Issue Date
1950-02-10
Volume
12
Issue Number
3
Plaintext
UTS HEAT OH CITIES SERVICE
BUT COMPAHY STALL COHTIHUES
Official Organ, AtlanHc & Gulf DUtrUt, Seafarers International Union of NA
VOL. XII NEW YORK, N. Y.. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19S0 No. 3
AFL Pkdges Aid
To Bmid World
Labor SolhlaritY
cutive
double
MIAMI, Fla.—The AFL exe
council , pledged to "re
cur efforts" to build
world laborsolidarity and took
steps to make the AFL stronger
in the fight for a more abun
dant life here at home.
As. the council neared adjourn
ment of its midwinter meeting,
the members:
1. Voted an invitation to be
issued in 60 days to the Interna
tional Association of Machinists
to reaffiliate its 600,000 members
with the AFL,
2. Urged aid to help India
overcome its immediate food dif
ficulties, develop public educa
tion and improve public health.
3. Gave full backing to the
new International Confederation
of Free Trades Unions formed in
London last December.
; 4. Opposed U. S. recognition
for Franco Spain and Commun
ist China.
5. Urged the U. S. Senate to
ratify the United Nations con
vention ̂ outlawing genocide —
mass ki^g of national, racial
— and religious groups.
. 6. Demanded immediate con
gressiorial action to repeal ex
LATEST VICTIMS OF CITIES SERVICE'S UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Mass dismissals of Cities Service seamen suspected of Union activity continue at an ap
palling rate. Men in photo above got the axe on the SS Government Camp on Jan. 30. They
were joined in filing unfair labor practice charges against the company by seven crewmen
bounced off the' Fort Hosldns on Feb. 3, and nine proSIU seamen fired from the SS Salem Mar
itime on Feb. %. The Salem Maritime victims were discharged as company talked—^but refused
to bargain—^with Union representatives.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9—Less than 72 hours after;
the SIU presented its case against the Cities Serv
ice Oil Company in full page newspaper advertise
ments addressed to company stockholders, the
company hurriedly agreed to a meeting with Union;
representatives. The session was held yesterday.
Despite the daylong talks, there was no change
in the company's attitude, and the meeting ended
with Marine Division officials still refusing to
enter collective bargaining negotiations for a con
tract covering all 16 tankers of the CS fleet, for
: 1 which the SIU has been certi
fied by the National Labor Rda'
tions Board.
The Union representatives
urged the comi>any to continue
the meetings on a daily basis^
saying they were ready to ne
gotiate at any hour of the day
or night, Simdays included, but
the CS spokesmen stated the
earliest date for the next con
ference would have to be Feb.
16. The SIU representatives Kud
they would be on hand.
Prospects for genuine bargain
ing appear very dim on the
basis of yesterday's sessions, and
the SIU is continuing with its
strike preparations.
The advertisements which
touched off the company's de
sire to meet yesterday, appeared
in the New York Times on Feb
ruary 2 and in the New York
HeraldTribune the following
day. (The ad is reprinted on
page 12 of this issue.)
In the advertisements, the
SIU told the CS stockholders that
the company "faces a paralyzing
and costly strike which will af
fect all its operations, because
its" Marine Division refuses to
recognize and bargain coUectiye
(Contimied on Page 11)
Panamanian Ships Found Far Beiow Standards
cise taxes on transportation,
fneater tickets and other con
sumer items.
'HEALTH PLAN INFO
7. Agreed to comply with a
request of Federal Security Ad
ministrator Oscar Ewing to dis
tribute among AFL members
factual information on what the
health insurance program sup
ported by the AFL provides.
Heard Assistant Secretary
of State Willard L. Thorpe ex
plain the scope and effects of
the International Trade agree
ment entered into at Havana
last year.
The council and its affiliated
departments disposed of a big
backlog of other important busi
.ness during the sessions here.
In reaffirming the AFL's dom
inant position in international
affairs, the council made it plain
that the 8,000,000 membeivs of
the AFL expect the United
States government to stand firm
in its opposition to comniimism
and fascism wherever it is mani
fested throughout the wdrld.
The council elaborated its pre
vious approval of President Tru
fnan's point 4 program to aid un
derdeveloped areas. It empha
sized the need for labor .repre
sentation in the formulation of
plans for technical aid to these
underdeveloped nations.
Charges made by the Inter
national Transportworkers Fed
Crew accommodations.
Hours of work.
eration, that Panama'^flag ships
operate under conditions far be
low internationally ..^ccepted
standards, have been largely
substantiated by an investigating
committee of the International
Labor Organization, according to
an ITF report issued this week.
The ITF, with which the Sea
farers International Union is af
filiated, has been threatening a
worldwide boycott of Pana
manian vessels, unless steps are
taken to raise standards to an
acceptable level.
The committee's report was
said to have been presented to
the ILO's governing body at a
conference in Mysore, India, and
was based on firsthand observa
tions of conditions aboard 30
Panamanian ships visited in
ports in the United Kingdom,
Belgium, France, Italy, Egypt
and the United ̂ States.
NO. REGULATIONS
According to the ITF, the
ILO committee found that no
regulations exist in Panamanian
sea laws to give effect to the
Safety of Life at Sea Conven
tion, held, last year, and the
Leadline Convention.
Specifically the report is said
to charge that there are no
regulations to cover:
Manning requirements.
'Overtime at sea.
Food and catering on board
ship.
Certification of ship's cooks.
Inspection of shipboard work
ing conditions.
Nor" are there any remedies
enabling seamen on Panamanian
ships to recover back wages, the
report points out. No provision
exists for the maintenance of
seamen while they are being
repatriated. .
"OlftY PARTIALLY MET"
It was also reported that the
coiiimittee found that Panama's
legislation "only partially met
the requirements of the Sea
men's Articles of Agreement
Convention and of the Ship
owners Liability Convention."
The ILO committee is reported
as finding validity in the ITF
charge that under the Panaman
ian" flag, shipowners can evade
established safety and labor
standards. What standards do
exist aboard Panamaflag ves
sels were said to be very low.
During a study of one lis^
containing 644 Panamanianflag
ships, the committee could trace
Only 423 of them through rec
ognized classification systems.
Of the Panama shil>s not mea
suring up to stand^s set by
Lloyd's Register of London, the
committee found that (1) either
the equipment aboard was defl
cieiii,' \A) iiTe'"vessei • was"'iatS"
removed from the register for
developing defects, (3) the ship
had been removed from the list
ing in default of survey, or for
nonpayment of fees.
The committee actually in
spected 30 ships of various types.
Of these, "20 were built between
1881 and 1919, four between the
two World Wars and six after
1943.
In the report, the ILO com
mittee is said to have pointed
out that the Panamanian con
sular service lacked the size and
experience to efficiently enforce
existing legislation in regard to
shipping. _
The vast majority of Pana
manian ships do not go to Pana
ma for registration, nor do they
normally trade with that coim
try.
NO INSPECTIONS
As a result, there is no op
portunity for Panama officials
to make inspections aboard the
ships in their home ports.
Moreover, most, if not all own
ers of Panamanian ships, live
outside that country.. and are
represented by an agent in
Panama. Thus it is difficult to
bring pr^ure to bear on an
owner who failed to comply
According to^s ITF, the c<Hn«*
mittee urged Panama to enlarge
its consular ̂ laff. Because mas
ters and crews frequently are
ignorant of the provisions of the
country's laws, it was recom
mended that copies of regula
tions be given to shipowners
and masters in their own lang
uages and placed aboard all
ships.
with those regulations in exisfc>''
ence.
US Buneiwds Own, ;
Woild's Largest Fleet |
If anyone is wondering about
"what happened to American
shipping," nfiaybe the following
figures will prove interesting.
According to a recent survei?; j
America owns more than one f
fourth of the 12,765 merchant t|
ships in the world—3,514 pri j
vately and governmentowned <
vessels totalling 37,417,100 dead l
weight tons. But—and this is the
rub 7 2,190 governmentowned ̂J
and 140 privatelyowned ahipsr,^^
or twothirds of the total, arg in '
the boneyard.
And of the present fleet of
privatelyowned ships, only 44
are passengercargo ships, and
four of these are*laid up.
Class dismissed! • '"i
atei'
Page 1^0 tkE iEAfARkks-.\kok ' Friiiar/Febniary !&•
,pb' fe'
SEAFARERS EOG
Published Every Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor
At 51 Beaver CTeet, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y,, under the Act of August 24, 1942.
267
I DON'T KNOW
MUCH ABOOT
POLITICS
BUT I KNOW ,
WHAT I LIKE/
I?'''"
Slave Labor Exponents
There is. an embarrassing similarity between the views
of two sometimes not so widely separated schools of
thought when it comes to appraising labor.
On the one hand, you have plain old Uncle Joe
Stalin, overseer of the slavelabor camp known as the
Soviet Union. Joe has already succeeded in reducing the
people in his land to the position of serfs, from which
they thought they were about to spring no^ too long ago.
Stalin's posters scream that it's *'all for the Fatherland.
And on the right hand, you have that element of
Americatu businessmen, who double as supercharged pa
triots. These are the birds who never give up the dream
that one day they may see the American working men
and women knocked down to the level of Stalin's un
fortunate masses. , '
Their slogans may differ, but their objectives don't.
I*:, And both have to be watched with equal caution.
A case in point is an editorial which appeared recently
in the Washington TimesHerald, and which was called
to our attention by a headsup retired Seafarer named
Edward McCormick.
For the editorial in question, the TimesHerald don
ned its wellworn patriotic masquerade and started off
with a lament over the manner in which taxpayers' money
is spent. ,
Without further ado, it launched into an attack on
l^hipping subsidies, "explaining" how they would not be
' necessary if certain TimesHerald wisdoms were accepted^
And the TimesHerald costcutting genius went to
work this way:
All you have to do to get rid of shipping and ship
building subsidies is to put the two on a paying basis. And
that brilliant deduction, says the editorial, can be realized
by cutting the cost of labor.
"The maritime unions, with the support of the fed
cral government," continues the freeenterpriyng Times
I Herald,. "have "forced operators to employ three shifts
j'; working eight ho
^ There's nothing to do aboard ship, says TH, which
i \ then suggests that the "Panamanian navy" serve as a model
; for US ships. Then follows some stuff about how .in Japan
and elsewhere you can build ships cheaper than in the US.
? That ought to give you the idea, if you haven't al
f ' ready suspected it, that the TimesHerald would like to
put American workers on a daily ̂ iet of rice.
• The plain ugly fact is that the TimesHerald, like
6ther US business enterprises which subscribe to its vicious
theories, is against subsidies that do not favor it alone.
We don't recall the TimesHerald denouncing the US
government for allowing it a subsidy in the form of
special mailing rates. As a matter of fact, it is presently
fighting, amid screams of anguish, a bill which would
increase these postal rates.
^ Bear in mind that the TimesHerald has always been
a vociferous opponent of organized labor and is absolutely
opposejd to unions.
Don't forget, either, that the TimesHerald is
inst advanced social security legislation. And the
esHerald is continually ranting about reducing taxes
for the millionaires and the giant corporations, but not
^for the little'guys who sweat for their wages.
V Uncle Joe Stalin may not. be "particularly interested,
^ but there are big guys on this side of the world who think
p exactly, as Jie does when it comes to making serfs out
llpf free working men.^^;
Meff Now h no Marme Hospitok
"These are the Union Brothers currently la the marine hospitals,
as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging
heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by
writing them. ~
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL
E. J. SPROCH
HENRY WATSON
JOHN SCOTT
M. J. LUCAS
THEADORE ROZUM
CIRNACO ESOLAN
H. E. LOGE
H. J.'OUT
L. D. DIOUDONNE
R. GARCIA
J. P. FARRELL
F. D. WALL
R. GRALICKI
CARLOS MATT
T. B. PATTON
MICHAEL GOTTSCHALK
K. JENSEN
J. A. PILUTIS
E. OJECA
VINCENT RODRIQUEZ
X % %
NEPONSIT HOSPITAL
WILLIAM PADGETT
MATTHEW BRUNO
JOSE DE JESUS
J. M. LANCASTER
R. K LUFLIN
ESTEBAN P. LOPEZ
CHARLES L. MOATS
PEDRO G. ORTIZ
R. REDDEST
R. A. RATCLIFF
THOMAS WADSWORTH
R. A. BLAKE
L. BALLESmtO
JOHN T. EDWARDS
E. FBRRRR
I. H. FRENCH
JOSEPH SPAULDING
JOSEPH SILLAK
LUIS TORRES
L. TULL
FRED ZESIGER
XXX
MOBILE HOSPITAL
T. LITTLE
J. BERRIER ,
L. HOWARD
TIM BURKE
XXX.'
BOSTON HOSPITAL
FRANK ALASAVICH
F. BEN GORDY
XXX
BALTIMORE HOSPITAL
L, YARBOROUGH
E. HARRISON
A. MASTERS
S. ZAVODESON '
E. K. BRYAN - ̂ '
J. G. HARRIS
J. DAVIS
P. E. DARROUGH
R. C. MELOY
A. C. BELT
. J. MARTINEZ; • ;
G. BELL
H. CONNORS
W. D. WARMACK
A. TANSKI
J. MORRISON
G. CARROLL
I. F: WILLOUGHBY
L. B. MORGAN
J. SHEA
T. MORIARITY
F. KORVATIN
A. MORALES
L. WILLIAMS
G. REGISTER
S. BOZKE
S. BUZALEWSKI
X ^ I*
NEW ORLEANS
• A. DEFERMO
GEORGE NOLES
J. J. O'NEILL
E. J. NAVARRE
J. DENNIS
F. LANDRY
H. F. LAGAN
L. LANG
L. WILLIS
C. CHESNA
A. PAREK
R. BARKER
L. BEAUDY
C. EZELL
P. ROBERTS
A. MAUITRAY
N. I. WEST
P. L. RAY
J. J. CERDA
C. R. BRACE
C. F. PRICE
O. HOWELL
P. GAVILLO
C. LYONS
H. D. MCKAY
L. TICKLE
H. WILLETT
R. J. EGAN
R. I. VARN
• c. NEUMAIER
W. W. LAMB
W. HAZELGROVE.
Vir. HAYES
W. WALKER
C. J. PALMQUIST
• nm I
HOSPITAL
.... 17:.!' • • • r.'"; • • • '
:"v;,
mmmmm
m
.mm
Page Thra*
In Bad Slump
By JOHN B9NKER
An announcement by the F.
P.' Grier Company of Norfolk
that it hopes to start coastwise
steamship service between the
Hampton Rbards area and Bos
ton and Providence emphasizes
the present sad state of our do
mestic steamship services, and
the^ hundreds of jobs that have
been lost to seamen because of
the postwar slump in coastal
and intercoastal shipping.
Many of the men now sitting
around union halls up and down'
the coast—waiting for' a chance
to ship out—would soon find em^
ployment if some means were
found of reviving' the coastal
lines.
CITES PLANS
Frank P. Grier, head" of the
new line mentioned above, says
that his company plans to pro
vide direct service from Hamp
ton Roads to Ne^ York, and
from Hampton Roads to Boston
and Providence.
There has been no coastwise
steamship service out of Nor
folk since before the war.: New
York in preWar years saw many
coastwise fines branching out
from its harbor to touch, seaboard
points all over the nation, from
Portland, Maine, to Portland,
Oregon. Not so today.
. The same is true of Boston,
which in 1939 had seven coast
Wise steamship lines, with but
one in operation today.
Although there are now more
than 1,200 privatelyowned
freighters under the American
flag, the number of privately
owned coastwise and intercoastal
ships is almost negligible.
Before the war they comprised
the greater part of our merchant
marine, numbering 400 vessels of
some 2,700,000 deadweight tons.
.Those that are now operating in
t^oastal are almost entirely oh
charter from the US Maritime
Commission and are scheduled
for return to the government
next. summer.
Our prewar intercoastal fleet
;alone comprised 150 ships of
more than 1,400,000 d.w.t. Less
tium half this number are run
ning between the ..east and west
coasts • today.
UNPROFITABLE
Even though our domestic
shipping is protected by law from
foreign competition, and the
American flag has a monopoly
in these trades, the domestic
lines claim to have lost money
ateadily during the ten years or
flo before World War I. And this
despite the fact they obtained
their ships, for the most part,
from the World'War I fleet of
surplus freighters on very good
terms from the old US Shipping
Board.'
High costs of handling freight,
plus intense competition from,
trucks, have been given as coii
tributing to, the imhappy finan
cial'""position of the domestic
lines before the war.
Now they have even greater
problems to face in trying to
rewve prewar services.
"High cargo costs" haye gone
even higher. The ships they op
erated before the war have been
sunk, been scrapped or consign
ed .to other uses.
The postwar demands for mov
ing freight call for greater
speeds, anyway, and most of the
prewar ships on the intercoastal
and coastwi^ runs wou3d now
be too slow for the business.
Yet the cost of building ships
expressly fitted for modern needs
is far l^ond their capacity to
pay for tbenselves under pres
ent conditions.
According to a study made by
the. United States Maritime Com
mission, the costs of handling
cargo runas Idgh nowadays as
66 percent of the freight rate
that the domestic lines receive
for their services.
Ibis leaves from 40 to 50 per
cent to pay crews, terminal
charges, vessd maintenance, de
preciation <which the law stipu
lates must be taken care of over
a certain period of time), ad
ministrative expenses, etc.
Small wonder, then, that the
domestic steamship busine§s
hasn't attracted many independ
ent investors!
Some hope " of overcoming
these difficulties is seen if the
Interstate Coihmerce Commis
sion, which now allows railroads
to meet water competition by
charging rates less than the
steamship lines can quote, will
reverse its position in favor of
ship operators.
RATES ALONE NOT ENOUGH
Even with this advantage,
however, it is felt that radical
changes in cargo handling must
come about to make the domes
tic steamship business a paying
proposition.
Some innovations have already
been suggested and are in pro
cess of being carried out. H. F.
Alexander, wellknown west
coast shipping executive who op
erated the "H. F. Alexander" and
other famous ships in prewar
years, has been granted $10,
000,000 by the Maritime. Com
mission to build' a fleet of pas
sengertrailer* ships which will
carry, highway trailer trucks as
a means of cutting cargo costs.
The tot two of these, ships
will soon be built for operation
between Los Ahgeles and San
Francisco. A future article in the
LOG wUl teU about these ves
sels in detail.
Another interesting proposi
tion toward reviving the coast
wise lines'has come from a ship
ping man by the name of W.
H. Rutland in Washington, D.C.
His idea is to have the Mari
time Commission sell 21 C4
type vessels for eonversion into
a specialize!^ kind of freighter
for carrying truck contrdners.
These contaiiiers, of.two stan
dardized sizes, 50 and 30 feet
in length, would be loaded at
the shipper's store, factory or
warehouse and be dispatched
right to the pier, where it would
be lifted from the truck and
stowed aboard the ship. ,
PROCESS RisVERSED '
The process would be reversed
at the other end of the line and
the commodities would be de
livered b^ truck without the'ex
pensive l procedure of loading
and unloading by winches, slings
and hand labor.
Ml*. Rutland would like 'the
Maritime Commission to aell its
C4s for $500,000, plusthe cost
of ..conversion and the . cost of
building enough ntandardized
containers to equip a fleet of
21 ^hips.
Operators ^'ould then use the
ships to revive such prewar do^
mestic steamship services as the
old New Bedford* Line, which
ran between New York and N.B.
for more than 50 . ears; the Old
Dominion Line, which served
rJ'ew York and Norfolk for more
than half a century;' the Mor
gan Line, which operated be
tween Boston and Houston; and
the Merchants and Miners Line,
which connected Boston, Balti
more, Norfolk and other sea
board points for 05 years. This
was one of the rnany domestic
lines whiclf w'ent out of business
after the war.
FINISHED WITH ENGINES
Other coastal lines which have
gone out of business during the
past 20 years, after as much as
85 years of operation, are the
ClydeMallory Lines, Savannah
Line, Southerfi Steamship Com
pany, Los Angeles Line (soon
to be revived by Mr. Alexander);
and the Bridgeport, Norwalk,
New Londoti, Norwich and Co
lonial Lines.
Since 1817, the coastwise and
intercoastal, trades have been
restricted to American ships, and
for over a century many of our
ports have handled rriore domes
tic than overreas cargoes, with
not a few of our seaboard cities
owning their ver.y existence , and
prosperity ̂ to the acqpssibility of
raw materials ^nd markets
through domestic water trans
port.
This is especially true of New
England cities, and the domin
ance which Massachusetts and
Rhode Island enjoyed for so long
in textile manufacturing came
about because mills could be
erected at any number of ports
like FaU' River, Providence and
New; Bedford, where cotton and
wool could be cheaply imported
and the finished pn^ucts sent
off to coastal points all over the
United States..
A report by the United States
Maritime Cfommission on our do
mestic shipping situation points
out the fact that there were too
many competing lines engaged
in the business before the war,
trying jo share a decreasing
amount of cargo, cargo which
was going more and more to
trucks, trains and even planes.
It is doubtful, therefor, if
there will ever again be as many
lines or as many ships operating
in the domestic trades as there
were in the 1930s.
HEAVIER HAULS
It is pertinent to remember
that ships now being used on
the domestic runs are Victories,
Liberties and C4s, carrying
2,000 tons, or more cargo than
their predecessors did on the
same runs before the war.
They are also from three to
six knots faster. This greater
speed and carrying "capacity y
means that a fewer number of
ships and fewer seamen can do
the job of a larger fleet in form
er years.
Our domestic coastwise lines
alone, according to the Maritime
Comniission,^ handed 36,300,000
tons of cargo in 1939.
After the war, the Interstate
Cotnmerce Commission granted
the old War Shipping Adminis
tration a certificate to engage in
coastwise and intercoastal ship
ping until Sept! 30, 1946. After
this time, it was hoped, private
operators could get back in bus
iness on their own.
CHARTER FIELD
How o'verly optimistic this was
is gauged by the fact^ that al
most all of the ships in the in
tercoastal trade are now under
charter from the government^
with privatelyowned vessels no
more than you can count on the
fingers of both hands.
"Th^ importance of the coast
wise trade to the national^econ
omy and to national defense,"
said the Maritime Commission,
"dictates its preservation. The
achievement of this objective
will require the cooperation of
the Intei*state Commerce Corh
mission, the Maritime Commis
sion, the carriers involved, the
labor unions and shippers."
TWU'CIO EXPRESSES 'SINCERE THANKS' FOR AFL AID
• '."i
A
M
.1
.ri •
Iransport ̂ K^qrkers Union of y\merica
Affiliated, with the Congresi of Industrial Organizations
MICHAEL J. QUILL
UMrullMal PmM«l
CUSTAV FABER
ifU'L Vke Prendents
UCttAHD D0WNC8
WUUAU CROCAN
MATTHEW CUINAN
lUUUS W. BARVCLL
AKDRETP 2.
MARK JCAVANACK
lOHN LOPES
FRANK OXONNOR ^
CLUS VAN RITER
ia^L Executive Board
lOUN CABILL
TIMOTHY CRONIN
JAMES CONNELL
LOUia DWYER
CHESTER EBERSON
RICHARD FISHER
MICBAEL FITZCIBBON
ROBERT FRAHKLUf
DANIEL CILUARnN
BUSTER GIORDANO
ROBERT A. HAYES
JOHN HAMILTON
SAMUEL HfiCHT
JAMES aORST
PATRICK HYNES
WILLIAM UNDNER
PATRICK MAHEDT
DAVID RiECK
PATRICK ROaOCSON
PRANK SUEEBAN
JOHN J. SHERRT
FRED SULLIVAN
JOHN R. TIPTON
WILLIAM WRIGHT
153 WEST 64TH STREET
NEW YORK 23, N. Y.
Tcu TRAFALCAB 43200
,• ^
Jamary A, 1950
Mr. .Bay Vhlta, Praaldant
Central Tradaa and Labor Asse&bly of Ta^)a
Ta^ia, Florida
Oaar Freaident Whitai
I hava baaa adrisad CIO Regional Diraetor Cfaarles Gowl as
well aa our International Bepreeentatlvae Jack Ryan amd Villian
' Orogan of the aplendid support extended to our striking Local 27A
by the Xxscntive Board of the Central Trades luid Labor Assanbly
of Tai^.
On bataalf of the International Offloers of our Union, I want to
soprass to yon, anif your fallow Board Hembers our sinoera thanks
for your very fine cooperation and public expression in our be
iMlf •
Thl* instanea of labor solidarity between the AFL and CIO ia nost
baax^ning, and synboUe of the neeting of ninda by the AFL and
CIO leader* at the r*o*iit world trade union nesting in London*
Again pur vary gratafhl thanks to you. Ton nay be assured that
should the occasion arls* idian wa can be helpful to you,^ doing so
will give us great plaasur*.
Fraternally yenrs.
' •
vrl/r ^ •
CFtdr
"twulOOelo
Qttstar Fiaber
Intarnatienal SecrataryJ'reaBurar
This letter to'the Tampa Central Trades and Labor Assembly, from the CIO Transport
Workers Uidon, is visual proof of the increasing friendliness between the two labor federa
tions. Although fhere have beetf? instiances of interorganizational solidarily before — the Sea
farers have an oufstapding record in this—only recently has this mutual aid lieen accelerated. •
The amiable relations in London, when the AFL and CIO help^ set up the anticommie Inter
• national ol free Trade Unions, did much to foster this spirit, and AFL unionists
are talking of achieving oirganic unity between both organizations* in the near future. Toward
this end, the AFL General CoundL meeting this week in Miami Beach, Florida, voted to author
ize its top officials to approach the CIO on this matter.
!
f • =
Pag* Four TBB SEAFA]kBRS LOB Friday. Fabniary 10. lO&O
w
m..
Wp: te
Tug strike Ends;
PIckUp Looms
fdr Baltimore
By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTZ
BALTIMORE—The Ore Line
' ships are helping to keep things
moving in this port. Shipping
has been slow here, but Ore
ships have been coming in
{iretty steadily, at the rate of
about one every other day.
The tug strike in this port has
been settled, and we're glad to
r^)ort that shipping is resum
ing normal proportions. The
tugmen, members of the Inter
national Longshoremen's Asso
ciation, with whom we are affi
liated through the AFL Mari
time Trades Department, are a
mighty important factor in the
docking of vessels, as the strike
proved.
Skippers were, cussing as they,
had to Iwing their ships in with
out tugs, and vessels and docks
took a terrific banging in the
process.
MILL STRIKE
Other activity on the Balti
more labor front centers around
the strike of the mill workers.
The SIU is helping these people
in every way possible, and is
attempting to line up the sup
port of other unions in this area.
This strike has been in pro
gress for about three" months,
DUTCH TRADE UNION OFFICIALS VISIT SIU
During recent tour of New York waterfront, representatives <»f Holland's major unions stop
ped off at SIU Headquarters in New York to observe Union Hiring Hall and rotary system of
shipping. From left ' to right: H. Kaper, Secretary of the Building Trades Union, Amsterdam:
Paul Gonsorchik, SIU Dispatcher; R. Laan, President of the Transport Workers Unioh. Rotter
dam. and J. veui Eibergen. Chairman of the Christian Building Trades Union. Utrecht. Visi
tors were here under auspices of ECA.
New York No Exroptmn In Shipping Slump
By JOE ALGINA
ri.
4 '
;; ^
l|v'"
with nothing happening. How
ever, it is hoped that the com
pany will take a different'view
point, now that strike activity
is being stepped up.
. The March of Dimes drive for
the fight on infantile paralysis
, is xmder way, and this is one
outfit that deserves the support
of everybody. The National
Foundation for Infantile Paraly
sis has done a wonderful job in
helping out children and adults
hit by the disease.
FULL HELP
Any worker's family hit by
polio can get help in the form
of medical treatment, transpor
tation, special braces and any
other kind of gear needed by
polio victims by merely apply
ing to the local chapter of the
Foimdation.
If we all join the March of
Dimes and give our share, there's
a good chance that the fight on
polio wiU be successfuL
The State of shipping in Bal
timore and other ports ought
to show those in our govern
ment the inadvisability of giv
ing our ships away to foreign
maritime nations.
Foreign ships are becoming
more and more active, and Am
erican ships are rusting in the
boneyards and seamen are sit
ting on the beach.
