically forced to the
pieceoff system for their Jobs,
With the Old' phoney boarding
house rackets, the blue iinens
(and very little of the same), old
bn plates and agate war, and lord
knows ' how many other things
too numerous to'mention here?
Well, j/ow know how many. But
they air have the guts to go
down to Washington' and claim
that they would like to see this
"Compensation" legislation go
through, as they want to see the
seamen be protected. OK, tby,
ain't that sump'mt It really
grieves us to think that we' have
misjudged our Good Sapiarltan
shipowner friends ail thead yea'ts,
'V
Well, that's the curse of being
a seamaii) uneducated and' iill
that stuff. Woo! woo!
k ' * <*
W« fnitik that the ahlpownsrs
and their stooges would do well
to leave the seamen protect
themselves. If they really MU»T
>=fe8t their poor hearts break
lend us a hand, they might begin
with starting to fismfcdy''some of
the evils rathpanf today, siich as:
Improper food in the tropical
fuHs; storing a vessel with green
vegetables to run to the W.G. ind
half of them rotting before they
reach the Panama Canal, when
they bould store up enough te
reach there and purchase fresh
stuff on their arrival In the
Canal; thg same with the meat
supply and with fruit and other
perishabie foods.
!»' • •
Just think, storing "fresh"
fruit' and vegetables from Phllly
to Pedro! One day the chill box
is 38 or 40, the next day it is 56
or over. There is no fruit or
vegetable that will stand thPt
yhd of treatment.
^ « » e
Of course^ this Is only one of
the evils that ' the shipowners
could remedy. But (t is of the uU
most Importance. For, when a
man's belly Is full, he is in a
better position to handle other
evils with a clearer mind.
« * «
"Well, guess we've said enough
for this tltne. So. until next (im^,
we remain as before.
Fraternally,
The Three Musketeers
W. B., No. 1994
J. F., No. 542
H. J. C., No. 496
^ i
NOTICE
T. Lane, No. 42(l^Get in.
toucH with your'wife. Your
son is very sick.
• • If'.
S.S. BOSTON (Deck, Dept.) $10.4.5
S. S. ANGELINA 5.15
$.S. CALMAR
James Deidrick 1.00
Pat Masterson ....... 1.00
C. B. Collins
Chester Jakowiski ........... ....... 1.00
"VNm. Zjmmer 1.00
J. Vesta T.OO
Fred'Ryler 1.00
S.S. BliRl^IINGHAM 18.10
S.S. SEATRAINTEXAS ...... 10.00
^.S. SBATRAXN NEW JERSEY .. ...... T.'/5
^.S. COLLIE,E (Crew) ......, ...... ::.2.50
George Nutting ' ;;i.ooi
Thomase Tooma • 3.00
ifirgil Sandberg ....... i ........ ...... l.pQ
Walter P.^kius .50
^m. AB Ijlneklroy..,.:... . ....... ......" .50
E G'.'jkloQtgop^ery ................ 7l.pp
^ptal ...—...... $64.45
I
^':'r
^r.A' I
$64.45
L'ST OF DONAT(QN^ TO SEAFARERS' LOQ
gj. S. 8A©®<«APPA: Siayfer; Ah" l.flf0: 'Sd«h,' R7' ;60: ̂ Mitchell,
Xi., .60; Eeyea, L..CS(iF); .EOl^iColIths, H., J60; Brown! Gi7.2ff;
fsll, C.,.W; Welboni; IL, 1.06; Hlrah, B., Thelas, 7
'I
M^wapch. T.,' ,26; Davis. B,, .60. Total 48.M
y't'Mi
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Monday, August 5. 1940 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
I >
i;
. V
|:V
li
iP: h a t's Doing
J'5^^^:'
MORE 41iOUT'.
TEXAS CITY
July 27, 1940. *
JEditor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
To start off this week. I've
news that will warm the heart
of an Editor. The sulphur scow
S.S. FRANCIS SALMON came
bouncing into the slip, and the
first thing 1 heard was, "We have
taken a donation to the Log, give
us a receipt for |9.00."
