https://seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/2e63942d8d6d9baaadd3cde5798628a4.PDF c042d843089200ab77b47a8ae6f2a8ce PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Union of North America VOL. X NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY, MAY 14. 1948 Cuba Distilling Vote Nems NEW YORK—As a result of a formal hearing held on May 6 at the Second Regional office of the National Labor Relations Board, between representatives of the Seafarers International Union and the Cuba Distilling Company, an election in that fleet to determine the collective bargaining agent for the unlicensed personnel has been ^brought closer. The election date has not yet been set, but all parties have agreed to the payroll period preceding the date the NLRB orders the election held. The SlU will be the only union on the ballot. Part of the discussion on May 6 centered around the ap­ propriate unit to be included in the voting. The Union in­ sisted that edl unlicensed men be permitted to vote and, ' after this position was supported by the NLRB officials, the company representatives conceded. SHORT CAMPAIGN The drive to organize the Cuba Distilling Company started a few months ago when the company went back into business after being knocked-out by the war. At the present time the company operates two vessels, the SS Catahoula and the SS Carrabulle, but more ships are expected to be added. Men of the fleet responded quickly to the organizing cam­ paign, and pledge cards were signed by more than two-thirds of the eligible unlicensed personnel. All men sailing on Cuba Distilling Company ships are urged by Lindsey Williams, Director of Organization, to stay aboard until the election is held. Only in that way. Brother Williams contends, can they make sure that this company too, wUl be SlU. Seafarers Hits Merger Of MEBA. Radio Men NEW YORK—Protesting that ering 1,513 vessels, while the CIO the proposed affiliation of the Radio Operators have agreements CIO Radio Operators to the with only 33 outfits, covering 134 ships. : Marine Engineers Beneficial As­ ROU MAJORITY sociation, CIO, constitutes "a threat to all AEL maritime un­ Companies contracted to the ions," arid would result in "the (?IO Radio Operators controlled immediate formation of a riva only 134 vessels prior to the AFL union for Marine Engi­ war, and as peacetime operations neers," the SIU this week sent a continue, will have fewer than . telegram to the 72nd Convention the 134 now in operation. Added of the MEBA, meeting in Jack­ to this is the fact that many of the biggest lines which used to sonville, Florida. Initiating the blast was the be contracted to the CIO are Radio Officers' Union, AFL, now sailing under agreements of which sent a letter to every con- the ROU. Over sixty percent of the Radio ventioh delegate, requesting a "NO" vote against the affiliation, Officers employed on American so that peace could be maintained Flag vessels are members of the ROU, and the ROU organizing along the waterfront. drive has been making great The letter, signed by Fred M. strides recently. ^ Howe, General Secretary-Treas­ urer, pointed out that ROU has The deal to take the CIO Radio contracts with 45 companies, cov Operators into the MEBA was at top CIO levels. The Amer­ ican Communications Association, which is the parerit organization of the operators, is dominated by the communists. This has caused : The nation-wide wave of many disputes in the union, and strikes continues. This week, in nineteen Chrysler plants, the latest of these threatened to split the ACA. in thtee states, members of To prevent this, top leadership the United Automobile Work­ ers. CIO, walked oN the job. of the CIO inaugurated a move The strike is entirely over lb affiliate the Operators with wages. The. union demands the Engineers. Since the CIO Radio Operators have not been 30-cents-per-hour. and the company has offered six. able to organize effectively, Uie Engineers are also expected to. cents. take on this task. ^ ^ UAW On Strike No. 20 A&G Growth Continues As Two More Companies Sign Tanker Agreements NEW YORK—The on-rushing tanker organization drive of the Seafares In­ ternational Union gathered new momentum this week as two more contracts were signed with new outfits. They are the Palmer Shipping Corporation and the Ameri­ can Tramp Shipping Development Corporation. The agreements were - consummated with Captain Charles D. Wright, operations manager for the Mar-Trade Corporation, general agents for these companies. Both contracts include the new higher wage scale won in negotiations with-the Tanker Sag Harbor Corporation and the Petrol Tanker Industries recently, and which a. were written into the agree­ ments signed last week with the Philadelphia Marine Corpo­ ration and the Metro Petroleum Shipping Corporation. As of this time, each com­ pany is operating one ship. The _ a > Libare voting_ SS. Nathaniel . . , B. Palmer, , WASHINGTON — That very , Besides,• workers V. • nn . erty-type tanker, carries the col/.u n i ou- • thoughtful.guardian'of the public for the union shop in 99 per cent i jors of the Palmer Shipping Cor-. iriterest. Representative Fred A. of . ,rases" . • poration, and the SS Stony • ^ ^ ^ Hartley, co-author of the infam­ This fact was even more phatically attested to by Robert ous Taft-Hartley law, now openly the flag of the American Tramp admits he's been wasting the tax­ N. Denham, chief counsel for the Shipping Development-Corp. NLRB", in a speech before a con- Both companies, however, are payers' money. The Congressman very humbly vention of hosiery manufacturers. negotiating for additions , to their stated in Chicago last week it is Denham stated that "in only a fleets, and there is a strong pos­ now obvious that union shop handful of cases.—certainly less sibility that more ships will be elections required by the Taft- than 50 out of 6,000—did the pro­ added in the very near future. Hartley law constitute "a waste position for union authorization All of which means more jobs fail to carry." And there's no for SIU members. of government money." Although he said at first that reason to believe they'll be any On the Cities Service front, the vast number of petitions filed change in these figures, he added. nothing new has developed. SIU Hartley is now considering a attorney Ben Sterling expects with the National Labffr Rela­ change in the law to eliminate word from the National Labor tions Board made the union shop the union shop election require­ Relations Board at any moment, ' elections "impos-sible to adminis­ ter," Hartley revealed the real ment, which is costing the gov-, certifying the Union as collective reason for the waste of money ernment an estimated $4,000,000 bargaining agent for the un­ this year.-. when he added: licensed personnel of the fleet. All of the company's protests and appeals have been thrown out, and all that remains now is the final certification. For news about the Cuba Dis­ Recommending thai the new Caimar and Ore Lines agree­ tilling Company see this page. ment be ratified by the membership, and that the contract be accepted, the Negotiating Committee for the SlU this week issued a report on negotiations with the aforementioned com­ panies. Many of the inequities which existed in previous agree­ ments have been eliminated, and the Caimar and Ore contracts NEW ORLEANS — The next have been brought up to a scale, both in Working Rules and regular membership meeting on wages, which is comparable to standard SlU agreements. May 19 will mark the official All provisions of the new contract, if ratified by the opening of the new SIU branch next regular membership meeting, are retroactive to April hall in this port. The imposing 5, 1948. One of the new points on which the company has Union structure is located at given in is the option for the Union to reopen the wage 523-29 Bienville Street. question at any 'time after July 31, 1948. Because of the ample accom­ This Union is the only labor organization having in its modations, the Union will occupy contracts the unique clause which permits new negotiations only the second and third floors on the wage scale any time during the life of the contracts, of the building, according to , without voiding the other provisions. Building Superintendent Frenchy For the first time since Caimar and Ore have been under Michelet. He said that present contract to - this Union, a vacation clause has been written plans call for the renting of the into the agreement, and the same thing goes for Room Al­ first floor thus providing a lowances. The list of Penalty Cargoes has been raised from one source of income for the Union. : to sixteen, and launch service will be provided at company The second floor will house r expense. the Dispatching Deck, with the The report of the Negotiations Committee starts on page 3. recreation rooms and Union , of­ fices on the third floor. Hartley Ailmits Slave Law Wastes Gov't Time, Money Caimar, Ore Pacts Negotkited New Orleans Branch To Open New Hall ,.;ij • �Page Two THE S E"A:F AR ERS LOG Friday. May 14. 1948 SEAFARERS LOG Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District P Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N. Y. HAnoyer 2-2784 Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. 267 Looking Ahead These are hard times—hard times for working stiffs trying to make both ends meet on wages which are rapidly shrinking—^hard times for people who have been let out ^ of work now that the war is over—and. hard times for anyone who belongs to a labor union. The anti-labor forces in the United States got a boost and a green light when the Taft-Hartley law was passed, and they have made the most of it. All during the history of the American labor movement, the bosses have always had the best of things. The police worked for them, the newspapers were owned by them, and the courts always managed to rule in favor of the bosses and against the workers. But the fat boys were not satisfied. Labor still had the right to organize and the right to strike. And so, at the behest of the employers, who really rule the United States, Congress passed the Taft-Hartley law. What has followed so far is only a slight picture of what is going to take place. JFirst the American Communications Association, CIO, was baclly beaten in its strike ' against Western Union. Next the United Financial Em­ ployes, AFL, was forced to accept less than their full demands from the New York Stock Exchange. Hospital Patients At the present time the CIO Packinghouse Workers arc being soundly whipped by a coalition consisting of the powerful meat packing interests and the police au­ thorities. • < . ' When entering the hospital notify the delegates by post­ card, giving your name and the number of your ward. Stolen Island Hospital To further blacken the picture we find the supposedYou can contact your Hos­ ly impartial federal courts actively arrayed on the same pital delegate at the Staten sHe as the employers. In the case of the United Mine Island Hospital at the follow­ Workers, Judge Goldsborough ruled the miners' walkout ing times: was illegal, and agairr in the case of the railroad workers 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. These are Ihe Union Brolhers currently in the marine hospitals, Tuesday this same judge has granted an injunction which deprives (en 5th and 61h floors.) the RR men of the right to strike for increased wages as reported by the Port Agents. These Brothers lind time hanging heavily on their hands. Do what you can to cheer them up by Thursday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. and improved conditions. (on 3rd and 4th floors.) writing to them. Well, what's the answer? Saturday — 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. MOBILE IflOSPITAL E. HEBERT (on 1st and 2nd floors.) J. KENNAIR To some extent, what has happened has been labor's J. B. McGUFFIN J. H. ASHURST own fault. Too many labor leaders, taking the easy way, E. B. HALL J. E. MAYHART H. KNUTSON 1. B. GRIERSON leaned on the government bureaucrats and therefore did L. H. HAMMOND L. A. HOLMES S. RIVERA C. PETTERSON not provide militant and wide-awake leadership for their TIM BURKE H. CORTES T. DAILEY unions. A. JENSBY 4. i t A. OLSEN • * G. R. MITCHELL GALVESTON HOSPITAL R. E. GRAYAY This undermined morale, and helped to disorganize '' M. CASTRO S. LeBLANC the unions. And the Taft-Hartley law is part of the price FRANK NIGRO J. H. MURRAY ' M. PETERSON J. WALSH labor is paying. C. NANGLE M. FITZGERALD ADOLPH GAILIS 4 4 4 We in the Seafarers International Union never de­ E. S. LERMA SAVANNAH HOSPITAL STATEN ISLAND HOSPITAL pended on the Washington red-tape artists to organize WILLIAM H. BROWN J. R. ROLIN FRANCIS VIGEANO E. WILISCH seamen, to make and hold gains for seamen, or to do J. TURNER • Jfc 4" • P. FRANKMANIS seamen any favors whatsoever. J. NEELY NEW ORLEANS HOSPITAL J. GORDON W. F. RAYNEN E. OLSEN We have always realized that the government is not F. GARRETSON J, J. FERGUSON S. HEIDUCKI the friend of the working stiff, but is the servant of the A. LOOPER W. H. KUMKE J. McNEELY , TROY THOMAS boss. And in the long run, our stand has been proven to J. DENNIS H. ZVORAK C. MASON C. E. BOYD be the correct one. P. LOPEZ A. LIPARI W. B. HARRELL J. L. ROBERTS At this time we are preparing for what may turn P. D. VAUGHN 4 4 4 F. NERING A. AMUNDSEN BRIGHTON MARINE HOSPV out to be a knock-down and drag-out fight over the N. A. GENOVESE T. J. KURKI R. LORD P. R. WAGNER question of the Hiring Hall. To prepare for this, we have G. BRADY A. BONTI M. ROSENBERG not gone howling to Washington for help—^NO, we have L. D. WEBB J. PENSWICK D. E. BRAGG streamlined and tightened our organization, and have R. BUNCH W. CAREY J. QUIMARA started to collect a strike fund which will enable us to A. EDEFORS J. CONNOLLY J. OVERTON ''' 'E. H. IVARRA ; dig in for a long and hard tussle. J.KOHY SOLIVA M. L. CLARKE R. KING M; MORRISON " j' ,We are preparing for the worst, and hoping for the' E. DRIGGERS j.'.LEES'; • ^'T. MACK • J. GAINSLAND ; best. But, and this is important, wfi are prepared. J. CHARRETTE^ J. W. McCASLIN B. DUFFY Men Now In The Marme HospHnk ::,:0 :^:8| •-i' �Friday. May 14, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Pag« Three Report On Galmar, Ore Agreements • Your Negotiating Committee, after a long series of meetings with Galmar and Ore Steamship Companies' This report covers only those parts of the Cal­ representatives, has agreed to a tentative contract mar and Ore contracts which are marked im­ and hereby submits the following report and contracts provements over the old agreements. For a copy for the membership to take action on. This report is of the full contract see the Agent in your port. broken down into four sections so as to deal with specific items, as follows: General Working Rules, Deck Department Working Rules, Engine Department Working Rules, and Stewards Department Working opening of the wage scale in these contracts any time after July 31, 1^48. Calrriar and Ore were the only two Rules. companies contracted to the SIU up to this point not There is one question, however, that is covered in to have this clause in their contract. It means simply, the General Working Rules which the Committee feels is necessary to deal with separately, and that is as in the case of other SIU contracts, that after the aforementioned date, we can open the wage scales the question of the Hiring Hall Clause. with these two companies any time we so desire upon proper notification. Hiring Hall Clause Your Committee wishes,to clarify, fbr the members , who are not familiar with it, the contractual back­ ground of negotiations and relationship between Calmar and Ore Steamship Companies and the SIU. Although this . Union has. been shipping men to Calmar and Ore since approximately 1939, we did not have our •first signed agreement with these people until Janu­ ary, 1946. This was due to a series of problems, both internal and external, which prevented forcing these companies to a signed agreement with the Union. The membership of the Union, in-, an effort to secure a signed contract, finally went on record to inform the former Secretary-Treasurer, in ^the event of his failure to negotiate a contract with fhese people, to submit the entire matter in disputed form to the War Labor Board for a decision. This was done and the first signed contract was a result of this decision. As could be expected, this WLB contract between the Union and Calmar and Ore was inferior to the Sib s^ndard contract. In every manner, the contract they handed down was below regular SIU conditions. One of the main things wrong with this contract was that the WLB made no findings whatsoever in the matter of the method of hiring." The Company nevertheless continued (as it has since 1940) hiring all replacements through the regularchannels of the SIU Hiring Halls. The Union, therefore, in the process of negotiating this new contract, ran headlong into this question of the Hiring Hall with Calmar and Ore. The Companies have taken the position that becaiise of the TaftHartley Law, they will not consent to our regular SIU Hiring Hall Clause to be included in this newly negotiated contract. Your Negotiating Committee, rather than to agree to a compromise of the Union Hiring Hall in any form, therefore agteed to the following clause to be used on this matter. This makes it possible to take this matter back up with the operator when it is to the Union's best interest: SECTION 6. HIRING OF EMPLOYEES The Company and the Union shall continue to negotiate with regard to provisions relating to the hiring of Unlicensed Personpel. No question regard­ ing the failure of the parties to agree upon such provisions shall be submitted to arbitration under the provisions of Section 2 of Article III of this Agreement. Your Committee agreed to this for the simple reason that we did not deem it advisable at this time to recommend to our membership to strike these two companies for the purpose of obtaining the regular SIU Hiring Hall Clause. We did this with the full knowledge that the majority of all SIU contracts will start expiring July 31, 1048. At this time, after estab­ lishing the pattern for the maintenance of our Hiring Hall in ALL companies, we can then apply the same pattern to- these two companies. We feel that when the chips are down the latterpart of this year, and we fight for the life of our Hiring Hall, we should not do it piece-meal, but should instead handle our affaii-s in such a manner as to bring this entire battle for the preservation of the Hiring Hall to a conclusion in an overall industrial fight, in­ volving all companies, rather than one or two com­ panies. There is no question but that the larger the strike, if such a strike is nece.ssavy, the better the chance for winning. The Committee fux'ther points out, and the following report will show, that the rest of the agreement as negotiated, not only in wages, but in contractual con­ ditions as -well, represents a tremendous