. And, despite this, the govern
ment maritime schools are still
turning out thousands of guys,
who are only complicating the
already tough employment sit'
uation for experienced seanjen.
It's about time someone took a
clear look at things r and did
sometifiing about it
NEW YORK —This port was
no exception to what seems to
have been the rule for shipping
in the past two weeks. All has
been rather quiet.
Not that the Patrolmen were
n't kept busy, however. For pay
offs we had the Seatrains New
Jersey, New York, Texas, Ha
vana; the Isthmian ships St.
Augustine Victory, Steel Maker
and Steel Rover; the Waterman
scows Choctaw, Fairland anc
Azalea City, and the BuU Line
vessels Dorothy, Kathryn, Eliza
beth, Puerto Rico, Suzanne, and
Inez.
Boston Shipping
is On Duli
By BEN LAWSON
BOSTON—Intransit ships con
stituted the principal activity for
this port during the past two
weeks. Otherwise, shipping was
dull.
The callers were theGreeley
Victory, Waterman; Santa Clara
Victory, Steel Rover, and Steel
Maker, Isthmian; Canton Vic
tory, Waterman, and the Doro
thy, Bull. The SUPcontracted
tanker, SS Cache, was also here
and took a few replacements.
There were" some beefs on the
Steel Rover and the Santa Clara
Victory. They will be settled
at the payoff port.
ON THE BEACH
Freddie Johnson and Don
Hodge are among the Seafarers
on the beach in Beantown this
week. In the Boston Marine
Hospital are SIU members Frank
Alasavich and F. Ben Gordy.
It was with deep"^ regret that
we learned of the passing of
Shipping Commissioner Leo
Quinn this week. We feel that
seamen have lost a good friend.
We've had some mighty
strange weather up this way ̂
far this winter. The other day
we got an advance taste* of
summer,, with the temperatme
bouncing up to 71 degrees. Win
ter was back the next day
when a foot of snow covered
tiie ground. ' . "
In addition, we had the Ames
\'ictory. Victory Carriers; the
T inity, Carras; The Cabins and
I'le Bull Run, Ma^hiasen.
The Dorothy and the Inez
went into layup pending settler
ment of the sugar workers'
;drike in the Islands. They join
the Ann Marie. These vessels
will be reactivated upon conclu
sion of the beef.
On the signon side, were the
following ships: Frances, Bull;
Marquette Victory, Steel Flyer
and Steel King, Isthmian, and
the Robin Mowbray. All the Bull
Line ships signed on again, as
did the Seatra;ns, the Bull Run,
Trinity and The Cabins.
There were very few beefs on
these ships and all were settjed
okay.
We'd like to issue an import
ant reminder to men sailing the
Robin Line ships, especially.
Some of the crewmembers of
these vessels have very unwisely
missed ships on the African run
and have gotten "lost" in the
jungles.
JUGGED
Not only are these fellows
subject to the fine imposed for
missing ship, ' but the. gqvem
ment down in South Africa has
been making it mighty tough for
them.
Men have been tossed into the
clink fbr as long as four months.
Ater being held for that length
of time they've been put aboard
the first passenger ship arriving
in port bound for the States.
And the rub is that the fare for
this passage has to be paid by
the ^victim.
So, watch oqt. Don't miss those
ships.
Memb'mhlp Rules
Membership rules require
every man entering the
Union Halls to show his
Union Book, ProdBook, per
mit or whitecard to the dodr*
man. This is for the mem*
bershijp's protection. Don't
waste the Doorman's — or •
your own—time by arguing
this point. Obsfl^e the ndes
you make.
We notice that the Army and
Navy are still operating as
though they were in the ship
ping business. Ships operated by
both branches of the service are
carrying cargoes in competition
with private operators.
Several months ago Senator
Warren Magnuson called atten
tion to this matter, and agreed
with the unions that the Army
and Navy ought to keep out of
the cargocarrying business.
They're still at it, however*
and it seems that legislation
should be enacted to halt this
practice.
Oh, j'es —' your 1950 assess
ments are due. The wise thing
is to take care of this matter at
the earliest possible moment, so
that yoi^ can forget about it for
the rest of the year. '
iNobiie invitet^
Ail Seafarers '
To Hail Opening
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE—Shipping in the Port
of Mobile for, the last couple of
weeks was dead slow, with ap
proximately 88 men shipped dur
ing the period. There were 11
payoffs, 13 sighons and three
ships intransit
Ships paying off were in good
shape. They were the Monarch
of the Sea, .Fairport, City of
Alma," Iberville, DeSoto, Wild
Ranger, Morning Light all Wa
terman; Clipper, Cavalier, Puri
tan, Alcoa, and the Coral Sea,
Orion.
Signing on were the Clipper,
Cavalier and Puritan, headed for
the British West Indies; Mon
arch of the Sea and Wild Ran
ger, bound for Puerto Rico; Iber
ville and DeSoto, resuming their
coastwise runs; City of Ahna and
Fairport,* destined for Mediter
r'ean ports, and the Steel Inven
tor, bound for Java.
TAKE REPLACEMENTS
Intransit were the Bessemer
Victory and the Greeley Victory,
both coastwise vessels, and the
Alcoa Ranger. All of these ships
were contacted and necessary
replacements furnished.
The Mobile Marine Hospital
lists the following Seafarers as
patients this week: T. Little, J.
Berrier, L. Howard ^nd Tim .
Burke.
Among those waiting to ship
from the Mobile Hall are D. E.
McNeil, H. N. Eby, Jack Adams,
W. C. • Smith, Lionel Jackson, R. .
Bell, C. 'E. I^ymour, B. A. Dar
nell, D. M. Saxon, C. E. Long,
B. Veiner and O. J. Carr.
Seattle Reports
Fair Shipping
By WILLIAM McKAY.
• SEATTLE — Seattle shipping
has been fair.
We've been kept busy at times
contacting SlUcontracted ships
in the outlying ports—the SS
Mobilian in Raymond, SS Ponce
de Leon in Aberdeen and SS
Hastings in Olympia.
In addition, we paid off the
Citrus ̂ Packer in Portland. These
are all in the day's^or night's
—work. We got to the Mobilian
at 8 o'clock at night to investi
gate Hhe death of Brother Allan
McMillan, Chief Cook, who was
reported missing at sea after a
fire had started" in his room.
STUCK ON MOUNTAIN
We arrived back /n Seattle
at 3 AM ^after being stuc^ on
\he mountain road. Then a
hurry* call frjom the Mobilian's
D^egate, and' back we went to
board the ship at 11:30 PM.
We, caught some sleep aboard
the vessel, then called the boys
to a meeting at 8:30' AM the
next mqrmng." Everything was
straightened out. /
At present, there are 13 book
members and 23 perrhits regis
tered for shipping in the Seattle
Branch. . "*
A new cbritract has been sign
ed covering the two big tow
boat companies in this port.
The contract will run until Jan
uary, 1951, and is essentially
the same agreement obtained
last year which, incidentally, is
the best in the business.
At long last, it looks ̂as though
we will have the formal open
ing of our renovated Hall around
February 15, all major altera
tions having been completed.
It will take about a week to
get the place cleaned up and
in Shape for the opening. All
Seafarers down in this neighbor
hood around February 15 should
be sure to drop into the Hall.
Word has just been received
from the Mobile Marine Hospi
tal that Brother Raymond Fos
ter, Stewardj died there of a
heart ailment. The "boys in the
JBall sent a floral wieath t6 the
funeral. All hands extend their
deep sympathy to the family of
Brother Foster.
Log Subscribers
Readers notifying the SEA
FARERS LOG of a change in
mailing address are re
quested to include their old
address along with the new.
In addition to making easier
the switchover It will al^
guarantee uninterrupted
mailing service.
AU notifications of change*.,
of address should fee ad;
dressed to the Editor, SEA ̂
FARERS LOG, 51 ^yer
Street, New York 4. N. Y.
f^day> FiilinHUry liQi, 1950
Seafarei^ World's Waterfronts
Cargo handling methods here and abroad always interest Seafarer Glen Vinson, who takes
notM with his camera. In photo above. Glen shaws modem machinery used in loading coal on
vessel at Edgewater, N.J. Coal car has just entered elevator and is about to be lifted to point
where it will be turned <m side and contents dumped through shute into ship's hold.
Almost every mail delivery brings to the LOG photo
graphs taken by Seafarers on UnioncOntracted ships
throughout the world. A considerable portion of the shots,
of course, depict the photographers' shipmates at work
or relaxing during time off. But many of the pix show
that SIU cameramen .have an eye for interesting sidelights
of a voyage.
The photos on this page are a sample of the recent
observations made by SIU lensmen in farflung ports.
Vinson was on hand with his camera when ship tied up
at Cherbourg, France, where coal is transferred to railroad
cars in buckets.
This man and wife are longshore workers in Vizagapatam,
on the Bay of Bengal, India, but the feminine half of the
team does the muscle work. While hubby does the checking,
the delicatelooking lady unloads cargo down in No. 5 hold
—for 12 hours a day, from 6 AM to 6 PM. Each gets one rupee,
or two bits, for the day's work, according to Seaffurer Vic_
Litardi, who took the picture.
yl
The SS^jGoldenCity has its complement of cameramen
Here ship's photographer Bill Bairth (cenie^r) reviuses usual^
procedure by posing himself. He k flanked by Barney McNally
(left} apl Tom Walker. , '
This quartet of Seafarers from the crew of the Alcoa Clipper was photographed at the en!>
trance to the country dub in Trinidad, BWI, duaring n recent stopover. From left to right are
Bill M^on, Johxmy Bluelock, Goodwin and Bud Callahan. After* obliging the cameraman, the
lads centimied on their way to the swhnming pool where they paddled around to keep waist
Buss down. ZHds Maztinee submitted the phoht. /
l
Pag* Six THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Februfiry 10, 1950 'ii
k
SHIPS' MINimS AMD MEWS
f
1942Transfer To Gateway City Opened Way
To US Citizenship For British Seafarer
Back ia 1942 when he
transferred from a British
merchant ship to the SIU
contracted SS Gateway City
in Loch Ewe, Scotland, Ern
est ( S c o 11 y ) Aubusson
wasn't giving much thought
to the future.
As things developed, though,
r the Gateway City opened the
r way to a new life for Brother
f Aubusson. Last month, he be
came a fullfledged American
s citizen. .
>' "I'm happy and proud about
it," says Scotty, and its easy to
see he means it.
r'. Scotty is especially grateful
^ rto the SIU and to the many
i friends I've made among Seafar
i ers whose helpful hdvice will
help me be a better citizen."
. The Englishborn Seafarer says
^he never dreamed that the
' switchover to the Gateway City
would prove to be a stepping
• stone to American citizenship.
ERNEST AUBUSSON
aboard a British ship in Loch
Ewe, Scotland, when the Gate
way City arrived in port.
The SlUcontracted vessel was
in need of an AB and imder the
wartime arrangement between
England and the United States,
Scotty signed on the Gateway
In the summer of 1942 he was City to fill the vacancy. After a
few months of a Russian winter
in Murmansk, the Gateway City
returned «to New York and pro
vided Scotty with his first view
of the US.
Aubusson was issued SIU book
No. 24938 in New York on Mar.
5, 1943 and has been sailing as
a Seafarer ever since. Upon join
ing the SIU, ,Scotty took steps
to get the citizenship which be
came final last month.
After expressing his apprecia
tion to the Union and his Broth
ers for their friendship and co
operation, Aubusson had a spec
if word of advice to alien mem
bers.
"I urge all aliens in the SIU to
make every effort to obtain their
citizenship papers," he said. "I
can assure them that they;, will
find all hands veiy cooperative.
And any effort will be worths
while."
Scotty took another important
step last year. He married an
American lass on Feb. 14—St.
Valentine's Day. So his first an
niversary will be cause for a
double celebration.
SS Puerto Rico's Shipboard Publication
Is Product Of Hard Work And Cooperation
George Stevenson, SIU Man
Since '43, Dies Aboard Yaka
George H. Stevenson, who died of a heart attack
aboard the SS Yaka on Dec. 3, was buried in Sailor's jCenie
tery. New York City, on Dec. 23, the LOG has been
informed. He was 61 years old.
Brother Stevenson suffered the
(The author of the follow
ing article is a Stewardess
,pboard the SS Puerto Rico.)
By HILDA REVESZ
The SS Puerto Rico sailed on
her maiden voyage from New
York on August 18, 1949. During
that first trip the idea of pub
lishing a newspaper for the crew
was conceived by George Boney,
our first editor, and Kenneth
Eokholm, our present editor, with
the aid of a few other enthusias
tic crew members. It was at that
time the Advocate was born. —
The first issue consisted of
two pages which were finally
put out after many difficulties.
We. had to borrow the Chief
Steward's typewriter to cut our
stencils, and obtain permission
from the Purser's office to use
their mimeograph machine. When
George Bortiy left us, after our
second voyage, Kenneth Eck
holm inherited the office of Edi
tor. Working under difficult con
ditions was a strain for the en
tire staff imtil we finally got
permission from the membership
to buy a t3T>ewriter and a mime
ograph from the ship's fund.
Brother Eckholm took his
problems to Headquarters offi
cials. They seemed eager for us
to continue our paper and offer
ed their help. This help consist
ed of lending us a typewriter
and a mimeograph machine till
AnENTION!
If you don't find linen
when you go aboaid your
ehip, soHly the HaU at once.
A teleanun ixom Le HUVM or
Sia0«pa» won't do yon any.
good. It's your hed wad you
hare to lie in tt>
such time as those machines
were needed in the SIU Hall.
These machines have done much
to keep the paper going.
The Advocate's policy has al
ways been to back our imion
100 percent. In addition, we have
endeavored to encourage our
brothers and si'^ters to hold open
discussions on ways and means
of keeping SIU tops in the mar
itime unions. In order to keep
the Advocate interesting to all,
we added a sport page, a scan
dal page and also photographs
of various crew members either
at work or play.
PLENTY OF WORK
The duties of each staff mem
ber are many and varied. The
Editor, Kenneth Eckholm, and
Associate Editor Hilda Revesz,
write many of the articles, ar
range the layout of the paper,
gather material and sometimes
even help cut the stencils. The
Executive Editor, Stanley Haw
kins, cuts stencils 'also and ga
thers material. It is also one uf
his duties to oversee the distri
bution of the paper.
We haye two Managing Edi
tors, James Golder and James
DuBose. They are in complete
charge of the advertising and
photography. Our advertisers
have helped us to become self
supporting so that we don't have
to draw on the ship's fund ior
expen.ses. They* also contribute
to our editorial page.
There are two directors ,of
publication, Edward Glazder aiid
George John. They are respon
sible for running off the paper
on the mimeograph machine and.
then, distributing it to th6 crew
members. They also ai'e in charge
of our mailing list which is large.
Copies of the Advocate are mail
ed to all SIU branch (rfftces as
well as to SIU passenger .ships
and former crew members of the
SS Puerto Rico who wish to be
kept informed of the ship's ac
tivities.
Our sports page is kept alive
by Roy Grundner. While the
sMp's sport life is confined to
Softball, our Sports Editor helps
gather other material when his
assigned duties are over. The
board of directors consists of
Edward X. Mooney, Nick Wu
china and Reed Humphries. They
also contribute articles every is
sue. We have also accepted many
literary contributions from var
ious^members of the crew.
These are the many things
that make up the Advocate. We
will continue the publishing of
our paper as long as the inter
est and enthusiasm remains. We
hope that will be for a long time
to come.
heart attack several hours before
the Yaka arived in Panama, ac
cording to Lonnie Lonski of the
Deck Department. The body was
taken ashore, where an under
taker made arrangements for
shipment to the States.
Another SlUcontractcd ship,
the SS Twin Falls Victory, pass
ing through the Canal Zone en
route to Brooklyn, paused to
take the casket aboard, for de
livery to New York.
MADE MURMANSK RUN
Brother Stevenson, a Chief
Cook, joined the SIU in April
8, 1943 and had sailed on one of
the first convoys to Russia"^ dur
ing World War II.
"The entire crew of the Yaka
mourned the passing of Brother
Stevenson," Lonski sqid. A col
lection was made and the pro
ceeds forwarded to the late Sea
farer's wife, Cecilia, who resides
in New York City.
Mrs. Stevenson expressed her
appreciation to the Yaka v:i'ew
and also to the men of the Twin
Falls Victoiy for their condolen
ces.
Brother Stevenson held Book
Casket containing body of
George Stevenson is taken
aboard Twin Falls Victory in
Panama for last voyage to^;
New York. Photo by Chief^'; /
Electrician Merwyn Watson.
No. 25245 and was in good standf:
ing at the time of his death. The
Union paid for burial expenses^
Voice Of Oke Se eCL
by "SALTY DICK'
Donald Strong would like his
SIU friends to write to him care
of the Central Alberta Sanator
ium, C|jgary Altar, Canada. He
may be there for a long while.
. . . The crew of the SS Del
Norte heips to support the Beth
lehem Orphan Home by donat
ing a sum of money eVery trip.
Many of us stop over at St.
Thomas, V.I. to refuel. The most
reasonable place to buy in that
port is the Bolero. . . Adolfo
Capote says he's willing to take
any ship as long as he's home
every week.
Crew Of The Cabins Favors
Annual Levy To Sustain Log
Seafarers aboard the Mathiasen tanker SS The Cabins
are ,in favor of an annual' assessment to finance publica
tion of the LOG., • ^
In a resolution adopted at the
Jan. 21 shipboard meeting, the
crew proposed that the question
of a fivedollar let^ be submit
ted to a referendum vote. The
resolution was signed by 25 crew
members. '
The text of the resolution fol
lows:
"Whereas: The SEAFARERS
LOG is an annual drain on the
General Fund, and
"Whereas: We are going to
ballot on the credit union and
vacation questions,, and
ment among the membership
about voluntary contributions
being paid only by some of our
Brothers, and
"Whereas: The, SEAFARERS
LOG is a both vital and neces
sary medium for keeping our
membership informed about un
ion business and activities, there
fore
"Be It Resolved: That we the
undersigned crewmembers of the
SS The , Cabins propose that an
annual fivedollar asse^ment for
the LOG be placed .oiv\ the bal
lot along with the credit unions
Several times I went shopping?
in New Orleans and twice I was ̂
taken for a floorwalker. Now
afraid to enter department stores^
. . . Ivan During tried to joiri
the 'Salvation Army and was told
he had a long wait. He generally
ships out as a Waiter. . . In
New Orleans, movies are reason
able. Quite a few of the gang
can be seen at the StrandJoy;
A suggestion: All members of
our Union should stop at' the
Halls, whenever possible. This
applies to men working asea arid
ashore. . . Herman Troxclair's.
wife is. sick and the bills fdiv
medical expenses are mounting.
"Whereas: There has been com and vacation resolutions./
A certain Brother likes to
"put on" while in New Orleans.
He visits the most fashionable
hotels and restaurants. One day
he came face to face with people
he had met a few nights prevr
iously and; was his face red
They were cruise passengers on
his .ship and he waited on their
table.
While on the beach waiting
for a ship, Arthur Kirwin Jr.
painted his parents' house white
with green trinunings. . . Not
mentioning any names, but a
guy whose initials are F.U. al
most bought a Nash car with a
bed in it, until he asked for a
sink with running water. The
salesman said"® he couldn't fill
the order.. Met . Joe Hilton
again after • a number of years
and he; wants to be quoted .as
being against homesteading. ,
Friday, Fabruary 10, 1950 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page SevcA
Digested Minutes Of SI0 Ship Meetings
VFNORE, Nov. 27—R. E. Die*
key, Chairmart: H. B. Vincenl,
Secretary. Everything on order
in the departments. Motion car
ried recommending that Union
' tmd company meet lo work out
plan whereby watches can be
placed in the same rooms. Sani
tary conditions on ships discuss
ed, also ways and means of get
vting along in good Union man
ner. Under Good and Welfare,
Bhipboard conditions" were das
cussed. One minute' of silence
In memory of departed Union
Brothers.
I % X X
SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Bee. 19—Robert Adams, Chair
man; John J. Jellette, Secretary.
^gine Delegate asked men to
.lessen noise near foc'sles. Ship's
jjeiegate reported that Brother
Lester had spent $30^ for movies
for crew's recreation and that
Chief Cook had spent $6 for
Christmas decorations and sug
gested that men chip in to re
Imbuise these two at payoff.
Best wishes extended to Joe Ry
lick who is leaving ship. • and
who has been a good, shipmate.
Under Good and Welfare Bill
Gray read Christmas message
written by John Jellette.
4. 4 t
PONCE DE LEON. Nov. 26—
William Bolton, Chairman: John
Menville, Secretary. No beefs,
except for disputed overtime for
Electricians. Ralph Grosclose
elected Ship's Delegate by ac
clamation. Washing machine to
be checked and repaired if nec
essaiy. Newly elected depart
ment delegates are: Dick Carpen
ter (Deck); Murry Wilerson,
(Steward) and Matthew Nolan,
(Engine). One minute of silence
in memory of departed Union
Brothers. Crew wished all hands
a Merry Christmas and Happy
!l<few Year.
ft t t
MORNING LIGHT, Nov. 29—
Homer Ringo, Chairman; Tremer,
Secretary. Delegates reported no
beefs. Under Good and Welfare
the following were discussed:
Washing machine,, repair lists,
overhauling of galley range,
practice of company guard pre
venting men from going ashore
ur'il after ship has been cleared
by agricultural agent, accident
in which Wiler fractured his
wrist. Heaity vote of thanks was
given by all hands to Stewards
Department for the wonderful
dinner and decorations set up
for the Thanksgiving dinner.
ft ft ft
SS BESSEMER VICTORY,
Bee. 6—Chairman, Edward Cole:
Secretary, Lester R. Waller. En
gine and Stewards Delegates re
ported no beef^; Deck Delegate
reported two hours disputed
overtime. Motion by Scott, car
ried, that complaints about left
over food be made to the Stew
ard through the Delegates. Mo
tion by Cain, carried, that at
least two delegates and the Stew
ard check the stores. Education:
Cole requested each member to
reaU Bulletin of Dec. 2, especial
ly the section regarding the Wel
fare Fund. Good and Welfare:
Request made that Engineers
check the radiator valves.
ft ft ft
SS STEEL EXECUTIVE, D«e.
6Xhairman, D. bfcKeel; Secro
tary, A. Brodia. Delegateg^ re^
ported no beefs. Gric* ma le mo
tion, carried that Ship's Dele
gate give all information on man
v^ho jumped ship to Patrolman
upon ship's an*ival in New York.
Two • permitmen recommended
for books. Good and Welfare:
Ship's Delegate reported that it
was impoi'tant that repair work
be done this trip. Men getting
off were asked to leave their
rooms clean and return linen to
Steward.
ft ft ft
SS YAKA, Dec. 4—Chairman,
John Thompson; Secretary, Fred
Litsch. Repair list made up and
approved. New Business: Motion
by Lonski, carried, that Patrol
man check medical supplies and
shortage of medical instruments.
Education: Thompson spoke on
airmail Bulletin's request that
crew write Congressman Heller.
Crew was urged to write the
Congressman thanking him for
his interest in the preservation
of the maritime hiring hall. Good
and Welfare: Suggestion made
that Day Men and men off watch
refrain from taking coffee out
of percolator till watch is serv
ed. Suggestion made to take up
collection for widow of George
Stevenson, who passed away
aboard ship on December 3.
ft ft ft
SS MICHAEL, Nov. 11—Chair
man, J. Felton; Secretary, Law
rence Richie. Delegates' reports
accepted. Motion carried that
Delegates assist department mem
bers in making out repair lists.
One minute of silence for de
parted Brothers.
ft ft ft
SS BEATRICE, Dec. 11—Chair
man, P, Bobbregt: Secretary. R.
Pennington. Delegates reported
no beefs. New Business: Motion
carried to keep doors in passage
way open while at sea. Crew
voted in favor of motion. Wipers
requested that Patrolmen see
about cleaning gear for sanitary
work.
ft ft ft
SS ROBIN MOWBRAY, Nov.
14—Chairman, J. Sansel; Secre
tary, 3. O'Connor. Delegates re
ported all smooth. Good and
Welfare: Discussion on keeping
quarters, showers, heads clean.
Ship's Delegate Sansel praised
airmail,' Bulletin.
ft ft ft
SS PETROLITE, Dec. 4—
Chairman. Joseph Bourgeois:
Secretary, H. Rosensteil. Dele
gates reported no beefs. Ship's
Delegate reported that soap
powder had been obtained and
fans would be repaired as soon
as parts were delivered. 'Motion
by Pere* to select committee to
study possible amendments to
present tanker agreement. Two,
men fxom each department elect
ed to make study and present
recommendations at next meet
ing. Ship's Delegate to see Cap
tain concerning practice of Of
ficers painting^^ their rooms. Good
and Welfare: Crew asked to co
operate in keeping shoresiders
out of messroom. Oiic^ minute' of
silence for Brothera lost at sea.
ft ft ft
SS DEL ORG, Dec. 4—Chair
man, J. P. Shuler: Secretary, G.
Gillispie. Delegates reported all
running .smoothly. New Busi
ness: Motion by Gillispie, car
ried, that crew boys not be al
lowed inside midship house, with
the exception of the crew mess
man and the Wipers. Good and
Welfare: Suggested by John
Linn that crew write Congress
man Heller thanking him for his
praise of the SIU New York hall
and his backing of the maritime
hiring hall. Suggestion made that
Ship's Delegate write the Ed
itor of the LOG to express
crew's appreciation of the air
mail Bulletin. Suggested by J. P.
Shuler that more time be de
voted to education. ^
ft ft ft
SS SWEETWATER, Dec. 24—
Chairman, Mgx Lipkin; Secre
tary, Ted Dy^n. Delegates' re
ports accepted. New Bu3ine.s.s:
Brother Wilisch elected Ship'.s
Delegate. Wilisch suggested send
ing letter to Hall with repair
list, and request Patrolman
meet ship to straighten out con
fusion in Stewards Department.
One minute of silence for Bro
thers lost at sqa..
ft ft ft /
SS COUER d'ALENE VICT
ORY, Nov. 20—Chairman, Sigurd
Anderson; Secretary, Dave Buck
ley. Delegates reported «mall
amount of disputed overtime.
Discussion on Captain eating
special food. Question iaised as
to where he gets the food and
whether he really has stomach
trouble as claimed. Better qual
ityfood asked.
WHE lATBST e0UHf> VOLVMBO^
• rye tc>sa>vfeRiA(e
ALL- isstiEs OP i94p-WILLBBASML-
Aiue WITHIAI A PEW P/AVS. /VOW IS
TUB TtMB TO TAKE. /ACTIO/V ABOAI^
YiPoe. SHIP ANP AUlUOI^lZB BLHiAS
A COPY FOR YOUR.
• SHIPBOARD LieSARY.
THE PRCe FOR
THIS VOLQMB
WHICH IS LARSEC
THA/V IHE PeevIOUS
F/ALPYEARLY
OsLLECnOHS
— IS
CUT and RUN
by Hank , L
a:#i
m0O
ft ft ft
STEEL WORKEa Dec. 26—W.
Borreson, Chairman; G. Brown,
Secretary. Brother Zahelli elec
ted Ship's Delegate. Discussion
on two new ships which the
Bernstein company is tiying to
place in passenger service. Sug
gested that collection be made
for athletic equipment. Agreed
that sanitaiy men are to keep
library, slop locker and Igimdry
clean. Each man is to take good
care of washing machine. Vote
of thanks given Stewaids De
partment for fine Christmas din
ner. Suggested that crew thank
Capt^ for Christmas tree and
gift. All were asked to cooperate
in turning oyer unused linen to
Steward,
ft ft ft
DEL SUD, Dec. 25 —Leonard
Munna. Chairman; Edmundo
Sepulveda, Secretary. AntiTrot
skyite resolution passed at shore
side meetings was adopted xui
animously by ship's crew. Dele
gates reported. Libiarian asked
men to return magazine and
books to libraiy before voyage
ends. Motion carried calling for
immediate shipboard meetings
upon receipt of shoreside resplu
tions or important Union litera
ture. Committee was elected to
draw up a .set of working rules
for a future ship's fund. Pat
Donahue stated that two bats
were sold to Argentine ball
players after sale was approved
t>y ship's team. Money was turn
ed over to Ship's Delegate for
replacement in , New Orleans.