Not 80 bad. As we pointed out
at the agents' conference, the
members realize the need of a pa
per to combat the rantings of the
Commies and will support it with
out any high pressure salesman
ehlp being exerted by the partol
meii.
^ *
One W. E. Mosely earhe bounc
ing into the haii last week and
itated that he had itist his book.
Asked if he was'the member that
wais pulled off In' 'JacksdhVille, 'fte
denied'it. So, as every member
has the right of another, i pot hfs
name On' the p'Orihit li^ and
wi^ote to New York on the gent.
t received a most emphatic let
ter', which took two paSes 'to list
this Quy'i "errors'."
• He left hOre two days before
the letter from New York arrived,
and since thfen he has been hang
ing around the turning basin In
Houston, trying to ship out with
the tankers. So, if he turns up on
another ship anywhere, ask him
to come back here. Some of tlie
boys want to play.
What price for a NMU
book, now that the new reguia
trons are going into effect on the
tankers? If the boys are willing
td take some advice, I'd suggest
that the ante be raised to three
bucks (one for the Union; two to
buy a cushion for the gullible
sucker that takes ^he $1.00 book
to rest on till he ships through'a
NMU hall). They rrii^ht even buy
a few looms ala Ghahdi, to renevv
the seat of their pants while
wait.
* « «
Shipping has slowed down some
here at present", but the Phlla,
Navy will come groaning in next
week, so things should' pkk up.
Shipped an oher to firoTTOsville
the other night for the S.S. RAN
KRAFT. She is leaving there for
tiie Far East, so don't know how
come tlie ship's short.
* * *
Oh the Del Alba in Houston
the "other day; found the Steward
having his me^sboy's hitting the
dock to pack stores aboard. Also
fOiihd thb crew Squawking about
the chow. Cooked O. K., just no
variety. Talked to Stev/ard and
hotiffed New Qfieans. So this
gent should be squared away be
fore feH'e''ieaVesTer the" S^oulh.
Why, nh whYi do those guys who
didn't have the guts to beef for
their own betterment—who have
got everything through the'action
of others—^now, that they are
fixed fip in gdod" Shape; fiof re
spect and try to work with those
who" made ' thdifs possible? They
6hould .be able to remember what
the '"fcotapanife 'thought ' of them
during the depression era. I can't
remiefiibei' ah'y' of • these fcompany
stoogee, settipg fmy thanks for
robblh'g the'Beiliertff the''S^en,
• hiseling on the beddlpg, etc. Rut
now that they are making' enough
to live like men, theite still
OTOUgh ot them left ^tiO" oversh^
W' me majority' of vetewards who
take care of the crew first and
the r^t after.
The PileIt seems to be getting
scarce around'here. Haven't got
one for the last fSw weeks. How
the hell are the Commies going
td keep the boys In line If they
slack off on ^he baloney rag. Or
bre they getting wise to them
selves.
A. W. Armstrong.
mWORlEANS
July 25. 1940.
Editor. Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Shipping for the past week was
very good in all departments.
Shipped a full SUP crew for
the S.S. NARCISSUS. Cleaned up
the beach for SUP men. QulY two
SUP inen are now registered here
oti the list.
« « «
The S.S. PAN KRAFT came In
last week and changed' from
Coastwise to Far Edsi. Shipped
about 20 men On her. The PAN
GULF came in yesterday and Is
also going Fdr East. Shipp'Cd 10
nfeh on her so far. Expect'to ship
more before she sails.
• • • .
The S.S. WACASTA signs on
Friday for the Far East. Shipped
quite a few men on he'r also.'
• * «
Plenty of jobs around here for
men who wahf to gb out East.
* * •
Shipped 10 Permit Card men
last few days.