gain for our membership ;n- Calmar and Ore vessels. It is to be pointed out that eight previous years of negotiations with these pfeople failed to produce these same gains. We therefore urge the membership to study this entire report with the most careful consideration. l|-- B,, SECTION 6 — REST PERIODS In the previous Calmar and Ore contracts, crew members could be required to work from midnight to 8 a.m. in port and then have to put in their full day's work, receiving overtime only for those hours from midnight to 8 a.m. Overtime did not apply for the regular eight hours regular day work. Under the new contract, this clause has been brought up to the same standard as the regular SIU contract, i.e., unless a man is given a rest period for this work done, hour for hour, he is paid overtime in lieu thereof. SECTION 8 — PAYMENT OF OVERTIME The Union in this new contract secured for the first time with the Calmar and Ore companies the same provisions as in other SIU contracts providing that "If paymei\t of any such money shall be unreasonably delayed by the Company beyond such 24 hours, addi­ tional compensation shall be paid at the rate of $10 for each calendar day (excluding Saturdays, Sundays ajrd Holidays) or fraction thereof that such payment shall be so delayed; provided, however, that this pro­ vision 'shall not be applicable to the payment of money for overtime in dispute." SECTION 11 — PENALTY CARGO Under the old contract, only one item was qonsidered penalty cargo insofar as the $10 per voyage was concerned. We have managed to raise this list of rated penalty cargoes to 16, which includes all of the penalty clause items now in the standard SIU contract. SECTION 16 — PORT TIME Under the old contract, the definition of port time was very vague and indefinite with the result that our members lost- thousands of dollars in legitimate over­ time. Now we have secured the standard port time clause as is in the regular SIU contract. This means that it will increase the membership's earning capacity on this matter and will cause far less confusion than pr-eviou.sly. ^ SECTION 23 — CREW'S QUARTERS The Union has been able to negotiate into the Calmar and Ore contracts for the first time the standard SIU clause providing room allowance to be paid under various conditions, -such as when heat is not furnished, hot water is not available, crew's quarters being paint­ ed, etc., and at all times when the vessel is in drydock overnight. Under the old contract no such like condi­ tions were provided for with the result of a loss in conditions for the membeiihip. This is now corrected. SECTION 37 — VACATIONS The newly negotiated contract will provide for the first time a vacation clause for the membership. The vacation clause in the new Calmar and Ore contracts is much the same as provided for in the standard SIU contract. SECTION 39 — LAltNCH SERVICE For the first time this new contract will provide a clause providing, at company expense, launch service for crew members and where they make their own arrangements for transportation, the company shall re­ imburse each member $2 per round trip. Deck Department Working Rules SECTION 2 — WATCHES Under the old contract, the question of whether or not sea watches were broken or maintained in port was left entirely up to the master. This has been eliminated and the matter of breaking and setting watches is very clearly outlined in the new agree­ ment. Setting and breaking of- watches will be deter­ mined on the basis of a vessel's stay in port. This is in the same manner as in the standard SIU contract. SECTION 3 — WORK IN PORT WHEN SEA WATCHES ARE BROKEN General Rules This section provides that when gangway watches . TERM' OF AGREEMENT—WAGE REOPENING are to be maintained in port, rnembers of the Deck Department will stand such watches. This provision • The Union has been able to negotiate into the Cal- . was not in the old contract sird will mean an addi­ mar and Ore contracts a-clause providing for the re-. tional earning point for our membership for week­ ends while in port. SECTION 11 — CARGO GEAR Under the old contract, there was no provision as to the number of deck men to be used at any time when gear was being rigged. Under the provisions of the new contract, when more than two sets of gear are being rigged, the two watches below as well as the day workers must be used. SECTION 15 — SANITARY WORK The old contract provided only one hour for Ordi­ nary Seamen cleaning unlicensed Deck Department quarters. The new contract provides 2 hours each day shall be allowed for this work. SECTION 18 — CARPENTER'S WORK Under the old contract the Carpenter w^ required to take soundings regardless of where sounding pipe was located, which, in some cases, was down in the shaftalley. He was also required as part of his routine duties to take soundings after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m. and on Saturday afternoons, Sundays, and Holidays, without the payment of overtime. Under the new con­ tract, he is only required to sound tanks where the sounding pipes are located outside engine or fireroom spaces and if required to take soundings after 5 p.m. and before 8 a.m., or on Saturday afternoons, Sundays and Holidays, he shall be paid for such work at the regular overtime rate. SECTION 19 — RELIEVING HELMSMAN The old contract provided that on vessels equipped with iron mikes the helmsman could be required to do maintenance work on the bridge. This provision has been eliminated altogether in the new contract. SECTION 22 — TYING UP AND LETTING GO. The old contract didn't provide for the number of sailors to be used in tying up and letting go. The new contract provides that all available sailors shall be used for this work. Engine Department Working Rules SECTION 2 — WATCHES Under the old contract when a vessel was in port, oilers could either be put on day work or donkey watch as the Engineers saw fit. If the ship didn't go to a dock, the master could maintain sea watches re­ gardless of the length of stay in port. Under the new contract, this has been abolished. Now, when the vessel's scheduled stay in port is to exceed 24 hours, sea watches must be broken and oilers then go on day work. This is in line with the regular SIU standard contract. SECTION 8 — DUTIES OF OILERS Under the old contract, the duties of oilers when on day work were very vague. He could be required to work anywhere in the Engine Department, outside engine spaces on such work as taking on stores, water and fuel. Under the new contract, oilers are now strictly confined to maintenance and repair work in engine spaces. Any time he is required to work out­ side engine spaces he now gets overtihre. This means that for the first time in these companies' contracts, when an oiler oils winches at any time, day or night, he shall be paid at the overtime i-ate. SECTION 7 — FIREMAN-WATERTENDER The old contract provided that the Fireman-Watertender could be assigned cleaning' stations in the fireroom. The new contract provides that Fireman- Watertenders on sea watches shall clean burners, fuel oil strainers and drip pans, punch carbon, keep steam, watch fuel oil pressure and temperature and tend water. If required to do any cleaning work, he shall receive overtime. SECTION 8 — DUTIES OF WIPERS The new contract covering Wipers has been clarified over the old contract to a great degree. One of the new provisions is that the Wiper now will get two hours for cleaning unlicensed Engine Department quarters, where, under the old contract, he was only allowed one hour. Stewards Department Working Rules SECTION 2 — WORKING HOURS Where the ol^ contract provided that Stewards De­ partment working hours were eight hours in a spread of thirteen while the ship was at sea, the new contr-act provides for eight hours in a spread of twelve hours. SECTION 4 — OIL STOVES c p This is an addition which the old contract didn't ^ cover. "Members of the Stewards Department shall not be required to pump oil for the galley range.'' . (Continued on Page IJJ �page Four* •/ TnE S EA FARE R S LO G '^. FrMar# May li, 194ft n•: > Steady Parade To The Boneyard Slows Up Baltimore Shipping By WILLIAM RENTZ "I BALTIMORE—As it has been of their quarters and the ship for the past few weeks, shipping in general. There are more of these Ore continues to be slow in this port. ships due from the shipyards A good number of ships have soon. The men around here been hitting port, but all of shouldn't be too hesitant to them haven't called for crews T t J r throw in for these ships. They'll for new trips. InstMd^ many them are continuing on into the quarters can't be beat. boneyard. To iniure payment, all IN FOR REPAIRS The number of lay-ups has not By LLOYD (Blackie) GARDNER claims for overtime must be been great so far, but more are We have had quite a number turned in to the heads of de­ PHILADELPHIA — If good on the beach, the picture is not expected to be "cocooned" in the of transit ships in here during partments no later than 72 shipping news is What you want too bright. next few weeks. Isthmian anc the past week. We contacted hours following the comple­ Waterman ships seem to leac them all and squared away the to read there just ain't. any However, we hope to see it change next week. There are tion of the overtime work. the list of lay-ups. from this port this week. It is quite a few men on the beach, usual number of minor beefs. . The big boys were right when Many of them headed, in here As soon as the penalty a black week for the Seafarers but a couple of sign-ons would they said we'd have a large for shipyai'd repairs, so in a few change the picture conisiderably. work is done, a record should in this old town. postwar fleet, they were just coy days we should get a good num­ We paid off but three ships, all The sale of the tankers to for­ when they didn't tell us it would ber of them out and ready to hit be given to the Department tankers, and all three were sold. eign interests has irked the mem­ head, and one copy held by the high seas again. be a lay-up fleet. No hits, no runs, no men left on. bership here no end. Ears in Not much else to say except the man doing the job. It sure breaks a guy's heart The Cedar Breaks and the Washington should be burning that the horses are running to see these almost-new ships again. If anybody has a sure In addition the depart­ Fort Wood were sold to foreign from the strong language most heading for the last round-up. fire method of beating the mental delegates should flag operators and the Midway men are using in condemning Some of them will sail again, ponies, I wish he'd let us know. check on all overtime sheets Hills to an American company the allowance of these sales. It's but the chances of all of them q real scuttling job the govern­ It seems that the critters always 72 hours before the ship not contracted to the SIU. seeing the deep, seas again are ment fakers are pulling on the contract paralysis as soon as So, with the general shipping danrn small—that is, unless we they know a Seafarer has money makes port. American seamen and one we situation slow here • and the have another war. won't forget. riding on them. crews of these tankers dumped For payoffs this week we APPRECIATE ORGANIZERS handled thirteen ships. They The loss of jobs on these ships were the Rider "Victory, Steel makes us realize the great im­ Maker, Montgomery City, St. portance of lining up Cities Ser­ Clair Victory, Cape Catoche, all vice and the other outfits our Isthmian; Omore, Steelore, SanBy WALTER SIEKMANN these vessels. The need for this ment insurance authorities here, organizers are concentrating on tore, Marore, all Ore ships; He was pointed out very aptly by a advising them that the operators' at-present. Of Patmas; Mae and Evelyn, BOSTON — Shipping in the SIU man aboard the Salem Mari­ remarks are a distortioh .of the This seems to be our only hope BuU Line; and Trinidad Head, Beantown port continued slow time recently, when he stated: facts. of keeping the men on the ships. —"Moran. this week. It appears that one STEADY JOB We have to go out and create In addition, we have notified of our main sources of jobs in For sign-ons we readied the "Regardless of the state of the local steamship operators new jobs for the membership the tanker field in this* port, Rider Victory, Steelore, Santore, shipping, whether it is good or that they should stop their non­ just to keep ahead of the gov­ Omore, Marore, Evelyn, Mae and Pacific Tankers, is planning to bad, we always have a job to do sense and confine themselves to ernment saboteurs. dissolve. Re of Patmas. for the Union in the unorganized stating the facts as they are, Turning to the brighter side As a matter of fact, ships of field." DON'T BALANCE which is that termination of \he of things, I am proud to report that company which have re­ The Waterman scow, SS Jean articles is a man's reason for that. the membership here in The sign-ons certainly don't cently crewed up in Boston have LaFitte, paid off after we settled leaving the ship. Philly is busting buttons over balance the payoffs and therein already been sold. This situation a major beef aboard. The beef Oldtimer George Meaney is in has created a surplus of men on the fine performance of the Ath­ Res the story of slow shipping developed as a result of the Skip­ Boston again for the purpose of letics. the beach. In view of the SIU success in per bulldozing the crew into an operation, which he will un­ Yes sir, the As are in Number the collective bargaining election staying aboard the ship while it dergo at the Brighton Marine One position in the American in the Cities Service Company, was in Searsport, Me., after they Hospital. He would like to hear League. Woe be it to any poor more and more Seafarers are had managed to procure their from some of his friends via the misguided soul who is foolish mail route. Meanwhile, all enough to come around here and making an effort to ship out on own launch service. This shortsightedness on* the hands are wishing George a suggest that Connie Mack's boys part of the Skipper cost the com­ speedy recovery and return to are just lucky and can't hold the On The Line pany some seven himdred bucks. shipping. lead. It's quite obvious, therefore, that Among those around the beach it will be cheaper for them to at the moment are Al Vetu, Dan­ There will be no cheering, supply launch service in that ny "White, Alex. Olson, "The however, when another National team, the Republicans, hit town port in the future. Fish", and Dave Buckley, who next month for their presiden­ We've been kept fairly busy on recently enjoyed a game of pool tial convention. the problem of unemployment while carrying on a quiet bit of in this port. If they balanced, That is one time the boys compensation in this port. Oper­ Union conversation. we'd have nothing to howl about. would like to be in the stands ators are alleged to have made "Red' Lane moved to the West with their pop bottles handy. the statement that they have We had a little set-to on the Coast after accomplishing what Eggs and tomatoes would be work for the men at all times Steel Maker where one of the entitles him to be known as the good to have, but who can afford and that crewmembers quit of crewmembers went beserk and oustanding magician of the week, their own accord upon comple­ did a cut-up job on- the Bosun's at least. He hit three daily tion of a voyage. wardrobe. By the time he was doubles hand running. We're apprehended there wasn't a STRAIGHT INFO glad to know someone collects. piece of material left large Where such cases have been Some of the other boys have enough to make a good pen called to our attention, we have aeen moaning about their tough wiper. filed appeals with ther unemploy­ luck with the leaden-hoofed nags The man, of course, has been .brought up on charges and will probably sail no more, let alone on an SIU ship. He had, in ad­ Because of his desire io By KEITH ALSOP dition to his butchering, caused a lot of trouble to an otherwise help his brother unionisfs of GALVESTON — The shipping either of those ships. good bunch of men. The ship and the UFE, Seafarer George picture Rere remains quite fair, We contact every imorganized the Union will be a lot better Vourloumis got a taste of "po­ and we expect it to pick up con­ ship that goes into Lake Charles, to throw- them now? Taft and lice impartiality" in the Stock off without him. Exchange beef. Clubbed sev­ siderably as the next few weeks of course. There are quite a lis boys have made the cost of The crew, when told of the eral times ai the .building's go by. few of them and they keep one these items too high for working Bosun's dilemma, quickly bailed entrance on April 15, Vour­ stiffs. There is a lot of grain to be man pretty busy. him out of his barrel. They all loumis was' hauled to court shipped across to Europe from Most of the talk aroimd here Well, that's about all, fellows, pitched in and bought him two and^iven 10 days in the work­ the Texas ports and the volume continues to be on the four res­ except to say that our Hall is suits of clothing. The gang came house. He has no regrets, how­ should be pretty heavy for at olutions we passed on the refer­ just about set up. If you are not to his rescue like a good bunch ever. endum, ballot. Just as they do in any great hurry to ship, con­ least a month. of. SIU men. "I'm just a Union man," The two ships we paid off in everywhere, the boys here knew sider this an invitation to come One thing in this port's favor Brother Vourloumis says. "I Houston last week, the Nathaniel exactly what they were doing and enjoy the comforts of the is the usual number of Bull Line wanted to help out in the beef Currier and the Governor Miller, when they voted 10 to 1 for those Philly Hall for a spell. mid Ore Line vessels that come and I'm proud 1 had 3D days both sailing under the Waterman resolutions. ^ The weather here is grand, the in here. These Ore Line ships are on the lines. I could have colors, signed right on again, a ' They knew they were voting ball park is only a short dis­ -•he best ships going today. The shipped, but I wanted to see fact which kept our shipping rate for a stronger, better SIU, and tance from the Hall, and best of hew ones are nice looking jobs things through. And I'd do it steady. now they know they got what all, the beer is coJd and the girls and the crews take good care again/' ,/ [are warm. • • , There were no serious beefs on ihey-wanted. Shipping Is Gloomy In Philly On Overtime' But They Have Those Athletics Boston Seafarers Eye Non-Union Tankers Galveston Awaits Gram Cargoes �f"""' f" THE SEAFARERS LO-a Coal Strike End Does Not Change Norfolk Picture By BEN REES NORFOLK — "^he shape of things here can be summed up in one word—rotten. This past week has been bleak for men waiting here for ships. We had no payoffs and no sign-ons for a "perfect" record. Norfolk, it seems, just doesn't exist for SIU ships these days. The men around the Hall are inore than a little puzzled by the complete absence