Meeting, adjourned at 3:15 PM.
There's no doubt that in our hiring halls and aboard* SIU
ships throughout the world the membership is happily realizing
what the recentlygained welfare fund means to all hands . . .
And here on Beaver 'Street the SIU brothers are busy as beavers.
The average Seafarer, who has been in many beefs toNkeep our
Union strong, shows easily enough that he has never lost that
spirit, indeed ... At random, we'll mention a few of the fellas
helping out continuously—day after day, including nights. There's
the happilymarried Frank Bose with his mustache and sharp
humor . . . "Slim" Tom Hale is a versatile worker—not half a
day, at all. .And in his own words, we'll say "he'll aways have
it, too"—with the pleasure of naming whatever it is ... A lot of
help is coming from A1 'Wilk and Eddie Bis. Incidentally, Eddie
has a mustache, too. (Some day we'll hear of a Brother sailing into
New York with a beard. 'We haven't seen a bearded brother in
a long time. How about hearing from bearded brothers in other
ports or aboard the ships?) . . . Eddie Saul is contributing humor
ous expxessions and Donald "Tiny" Mease is a dynamo of work—
v/hile he continues to humorously mention some mysterious ship
called the SS Sandpaper.
ft ft ft
We have dicovered that Brother Alex Andreshak is Bosun
right now aboard the SS Steel Navigator. Bon seranging, Alex
. . . We are sorry to hear about Brother Andy Havrilla being
dxydocked in a veterans hospital down in Aspinwall, Pennsyl
vania. Speedy recovery. Andy . . . Don Brown, the poet and
one of the best. East or West, says he'll be in this New York
town around summertime . . . While Brother Howard W.
Moore is turning to for some landlubbing schooling down in
Pennsylvania he'll also be anxiously looking over every issue
of the LOG for important Union news and the whereabouts
of shipmates . . . Brother Thomas Melton, who hasn't raised
any sort of beard for a long time, was in New York recently
after a long absence. Tom says he's been shipping out of the
Gulf and on one ship didn't have any real Southern cooking
for more than a year. Say, Tom, the only thing we have up
here In New York which is real good. Southern style, is that
record called "Hominy Grits" which is enough lo make a
good man leave town real fast for that good food.
ft ft ft
A good man indeed, is little "Scotty" Norris who is always
helping out in the hall . . . One of the Brothers wanted us to say
something about Brother Edison Brown. Well, we will. He's a
swell guy . . . Brother W. J. Plauche of Louisiana, who retired his
book, still keeps informed of what the SIU is doing through the
LOG he receives. And his family enjoys reading their copy, too
. . . Bill Gray, aboard the Seatrain New Jersey, informed us that
more than $60.00 was donated by crewmember.<; and officers for
the March of Dimes campaign. Every SIU ship has had literature
sent to it explaining this worthy cause. We no doubt shall hear
of many more SIU ships showing their kindness in this campaign
a long time. How about hearing from bearded Brothers in other
to help those, young and old, who are struck by infantile paralysis.
ft ft ft
Brother Pat Jones of New York says—Keep the SIU
ships sailing ... Joe Pendleton was in New York recently
... Brother "Chink" White is still soldiering over in Japan
. . . And Ed Larkin, the Electrician, is oil well" down in
Venezuela, mentioning that his shipmate Eddie Hallinan sent
him a Christmas post card ... The SEAFARERS LOG will
be saUing free of cost to the homes of the foUowing Brothezsi
<)tto Hever of Missouri Donald Faulkner of Brooklyn,
Pag9 Ei^i TBE SEAFAR^ERS LO€ FiilUai'. F«ima^ 10. 10SO
&
Welfare Plan Hailed
New SIU MOestone
'^fto the Editor:
i. I have just read the January
<13 issue of the LOG and saw
where the SIU has oome to an
agreement with nine steamship
companies on a welfare plan for
seamen. I believe this is one of
'the greatest strides ever made
by a maritime union,
i (• ' The welfare plan ranks with
• the inaugxiration of the three
watch system and the section of
our contract allowing the Union
to reopen discussion on the wage
question at any time during the
life of the contract.
SIU NEEDED
t have retired from the sea,
tut I am still in the maritime
^industry. I work for a steamship
'line! If we had a strong union
years ago like the SIU is to
: Iday, I'm sure many of my
i&iends who still go to ^a could
test a lot easier now.
The fuU value of the welfare
plan Aegotiated by the SIU wiQ
not be realized for a few years.
"But as it gradu^y comes to co
ver every seaman in the indus
try—as it will eventually—the
unorganized seamen will see
how, through a united front, sea
men can obtain what some un
organized companies claim is
something they alone can offer.
The welfare plan should great
ly increase the momehtum of
the Seafarers' organizing pro
gram. I noted that a few of the.
signers of this clause aie cpm
spanies newly organized. That's
^ good sign of clear thinking and
^responsible leadership.
' I also noted that the Negotiat
ing Committee is of the opinion
vthaf^ SlUcontracted companies
are more than satisfied with Sea
farers crews on their,vessels.
>• : I'm in a position to say that
fthe statement is entirely, correct.
By comparison with other unions
<in the industry, the SIU sailor
definitely tops them, all.
Since this letter may be print
ed in the LOG, I am asking the
Editor not to print my name but
my~ book number instead. The
average sailor would be surprised
to know in whose hands the
LOG does fall.
Book No. 45010
Soap Snatching
Is Dirty Trick,
Brother Bphhles,
To the EdiKUr:
I'd like tp expose an insidious
group within our membership
whose aim is devoted to making
their shipmates the most un
washed guys in the labor move
ment.
This underground group can
best be labelled Uie "soap
snatchers." For various, unex
plained reasons, some shipmates
find themselves unable to afford
soap when they are on the
beach. To overcome this situa
tion they take to hoarding their
twobar weekly allowance while
they are aboard ship.
DIRTY TRICK
This in itself wouldn't be so
bad, but it goes further. They
remove the used soap of others
from the washroom so as not to
have to break a single wrapper
of their own hoard.
On one ship I opened my last
bar of soap in the shower and
then left for a few seconds to
get my razor. When I returned
—^you guessed it—the soap was
gone. Being unable to secme an
other bar at the time, " I was
forced to use laundry soap.
I hope some Brother comes up
with an effective method of
dealing with these "soap snatch
ers," as theharsh odor of laim
dry soap does not strike a par
ticularly seductive chord, in the
nostrils of a seaman's girl friend.
Abe Goldfarb
JAPAN TRIP SMOOTH AS SILK
LEARNING HIS SIV'S
Philip Sfazimpton, who claims Book No. 000 as a member
; ia good silting of the SIU, scans his LOG fox the latest dope
<m the Service beef. Fouzmonthold Philip is the first
effort ot "Aussie" and Rose Shrimpton and he wants it known
that he is available for picket duty If he is needed. His parents
^ met on an SIU sldp, the SS Evangeline, and if that doesn't
make haa a Seafarer Phil would like to know what does. .
Chief Male W. R. "Catfish"
Kenopke, who the Yaka crew
said "is strictly a good imion
man. He deserves much credit
for the swell trip." Kenopke
is a former member of the SIU.
ALL HANDS HAD
GOOD CHRISTMAS
ON SS DEL MONTE
To the Editor:
I am enclosing some pictures
of our Christmas dinner on board
the SS Del Monte. We had a very
nice Christanas even though we
were at sea and away from our
families and friends^
AH of the crewwere coipplete
ly satisfied and all agreed that
they could not have had a ifiner
dinner or day We will be at ̂ a
for New Year's, but have been
promised the same kind of dinner
and fun with hats and noise
makers by the Steward, Henry
(Hunger) Gerdes. The Captain
joined in to make the coming
affair a success.
As you can sro by the menu
and the pictures, we all had a
good time.
Bob Creel
#
(Ed. Note: Unforlunately^
LOG readmrs will be unable
to see what a good time was
had aboard the Del Monte at
Christinas dinner. The photos
were loo dark fow saffsfactory;
reproduction.)'
At the Waterman ship's payoff in Baltimore recently,
Lonnie Lonski said the voyage was one of the best he's made.
Some of the men who helped make it successful, are shown in
photo above, taken in USS club in Yokohama. Around fable,
left to right, are: Taylor (light jacket). Fuzzy. My^s, Lilsch,
Legg. James, Storey and Sjoherg. Standing, left to right:
Goldsborough and LonskL
SUP Man Says Trotskyites
Use Free Speech To Disrupt
To the Editor:
I hope that you will print this
letter. It points out the line used
by the ' Trotskyites which some
members may listen to and pass
on.
As a retired SUP man, I would
like to point out how much vio
lence the SUP 'has to fear fi'om
the SIU officials, as .the Trot
skyites screamed recently.
When I was shipping out of
New York, I often heard the
Trotsky line that the Stewards
Department ought to leave the
SIU and form a separate imion.
I know that tw^. of the men
who were spouting this union
busting idea are stiU sailing, de
spite the fact that one of them
still advocates an MCS of the
East Coast,
Many times in the union halls
of the Gulf I heard talk of a
separate Gulf union and in the
SUP hall talk against the SIU,
and in the SIU halls, talk against
the SUP. There was also talk of
keeping a port for men from
that port.
These Trotsky lines, aimed
at splitting the SIU and causing
it damage, have .been aired free
ly in the halls for years and I
have jfet to hear of any man
meeting violence becalise he
spoke his 'unionbusting., views.
But I have seen a man get the
bum's rush because he wanted
to dis£igree with a man spouting
his disruptive ideas.
I will say, however, that tHe;"^1?K
Trbtskjrites have sumetliing tb^..;i/v,
fear and that is that men of the'?
SIU wiU not fan for their unidn,,f;^
busting ideas, and that the SIU V?
will remain the best Union on
the waterfront, if not in the
world, !
As for violence, I think thatvll!, *!; I
if they take the word of advice ? '' "
offered in the Dec. 30 issue of
the LOG, the Trotskyites will
not have any trouble.
P. A. Carlson
SUP Book No. 3964 (Ret.)
Had Your Say?
Pro mid con commenis on
the suggested change in.the
sMppIng rules to make , it
mandatory for a man to ac
cept his vacation pay and get
off, a ship after one year
Aboard continue to come in
from Brothers asea and
ashore. If you haven't yet
mq^xvMied youT views on the
<|uestion. how . ahoitf send
kig them to the LOG—now.
t—
BULLETIN CATCHES
DEL NORTE MEN
DOWN IN BRAZIL
To the Editor:
This is to acknowledge receipt,
of the Bulletins forwarded to:
this ship this voyage. They have
been posted on the bulletin Iraard
and are well received by the*
membership, who looks forward;
to new ones each trip in Brazil.
Whoever thought of the idea
deservesa vote of thanks for
keeping the membership inform
ed of what is going on during,
their absence from the States. .
I am enclosing the minutes
of the tworegular meetings held
on this voyage, although I have
not seen any minutes published
from these ships during the last
year in the LOG.
C. A. Bradley
Ship's Delegate
SS Del Norte
(Ed. N(de: Time does not .
pennit a full check hack over
the LOG issues of this year
but offhand ..we can cite issues .
^No. 28, No. 31 and No. 32 of
ffie LOO in which Del Norte
minutes appear.)
* *Ilj
FMiniarf Ifli, Mlo BE SE'AFARERS LOG Page Nine
*Why All The Fuss?' Asks
Ppppn^rft Of Vacation Rule
To the Editor:
I have been reading the vari
ous articles on compulsory va
cations and would like to state
a few of my own ideas on the
subject.
In my opinion, a seaman has a
right to hpld a job as long as he
wants.''He is no dilferent from a
man working ashore. He has a
family and responsibUitiea as
well as anyone else.
Let us remember that a sea
man, belongs to a union and as
long as he can show that he is
a credit to the union and stays
in good standing, he is disposing
of his obligation ^o the rest of
the membership. When they start
telling a fellow how long he can
work at a certain place. Brother,
that doesn't smell so good.
IF
Don't get me wrong. I am in
favor of compulsory vacations
if a fellow gets his job back af
ter the vacation is over.
Show me any man in his right
mind who will trade a week's
vacation for a decent 'job. Let lis
look ahead a little. If a man is
on a ship one year he gets one
week's vacation. If he is on six
months longer, he gets another
week's vacation and six months
more gives him another vacation.
So if a man get^ off at the end
of the one year, he loses a
week'§ pay for the next stretch.
I would like to quote BroUier
"Salty Dick" who contradi^d
himself in a recent letter on this
subject. He says, "Shipping has
slowed down and the beach is
getting crowded." Then he goes
on to say that "any bookman
knows he can ship out between
tw® and four weeks."
I don't get it. If "Salty Dick"
knows so much about the ship
ping situation and if what he
says is true, why all the fuss
about a. few guys who have the
initiative to stick a year or so
on a ship and whi, want to stay
employed, especially since their
working conditions are desir
able?
Any man who can hold a job
without being a troublemaker
or a gashound is a credit to the
Union and the longer he stays
on a ship and does his work, the
longer he is in there pitching
for the good name of the Union.
H. Slitis
The Redhead Is Moaning Low
After Crack At Rungus Run'
To the Editor: '
If at any time someone has tcid you this is a small world;
they are suffering from dementia praecox, non compos mentis—or
In just plain words, NUTS! This past week brought to an end our
roundtheworld trip aboard the SS Steel Worker, or is it "Work
house." For an Isthmian job it isn't bad even if the Mate thinks
"Timeoff" is a Russian admiral.
Before leaving the States we got shots for everjrthing from
pink toothbrush to bleeding eye
balls. The shot for lockjaw is
terrific—a pennanent cure for
halitosis, which in a small way
is better than no breath at all.
The crew proved themselves^ ̂
quite fit to the trip,with the ex • ^
ception "ot one poor guy who
went to the hospital in Manila
for • water on the knee^ It was ,
so bad that when they operated
two nurses and 'an interne
dx'owned. In Hongkong, the ships'
vocalist, John DePoo, after ren
dering "I Only Have Eyes P'or
You," g(^ run over by a couple
of rickshaws. Now he's got ath
lete's foot in,the face. My only
trouble was with the^ tired,
burning eyes;. Even after drink
ing a bottle of "Murine they still
burned.
Believe me, there's nothing
like the "Fungus Run." In all these Asiatic ports Isthmian intro
duces their latest in garbage disposal units—^four halfstarved
coolies. Throughout the various jungle ports. Chief Cook Dave*
Herron beat out the rhythm of the jungle on the galley kettle with
a slightly overripe kielbasi. Kielbasi, that's a marlin spike dipped
in ^ariic. \
' In Singapore we all went to the Malayan premiere of the
film, "Christopher Columbus."' No wonder old Chris had such a
tough tiiqe—^three ships and not one bookman aboard. Two of the
ships are at present on the sugar run for Waterman. The Cathay
Theater where the picture played is one of the most modem in
the Far East—^neon poetry in the men's room.
Finally, after about 22 tropical ports we found ourselves in
the North Atlantic rolling and tossing, tossing and rolling—what
a crap game! A terrific drop in the temperature necessitated the
heating of the foc'sles. The First (who comes from a long line
of early American Eskimos), issued an extra box of matches. We
took turns giving each other hot foots. (Gad, such English.)'
; However, it all came to a happy ending at Staten Island. We
had so much rubber aboard we bounced off the dock six times
before we got tied up. So here I am back at Beaver Street, catch
sing up. on the oKTnews. I see the NMU afew weeks backinau
gui'ated a series of Olympic games. T'd have given anything for the
bandaid concession at 17th Street. >
; In closing, please don't , hold anything against the "LOG"
during the paatCyear for the madravings of "Your Fraternally,"
"Red" Campbell
Trip Was Good
Jack Dietrich (left>< FWT,
keeps a photographic record
of his voyages. Here he is seen
with the Deck Maintenance
aboard the MV Gadsden dur
ing a recent run from Haiti"
more to For^aleza. Brazil. Die
trich says all hands agreed
that the firstrate trip on the
Gadsden would be hard to
beat.
Bosun's Wife Lowers Boom
On Compulsory Vacations
To the Editor: v
As the wife of an SIU mem
ber (Bosun John LaFoe) and as
a former Stewardess with six
strike clearances, which means
that I should know what the
score is, I am thoroughly in ac
cord with Brother Tex Suit's
analysis of the homesteading
situation.
The members of the Seafarers
have, in the not too distant past,
fought, bled and died to obtain
and maintain the working con
ditions and living standards they
now enjoy. That monument to
old Andy Furseth wasn't erected
in his memory because he knit
ted ropeyams. He fought to ob
tain the conditions which we all
enjoy today. Don't forget that.
ONLY 200
And don't forget that the min
ority of 200 members Vvho stay
aboard a vessel longer than 12
months are not the guys who
Length Of Time On Ship
Up To Individual: Rizzo
RED CAMPBELL
To the Editor:
I would like to voice my opin
ion as being definitely against
con^ulsory vacations.
First, upon interpreting sec
tion 54, Vacations, I find that
the agreement gives the privil
ege of staying on a ship as long
as a mehiber wants to and after
the first year it credits the sea
man with two weeks of vacation
pay and any additional time is
also paid for with the equivalent
of two weeks pay. So it is quite
apparent that any referendum on
compulsory vacations will be im
constitutional.
(Ed. Note: Rules pertaining
to shipping procedures are
made by the membership in
referendum vote and there is
nothing in the constitution that
prevents them from doing so.
The agreements do not regu
late the length of a man's ser
vice aboard ship, but merely
govern the wage and work
~ ing conditions, of which vaca
tions is one. This is merely a
clarification of the Brother's
point. The LOG takes neither
side in the issue.) **
Second, it is my observation
that if a toan really wants to
get a ship, he can in all prob
ability to do without too long
a wait. Some men wait around
the Hall for certain ships or
runs and in some cases, even
certain companies, and conse
quently their cards build up on
the shipping list. That quite a
few permitmen are able to get
ships will attest to that fact, in
asmuch as bookmen have prefer
ence over permitmen in ship
ping.
Third, it would be a reflection
on our boast that we have jobs
equal to bookmen. It would stand
to reason that our job situation
is not too sound if we have to
limit members to certain periods
of employment.
Fourth, the economic reper
cussions would be too great for
a married man with a family
or anyone with obligations. The
privilege of staying on a ship in
definitely belongs to all book
men alike, so that each man can
stay aboard, as long as he lives
up to the agreement, untiL he
has finances to support him over
a period of unemployment.
As for the charge of the men
becoming company men, e^ch
man has a certain type of work
to do under his rating, and our
agreement to live by. If he does
not do so, I am sure any Pa
trolman or Port Agent would
see him for an explanation.
Louis Rizzo
throw their earnings over h gin
mill bar and say "manana—t(>
morrow I'll ihake another ship."
They have responsibilities,
wives, babies, coal bills, etc., ad
infinitum. They have probably
foimd what all humans have
sought since the days of the
cave man — a home, a woman
and security, and last but not
least, happiness.
Is it any wonder that after
years of hitting the bricks and
striving for some semblance of
an Utopia, they are willing to
sweat it out to achieve those
ends? Can't you visualize the
monotony of hitting one port
after another, day after day,
month, after month, just to come
home to the "little woman" or
to pay a board bill for little
mouths whom some woman has
abandoned because she couldn't
take it. I know of many such
instances.
LOOK OVER THE FENCE
How about you guys who have
only the thought of getting into
port, paying off and looking for
that favorite bar maid, going
broke in a few days without a
penny and then holding down
the Hall for another ship—how
about looking on the other side
of the fence for a change? Be
cause some day you may find
and cherish the same things that
those few 200 other guys have
found.
Unless you give this question
some longrange thought, you
may destroy the rung on the
ladder to future security.
Laura LaFoe
Baltimore, Md.
RETIRED MEMBER
KEEPS IN TOUCH
THROUGH THE LOG ^
To the Editor:
I wish to express my apprecia
tion for the prompt delivery of
the LOG to my home every
week. My family and I have
been receiving the LOG for four
years or more, and we are very *
interested in the activities of the
Union on the beach and at sea.
I retired early in 1947, after
having been an active seaman
for over two years — all as A
member of the SIU. I am en
closing a money order for five
dollars to help with your pui>
lication.
Keep up the good work and
keep the LOG rolling.
Cyrus C. Brown
St. PauL Minn.
Homesteaders Upheld As 'Old Reliables'
To the. Editor:
«•
This is simple, straight and
plain. . t
When I arrived in the States
recentlj^ from Europe I picked
up a LOG, issue of December 2,
and noticed the invitation to
comment on vacations and a
ci'edit union. Both are very in
teresting, but for this letter I'll
confine my comments to com
pulsoiy vacations.
I have read the pros and cons
on the matter in the LOG and
I am strictly opposed to" forcing
men off ships, resulting in the
loss of a meal ticket and weak
ening support of their families.
I just can't see ,it. It interferles
with a man's livelihood.
Take this into consideration.
If & man stays on a yessel five
years and lives up to the con.
tract to the satisfaction of the
Union and the company, it
proves that the man is compe
tent and that the Union is living
up to its agreement, as far as
competency is concerned. This
has been the SIU system all
along.
I for one have never stayed a
year on any ship, even though
it is my privilege. But, Brothers,
bear in mind that times are rap
idly changing and the least slip
on om pOrt may be the loss of
a contract. By keeping the old
reliable men on the ships—the
homesteaders—we will have one
more thing in oiu favor during
negotiations. '
LOTS OF IDEAS
The men who are coming up
with these ideas, I can see and
undeistand, are on the beaches.
Needless to sa.; , they have had
their chances, but wouldn't take
advantage of them. When you're
broke, ideas are like cars and
busses—continually coming by.
Let's look into the future and • [
not at the beaches. When this
matter comes to a vote, vote for |
the homesteaders, instead of de |
priving them of their rights to a
job well done. Piaise them and
be thankful for having such
militant and competent men in
om ranks. They are helping the
Union. If they were hurting the.
Union financially, I might see
some merit in arguments against i
them. \
Another reason to back thecal
homesteaders is that it is quite ' |
likely some of these men made
it.possible for you and me tO; J
have our jobs today. In behalf
of my shipmates I give praise j
to hdfnesteaders.
I'll write next on the credit :|
union. ** ,
Lamar M. Loti. Sx;,
ram MMdFdmxm^ ^Fdaa^t f^btmxr 10« l«d
ats
*'l
ii.?,
if'
>V'
BOSTON — Chairman, Stanlc^
Otaenzidge, 1863; Recording Sec
Tetarr, Ben Lawso^ 894.
Minutes of meetings in other
Branches accepted as read. Port
Agent discussed shipping in this
port. Patrolman's and Dispatch
er's reports approved as read.
Motion carried to accept Head
quarters report to the member
ship and SecretaryTreasurer's
financial report One minute of
sUence in memory of departed
Union Brothers. Meeting ad
journed at 7:30 PM, with 126
members in attendance,
its.
GALVESTON — Chairman,
Keith AIsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary. Robert Willbum,
.37739: Reading Clerk, John Byzd,
34683.
Galveston and other Branch
minutes of previous meetings
read and approved. Secretary
Treasurer's report and Head
quarters report to the member
ship read and approved. Port
Agent spoke on the local shipK
^ing situation, which during the
i>ast two weeks had shown im
provement. PatrolmanDispatch
er's report was read and accept
ed. One minute of silence in
memory of departed Union
Brothers. Motion carried to, ad
journ at 7:30 PM.
i i i
MOBILE — Chairman,
Parker, 160; Recording
iary, James L. Carroll. 50409;
Reading Clerk, Harold J. Fis
Cher, 59.
Minutes of previous meetings
in aU Branches read and ap
pnoved. Port Agent stated that
shipping had b^n slow during
the past twoweek period. He
added that Feb. 15 had been set
as the tentative date for the
formal reopening of the Mobile
Hall. All major alterations have
been completed, he said, and
the next couple of weeks will
be devoted to the cleaning up
job. The Agent announced with
regret the death of Brother Ray
mond Foster, Steward, in the
Mobile Marine Hospital. Motion
carried that a floral wreath be
sent from Mobile Branch to
A&C Shipping from Jan, 18 To M. 1
PORT
Boston.
New York
Philadelphia.
Norfolk.
Savannah.
Tampa.
Mobile.
New Orleans.
Galveston ..
West Coast
GRAND TOTAL 345
REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
DECK ENG. STWOS. REG. DECK ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED
16 9 8 33 3 ^ 4 7
98 98 96 292 9?. 80 81 253.
31 27 30 88 14 12 9 35
(No Figures Rectived) 64 66 71 201
35 41 26 102 . — 2 1 3
(No Figures Received) (No Figures Received)
9 8 5 22 27 26 21 74
24 20 « 20 ' €4 34 25 29 88
67 62 82 211 85 77 87 249
36 31 17 84 29 20 34 83
29 30 24 83 14 21 16 51
345 326 308 979 362 333 349 1,044
D. L.
Secre
Brother Foster's funeral. Mo
tions carried to accept as read
SecretaryTreasurer's financial
ieport .and Headquarter^ report
to the membership. One minute
of silence in memory of Broth
ers lost at sea. Meeting adjourn
ed at 7:35 PM, with 316 mem
bers present.
% % %.
NEW ORLEANS—Chairman,
Frenchy Michelet, 21194; Record
ing Secretary, Johnny Johnston,
53; Reading Clerk, Buck Steph
ens, 76.
Minutes of previous New Or
leans meeting read and approv
ed. Charges were read and mo
tions carried advising accused
that they must stand trial in
either New York, Galveston or
New Orleans Branches. Minutes
of other Branch meetings were
accepted as read. Port Agent
stated that • affairs of port are
in good shape, with shipping
somewhat slow. He said that
shipping might be improved in
the coming two weeks on the
basis of the number of payoffs
scheduled thus far. He added
that the coffee urn had been
okayed and would be rigged up
shortly. The Port Agent intro
duced SecretaryTreasurer Paul
Hall, who discussed the state of
the Union, the Union's policy in
respect to issuance of books, Jhe
favorable jobtobook ratio of
the Seafarers, and the Welfare
WILFRED "RED" SHEA
Get in touch with your mother
immediately. There is serious
illness home.
% X %
J, J, OTCEEFE
Write to your mother, 230 W.
^Parker Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa.
XXX
STONEY L. WILSON
; Your mother wants to hear
you.
XXX "
SAMUEL B, CUNNINGHAM
Write to your mother.
XXX
JAMES J. GORMAN.
: i Get in touch with your moth
er. Shd is worried about you.
Mrs. Mary Gorman, 2147 33rd
St.. Astoria 5; L. I., N. Y.
XXX
^ EMIL M. PAPIO
® Please me athome, Se
ijpsaicus, N. J. — Union 64322.
C Bob Z, '
XXX
AFTON J. B^SH
C<mfact Amo^trong, .458
iPacific Stteet, Brooklyn, N. Y. v
SILAS LESLIE
Call E. C. Savage, CO 72913
or Floral Park 22689.
XXX.,
ORVAL BURK
Get in touch with C. M. or
Richard L. Solomon at 2409
Parkville Place, Nashville, Tenn.
It's very urgent.
' XXX
JACK DALTON
'Write to Clement, Hospidales,
c/o SIU Hall, 51 Beaver Street,
New York.
XXX
FREDERICK R. BEHNKE
Your gear is being held
aboard SS Julesberg by Purser
until arrival in New Yorjc sonie
time in February.
XXX
EDGAR MARQUARDT
Will those crewmembers who
witnessed accident of this Broth
er aboard the SS BxiU Run on
December 31, 1949, get in touch
with Paul C. Matthcviis, 11
Broadway, New York City, m
ordef to protect his interests. • " • •
'• • • ''• cil'i^'It
• . i
Han now being negotiated. He
also spoke on the developments
in the Cities Service ,beef. Bro
ther Hall's thorough ieport was
weU accepted and applauded by
the membership. Communica
tions from membei's seeking to
be excused from the meeting
wei'e iefsred to the Dispatcher.