Fraternally yours,
C. J. Stephens, Dispatcher.
JACKSONriLlE
July 26, 1940
Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Everything is quiet on the
Boutheast'ern front, with a couple
of Bull Line ships due lu here
the later part of the wee^. This
port reminds me of a ghost fdiiiTi,
since the fruit season wfent out of
existence.
It is getting so that the few
ships that do come In here once
In a while have no beefs. I don't
like ttiat at all. 1 like to have a
few beefs once in a while because
yb'u begin to get stale if you
don't.
» * »
There are 14 members regis
tered on the three shipping lists
at present. That's all for th^s
week.
Steady as she goes.
Fred Lauritano.
PVERTO RICO
July 30, 1940.
The Seafarers' Log
Dears Sirs and Brothers:
Shipping for the past week was
fair. Shipped 22 Deck, 10 Engine,
11 Steward Dept.. 10 Extras, six
Reliefs, two SUP. Total 6l. 31
registered.
• • «
• yVe had quite a few beefs with
different sh'Ihs hitting this port.
It lo'qke as if the men wait and
bring' their befefs tb New Cleans
for action, at least it looks that
why, anyway; but we can still gb
on, and they are straightened out
beforh departing from this port.
But wb stiMy. don't" go for phohy
beefsi
* ' * «
The S.S. William Salman ar
rived a couple of days ago' with
a few beefs, which were settled
to the crew's satisfaction; with
new springs and bunks and ve'n
tilators on" pobpdeck.
The Narcissus left here a few
days ago with a ifull West Coast
crew, headed for Mobile. "Hie
Captain made a slipup and did
not want to sign the men on iar
ticles or any other fom of pay
roll until they arrived in Mobile;
so the Commissioner upheld the
crew, stated the Qld Man viplated
the law by not signing on in New
Orleans. Therefore the' ct^bw aR
uit in MoWle.
Furthermore, the crew could
have pressed chhrgeO" against the
Captain "for''leaving ^ thlb'* port
without signing any kind of ar
ticles at aif or payrbliS,^^b^ th'e^
^liid 'not ' prest' any • ''charges.
They trlbcl to get a ricjfep bhlik to
the'Quif, hut the^ki^^^^^
smbt(e,"sb I'Ke men dWS 'rib^''t)ack • >
Editor, Seafarers' Log:
Re: the recent balloting being
conducting uii " and ' down the
Coast.
* « «
A balloting booth was con
structed for the purpose of hav
ing a'secret ballot. A coUple Of
members and the agent went
through great pains and Work
cbhatructing it, but nobody ever
used It.
» » •
It was impossible to get five
full bopfc members to act as a bal
lotiiig committee. The members
do'wh here dither have sick piofh
efh or brothers, or they are sick
themselves. The metnhers on tlie
ships when they arrive here 'inake
a draw and go out and have a
good time.
• . • • »
There never was anybody
around to go on the committee.
(I wish to thank the members for
their willingness to come' around
and volunteer to go on the Bal
loting Committee.)
Shipping has been pretty fair
here in San Juan. Most of the
Rum Testers have been shipped
oiit, and the hall is pretty' quiet
now. Had to ship two permit men
last week (ordinary seamen at
that).
Fraternally yours,
D. Butts, Agent.
thla ppit.
TEARS UP HIS
NMU BOOK
July 21, 1940
To the Delegate,
Seafarers' International Union
I, Richard E. TUnison, in the
presence of vyitnesses do r6
riounce all cb'nnections and
sever my reTatiohshlp ' hnd
rights to membership in the
Seafarers' Infernational Union:
denounce its'p'oiicies a's' unfa!r
to me atid" union men
Four-Pay Strike
{Continued from Page 1)
Chairman of Selectmen, Nan
tucket, Mass."