of ships. We figured with the end of the coal strike the ships would be pouring . in here to take coal to Nui'ope. However, it looks like the hooting and howling about John L. Lewis holding up Euro­ pean recovery was just a lot of hot air. Nobody seems to want, the stuff now that it is availablef I guess it just goes to prove that when guys strike for a better life they are sabotaging everything and anything, but after it is all over, the "emer­ gency" was just a hot-headed editor's dream. I'd like to show this idle coal port to some of the guys who screamed loud and long about "needed coal for the anti-communist program," and "complete strangulation of Eu­ rope's weak economy." With that unhappy bit of in­ formation out of the way, here's a little incident that came off here the other day: , SAYS I TO SED Two of the local SIU boys, who have been known to fre­ quently worship at the shrine of Bacchus, met in the Norfolk HalL Both were at the mellow stage. Said Monk Jones to Red Smith: "You're drunk. Take a walk. We don't allow such goings-on here." Said Red Smijh to Monk Jones: "You're drunk and that's against the constitution — GET OUT!" So, they both did, arm in arm. Moral: Teach the baby to sing himself to sleep. Gev-Grabbers Hurt Union Th« membexthip of Iho Seafarers Intemalional Union has consistently reaffinhed its position that gear-grabbers can't be good Union men. Any indiyidual who stoops to pilfering gear stich as coffee percolators, linens, etc., which are placed aboard SlU-contra^ed ships for the convenience of all hands, is, above alb guilty df a malicious disregard of his shipmates' welfare. Crew conveniences on most SIU ships today are not there by accident. They are there because of the Union's successfullyfought strpggles to bring greater benefits and comforts and to provide decent conditions for the membership while out at sea. These hard-won conveniences .are for the benefit of ALL HANDS. They ARE NOT to be appropriated by any individual for his own personal use. Violators of the membership's wel­ fare will b* dealt with in accordance with the firm stand taken repeatedly by Seafarers in all ports. W Swth Atlaatk Ships Prmmtes ActnHy fw Saveanah By CHARLES STARLING .SAVANNAH ^ Things sud­ denly slowed to a standstill here, for the very simple reason that the last few ships to pay off in this port have been waiting for orders, However, South Atlantic just called to let us know that they were going to start crewing up Monday, May 10. So don't be surprised if you hear us yelling up and down the coast for rated men. Wait until we yell, though, be­ cause it wouldn't do you or us any good if we were suddenly overloaded. The Southstar has been in the shipyard for repairs, but she is going to be out and ready to sail on May 18. Due to pay off are the Joshua Hendy, and. the George Ogden, a tanker. We don't know at this writing whether the Hendy will lay up for a while or go right out again. FIRST PAYOFF Hov^ever, the Ogden, which pays off in Jacksonville, will be going out. She is a new ship under the SIU banner "and this will be her first Union payoff. She belongs to John M. Carras. We've had the outfit for sev­ eral months, .but the Ogden hasn't paid off before. This is all there is on the Seafarers Gejt Quick Service From Branch In Puerto Rico By SALVADOR COLLS shipping side, but we did have the SIU in action the other day. And I hate to have to confess that we didn't win. Perhaps we didn't actually lose, but we cer­ tainly got nothing better than a stand-off.. But don't get too concerned. It wasn't a Union beef, but a case of monkey shines. The other morning, just after we opened the Hall, J had a per­ sonal phone call from home. It seemed that there was—of all things — a monkey on the roof. There was nothing for me to do but set sail on a monkey hunt. Just in case, I took a few of the boys with me. On the way out in the car, we were talking over the possible strategy and tactics. One of the Brothers figured he had the right answer. "Bananas," he said; "bananas are what monkeys like. We'll get some bananas and luie him down. Then we can grab him." Well, we got to the house, and sure enough there was the monkey on the roof. He sat there watching us — and our bananas. SAN JUAN — Although ship- the whole crew off a ship, ping has slowed up a bit the last ^ This ' week a Convention was j WRONG PLAY few weeks-and shoregang work'called, which representatives «f has not been so hot, still and both unions attended. They,deThen we made our mistake. all business has been fair, and cided to split the difference, with tossed a banana up to him. any man who wants to ship each union furnishing 50 permonkey got the banana doesn't have to hang around here cent of the men needed to work straightway took charge of for too long. jthe ships. a We expect shipping to improve CITIES SERVICE chance. singe there is plenty of sugar Down off the roof the little The SS Bradfors Island, Cities ready to move out. As soori as s^j-vice, hit this port last week rascal came, and before anybody . . a ship hits this port we get nghtja^jj j contacted the organizer on|could lay a finger on him he was on the ball and try to settle j headed for the swamp. Guess Whatever beefs may have coi^®|crew, with the exception of the he just didn't want any more up during the trip. We have been p^^^p^gn. had all signed pledge bananas. able to square away, quite a few cards. The SS John Ogden, John Well, all hands took after him Tbeefs lately, and the members M. Carras Corporation, is down in good SIU style. , But he was are satisfied with the service here now, and I have never too fast of foot for us and since they are getting. seen such a good crew. NaTieefs that moment nobody has laid, an One big obstacle that stood to settle, and after clarifying eye on him. in the way of shipping sugar some points on overtime,, the So if you hear that a big from here was the trouble be­ men squared sway with the Mate family of monkeys is living in tween the ILA and the UTM, satisfactorily. this area and that the hunting two rival organizations which Some students at the Univer- is good, don't be surprised. are fighting for control of the sity are on, strike to protest the And maybe I was wrong, may­ •port of Arroyo. Each group i beating of quite a few of them, be we didn't lose after all. wanted its men to load the sugar, j A great number of unions are We got the monkey off the and as a result, neither group supporting the strike, but since roof, didn't we? Moreover, all did the work. our constituti(|m forbids support- the kids in the neighborhood had We are supporting the ILA ing political btrikes, our Union the time of their lives—and ate the rest of the bananas. men, and on one occasion took I has taken no stand. '' Page Five, Job Done By Organizing Staff Pays Off New York With Ships By JOE ALGINA NEW YORK-—Instead o£^ expected slowdown we were ticipating,"shipping picked up has maintained a good clip the past week or so. the a Bull Line ship, were in fine an-'shape. Except for a gangway and beef on the Ponce, they paid off for in quick style. The gangway jbeef, when settled, will be run The better looking picture is LOG. Another good ship in for a! not to be credited ta our regular companies—they're still laying payoff was the Coral Sea, Coral. Up ships. Instead the thanks are! Steamship Company. Due to the due the Organizing Department. I Sood work of the organizers, we. 'have a contract with this comThe Organizers have brought pany. The same ' is true of the into the the SIU into blU several several new new freight ireightj^gp^ Mohican, Mar Ancha, anand tanker coqjpanies, and thelg^i^^^ addition to the SIU" has crewing of ox these vessels vo^^^x. x.a^ ^ thankstaken care of a good number of ^ the men who otherwise would organizing staff, be still on the beach. JOBS COMING On the ships being laid up, mostly tankers, the hardest hit Rumor has it that Bernstein is seem to be the Stewards Depart­ dickering for t\yo passenger ships ment men. Shipping in the other to be put into the European two Departments seems to be trade. If they are secured it will holding up good, but the Stew­ ards Department is in a slump. Heading for lay-up are the Bel­ gium Victory and Knox Victory, both Waterman, and the Waltham Victory, Robin. These ships came in and paid off in good shape. At least they'll go to the boneyard clean. Two tankers that hit port in good shape are leaving our ranks this week. The Fort Erie is be­ ing sold to the Italian Govern­ ment and the Piatt Park is head­ be some time from now, but ed for a new, but unknown, there will be a lot of jobs open owner. on these ships. We're keeping our fingers crossed in hope that the SHUT HER DOWN deal will materialize. Another ship, the Gadsden, Out of lay-up came the Dor­ which has been on idle status othy Ann Meseck this week. She here for several months, has had been under wraps for over closed down its plant and is a month, but it looks like she waiting indefinitely for orders. has some work to do. Anyway, She was running fast and furious she called for a crew. for a spell but it looks like no On another subject: Now that one wants locomotives these all four - resolutions have been days. passed and there are no more shipboai'd promotions, the mem­ A couple of regular ships to hit port, with no signs of going bership should get used to the into lay-up, were the Ponce De new set-up. Anyone who de­ Leon and Emilia. The Ponce, a cides to promote himself will be Waterman scow and the Emilia, in hot water with the member­ ship. The new change in the shipping rule is in force, and Union Supporter shipboard promotions are as dead as blue linen. I • ! Among the SIU's staunches! friends is Jesse Handin, cap­ able bartender in the grill lo­ cated in Headquarters build­ ing at 51 Beaver Street. Jesse volunteered his services and look an active part in the UFE beef, putting in consid­ erable time without pay. Dur­ ing the strike, Joe Kay, owner of the grill, suspended business and placed his facilities at the disposal of the SIU. Hundreds -of pickets were fed three squares a'day there while Jesse aided in the supervision of the job. Brother Handin is. of course, a union bartender. KEEP IT UP Here's a reminder to tripcard men: Tripcarders who allow themselves to become more than six months in arrears are auto-., matically suspended. It is a good idea to keep ahead on your dues, and the chance of finding your­ self in front of a reinstatement committee will be small. Bookmen who want to work ashore for awhile ai-e cautioned to retire their books. It is a simple procedure to retire it and equally simple " to reactivate it. Every week the reinstatement committee has to turn down do­ zens of men who want to go to sea again solely because they are too far in arrears. My advice is not to take a' chance with your book. You . probably worked hard to get that book, so don't jeopardize it by not retiring it if working ashore. Just in case the word- hasn't gotten around, permit men and bookmen are shipping alike here in New York until May 15. AH members, books and permits alike, stood picket duty with, the UFE members—so all Bro­ thers are being given equal chance to get a ship. After the 15th- of May the" usual procedure will once more be in effect. �Page Six ••X"-. TBB SEAFARERS LOG Mobile Expects Ships Some Day But Nobody Can Say Just When Friday, May 14, 1948. ON THIRD BY FffBNCHY AAICHBLET By CAL TANNER The j Patrolmen Say— By AUSSIE SHRIMPTON. Pinch Writing MOBILE — Shipping in this' However, there is a strong posAlways A Hitch— port has maintained its slow butjsibility that this is a very tem- That lyrical Limey, Bill Shake­ because they are likely to bfe NEW YORK — It certainly is steady pace throughout the past porary lay-up, and that a lot of speare, once penned the immortal confronted by picket-cards owned a pleasure to %o aboard a ship ships from the boneyard fleet seven days. lines that by Permit men that they have The record shows that we will be rolling back out soon. "Some are bom to greatness. never before seen the like of— for the payoff and find a happy, congenial ci-ew on hand. And shipped about 185 men, and that When that time comes we'll let not even in the bad old days. Some achieve greatness. there were nine payoffs and six the LOG know about it, you can While others yet have greatThe Trial Committee is now that was the case exactly, when be sure. sign-ons. , ness thrust upon them'." dealing with the small percen- I boarded the Piatt Park, a According to what we hear The payoffs included six I'm strictly the show horse age of guys who tried to play it Pacific tanker, early this week. Watermans and three Alcoas. right now. Mobile will turn out when it comes to the Greatness smart when our Union was in This tanker, by the way, is be­ Most of them were smooth to be one of the key ports in the Stakes because it seems that I trouble. As always, they, are ing sold' to a foreign country. Because I am somewhat skep-' enough, but one was a real head­ Marshall Plan program—if that have had all that Frenchy Mich- realizing that "the path of the Plan ever really gets going. tical, I did a little investigating, ache. That was the SB Frank let built up, thrust upon me, transgressor is truly hard." So far as we' are concerned the results of which revealed Norris, a Waterman Liberty, while that erstwhile ambassador This is one outfit where no­ right now, there might as well be that all the officers on this wagon^ which was so thoroughly fouled of goodwill qnd cheer is away body can get away with any­ no Marshall Plan, and we have were out of the foc'^sle and not up that it took us two days to touring the Sunny South. thing, be it missing pounding several hundred men on the school ships boys. They really Having just flnished with the those lines or beating the Patrol­ straighten her out. beach. So when the ships start knew how to treat men. Wall Street Strike the good old man for a couple of months dues. The sign-ons were accomwon't have any third deck is nearly back to nor­ Sooner or later the inevitable PLAIN G^Y plished with an absolute mini- ^coming , out •we xu mal. The Strike equipment has happens and they are . caught up mum of troublu, thuru buing '"""e them up. While I was talking to the men been all packed away; those with, and then it's too late to nothing more to square ^ away TANKERS AHOY in the ship's messroom in the than a few repairs here and On the organizing scene, we tender chicken sandwiches that start crying. course of the payoff, one husky^ there. j haven't had much going on this we* all ate during the beef are The time has come when we fellow was right in op all the The ships that signed on were week. One unorganized tanker no longer to be had for the ask- can afford to streamline, and discussion. Later, as I was headed for Italy, Greece, Turkey,'did come in and about 20 men 'ing; the membership is clustered those of our members who are checking up with the delegate, I Germany, Belgium, Netherlands tried for her. However, she was j around the' telivision set each asked him why he didn't check and Puerto Rico with, of course, only one man short so we were afternoon for the ball game, and Wt^OU/AurSlVKKE^ this husky guy's book. ymJlHBRS'S SOAK/CW some Alcoas heading all the way somewhat but not completely there is nary a skirt in sight, It was then that I found out AHoOAiO ^ which, after the super-abundance down through the Islands. stymied. he was the vessel's Skipper. AndThere are plenty of oldtimers of them in the Recreation Deck all the time I had been thinking LOG JAM on the .beach here. Among them proves that it is indeed all over. he was an OS. It was obvious' The Norris got into her fouled- are C. Merritt, W. McDonald, O. The boys got so used to these that there was no "brass" on that up condition in the course of a Thompson, W. Ross, O. Daven- yoimg chickens running around scow. All hands were treated long trip that lasted several port, O. N. Edwards, J. McGuffy, the Hall that the place seems alike. months. The overtime on her L. O. Russell, J. Oosse, J. W. kinder lonesome without 'em. It's I think it is in order- to say was in quite good shape. It Fleming, L. D. Worrell, W. T. the old, old stoiy I guess, "we here that when any of you fel­ can't live with them and we was the logs that caused the Grey. lows see a ship with Captain trouble. Main topics of interest around can't live without them", and D, B. Nichols or Chief Mate S. The Master on her had a the Hall these days have been there's no dofubt about it, they W. Hanna you can be sure all mania for logging. Whenever the local primaries, and the news do brighten the joint up. not with us in time of trouble hands aboard are going to get that a bunch of half a dozen or are certainly not going to share a square shake. These men are VOTE OF PRAISE more unorganized tankers are the fruits of a victory that others j always looking out for the welThe whole beef was handled in have won. Three years ago I fare of the crew. heading for Mobile for repairs. ^ouHAue fetif \ We'll take care of the tankers true SIU style and a vote of was "a lone voice calling in the These two officers invariably if and when they arrive. So far praise is due to one and all yirho wilderness" about performers and settle the ship's beefs before the as the primaries are concerned, participated in it. The younger gas-hounds, but I have now seen vessel docks. The game goes for Seafarers eligible to vote in membership especially did a bang the membership rise up and deal the Engineers too. Chief, Firsl^i Mobile went to the polls to up job and from now on some with these^ disrupters as they Assistant and right on down the blackball the enemies of labor of these Mess-hall Militants of justly deserve, and the-same re­ line. I am sorry I did not get who backed the Taft-Hartley Act the old school had better watch marks apply to those slough-offs their names as the crew swears and other vicious anti-labor their steps when they start in our ranks (happily in the by them—not at them. And this sounding off about previous beefs minority) who think that when measures. is a welcome change. the Union is in a beef that it is a But, as always when things "good time to go home to visit are going along smoothly, a hitch, anything at all happened he ^ the old homestead." develops. It's a damn shame; would toss a few logs at the For the nonce I am now en­ that when you meet up with a men. sconced on third, with my feet good crew and good topside "When the Patrolmen tried to parked on Frenchy's desk, dis­ bunch aboard a good ship, the reason with him they were given pensing change, postage stamps, big brass decides that some other NEW YORK—The Alcoa Cava­ York, but on a limited basis. a hard time. The Skipper told liberty-books, good-will, other country needs the ship more than Two C-ls will replace the Cava­ them that, if they wanted to get lier will start calling New Or­ trivia to all and sundry. Old we do. the crew paid off, they had ex­ leans her home port instead of lier on the New