Communication read from New
Orleans Branch Agent of the
MFOWW, thanking Seafarei*s
who responded as blood donors
to call from one of the MFOWW
members. Headquarters report to
the membership read and ap
prove^. Motion carried to con
cur in committee recommenda
tion that two Brothers be allow
ed to become reactive. Brother
C. F. Bankston took the Union
Oath of Obligation. Motion to
adjouin carried at 8:10 PM, with
745 members present.
XXX
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman.
W. McCuistion. 23138; Recording
Secretary, Jeff Morrison. 34213;
Readuig Clerk. P. M. R^jertson,
30148.
San Francisco's and other
Branch minutes of previous
meetings accepted as read. Port
Agent said that shipping had
been dead slow for past' two
weeks, but that coming two
week period looked better. He
recommended that Brothers in
port visit Seafarers' in the local
Marine Hospital as these visits
always give the patients a lift.
Committee was elected to hear
charges and to handle communi
cations from members seeking to
be excused from meeting. Broth
er Robert C. Stephens took the
Union Oath of Obligation. Mo
tion carried to refer* excuses to
Trial and Excuse Committee. Re
ports of the following committee
were read and accepted: Head
quarters Reinstatement Commit
tee, Headquarters Balloting Com
mittee, Trial and Excuse Com
mittee. Under Good and Welfare,
there was general discussion on
the prospects of shipping for this
port. The Agent statfd that it
was important that meni aboard
the intercoastal ships touching
the west coast ports do a first
class job. At 7:50 PM, . a motion
to adjourn carried, with 46 book
members ih attendance.
X X'X
NORFOLK—Chairman. .J. S.
White. 56: Recording Secretary,
jr. A. BuUock, 4747; Reading
Cler^ B.' P. Bees. 95.,
Minutes of previous meetings
of Norfolk nnd otlier Branches
accepted as read. Motion carried
to concur in Headquarters re
port to the membership. Agent
discussed shipping, the poor state
of which is partially the result
of the decline in coal production.
Communications from members,
wanting to be excused from
meeting were read, and motion
carried referring excuses to Dis
patcher for action. Secretary
IVeasurer's financial report was
read and approved. Reports of
following committees wer6 con
curred in: Trial Committee and
Headquarters Reinstatement
Committee., Under Good and
Welfare, there was. discussion on
the local shipping situation and
many ^ood points were stressed
by the speakers. Motion to ad
journ carried at 8 PM, with 102
members present.
X X.X
SAVANNAH^hsirman. Nol
lie Towns, 7193; Recording Sec
retary. J. F. Goude, 50999; Read
ing Clerk, E. M. Bryant, 25806.
Motion carried to accept pre
vious minutes of Savannah
Branch meeting. Secretary
Treasurer's financial report read
and accepted. Motion carried to
concur in Headquarters report to
the membership. Branch Agent
discussed shipping in Savannah.
Minutes of other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. Motion
carried to excuse J. Sellers fiom
meeting because he had to he
in New York on a legal matter.
Brother R. W. Thomas took the
Union Oath of Obligation. Dona
tion made to the March pf
Dimes. Under Good and Wel
fare, various subjects of import
ance to members were discussed,
including advisability of regis
tering and voting in city, county
and state elections. Men were
again reminded to patronize
Garden City cabs as they are.
the ordy ones employing Union
drivers. Discussion also took
place on starting blood hank in
Savannah for SIU members and
their families. Everyone thought
this was a good idea. Motion
carried to give Agent free hand
in getting, the bfoqd hank roll
ing. Meeting adjourned at 7:55
PM, with 108 members present.
XXX
BALTIMORE—Cheirman, Wil
liam Renlz. 26445; Recording
Secretary. A1 Stanrijury. 4683;
Reading Clerk. R. Dickey. 852.
Minutes of other Branch meet
ings read and acceptecl. Motion
carried to refer communications
from members seeking to he ex
cused from meeting to Dispatch
er. Communication read from
Local 74, American Federation
of Grain fillers, thanking SIU
for aid ih ' Eflresent beef. Head
quarters report to the member;;
ship, approved as read. Agent
reported that shipping is slow,
and that one beef on the Robin
Line Is stUl pending. He said
that A1 Stanshury had been
elected to the AFL Maryland
St^te and District of ^Columbia
brar>ch of Labor's .League for
Political Education, " and that
this committee will soon begin
working on a permanent basis.
Motion carried to accept Hospi
tal Conunittee's report. Mating
a^oumed at 7:50 PM, with ~
385 members present. , ^
.XXX '
PHILADELPHIA — Chairmaiw
A. S. CarduUo. 24599; Recording
Secretary, Ray Gates, 25128;
Reading Clerk. D. C. Hall. 43372.
Minutes of previous meetings
in aU Branches read and motions
carried to concur. . Port Agent
discussed shipping in Philadel. „
phia. Motion carried to alloy
Ed Callahan to change from
Group three to Group one. Mo
tion carried to concur in Secre '
taryTreasurer's financial report,
and Headquarters report to the
membership. Patrolman Dispat
cher's report accepted as read.
285 mem^rs were in attendance^
when meeting was adjourned.
XXX
NEW YORK — Chairman.
Charles Haymond. 98; Record
ing Secretary, Freddie Stewart.
4935; Reading Clerk. Robert
Matthews. 154.
Minutes^ of previous meetings
in all Branches read and ap
proved. Port Agent discussed
shipping, which is on the quiet
side. He cautioned men on
South African run not to miss
ship, us long detention sen ̂
tences are meted put by . the
governments there. Secretary
Treasurei's financial report ap
iwoved as read and motion car
ried to turn it over to auditing
committee for review. In Head
quarters report to the member
ship, Assistant SecretaryTrea
surer Matthews outlined the pro
gress being made on the Union's
welfare plan. All details have
not yet been worked out, fie
said, hut several more companies
lave joined the list of those
wlio have already agreed tP the
plan. He also discussed, the Cities ,
Service beef to date. Directof
of Organization Williams ela
borated on details of the Cities
Service beef and his report was
enthusiastic^y accepted. Ex
cuses were referred to"* the Dis
patcheci Charges were read and
referr^ to a Trial Committee.
Under Good and JiYelfare, meet
ing was tdtd about AFL Team
sters beef, which has the SlU's
hacking. All hands were ask^
to Help out.
^ ^ j
i|
The following men have money .
due them, as of last Noyemher.
Get in touch with Smith 8s
Johnson, '60 Beaver St., New,
York 4, New York.
SS EDWARD G. JANEWAY
.^'lick Bigney, Niel M. Grun v
dahl. Earl D. Johnson, Richai^ ^
P. McBride, Robert E.'Pritchar^
Lloyd Gk Schop, Louis M. Vo. '
liva, R. Fiore, Thomas Harris,''
Clyde A. Kent, Harold G*. Mc
Donald, Harold QUimhy, Ferdin
and Szohlik, Jason'Gihhs, Martin
J. Hitchcock, Daniel D. Lupton,
Erling Melle, Francisco M. Rej'^es, *'''
Roy Thompson. ^
SS JOHN W. CULLEN > j;:
. Hubert J; Andrews, Bobby R. j; ,
W. Guthrie, Edward A. UssCry, ; :
Jam^ R; » Bspdley, David : ̂
Mitchell, John Zohil, Eiwin R. ̂
Cooper, William C. Sipgletou;
SS JOHN GALLUP
Paul Gonzales, J. Mikaljunas, ; '
Otto J,; Stenmo. '
• J.' V •
/=
Ttiday< F«bniari^ ie. 1950 THE SEAFARERS IOC
lO($
,^a'oe_'^>U£!l
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
Earl A. Dunlop, $5.00; Norman R.
Petterson, $3.00; A. Coldsmit; $15.00;
V. A. MasciteUI, $5.00; K. Sterner.
$1.00; J. Scuba, $2.00; P. Heuler,
$2.00; H. Thomas. $5.00; R. H. Wat
kins. $10.00; J. 1. Fontendt. $1.00;
Nolan L. Flowers. $5.00; W. D. Fisher,
$10.00; R. F. Black. $3.00; J. J. Mc
Guire, $5.00.
S. Zavadcson, $1.00;^. J. Meyer
chak. $5.00; R. W. Miller. $5.00; S.
Caliaro, $1.00; P. Zappia, $25,00;
• p. N. Callo. $1.00; Woodward A.
Tobey. $5.00; Wm. J. Blakeley, $1.00;
B. B. Butler. $3.00.
SS EVELYN
J. Emerlck. $1.00; R. Miller, $3.00,
SS STEEL ADVOCATE
W. Stark, $2.00; E. Aubusson, $1.00;
A. Strachan, ̂ $ 1.00; P. Garofalo, $2.00;
R. Hernandez, $2.00; P. O'Rourke,
$1.00; L. Ryzod, $1.00; L. Dixon. $1.00;
P. Miller, $2.00; T. Snow, $1.00; E.
Madias, $1.00; M. Grant. $1.00; A.
BQnes, $1.00; V. Mahan, $1.00; W.
Panicls, $1.00; W. Budzinski, $l.pO;
A. Leiner, $3.00; T, Johnson, $1.00; R.
Jleale, $1.00; . T. Duncan. $5.00; M.
CunTniaii, $1.00; D. Tuinlln, $4.00.
SS CHICKASAW
• J.f) B. Zagorda, $1.00; R. B. Eader,
$1.00; E. Plnkowiki, $1.00; J. E. Utz,
$1.00; F. B. Youngblood, $2.00; V. P.
Williams, $2.00; A. Leonard, $1.00;
G. F. Turner. $1.00; J. Kumor, $1.00;
'i. W. Magarvy. $f.00; C. Szymanski.
$1.00; G. Krupick. $1.00; J. Fekete,
• $l.00j. R. M. Matson, $2.00; P. Cold.
^1.00.
SS HELEN
J. Wright, $1.00; A. Saavedra, $1.00;
J. PeGrazia, $1.00; J. C. Jones, $1.00;
R. W. Campbell, $1.00; W. Kovamees,
$liOb; J. Walkiewicz, $2.00.
, SS COLABEE
L. Nelson, $1.00; A. J. Lord. $1.00;
S. Dakota, $1.00: L. Seay. $1.00; J. C.
Carr, $1.00; A. C. Castelo. $1.00.
SS STEEL KING
A. Puracher, $2.00; D, C. Robinson.
$1.00; M. P. Davis, $2.00; Y. R. T>11
berg, $2.00; C. Tannehill, $3.00; O.
^cLran, $3.00.
SS EMELIA
E. Martinez, $1.00; Louis Aviles,
$1.00; Louis Torres, $1.00; T. "V.
Brown, $1.00; R. Kiminsky, $1.00;
E. Belkofsky, $25.00; J. R. Cleater,
$1.00; C. Rivera, $1.00; Robert Meeks,
• $1.00; C. Horvath. $1.00; J. J. Swy
Eert. $1.00; A. A. Mitchke, $1.00.
SS STEEL ROVER
• W. Hayes, $2.00; H. R. Hanssen,
$5.00; Chow Ching Miao. $5.00; C.
Adams. $3.00; P. Huss. $3.00; R.
Parville. $2.00; W. G. Heater, $3,00;
H. Taylor. $2.00; F. Logan, $2.00;
R. Munsell, $2.00; R. J. Rondbcrg.
$2,005 S. Santorio. $2.00; C. J. Palm
Majemik, $2.00; P. Rojo, $2.00: M.
Kopenhagen, $2.00; G. Street. $3.00;
J. C. Huber, $4.00; J. E. Naylor. $2.00:
S. F. Brunson, $4.00; J. MichaeL
$2.00; E. P. Naya, $2.00; T. Luciano.
$5.00; T. Blower. $5.00; G. F. Fflbert.
$2.00; N. Hughes. $2.00.
SS SLfZANNE
J. Bonefont, $1.00
SS FRANCIS
C. Ramos. $1.00.
SS SEATRAIN TEXAS
H. Nicholos, $1.00; E. C. Shaffer.
$1.00.
SS FRANCES
F. Townsend, $1.00.
SS FAIRLAND
I. C. Pongen, $2.50; J. C. Fernan
dez, $15.00; J. Giardina, $1.00; A. P.
Williams, $1.00; J. R. Pinoa, $2.00;
Thomas Foster. $2.00; L. G. Walberg.
$2.00; G. Miller, Jr.. $2.00; H. F.
Hammons, $1,00; U. S. Veach, * Jr..
$1.00; R. J. Cavanaugh, $1.00; 37 S..
Chayeo, $2.00.
SS EVISTAR
M. Laca. $2.00; A. Rivera. $2.00;
A. Perez, $2.00; W. Gale. $2.00; J.
Whalen. $1.00; R. Pitzer, $1.00; G,
Rourke. $1.00; W. Thorton, $1,00,
Cities Service Shews Bad Faith;
Unfair Dismissais Acceierated
{Continued from Page 1)
ly with the union overwhelm
ingly chosen by the seamen of
its tanker fleet in two National
Labor Relations Bofird elections."
The message also pointed to
the fact that because of the
Marine Division's obstinance, the
company stands to lose hundreds
of thousands of stockholders'
dollars as a result of more than
250 unfair labor practice charges
filed by its employees with the
NLRB.
"The Seafarers International
Union, as the legally certified
representative of the company's
seamen, has repeatedly attempt
ed to meet with Cities Service
to work out mutually acceptable
terms," the Union stated.
The message continued:
"The company, however, has
consistently refused to bargain
in good faith. The SIU prefers
to resolve the issues peaceably,
to negotiate a collective bar
gaining agreement across the
conference table. But it takes
tw6 to make a bargain.
"If the Marine Division would
accept its legal and moral obli
gations to its employees, to its
stockliolders and to the public,"
the Union statement said, "a
strike could be totally unneces
sary."
OS' HESPONSIBILITY
Should a strike develop, full
responsibility for it must be ac
cepted by the company, the
message concluded.
Immediately after publication
of the Union's statement, hun
dreds of inquiries and requests
for further information from
company stockholders began
pouring into SIU Headquarters
and Branch offices.
It was apparent that stock
holders were also besieging
the company officers for an ac
counting of Cities Service's xm
warranted stand in face of the
Union's strong case.
Coincident with the appear
Its Follow The Line — Or Eke, In Russia
This is another of a series of articles on the "Soviet System
of Mind Ck>ntroL" by one of America's outstanding educators.
Others will appear in subsequent issues.
By GEORGE S. COUNTS
The "ideological resolutions"
of the Central Committee of the
Party of Lenin and Stalin on the
literary arts, music, science, and
the press condemned everthing
"bourgeois" or Western and
glorified everything Russian or
Soviet without restraint. They
also attacked individueds with
utter savagery.
The character of this assault
on individuals is revealed in a
speech by Andrei Zhdanov, after
Stalin the most powerful mem
ber of the Politburo at the time,
on August 21, 1946. Representing
the absolute power of the Soviet
state, he interpreted the resolu
tion of 'the Central Committee
on literature at the First All
Union Congress of Soviet Writ
_ ^ ers and passed final judgment on
$5.oo"* B. KuMkow $1l.00; A. two popular writers who had
Directory Of SIU Halls
SIU, A&6 District
BALTIMORE 14 Nortii C«y St.
William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540
.BOSTON..., 273 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
• GALVESTON 30854—23rd S*
Keith AIsop, Agent Phone 28448
LAKE CHAR^, La.... 1418 Ryan St.
JL. S. Johnston, Agent
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner, Agent Phono 21754
NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW YORK ...Bl Beaver St.
Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 22784
NORFOLK... 127129 Bank St.
Ben Reee, Agent Phone 41083
PHILADELPHIA, 337 Market St.
S. C^rdullo, Agent Market 71635
SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St.
Jeff Morrieon, Agent Douglas 2B475
SAN JUAN, PR 282 Ponce de Leon
Sal Colls, Agent
SAVANNAH... 2 Abercorn St.
E. Bryanti Agent Phone 31728
SEATTLE .A 2700 Ist Ave.
Wm. McKay, Agent Seneca 4570
TAMPA 18091811 N. Franjflin St.
Ray White, Agent Phone 21323
WILMINGTON, CAlif., 227 V4 Avalon Blvd.
E. B. Tilley, Agent Terminal 42874
HEADQUARTERS. .51 Beaver St.; N.Y.C.
SECRETARYTREASURER
Paul Hall
DIRECTOR OF ORGANKATION
Lindsay WUiiaBis
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews Lloyd Gardner
Joseph Volpian
SUP.
HONOLULU ..16 Merchant St
, Phone 58777
PORTLAND.." Ill W. Bumside St.
Beacon 4336
RICHMOND, CaHf, ,257 5th St.
. Phone 2599
SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St.
Douglas 28363
SEATTLE ....\..86 Seneca St
Main 0290
WILMINGTON.. 440 Avalon Blvd.
Terminal 43131
Canadian District
MONTREAL... .....404 Le Moyne St
UNiversUy 2427
FORT WILUAM. .118'/4 Syndicate Aveu
Ontario Phone 33221
HALIFAX 128 H HoHit' St
Phone 38911
PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St
Phone 5591
TORONTO 111 A Jarvis St
Elgin 5710
VICTORIA, B.C 602 Boughton St
Empire 4531
VANCOUVER 565 Huston St
Pacific' 7024
HEADQUARTERS......BIS McGUI St.
Montreal Piateau 576
been critized unmercifully in the
resolution — Mikhail Zoshchenko
and Anna Akhmatova. He char
acterized Zoshchenko as follows:
"Zoshchenko, like the Philis
tine and vulgarian ^at he is,
chose as his permanent theme
digging into the basest and pet
tiest sides of life . . ̂ Only the
dregs of literature could produce
such 'works' ... In this tale
Zoshchenko turned his vulgar
and mean little soul inside out...
"He, spat on public opinion ...
The thoroughly putrid and cor
rupt sociopolitical and literary
physiognomy of Zoshchenko was
not formed in the most recent
period . . . Let him reform. But
he does not want to reform. Let
him get out of Soviet literature.
In Soviet literature there can be
no "blace for putrid, empty, vul
gar, and ideologically indifferent
works.
CARICATURE CHARGED
"He depicts .Soviet people as
ance of the advertisement in the
New York Times, 16 Cities Ser
vice seamen were filing charges
of imfair labor practices against
the company, after they were
fired two days earlier off the
Government Camp in Boston;
The men charged they weffe dis
missed because of vmion activit
ies.
On Feb. 3, seven members of
the~ Fort Hoskins crew were fired
in Baltimore. They also" filed
charges with the NLRB.
Even as yesterday's meeting
between company and Union rep
resentatives was in progress, CS
officials were firing nine pro
SlU crewmen of the Salem Mar
itime, as the ship tied up in,
Stapleton, Staten, Island.
' That the Union's appeal to the
stockholders, and a similar mes 7
saige sent" direct to members of ;
the Board of Directors, was re •
sponsible for yesterday's meet q
ing appears obvious in view of ^
the company's stand offishness if
up to that point. if
In registered letters sent to^^
the company on January 4 and f
on January 20, the SJU request J |
ed meetings with the CS officials..
Both appeals were ignored.
AT LAST MINUTE
A third Union appeal was for
i warded to the company on Jan.
with motifs of sadness, anguish,
death, mysticism and doom . . .
Not quite a nun and not quite a
fomicatrix, but rather a forni
catrix and a nun in whom for
nication is mingled with prayer."
SAVAGE ATTACK
The American reader should
know that the voice of Zhdanov
was not the voice of a publish
er, of a rich patron, of a literary
critic, or even of the head of a
Congressional Committee who
might be haled into court on a
charge of defrauding his gov
ernment. All who heard his
speech knew that the court of
last resort had spoken. As for
Z o s h c h enko and Akhmatova,
they knew that they would nev
er "rise again," unless they
grovelled before the Party, re
nounced their past and demon
strated by deed a genuine state
of contrition. No^fcOne dared to
loafers and monsters, as stupid I come to their defense at meet
"The subjectmatter of Akhma
tova is individualistic to the
core. Her poetry is poverty
stricken—the poetry of a frantic _
little lady, rushing back and; 3o7 asking for a" ronfereiice on
forth between the boudoir and'Feb. 6 at 11 AM. This request
the chapel. Basic with her are, also ignored, until a half
amorouserotic motifs, interlaced hour before the hour set by the
and crude people . . . Zoshchen
ko habitually mocks at Soviet
life, Soviet institutions, Soviet
people ... In his Adventures of
a Monkey he gives a deliberate
ly deformed and vulgar carica
ture of the life of the Soviet
people in order to insert into
the mouth of the monkey the
vile, poisonous, antiSoviet max
im that it is better to live in a
zoo" than at liberty, and that it
is easier to breathe in a cage
than among Soviet people . . .
How can the people of Leningrad
tolerate on the pages of their
journals such filth and obscen
ity? '
"With cynical frankness he
continues to remain a preacher
of ideological' indiffeience and
vulgarity, an unprincipled and
unscrupulous literary hooligan."
Zhdanov pays a "tribute" of
same order to Akhmatova:
^'Akhmatova is a repi'esenta
tive of this ideologyless reaction
ary swamp . . . She preaches
the theory of 'art for art's sake;'
of 'beauty fcr beauty's sake.'
ings, in the press, or over the
radio. They were forsaken by
former friends and acquaint
ances. They had become "en
emies of the peojfie." There are
countless Zoshchenkos and Akh
matovas in the Soviet Union to
day.
Check Sailing Time
Don't depend on guesses or
rumors. Before going ashore,
take a look at the sailing
board so youTl know when
your ship is scheduled to
"leave port. If the time is not
posted, ask the Delegates to
find out the correct depar
ture time from the Mate.
In any event, don't leave
the ship until you know
when you're due back
aboard. YouH save yourself
and your shipmates a lot of
trouble by checking with 4he
proper souzcesk
Union.
At that time a company rep
resentative notified the SIU by
telephone that Marine Division
officials would attend a meeting;
later get for yesterday.
At the outset of the session, it
was crystal clear that the com<*
pany was talking—but not bar
gaining in good faith. Marine
Division officials stated point
blank that they would not dis
cuss any contract which would
cover the nine ships voted in.
the second NLRB election and
for which the SIU had been cer
tified on Dec. 2 last.
The CS spokesmen admitted
they had no further legal re .
course to upset the certification
award,, but they refused to ac
cept it nevertheless.
RUMOR DISPELLED
Shortly after the meeting got ,
underway, the SIU representa
tives told the Marine Division
officials that in order to dispel
rumors spread by the company,
the Union wanted it clearly un
derstood that it was not asking
Cities Service to sign any s^ree
ment that wasn't in conformity
with the law.
As the conference drew to a
close, the SIU representatives
declared their willingness to
meet with the company at any
time, preferably the next day, to
continue their efforts toward ob^
taining a contract.
The company people said they
were too busy" with other com
mitments to meet before Feb.
16. The SIU men said they, toi),
had other business, but that in :
view of the importance of • the
current situation they would put
everything else aside in the in •
terest of resolving the issue
threugh collective bargaining
procedure.
The Union also demanded that
the company designate an auth
orized spokesman to meet md
bargain with the Union and who
would be accessible for discus;;
sion at all times.
Twelve:, TBE SEAFARERS laC FMdai^ io.
X.'
i'Ji' TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF CITIES SERWOE OIL COMPAIIY:
• • "Si
f
Cities Service Oil Company faces a paralyzing and costly strike which will affect all of its operationSy because its Marine Division refuses
to recognize' and bargain collectively with the union overwhelmingly chosen by the seamen of its tofiker fleet in two National Labor
Relations Board collective bargainipg elections. . i
In -addition. Cities Service Oil Company stands to lose hundreds of thousands of your dollars as a result of more than 230 unfair labor '
practice charges filed by its employees with the National Labor Relations Board. ' ' " %
fe'' WHAT ARE THE FACTS IN THE CASE? %ii
h I Three years ago the Seafarers International
jltJnion, AFL, filed a petition for an election among
ihe seamen of the Cities Service tanker fleet. The
v company fought the union, spending thousands of
your dollars in legal fees, in the organizing and
^supporting of a companydominated "union," and
iy-Jin costly staUing maneuvers. Despite this, the sea
,:men chose the Seafarers International Union to
^represent them in two NLRB elections, by major
'||ties of 83 percent in the first and 89 percent in
^the second.
As a result of these elections, the SlU'was offi
cially certified by the NLRB to represent the un
licensed personnel of the company's tanker fleet.
Cities Service's Marine Division has used every
device to evade its legal obligation to enter into
collective bargaining negotiations with the SIU.
It even refused to cooperate with the Government
in the conduct of the elections, ^
The Marine Division has sponsored and sup
ported a company "union" in order to stall the
legal machinery which would bring the seamen
representation of their own choosing. This com
pany "union," Cities Service Tankermen's Asso
ciation, was patterned after two other company
dominated organizations which were declared il
legal and ordered dissolved by the NLRB and
court orders, ^
Aboard its ships. Cities Service has employed
a spy. system to ferret out for dismissal the pro
union men in its fleet. On one ship alone, for ex
ample — the SS Government Camjji, on July* 22,
1949, at Linden, New Jersey — 28 men of a 32man
crew were fired for tmion activities. We believe
each one of these dismissals constitutes an unfair
labor practice, for which damages can be collected.
Thus far, more than 250 of these cases have been
filed against the company.
ft,K:
• '
WHAT DO THESE MASS FIRINGS MEAN TO YOU?
j
1
yl
When these unfair labor practice charges are
?proved. Cities Service will have to— in addition
to reinstating these men to their former jobs —
PAY EACH AND EVERY MAN WAGES AND
tSUBSISTENCE FOR EVERY UNEMPLOYED
'^DAY FROM THE TIME HE WAS FIRED TO THE
DAY HE RESUMES HIS JOB,
%r All of these cases are well documented and
supported by affidavits on file with the NLRB,
and will be proved. Since some of these cases will
have run for as long as three years before being
finally adjudicated, the total amount involved
may well run into hundreds of thousands of dol*
lars — of your money.
And that is not all. The longer the Marine
Division persists in its antiunion firings, the more
unfair labor practice charges will be filed against
the company — and proved.
Nor will company losses — your losses — And
there, jj
Should the union be forced to strike the com
pany because of the Marine Division's policy, all
segments of the Cities Service enipire ̂ iU btt
seriously affected, ^
WHO WILL LOSE IF A STRIKE IS CALLED?
You, the stockholders of Cities Service, will b®
the only losers. It will mean money out of your
pocket, all because of the Marine Division's anti
quated labor policy — a policy that is completely
at variance with the established pattern of other
divisions of Cities Service, which enjoy amicable
contractual relations with bona fide trade unions.
The Sea:fe'rers International Union, as the legally
idertified representative of the company's seamen,
has repeatedly attempted to meet with Cities
Service to work out mutually acceptable terms.
The company, however, has consistently refused
to bargain in good faith. The SIU prefers to resolve
the issues peaceably, to negotiate a collective bar
gaining agreement across the conference table.
But it takes two to make a bargain.
The Seafarers International Union has contracts
with 52 American steamship companies, operat
ing passenger ships, freight ships and oil tankers^
and is recognized in the maritime industry as a
reputable and responsible organization. t
If the Marine Division would accept its' leg^
and moral obligations to its employees, to its stock
holders and to the public, a strike would be totally
unnecessary. If a strike is called against the Marine
Division, the Cities Service Oil Com|>any must
accept full responsibility.
If you would like a copy of the complete, documented story of the SIU's case
against Cities Service—from its inception in October, 1946, to tlx present date—write
to any of these four of the major branches of the Seafarers International Union.
276 STATE STREET / 337 MARKET STREET
BOSTON 9, MASS, PHILADELPHIA, PA,
81 BEAVER STREET
NEW YORK 4, N,Y,
1419 RYAN STREET
L'AKE CHARLES, LA,
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, AFL
• Tiiumc UB lUF DisnticT /; ' laJsllS
fyB\ l/^](5rhis ad api/eared originally in the New York "Times" on February 2, and the New York ^raW/Tribune" on 1^br^
BUT COMPAHY STALL COHTIHUES
Official Organ, AtlanHc & Gulf DUtrUt, Seafarers International Union of NA
VOL. XII NEW YORK, N. Y.. FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 19S0 No. 3
AFL Pkdges Aid
To Bmid World
Labor SolhlaritY
cutive
double
MIAMI, Fla.—The AFL exe
council , pledged to "re
cur efforts" to build
world laborsolidarity and took
steps to make the AFL stronger
in the fight for a more abun
dant life here at home.