All But Call for Marines
Another tefegram—sent to the
regular officers of the S.I.U. this
time, without benefit of the Police
Chief's seryiceslarrlved the next
day from the Nantucket Chamber
of Commerce, screaming that "the
present strike hot only Is causing
immeasurable inconvenience to
upward of twenty thousand per
sons on the islands, but also con
stituted a 'THREAT TO THE
PUBLIC HEALTH AND PUBLIC
SAFETY OF ALL THE ISLAND
COMMUNITIES,"
In hairraising language, these
"impartial" representative.s of the
people warned that continuance
of the strike would "sap the life
blood of wholfe communities of in
nocent and hardworking people^
The whole machinery of "public
pressure" was on full blast!
Rising "Figures" ... or
Tempers.
The figure of those allegedly
affected continued to climb from
day to day. On Sunday, the
Chamber of Commerce claimed it
was '20,000. On Monday, the
BOSTON TRAVELER boosted it
to 45,000. By' Tuesday, Governor
Saltohstalf entered the situation.
claimed that no less than
90,000 persons were affected!
'A whole battery of state and
federal mediators, conciliators
ami arbitrators flocked to the
scene fioui the first hour of the
strike, to add their pressure.
BALTIMORE
and
NEWS
<j. 'ttagin, Deeic Pit
IS "unfair
J. ,.""'h
era1. As evidence bf samd,' I
hereby destroy my book wkich
ehiltied 'rtq' to' menibeVshVjt "in
Na^ibhal'Maritime tin ' '
Richarcf'Euge'ne Tuhlson.
'Witn'i86e's:'t«lgneif) tloJin P.
Doyle, ' $07%" bdhiln ibk"' G'fan
te: 8r'Al^ln'''%>iney;''^'G.''
(From AS. WiMit Kysksf.y ^
Governor Issues Ultimatum
Finally, oh Monday, the Gov
ernor, after calling a conference
between union and company rep
resentatives, issued an "ultima
tum" demanding that ail officials
involved remain in continual con
ference at the State House in
Boston until an agreem( .t con
cluding the strike had been
reached. Both sides agreed to
notify the governor before leav
ing.
The negotiators continued in
session from 10 A.M. on ivionday
until 3 A.M. the next morning.
Finally, the company, represented
among others by Vice" Presidents
Frank j. Wall and Robert u
Pearson of the New Haven R.R.,
operators of the NESSCO, after
having constantly .said "no dice"
to the union, buckled under and
agreed to arbitrate the 'demands,
if the strikers followed suit;
Agreement Reached
After withstanding the tremen
dous pressure from all sides for
four days, the S.I.U; iepresenta
tiVes, anxious not to jeopardize
the closed shop contract in force
with the NESSCO. likewise
agreed, following some arguments
back and forth regarding the com
position (if the Board which is to
have final Say; The latter is to
be composed of one union repre
sentative, one represfentative of
the line and General Cole, Chair
man of the Massachusetts Bdard
of Conciliation and Arbitratioh.
Rrovisions of Settlement
Included in the agreement
w:hich settled the strike are the
following provisions:
(1) ALL men bh 'strike are to
bd relhstatea te' thelf' former' p6
WITHOUT DlSfeFilMINAi
TI<JN; With the* cldled' shop' eon
trgfct ii tb'remain In force f^r tff
bthi^'yeanr.•
Important Decision!
Of Importance to all seamen is
the decision handed down by a
Federal Judge In the United
States District Court in the case
of a brother member against the
Hawaiian Steamship Company,
The member had joined the ship
on the West Coast and was
forced to quit her at Savannah
and enter the Marine Hospital
there for treatment for a swollen
knee, allegedly brought on by a
rheumatic condition. The com
pany paid the member off (n Sa
vannah and the brother, repre
sented by Lawyer Sol Beren
holtz, sued the company for full
wages to the ending of the Inter
coastal articles and return trans
portation to the Coast. It vyas the
company's. claim that dince the
member's sickness wasdue to
something he had before ho
joined the ship, they were not Ii
able. However, the Court thodght
otherwise, pointing out in their
decision "the practical inconve
nience and the attendant danger
to seamen in the application of a
rule which would encourage the
attempt by master or owper to
advance of
maintenance and ei
• the illness was caused by the
employment are manifest."