York-to-West friends will be welcome and new Th^ crew of the Piatt Park actly 20 minutes. He said he was New York at the end of June, Indies run. ones made in the best Michelet have all gone to the four winds These C-ls will carrv only 12 Company going ashore and was in a hiurry. the Alcoa, Steamship ,. tradition, so any of you guys who now to ship out again. But be­ passengers each but the* ompany It was no time to be hot announced this week. want to while away the passing fore they left they wished all The company said that the says that its freight service from hour with good coffee and buU the ship's officers a "Happy Sail­ headed, so the Patrolmen and the crew decided to hold up the pay­ move was being made because New York to the Islands will not drop around—if it gets too bad ing" on their next vessel. off until the next day. They increased demand for cargo space be curtailed in any way. A C-1 I can always ship out. James Purcell figured they would get some and passenger accommodatior^ will leave New York every three company officials down and get from Gulf ports to the Carib­ weeks. Whether the three C-ls will bean made it necessary. things fixed right. constitute additions to the Alcoa This proved to be a good idea. After the transfer, Alcoa will fleet or be transferred from other The. next day, the Waterman be operating weekly service for runs has not yet been an­ THE PINKERTON CASEBOOK, The relationship is doomed Port Captain and the company's passengers and express freight nounced. Chances are, however, by Alan Hynd, Penguin Sig­ from the beginning by a world labor relations mian turned up from New Orleans to the Carib­ net Books, 168 pages. hostile , to unconventialities. and, in no time at all, we had bean countries, since the Cava­ that they will be shifted from This is only half the story of Strong as Harry and Charlotte, most of the logs lifted. lier will be joining her sister other Alcoa routes. Pinkerton's National Detective the central characters, are, That Captain was just about ships, the Alcoa Clipper and Al­ HAS CREW OF 100Agency because it omits the out­ they're unable to ward off the crying tears when things were coa Corsair. The Alcoa Cavalier has oper­ fit's notorious history of labor events which hurtle them to the settled the SIU way. ated out of New York since her spying and union busting. How­ inevitable tragic ending. WILL USE C-Is GOOFED OFF Each of the three ships will maiden departure on May 2, ever, the cases included make Readers who get a bang out 1947. In 17 round trips to the interesting reading as accounts of the James Cain type of thrill­ On the other hand, the Patrol­ make 17-day round trips which West Indies she has always of professional crime detecting er will follow Mr. Faulkner's men found out that some of the will include caUs at Jamaica, the sailed at full passenger capacity. in the fields of murder, bank story with mounting interest. Norris crew actually had done Dominican Republic, Trinidad, The Cavalier is a 15,000-ton robbery, horse ringing and insur­ 4. 4. some goofing off and deserved La Guaira, Guanta and Puerta vessel, carrying 95 passengers ance. THE DIM VIEW, by Basil Heat, Cabello. a few-logs. and up to 8,500 tons of freight. « ter. Penguin Books, 155 pages. S. X tAs a result of their finding, the On every second voyage, the Her crew list numbers between WILD PALMS by William Faulk­ This book has one attribute entire crew was investigated by ships will call at Curacao. 95 and 100 about half of whom ner. 156 pages, 25 cents. Peli­ which will make it plenty of a committee. Those who were On the return leg of each trip, are in the Stewards Department. can Books. friends. It is as sexy a novel as guilty were fined and some were passengers will disembark at Modem in every respect, the Against a background that has come off the presses in years. put on probation for extended Mobile instead of New Orleans Cavalier's superstructure as W..U shifts from the Gulf coast to A war story, it is the account periods—which is also the SIU except for the sailings of August as many other parts are made of New Orleans to Chicago and of the affair between a Navy PT way. 20, September 17 and October 15. aluminum, which should be no back again. Wild Palms tells a Skipper and an Australian girl. Of the ships paying off here These three trips will terminate surprise since the Alcoa Steam­ story of violent love between For good measure, the Skippeir last week, two or perhaps three at New Orleans. ship Company is a subsidiary of two peoiile who refuse td con­ gets to know another girl ot . •Liberties - are headed for the Meanwhile, Alcoa will continue, the Alupiinum • Company - of form td any of society's tradi­ two '^and > goes through some boneyard. passenger service out of New. Ameri^, tions—except loVe, of course, [ijattles. .;( MJ Cavalier Will Drop New York For New Orleans At End Of June BOOKS IN BEVKW Mr �Fxiday, May 14, 1848 * T M E S E- A:F A R E K S LJO G Page Seven Minutes Of A&G Branch Meetings In Brief PHILADELPHIA — Chairman •L, A. Gardner; Recording Secre­ tary R. A. Gates; Reading Clerk Don C. Hall. A&C Shipping from Aprii 7 To Aprii 20 PORT • Minutes of all branches read and accepted with exception of motion to non-concur with that part of Boston minutes with re­ gard to returning tripcards back to men who failed to do picket duty in UFE strike. Agent re­ ported shipping slow. A short talk on UFE strike was followed by report on Cities Service and other Union organizing activity now being conducted by Head­ quarters organizers. Under Good and Welfare there was lively dis­ cussion on Shipping Rules which was good education for men fortunate enough to be present and get the different viewpoints. Motion carried to post Tallying Committee's report. After one minute of silence for departed brothers, meeting was adjourned; 176 members were present. BALTIMORE — ahairman WUliam Rentz; Recording Secretary Ben Lawson; Reading Clerk A1 Slansbury. REG. DECK -REG. ENG. REG. STWDS. Boston New York Philadelphia 29 242 108 10 266 58 31 280 48 70 788 214 6 255 49 12 277 24 5 205 13 23 737 86 Baltimore Norfolk Savannah Tampa Mobile New Orleans 170 132 52 22 98 182 . 143 61 38 28 92 120 91 64 40 16 92 178 404 257 130 66 282 480 115 147 16 11 134 168 178 87 16 8 125 88 64 53 17 12 95 127 357 287 49 31 354 383 82 26 1,143 43 14 873 . 39 17 896 164 57 2,912 65 24 99j) 44 11 870 36 13 640 Galveston San Juan Grand Total NOTE: TOTAL REG. SHIPPED DECK SHIPPED SHIPPED ENG. STWDS. TOTAL SHIPPED with the allocation of relief cargoes to foreign shipping and urging all members to send let­ ters and telegrams to their con­ gressmen that said cargoes be carried in American bottoms. A motion that we get up a petition in hall and send it to Congress men was defeated after it was pointed out in discussion that this is the practice of political parties and is contrary to Union policy. Many members hit the deck and blew their tops on various subjects during period on Good and Welfare. Agent repoi'ted that branch business has been running smoothly although shipping has. been slow. Beef pending on the Jean LaFitte was explained to the membership. He reported on the effect in the maritime industry of govern­ ment-owned ships being re­ called from operation. He de­ clared that in final analysis that it is essential to have a strong militant union and asked every member to spend more time tightening internal structure of SIU. 4 4 4 SAVANNAH — Chairman E. B. McAuley; Recording Secretary E. B. Tilley; Reading Clerk P. Carrollton. Minutes of all ports accepted, except Boston's which were filed. Motion carried that when men in 145 48 2,500. A&G men shipping on the West Coast are not included in this report. beef showed that the membership can stand up under pressure all of which will be valuable if we have to hit the bricks ourselves. He also thanked men who gave support to the beef, saying he was proud his port had done so well. Acting Agent Buck Ste­ phens reported on status of ship­ ping and organizing progress in this port. ^Brother Michelet in­ formed members present that next meeting would be held in the new hall and extended in­ vitation to all hands to visit new quarters and see how things are shaping up. Reports of various committees read and accepted. 4- t- 4» NORFOLK — Chairman Steely White; Recording Secretary Ben Rees; Reading Clerk J. A. Bul­ lock. to membership on this matter at next meeting. 4 4 4 NEW YORK—Chairman Lindsey Williams; Recording Secrelary Eddie Parr; Reading Clerk Jack Parker. portance Colls' attendance is advisable and therefore asked the SIU membership's permission to allow him to attend. He pointed out that the uniting of the UTM and ILA would bring peace and harmony on the Island, which is of importance to the SIU. He also stated he intended to recom­ mend to the ILA and Frank Ben­ ton the necessity for forming an AFL Maritime Trades Council in this port. Motion carried that meeting be adjourned and all present be given credit for at­ tendance. Also that full report be given to membership by Agent on developments of to­ night's meeting at next regular branch session. 4 4 4 MOBILE — Chairman H. Fischer; Recording Secretary T. Massey; Reading Clerk Jeff Mor­ rison. key ratings are shipped from this port, they should not be re­ moved from their jobs in other ports because they lack three years' discharges for that rating. In discussion it was pointed out that it is a custom in some ports to do so. Many fellows, how­ ever, do not carry their dis­ charges with them everywhere they go, and all hands agreqd the practice should be discontinued. Under Good and Welfare there was discussion on various matters of interest. Among these were the rights of permitmen to ship, the need for the membership to read, and familiarize themselves with the Union Constitution and a recommendation that roimdr table discussions be held aboard ships and in the Union hall to acquaint all hands' with Union procedure. The Director of Or­ ganization told of confusion With exception of motion to non-concur with new business of Boston branch meeting, proceed­ ings of all ports were read and Minutes of all branches ac­ accepted. Motion carried to give cepted. Heard report of trial Agent a vote of thanks for good committee in case of brother Minutes of branches holding work he did on picket line in charged with conduct unbecomregular meetings read and ac­ New York. Patrolmen's and Dis­ cepted. Acting Agent Morrison patcher's reports read and ac­ reported that this port will have existing in Port of Wilmington, cepted. Motions carried to ac­ a passenger ship paying off every California, resulting from at­ cept findings of trial committees, j Monday which will spur ship­ tempts by some individuals to Under Good and Welfare several ping. Shipping has been slow in hamper A&G officials in carrying members spoke about the dis­ the port for the past two weeks, out instructions from the Organi­ tance from the Union hall to the ing a Union member. Commit­ with the majority of men ship­ zing Department on manning and Ore Line docks. It was sug­ tee recommended a six-month ped being bookmen. At the mo­ organizing two ships of a new gested that if a man is on ar­ probationary period to allow man ment several Waterman ships are company. The Director of Or­ ticles and a replacement was chance to prove himself; if he Accepted minutes of other lying idle waiting for cargo. As ganization said that the entire called by the Hall, the replace­ fouls up further during proba­ branch meetings. Patrolman re- soon as cargo is forthcoming for matter was covered in Wilming­ ment should receive two days' tion he will be dealt with more ported that business for past two these vessels. Waterman will call ton Branch minutes and West pay. Several men took the deck severely. A similar finding was weeks was pretty slow, with only for several crews. Progress was Coast communications, and rec­ to point how organized labor has reported by the committee in the two payoffs in Charleston and reported in organizing activity in ommended that the membership been successfully coping with its case of another crewmember. in Jacksonville. He expressed this port. Motion canied to send study it carefully and take ac­ enemies. charged in the same way. Agent's hope that things would pick up telegram of congratulations to tion tonight. A motion carried 4 & and Patrolmen's reports revealed in the next week as there are UFE for its conduct of the Wall to accept the Directoi of Organi­ GALVESTON — Chairman that shipping in this port has sufficient men on the beach to Sti'eet strike. Motion carried zation's report and to instruct the calling for investigation of the Secretary-Treasurer to make a Keith Alsop; Recording Secretary been slow. Many ships that have return of a SIU mans body in an report of the incident so that all R. Wilburn; Reading Clerk W.~R. been lying idle in the Roads have Alcoa ship's hold containing members can get a clear picture been turned back to the Mari­ BusselL bauxite. Agent is to report back of the situation out there. time Commission and sent up the Minutes of various branch river to the laid-up fleet. The meetings accepted. Balloting coal situation, still looks very committees report on four resolu­ gloomy." Although coal consti­ crew up two or three ships. Mo­ tions read and accepted. Follow­ tuted a major portion of ship­ tions carried to accept Secretarying obligation of members,, a ping in this port, none of our Treasurer's report on UFE strike ships has loaded any coal despite and Tallying Committee's report The following men have money Prince, $36.08; Augustus Stanley the fact that 25 or 30 foreign on four-point resolution. Books due them at the Ponce Cement McNeil, $1.00. hag ships have loaded and sailed of nine members were obligated. Corp. at Ponce, Puerto Rico. RETROACTIVE 6%—1947 in .the last week. One minute of One minute of silence observed They may collect same by writ­ silence observed in memory of in memory of departed brothers. ing to the Company Office. Felix Aponte, $19.51; Floren­ minute's silence was observed in our departed brothers. With 94 members present, meet­ tine Quimper, $10.90. RETROACTIVEL TO memory of our departed brothers. ing was adjourned at 8:15 P.M. 4 4 4 MARCH 10, 1948 RETROACTIVE 5%—1947 Meeting adjourned with 112 BOSTON •— Chairman B. 4 4 4 Boris Geo. Shick, '$23.20; Don­ members present. Goodman; Recording Secretary SAN JUAN — Meeting called ald H. Kennedy, $13.98; Luis R. Finn Hansen Erch, $27.18; 4 4, • 4 R. Queen; Reading Clerk W. to order by Agent Salavador Serrano, $25.35; Damian Merca- Pedro J. Erazo, $1.78; Martin NEW ORLEANS — Chairman Colls at 7 P.M. At this point do, $15.89; Enrique P. Hernan­ Hoffman, $1.58; Carmelo MelenSiekmann. . Earl Sheppard; Recording Secre­ Agent made recommendation dez, $10.15; John Furey, $3.62; dez, $1.35; Manuel Rodx-iguez, fProceedings of . other branch that this meeting be adjourned Maximino Rosario, $2.64; Teodoro $1.64; Julio F. Pacheco, $13.20; tary-Herman Troxciair: Reading meetings read and accepted. because of the special meeting he Renta, $2.86; Leonard" Karalunas, Victor M. Garcia, $1.07; Eliseo Clerk Buck Stephens. Election of trial committee to had to attend with Frank White, $16.21; John Cisiecki, $8.62; Ar­ Santiago, $10.39; Heniy O. LimMinutes of regular meetings slijidy charges against member. an officer of the ILA, and with thur CoTburn, $5.if; Luis Cruz, baugh, $10.42; Horace C. Mcheld by other branches read and Reports of tallying and investi­ an official' of the UTM, with a $2.48; Howard Bickford, $4.49; Curdy, $14.29; Bias A. Ramirozj $1.07; Joseph E. Townsend, .53; accepted, with exception of gating committees read and ac­ view to bringing Jt into the ILA. Ernesto Gonzalez, $8.93. Fco. Bartolomei, $12.79; Ed. W. Boston. Agent reported on UFE cepted. Motion carried to con- Several important points have al­ MONEY DUE FOR ERRORS Shaw, $12.79; Agripino Garafalo, beef ahd how participation by cur in findings of trial committee. ready been agreed upon by both .60; Amilcar Ortiz, $1.01; Ernesto MADE ON PAY ROLLS SlU had great value for this or­ Motion carried that we-reaffirm unions. The meeting scheduled ganization. Besides revealing our previous position on that for tonight is to continue these Eldon Lee Browning, $7.89; Ar- Rubio, $1.01; Juan Solis, $1.47 who pur-friends are, he said, the part of the Marshall Plan de£ding talks and because of its im- hur Colburn, $24.21; Gilbert N. Luis Williams, $9.35. Retroactive Fay Waiting �m . Page Eighl T B B- SEAFJIRER S LOG Friday. May 14. 1948 SHIPS'MIMUTES AMD MEWS DeSoto Crewmen Assail Shirkers, Stress Need For Sound Unionism ir'"- THETRE POSITIVE NOW A first-rate demonstration of democracy in action was. provided by the crew of the SS De Soto, Waterman, when they brought two men of the Deck Department up on charges after giving them a full hearing. ^ The charges grew out of the fact that the two men accussed had developed a badt habit of disappearing in foreign ginning. The man jumped into ports while their fellow crew- the water and tried to swim after members did their work for the ship. TIRED FAST them. Of coui-se, not being in the • It happened first in Philadel­ phia on this side, then happened best shape for .swimming, he again and again in Hamburg, tired fast, and would have Bremen, Bremerl^ven and Le drowned if Bosun Jensen hadn't Last week when the LOG ran a letter from the crew of the SS Steel Maker from Alex­ Havre. Finally the crew lost pa­ jumped in to swim to his'rescue. andria. Egypt, we said that the boys had sent in a picture of the crew which we couldn't use tience and the Ship's Delegate, Between the Bosun's prompt for technical reasons, the print itself being negative. Hardly had we gone to press than the Carl I. Copper, called a special and courageous action and the above picture came through, and it was perfectly okay.,Here are the Steel Makers' men plus meeting to consider the situation. good work of a squad from the F. M. Reyes was elected Chair­ Le Havre fire department, the a few Alexandria dock workers. We can't identify them all, but we know that the following man of the meeting, and Stanley man was saved. But his per­ are in the picture: Pete Walsh. Freddie Delacruz. Ollie Nerkiewicz. Sam Jonas. John Fronden. Wilusz volunteered to act as Re­ formance, which was put on in Bill Baumgardner. G. Walker. R. Schwarz. F. Quintero. Bill Hastetter. Don Faulkner. J. Rod­ cording Secretary after several front of all the passengers, de­ riguez. J. Strickland. H. Witt. W. Kaylor. A. Sprenzel. J. Thornton, R. Williams. Tony Annelar. layed the sailing and reflected others declined. Joe Coelho and a man we know only as "Pete." upon the Union's prestige, the First item on the agenda was Delegate declared, recommending the report of Deck Delegate Rodolfo Oliver in whose department that charges be brought against the two alleged performers liad both men. However, the crew deliberated missed duty. After this report on every aspect of the case be­ was accepted, the entire crew fore voting on a motion to bring joined in a long discussion which the charges. ended in charges being voted. One man noted that almost WERE WARNED everybody had enjoyed himself a Oliver claimed that the crew When the SIU crew went little bit ashore and that per­ had been thoroughly warned in Philadelphia, where an unneces­ haps these two shouldn't be aboard the SS Pioneer Val­ sary shortage of men had oc­ singled out. But it was pointed ley, operated by T. J. Stev­ curred, that if anybody persist­ out that only the two accused enson & Company, the first ently missed watches or other had left 'the ship without per­ duties, causing undue hardship mission or without making ar­ thing the Stewards Department for the rest of the crew he would rangements with fellow crew- discovered was that a large por­ members to get have their work tion of the food stores was unfit be brought up on charges. for human consumption. done. Despite this warning, the two FULL HEARING Accordingly, the men of the men in question had continued to absent themselves from their Another crewman suggested Stewards Department took im­ duties, Oliver said, adding that that the whole matter be left mediate action when the com­ they also had disregarded the to the boarding Patrolman. pany was slow to respond, they Two members of fhe Steel Maker's crew. W. C. Baum­ standard SIU policy of making Chairman Reyes gave the score drew up a resolution signed by proper arrangements with other on that one. Why make the all members of their own depart­ gardner (left) and Harry Witt pose for the cameraman on crewmembers in the event of Patrolman the goat, he said, ment, and by eight men from the dock in Alexandria. Witt sailed as Messman. Baumgardner when the crew should take the other departments, demanding missing duties. as Third Cook. In their letter last week, the men on the Steel The Deck Delegate claimed action or not take it as the mem­ that a U. S. Government Health Maker reported a first.