As. the council neared adjourn
ment of its midwinter meeting,
the members:
1. Voted an invitation to be
issued in 60 days to the Interna
tional Association of Machinists
to reaffiliate its 600,000 members
with the AFL,
2. Urged aid to help India
overcome its immediate food dif
ficulties, develop public educa
tion and improve public health.
3. Gave full backing to the
new International Confederation
of Free Trades Unions formed in
London last December.
; 4. Opposed U. S. recognition
for Franco Spain and Commun
ist China.
5. Urged the U. S. Senate to
ratify the United Nations con
vention ̂ outlawing genocide —
mass ki^g of national, racial
— and religious groups.
. 6. Demanded immediate con
gressiorial action to repeal ex
LATEST VICTIMS OF CITIES SERVICE'S UNFAIR LABOR PRACTICES
Mass dismissals of Cities Service seamen suspected of Union activity continue at an ap
palling rate. Men in photo above got the axe on the SS Government Camp on Jan. 30. They
were joined in filing unfair labor practice charges against the company by seven crewmen
bounced off the' Fort Hosldns on Feb. 3, and nine proSIU seamen fired from the SS Salem Mar
itime on Feb. %. The Salem Maritime victims were discharged as company talked—^but refused
to bargain—^with Union representatives.
NEW YORK, Feb. 9—Less than 72 hours after;
the SIU presented its case against the Cities Serv
ice Oil Company in full page newspaper advertise
ments addressed to company stockholders, the
company hurriedly agreed to a meeting with Union;
representatives. The session was held yesterday.
Despite the daylong talks, there was no change
in the company's attitude, and the meeting ended
with Marine Division officials still refusing to
enter collective bargaining negotiations for a con
tract covering all 16 tankers of the CS fleet, for
: 1 which the SIU has been certi
fied by the National Labor Rda'
tions Board.
The Union representatives
urged the comi>any to continue
the meetings on a daily basis^
saying they were ready to ne
gotiate at any hour of the day
or night, Simdays included, but
the CS spokesmen stated the
earliest date for the next con
ference would have to be Feb.
16. The SIU representatives Kud
they would be on hand.
Prospects for genuine bargain
ing appear very dim on the
basis of yesterday's sessions, and
the SIU is continuing with its
strike preparations.
The advertisements which
touched off the company's de
sire to meet yesterday, appeared
in the New York Times on Feb
ruary 2 and in the New York
HeraldTribune the following
day. (The ad is reprinted on
page 12 of this issue.)
In the advertisements, the
SIU told the CS stockholders that
the company "faces a paralyzing
and costly strike which will af
fect all its operations, because
its" Marine Division refuses to
recognize and bargain coUectiye
(Contimied on Page 11)
Panamanian Ships Found Far Beiow Standards
cise taxes on transportation,
fneater tickets and other con
sumer items.
'HEALTH PLAN INFO
7. Agreed to comply with a
request of Federal Security Ad
ministrator Oscar Ewing to dis
tribute among AFL members
factual information on what the
health insurance program sup
ported by the AFL provides.
Heard Assistant Secretary
of State Willard L. Thorpe ex
plain the scope and effects of
the International Trade agree
ment entered into at Havana
last year.
The council and its affiliated
departments disposed of a big
backlog of other important busi
.ness during the sessions here.
In reaffirming the AFL's dom
inant position in international
affairs, the council made it plain
that the 8,000,000 membeivs of
the AFL expect the United
States government to stand firm
in its opposition to comniimism
and fascism wherever it is mani
fested throughout the wdrld.
The council elaborated its pre
vious approval of President Tru
fnan's point 4 program to aid un
derdeveloped areas. It empha
sized the need for labor .repre
sentation in the formulation of
plans for technical aid to these
underdeveloped nations.
Charges made by the Inter
national Transportworkers Fed
Crew accommodations.
Hours of work.
eration, that Panama'^flag ships
operate under conditions far be
low internationally ..^ccepted
standards, have been largely
substantiated by an investigating
committee of the International
Labor Organization, according to
an ITF report issued this week.
The ITF, with which the Sea
farers International Union is af
filiated, has been threatening a
worldwide boycott of Pana
manian vessels, unless steps are
taken to raise standards to an
acceptable level.
The committee's report was
said to have been presented to
the ILO's governing body at a
conference in Mysore, India, and
was based on firsthand observa
tions of conditions aboard 30
Panamanian ships visited in
ports in the United Kingdom,
Belgium, France, Italy, Egypt
and the United ̂ States.
NO. REGULATIONS
According to the ITF, the
ILO committee found that no
regulations exist in Panamanian
sea laws to give effect to the
Safety of Life at Sea Conven
tion, held, last year, and the
Leadline Convention.
Specifically the report is said
to charge that there are no
regulations to cover:
Manning requirements.
'Overtime at sea.
Food and catering on board
ship.
Certification of ship's cooks.
Inspection of shipboard work
ing conditions.
Nor" are there any remedies
enabling seamen on Panamanian
ships to recover back wages, the
report points out. No provision
exists for the maintenance of
seamen while they are being
repatriated. .
"OlftY PARTIALLY MET"
It was also reported that the
coiiimittee found that Panama's
legislation "only partially met
the requirements of the Sea
men's Articles of Agreement
Convention and of the Ship
owners Liability Convention."
The ILO committee is reported
as finding validity in the ITF
charge that under the Panaman
ian" flag, shipowners can evade
established safety and labor
standards. What standards do
exist aboard Panamaflag ves
sels were said to be very low.
During a study of one lis^
containing 644 Panamanianflag
ships, the committee could trace
Only 423 of them through rec
ognized classification systems.
Of the Panama shil>s not mea
suring up to stand^s set by
Lloyd's Register of London, the
committee found that (1) either
the equipment aboard was defl
cieiii,' \A) iiTe'"vessei • was"'iatS"
removed from the register for
developing defects, (3) the ship
had been removed from the list
ing in default of survey, or for
nonpayment of fees.
The committee actually in
spected 30 ships of various types.
Of these, "20 were built between
1881 and 1919, four between the
two World Wars and six after
1943.
In the report, the ILO com
mittee is said to have pointed
out that the Panamanian con
sular service lacked the size and
experience to efficiently enforce
existing legislation in regard to
shipping. _
The vast majority of Pana
manian ships do not go to Pana
ma for registration, nor do they
normally trade with that coim
try.
NO INSPECTIONS
As a result, there is no op
portunity for Panama officials
to make inspections aboard the
ships in their home ports.
Moreover, most, if not all own
ers of Panamanian ships, live
outside that country.. and are
represented by an agent in
Panama. Thus it is difficult to
bring pr^ure to bear on an
owner who failed to comply
According to^s ITF, the c<Hn«*
mittee urged Panama to enlarge
its consular ̂ laff. Because mas
ters and crews frequently are
ignorant of the provisions of the
country's laws, it was recom
mended that copies of regula
tions be given to shipowners
and masters in their own lang
uages and placed aboard all
ships.
with those regulations in exisfc>''
ence.
US Buneiwds Own, ;
Woild's Largest Fleet |
If anyone is wondering about
"what happened to American
shipping," nfiaybe the following
figures will prove interesting.
According to a recent survei?; j
America owns more than one f
fourth of the 12,765 merchant t|
ships in the world—3,514 pri j
vately and governmentowned <
vessels totalling 37,417,100 dead l
weight tons. But—and this is the
rub 7 2,190 governmentowned ̂J
and 140 privatelyowned ahipsr,^^
or twothirds of the total, arg in '
the boneyard.
And of the present fleet of
privatelyowned ships, only 44
are passengercargo ships, and
four of these are*laid up.
Class dismissed! • '"i
atei'
Page 1^0 tkE iEAfARkks-.\kok ' Friiiar/Febniary !&•
,pb' fe'
SEAFARERS EOG
Published Every Other Week by the
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Afiiliated with the American Federation of Labor
At 51 Beaver CTeet, New York 4, N. Y.
HAnover 22784
Reentered as second class matter August 2, 1949, at the Post
Office in New York, N.Y,, under the Act of August 24, 1942.
267
I DON'T KNOW
MUCH ABOOT
POLITICS
BUT I KNOW ,
WHAT I LIKE/
I?'''"
Slave Labor Exponents
There is. an embarrassing similarity between the views
of two sometimes not so widely separated schools of
thought when it comes to appraising labor.
On the one hand, you have plain old Uncle Joe
Stalin, overseer of the slavelabor camp known as the
Soviet Union. Joe has already succeeded in reducing the
people in his land to the position of serfs, from which
they thought they were about to spring no^ too long ago.
Stalin's posters scream that it's *'all for the Fatherland.
And on the right hand, you have that element of
Americatu businessmen, who double as supercharged pa
triots. These are the birds who never give up the dream
that one day they may see the American working men
and women knocked down to the level of Stalin's un
fortunate masses. , '
Their slogans may differ, but their objectives don't.
I*:, And both have to be watched with equal caution.
A case in point is an editorial which appeared recently
in the Washington TimesHerald, and which was called
to our attention by a headsup retired Seafarer named
Edward McCormick.
For the editorial in question, the TimesHerald don
ned its wellworn patriotic masquerade and started off
with a lament over the manner in which taxpayers' money
is spent. ,
Without further ado, it launched into an attack on
l^hipping subsidies, "explaining" how they would not be
' necessary if certain TimesHerald wisdoms were accepted^
And the TimesHerald costcutting genius went to
work this way:
All you have to do to get rid of shipping and ship
building subsidies is to put the two on a paying basis. And
that brilliant deduction, says the editorial, can be realized
by cutting the cost of labor.
"The maritime unions, with the support of the fed
cral government," continues the freeenterpriyng Times
I Herald,. "have "forced operators to employ three shifts
j'; working eight ho
^ There's nothing to do aboard ship, says TH, which
i \ then suggests that the "Panamanian navy" serve as a model
; for US ships. Then follows some stuff about how .in Japan
and elsewhere you can build ships cheaper than in the US.
? That ought to give you the idea, if you haven't al
f ' ready suspected it, that the TimesHerald would like to
put American workers on a daily ̂ iet of rice.
• The plain ugly fact is that the TimesHerald, like
6ther US business enterprises which subscribe to its vicious
theories, is against subsidies that do not favor it alone.
We don't recall the TimesHerald denouncing the US
government for allowing it a subsidy in the form of
special mailing rates. As a matter of fact, it is presently
fighting, amid screams of anguish, a bill which would
increase these postal rates.
^ Bear in mind that the TimesHerald has always been
a vociferous opponent of organized labor and is absolutely
opposejd to unions.
Don't forget, either, that the TimesHerald is
inst advanced social security legislation. And the
esHerald is continually ranting about reducing taxes
for the millionaires and the giant corporations, but not
^for the little'guys who sweat for their wages.
V Uncle Joe Stalin may not. be "particularly interested,
^ but there are big guys on this side of the world who think
p exactly, as Jie does when it comes to making serfs out
llpf free working men.^^;
Meff Now h no Marme Hospitok
"These are the Union Brothers currently la the marine hospitals,
as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers find time hanging
heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by
writing them. ~
STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL
E. J. SPROCH
HENRY WATSON
JOHN SCOTT
M. J. LUCAS
THEADORE ROZUM
CIRNACO ESOLAN
H. E. LOGE
H. J.'OUT
L. D. DIOUDONNE
R. GARCIA
J. P. FARRELL
F. D. WALL
R. GRALICKI
CARLOS MATT
T. B. PATTON
MICHAEL GOTTSCHALK
K. JENSEN
J. A. PILUTIS
E. OJECA
VINCENT RODRIQUEZ
X % %
NEPONSIT HOSPITAL
WILLIAM PADGETT
MATTHEW BRUNO
JOSE DE JESUS
J. M. LANCASTER
R. K LUFLIN
ESTEBAN P. LOPEZ
CHARLES L. MOATS
PEDRO G. ORTIZ
R. REDDEST
R. A. RATCLIFF
THOMAS WADSWORTH
R. A. BLAKE
L. BALLESmtO
JOHN T. EDWARDS
E. FBRRRR
I. H. FRENCH
JOSEPH SPAULDING
JOSEPH SILLAK
LUIS TORRES
L. TULL
FRED ZESIGER
XXX
MOBILE HOSPITAL
T. LITTLE
J. BERRIER ,
L. HOWARD
TIM BURKE
XXX.'
BOSTON HOSPITAL
FRANK ALASAVICH
F. BEN GORDY
XXX
BALTIMORE HOSPITAL
L, YARBOROUGH
E. HARRISON
A. MASTERS
S. ZAVODESON '
E. K. BRYAN - ̂ '
J. G. HARRIS
J. DAVIS
P. E. DARROUGH
R. C. MELOY
A. C. BELT
. J. MARTINEZ; • ;
G. BELL
H. CONNORS
W. D. WARMACK
A. TANSKI
J. MORRISON
G. CARROLL
I. F: WILLOUGHBY
L. B. MORGAN
J. SHEA
T. MORIARITY
F. KORVATIN
A. MORALES
L. WILLIAMS
G. REGISTER
S. BOZKE
S. BUZALEWSKI
X ^ I*
NEW ORLEANS
• A. DEFERMO
GEORGE NOLES
J. J. O'NEILL
E. J. NAVARRE
J. DENNIS
F. LANDRY
H. F. LAGAN
L. LANG
L. WILLIS
C. CHESNA
A. PAREK
R. BARKER
L. BEAUDY
C. EZELL
P. ROBERTS
A. MAUITRAY
N. I. WEST
P. L. RAY
J. J. CERDA
C. R. BRACE
C. F. PRICE
O. HOWELL
P. GAVILLO
C. LYONS
H. D. MCKAY
L. TICKLE
H. WILLETT
R. J. EGAN
R. I. VARN
• c. NEUMAIER
W. W. LAMB
W. HAZELGROVE.
Vir. HAYES
W. WALKER
C. J. PALMQUIST
• nm I
HOSPITAL
.... 17:.!' • • • r.'"; • • • '
:"v;,
mmmmm
m
.mm
Page Thra*
In Bad Slump
By JOHN B9NKER
An announcement by the F.
P.' Grier Company of Norfolk
that it hopes to start coastwise
steamship service between the
Hampton Rbards area and Bos
ton and Providence emphasizes
the present sad state of our do
mestic steamship services, and
the^ hundreds of jobs that have
been lost to seamen because of
the postwar slump in coastal
and intercoastal shipping.
Many of the men now sitting
around union halls up and down'
the coast—waiting for' a chance
to ship out—would soon find em^
ployment if some means were
found of reviving' the coastal
lines.
CITES PLANS
Frank P. Grier, head" of the
new line mentioned above, says
that his company plans to pro
vide direct service from Hamp
ton Roads to Ne^ York, and
from Hampton Roads to Boston
and Providence.
There has been no coastwise
steamship service out of Nor
folk since before the war.: New
York in preWar years saw many
coastwise fines branching out
from its harbor to touch, seaboard
points all over the nation, from
Portland, Maine, to Portland,
Oregon. Not so today.
. The same is true of Boston,
which in 1939 had seven coast
Wise steamship lines, with but
one in operation today.
Although there are now more
than 1,200 privatelyowned
freighters under the American
flag, the number of privately
owned coastwise and intercoastal
ships is almost negligible.
Before the war they comprised
the greater part of our merchant
marine, numbering 400 vessels of
some 2,700,000 deadweight tons.
.Those that are now operating in
t^oastal are almost entirely oh
charter from the US Maritime
Commission and are scheduled
for return to the government
next. summer.
Our prewar intercoastal fleet
;alone comprised 150 ships of
more than 1,400,000 d.w.t. Less
tium half this number are run
ning between the ..east and west
coasts • today.
UNPROFITABLE
Even though our domestic
shipping is protected by law from
foreign competition, and the
American flag has a monopoly
in these trades, the domestic
lines claim to have lost money
ateadily during the ten years or
flo before World War I. And this
despite the fact they obtained
their ships, for the most part,
from the World'War I fleet of
surplus freighters on very good
terms from the old US Shipping
Board.'
High costs of handling freight,
plus intense competition from,
trucks, have been given as coii
tributing to, the imhappy finan
cial'""position of the domestic
lines before the war.
Now they have even greater
problems to face in trying to
rewve prewar services.
"High cargo costs" haye gone
even higher. The ships they op
erated before the war have been
sunk, been scrapped or consign
ed .to other uses.
The postwar demands for mov
ing freight call for greater
speeds, anyway, and most of the
prewar ships on the intercoastal
and coastwi^ runs wou3d now
be too slow for the business.
Yet the cost of building ships
expressly fitted for modern needs
is far l^ond their capacity to
pay for tbenselves under pres
ent conditions.
According to a study made by
the. United States Maritime Com
mission, the costs of handling
cargo runas Idgh nowadays as
66 percent of the freight rate
that the domestic lines receive
for their services.
Ibis leaves from 40 to 50 per
cent to pay crews, terminal
charges, vessd maintenance, de
preciation <which the law stipu
lates must be taken care of over
a certain period of time), ad
ministrative expenses, etc.
Small wonder, then, that the
domestic steamship busine§s
hasn't attracted many independ
ent investors!
Some hope " of overcoming
these difficulties is seen if the
Interstate Coihmerce Commis
sion, which now allows railroads
to meet water competition by
charging rates less than the
steamship lines can quote, will
reverse its position in favor of
ship operators.
RATES ALONE NOT ENOUGH
Even with this advantage,
however, it is felt that radical
changes in cargo handling must
come about to make the domes
tic steamship business a paying
proposition.
Some innovations have already
been suggested and are in pro
cess of being carried out. H. F.
Alexander, wellknown west
coast shipping executive who op
erated the "H. F. Alexander" and
other famous ships in prewar
years, has been granted $10,
000,000 by the Maritime. Com
mission to build' a fleet of pas
sengertrailer* ships which will
carry, highway trailer trucks as
a means of cutting cargo costs.
The tot two of these, ships
will soon be built for operation
between Los Ahgeles and San
Francisco. A future article in the
LOG wUl teU about these ves
sels in detail.
Another interesting proposi
tion toward reviving the coast
wise lines'has come from a ship
ping man by the name of W.
H. Rutland in Washington, D.C.
His idea is to have the Mari
time Commission sell 21 C4
type vessels for eonversion into
a specialize!^ kind of freighter
for carrying truck contrdners.
These contaiiiers, of.two stan
dardized sizes, 50 and 30 feet
in length, would be loaded at
the shipper's store, factory or
warehouse and be dispatched
right to the pier, where it would
be lifted from the truck and
stowed aboard the ship. ,
PROCESS RisVERSED '
The process would be reversed
at the other end of the line and
the commodities would be de
livered b^ truck without the'ex
pensive l procedure of loading
and unloading by winches, slings
and hand labor.
Ml*. Rutland would like 'the
Maritime Commission to aell its
C4s for $500,000, plusthe cost
of ..conversion and the . cost of
building enough ntandardized
containers to equip a fleet of
21 ^hips.
Operators ^'ould then use the
ships to revive such prewar do^
mestic steamship services as the
old New Bedford* Line, which
ran between New York and N.B.
for more than 50 . ears; the Old
Dominion Line, which served
rJ'ew York and Norfolk for more
than half a century;' the Mor
gan Line, which operated be
tween Boston and Houston; and
the Merchants and Miners Line,
which connected Boston, Balti
more, Norfolk and other sea
board points for 05 years. This
was one of the rnany domestic
lines whiclf w'ent out of business
after the war.
FINISHED WITH ENGINES
Other coastal lines which have
gone out of business during the
past 20 years, after as much as
85 years of operation, are the
ClydeMallory Lines, Savannah
Line, Southerfi Steamship Com
pany, Los Angeles Line (soon
to be revived by Mr. Alexander);
and the Bridgeport, Norwalk,
New Londoti, Norwich and Co
lonial Lines.
Since 1817, the coastwise and
intercoastal, trades have been
restricted to American ships, and
for over a century many of our
ports have handled rriore domes
tic than overreas cargoes, with
not a few of our seaboard cities
owning their ver.y existence , and
prosperity ̂ to the acqpssibility of
raw materials ^nd markets
through domestic water trans
port.
This is especially true of New
England cities, and the domin
ance which Massachusetts and
Rhode Island enjoyed for so long
in textile manufacturing came
about because mills could be
erected at any number of ports
like FaU' River, Providence and
New; Bedford, where cotton and
wool could be cheaply imported
and the finished pn^ucts sent
off to coastal points all over the
United States..
A report by the United States
Maritime Cfommission on our do
mestic shipping situation points
out the fact that there were too
many competing lines engaged
in the business before the war,
trying jo share a decreasing
amount of cargo, cargo which
was going more and more to
trucks, trains and even planes.
It is doubtful, therefor, if
there will ever again be as many
lines or as many ships operating
in the domestic trades as there
were in the 1930s.
HEAVIER HAULS
It is pertinent to remember
that ships now being used on
the domestic runs are Victories,
Liberties and C4s, carrying
2,000 tons, or more cargo than
their predecessors did on the
same runs before the war.
They are also from three to
six knots faster. This greater
speed and carrying "capacity y
means that a fewer number of
ships and fewer seamen can do
the job of a larger fleet in form
er years.
Our domestic coastwise lines
alone, according to the Maritime
Comniission,^ handed 36,300,000
tons of cargo in 1939.
After the war, the Interstate
Cotnmerce Commission granted
the old War Shipping Adminis
tration a certificate to engage in
coastwise and intercoastal ship
ping until Sept! 30, 1946. After
this time, it was hoped, private
operators could get back in bus
iness on their own.
CHARTER FIELD
How o'verly optimistic this was
is gauged by the fact^ that al
most all of the ships in the in
tercoastal trade are now under
charter from the government^
with privatelyowned vessels no
more than you can count on the
fingers of both hands.
"Th^ importance of the coast
wise trade to the national^econ
omy and to national defense,"
said the Maritime Commission,
"dictates its preservation. The
achievement of this objective
will require the cooperation of
the Intei*state Commerce Corh
mission, the Maritime Commis
sion, the carriers involved, the
labor unions and shippers."
TWU'CIO EXPRESSES 'SINCERE THANKS' FOR AFL AID
• '."i
A
M
.1
.ri •
Iransport ̂ K^qrkers Union of y\merica
Affiliated, with the Congresi of Industrial Organizations
MICHAEL J. QUILL
UMrullMal PmM«l
CUSTAV FABER
ifU'L Vke Prendents
UCttAHD D0WNC8
WUUAU CROCAN
MATTHEW CUINAN
lUUUS W. BARVCLL
AKDRETP 2.
MARK JCAVANACK
lOHN LOPES
FRANK OXONNOR ^
CLUS VAN RITER
ia^L Executive Board
lOUN CABILL
TIMOTHY CRONIN
JAMES CONNELL
LOUia DWYER
CHESTER EBERSON
RICHARD FISHER
MICBAEL FITZCIBBON
ROBERT FRAHKLUf
DANIEL CILUARnN
BUSTER GIORDANO
ROBERT A. HAYES
JOHN HAMILTON
SAMUEL HfiCHT
JAMES aORST
PATRICK HYNES
WILLIAM UNDNER
PATRICK MAHEDT
DAVID RiECK
PATRICK ROaOCSON
PRANK SUEEBAN
JOHN J. SHERRT
FRED SULLIVAN
JOHN R. TIPTON
WILLIAM WRIGHT
153 WEST 64TH STREET
NEW YORK 23, N. Y.
Tcu TRAFALCAB 43200
,• ^
Jamary A, 1950
Mr. .Bay Vhlta, Praaldant
Central Tradaa and Labor Asse&bly of Ta^)a
Ta^ia, Florida
Oaar Freaident Whitai
I hava baaa adrisad CIO Regional Diraetor Cfaarles Gowl as
well aa our International Bepreeentatlvae Jack Ryan amd Villian
' Orogan of the aplendid support extended to our striking Local 27A
by the Xxscntive Board of the Central Trades luid Labor Assanbly
of Tai^.
On bataalf of the International Offloers of our Union, I want to
soprass to yon, anif your fallow Board Hembers our sinoera thanks
for your very fine cooperation and public expression in our be
iMlf •
Thl* instanea of labor solidarity between the AFL and CIO ia nost
baax^ning, and synboUe of the neeting of ninda by the AFL and
CIO leader* at the r*o*iit world trade union nesting in London*
Again pur vary gratafhl thanks to you. Ton nay be assured that
should the occasion arls* idian wa can be helpful to you,^ doing so
will give us great plaasur*.
Fraternally yenrs.
' •
vrl/r ^ •
CFtdr
"twulOOelo
Qttstar Fiaber
Intarnatienal SecrataryJ'reaBurar
This letter to'the Tampa Central Trades and Labor Assembly, from the CIO Transport
Workers Uidon, is visual proof of the increasing friendliness between the two labor federa
tions. Although fhere have beetf? instiances of interorganizational solidarily before — the Sea
farers have an oufstapding record in this—only recently has this mutual aid lieen accelerated. •
The amiable relations in London, when the AFL and CIO help^ set up the anticommie Inter
• national ol free Trade Unions, did much to foster this spirit, and AFL unionists
are talking of achieving oirganic unity between both organizations* in the near future. Toward
this end, the AFL General CoundL meeting this week in Miami Beach, Florida, voted to author
ize its top officials to approach the CIO on this matter.
!
f • =
Pag* Four TBB SEAFA]kBRS LOB Friday. Fabniary 10. lO&O
w
m..
Wp: te
Tug strike Ends;
PIckUp Looms
fdr Baltimore
By WILLIAM (Curly) RENTZ
BALTIMORE—The Ore Line
' ships are helping to keep things
moving in this port. Shipping
has been slow here, but Ore
ships have been coming in
{iretty steadily, at the rate of
about one every other day.
The tug strike in this port has
been settled, and we're glad to
r^)ort that shipping is resum
ing normal proportions. The
tugmen, members of the Inter
national Longshoremen's Asso
ciation, with whom we are affi
liated through the AFL Mari
time Trades Department, are a
mighty important factor in the
docking of vessels, as the strike
proved.
Skippers were, cussing as they,
had to Iwing their ships in with
out tugs, and vessels and docks
took a terrific banging in the
process.
MILL STRIKE
Other activity on the Balti
more labor front centers around
the strike of the mill workers.
The SIU is helping these people
in every way possible, and is
attempting to line up the sup
port of other unions in this area.
This strike has been in pro
gress for about three" months,
DUTCH TRADE UNION OFFICIALS VISIT SIU
During recent tour of New York waterfront, representatives <»f Holland's major unions stop
ped off at SIU Headquarters in New York to observe Union Hiring Hall and rotary system of
shipping. From left ' to right: H. Kaper, Secretary of the Building Trades Union, Amsterdam:
Paul Gonsorchik, SIU Dispatcher; R. Laan, President of the Transport Workers Unioh. Rotter
dam. and J. veui Eibergen. Chairman of the Christian Building Trades Union. Utrecht. Visi
tors were here under auspices of ECA.
New York No Exroptmn In Shipping Slump
By JOE ALGINA
ri.
4 '
;; ^
l|v'"
with nothing happening. How
ever, it is hoped that the com
pany will take a different'view
point, now that strike activity
is being stepped up.
. The March of Dimes drive for
the fight on infantile paralysis
, is xmder way, and this is one
outfit that deserves the support
of everybody. The National
Foundation for Infantile Paraly
sis has done a wonderful job in
helping out children and adults
hit by the disease.
FULL HELP
Any worker's family hit by
polio can get help in the form
of medical treatment, transpor
tation, special braces and any
other kind of gear needed by
polio victims by merely apply
ing to the local chapter of the
Foimdation.
If we all join the March of
Dimes and give our share, there's
a good chance that the fight on
polio wiU be successfuL
The State of shipping in Bal
timore and other ports ought
to show those in our govern
ment the inadvisability of giv
ing our ships away to foreign
maritime nations.
Foreign ships are becoming
more and more active, and Am
erican ships are rusting in the
boneyards and seamen are sit
ting on the beach.
. And, despite this, the govern
ment maritime schools are still
turning out thousands of guys,
who are only complicating the
already tough employment sit'
uation for experienced seanjen.