any
whether
Second Point
On the .second Point the court
ruled: "The seaman is entitled
to be transported free of ch^irge
ick to the port where he ofigi
nally signed on. provided iia
riiak^ tlie demand for such trans
portation within a reasonable
time after he has recovered 'hi«
health, and provided also that at
thb time he makes his demand ho
has not assumed a position wliicii
is dfrectly contradictory to his
asserted desire to seek empldv
menfat that port." As this fs 'the
first decision of this kihd a^hd
one wiiicli will undoubtedly 'be
used as a precedent in othei sini
ilar cases, members should make
due note of it.
Rest in Peace
Ship's Delegate Biid Ray of the
S.S. Coelleda has notified the
brahch of the death by drowning
of Brother Joseph Maszthk No.
2555, while the ship was lying at
Ge.orgetown, British Guiana.
Brother Masztak was a good
union brother and well known
along this waterfront. The branch
regrets his passing.
W. H. Elkins. Agent
the following union demands:
a) an upward adjustment in the
monthly rates of watchman and
quartermaster; b) an increase oY
$10 in the monthly rates; c) ah
extra day's pay for time worked
on 'holidays; 'd) an increase in the
overtime rate from 70 to 80 cents
per hour.
The Board is to begin deiibera
tiqns within fifteen days. Its <ie*
cisions are to he RETROACTI'VTa
as of the day the strike was
ended, July 30.
Strikers ̂howed Figkting
(2) The board Id to eettt* on
. Once again the S.I.U.' flatting
feiv' Th®
tant men of the New' Bei|fprd
life proved to John Shipowner
when" th?
umoh calls. Once' agalh,^ the
that it waf Jan pr^,
ganlzatiop dAjicated tp^
that " it packs up.. . wor^ wlth'
deedsl '
ASI
H
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• .K I
I
• JSf 1
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C'V
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M 'm- THESEAFARERS' L O G Monday, August 5, 1940
f COMPENSATION BILL
Hearings Rushed to Close
Without Seomen's Answer
S.U.P. Brief Discloses Phoney Provisions
In Bill Supported by Shipowners' Stooges
SHIPPING
NEWS
MORE ABOUT%
i!
WASHINGTON, D.C.—After listening to reams upon
reams of shipownerinspired testimony from corporation
lawyers, "expert" professors and "impartial" skypilots
favoring extension of the Longshoremen and Harbor Work
ers Compensation Act to seamen, Senator John A. Overton's
#ubeommittee of the Committee on Commerce rushed hear
ings to a close without affording the assembled representa
tives of the seamen's unions an opportunitj'' for rebuttal.
The unions have been opposing the Bill under discussion (H.R.
€881) as a measure that will sharply curtail beneflts enjoyed by
seamen under the present law. The suddenly turned kindhearted
operators and their stooges have been sponsoring It with unprees
eiented vigor as "beneficial" to the men who man the shipa.
Members of the S.I.U. must be on guard to take further actio*
against any attempt to jam this Greek gift to seamen through the
Senate. Similar hills were Introduced last year and were sidetracked
after strenuous Union protests. At that time, the SUP presented
a brief which presents the matter In a nutshell. The brief follows
herewith;
Union Brief Setting Forth Objections to BUI
compensation act fhat he has not
now? NothlngI He'll stand to
lose « lot.
Under the prevailing Compen
sation Act he would he limited to
For a period of many yean,
Congress through the earnest rep
resentation of seafaring organlza
tiona has set up various laws for
fhO protection of seamen.
Under the general maritime
fdw now In effect the seamen are
entitled to what is known as
MUhlntenance and cure. By this It
Is meant that if a seaman be
oOmea 111 or is Injured In the ser
vice of his ship, he can obtain
medical service, Including hospl
tatlzatlbn. In addition, a seaman
is entitled to recover maintenance
while outside of the hospital untfl
hin physical condition becomes
fixed. Maintenance while outside
of the hospital has been paid at
nothing less than $2.00 per day.