-rate Union crew. The Patrolman Inspector be brought aboard to that one of the two men ac­ bers saw fit. cused had failed to stand gang­ would have enough to do if the pass on the food. "While awaiting him, thp way watch on two occasions. charges were voted. sel from the SIU Hall in New CONDEMNED MEAT Mar. 20 and Mar. 25, and that he The two men accused were York City on Saturday, April 24, Steward and some of the crew had left ship while on duty on a then given a chance to defend And that is exactly what hap­ 1948, to man the Stewards De­ turned to, and took an inventory themselves. One of them had pened. Moreover, when he had partment, after carefully inspect­ of the clean linen in the linen number of occasions. . Moreover, the Delegate said, nothing whatsoever to say in his a look at the ship's food supply, ing the stores on board, as far as locker, and gathered up, sorted this man always failed to show own behalf. However, the sec­ the inspector lost no time in the food was concerned found and counted the dirty linen from up until the last moment before ond man thought that he ought to condemning a big chimk of it that some of the meat, the chick­ the various foc'sles and other the ship left each port, and al­ be allowed pay logs for all the which the company had to re­ ens and the eggs aboard were not places around the ship, getting it. ways came back in no condition time missed, and thdt the idea place. in fit condition to be served as ready for sending to the laimdry. to secure gear on deck. of charges ought to be dropped. food to any crew, nor were we "The Cooks meanwhile were Once again swift action by an willing to eat them ourselves. REPEAT ACT It was pointed out to him that cleaning the galley and dry store The second man accused had no amount of logs would get the SIU crew meant decent condi­ room, and the pantry and mess"Therefore we went to the ^been warned before and had missed work done. Suppose the tions for everybody. Union Hall and registered these halls, both saloon and crew's, been openly censured in the pre- j Stewards Department left the The* men signing the resolution washing all the dirty glassware, facts in a beef. vious shipboard meeting, the ship one day, would a few logs calling for action were: "After the Dispatcher on duty dishes, silver, pots and pans, and Delegate said. In addition, he) cook the meals. Ship's Delegate Pedro L. Agtuca, Chief Stew­ got in touch with the office of so on. generally was in no condition to Copper asked. ard; W. Norris, Chief Cook; J. work the ship when in port. Before any vote was taken on P. Baldestor, Second Cook and the agents, T. J, Stevenson & "We respectfully request that This man's biggest performance a motion to bring charges, it was Baker; John Povel, Messman; Company of New York City, we a U.S. Government Health In­ occurred in Le Havre on March made clear to everyone that if a Alexander Duncan, Utility; Leon­ were instructed not to try to feed spector be requested to come 25, the Delegate said. On that man is found guilty by a trial ard Bjorklund; P. W. Wilborn; the crew until we. were told to aboard this vessel as quickly as day, he had been warned ex­ committee he is not automati­ F. E. Gill; Paul Runnerger; Ed do so, as the Port Steward for possible and inspect the food the agents wpuld come to the supplies, condemning all such as pressly not to leave the ship cally ejected from the Union. Casey; Edward Ralston; John D. ship on Sunday morning and in­ are not found to be in .wholevrbUe on duty. A committee, it was explained, Boje; E. S. Bradmark. spect the condition of the food. . Some and fit condition to be fed Hioweve^ the man paid no at­ recommends whatever penalty it to any crew. RESOLUTION tention ia the warning and took thinks a case deserves, and the TURNED TO "We feel this inspection to be ofll It was sailing day and when membership then votes on the Complete text of the resolu­ "Therefore, we waited all day ibe Aup pulled out, this man was committee's recommendation. necessary for the health of the on Sunday for the said Port In. this case, the De Soto crew tion follows: «si» fhe deck. members of the crew, both offi­ "We the undersigned members Steward to put in an appearance, Tlds was bad enough, but ac- finally voted by a narrow margin cers and men, who will be eating to the Delegate's report to bring the two men up before of the crew of the Pioneer Val­ but at 5:30 p.m. he had not put on board." ley, being sent aboard this ves- in an appearance. dbe ftgUmaamoR was just be- a trial committee^ Pioneer Lads' Move Brings Decent Food ^ a.-.:fc' - l: f r s-.-i''". Il--:; �Friday, May 14, 1948 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Nine Digested Minutes Of SlU Ship Meetings SEATRADER, Mar. 7 —Chair, man J. P.. Murphy; Secretary W. j. Doak. No beefs from depart­ ments. Voted charges against four men in Stewards Depart­ ment for performing and not working in cei-tain South Amer­ ican ports. But voted to drop charges if men behaved for re­ mainder of trip. Minute of i silence for Brothers lost at sea. HOWARD A. KELLY. Mar. 2— Chairman Lee De Parlier; Re­ cording Secretary James E. Bell Both elected by acclamation Few minor overtime beefs re­ ported by Stewards Delegate other departments quiet. Hearc letter from Ship's Delegate Burl Bryant to U. S. Consul in Puerto La Cruz regarding shore leave while at anchor and also heard Consul's reply. Voted to forward correspondence to New Orleans Agent. Discussion by Taylor un­ der Good and Welfare of ship­ board conduct. Chairman relin­ quished chair to ask crew to make up foc'sle repair lists for Delegates. Decided to have an­ other meeting between Trinidad and New Orleans. Minute of silence for Brothers lost at sea. 4 4 4 BEATRICE. Mar. 14 —Chair­ man Finnegan; Secretary Leighton. Few hours disputed in En­ gine and Stewards departments. Suggestion that new coffee mak­ ing machinery be bought. Other improvements suggested. Each watch to clean up messhall. 4 S. SOUTHLAND. April 18— Chairman George Meaney; Secre­ tary R. L. Kennedy: Deck and U //AV£ BHFAd Department Delegates had no KLAMATH FALLS. Mar. 1— AFFROVEO eV , beefs to report. Voted to bring Chairman H. M. Mannering; THAN 90^ Third Ass't to attention of Patrol­ Secretary J. P. Balderston. Stew­ Of THE MEMBBRSmP, man. Third Ass't had threatened ards Delegate requested that all to get hold of Patrolman to have soiled linen be kept in foc'sles 'AV YOi/R ASSESSMENT^ A/toH/ 6^ THAT several men including Steward until i-egular time of collection. THE UNION CM 3o AHEAD AND BUILD IT­ fired. This Third Ass't had de­ Deck Delegate reported that holi­ SELF Up TO clared himself in both word and day overtime was to be arbi­ action 100 percent for company trated and that results would be although an MEBA member. put into LOG and West Coast Crew decided it was time he was Sailors if there was extra, money. taken down 20 notches. Steward eEFORE ANY'THf'^G- MAy HAPPEN, ^ Only two men at all delinquent asked that foc'sle keys be re,,, , dues, they would pay up in turned to department he^ads for .j^^^ York. Voted that night benefit of next crew. Steward watches should keep messhall thanked for his good work and clean, and that men using messcooperatioHi Minute of silence hall for recreation should do for departed Brothers. likewise. Mattresses used for sun-baths to be brought in after By HANK use. Discussion of better meth­ ods of garbage disposal. Man Every Seafarer has the honest responsibility of protecting the* who had left ship had borrowed BILLINGS^VICTORY. Jan. 25 SIU—the jobs, the contracts and the aims of the union—at all money. Decided to leave his —Chairman A1 Smith; Recording times by carrying out the SIU rules aboard ship and in the halls, stuff in New York, let money Secretary John Dugina. Deck and seeing to it that the Organizational and Educational Program matter rest for time being. Delegate Jacobson reported is enforced in every way needed and possible. This covers such 1. 4 S. everything okay, as did Engine things , as sailing unorganized ships and the method of becoming t 4. DEL MAR, Mar. 7—Chairman Delegate Lyon. Stewards Dele­ better union men, etc. To protect the strength, the powerful and FLORIDA. April 14—-Chairman J. Tucker; Secretary Glasgow. No gate Cruz said there were some reliable reputation and the current expansion of the SIU every Dan Thomas; Secretary A. Dominguez. Ship's Delegate Major beefs from departftients. Dele­ disputed hours regarding work Seafarer can easily enough continue doing his job in shipshape Costello repoi'ted on status of gates given vote of thanks. Voted done while ship was befogged SIU style aboard ship and carrying out the same kind of good P&O agreement and said every­ to post set of rules for new men'near Antwerp. Ship's Delegate unionism in every SIU hall where it's equally important. The thing running smoothly. Deck coming aboard. Motion by King, Scoiield said matter would go to SIU has for many years demonstrated to the public and especially Delegate Lawrence MfCullough second by Arena, carried that no Patrolman but that he thought to all unions, AFL, CIO and Independent—in SlU-fashioned words listed repairs badly needed permit to be pulled off and re­ no overtime could be collected and action—why and how we fight and win our fights, and the Ship's efficient manner in which real trade unionism progresses in these • in department, no beefs. En- placed by anothe^permit on pas­ for a weather delay. senger ships provided a bookman Delegate told Steward he has a times of the Taft-Hartley slavery law, the police, the scabs and gind and: Stewards Delegates refuses job. Decided to send a beef if company sends insuffi­ the desperate labor-fakers trying to survive and destroy. Atwell and Ferreiro reported all going well. Voted to have four resolution on this point to all cient stores. Chairman Smith 4 4 4 delegates draw up desirable branches. Voted donations to gave talk on unionism. Delegates changes in contract with P&O LOG and hospitals. Discussion gave crew vote of thanks for Brother Ed Edginton, the mustached electrician, just sailed after discussion of special prob- of garbage disposal methods. cooperation. Minute of silence into town after nine months aboard the Knox Victory—which blem of P&O because of natiure Minute of silence for Brothers for departed Brothers. lost at sea. was laid up along with several others... Brother Teddy "The 4 4 4 of run. Voted for all departments CHARLES NORDHOFF. Jan. Terrible" Babkowski, is fresh in town after some voyaging... to submit repair lists before ship 31—Chairman Frank Nacklicki; drydocks in May. Brother Ed Larkin an electrician with a long circuit humorous Recording Secretary Carl S. sense of humor, sailed in last week from a tanker trip be­ 4, t 4. Hammen. Deck Delegate Sim­ JAMES K. WALKER. Jan. 26 longing to one of our new companies... There's Brother Bill mons had no serious beefs to re­ —Chairman Joseph Cabral. No Todd, playing pinochle on the third deck while he's waiting port, nor did Engine Delegate secretary named. Deck Dele­ Blair nor Stewards Delegate for the kind of ships which come in and sail out again gate Alder. Engine Delegate, Negron. It was decided to lay out to sea—not the busy boneyards! Acosta and Stewards Delegate before the Skipper the problem Cabral had no beefs to report. of what to do about the unused Repair list made up to be turned toilet which was in foul shape. Brother George Berry just fini.shed a long trip. Something newover to Patrolman in first Voted to have laundry installed, happened to George. He became a poetry writer—due to a good American port. Also voted for the present lack to be reported 4 4 4 trip but a bad egg-braided character aboard... Here are some ship to be fumigated. Voted to CASA GRANDE. Mar. 28— to Patrolman. Minute of silence oldtimers in town: Steward Alfred Baizman, A. Vegas, Steward fine men leaving dirty utensils, Chairman Eddie Cole; Secretary for Brothers lost at sea. Joe Arras, S. Manning, J. Rogers, A. Norman, J. Hopkins, J. Dand, money collected to be turned Armand Stepanian. No beefs. 4 4 4 over to Fort Stanton Hospital. A. H. Sherman elected Ship's MAE. Mar. 4 — Chairman T. Murphy, J. Stickney, R. G. Collet, J. Cates, F. Boyle, J. Barran, Charles Conners and Bosun J. Patrick... Brother Clifton Wilson Minute of silence for Brothers Delegate. Purser to be reported C 1 o u g h ; Recording Secretary should be in town after his long trip and Far East ports. lost at sea. Steward's Delegate for sti-iking out overtime. Dele­ Stephens. Clayton called meeting to order. gate to check ship's stores. 4 4 4 Departments had no beefs to re­ 4 4 4 GOOD AND WELFARE: Brothers, here's something to re­ port. Series of motions passed JOHN HATHORN. Feb. 22— calling for repairs, new gear and member when you're ashore in those foreign ports. If there Chairman Spider Korolia; Re­ furnishings. Minute of silence are any SIU ships around bring them some of the various cording Secretary John G. Brady. for Brothers lost at sea. copies of the LOGS you have aboard. Save some for the next Deck Delegate E. P. Janosko re­ 4 4 4 port and another SIU ship or unorganized ship and tankers. SEATRAIN HAVANA, Mar. 19 ported department shipshape, re­ —Chairman Sam Cooper; Secre­ ceived vote of thanks. Stewards .And when you find yourself in a USS club or some favorite tary Fred Shaia. Some disputed Delegate E. Barrios and Engine SIU bar—if there are copies of LOGS there don't take all of hours reported in Engine Room. Delegate R. Trumbull reported them. Leave some for the next SIU ship coming in. Your other Voted to cable New York for few hours disputed. Voted to 4 4 4 shipmates will appreciate them as much as you guys did. ROBIN KIRK. Mar. 8—Chair­ Patrolman to meet ship. Dele­ make up consolidated repair list for all departments. Asked new man Ted Lawson; Recording gates to check on quality of ice cream. Voted to replace radio meat block for galley and new Secretary R. R. McCormick. Deck Here's another thing to remember. Before you sail from Ameri­ speaker with speaking tube. grill for stove. Discussed fines Delegate reported no beefs. Cooper elected Ship's Delegate for performers. Agreed that en­ Bosun explained why Mate can ports or when you come in off that trip—pick up as many dollars stopped two men from overtime. previously printed copies of the LOG and read up on all the by acclamation. Agreed to make tire crew donate five up repair lists and follow apiece, half for LOG, half for Stewards Delegate also reported news which happened or \t^ill happen—as well as other informa­ through on them. Asked, for hospitals. Voted to move laun­ no beefs, but Engine Delegate tion. Wherever you are, the more interested you are in your union after gangway. Cooper relieved dry. Ship's Delegate Brady to said there were a few hours dis­ and your union newspaper, the more informed you'll be for your as Chairman by Carlson. Vote of see Captain about launch fare in puted in his department. Under own benefit and the union's welfare. An ignorant Union brother thanks to Negotiating Committee Manila. Agreed to hold payoff Good and Welfare, several mo­ is a double danger: to himself—to his well paid rating—to his Minute of tions regarding keeping ship union brothers—and to the strength and progress of the entire for new raise; Voted renewal of until beefs settled; silence for Brothers lost at sea. clean were discussed and passed. union itself for the future. library books. CUT and RUN M mm �J' • ••• T H E S E TP AR E R S L O G Page Ten Fri^y, May 14, iMi ' " H - Fairisle Men Stand Solidly Behind Hard-Hit Shipmates |l i?r i«.. •k •. I^t'" 99 "Sorry To Miss It! TVVTVVVVVTVTy????????V?fT^ FVfvyyyffyyTVTfw Log'A -Rhythms Beached '..T:: • -y To the Editor; jpoi'tant. The crew of this ship I have just recently returned to have some represenBy BILL GILSTRAP from Antwerp, having paid off Nation when the ship arrives in Mobile, with some strong support the SS Fairisle. I flew here to iAAAAAAN Point Pleasant, N. J., when I from New York. I am sure there will be serious consequences to learned of my small daughter's This the music that will give me no rest, serious condition after an appen­ both the men and the Union at the payoff, which I understand dectomy. Kind of music like a pain in my chest. Now that her condition is will come sometime in mid-June. Again I say, hat's off to the Old freighter pushing through the deep sea rain, greatly improved and she is on fine bunch of fellows aboard the the road to recovery, my first Jackstays moaning like a soul in pain. thought is to try in some way to SS Fairisle. R. F. Hosch repay the men in the crew of Engine purring out a sad low tune, Point Pleasant. N. J. the Fairisle for their quick and Steel block wacking on a cargo boom. (Ed. Note: The matters re­ sincere efforts. Their financial help made it possible for me to ferred to by Brother Hosch have already been taken care get home quickly. Anthony Gambino. SUP, of. SlU representation will be SWELL GUYS says "Sorry I came in just too LA6TGNEW waiting for the Fairisle men I