It's about time someone took a
clear look at things r and did
sometifiing about it
NEW YORK —This port was
no exception to what seems to
have been the rule for shipping
in the past two weeks. All has
been rather quiet.
Not that the Patrolmen were
n't kept busy, however. For pay
offs we had the Seatrains New
Jersey, New York, Texas, Ha
vana; the Isthmian ships St.
Augustine Victory, Steel Maker
and Steel Rover; the Waterman
scows Choctaw, Fairland anc
Azalea City, and the BuU Line
vessels Dorothy, Kathryn, Eliza
beth, Puerto Rico, Suzanne, and
Inez.
Boston Shipping
is On Duli
By BEN LAWSON
BOSTON—Intransit ships con
stituted the principal activity for
this port during the past two
weeks. Otherwise, shipping was
dull.
The callers were theGreeley
Victory, Waterman; Santa Clara
Victory, Steel Rover, and Steel
Maker, Isthmian; Canton Vic
tory, Waterman, and the Doro
thy, Bull. The SUPcontracted
tanker, SS Cache, was also here
and took a few replacements.
There were" some beefs on the
Steel Rover and the Santa Clara
Victory. They will be settled
at the payoff port.
ON THE BEACH
Freddie Johnson and Don
Hodge are among the Seafarers
on the beach in Beantown this
week. In the Boston Marine
Hospital are SIU members Frank
Alasavich and F. Ben Gordy.
It was with deep"^ regret that
we learned of the passing of
Shipping Commissioner Leo
Quinn this week. We feel that
seamen have lost a good friend.
We've had some mighty
strange weather up this way ̂
far this winter. The other day
we got an advance taste* of
summer,, with the temperatme
bouncing up to 71 degrees. Win
ter was back the next day
when a foot of snow covered
tiie ground. ' . "
In addition, we had the Ames
\'ictory. Victory Carriers; the
T inity, Carras; The Cabins and
I'le Bull Run, Ma^hiasen.
The Dorothy and the Inez
went into layup pending settler
ment of the sugar workers'
;drike in the Islands. They join
the Ann Marie. These vessels
will be reactivated upon conclu
sion of the beef.
On the signon side, were the
following ships: Frances, Bull;
Marquette Victory, Steel Flyer
and Steel King, Isthmian, and
the Robin Mowbray. All the Bull
Line ships signed on again, as
did the Seatra;ns, the Bull Run,
Trinity and The Cabins.
There were very few beefs on
these ships and all were settjed
okay.
We'd like to issue an import
ant reminder to men sailing the
Robin Line ships, especially.
Some of the crewmembers of
these vessels have very unwisely
missed ships on the African run
and have gotten "lost" in the
jungles.
JUGGED
Not only are these fellows
subject to the fine imposed for
missing ship, ' but the. gqvem
ment down in South Africa has
been making it mighty tough for
them.
Men have been tossed into the
clink fbr as long as four months.
Ater being held for that length
of time they've been put aboard
the first passenger ship arriving
in port bound for the States.
And the rub is that the fare for
this passage has to be paid by
the ^victim.
So, watch oqt. Don't miss those
ships.
Memb'mhlp Rules
Membership rules require
every man entering the
Union Halls to show his
Union Book, ProdBook, per
mit or whitecard to the dodr*
man. This is for the mem*
bershijp's protection. Don't
waste the Doorman's — or •
your own—time by arguing
this point. Obsfl^e the ndes
you make.
We notice that the Army and
Navy are still operating as
though they were in the ship
ping business. Ships operated by
both branches of the service are
carrying cargoes in competition
with private operators.
Several months ago Senator
Warren Magnuson called atten
tion to this matter, and agreed
with the unions that the Army
and Navy ought to keep out of
the cargocarrying business.
They're still at it, however*
and it seems that legislation
should be enacted to halt this
practice.
Oh, j'es —' your 1950 assess
ments are due. The wise thing
is to take care of this matter at
the earliest possible moment, so
that yoi^ can forget about it for
the rest of the year. '
iNobiie invitet^
Ail Seafarers '
To Hail Opening
By CAL TANNER
MOBILE—Shipping in the Port
of Mobile for, the last couple of
weeks was dead slow, with ap
proximately 88 men shipped dur
ing the period. There were 11
payoffs, 13 sighons and three
ships intransit
Ships paying off were in good
shape. They were the Monarch
of the Sea, .Fairport, City of
Alma," Iberville, DeSoto, Wild
Ranger, Morning Light all Wa
terman; Clipper, Cavalier, Puri
tan, Alcoa, and the Coral Sea,
Orion.
Signing on were the Clipper,
Cavalier and Puritan, headed for
the British West Indies; Mon
arch of the Sea and Wild Ran
ger, bound for Puerto Rico; Iber
ville and DeSoto, resuming their
coastwise runs; City of Ahna and
Fairport,* destined for Mediter
r'ean ports, and the Steel Inven
tor, bound for Java.
TAKE REPLACEMENTS
Intransit were the Bessemer
Victory and the Greeley Victory,
both coastwise vessels, and the
Alcoa Ranger. All of these ships
were contacted and necessary
replacements furnished.
The Mobile Marine Hospital
lists the following Seafarers as
patients this week: T. Little, J.
Berrier, L. Howard ^nd Tim .
Burke.
Among those waiting to ship
from the Mobile Hall are D. E.
McNeil, H. N. Eby, Jack Adams,
W. C. • Smith, Lionel Jackson, R. .
Bell, C. 'E. I^ymour, B. A. Dar
nell, D. M. Saxon, C. E. Long,
B. Veiner and O. J. Carr.
Seattle Reports
Fair Shipping
By WILLIAM McKAY.
• SEATTLE — Seattle shipping
has been fair.
We've been kept busy at times
contacting SlUcontracted ships
in the outlying ports—the SS
Mobilian in Raymond, SS Ponce
de Leon in Aberdeen and SS
Hastings in Olympia.
In addition, we paid off the
Citrus ̂ Packer in Portland. These
are all in the day's^or night's
—work. We got to the Mobilian
at 8 o'clock at night to investi
gate Hhe death of Brother Allan
McMillan, Chief Cook, who was
reported missing at sea after a
fire had started" in his room.
STUCK ON MOUNTAIN
We arrived back /n Seattle
at 3 AM ^after being stuc^ on
\he mountain road. Then a
hurry* call frjom the Mobilian's
D^egate, and' back we went to
board the ship at 11:30 PM.
We, caught some sleep aboard
the vessel, then called the boys
to a meeting at 8:30' AM the
next mqrmng." Everything was
straightened out. /
At present, there are 13 book
members and 23 perrhits regis
tered for shipping in the Seattle
Branch. . "*
A new cbritract has been sign
ed covering the two big tow
boat companies in this port.
The contract will run until Jan
uary, 1951, and is essentially
the same agreement obtained
last year which, incidentally, is
the best in the business.
At long last, it looks ̂as though
we will have the formal open
ing of our renovated Hall around
February 15, all major altera
tions having been completed.
It will take about a week to
get the place cleaned up and
in Shape for the opening. All
Seafarers down in this neighbor
hood around February 15 should
be sure to drop into the Hall.
Word has just been received
from the Mobile Marine Hospi
tal that Brother Raymond Fos
ter, Stewardj died there of a
heart ailment. The "boys in the
JBall sent a floral wieath t6 the
funeral. All hands extend their
deep sympathy to the family of
Brother Foster.
Log Subscribers
Readers notifying the SEA
FARERS LOG of a change in
mailing address are re
quested to include their old
address along with the new.
In addition to making easier
the switchover It will al^
guarantee uninterrupted
mailing service.
AU notifications of change*.,
of address should fee ad;
dressed to the Editor, SEA ̂
FARERS LOG, 51 ^yer
Street, New York 4. N. Y.
f^day> FiilinHUry liQi, 1950
Seafarei^ World's Waterfronts
Cargo handling methods here and abroad always interest Seafarer Glen Vinson, who takes
notM with his camera. In photo above. Glen shaws modem machinery used in loading coal on
vessel at Edgewater, N.J. Coal car has just entered elevator and is about to be lifted to point
where it will be turned <m side and contents dumped through shute into ship's hold.
Almost every mail delivery brings to the LOG photo
graphs taken by Seafarers on UnioncOntracted ships
throughout the world. A considerable portion of the shots,
of course, depict the photographers' shipmates at work
or relaxing during time off. But many of the pix show
that SIU cameramen .have an eye for interesting sidelights
of a voyage.
The photos on this page are a sample of the recent
observations made by SIU lensmen in farflung ports.
Vinson was on hand with his camera when ship tied up
at Cherbourg, France, where coal is transferred to railroad
cars in buckets.
This man and wife are longshore workers in Vizagapatam,
on the Bay of Bengal, India, but the feminine half of the
team does the muscle work. While hubby does the checking,
the delicatelooking lady unloads cargo down in No. 5 hold
—for 12 hours a day, from 6 AM to 6 PM. Each gets one rupee,
or two bits, for the day's work, according to Seaffurer Vic_
Litardi, who took the picture.
yl
The SS^jGoldenCity has its complement of cameramen
Here ship's photographer Bill Bairth (cenie^r) reviuses usual^
procedure by posing himself. He k flanked by Barney McNally
(left} apl Tom Walker. , '
This quartet of Seafarers from the crew of the Alcoa Clipper was photographed at the en!>
trance to the country dub in Trinidad, BWI, duaring n recent stopover. From left to right are
Bill M^on, Johxmy Bluelock, Goodwin and Bud Callahan. After* obliging the cameraman, the
lads centimied on their way to the swhnming pool where they paddled around to keep waist
Buss down. ZHds Maztinee submitted the phoht. /
l
Pag* Six THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Februfiry 10, 1950 'ii
k
SHIPS' MINimS AMD MEWS
f
1942Transfer To Gateway City Opened Way
To US Citizenship For British Seafarer
Back ia 1942 when he
transferred from a British
merchant ship to the SIU
contracted SS Gateway City
in Loch Ewe, Scotland, Ern
est ( S c o 11 y ) Aubusson
wasn't giving much thought
to the future.
As things developed, though,
r the Gateway City opened the
r way to a new life for Brother
f Aubusson. Last month, he be
came a fullfledged American
s citizen. .
>' "I'm happy and proud about
it," says Scotty, and its easy to
see he means it.
r'. Scotty is especially grateful
^ rto the SIU and to the many
i friends I've made among Seafar
i ers whose helpful hdvice will
help me be a better citizen."
. The Englishborn Seafarer says
^he never dreamed that the
' switchover to the Gateway City
would prove to be a stepping
• stone to American citizenship.
ERNEST AUBUSSON
aboard a British ship in Loch
Ewe, Scotland, when the Gate
way City arrived in port.
The SlUcontracted vessel was
in need of an AB and imder the
wartime arrangement between
England and the United States,
Scotty signed on the Gateway
In the summer of 1942 he was City to fill the vacancy. After a
few months of a Russian winter
in Murmansk, the Gateway City
returned «to New York and pro
vided Scotty with his first view
of the US.
Aubusson was issued SIU book
No. 24938 in New York on Mar.
5, 1943 and has been sailing as
a Seafarer ever since. Upon join
ing the SIU, ,Scotty took steps
to get the citizenship which be
came final last month.
After expressing his apprecia
tion to the Union and his Broth
ers for their friendship and co
operation, Aubusson had a spec
if word of advice to alien mem
bers.
"I urge all aliens in the SIU to
make every effort to obtain their
citizenship papers," he said. "I
can assure them that they;, will
find all hands veiy cooperative.
And any effort will be worths
while."
Scotty took another important
step last year. He married an
American lass on Feb. 14—St.
Valentine's Day. So his first an
niversary will be cause for a
double celebration.
SS Puerto Rico's Shipboard Publication
Is Product Of Hard Work And Cooperation
George Stevenson, SIU Man
Since '43, Dies Aboard Yaka
George H. Stevenson, who died of a heart attack
aboard the SS Yaka on Dec. 3, was buried in Sailor's jCenie
tery. New York City, on Dec. 23, the LOG has been
informed. He was 61 years old.
Brother Stevenson suffered the
(The author of the follow
ing article is a Stewardess
,pboard the SS Puerto Rico.)
By HILDA REVESZ
The SS Puerto Rico sailed on
her maiden voyage from New
York on August 18, 1949. During
that first trip the idea of pub
lishing a newspaper for the crew
was conceived by George Boney,
our first editor, and Kenneth
Eokholm, our present editor, with
the aid of a few other enthusias
tic crew members. It was at that
time the Advocate was born. —
The first issue consisted of
two pages which were finally
put out after many difficulties.
We. had to borrow the Chief
Steward's typewriter to cut our
stencils, and obtain permission
from the Purser's office to use
their mimeograph machine. When
George Bortiy left us, after our
second voyage, Kenneth Eck
holm inherited the office of Edi
tor. Working under difficult con
ditions was a strain for the en
tire staff imtil we finally got
permission from the membership
to buy a t3T>ewriter and a mime
ograph from the ship's fund.
Brother Eckholm took his
problems to Headquarters offi
cials. They seemed eager for us
to continue our paper and offer
ed their help. This help consist
ed of lending us a typewriter
and a mimeograph machine till
AnENTION!
If you don't find linen
when you go aboaid your
ehip, soHly the HaU at once.
A teleanun ixom Le HUVM or
Sia0«pa» won't do yon any.
good. It's your hed wad you
hare to lie in tt>
such time as those machines
were needed in the SIU Hall.
These machines have done much
to keep the paper going.
The Advocate's policy has al
ways been to back our imion
100 percent. In addition, we have
endeavored to encourage our
brothers and si'^ters to hold open
discussions on ways and means
of keeping SIU tops in the mar
itime unions. In order to keep
the Advocate interesting to all,
we added a sport page, a scan
dal page and also photographs
of various crew members either
at work or play.
PLENTY OF WORK
The duties of each staff mem
ber are many and varied. The
Editor, Kenneth Eckholm, and
Associate Editor Hilda Revesz,
write many of the articles, ar
range the layout of the paper,
gather material and sometimes
even help cut the stencils. The
Executive Editor, Stanley Haw
kins, cuts stencils 'also and ga
thers material. It is also one uf
his duties to oversee the distri
bution of the paper.
We haye two Managing Edi
tors, James Golder and James
DuBose. They are in complete
charge of the advertising and
photography. Our advertisers
have helped us to become self
supporting so that we don't have
to draw on the ship's fund ior
expen.ses. They* also contribute
to our editorial page.
There are two directors ,of
publication, Edward Glazder aiid
George John. They are respon
sible for running off the paper
on the mimeograph machine and.
then, distributing it to th6 crew
members. They also ai'e in charge
of our mailing list which is large.
Copies of the Advocate are mail
ed to all SIU branch (rfftces as
well as to SIU passenger .ships
and former crew members of the
SS Puerto Rico who wish to be
kept informed of the ship's ac
tivities.
Our sports page is kept alive
by Roy Grundner. While the
sMp's sport life is confined to
Softball, our Sports Editor helps
gather other material when his
assigned duties are over. The
board of directors consists of
Edward X. Mooney, Nick Wu
china and Reed Humphries. They
also contribute articles every is
sue. We have also accepted many
literary contributions from var
ious^members of the crew.
These are the many things
that make up the Advocate. We
will continue the publishing of
our paper as long as the inter
est and enthusiasm remains. We
hope that will be for a long time
to come.
heart attack several hours before
the Yaka arived in Panama, ac
cording to Lonnie Lonski of the
Deck Department. The body was
taken ashore, where an under
taker made arrangements for
shipment to the States.
Another SlUcontractcd ship,
the SS Twin Falls Victory, pass
ing through the Canal Zone en
route to Brooklyn, paused to
take the casket aboard, for de
livery to New York.
MADE MURMANSK RUN
Brother Stevenson, a Chief
Cook, joined the SIU in April
8, 1943 and had sailed on one of
the first convoys to Russia"^ dur
ing World War II.
"The entire crew of the Yaka
mourned the passing of Brother
Stevenson," Lonski sqid. A col
lection was made and the pro
ceeds forwarded to the late Sea
farer's wife, Cecilia, who resides
in New York City.
Mrs. Stevenson expressed her
appreciation to the Yaka v:i'ew
and also to the men of the Twin
Falls Victoiy for their condolen
ces.
Brother Stevenson held Book
Casket containing body of
George Stevenson is taken
aboard Twin Falls Victory in
Panama for last voyage to^;
New York. Photo by Chief^'; /
Electrician Merwyn Watson.
No. 25245 and was in good standf:
ing at the time of his death. The
Union paid for burial expenses^
Voice Of Oke Se eCL
by "SALTY DICK'
Donald Strong would like his
SIU friends to write to him care
of the Central Alberta Sanator
ium, C|jgary Altar, Canada. He
may be there for a long while.
. . . The crew of the SS Del
Norte heips to support the Beth
lehem Orphan Home by donat
ing a sum of money eVery trip.
Many of us stop over at St.
Thomas, V.I. to refuel. The most
reasonable place to buy in that
port is the Bolero. . . Adolfo
Capote says he's willing to take
any ship as long as he's home
every week.
Crew Of The Cabins Favors
Annual Levy To Sustain Log
Seafarers aboard the Mathiasen tanker SS The Cabins
are ,in favor of an annual' assessment to finance publica
tion of the LOG., • ^
In a resolution adopted at the
Jan. 21 shipboard meeting, the
crew proposed that the question
of a fivedollar let^ be submit
ted to a referendum vote. The
resolution was signed by 25 crew
members. '
The text of the resolution fol
lows:
"Whereas: The SEAFARERS
LOG is an annual drain on the
General Fund, and
"Whereas: We are going to
ballot on the credit union and
vacation questions,, and
ment among the membership
about voluntary contributions
being paid only by some of our
Brothers, and
"Whereas: The, SEAFARERS
LOG is a both vital and neces
sary medium for keeping our
membership informed about un
ion business and activities, there
fore
"Be It Resolved: That we the
undersigned crewmembers of the
SS The , Cabins propose that an
annual fivedollar asse^ment for
the LOG be placed .oiv\ the bal
lot along with the credit unions
Several times I went shopping?
in New Orleans and twice I was ̂
taken for a floorwalker. Now
afraid to enter department stores^
. . . Ivan During tried to joiri
the 'Salvation Army and was told
he had a long wait. He generally
ships out as a Waiter. . . In
New Orleans, movies are reason
able. Quite a few of the gang
can be seen at the StrandJoy;
A suggestion: All members of
our Union should stop at' the
Halls, whenever possible. This
applies to men working asea arid
ashore. . . Herman Troxclair's.
wife is. sick and the bills fdiv
medical expenses are mounting.
"Whereas: There has been com and vacation resolutions./
A certain Brother likes to
"put on" while in New Orleans.
He visits the most fashionable
hotels and restaurants. One day
he came face to face with people
he had met a few nights prevr
iously and; was his face red
They were cruise passengers on
his .ship and he waited on their
table.
While on the beach waiting
for a ship, Arthur Kirwin Jr.
painted his parents' house white
with green trinunings. . . Not
mentioning any names, but a
guy whose initials are F.U. al
most bought a Nash car with a
bed in it, until he asked for a
sink with running water. The
salesman said"® he couldn't fill
the order.. Met . Joe Hilton
again after • a number of years
and he; wants to be quoted .as
being against homesteading. ,
Friday, Fabruary 10, 1950 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page SevcA
Digested Minutes Of SI0 Ship Meetings
VFNORE, Nov. 27—R. E. Die*
key, Chairmart: H. B. Vincenl,
Secretary. Everything on order
in the departments. Motion car
ried recommending that Union
' tmd company meet lo work out
plan whereby watches can be
placed in the same rooms. Sani
tary conditions on ships discuss
ed, also ways and means of get
vting along in good Union man
ner. Under Good and Welfare,
Bhipboard conditions" were das
cussed. One minute' of silence
In memory of departed Union
Brothers.
I % X X
SEATRAIN NEW JERSEY,
Bee. 19—Robert Adams, Chair
man; John J. Jellette, Secretary.
^gine Delegate asked men to
.lessen noise near foc'sles. Ship's
jjeiegate reported that Brother
Lester had spent $30^ for movies
for crew's recreation and that
Chief Cook had spent $6 for
Christmas decorations and sug
gested that men chip in to re
Imbuise these two at payoff.
Best wishes extended to Joe Ry
lick who is leaving ship. • and
who has been a good, shipmate.
Under Good and Welfare Bill
Gray read Christmas message
written by John Jellette.
4. 4 t
PONCE DE LEON. Nov. 26—
William Bolton, Chairman: John
Menville, Secretary. No beefs,
except for disputed overtime for
Electricians. Ralph Grosclose
elected Ship's Delegate by ac
clamation. Washing machine to
be checked and repaired if nec
essaiy. Newly elected depart
ment delegates are: Dick Carpen
ter (Deck); Murry Wilerson,
(Steward) and Matthew Nolan,
(Engine). One minute of silence
in memory of departed Union
Brothers. Crew wished all hands
a Merry Christmas and Happy
!l<few Year.
ft t t
MORNING LIGHT, Nov. 29—
Homer Ringo, Chairman; Tremer,
Secretary. Delegates reported no
beefs. Under Good and Welfare
the following were discussed:
Washing machine,, repair lists,
overhauling of galley range,
practice of company guard pre
venting men from going ashore
ur'il after ship has been cleared
by agricultural agent, accident
in which Wiler fractured his
wrist. Heaity vote of thanks was
given by all hands to Stewards
Department for the wonderful
dinner and decorations set up
for the Thanksgiving dinner.
ft ft ft
SS BESSEMER VICTORY,
Bee. 6—Chairman, Edward Cole:
Secretary, Lester R. Waller. En
gine and Stewards Delegates re
ported no beef^; Deck Delegate
reported two hours disputed
overtime. Motion by Scott, car
ried, that complaints about left
over food be made to the Stew
ard through the Delegates. Mo
tion by Cain, carried, that at
least two delegates and the Stew
ard check the stores. Education:
Cole requested each member to
reaU Bulletin of Dec. 2, especial
ly the section regarding the Wel
fare Fund. Good and Welfare:
Request made that Engineers
check the radiator valves.
ft ft ft
SS STEEL EXECUTIVE, D«e.
6Xhairman, D. bfcKeel; Secro
tary, A. Brodia. Delegateg^ re^
ported no beefs. Gric* ma le mo
tion, carried that Ship's Dele
gate give all information on man
v^ho jumped ship to Patrolman
upon ship's an*ival in New York.
Two • permitmen recommended
for books. Good and Welfare:
Ship's Delegate reported that it
was impoi'tant that repair work
be done this trip. Men getting
off were asked to leave their
rooms clean and return linen to
Steward.
ft ft ft
SS YAKA, Dec. 4—Chairman,
John Thompson; Secretary, Fred
Litsch. Repair list made up and
approved. New Business: Motion
by Lonski, carried, that Patrol
man check medical supplies and
shortage of medical instruments.
Education: Thompson spoke on
airmail Bulletin's request that
crew write Congressman Heller.
Crew was urged to write the
Congressman thanking him for
his interest in the preservation
of the maritime hiring hall. Good
and Welfare: Suggestion made
that Day Men and men off watch
refrain from taking coffee out
of percolator till watch is serv
ed. Suggestion made to take up
collection for widow of George
Stevenson, who passed away
aboard ship on December 3.
ft ft ft
SS MICHAEL, Nov. 11—Chair
man, J. Felton; Secretary, Law
rence Richie. Delegates' reports
accepted. Motion carried that
Delegates assist department mem
bers in making out repair lists.
One minute of silence for de
parted Brothers.
ft ft ft
SS BEATRICE, Dec. 11—Chair
man, P, Bobbregt: Secretary. R.
Pennington. Delegates reported
no beefs. New Business: Motion
carried to keep doors in passage
way open while at sea. Crew
voted in favor of motion. Wipers
requested that Patrolmen see
about cleaning gear for sanitary
work.
ft ft ft
SS ROBIN MOWBRAY, Nov.
14—Chairman, J. Sansel; Secre
tary, 3. O'Connor. Delegates re
ported all smooth. Good and
Welfare: Discussion on keeping
quarters, showers, heads clean.
Ship's Delegate Sansel praised
airmail,' Bulletin.
ft ft ft
SS PETROLITE, Dec. 4—
Chairman. Joseph Bourgeois:
Secretary, H. Rosensteil. Dele
gates reported no beefs. Ship's
Delegate reported that soap
powder had been obtained and
fans would be repaired as soon
as parts were delivered. 'Motion
by Pere* to select committee to
study possible amendments to
present tanker agreement. Two,
men fxom each department elect
ed to make study and present
recommendations at next meet
ing. Ship's Delegate to see Cap
tain concerning practice of Of
ficers painting^^ their rooms. Good
and Welfare: Crew asked to co
operate in keeping shoresiders
out of messroom. Oiic^ minute' of
silence for Brothera lost at sea.
ft ft ft
SS DEL ORG, Dec. 4—Chair
man, J. P. Shuler: Secretary, G.
Gillispie. Delegates reported all
running .smoothly. New Busi
ness: Motion by Gillispie, car
ried, that crew boys not be al
lowed inside midship house, with
the exception of the crew mess
man and the Wipers. Good and
Welfare: Suggested by John
Linn that crew write Congress
man Heller thanking him for his
praise of the SIU New York hall
and his backing of the maritime
hiring hall. Suggestion made that
Ship's Delegate write the Ed
itor of the LOG to express
crew's appreciation of the air
mail Bulletin. Suggested by J. P.
Shuler that more time be de
voted to education. ^
ft ft ft
SS SWEETWATER, Dec. 24—
Chairman, Mgx Lipkin; Secre
tary, Ted Dy^n. Delegates' re
ports accepted. New Bu3ine.s.s:
Brother Wilisch elected Ship'.s
Delegate. Wilisch suggested send
ing letter to Hall with repair
list, and request Patrolman
meet ship to straighten out con
fusion in Stewards Department.
One minute of silence for Bro
thers lost at sqa..
ft ft ft /
SS COUER d'ALENE VICT
ORY, Nov. 20—Chairman, Sigurd
Anderson; Secretary, Dave Buck
ley. Delegates reported «mall
amount of disputed overtime.
Discussion on Captain eating
special food. Question iaised as
to where he gets the food and
whether he really has stomach
trouble as claimed. Better qual
ityfood asked.
WHE lATBST e0UHf> VOLVMBO^
• rye tc>sa>vfeRiA(e
ALL- isstiEs OP i94p-WILLBBASML-
Aiue WITHIAI A PEW P/AVS. /VOW IS
TUB TtMB TO TAKE. /ACTIO/V ABOAI^
YiPoe. SHIP ANP AUlUOI^lZB BLHiAS
A COPY FOR YOUR.
• SHIPBOARD LieSARY.
THE PRCe FOR
THIS VOLQMB
WHICH IS LARSEC
THA/V IHE PeevIOUS
F/ALPYEARLY
OsLLECnOHS
— IS
CUT and RUN
by Hank , L
a:#i
m0O
ft ft ft
STEEL WORKEa Dec. 26—W.
Borreson, Chairman; G. Brown,
Secretary. Brother Zahelli elec
ted Ship's Delegate. Discussion
on two new ships which the
Bernstein company is tiying to
place in passenger service. Sug
gested that collection be made
for athletic equipment. Agreed
that sanitaiy men are to keep
library, slop locker and Igimdry
clean. Each man is to take good
care of washing machine. Vote
of thanks given Stewaids De
partment for fine Christmas din
ner. Suggested that crew thank
Capt^ for Christmas tree and
gift. All were asked to cooperate
in turning oyer unused linen to
Steward,
ft ft ft
DEL SUD, Dec. 25 —Leonard
Munna. Chairman; Edmundo
Sepulveda, Secretary. AntiTrot
skyite resolution passed at shore
side meetings was adopted xui
animously by ship's crew. Dele
gates reported. Libiarian asked
men to return magazine and
books to libraiy before voyage
ends. Motion carried calling for
immediate shipboard meetings
upon receipt of shoreside resplu
tions or important Union litera
ture. Committee was elected to
draw up a .set of working rules
for a future ship's fund. Pat
Donahue stated that two bats
were sold to Argentine ball
players after sale was approved
t>y ship's team. Money was turn
ed over to Ship's Delegate for
replacement in , New Orleans.