Absolute Liabilities
!f the seaman happens to be on
article, he is also entitled
to his wages until the end of the
Toyage. These are absolute liabil
ities upon the vessel. Irrespective
of any question of negligence.
In addition to this If the sea
man is Injured due to the negli
gence of the shipowner, the mas
ter or any other officer or through
the negligence of a fellow worker,
hb Is entitled to not alone main
tenance and cure but also to a
Otaim of damage by reason of
tiegllgent conduct of the vessel's
(Owner. •
i.The claim of damage would in
cldde besides maintenance and
curd 'the full amount of wages
10st,'> payment for permanent dis
ability md for pain and suffering.
What can a seaman gain by a
recovery of compensation only for
the actual time that a politically
appointed compensation commis
sioner. in his opinion, found the
seaman was actually disabled.
Present Maximum
Under the present compensa
tion laws called the Longshore
men A Harbor Workers' Act, all
a man can recover for total dlf
ability Is $7,SOO. This is the max!
mum set by law. Total disability
means that a man is physically
unfit to do any kind of work for
the rest of his life. How long can
a man who Is a physical wreck
live on $7,5007 It Is fair to as
sume that after a period of five
years this man will be a burden
upon society and will depend on
charity in order to live the rest
of his life. What a future for
man, who, say, for Instance, was
totally disabled at the age of 25.
If a man is permanently par
tially disabled, according to the
present Compensation Act, he is
entitled to two thirds of his week
ly wages for a stipulated length of
time, depending upon the injury.
So, according to the compensation
law, the seamen who are now
paid $72.50 per month in wages
would receive twothirds of that,
approximately $48.50 per month—
or $12 per week for the following
injuiles:
lifj—
COMPENSATION LAW TABLES
Arm lost, 280 weeks compensation at $12 per week .$3,3«0
Leg lost, 248 weeks compensation at $12 per week 2,97®
Hand lost, 212 weeks compensation at $12 per week ".... 2,544
root lost, 173 weeks compensation at $12 per week 2,07#
Eye lost, 140 weeks compensation at $12 per week.,.. 1,680
*rhumb lost, 51 weeks compensation at $12 per week 612
First finger lost, 28 weeks compensation at $12 per week...... 336
Oreat toe lost, 26 weeks compensation at $12 per week 312
Second finger lost, 18 weeks compensation at $12 per week.... 216
Third finger lost, 17 weeks compensation at $12 per week.... 204
Toe, other than great toe lost, 8 weeks do 96
Fourth finger lost, 7 weeks do 84
Loss of hearing, 1 ear, 51 weeks do 812
Mea ol" hearing, both cars, 200 weeks do 2,400
R:
This is the approximate com
pensation allowed for these in
Juries under the Longshoremen
& Harbor Workers' Compensation
Act
When a seaman loses an arm,
leg, foot, hand, eye, or loses the
bearing of one ear, he Is FIN
ISHED as far as going to sea la
concerned. He will be unable to
pass the RIGID physical examina
tion that now exists for seamen.
How much of a chance would a
jl^rippled seaman have for getting
work ashore7 Very little. If any
At alll
So it comes down to this: That
After a seaman is crippled up and
becomes useless, he will bo paid
oft with a couple of thousand dol
lars, to be a burden on society
and depend on charity for the
yest of his life. That Is the PAY
OFF for seamen, after giving
their lives and limbs for the bene
fit of making profits for ship
owners.
It is the firm opinion of ths
membership of the SAILORS
UNION OF THE PACIFIC and of
the AMERICAN SEAMEN AS A
WHOLE which is borne out by
facts, that the teamen have noth
ing to gain by a compensation
act, but have everything to lose
The American seamen as a
Another Fink Training Ship
The Maritime Commission has
announced the establishment of
another "station" to train finks.