want to mention now that late for the UFE beef." His (^Ap/Rry when they arrive in port.) although their lot ha.s been none THifJGl ship. Ihe SS Hood^River. Paci­ too pleasant these past few fic Tankers, was in the stream months, their spirit hasn't suf­ TAXI MAN LENT in New York during the clos­ fered and to date nearly $1,000 CAB TO SIU IN ing days of the strike and paid has been donated by them in off in Hoboken just loo late four different cases where men WALL STREET for Gambino to walk the lines, were called home in emergencies. but he made a generous dona­ I must take my hat off to them. If you saw a taxi delivering tion anyway. "I was in the Down from the galley rolls a fried steak smell. They are as fine a crew as could coffee * and sandwiches to the beef when the SIU helped out be found anywhere. j picketlines. during the UFE beef the UFE at the Cotton Ex­ Crew all rushing at the tinkling bell. For that reason, I want to in WaU Street, the chances are change last year." he recalls, This is the music that I want to hear, ^ bring some things to your atten-j that it was Tomas Murphy's cab. and feels badly to have missed Murphy, whose cabs do most the SIU's latest operation in Lonesome music like a shell in your ear. of their business on the water­ support of Wall Street's white front, is an old friend of the collar workers. Incidentally, Salt water swishing on a rusty side, Seafarers. When the UFE beef the Hood River is going un­ Sea gull screaming, begging for a* ride. came along he placed a cab at der the Panama flag. the disposal of strike headquar­ Bow watch calling in a strong clear yell, ters. His generous action didn't in­ The sound drifts backward, 12 o'clock—all's well! ' crease his popularity with the army of cops who spent the month of April bivouacked in lower Man­ hattan., The "brave" men in the blue suits did their best to give By BILL GILSTRAP him a hard time. They didn't scare Tomas Mur­ tion and want you to let -those phy, however, who still is a To the Editor: Against the scudding thunderclou.ds the mast pauses men know they can feel sure friend of the SIU. On April 10, at Vancouver, the of your help. Steward of the SS Penrunar, re­ In its pendulum swinging and the long white sickle moon First and most important is the quested the delegates to see the In Good Crew fact that it has been difficult for dips low against the shores of morning. Captain about fresh vegetables the men to get a substantial and milk. The Captain had re­ The breeze bumps the ship's side and lingers draw on their wages when it was badly needed. When sub­ fused to fill the Steward's • re­ To finger the stays with a teasing harp-like sighing, sistence money was needed, it quest for these stores. was invariably late and was you start, alert, from mind-blank reverie to The Captain was told that we usually paid long after the meal would not sail the ship until Should have been eaten. remember how once a girl woke you thus the Steward's order was placed These events, had they hap­ in the night with her crying. pened only once or twice, would aboai-d. The Captain informed not have been complained about the delegates that the stores by -so fine a crew, but it hapwould be put aboard at noon. -pened so often it seems to me it The delegates told the Stew­ was either deliberate or the re­ ard. We sailed the same .day for sult of carelessness. Panama where we are now. By NO SLOPCHEST April 20 we were completely To the Editor: -There has been no slopchest When speaking of firemen at without vegetables. for -most of the time since Jan. lumber mills stacking lumber. On reading the article in the 15 and this, mind you, at a time The next day we had a meet­ April. 30 LOG -by Brother Wil­ Brother Floyd must have haid w^en the ship was in the port of ing and the Steward was blamed liam A .Floyd, SUP', and being a West Coast lumber mills and Hamburg, where nothing can be steam schooners in mind. for the shortage. seaman of fairly long standing pcurchased ashore and the men's It was then decided that we myself, I noted quite a few er­ There is no comparison in the draw was limited to two pounds would see the Captain again to roneous claims and statements. contracts, working conditions, or English rmhiaxy scrip (prac­ ask him to take on food in First, the Bosim does not al­ even comstruction to an ocean go­ tically worthless for normal Panama, then three days away. ways supervise the paint jobs-:- ing freighter. Never mind the uses). lumbermill. , These are the most important The Captain told the delegates that's apart from the question. If 1 can recall vorrectly, the of the beefs. But there is one that no more stores would come If the brother recalls, orig­ question to which I refer, it was: inally the Stewards Department more thing' possibly more imaboard. men were supplied with their "Why should an OS have more The delegates than got after own paint, paint brushes, etc. It overtime than a Night Cook and One of the able hands aboard the Steward, charging him with was only recently, after safety Baker?" On that question, of the SS Petrolite, Mathiasen misrepresentation and breaking measures began to get serious course, its only a point of correc­ his Union obligation by revealing consideration, that the Stewards tion as I had nothing to do with Tankers, which paid off in New - The slop chest is your corYork last week after a rugged to the Captain the proceedings of Department began obtaining the writing of that article. >'MX store while you are at their paint and painting gear In regai'd to messmen receiving 11-month trip was Seafarer our meeting. sea. You can't take your from the Bosun's locker, as it 11 hours overtime for Sundays It really is impossible to serve John Crews, OS, seen here on trade someplace rise if the was considered a fire hazard to and Holidays at sea, that's newg I'l two masters and be faithful to after boat deck. Despite tough riop chest doem't have what to:me. • maintaih more paint lockers than both at the same time. time. Crews said the men's you need. were absolutely necessary. conduct Yras exemplary. Florencio Letie (^rewman Reveals Cause Of Beef On Ship's Stores Night Watch mm 3 Painting Discussion Stirs Brother To Air His Views ATTENTIOli! �Friday, May 14. 1848 - C*>' •- •• THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Eleven U 1947 Bound Logs On Hand Former Patrolman Says Job Is Hard But He's Proud To Have Served Sit .m Bound volumes of the SEAFARERS LOG for the six-months from July through December 1947 have just To the Editor: Brother has a lot of beefs and roar, and wants to know "Where . _ , , , . „u • u demands that they be settled the hell have you been? I've arrived from the binders. Members may purchase them , ,^ man as one oug jo away, and that he be given been waiting for you." ® as long as they last at the cost price, which is $2.50 per whether anyone realizes it or his money—including that extra These guys who have to see not. A good many people seem hours, copy. to think he has it easy, but what the Patrolman in such a steaming Also available are some copies of previous • bound h® ^ S" '"""sh day and ''gLled-up°''&oth»°"'is if "fakes '""haS editions at the same price. Bindings.on^ all volumes are of "f ^talking about, so the Patrolman maybe two ships, one at one end Sturdy buckram with dates lettered in gold. A patrolman comes to the harbor, the second at Hall and what does he have to tnmgs to get oetter. the other end. All Seafarers who wish to set up a permanent file listek to when he arrives? Beefs, ^1/off'thJt Sin'hP hTs^a^h ad! I with a minimum of effort should act promptly. The "o^hing but beefs; beefs and still in ^he wagir^S^Vot^f ^ippSed ^ , J, , ,j 1TT1imore beefs. Either the ship was Ko..«oi„ wages, ana you re supposed to bound volumes may be purchased at the Headquarters gog^, or the Mate or the be around when i need you." baggage room, 4th floor, 51 Beaver Street, New York City.'chief Engineer, or that Union' OUT DOUGH Of course, not many Seafarers member did something this Un-| The Patrolman gets back to-^® that, but every now ion member didn't like. 'the Hall. He «tart. checking r-herkin^ in ® Patrolman runs into the Hall. He starts Maybe a contract or a Union his book and finds that in all rule was violated, but plenty of the confusion of trying to calm NO CURE times nothing is wrong, nothing the gashound he has come out Suppose the Patrolman stops a Patrolman could do anything a little short. So he has to dig by^riiuTe iot h^ knows about ^ 1 . make to take something for his headBy "SALTY DICK" Then the Patrolman goes to things balance. I^ehe on his way home from the ABOARD SS DEL NORTE— we're doing all right... I behe telephone. He learnfi from Then he finds that a man has day's work up and down the • Fausto Bottazzi, Waiter, certainly lieve we can improve somewhat the companies what ships are run off the ship without paying waterfront, Naturallj he likes the same. has a good voice. It's a sRame meetings paying off, what ships signing any dues or assessments at all. Naturally and being a little stricter with on. Now he can schedule his So he has to void a receipt which nttie spots ^hat all the memhe's wearing it out . shouting winos... day. makes more records to straight- bers like. So no sooner is he "scrambled eggs and bacon!" ... u w a a ay. en out. j comfortably set with his headA certain party is always talk­ Have you ever gone to Tigre, LIVELONG DAY All the above trouble because ache remedy than up comes ing about being a tree surgeon, I somebody with a beef. He lisabout 20 miles from B. A.? This he always "gets the job. of ^ ^ ship and of one gashound. memAnd so Thei,- Patrolman is a very delightful trip and I cleaning the palm trees with a I j ^ + +it goes. n t i tens,' does the best he " can, hears am sure you'd enjoy it. May I wet sponge ... Mac, that barber^im to do. He po- goes out to all the ships, at any 3 couple of more beefs. yuuu eiijoy iviay ^ ^ • lices the contract, to quote the time of day or night, in any u nnt hi-« inh-ei olr^ntr o con^ri 328111, OOeS llOt USe 8 DOWl tO CUt ,, j 1 1 1 ^ 1 • j j? ^ lime ne 116803 OUt IHS suggest you take along a senonso-called labor relations expei-ts, kind of weather. headache is worse instead of interpreter... , ta—as an interpreter... 1^ . • . ? ^ and that means that he squares While he is out along the wa- better solely because of the „ „ • T-. 1 -NT * I. 11 ' mean he gives you a haircut) ... Roy Pouraaux, Del Norte beUthe beefs. terfront, someone comes to the ^eefs, of course. boy saya passenger ahtps are not ^ All day long he squares beefs. Hall to see him. This man asks| Finally he gets home and as j^is dinner and later sit for htm He s stiolnng to cargo does not carry Maybe most of them are misun-j "Where the hell is the Patrolships...Ben,am,n Fitte, porter, derstandings that can be fixed man? I got to see him quick." ^stgning to the radio, he rememIS a very good worker and for . . up without any trouble, but some So they tell this man the Pa- t3gj.g the tough day But he also ., ,, .. That's a hearing apparatus... some reason or other all the ^ xaai. ai... are different. trolman is out, that he'll have to remembers all the years he'has . jj urriu- J I must state here that our Capother boys address him as Third . . , . ., One thing he has to face much wait. been a Seafarer, and how he has c+xs,.,a,.a 1^^^" ^ others too often is the case of the crewThe man goes to the nearest gggj^ the SIU grow and how Steward... be like him ... member who appears at the pay- ginmill to wait until the Patrol- ^own through the years the men Don Strong. Storekeeper, is a off gassed to the ears. -.1-1J by x.. What fellow has a girl at Nidiman gets back and, the time ^ave fought for everything they Canadian and he can tell you to's in B. A.? Whenever she That is one time the Patrolman the latter makes it, the fellow have, all about Alaska., if you're in­ 'is up against it. The gassed-up is a little gassed and in an up-| jjg remembers how tough a terested in going there... Mrs. sings he's lost in a dream... ~ I deal going to sea was when he Edna' Johaimsen. Chief Stew- ——— ardness, will bring a pair of f^lOp0i*OO ^he was a Messman, or an OS or skates and will skate on the a Wiper himself, but whichever boulevard so she can take off I to us, in 1945, reaffirmed the tue of their service in the war. jt was. it was tougher then than a couple of pounds... I'm pan­ To Ihe Editor: Meantime, the American tax- now. pledge that we American seaning a trip to Mar-de-Plata by Of the wartime peak, when payers'have been cheated out ofj Seafaring itself hasn't beplane soon. Let's see what it the American people owned and ^.arrying- across the material for their money. This is a fact. come any easier. The work is w .. 'operated, through the Maritime shaRhare the jorof"movAnd here is an off hand case: still hard, but nowadays the Ed Grothies, Waiter on the Del Commission, more than 5,000 . the Last year, when I was in Ro- wages and working conditions Norte, IS buying a Packard and ships under the US flag - on Definitely, not. sario, there lay, loading at the are something else again — not he wants someone to accompany April 15 there were left, under,^ ^oLy l American grain elevator, one of our Lib- that they shouldn't be still bethim on a trip through the U.S.A. bareboat charter, only 815 ships; Ljbertys and Victorys, flying the ertys, fiying the Honduran flag ter. You must share expenses, of and the figure is expected jjag, are moving the to disguise the nationality of the VERY BIG BEEF course!...Little Joe has received drop, by the end of the month. these ships are rogue who ran the ship and an offer to go with Torres. AB, to 715. Too often though, when he manned by underpaid crews, op- stuffed the dollars in the pockets on a skiff from New Orleans to it means some 200,000 Ameri- ' erated at low cost, and engaged of his striped pants. gets to remembering some of B. A. He has declined. can seamen, veterans of World cutthroat competition against the big beefs, the 1946 General My hat is off to Thomas Landa War II. have been thrown out _ remaining ships. If nothStrike for instance, he can't for­ for being a swell chef. He knows,of their jobs and left stranded jg gj^jpg get the scabs and the finks. his business. What member of on the beach. This, in itself, is driven from the seven Maybe dreams about them and JOSWBUSSOMe the crew aboard the Del Norte' evidence that'pur Government is seas. It has happened before. starts talking in his sleep. has Book No. 69 and signs ar- guilty of a breach of promise. Maybe he screams "scab" and OUT OF WORK There is a law against it. But tides on No. 69? ... We now have "fink" and his wife hears him, Already, some 50,000 American new bell-boy, Vincent Chavez, can we sue pur Government? The and gets him wrong. So what and he's on the ball...; Mac. the fact, however, remains that Pres- seamen have been deliberately does the Patrolman have then? barber, wants a barber chair forjiflent Truman as Commander in, deprived of their jobs; jobs to Another beef, a big one this the crew So it's up to us to Chief, in his Christmas Message which they were entitled by virtime, at three o'clock in the write to Mr. Kelly for it. All morning. One that takes plenty of squaring. in favor say, "Aye." ... And so it's beefs around the The Night Cook doing a split The ship was a money maker. clock. Even on weekends. Some is a. former acrobat... The One year out of the United scow always picks Saturday or rumor about Smith having the States, she had made many voy­ Sunday or Christmas to arrive peanut concession at the ages, carrying cargoes from port with trouble aboard. movies (on board) is not true. But there is one thing about to port. The rogue who had ac­ But he's trying to sell hot dogs, According to the shipping rules, upon discharge from a hospi­ being a Patrolman. No matter quired the Liberty under false though ... Out of a crew of 129. tal and registering within 72 hours, a man is given a 30 day card. how tough the job is on occa­ pretenses, had never been in That's fine, but there is a Brother here who was holding a shipping business before in his sions, it's worth it. A Patrolman 52 day old card when he was run over by a car, Does the brother life; yet he was making a . for­ knows that he is serving his fel­ lose-the time he accumulated while waiting for a ship prior to tune out of her freight and lived low members, and he knows that SIU SHIP iSACLBAr^SMlp/ the accident? if he does his job right he can like a lord. Joseph M. Walsh The conditions aboard were help make the SIU bigger, bet­ Marine Hospital rotten: poor food, long hours; ter and stronger. Galveston, Texas ' and no overtime. The Captain Above all, he knows that his . ANSWER: The brother, if his stay in the hospital is stayed in an expensive hotel, job and every member's job is SB6 THAT "ifcWR less than 30 days, will receive his original shipping card back. spending money on wine, wo­ to help the SIU keep its gains SHIP IS iHOoao However, if h^. has been in more than 30 days he receives a OB06R BBPORE men and song. It was all done and win all the unorganized nPAVSOfFj new card with 30 days credit. Incidentally, the time limit at the expense of the American shins to the SIU banner. on- reporting back to the - Union Hall is not 72 hours but taxpayer. Ex-Patrolman 48 hours. . H. J, Peierzon (Identity withheld by request.) 