Meeting, adjourned at 3:15 PM.
There's no doubt that in our hiring halls and aboard* SIU
ships throughout the world the membership is happily realizing
what the recentlygained welfare fund means to all hands . . .
And here on Beaver 'Street the SIU brothers are busy as beavers.
The average Seafarer, who has been in many beefs toNkeep our
Union strong, shows easily enough that he has never lost that
spirit, indeed ... At random, we'll mention a few of the fellas
helping out continuously—day after day, including nights. There's
the happilymarried Frank Bose with his mustache and sharp
humor . . . "Slim" Tom Hale is a versatile worker—not half a
day, at all. .And in his own words, we'll say "he'll aways have
it, too"—with the pleasure of naming whatever it is ... A lot of
help is coming from A1 'Wilk and Eddie Bis. Incidentally, Eddie
has a mustache, too. (Some day we'll hear of a Brother sailing into
New York with a beard. 'We haven't seen a bearded brother in
a long time. How about hearing from bearded brothers in other
ports or aboard the ships?) . . . Eddie Saul is contributing humor
ous expxessions and Donald "Tiny" Mease is a dynamo of work—
v/hile he continues to humorously mention some mysterious ship
called the SS Sandpaper.
ft ft ft
We have dicovered that Brother Alex Andreshak is Bosun
right now aboard the SS Steel Navigator. Bon seranging, Alex
. . . We are sorry to hear about Brother Andy Havrilla being
dxydocked in a veterans hospital down in Aspinwall, Pennsyl
vania. Speedy recovery. Andy . . . Don Brown, the poet and
one of the best. East or West, says he'll be in this New York
town around summertime . . . While Brother Howard W.
Moore is turning to for some landlubbing schooling down in
Pennsylvania he'll also be anxiously looking over every issue
of the LOG for important Union news and the whereabouts
of shipmates . . . Brother Thomas Melton, who hasn't raised
any sort of beard for a long time, was in New York recently
after a long absence. Tom says he's been shipping out of the
Gulf and on one ship didn't have any real Southern cooking
for more than a year. Say, Tom, the only thing we have up
here In New York which is real good. Southern style, is that
record called "Hominy Grits" which is enough lo make a
good man leave town real fast for that good food.
ft ft ft
A good man indeed, is little "Scotty" Norris who is always
helping out in the hall . . . One of the Brothers wanted us to say
something about Brother Edison Brown. Well, we will. He's a
swell guy . . . Brother W. J. Plauche of Louisiana, who retired his
book, still keeps informed of what the SIU is doing through the
LOG he receives. And his family enjoys reading their copy, too
. . . Bill Gray, aboard the Seatrain New Jersey, informed us that
more than $60.00 was donated by crewmember.<; and officers for
the March of Dimes campaign. Every SIU ship has had literature
sent to it explaining this worthy cause. We no doubt shall hear
of many more SIU ships showing their kindness in this campaign
a long time. How about hearing from bearded Brothers in other
to help those, young and old, who are struck by infantile paralysis.
ft ft ft
Brother Pat Jones of New York says—Keep the SIU
ships sailing ... Joe Pendleton was in New York recently
... Brother "Chink" White is still soldiering over in Japan
. . . And Ed Larkin, the Electrician, is oil well" down in
Venezuela, mentioning that his shipmate Eddie Hallinan sent
him a Christmas post card ... The SEAFARERS LOG will
be saUing free of cost to the homes of the foUowing Brothezsi
<)tto Hever of Missouri Donald Faulkner of Brooklyn,
Pag9 Ei^i TBE SEAFAR^ERS LO€ FiilUai'. F«ima^ 10. 10SO
&
Welfare Plan Hailed
New SIU MOestone
'^fto the Editor:
i. I have just read the January
<13 issue of the LOG and saw
where the SIU has oome to an
agreement with nine steamship
companies on a welfare plan for
seamen. I believe this is one of
'the greatest strides ever made
by a maritime union,
i (• ' The welfare plan ranks with
• the inaugxiration of the three
watch system and the section of
our contract allowing the Union
to reopen discussion on the wage
question at any time during the
life of the contract.
SIU NEEDED
t have retired from the sea,
tut I am still in the maritime
^industry. I work for a steamship
'line! If we had a strong union
years ago like the SIU is to
: Iday, I'm sure many of my
i&iends who still go to ^a could
test a lot easier now.
The fuU value of the welfare
plan Aegotiated by the SIU wiQ
not be realized for a few years.
"But as it gradu^y comes to co
ver every seaman in the indus
try—as it will eventually—the
unorganized seamen will see
how, through a united front, sea
men can obtain what some un
organized companies claim is
something they alone can offer.
The welfare plan should great
ly increase the momehtum of
the Seafarers' organizing pro
gram. I noted that a few of the.
signers of this clause aie cpm
spanies newly organized. That's
^ good sign of clear thinking and
^responsible leadership.
' I also noted that the Negotiat
ing Committee is of the opinion
vthaf^ SlUcontracted companies
are more than satisfied with Sea
farers crews on their,vessels.
>• : I'm in a position to say that
fthe statement is entirely, correct.
By comparison with other unions
<in the industry, the SIU sailor
definitely tops them, all.
Since this letter may be print
ed in the LOG, I am asking the
Editor not to print my name but
my~ book number instead. The
average sailor would be surprised
to know in whose hands the
LOG does fall.
Book No. 45010
Soap Snatching
Is Dirty Trick,
Brother Bphhles,
To the EdiKUr:
I'd like tp expose an insidious
group within our membership
whose aim is devoted to making
their shipmates the most un
washed guys in the labor move
ment.
This underground group can
best be labelled Uie "soap
snatchers." For various, unex
plained reasons, some shipmates
find themselves unable to afford
soap when they are on the
beach. To overcome this situa
tion they take to hoarding their
twobar weekly allowance while
they are aboard ship.
DIRTY TRICK
This in itself wouldn't be so
bad, but it goes further. They
remove the used soap of others
from the washroom so as not to
have to break a single wrapper
of their own hoard.
On one ship I opened my last
bar of soap in the shower and
then left for a few seconds to
get my razor. When I returned
—^you guessed it—the soap was
gone. Being unable to secme an
other bar at the time, " I was
forced to use laundry soap.
I hope some Brother comes up
with an effective method of
dealing with these "soap snatch
ers," as theharsh odor of laim
dry soap does not strike a par
ticularly seductive chord, in the
nostrils of a seaman's girl friend.
Abe Goldfarb
JAPAN TRIP SMOOTH AS SILK
LEARNING HIS SIV'S
Philip Sfazimpton, who claims Book No. 000 as a member
; ia good silting of the SIU, scans his LOG fox the latest dope
<m the Service beef. Fouzmonthold Philip is the first
effort ot "Aussie" and Rose Shrimpton and he wants it known
that he is available for picket duty If he is needed. His parents
^ met on an SIU sldp, the SS Evangeline, and if that doesn't
make haa a Seafarer Phil would like to know what does. .
Chief Male W. R. "Catfish"
Kenopke, who the Yaka crew
said "is strictly a good imion
man. He deserves much credit
for the swell trip." Kenopke
is a former member of the SIU.
ALL HANDS HAD
GOOD CHRISTMAS
ON SS DEL MONTE
To the Editor:
I am enclosing some pictures
of our Christmas dinner on board
the SS Del Monte. We had a very
nice Christanas even though we
were at sea and away from our
families and friends^
AH of the crewwere coipplete
ly satisfied and all agreed that
they could not have had a ifiner
dinner or day We will be at ̂ a
for New Year's, but have been
promised the same kind of dinner
and fun with hats and noise
makers by the Steward, Henry
(Hunger) Gerdes. The Captain
joined in to make the coming
affair a success.
As you can sro by the menu
and the pictures, we all had a
good time.
Bob Creel
#
(Ed. Note: Unforlunately^
LOG readmrs will be unable
to see what a good time was
had aboard the Del Monte at
Christinas dinner. The photos
were loo dark fow saffsfactory;
reproduction.)'
At the Waterman ship's payoff in Baltimore recently,
Lonnie Lonski said the voyage was one of the best he's made.
Some of the men who helped make it successful, are shown in
photo above, taken in USS club in Yokohama. Around fable,
left to right, are: Taylor (light jacket). Fuzzy. My^s, Lilsch,
Legg. James, Storey and Sjoherg. Standing, left to right:
Goldsborough and LonskL
SUP Man Says Trotskyites
Use Free Speech To Disrupt
To the Editor:
I hope that you will print this
letter. It points out the line used
by the ' Trotskyites which some
members may listen to and pass
on.
As a retired SUP man, I would
like to point out how much vio
lence the SUP 'has to fear fi'om
the SIU officials, as .the Trot
skyites screamed recently.
When I was shipping out of
New York, I often heard the
Trotsky line that the Stewards
Department ought to leave the
SIU and form a separate imion.
I know that tw^. of the men
who were spouting this union
busting idea are stiU sailing, de
spite the fact that one of them
still advocates an MCS of the
East Coast,
Many times in the union halls
of the Gulf I heard talk of a
separate Gulf union and in the
SUP hall talk against the SIU,
and in the SIU halls, talk against
the SUP. There was also talk of
keeping a port for men from
that port.
These Trotsky lines, aimed
at splitting the SIU and causing
it damage, have .been aired free
ly in the halls for years and I
have jfet to hear of any man
meeting violence becalise he
spoke his 'unionbusting., views.
But I have seen a man get the
bum's rush because he wanted
to dis£igree with a man spouting
his disruptive ideas.
I will say, however, that tHe;"^1?K
Trbtskjrites have sumetliing tb^..;i/v,
fear and that is that men of the'?
SIU wiU not fan for their unidn,,f;^
busting ideas, and that the SIU V?
will remain the best Union on
the waterfront, if not in the
world, !
As for violence, I think thatvll!, *!; I
if they take the word of advice ? '' "
offered in the Dec. 30 issue of
the LOG, the Trotskyites will
not have any trouble.
P. A. Carlson
SUP Book No. 3964 (Ret.)
Had Your Say?
Pro mid con commenis on
the suggested change in.the
sMppIng rules to make , it
mandatory for a man to ac
cept his vacation pay and get
off, a ship after one year
Aboard continue to come in
from Brothers asea and
ashore. If you haven't yet
mq^xvMied youT views on the
<|uestion. how . ahoitf send
kig them to the LOG—now.
t—
BULLETIN CATCHES
DEL NORTE MEN
DOWN IN BRAZIL
To the Editor:
This is to acknowledge receipt,
of the Bulletins forwarded to:
this ship this voyage. They have
been posted on the bulletin Iraard
and are well received by the*
membership, who looks forward;
to new ones each trip in Brazil.
Whoever thought of the idea
deservesa vote of thanks for
keeping the membership inform
ed of what is going on during,
their absence from the States. .
I am enclosing the minutes
of the tworegular meetings held
on this voyage, although I have
not seen any minutes published
from these ships during the last
year in the LOG.
C. A. Bradley
Ship's Delegate
SS Del Norte
(Ed. N(de: Time does not .
pennit a full check hack over
the LOG issues of this year
but offhand ..we can cite issues .
^No. 28, No. 31 and No. 32 of
ffie LOO in which Del Norte
minutes appear.)
* *Ilj
FMiniarf Ifli, Mlo BE SE'AFARERS LOG Page Nine
*Why All The Fuss?' Asks
Ppppn^rft Of Vacation Rule
To the Editor:
I have been reading the vari
ous articles on compulsory va
cations and would like to state
a few of my own ideas on the
subject.
In my opinion, a seaman has a
right to hpld a job as long as he
wants.''He is no dilferent from a
man working ashore. He has a
family and responsibUitiea as
well as anyone else.
Let us remember that a sea
man, belongs to a union and as
long as he can show that he is
a credit to the union and stays
in good standing, he is disposing
of his obligation ^o the rest of
the membership. When they start
telling a fellow how long he can
work at a certain place. Brother,
that doesn't smell so good.
IF
Don't get me wrong. I am in
favor of compulsory vacations
if a fellow gets his job back af
ter the vacation is over.
Show me any man in his right
mind who will trade a week's
vacation for a decent 'job. Let lis
look ahead a little. If a man is
on a ship one year he gets one
week's vacation. If he is on six
months longer, he gets another
week's vacation and six months
more gives him another vacation.
So if a man get^ off at the end
of the one year, he loses a
week'§ pay for the next stretch.
I would like to quote BroUier
"Salty Dick" who contradi^d
himself in a recent letter on this
subject. He says, "Shipping has
slowed down and the beach is
getting crowded." Then he goes
on to say that "any bookman
knows he can ship out between
tw® and four weeks."
I don't get it. If "Salty Dick"
knows so much about the ship
ping situation and if what he
says is true, why all the fuss
about a. few guys who have the
initiative to stick a year or so
on a ship and whi, want to stay
employed, especially since their
working conditions are desir
able?
Any man who can hold a job
without being a troublemaker
or a gashound is a credit to the
Union and the longer he stays
on a ship and does his work, the
longer he is in there pitching
for the good name of the Union.
H. Slitis
The Redhead Is Moaning Low
After Crack At Rungus Run'
To the Editor: '
If at any time someone has tcid you this is a small world;
they are suffering from dementia praecox, non compos mentis—or
In just plain words, NUTS! This past week brought to an end our
roundtheworld trip aboard the SS Steel Worker, or is it "Work
house." For an Isthmian job it isn't bad even if the Mate thinks
"Timeoff" is a Russian admiral.
Before leaving the States we got shots for everjrthing from
pink toothbrush to bleeding eye
balls. The shot for lockjaw is
terrific—a pennanent cure for
halitosis, which in a small way
is better than no breath at all.
The crew proved themselves^ ̂
quite fit to the trip,with the ex • ^
ception "ot one poor guy who
went to the hospital in Manila
for • water on the knee^ It was ,
so bad that when they operated
two nurses and 'an interne
dx'owned. In Hongkong, the ships'
vocalist, John DePoo, after ren
dering "I Only Have Eyes P'or
You," g(^ run over by a couple
of rickshaws. Now he's got ath
lete's foot in,the face. My only
trouble was with the^ tired,
burning eyes;. Even after drink
ing a bottle of "Murine they still
burned.
Believe me, there's nothing
like the "Fungus Run." In all these Asiatic ports Isthmian intro
duces their latest in garbage disposal units—^four halfstarved
coolies. Throughout the various jungle ports. Chief Cook Dave*
Herron beat out the rhythm of the jungle on the galley kettle with
a slightly overripe kielbasi. Kielbasi, that's a marlin spike dipped
in ^ariic. \
' In Singapore we all went to the Malayan premiere of the
film, "Christopher Columbus."' No wonder old Chris had such a
tough tiiqe—^three ships and not one bookman aboard. Two of the
ships are at present on the sugar run for Waterman. The Cathay
Theater where the picture played is one of the most modem in
the Far East—^neon poetry in the men's room.
Finally, after about 22 tropical ports we found ourselves in
the North Atlantic rolling and tossing, tossing and rolling—what
a crap game! A terrific drop in the temperature necessitated the
heating of the foc'sles. The First (who comes from a long line
of early American Eskimos), issued an extra box of matches. We
took turns giving each other hot foots. (Gad, such English.)'
; However, it all came to a happy ending at Staten Island. We
had so much rubber aboard we bounced off the dock six times
before we got tied up. So here I am back at Beaver Street, catch
sing up. on the oKTnews. I see the NMU afew weeks backinau
gui'ated a series of Olympic games. T'd have given anything for the
bandaid concession at 17th Street. >
; In closing, please don't , hold anything against the "LOG"
during the paatCyear for the madravings of "Your Fraternally,"
"Red" Campbell
Trip Was Good
Jack Dietrich (left>< FWT,
keeps a photographic record
of his voyages. Here he is seen
with the Deck Maintenance
aboard the MV Gadsden dur
ing a recent run from Haiti"
more to For^aleza. Brazil. Die
trich says all hands agreed
that the firstrate trip on the
Gadsden would be hard to
beat.
Bosun's Wife Lowers Boom
On Compulsory Vacations
To the Editor: v
As the wife of an SIU mem
ber (Bosun John LaFoe) and as
a former Stewardess with six
strike clearances, which means
that I should know what the
score is, I am thoroughly in ac
cord with Brother Tex Suit's
analysis of the homesteading
situation.
The members of the Seafarers
have, in the not too distant past,
fought, bled and died to obtain
and maintain the working con
ditions and living standards they
now enjoy. That monument to
old Andy Furseth wasn't erected
in his memory because he knit
ted ropeyams. He fought to ob
tain the conditions which we all
enjoy today. Don't forget that.
ONLY 200
And don't forget that the min
ority of 200 members Vvho stay
aboard a vessel longer than 12
months are not the guys who
Length Of Time On Ship
Up To Individual: Rizzo
RED CAMPBELL
To the Editor:
I would like to voice my opin
ion as being definitely against
con^ulsory vacations.
First, upon interpreting sec
tion 54, Vacations, I find that
the agreement gives the privil
ege of staying on a ship as long
as a mehiber wants to and after
the first year it credits the sea
man with two weeks of vacation
pay and any additional time is
also paid for with the equivalent
of two weeks pay. So it is quite
apparent that any referendum on
compulsory vacations will be im
constitutional.
(Ed. Note: Rules pertaining
to shipping procedures are
made by the membership in
referendum vote and there is
nothing in the constitution that
prevents them from doing so.
The agreements do not regu
late the length of a man's ser
vice aboard ship, but merely
govern the wage and work
~ ing conditions, of which vaca
tions is one. This is merely a
clarification of the Brother's
point. The LOG takes neither
side in the issue.) **
Second, it is my observation
that if a toan really wants to
get a ship, he can in all prob
ability to do without too long
a wait. Some men wait around
the Hall for certain ships or
runs and in some cases, even
certain companies, and conse
quently their cards build up on
the shipping list. That quite a
few permitmen are able to get
ships will attest to that fact, in
asmuch as bookmen have prefer
ence over permitmen in ship
ping.
Third, it would be a reflection
on our boast that we have jobs
equal to bookmen. It would stand
to reason that our job situation
is not too sound if we have to
limit members to certain periods
of employment.
Fourth, the economic reper
cussions would be too great for
a married man with a family
or anyone with obligations. The
privilege of staying on a ship in
definitely belongs to all book
men alike, so that each man can
stay aboard, as long as he lives
up to the agreement, untiL he
has finances to support him over
a period of unemployment.
As for the charge of the men
becoming company men, e^ch
man has a certain type of work
to do under his rating, and our
agreement to live by. If he does
not do so, I am sure any Pa
trolman or Port Agent would
see him for an explanation.
Louis Rizzo
throw their earnings over h gin
mill bar and say "manana—t(>
morrow I'll ihake another ship."
They have responsibilities,
wives, babies, coal bills, etc., ad
infinitum. They have probably
foimd what all humans have
sought since the days of the
cave man — a home, a woman
and security, and last but not
least, happiness.
Is it any wonder that after
years of hitting the bricks and
striving for some semblance of
an Utopia, they are willing to
sweat it out to achieve those
ends? Can't you visualize the
monotony of hitting one port
after another, day after day,
month, after month, just to come
home to the "little woman" or
to pay a board bill for little
mouths whom some woman has
abandoned because she couldn't
take it. I know of many such
instances.
LOOK OVER THE FENCE
How about you guys who have
only the thought of getting into
port, paying off and looking for
that favorite bar maid, going
broke in a few days without a
penny and then holding down
the Hall for another ship—how
about looking on the other side
of the fence for a change? Be
cause some day you may find
and cherish the same things that
those few 200 other guys have
found.
Unless you give this question
some longrange thought, you
may destroy the rung on the
ladder to future security.
Laura LaFoe
Baltimore, Md.
RETIRED MEMBER
KEEPS IN TOUCH
THROUGH THE LOG ^
To the Editor:
I wish to express my apprecia
tion for the prompt delivery of
the LOG to my home every
week. My family and I have
been receiving the LOG for four
years or more, and we are very *
interested in the activities of the
Union on the beach and at sea.
I retired early in 1947, after
having been an active seaman
for over two years — all as A
member of the SIU. I am en
closing a money order for five
dollars to help with your pui>
lication.
Keep up the good work and
keep the LOG rolling.
Cyrus C. Brown
St. PauL Minn.
Homesteaders Upheld As 'Old Reliables'
To the. Editor:
«•
This is simple, straight and
plain. . t
When I arrived in the States
recentlj^ from Europe I picked
up a LOG, issue of December 2,
and noticed the invitation to
comment on vacations and a
ci'edit union. Both are very in
teresting, but for this letter I'll
confine my comments to com
pulsoiy vacations.
I have read the pros and cons
on the matter in the LOG and
I am strictly opposed to" forcing
men off ships, resulting in the
loss of a meal ticket and weak
ening support of their families.
I just can't see ,it. It interferles
with a man's livelihood.
Take this into consideration.
If & man stays on a yessel five
years and lives up to the con.
tract to the satisfaction of the
Union and the company, it
proves that the man is compe
tent and that the Union is living
up to its agreement, as far as
competency is concerned. This
has been the SIU system all
along.
I for one have never stayed a
year on any ship, even though
it is my privilege. But, Brothers,
bear in mind that times are rap
idly changing and the least slip
on om pOrt may be the loss of
a contract. By keeping the old
reliable men on the ships—the
homesteaders—we will have one
more thing in oiu favor during
negotiations. '
LOTS OF IDEAS
The men who are coming up
with these ideas, I can see and
undeistand, are on the beaches.
Needless to sa.; , they have had
their chances, but wouldn't take
advantage of them. When you're
broke, ideas are like cars and
busses—continually coming by.
Let's look into the future and • [
not at the beaches. When this
matter comes to a vote, vote for |
the homesteaders, instead of de |
priving them of their rights to a
job well done. Piaise them and
be thankful for having such
militant and competent men in
om ranks. They are helping the
Union. If they were hurting the.
Union financially, I might see
some merit in arguments against i
them. \
Another reason to back thecal
homesteaders is that it is quite ' |
likely some of these men made
it.possible for you and me tO; J
have our jobs today. In behalf
of my shipmates I give praise j
to hdfnesteaders.
I'll write next on the credit :|
union. ** ,
Lamar M. Loti. Sx;,
ram MMdFdmxm^ ^Fdaa^t f^btmxr 10« l«d
ats
*'l
ii.?,
if'
>V'
BOSTON — Chairman, Stanlc^
Otaenzidge, 1863; Recording Sec
Tetarr, Ben Lawso^ 894.
Minutes of meetings in other
Branches accepted as read. Port
Agent discussed shipping in this
port. Patrolman's and Dispatch
er's reports approved as read.
Motion carried to accept Head
quarters report to the member
ship and SecretaryTreasurer's
financial report One minute of
sUence in memory of departed
Union Brothers. Meeting ad
journed at 7:30 PM, with 126
members in attendance,
its.
GALVESTON — Chairman,
Keith AIsop, 7311; Recording
Secretary. Robert Willbum,
.37739: Reading Clerk, John Byzd,
34683.
Galveston and other Branch
minutes of previous meetings
read and approved. Secretary
Treasurer's report and Head
quarters report to the member
ship read and approved. Port
Agent spoke on the local shipK
^ing situation, which during the
i>ast two weeks had shown im
provement. PatrolmanDispatch
er's report was read and accept
ed. One minute of silence in
memory of departed Union
Brothers. Motion carried to, ad
journ at 7:30 PM.
i i i
MOBILE — Chairman,
Parker, 160; Recording
iary, James L. Carroll. 50409;
Reading Clerk, Harold J. Fis
Cher, 59.
Minutes of previous meetings
in aU Branches read and ap
pnoved. Port Agent stated that
shipping had b^n slow during
the past twoweek period. He
added that Feb. 15 had been set
as the tentative date for the
formal reopening of the Mobile
Hall. All major alterations have
been completed, he said, and
the next couple of weeks will
be devoted to the cleaning up
job. The Agent announced with
regret the death of Brother Ray
mond Foster, Steward, in the
Mobile Marine Hospital. Motion
carried that a floral wreath be
sent from Mobile Branch to
A&C Shipping from Jan, 18 To M. 1
PORT
Boston.
New York
Philadelphia.
Norfolk.
Savannah.
Tampa.
Mobile.
New Orleans.
Galveston ..
West Coast
GRAND TOTAL 345
REG. REG. REG. TOTAL SHIPPED SHIPPED SHIPPED TOTAL
DECK ENG. STWOS. REG. DECK ENG. STWDS. SHIPPED
16 9 8 33 3 ^ 4 7
98 98 96 292 9?. 80 81 253.
31 27 30 88 14 12 9 35
(No Figures Rectived) 64 66 71 201
35 41 26 102 . — 2 1 3
(No Figures Received) (No Figures Received)
9 8 5 22 27 26 21 74
24 20 « 20 ' €4 34 25 29 88
67 62 82 211 85 77 87 249
36 31 17 84 29 20 34 83
29 30 24 83 14 21 16 51
345 326 308 979 362 333 349 1,044
D. L.
Secre
Brother Foster's funeral. Mo
tions carried to accept as read
SecretaryTreasurer's financial
ieport .and Headquarter^ report
to the membership. One minute
of silence in memory of Broth
ers lost at sea. Meeting adjourn
ed at 7:35 PM, with 316 mem
bers present.
% % %.
NEW ORLEANS—Chairman,
Frenchy Michelet, 21194; Record
ing Secretary, Johnny Johnston,
53; Reading Clerk, Buck Steph
ens, 76.
Minutes of previous New Or
leans meeting read and approv
ed. Charges were read and mo
tions carried advising accused
that they must stand trial in
either New York, Galveston or
New Orleans Branches. Minutes
of other Branch meetings were
accepted as read. Port Agent
stated that • affairs of port are
in good shape, with shipping
somewhat slow. He said that
shipping might be improved in
the coming two weeks on the
basis of the number of payoffs
scheduled thus far. He added
that the coffee urn had been
okayed and would be rigged up
shortly. The Port Agent intro
duced SecretaryTreasurer Paul
Hall, who discussed the state of
the Union, the Union's policy in
respect to issuance of books, Jhe
favorable jobtobook ratio of
the Seafarers, and the Welfare
WILFRED "RED" SHEA
Get in touch with your mother
immediately. There is serious
illness home.
% X %
J, J, OTCEEFE
Write to your mother, 230 W.
^Parker Avenue, Bethlehem, Pa.
XXX
STONEY L. WILSON
; Your mother wants to hear
you.
XXX "
SAMUEL B, CUNNINGHAM
Write to your mother.
XXX
JAMES J. GORMAN.
: i Get in touch with your moth
er. Shd is worried about you.
Mrs. Mary Gorman, 2147 33rd
St.. Astoria 5; L. I., N. Y.
XXX
^ EMIL M. PAPIO
® Please me athome, Se
ijpsaicus, N. J. — Union 64322.
C Bob Z, '
XXX
AFTON J. B^SH
C<mfact Amo^trong, .458
iPacific Stteet, Brooklyn, N. Y. v
SILAS LESLIE
Call E. C. Savage, CO 72913
or Floral Park 22689.
XXX.,
ORVAL BURK
Get in touch with C. M. or
Richard L. Solomon at 2409
Parkville Place, Nashville, Tenn.
It's very urgent.
' XXX
JACK DALTON
'Write to Clement, Hospidales,
c/o SIU Hall, 51 Beaver Street,
New York.
XXX
FREDERICK R. BEHNKE
Your gear is being held
aboard SS Julesberg by Purser
until arrival in New Yorjc sonie
time in February.
XXX
EDGAR MARQUARDT
Will those crewmembers who
witnessed accident of this Broth
er aboard the SS BxiU Run on
December 31, 1949, get in touch
with Paul C. Matthcviis, 11
Broadway, New York City, m
ordef to protect his interests. • " • •
'• • • ''• cil'i^'It
• . i
Han now being negotiated. He
also spoke on the developments
in the Cities Service ,beef. Bro
ther Hall's thorough ieport was
weU accepted and applauded by
the membership. Communica
tions from membei's seeking to
be excused from the meeting
wei'e iefsred to the Dispatcher.