It's location Is to be Hueneme,
near Oxnard. California. The S.S.
AMERICAN SAILOR Is being
converted at the Bethlehem plant
in Baltimore for service in the
CommisslQu's flnktraining pro
gram. The Hueneme station Is to
start operations In January, 1941
It will bear watching for phoney
moves.
Poor, Starving Shipowners
Every time seamen ask for
wage raise, they are confronted
by the heartrending, hardluck
stories of the operators. What
are the facts? Here Is something
that will give you an Inkling:
"Gross earnings of American
vessels engaged In overseas pas'
cenger traffic In 1939 were ap
proximately $42,000,000, an IN
CREASE of $5,000,000 over earn
ings In 1938, It was reported by
Dr. Amos E. Taylor, Chief of the
finance division, Department of
Commerce. . . The GAIN In edrnj
Ings occurred DESPITE a 13 psr
cent decline in the total volume
of passenger travel between thei
United States and overseas couni
tries, Dr. Taylor explained."
(Journal of Commerce, July 29,
1940). . .
Poor shipowners! They are
practically being forced to go on
relief.
New Kind of Beef
A sign of the times Is the fol^
lowing item culled from the
same paper: ? !
"Crew trouble, which delayed
the Dutch Oranje Line freighter
Prins Wliiem II at Sandusky, O..
for some time, has also beset
All Vessels Short-Handed,
Unions Tell Commission;
- Danger to Safety Seen
(Continued from page 1)
LUNDEBERQ'S TESTIMONY PRESENTS SEAMEN'S CASE
that company's Prins Wlllem^^tll,
which lay outside the break
water at Chicago last week (July
26), as the crew refused to sail
aboard an unarmed vessel. Crew
members said that the 2800ton
freighter was the target of Ger
man bombers off Flushing, Hol
land, on May 10 and that they
wanted armament to protect
themselves in the event of future
attacks."
EXAMINER RING: I think for
the purpose of the record you
had better state your name.
THE WITNESS: Harry Lunde
berg. Sailors Union of the Pacific,
. Well, we feel that all the Amer
ican. ships, regardless of whether
they are subsidized or what they
are, are shorthanded on deck. Of
course, you can go back In the
records from the time the old
Shipping Board ran the ships
The records" will prove that they
h^ a bigger manning scale on
deck.
UNFAIR TO LABOR
Rice Hotel Laundry
(Houston, Texas)
Has been placed on the "We
do not patronize list" by the
Laundry, Linen, and Cleaning
Sales Drivers Local Union No.
602 (A. F. of L.). Watch out
when this firm makes the
ships!
• r .1113
Canadian Seamen
Win Wage Boost
TORONTO, Can.—Seven Great
Lakes shipping companies signed
agreements with the Canadian
Seamen's Union, affiliated with
the S.I.U., providing wage raises,
Increased manning scales, prefer
ential hiring, and the hiring of
an extra deckhand on ships op
erating in the lower St, Lawrence
Canal. • »
whole are opposed to the passage
of any kind of a compensation
act for seamen and ask that these
bills be rejected. The fact that
all seamen are against enactment
of this bill and that no seamen
have asked for this type of legis
lation should be enough.
On the other hand, only the
shipowners and their representa
tives are asking for the passage
of the Compensation Act for sea
men.
Had 8 AB's Then
Take, for Instanco, the 8800's,
They had three men more on
deck. They had eight A.B., they
had threeordinary teamen and
two deck boys, a boatswain and
a carpenter. Today, the same
ships are rifnnlng out here with
Six A.^.'s, three seamen and
boatswain and a carpenter. That
le one Instance.
Then you have the 535'8 In the
transPaelfle run, which have
smaller crews today than some
ten or twelve years ago when
they were, subsidized under, the
White Act. t guess, wasn't It?
MiL, SCHELL: The mall con
tracts." : >
THE,. WITNESS: Then they
had fat subsidies under the
White Act. ' • • • •
..MR. SCHELL: That was a mall
contract.