'The Voice Of The Sea' Big Fleet Pledge For Postwar A THE BBEF BOX REGAINING OF SHIPPING CARD CLARIFIED FOR HOSPITALIZED 1 �: »•! ril£ SEAFARERS LOG Page Twelve fiids Youth To Beware National Guard Hokum r I' P' [• i*: ENJOYING A TRIP ON TEE DUNCAN •• enemies: the boss, the police, and To tkte Editor; the National Guard. During , the past few months whenever I'd drop into the third The National Guardsmen would fldor recreation room at the New move in and break thd strike York Hall I found it a swell with club and bayonet. From one Jolace to relax between shipping. end of the United States to the • Cbmfortable seats, good coffee, other, it was known that if the a good television show are among NG was called in, the strike was the things on tap to make the as good as busted, along with •the heads and bodies of the waiting period pleasant. strikers. One thing, however, spoiled This same gang is now calling my enjoyment. It wasn't any­ on workers, among others, to body's fault, but I'd like to get join their ranks. Every day the a few words off my chest about radio blares out the story of how thje radio and television adver­ good life is in the NG. tisements of the National Guard. These "come-ons" tell of the BAYONETS USED snappy uniforms, the precision W can all remember, at least drilling, the two weeks encamp­ the oldtimers can remember, the ment" each year. But not one days when strikers were fired on single word about the strike­ by helmeted troopers and forced breaking activities of the Guard. to disperse their picketlines. In A lot of innocent people are those days tear gas bombs were being sucked in by this propa­ showered on any group of men ganda. And that's what I want who dared to strike for better to warn about. wages or improved conditions. Pat and Joe, as they were COUPLE WARNED Anytime there was an indus­ identified by Seafarer A. W. trial dispute, the workers knew Only last week, while sitting that they were faced with three in the Hall, I heard one of the Wasilick, knock off for a advertisements. It didn't impress breather after a work stint on me and so I paid little attention James Duncan bound for Seafarers In Japan to it. But a couple of young the France. Ship was described fellows seemed interested, and as a good one and liked by all they talked of signing up. I spoke to them and told them hands. the anti-labor history of the Na­ At right, "Hot Stuff," aged tional Guard, and by the time 17, displays his birthday cake, we finished talking, the boys no courtesy of the Duncan's Stew­ longer were interested in the ards Department Looks like Guard. the galley gang really outdid For any one who might be themselves on this one. taken in by the false propaganda being issued by the NG, remem­ ber, some day when the SIU is out on strike, the Guard might be called out to break' up the picketlines. Or if not the SIU, some other union. The National Guard might be able to fool some people, but To the Editor: ' I'm one guy they can't fool. And as long as I can have my This little story is self-explan­ say, I'm going to warn working- atory: men not to sign up with the While attempting, to carry an National Guard. inebriated FWT back aboard our From Nagoya, Japan, "Doc­ Joe Grimes ship in Shanghai, I was.accosted tor" I. H. Pepper writes that by a vodka-filled Russian com­ the boys of the Rufus W. munist who proferred escort, or Peckham are enjoying a good rather, to be of serv­ trip, the picture he snapped ice to^-laSs American "friends." proves his point. Identified on­ To^. .^ary to argue, I ^ntinly eis an Oiler and an AB off ued~ my way carrying my limp, watch, the two Seafarers man­ The minutes of a meeting held sweating burden over my should­ age a big grin for the "Doc's" aboard an SIU ship recently con­ er and followed by this charac­ camera. tained a request which we would ter. Halfway into a narrow evilto see granted. However, we smelling alley, which teemed SIU HOSPITALIZED like must rely upon the membership's with the riff-raff of oriental ci­ IN BALTIMORE LIKE response to do so. tizenry, we suddenly found ourThe crew, under Good and ^Ives stirrounded by several McCANN'S SERVICE Welfare, suggested that the SEA­ clamoring, petty car drivers and -To Ihe Editor: FARERS LOG devote two pages ricksha jockeys. To all brothers who would in the LOG to cheerful news, The din was terrific. Evidently like to know what we in the praise of men and crews and in­ the Russian, too, was irritated, Baltimore hospital talk about teresting experiences instead of for he began to attack the mill­ - when conversation ruris out, we'd moans, groans and beefs. ing and jabbering crowd. His like to say there's one subject WeU, we still want to hear huge fists crashed onto unfor­ in particular that gets our at­ from' Seafarers who have beefs tunate heads and soft stomachs. tention. —they serve a good purpose— Immediately a few tattered That subject is Brother P. J. but as the crew mentioned Chinese fell groaning to the 'McCann, who brings our LOGS cheerful news is just as inter­ cobblestones. Other drivers, in­ and weekly hospital allowances esting and we'd like to print furiated at the sight of then•fripm the Union hall. Last week ibre of it. fallen brethren, plunged reck­ thie LOGS hadn't arrived when That's Where you come in. lessly into the fray. he started to make his rounds Something unusual is always of the hospital and he was good .appening to seamen and crews Meanwhile, I was hurriedly enough to make a special trip wherever they drop the anchor. dragging my shipmate from the "'to see that we got our LOGS. That incident ashore in the last scene of the fracas as I had been jMost of all, 11 at any time port gave the whole gang a forewarned of the many.*dan= he can do anything for you, he'll laugh. It'll probably meter a gers lurking in Shanghai streets. Stones hurtled about, though 'go out of his way to do it. guffaw or two in the LOG. So, Brothers, we are" taking In the words of the big ad­ miraculously none found its tar­ thjs way of thanking P. J. Mc- vertising outfits: Don't "-hide you^ get. for all his kindness in light under a basket. FLED THE PACK helping the men here in the Just give us the details, pic­ tures, too, if possible, arid weH Upon reaching a spot of com­ Baltimore Marine Hospital. George Freshwater do the rest. The address is: SEA­ parative safety I observed . the Julius Wukart FARERS LOG, 51 Beaver St„ Russian running wildly toward us, the melee far behind. - ; New York 4, N. Y. John R. Tilley 'Michael H. Baal Upon reaching my side I se- (if" if ' Cf?-** •-••I;.,.;^;.-.;r" Friday, May 14. IMS Defends Alien: SIU Brothers, . Answers Critic To lhe.;Editor: I would like to answer Bro-. ther Arvel Beardon's position on the alien problem. His stand hasi aroused me and a lot of good, full-book Union members of alien descent. He made, a statement (LOG, April 30) about an alien who had been sailing American ships for the last 26 years without becom­ ing a . citizen. For that man I hold no brief. He or anyone else who has over five years in dis-; charges should be made to take out his citizenship papers. Don't you. Brother Beardon^ think it is difficult 'enough for guys lik^ me to ship out at present? Weren't your ancestors aliens, or were they redskins? I am surprised at your talking the way you do. If you are in­ terested in the pr.oblem and knew the red tape we must gd through to get our papers, you would not talk so fast, nor would you be so narrow minded. I would also like you to look up any alien's Union book and find if his dues are paid up and also who are the best Union men on the ship. True, it takes time to become a good Union man and most' of us aliens have only started to go to sea yesterday. I am just a pup, having spent only 12 years of my 26 at sea, ; I appreciate as much has anyone the conditions our Union has got-^ ten for us. None are better in the world. I think the aliens appreciate this more than most men think. If. fact, it mjght do some of the performers some good to sail on foreign ships for awhile, then they would appre­ ciate-SIU conditions and-wages. James Murphy verely criticized his action and asked him, "Why did you start slugging those people? They Brother Says SIU hadn't done anything to you." Leads On Waterfront He grinned and chuckled, an-1 swering in broken English, "UnEditor: der the existing circumstances it I have just retired my Union was imperative that I let those book and although I expect to coolies feel the strong arm of be away indefinitely, I would like to be placed on the mailing the Soviet Union!" list for the LOG. In this way I So bi'others, this one man is a can keep up with current events follower, not a leader. Let us al- ' on Union affairs, contract nego­ ways he alert and the unfortu­ tiations, etc. nate conditions that exist in some I have been a member in good other unions will never happen standing for six years and I to us. think our Union is leading by Remember, the best way is the waterfront. Let's hope American way and that is the ai^v^ays will. SIU way. Guy F. Wallace Angola, La. Tommy "Aussie' Dawes Shanghai Commie Incident Holds Warning, Says Dawes Got A Story? Send It in! ii PROUD HOLDOVER FROM ANOTHER DAT A rare sight on the seas ioday is this four-masted bark taking cargo in Durbag, South Africa. She. bears ^ the name -Passet and is out of Mariehamn, Aaland islands, Finland. Shot was by Seafarer Robert Kennedy. �TBE SEAFARERS hOG Fxiday, May 14, 1948 SEAFARERS ON DECK Get A Receipt Aboard Ihe SS San Angelo during a "itectn Irip lo the Persian Gulf were these four SIU members. From left to right: Buster Sietz, Tony Martinez. Mike Veronic and Steve Boguski. Photo was taken while vessel was at Arabian port of Has Tanura. Penmar Men Take Action Against Hardtiming Master To the Editor: Brothers, this is just a small item among the many things that have gone on during this trip. James Castle. Steward Benjamin Miguano, Deck Delegate ' William Hall. Engine Delegate Cleveland Manning, Stewards Delegate Florencio Letie Every member making a donation to the Union for any purpose should receive an official receipt bearing ihe amount of the contribu­ tion and the purpose for which it was made. If a Union official to whom contribution is given does not make out a receipt for the money, the matter should ' immediately be referred to Paul Hall, Secretary-Trea­ surer, SIU. 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N.Y. In advising the SecretaryTreasurer of such transac­ tions, members should state the name of the official and the port where the money was tendered. Have Fresh Milk On Tap. He Asks Page Thirteea Do Your Job Well And AU Will Go Well, Gypsy Says To the Editor: great a Brother you are. Just do your work and everybody will There are always going to be see how good a Brother you can guys beefing about this thing and be. that. With reference to guys who Time will tell, so keep cool all the time and just do what you don't like our Union and the are getting paid to do—the rest way it is run, and who talk is overtime. about joining up with some other DO IT RIGHT outfit, this old salt says actions speak louder than words. Some guys just think they go Don't grumble and stay to sea for coffee time and bunk around, boys, just be on your time and pay time. If all the overtime they think they have way. Some guys don't stop to think coming is not in, they try to get about the old salts who paved the Secretary-Treasurer, the As­ the way for them, and are still sistant Secretary-Treasurers, the good men who look for no ad­ Port Agent and every Patrolman vantages just because they have they can find down at thepayoff. So, you Brothers with the per­ full books and ratings. . " mits and tripcards, just go in DO THEIR BEST When these old salts go to sea, they really do their best to sail a ship the right way, not just to get their thrills, chills and Yankee bills. And when the boat bumps, the old salts don't jump and fail to come back until the second whistle blows. The greatest things that ever lappened for seamen came through the SIU—better living and working conditions, higher wages. pitching and hitting and you will Facts prove themselves.- So, learn the job right. That's how. off with you if you don't intend you win your ratings, doing the to do the right thing all the job right. way. When you know, your job, you Some guy will get to be a dele­ can keep going up the ladder. If gate and, when one. of his boys you care to, you may even move tias done wrong, his delegate pal topside. will uphold him. When the boat Here's to the ships that sail in bumps and the Patrolman jumps rain and sleet and snow and gale, aboard, this guy who's done and may God bless the SIU for wrong wants all the men to everything it has done for. sea­ stick up for him. men. So you don',t have to tell how Harry A. (Gypsy) Gibbs To the Editor: There was a special meeting called aboard the SS Pennmar on Here is something that should April 15 . which ' all Brothers be discussed in the LOG, and should hear about. later I think it might be insert­ The chairman of the meeting ed into the agreements for the was Brother A. E. Wolch, and the benefit of the entire member­ Secretary was Brother Florencio ship. F. Letie. The meeting was called It's the question of fresh sup­ to consider the case of Captain plies that I'm talking about. W. F. Gayle vs. James Castle, Fresh milk, fresh bread and Steward, and Cleveland Manning, things like that. Saloon Messman. These fresh supplies should be After serving supper onfe even­ put aboard a ship when it first ing, Saloon Messman Manning arrives from a foreign port. was in the saloon eating his Instead, what happens is this; supper. The ship's Steward puts in his The Captain came over to him order right away to the Port and asked where did he think Steward for freah milk and To the Editor: he was. The Captain said he t other items, and then the crew didn't want the Saloon Messman At the termination of the has to wait two or maybe three to eat in the saloon, that the "Broker's Waterloo" on Wall days before the stuff comes Messman's place was in the Street, the forces of right, backed aboard. crew's mess when it came to eat­ by the overwhelming might of ing. NOT A ONE men who fought what (in earlier \ years) appeared to be a hopeless actionary. Their only difference OFFICERS ONLY Yet there isn't a ship that To the Editor: battle, proved that the xmder- comes into port whose operator is that they employ different tac­ The saloon was for officers dog—underpaid, brow-beaten and does not know practically to the The. Taft-Hartley Actj which tics to gain the same greedy goal. only, the Captain said. He forever living in fear of his job minute what time she will dock. is doing so Much harm to labor Common sense teaches that as claimed that the Saloon Messman could defeat the Midases of Nor is there a ship that comes unions, is just whetting the em­ long as there is an industrial was a member of the crew and the financial field. ployers' appetites for the big world there must be capitnl. in with any milk on board. had no right to eat in the saloon. Until the last day on this In the future, the Messman earth, the rights of every man, To my mind, there ought to be dinner yet to come. In other Under a true democracy it can would have to take his meals in be he high or poor, shall come a standing order in all ports for words, these guys are slowly be handled equitably. The com­ the crew's mess, the Captain to the fore. Never was it meant every company to have fresh creeping up on labor and are not munists and the greedy monopol­ milk, bread and similar stores ists use capital for their sole ad­ ordered. that any man should live in on the dock not more than , four cracking down too hard until vantage and will use every sub­ The Crew then went to the fear. The Constitution of the hours after a ship ties up. they get the rank and file unions terfuge— even human souls — in Captain, demanding an explana­ United States was modeled with used to losing cases. their rush to assume its control. tion. The Captain replied that that thought. Every union mem­ There is no reason in the world why such a rule could They are eliminating one by It is plainly evident, however, the Messman was not to eat in ber in this nation, therefore, in one their obstacles in order to that a government can exploit ending the depotism of the Wall not be enforced. the saloon. Please note that there is al­ squash unions when they decide the workers far more thoi-oughly That was when the crew took Street czars, who have run ram­ most always a dispute over this the opportune time has arrived. than free enterprice. Socialist, action after considering the case pant for so many years, has milk and bread question. And Let us not beat around the communist and dictator forms of more than upheld the articles in the special meeting. there always will be until we get bush about the situation we are government have all been known The boys voted that the Stew­ of our Constitution. a hard and fast rule. ards Department was to claim an When the day dawns upon a So I say let's make the rule slowly becoming involved in. to be unsuccessful in providing Let us face the facts. We will be freedom for the common man. hour's overtime for each meal complete unionization -of all and make every company stick placed between the communists served after the regular meal white collar workers in this na­ So, we will find ourselves be­ to it. hours for the Saloon Messman. tion, every man and woman in­ How easy it would be was il­ on one hand and the large mon­ tween two fires: one, monopolistic Moreover, the boys made it volved will realize why the pe­ lustrated when the SS South­ opolists on the other, both of capital, which would dictate to clear that the Captain and other riod from March 29 to April 29, land paid off on April 25. The whom engage in name-calling the government, and, two, left officers were not to come into 1948 should long be remembered South Atlantic people had fresh against us in order to gain their wing elements who would en­ the crew's mess for coffee as they, as- the end of financial tyranny. milk waiting for us on the dock. respective reactionary goals. slave aU of us alike. had been doing in the past. The opposihg forces of high Why couldn't it be this way We will be called "reactionary Let us be realists and face the finance have repeatedly stated every time? capitalists" by the communists future in an honest way and not *N that the Seafarers International George Meaney and we will be called "left wing barter with either. It will be a Union and the-Sailors Union of radicals and goons" by the mon­ fight and don't forget it. We the Pacific had no place in this opoly powers. will need every penny we can If you don't find linen battle. Those who take this line INTENSE EMOTIONS get. Not only will we need it when you go aboard your of rea-soning might just as well Psychologists will tell you that as a Union but we as individuals ship, notify the Hall at once. say that our nation had no right •f • love and hate are only a razor's will have to save so that if we in the recent world conflict, in A telegram from Le Havre or edge apart. Communism and are faced with hardship, we will which the forces of evil and Singapore won't do you any monopolistic capital are even less tyranny were beaten and en­ go<^. It's your bed and you rolled . in the same tombs with apart, in my estimation. They not have to starve and sleep in both try for power and the con­ the cold. the Huns and Vandals. have to lie in iL trol of capital and both are rePaul ^ James R. Brown Sees Wall Street Strike As Fight To End Tyranny Predicts Taft-Hartley Law Backers Just Warming Up AnENTiON! tjoet al J "^1 -^1 �Page Fourteen THE S El A F ARERS LOG Friday, May 14> 1948 SIU Contracted Companies: Isthmian ir much of the pipe for the highly important pipe, line which car­ ried fresh water across the desert to the tx'oops fighting the Battle of El Alamein. To belter acquaint the SIU membership with the ships they sail and the SIU contracted companies behind them, a series of short articles on these companies and their ships is being run in the LOG. Some of the companies have long and interesting records in American maritime history—some of that history was made with SIU crews aboard the ships. S' wi ' |i Isthmian Steamship Corpora­ tion, long known for its farflimg operations, has been under contract to the Seafarers Inter­ national Union less than a year, but, like all other contracted companies, it now has SIU crews aboard- its ships, who, no doubt, are interested in the story be­ hind their ships. The history of the company, goes back to the turn of the cen­ tury