Communication read from New
Orleans Branch Agent of the
MFOWW, thanking Seafarei*s
who responded as blood donors
to call from one of the MFOWW
members. Headquarters report to
the membership read and ap
prove^. Motion carried to con
cur in committee recommenda
tion that two Brothers be allow
ed to become reactive. Brother
C. F. Bankston took the Union
Oath of Obligation. Motion to
adjouin carried at 8:10 PM, with
745 members present.
XXX
SAN FRANCISCO—Chairman.
W. McCuistion. 23138; Recording
Secretary, Jeff Morrison. 34213;
Readuig Clerk. P. M. R^jertson,
30148.
San Francisco's and other
Branch minutes of previous
meetings accepted as read. Port
Agent said that shipping had
been dead slow for past' two
weeks, but that coming two
week period looked better. He
recommended that Brothers in
port visit Seafarers' in the local
Marine Hospital as these visits
always give the patients a lift.
Committee was elected to hear
charges and to handle communi
cations from members seeking to
be excused from meeting. Broth
er Robert C. Stephens took the
Union Oath of Obligation. Mo
tion carried to refer* excuses to
Trial and Excuse Committee. Re
ports of the following committee
were read and accepted: Head
quarters Reinstatement Commit
tee, Headquarters Balloting Com
mittee, Trial and Excuse Com
mittee. Under Good and Welfare,
there was general discussion on
the prospects of shipping for this
port. The Agent statfd that it
was important that meni aboard
the intercoastal ships touching
the west coast ports do a first
class job. At 7:50 PM, . a motion
to adjourn carried, with 46 book
members ih attendance.
X X'X
NORFOLK—Chairman. .J. S.
White. 56: Recording Secretary,
jr. A. BuUock, 4747; Reading
Cler^ B.' P. Bees. 95.,
Minutes of previous meetings
of Norfolk nnd otlier Branches
accepted as read. Motion carried
to concur in Headquarters re
port to the membership. Agent
discussed shipping, the poor state
of which is partially the result
of the decline in coal production.
Communications from members,
wanting to be excused from
meeting were read, and motion
carried referring excuses to Dis
patcher for action. Secretary
IVeasurer's financial report was
read and approved. Reports of
following committees wer6 con
curred in: Trial Committee and
Headquarters Reinstatement
Committee., Under Good and
Welfare, there was. discussion on
the local shipping situation and
many ^ood points were stressed
by the speakers. Motion to ad
journ carried at 8 PM, with 102
members present.
X X.X
SAVANNAH^hsirman. Nol
lie Towns, 7193; Recording Sec
retary. J. F. Goude, 50999; Read
ing Clerk, E. M. Bryant, 25806.
Motion carried to accept pre
vious minutes of Savannah
Branch meeting. Secretary
Treasurer's financial report read
and accepted. Motion carried to
concur in Headquarters report to
the membership. Branch Agent
discussed shipping in Savannah.
Minutes of other Branch meet
ings read and accepted. Motion
carried to excuse J. Sellers fiom
meeting because he had to he
in New York on a legal matter.
Brother R. W. Thomas took the
Union Oath of Obligation. Dona
tion made to the March pf
Dimes. Under Good and Wel
fare, various subjects of import
ance to members were discussed,
including advisability of regis
tering and voting in city, county
and state elections. Men were
again reminded to patronize
Garden City cabs as they are.
the ordy ones employing Union
drivers. Discussion also took
place on starting blood hank in
Savannah for SIU members and
their families. Everyone thought
this was a good idea. Motion
carried to give Agent free hand
in getting, the bfoqd hank roll
ing. Meeting adjourned at 7:55
PM, with 108 members present.
XXX
BALTIMORE—Cheirman, Wil
liam Renlz. 26445; Recording
Secretary. A1 Stanrijury. 4683;
Reading Clerk. R. Dickey. 852.
Minutes of other Branch meet
ings read and acceptecl. Motion
carried to refer communications
from members seeking to he ex
cused from meeting to Dispatch
er. Communication read from
Local 74, American Federation
of Grain fillers, thanking SIU
for aid ih ' Eflresent beef. Head
quarters report to the member;;
ship, approved as read. Agent
reported that shipping is slow,
and that one beef on the Robin
Line Is stUl pending. He said
that A1 Stanshury had been
elected to the AFL Maryland
St^te and District of ^Columbia
brar>ch of Labor's .League for
Political Education, " and that
this committee will soon begin
working on a permanent basis.
Motion carried to accept Hospi
tal Conunittee's report. Mating
a^oumed at 7:50 PM, with ~
385 members present. , ^
.XXX '
PHILADELPHIA — Chairmaiw
A. S. CarduUo. 24599; Recording
Secretary, Ray Gates, 25128;
Reading Clerk. D. C. Hall. 43372.
Minutes of previous meetings
in aU Branches read and motions
carried to concur. . Port Agent
discussed shipping in Philadel. „
phia. Motion carried to alloy
Ed Callahan to change from
Group three to Group one. Mo
tion carried to concur in Secre '
taryTreasurer's financial report,
and Headquarters report to the
membership. Patrolman Dispat
cher's report accepted as read.
285 mem^rs were in attendance^
when meeting was adjourned.
XXX
NEW YORK — Chairman.
Charles Haymond. 98; Record
ing Secretary, Freddie Stewart.
4935; Reading Clerk. Robert
Matthews. 154.
Minutes^ of previous meetings
in all Branches read and ap
proved. Port Agent discussed
shipping, which is on the quiet
side. He cautioned men on
South African run not to miss
ship, us long detention sen ̂
tences are meted put by . the
governments there. Secretary
Treasurei's financial report ap
iwoved as read and motion car
ried to turn it over to auditing
committee for review. In Head
quarters report to the member
ship, Assistant SecretaryTrea
surer Matthews outlined the pro
gress being made on the Union's
welfare plan. All details have
not yet been worked out, fie
said, hut several more companies
lave joined the list of those
wlio have already agreed tP the
plan. He also discussed, the Cities ,
Service beef to date. Directof
of Organization Williams ela
borated on details of the Cities
Service beef and his report was
enthusiastic^y accepted. Ex
cuses were referred to"* the Dis
patcheci Charges were read and
referr^ to a Trial Committee.
Under Good and JiYelfare, meet
ing was tdtd about AFL Team
sters beef, which has the SlU's
hacking. All hands were ask^
to Help out.
^ ^ j
i|
The following men have money .
due them, as of last Noyemher.
Get in touch with Smith 8s
Johnson, '60 Beaver St., New,
York 4, New York.
SS EDWARD G. JANEWAY
.^'lick Bigney, Niel M. Grun v
dahl. Earl D. Johnson, Richai^ ^
P. McBride, Robert E.'Pritchar^
Lloyd Gk Schop, Louis M. Vo. '
liva, R. Fiore, Thomas Harris,''
Clyde A. Kent, Harold G*. Mc
Donald, Harold QUimhy, Ferdin
and Szohlik, Jason'Gihhs, Martin
J. Hitchcock, Daniel D. Lupton,
Erling Melle, Francisco M. Rej'^es, *'''
Roy Thompson. ^
SS JOHN W. CULLEN > j;:
. Hubert J; Andrews, Bobby R. j; ,
W. Guthrie, Edward A. UssCry, ; :
Jam^ R; » Bspdley, David : ̂
Mitchell, John Zohil, Eiwin R. ̂
Cooper, William C. Sipgletou;
SS JOHN GALLUP
Paul Gonzales, J. Mikaljunas, ; '
Otto J,; Stenmo. '
• J.' V •
/=
Ttiday< F«bniari^ ie. 1950 THE SEAFARERS IOC
lO($
,^a'oe_'^>U£!l
INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS
Earl A. Dunlop, $5.00; Norman R.
Petterson, $3.00; A. Coldsmit; $15.00;
V. A. MasciteUI, $5.00; K. Sterner.
$1.00; J. Scuba, $2.00; P. Heuler,
$2.00; H. Thomas. $5.00; R. H. Wat
kins. $10.00; J. 1. Fontendt. $1.00;
Nolan L. Flowers. $5.00; W. D. Fisher,
$10.00; R. F. Black. $3.00; J. J. Mc
Guire, $5.00.
S. Zavadcson, $1.00;^. J. Meyer
chak. $5.00; R. W. Miller. $5.00; S.
Caliaro, $1.00; P. Zappia, $25,00;
• p. N. Callo. $1.00; Woodward A.
Tobey. $5.00; Wm. J. Blakeley, $1.00;
B. B. Butler. $3.00.
SS EVELYN
J. Emerlck. $1.00; R. Miller, $3.00,
SS STEEL ADVOCATE
W. Stark, $2.00; E. Aubusson, $1.00;
A. Strachan, ̂ $ 1.00; P. Garofalo, $2.00;
R. Hernandez, $2.00; P. O'Rourke,
$1.00; L. Ryzod, $1.00; L. Dixon. $1.00;
P. Miller, $2.00; T. Snow, $1.00; E.
Madias, $1.00; M. Grant. $1.00; A.
BQnes, $1.00; V. Mahan, $1.00; W.
Panicls, $1.00; W. Budzinski, $l.pO;
A. Leiner, $3.00; T, Johnson, $1.00; R.
Jleale, $1.00; . T. Duncan. $5.00; M.
CunTniaii, $1.00; D. Tuinlln, $4.00.
SS CHICKASAW
• J.f) B. Zagorda, $1.00; R. B. Eader,
$1.00; E. Plnkowiki, $1.00; J. E. Utz,
$1.00; F. B. Youngblood, $2.00; V. P.
Williams, $2.00; A. Leonard, $1.00;
G. F. Turner. $1.00; J. Kumor, $1.00;
'i. W. Magarvy. $f.00; C. Szymanski.
$1.00; G. Krupick. $1.00; J. Fekete,
• $l.00j. R. M. Matson, $2.00; P. Cold.
^1.00.
SS HELEN
J. Wright, $1.00; A. Saavedra, $1.00;
J. PeGrazia, $1.00; J. C. Jones, $1.00;
R. W. Campbell, $1.00; W. Kovamees,
$liOb; J. Walkiewicz, $2.00.
, SS COLABEE
L. Nelson, $1.00; A. J. Lord. $1.00;
S. Dakota, $1.00: L. Seay. $1.00; J. C.
Carr, $1.00; A. C. Castelo. $1.00.
SS STEEL KING
A. Puracher, $2.00; D, C. Robinson.
$1.00; M. P. Davis, $2.00; Y. R. T>11
berg, $2.00; C. Tannehill, $3.00; O.
^cLran, $3.00.
SS EMELIA
E. Martinez, $1.00; Louis Aviles,
$1.00; Louis Torres, $1.00; T. "V.
Brown, $1.00; R. Kiminsky, $1.00;
E. Belkofsky, $25.00; J. R. Cleater,
$1.00; C. Rivera, $1.00; Robert Meeks,
• $1.00; C. Horvath. $1.00; J. J. Swy
Eert. $1.00; A. A. Mitchke, $1.00.
SS STEEL ROVER
• W. Hayes, $2.00; H. R. Hanssen,
$5.00; Chow Ching Miao. $5.00; C.
Adams. $3.00; P. Huss. $3.00; R.
Parville. $2.00; W. G. Heater, $3,00;
H. Taylor. $2.00; F. Logan, $2.00;
R. Munsell, $2.00; R. J. Rondbcrg.
$2,005 S. Santorio. $2.00; C. J. Palm
Majemik, $2.00; P. Rojo, $2.00: M.
Kopenhagen, $2.00; G. Street. $3.00;
J. C. Huber, $4.00; J. E. Naylor. $2.00:
S. F. Brunson, $4.00; J. MichaeL
$2.00; E. P. Naya, $2.00; T. Luciano.
$5.00; T. Blower. $5.00; G. F. Fflbert.
$2.00; N. Hughes. $2.00.
SS SLfZANNE
J. Bonefont, $1.00
SS FRANCIS
C. Ramos. $1.00.
SS SEATRAIN TEXAS
H. Nicholos, $1.00; E. C. Shaffer.
$1.00.
SS FRANCES
F. Townsend, $1.00.
SS FAIRLAND
I. C. Pongen, $2.50; J. C. Fernan
dez, $15.00; J. Giardina, $1.00; A. P.
Williams, $1.00; J. R. Pinoa, $2.00;
Thomas Foster. $2.00; L. G. Walberg.
$2.00; G. Miller, Jr.. $2.00; H. F.
Hammons, $1,00; U. S. Veach, * Jr..
$1.00; R. J. Cavanaugh, $1.00; 37 S..
Chayeo, $2.00.
SS EVISTAR
M. Laca. $2.00; A. Rivera. $2.00;
A. Perez, $2.00; W. Gale. $2.00; J.
Whalen. $1.00; R. Pitzer, $1.00; G,
Rourke. $1.00; W. Thorton, $1,00,
Cities Service Shews Bad Faith;
Unfair Dismissais Acceierated
{Continued from Page 1)
ly with the union overwhelm
ingly chosen by the seamen of
its tanker fleet in two National
Labor Relations Bofird elections."
The message also pointed to
the fact that because of the
Marine Division's obstinance, the
company stands to lose hundreds
of thousands of stockholders'
dollars as a result of more than
250 unfair labor practice charges
filed by its employees with the
NLRB.
"The Seafarers International
Union, as the legally certified
representative of the company's
seamen, has repeatedly attempt
ed to meet with Cities Service
to work out mutually acceptable
terms," the Union stated.
The message continued:
"The company, however, has
consistently refused to bargain
in good faith. The SIU prefers
to resolve the issues peaceably,
to negotiate a collective bar
gaining agreement across the
conference table. But it takes
tw6 to make a bargain.
"If the Marine Division would
accept its legal and moral obli
gations to its employees, to its
stockliolders and to the public,"
the Union statement said, "a
strike could be totally unneces
sary."
OS' HESPONSIBILITY
Should a strike develop, full
responsibility for it must be ac
cepted by the company, the
message concluded.
Immediately after publication
of the Union's statement, hun
dreds of inquiries and requests
for further information from
company stockholders began
pouring into SIU Headquarters
and Branch offices.
It was apparent that stock
holders were also besieging
the company officers for an ac
counting of Cities Service's xm
warranted stand in face of the
Union's strong case.
Coincident with the appear
Its Follow The Line — Or Eke, In Russia
This is another of a series of articles on the "Soviet System
of Mind Ck>ntroL" by one of America's outstanding educators.
Others will appear in subsequent issues.
By GEORGE S. COUNTS
The "ideological resolutions"
of the Central Committee of the
Party of Lenin and Stalin on the
literary arts, music, science, and
the press condemned everthing
"bourgeois" or Western and
glorified everything Russian or
Soviet without restraint. They
also attacked individueds with
utter savagery.
The character of this assault
on individuals is revealed in a
speech by Andrei Zhdanov, after
Stalin the most powerful mem
ber of the Politburo at the time,
on August 21, 1946. Representing
the absolute power of the Soviet
state, he interpreted the resolu
tion of 'the Central Committee
on literature at the First All
Union Congress of Soviet Writ
_ ^ ers and passed final judgment on
$5.oo"* B. KuMkow $1l.00; A. two popular writers who had
Directory Of SIU Halls
SIU, A&6 District
BALTIMORE 14 Nortii C«y St.
William Rentz, Agent Mulberry 4540
.BOSTON..., 273 State St.
Ben Lawson, Agent Richmond 20140
Dispatcher Richmond 20141
• GALVESTON 30854—23rd S*
Keith AIsop, Agent Phone 28448
LAKE CHAR^, La.... 1418 Ryan St.
JL. S. Johnston, Agent
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner, Agent Phono 21754
NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113
NEW YORK ...Bl Beaver St.
Joe Algina, Agent HAnover 22784
NORFOLK... 127129 Bank St.
Ben Reee, Agent Phone 41083
PHILADELPHIA, 337 Market St.
S. C^rdullo, Agent Market 71635
SAN FRANCISCO 85 Third St.
Jeff Morrieon, Agent Douglas 2B475
SAN JUAN, PR 282 Ponce de Leon
Sal Colls, Agent
SAVANNAH... 2 Abercorn St.
E. Bryanti Agent Phone 31728
SEATTLE .A 2700 Ist Ave.
Wm. McKay, Agent Seneca 4570
TAMPA 18091811 N. Franjflin St.
Ray White, Agent Phone 21323
WILMINGTON, CAlif., 227 V4 Avalon Blvd.
E. B. Tilley, Agent Terminal 42874
HEADQUARTERS. .51 Beaver St.; N.Y.C.
SECRETARYTREASURER
Paul Hall
DIRECTOR OF ORGANKATION
Lindsay WUiiaBis
ASST. SECRETARYTREASURERS
Robert Matthews Lloyd Gardner
Joseph Volpian
SUP.
HONOLULU ..16 Merchant St
, Phone 58777
PORTLAND.." Ill W. Bumside St.
Beacon 4336
RICHMOND, CaHf, ,257 5th St.
. Phone 2599
SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St.
Douglas 28363
SEATTLE ....\..86 Seneca St
Main 0290
WILMINGTON.. 440 Avalon Blvd.
Terminal 43131
Canadian District
MONTREAL... .....404 Le Moyne St
UNiversUy 2427
FORT WILUAM. .118'/4 Syndicate Aveu
Ontario Phone 33221
HALIFAX 128 H HoHit' St
Phone 38911
PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St
Phone 5591
TORONTO 111 A Jarvis St
Elgin 5710
VICTORIA, B.C 602 Boughton St
Empire 4531
VANCOUVER 565 Huston St
Pacific' 7024
HEADQUARTERS......BIS McGUI St.
Montreal Piateau 576
been critized unmercifully in the
resolution — Mikhail Zoshchenko
and Anna Akhmatova. He char
acterized Zoshchenko as follows:
"Zoshchenko, like the Philis
tine and vulgarian ^at he is,
chose as his permanent theme
digging into the basest and pet
tiest sides of life . . ̂ Only the
dregs of literature could produce
such 'works' ... In this tale
Zoshchenko turned his vulgar
and mean little soul inside out...
"He, spat on public opinion ...
The thoroughly putrid and cor
rupt sociopolitical and literary
physiognomy of Zoshchenko was
not formed in the most recent
period . . . Let him reform. But
he does not want to reform. Let
him get out of Soviet literature.
In Soviet literature there can be
no "blace for putrid, empty, vul
gar, and ideologically indifferent
works.
CARICATURE CHARGED
"He depicts .Soviet people as
ance of the advertisement in the
New York Times, 16 Cities Ser
vice seamen were filing charges
of imfair labor practices against
the company, after they were
fired two days earlier off the
Government Camp in Boston;
The men charged they weffe dis
missed because of vmion activit
ies.
On Feb. 3, seven members of
the~ Fort Hoskins crew were fired
in Baltimore. They also" filed
charges with the NLRB.
Even as yesterday's meeting
between company and Union rep
resentatives was in progress, CS
officials were firing nine pro
SlU crewmen of the Salem Mar
itime, as the ship tied up in,
Stapleton, Staten, Island.
' That the Union's appeal to the
stockholders, and a similar mes 7
saige sent" direct to members of ;
the Board of Directors, was re •
sponsible for yesterday's meet q
ing appears obvious in view of ^
the company's stand offishness if
up to that point. if
In registered letters sent to^^
the company on January 4 and f
on January 20, the SJU request J |
ed meetings with the CS officials..
Both appeals were ignored.
AT LAST MINUTE
A third Union appeal was for
i warded to the company on Jan.
with motifs of sadness, anguish,
death, mysticism and doom . . .
Not quite a nun and not quite a
fomicatrix, but rather a forni
catrix and a nun in whom for
nication is mingled with prayer."
SAVAGE ATTACK
The American reader should
know that the voice of Zhdanov
was not the voice of a publish
er, of a rich patron, of a literary
critic, or even of the head of a
Congressional Committee who
might be haled into court on a
charge of defrauding his gov
ernment. All who heard his
speech knew that the court of
last resort had spoken. As for
Z o s h c h enko and Akhmatova,
they knew that they would nev
er "rise again," unless they
grovelled before the Party, re
nounced their past and demon
strated by deed a genuine state
of contrition. No^fcOne dared to
loafers and monsters, as stupid I come to their defense at meet
"The subjectmatter of Akhma
tova is individualistic to the
core. Her poetry is poverty
stricken—the poetry of a frantic _
little lady, rushing back and; 3o7 asking for a" ronfereiice on
forth between the boudoir and'Feb. 6 at 11 AM. This request
the chapel. Basic with her are, also ignored, until a half
amorouserotic motifs, interlaced hour before the hour set by the
and crude people . . . Zoshchen
ko habitually mocks at Soviet
life, Soviet institutions, Soviet
people ... In his Adventures of
a Monkey he gives a deliberate
ly deformed and vulgar carica
ture of the life of the Soviet
people in order to insert into
the mouth of the monkey the
vile, poisonous, antiSoviet max
im that it is better to live in a
zoo" than at liberty, and that it
is easier to breathe in a cage
than among Soviet people . . .
How can the people of Leningrad
tolerate on the pages of their
journals such filth and obscen
ity? '
"With cynical frankness he
continues to remain a preacher
of ideological' indiffeience and
vulgarity, an unprincipled and
unscrupulous literary hooligan."
Zhdanov pays a "tribute" of
same order to Akhmatova:
^'Akhmatova is a repi'esenta
tive of this ideologyless reaction
ary swamp . . . She preaches
the theory of 'art for art's sake;'
of 'beauty fcr beauty's sake.'
ings, in the press, or over the
radio. They were forsaken by
former friends and acquaint
ances. They had become "en
emies of the peojfie." There are
countless Zoshchenkos and Akh
matovas in the Soviet Union to
day.
Check Sailing Time
Don't depend on guesses or
rumors. Before going ashore,
take a look at the sailing
board so youTl know when
your ship is scheduled to
"leave port. If the time is not
posted, ask the Delegates to
find out the correct depar
ture time from the Mate.
In any event, don't leave
the ship until you know
when you're due back
aboard. YouH save yourself
and your shipmates a lot of
trouble by checking with 4he
proper souzcesk
Union.
At that time a company rep
resentative notified the SIU by
telephone that Marine Division
officials would attend a meeting;
later get for yesterday.
At the outset of the session, it
was crystal clear that the com<*
pany was talking—but not bar
gaining in good faith. Marine
Division officials stated point
blank that they would not dis
cuss any contract which would
cover the nine ships voted in.
the second NLRB election and
for which the SIU had been cer
tified on Dec. 2 last.
The CS spokesmen admitted
they had no further legal re .
course to upset the certification
award,, but they refused to ac
cept it nevertheless.
RUMOR DISPELLED
Shortly after the meeting got ,
underway, the SIU representa
tives told the Marine Division
officials that in order to dispel
rumors spread by the company,
the Union wanted it clearly un
derstood that it was not asking
Cities Service to sign any s^ree
ment that wasn't in conformity
with the law.
As the conference drew to a
close, the SIU representatives
declared their willingness to
meet with the company at any
time, preferably the next day, to
continue their efforts toward ob^
taining a contract.
The company people said they
were too busy" with other com
mitments to meet before Feb.
16. The SIU men said they, toi),
had other business, but that in :
view of the importance of • the
current situation they would put
everything else aside in the in •
terest of resolving the issue
threugh collective bargaining
procedure.
The Union also demanded that
the company designate an auth
orized spokesman to meet md
bargain with the Union and who
would be accessible for discus;;
sion at all times.
Twelve:, TBE SEAFARERS laC FMdai^ io.
X.'
i'Ji' TO THE STOCKHOLDERS OF CITIES SERWOE OIL COMPAIIY:
• • "Si
f
Cities Service Oil Company faces a paralyzing and costly strike which will affect all of its operationSy because its Marine Division refuses
to recognize' and bargain collectively with the union overwhelmingly chosen by the seamen of its tofiker fleet in two National Labor
Relations Board collective bargainipg elections. . i
In -addition. Cities Service Oil Company stands to lose hundreds of thousands of your dollars as a result of more than 230 unfair labor '
practice charges filed by its employees with the National Labor Relations Board. ' ' " %
fe'' WHAT ARE THE FACTS IN THE CASE? %ii
h I Three years ago the Seafarers International
jltJnion, AFL, filed a petition for an election among
ihe seamen of the Cities Service tanker fleet. The
v company fought the union, spending thousands of
your dollars in legal fees, in the organizing and
^supporting of a companydominated "union," and
iy-Jin costly staUing maneuvers. Despite this, the sea
,:men chose the Seafarers International Union to
^represent them in two NLRB elections, by major
'||ties of 83 percent in the first and 89 percent in
^the second.
As a result of these elections, the SlU'was offi
cially certified by the NLRB to represent the un
licensed personnel of the company's tanker fleet.
Cities Service's Marine Division has used every
device to evade its legal obligation to enter into
collective bargaining negotiations with the SIU.
It even refused to cooperate with the Government
in the conduct of the elections, ^
The Marine Division has sponsored and sup
ported a company "union" in order to stall the
legal machinery which would bring the seamen
representation of their own choosing. This com
pany "union," Cities Service Tankermen's Asso
ciation, was patterned after two other company
dominated organizations which were declared il
legal and ordered dissolved by the NLRB and
court orders, ^
Aboard its ships. Cities Service has employed
a spy. system to ferret out for dismissal the pro
union men in its fleet. On one ship alone, for ex
ample — the SS Government Camjji, on July* 22,
1949, at Linden, New Jersey — 28 men of a 32man
crew were fired for tmion activities. We believe
each one of these dismissals constitutes an unfair
labor practice, for which damages can be collected.
Thus far, more than 250 of these cases have been
filed against the company.
ft,K:
• '
WHAT DO THESE MASS FIRINGS MEAN TO YOU?
j
1
yl
When these unfair labor practice charges are
?proved. Cities Service will have to— in addition
to reinstating these men to their former jobs —
PAY EACH AND EVERY MAN WAGES AND
tSUBSISTENCE FOR EVERY UNEMPLOYED
'^DAY FROM THE TIME HE WAS FIRED TO THE
DAY HE RESUMES HIS JOB,
%r All of these cases are well documented and
supported by affidavits on file with the NLRB,
and will be proved. Since some of these cases will
have run for as long as three years before being
finally adjudicated, the total amount involved
may well run into hundreds of thousands of dol*
lars — of your money.
And that is not all. The longer the Marine
Division persists in its antiunion firings, the more
unfair labor practice charges will be filed against
the company — and proved.
Nor will company losses — your losses — And
there, jj
Should the union be forced to strike the com
pany because of the Marine Division's policy, all
segments of the Cities Service enipire ̂ iU btt
seriously affected, ^
WHO WILL LOSE IF A STRIKE IS CALLED?
You, the stockholders of Cities Service, will b®
the only losers. It will mean money out of your
pocket, all because of the Marine Division's anti
quated labor policy — a policy that is completely
at variance with the established pattern of other
divisions of Cities Service, which enjoy amicable
contractual relations with bona fide trade unions.
The Sea:fe'rers International Union, as the legally
idertified representative of the company's seamen,
has repeatedly attempted to meet with Cities
Service to work out mutually acceptable terms.
The company, however, has consistently refused
to bargain in good faith. The SIU prefers to resolve
the issues peaceably, to negotiate a collective bar
gaining agreement across the conference table.
But it takes two to make a bargain.
The Seafarers International Union has contracts
with 52 American steamship companies, operat
ing passenger ships, freight ships and oil tankers^
and is recognized in the maritime industry as a
reputable and responsible organization. t
If the Marine Division would accept its' leg^
and moral obligations to its employees, to its stock
holders and to the public, a strike would be totally
unnecessary. If a strike is called against the Marine
Division, the Cities Service Oil Com|>any must
accept full responsibility.
If you would like a copy of the complete, documented story of the SIU's case
against Cities Service—from its inception in October, 1946, to tlx present date—write
to any of these four of the major branches of the Seafarers International Union.
276 STATE STREET / 337 MARKET STREET
BOSTON 9, MASS, PHILADELPHIA, PA,
81 BEAVER STREET
NEW YORK 4, N,Y,
1419 RYAN STREET
L'AKE CHARLES, LA,
SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA, AFL
• Tiiumc UB lUF DisnticT /; ' laJsllS
fyB\ l/^](5rhis ad api/eared originally in the New York "Times" on February 2, and the New York ^raW/Tribune" on 1^br^