. THE.. WITNESS: Yes. "Then
they used to have bigger crews
You take, for ln.stance, the COO
I.IDGE now. It Is about, eight
men. She has eight ablebodied
seamep less than she had about
ten years ago. True enough, they
have put a night watchman "there
nowadays/ but that doesn't help
the upkeep of the vessel. So, in
reality she is eight A.B.. seamen
short, which the records will
prove. • .
ShortSiifhted Policy
We always thought It was
very shortsighted policy of the
shipowners to run ships short
handed on deck because in the
long run they are going to pay
for it anyway through upkeep
when the vessel gets into port;
shore repairs and so forth. We
• feel that all work, from the keel
to the trunks, which Is the sailor's
work, should be. done at sea.
, According to the laws that are
in effect, all hands must be on
watch. You have three men to
each watch In the freighters, and
in the passenger vessels all hands
divide up the watches. You have
no people working day work to
keep up the upkeep of the vessel,
the gear and so forth. And there
should at least be two or three
day mcin on at least each Ameri
ican freighter.
Not so long ago the Maritime
Commission run the line up to
Seattle and the West Oriental
Line, which, I believe is the 8800
type of ships, isn't it?
EXAMINER, RING: That is
right.
THE WITNESS: When the
Maritime Commission run those
ships they had one maintenance
man on deck besides the boat
swain and the carpenter. As
soon as the private concern took
It over they Immediately tried to
get rid of this day man. That
was only last week. Of course,
we couldn't allow such a thing to
happen after the Maritime Com
mission had already established
the precedent and we feel that
the Maritime Commission should
know what Is required In the line
of crews on board those ships.
They more or less sponsor the
American Merchant Marine. So
we feel that the shipowners were
kind of shortsighted and I be
lieve they finally saw our point.
So the ship Is now sailing with
the same requirement as the Ma
ritime Commission, although we
don't think It Is enough even at
that. There should he two more
day men like it had during the
Shipping Bop.rd days.
ThreeWatch System
EXAMINER RING: Mr. Lunde
berg, you have spoken of the
threewatch system that requires
all sailors to be assigned to
watches.
THE WITNESS: Yes.
EXAMINER RING: If the ex
isting law providing that all bail
ors be assigned to watches should
be amended whereby there would
be no necessary reduction, in the
number of men who are carried,
but a division between sailors
who would be on watch and those
who would not be on watch were
accomplished, do you think that
would be a good thing?
THE WITNESS: Well, we have
no objection to that, providing
that you don't cut the crew list,
of course.
EXAMINER RING: That la
what I say: Providing that the
crew list Is not cut. but that it is
divided. We will take, for In
stance, a ship like the €00
LIDGE, of which you spoke, and
suppoeing for the sake of inustra
tlon here "that they run 18 A.B.'a
and 12 ordinary's: and that it is
found that six A.B.'8 and three
ordinary's would be sufficient for
watch duties and that the others
could be assigned to day work;
would a law that "would make
that permlssable be in your opin
ion a good thing?
THE WITNESS: Well, of
course, I disagree with you on the
amount of men to be on watch.
EXAMINER RING: Take any
number. I am not Interested in
the number. You can make them
12 £(nd six on watch.
THE WITNESS: We are not
opposed to that. Of course, the
way the law has worked since
they put this all hands on watch.
We liave lost on it. We have lost
on it due to the fact that they
have used less men on deck now
than they did, and we thought
that they were going to be uslng
more men on deck. Our organiza
tion was. In fact, responsible for
getting this law passed, that all
hands on watch. But it hasn't
worked out in practice that way.
We lost men.
ATTENTION I
iM
• i/ I
/lit:. I
tiii
V
. ,J—.y-
All branches are re-
quested to cooperate
with Headquarters in
the publication 'of the
"Log" by submitting
news of local and gen-
eral, interest at regular
intervals.
/.• *v
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