and is deserved of space here for two reasons: 1) The company is now under contract to the SIU and. 2) it's history is an integral part of the Amei'ican To make use of the new ves­ sels, the company organized merchant marine. One of the largest operators in routes to all parts of the world, ocean commerce under the including the Pacific Coast of American flag. Isthmian ships are the United States and Canada. to be found in practically all But in spite of the large fleet major ports along the coasts of which materialized almost over­ United States and the Far East. night, the scope of operations soon proved that the company's Long active in the intercoastal 28 vessels were inadequate to ac­ trade. Isthmian services trade to commodate the volume of Amer­ the Netherlands East Indies, ican products for distribution to Malaya, Hawaiian Islands, India, U. S. ports and abroad. Persian Gulf Area, Egypt, Pales­ VITAL RAW MATERIALS tine, Syria, The Red Sea area, French Indo China and the At one time the company Philippine Islands. found itself chartering as many Starting from scratch over ^0 years ago, the company has man­ aged, through the development of its own market, to rank as a power in the American merchant marine. STEEL PAPA Although the Isthmian Steam­ ship Lines had their origin in 1910 when two steamship serv­ ices, the New York & South American Line and the M^le Leaf Line, were inaugurated, the Isthmian Steamship company in its present form came into exist­ ence at the close of the first World War. With the termination of hos­ tilities Isthmian's parent, Uni,ted States Steel Corporation, found itself with two large ship­ building plants, one at Chicka­ saw, Alabama, and the other at Kearney, New Jersey. Instead of folding up, the corporation de­ cided to go into the steamship industry to carry its products to its world-wide markets. fe'- p: ij-: m fi: Panama. The fleet, too, because of its world wide operations be­ came symbolically an east-west link . In naming the 28 ships, the company titled the 14 built in the New Jersey yards according to the "Steel" • pattern, embody­ ing various phases of activity im­ portant to the development of steel industry. For example. Steel Engineer, Steel Exporter. Those built in Chickasaw, Ala­ bama, were named for southern cities. For example, Birmingham City, Memphis City. as 20 additional ships. In the intercoastal trade between the Atlantic and Pacific Coasts, as many as 15 vessels were operat­ ing at full capacity. In 1939, when war in Europe flared up foreign vessels which had been engaged in United States trade were withdrawn for military service and the prose­ cution of the war. This shortage of ships made it necessary for American operators to expand. So, before the U. S. entered the war and engaged in a big shipbuilding program, the Isthmian company chartered ad­ ditional ships. In 1940 and 1941, the company was operating about double the number of vessels it actually owned and at peak operations totaled more than ICQ. Isthmian's house flag is a blue field -with a red diamond on a -white cross. The com­ pany stack (not shown) is solid buff. One of the operations of the company was the transportation of vitally needed crude rubber from the Far East. The Isth­ mian ships brought , more than 60 percent of all crude rubber transported to this country be­ tween September, 1939, and December, 1941. It wasn't long, however, before the war in Europe caught up with American merchant ships. Isthmian's Steel Seafarer was the first company vessel lost to enemy action. On September 5, 1941, more than three months be­ fore Pearl Harbor, an aerial bomb struck the ship and sent her to the bottom of the Red Sea in 15 minutes. In later months she was fol­ lowed to oblivion by 22 other company ships. Of the losses, 15 were company-owned and 7 were ships operated for the gov­ ernment. By the end of the war only nine of the company's orig­ inal 27 ships wei-e left. In addi­ tion to the 15 sunk, two were purchased by the government and turned over to Russia and one was sold by the company. PIPE FOR AFRICA Some of the wartime activities of the Isthmian fleet, though not manned by SIU crews, point up graphically the achievements of the merchant marine. Operating in practically all theatres of conflict, the ships of the Isthmian Corporation lent tremendously to the .filled vic­ tories. Isthmian ships transported the use of a tremendous num­ ber of chartered ships, made Isthmian the operators of tha largest fleet under the American flag. At one time, when Isth­ mian acted as agents for the Matson Line, the fleet consisted Isthmian ships continued to of 142 ships. supply the troops as they swept Wi^h but nine ships remaining across Africa to Bizerte and on after the war the company went to Sicily and Italy. about rebuilding its fleet for The famous Murmansk Run post-war operations. Contracts was serviced by Isthmian ships. were immediately signed for' the On this run three of the Isth­ purchase of 24 converted C-3s. mian losses occurred. One ship, Of these, 21 are now operating. All of the ships are named to the Mobile City, returned 15 follow the "Steel" style of nam­ months later after leaving the ing. The three yet to enter U. S. for Murmansk. The trip service are the Steel Voyager, both ways had begp uneventful. Steel Rover and Steel Traveler. The " ship instead had been POSTWAR FLEET pressed into service by the Rus­ While Isthmian now operates sians for the movement of men 29 company owned ships and 41 and equipment along the north bareboat chartered vessels, the Russian coast. final company fleet will number but 24 C-3s. The chartered ships SWITCHED TO SOUTH will be returned to the Maritirne Later when the run to Mur­ Commission and the pre-war mansk was discontinued. Isth­ company ships will be sold. The C-3s are much larger and faster than Isthmian's older ves­ sels. Each has a deadweight capacity of 12, 615 gross tons and a speed of 17 knots. The older Among the ship losses, Isth­ vessels have ' a deadweight of mian, like some of the other 9,480 gross tons and a speed of companies, suffered a mysterious IIV2 knots. disappearance. The Steel Age, Absent from participation in out of Capetown, South' Africa, all that went on in the Isthmian February 15, 1942, bound for fleet before the end of the war Trinidad, disappeared without a was the Seafarers. The return of trace. peace signalled a drive by the Union to organize the unor­ After several months all'hope ganized. Largest of the unor­ was abandoned of ever learning the ship's fate. Finally, more ganized dry cargo companies was than six months after the ship Isthmian, so it was natural for had disappeared, a letter was the SIU to concentrate its en­ received from a man in a Ger­ ergies in this fleet. man prison camp stating that he The SIU, which had attempted was the sole survivor of the to organize the Isthmian fleet in Steel Age. 1940, but could not do so be­ His name checked with the cause of many problems, once crew list so, through the Swiss more turned its eyes and strength Legation at Berlin, the man was 'toward the company's many interviewed and gave the details 'ships and jobs. of the ship's loss. The ship was The 1945 Agents Conference of hit by two torpedoes and went the Seafarer-s laid the ground­ down almost immediately 600 work for an intensified organiz­ miles off Trinidad. The survivor- ing campaign. jumped on a raft and v/as later I After a large percentage of the picked up by the submarine re­ j Isthmian seamen had pledged sponsible. I themselves to the SIU, an NLRB The world-wide participation election was set for March 18, of Isthmian ships in the war, and 1946 to continue until October, 18. mian ships , delivered goods to the Persian Gulf where thoy were transported overland to southeastern Russia. As the ships hit port the crews voted for the SIU, the NMU or no Union. After a one-month delay, the final tally was made on November 18. Too, the corporation had found that there was a lack of vessels suitable for carrying steel in odd shapes, lengths and weights. Out of the program for a fleet, 28 ships were built to special de­ signs for company use. END OF STRUGGLE It's history now that the SIU won by an impressive majority, of all votes cast. However, it was ten months later, after stall­ ing by the company, charges by the -NMU and a nine-day strike that the SIU and the company signed a contract calling for the hiring hall and rotary shipping. Some of the special features of these ships were cargo holds, decks and hatches constructed to make po.ssible the handling with ease and dispatch the heavy structural steel and long steel rails. Heavy booms capable of lifting pieces up to 30 tons were provided. The ships also were designed to carry liquid cargo in bulk. Later, on November 23, 1947, less than nine months ago, a full contract containing all the pro­ visions of the i-egular SIU agree­ ment was signed by the com­ pany. HONORED CANAL The ships were launched in 1920 and 1921 and the Isthmian fleet took to the seas. The name "Isthmian" was chosen in honor of the Panama Canal, the link between the oceans of .the east and west through the Isthmus of The Steel Director, one of Isthmian's 24 nevr C-3s purchased to replace wartime losses. The histor-y of the Isthmian Steamship Corporation up to the present occurred almost entirely without union seamen aboard its ships. But new history wiU be made—this time with Seafarers aboard the ships. :/:< �Page Fifteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, May 14« i34S Report On Calmar, Ore Agreements „ ' (Continued from Page 3) SECTIONS — CHIPPING. SCALING AND PAINTING SECTION 19 — PROHIBITED WORK SECTION 10 — EXTRA OVERTIME This is a new addition to^ the old contract, and pro­ vides that when any member of the Stewards De­ partment is-called out to work between the hours of 7:30 p.m. and 5:30 a.m., .a minirqum of 2 hours' over­ time shall be paid; This is a new addition to the old contract, and provides that if any member of the Stewards Departnient shall be required to perform any worl? which The old contract was vague on this, issue. The new. has been expressly prohibited in this article, he shall contract provides now that members of the Stewards be paid for such work at his regular overtime rate. Department shall not be required to chip, scale or SECTION 20 — MINIMUM OVERTIME paint. This is a new clause and makes this new agreement the only contract in existence that provides for this kind of overtime. The Second Cook and Baker gets 6 hours guaranteed overtime per week for baking, and the Chief Cook gets 3 hours guaranteed overtime per week for cutting meat. Wages ; SECTION 13 — EXTRA PERSONS SLEEPING ABOARD. This is a new addition to the contract. When two or more persons other than regular crew members, pilots and super cargoes sleep aboai-d, the member of the Stewards Department who takes care of the room shall be paid $1.06 per day per person. Ratine . Monthly Rate Rate. Rate Total Before Effectne Effective Aaaaimt of June 16, '47 June 16, '47 April 5, '46 Increase' Boatswain. .$217.30 $228.17 $260.44 $43.14 Carpenter 217.30 228,17 242.54 25.24 AB-Quartermaster 182.85 191.99 210.01 27.16 AB 182.85 191;99 210.01 27.16 . SECTION 14 — SHORE BREAD OS 159.00. 166.95 ' 177.47 18.47 This is an addition over the old contract and is the AB Maintenance .. 197.75 208.69 221.84 24.09 same as in .the regular SIU agreement. The company Deck Engineer .... 217.30 228.17 242.54 25.24 shall furnish bread from shore in >all continental U.S. Oiler 188.15 197.56 210.01 21.86 Ports and when it is not furnished, the Second Cook FWT 188.15 197.56 210.01' 21.86 and Baker gets 3 hours' overtime for each batch ot Wiper 185.50 194.78 207.05 21.55 bread baked. Steward 233.20 244.86 265.75 32.55 Chief Cook 217.30 228.17 242.54 25.24 SECTION 15 — CLEANING MEAT AND 2nd Cook & Baker 196.10 205.91 218.88 22.78 CHILL BOXES Utility 159.00 166.95 177.47 18.47 This is a new addition and provides that when mem­ Messman 159.00 166.95 177.47 18.47 bers of the Stewards Department clean gratings and •Chief Electrician.. 312.17 327.78 348.43 36.26 defrost and/or wash down the meat or chill boxes, •Electrician— they are to be paid overtime. Deck Eng 251.22 263,78 280.40 29.18 •Machinist 251.22 263.78 280.40 29.18 SECTION 17 — DUMPING GARBAGE •Fireman (Straight) 177.55 186.43 198.18 20.63 , This is a new clause and provides that no member ••'I'hese ratings carried only on Ore Line Ships. of the Stewards Department shall be required to go on the dock to dump garbage. SIU HALLS SIU, A&G District NOTICE SECTION 21 — FULL COMPLEMENT AND WORK DUE TO ABSENT MEMBERS This is a new addition to the old contract, and pitfe' vides in detail that when a vessel saUs without fulfr complement, the wages of missing men are to, be divided among member's who perform their. work,^t provides also that, except when a skeleton crew (standby) is aboard, a full complement of the Stew­ ards Department must be maintained when the ship is feedjing. ' Overtime EFFECTIVE JUNE 16. 1947 Lower Bracket: $1.06 for ratings under $210.00 Higher Bracket: $1,325 for ratings over $210.00 , EFFECTIVE APRIL 5. 1948 Lower Bracket: $1,125 for ratings under $223.23 Higher Bracket: $1.41 for ratings over $223.23 Conclusion This contract, while still npt on a par with the rest of the SIU contracts, can be considered as a great improvement over previous contracts and conditions for these two fleets. It is therefore "recommended to the membership that this report and contract be ac­ cepted. The Committee further recbmmends to the member­ ship that the question of the Hiring Hall as contained in this contract be accepted as such, so that the Union will not be forced into the position of fighting this issue with only two companies, where later on in the year we shall be involved with approximately 50 companies on the same issue. The Negotiating Committee is of the definite opin­ ion that once a tie-up of any vessel is necessary for the preservation of the Union Hiring Hall, it should then be all ships and alL'companies on all coasts and not be confined to the individual ships of one or two individual companies. Fraternally submitted, Paul HaU Joe Algina J. P. Shuler Lindsey Williams Robert A. Matthe-wa Ray White PERSONALS IVAN ORRELS Gear belonging to the follow-. bag; John Pruett, Handbag; Law- FRANCIS E. McGILLICUDDY Frank Pinkowski is interested Contact Carl A. Coates, 1520 ''BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. ing men is being held at the rence Edwards Suitcase; William William Rentz, Agent Calvert 4530 Baggage Room of the New York Arm^rman, Suitcase; John T. in the pictures taken in Bor­ 5th Street. So., St. Petersburg, BOSTON 276 State St. Hall. He can be Fla. In order to make room Reilly, Suitcase; Mc Jenning, deaux, France. Walter Siekmann, Agent Bowdoin 4455 for incoming gear, the below Suitcase; Frank JDirksman, Suit­ reached through the Philadelphia '4 4 GALVESTON 308'/,—23rd St. listed articles will be disposed case; Michnierwez, Small Suit­ Hall. STANLEY JANDORA Keith Alsop, Agent Phone 2-8448 of, if not claimed within ninety case; John Onnal, Suitcase; Rob­ Get in touch with your sister, & i. t. MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St. S. L. WOODRUFF ert High, Suitcase; Clarence ListJandora, 217 Hart St., Brooklyn, Cat Tanner, Agent Phone 2-1754 days. Your father asks that you New York. William Yudovishes, Dis­ erman. Suitcase; Reuell David, NEW ORLEANS. ..... .339 Chartres St. E. Sheppard, Agent Magnolia 61126113 charges, Wallet; Leonard Eugene Handbag; Edward M. Rydom, write him at Geary, Oklahoma. 4 4 4 NEW YORK 51 Beaver St. Redmon, Wallet, Papers; George Handbag. WILLIAM F. GORDON A S. Joe Algina, Agent HAnover -2-2784 Bullett, Discharge; Edward T. ALBERT McCABE Eugene Benton Hall, Suit­ Write to L. A. Walker Co., 465 NORFOLK 127-129 Ba^k St Get in touch with your daugh­ California St., San Francisco 4, Apel, Discharge; Theodore Har case; Henry Charles Michaels, • Ben- Rees, Agent' Phone 4 1083 PHILADELPHIA. .. .614-16 N. 13th St. rette, Coast Guard Pass; Carol Suitcase; • Nathan Cantor, Suit­ ter at 809 Lincoln Place, Brook­ Calif. Lloyd Gardner, Agent Poplar S-1217 William Bandu, Seamans Papers case; Charles Nangle, Suitcase; lyn, N. Y . 4 4 4 SAN FRANCISCO. ..... .105 Market St. Harry Hall, Stevens, 'Seamans, Joseph Dube, Suitcase; S. C. 4. Si 4. JOHN J. O'CONNOR Steve Cardullo, Agent Douglas 2-5475 S. L. WOODRUFF Papers; Adolph Partel, Papers Pruett, Suitcase; Ross Cook, Get in touch with your father SAN JUAN, P.R 252 Ponce de Leon Your father is anxious to hear immediately. Your mother is Leonard S. Binning, Papers; Jos HandC. Goodwin, Handbag; Sal Colls. Agent San Juan 2-5996 SAVANNAH 220 East Bay St. eph A. Spaulding, Papers; Fred Kenneth-Paine, Suitcase; Kim- from you. 'very sick. Charles Starling, Agent Phone 3-1728 Albert Olson, Papers; Adam Kar- mer. Suitcase; Charles W; Scott, TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St. powich. Papers; Clarence R Suitcase; Peter F. Riedel, 2 Suit­ Claude Simmons, Agent Phone M-1323 Crow, Discharge; William Joseph cases; John Riebel, Suitcase; HEADQUARTERS. .51 Beaver St., N.Y.C. HAnover 2-2784 Walsh, Papers; Guston Bocek Joseph UdilyaR, Seabag; Howard The SEAFARERS LOG as the official publication of the Sea­ Discharges; Woodraw Wilson Murray Larm, Seabag; A. Fitz­ SECRETARY-TREASURER Paul Hall Lawson, Papers; Edward Burke, gerald, Seabag; Charles Motts, farers International Union is avfiilable to all members who wish ASSIST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS 'apers; Herbert Elgin Doyle Seabag; Clyde De Shelter, Sea-1 to ^^^e it sent to their home free of charge for the enjoyment of RSbert Matthews J. P. Shuler Papers; Everette L. Penn, Papers; bag; J. W. Tailor, Seabag; C.! their families and themselves when ashore. If you desire to have Joseph Volpian Norman O. Dukes, Papers; Wil­ Goodwin, Seabag; H. Macaline, the LOfr sent to you each week address cards are on hand at every liam C. Lingard, Papers, Pass- Seabag; C. D. Gillette, Seabag; SIU branch for this purpose. However, for those who are at sea or at a distance from a SIUport;Peter Merx, Papers; Chester Mike Suurna, Seabag. HONOLULU .'...16 Merchant St, hall, the LOG reproduces below the form used to request the LOG,, Chesna, Papers; Byron R. De Gears from the Waterman line, Phone 58777 PORTLAND Ill W. Burnsido St. Forest, Papers; William Lyons, and some that been here for over which you can fill out, detach and send to: SEAFARERS LOG, 51 Beacon 4336 Papers; Charles Edward Richard­ one year. Beaver Street, New York 4 ,N. Y. RICHMOND, Calif 257 ,5th St. son, Papers; Galder E. Parker, B. MUler Phone 2599 PLEASE PRINT INFORMATION '444 SAN FRANCISCO..... 59 Clay St. Papers; Jacob T. Mosher, Papers; Clarence Templeton and John To the Editor: Douglas 25475 Alville Patrick Meiser, Papei's; SEATTLE 58 Seneca St Francisco Mateo, Discharge; Schiller, contact H e r m a n ' E. Main 0290 I would like the SEAFARERS LOG mailed to th«> Hugh C. Malone, Discharge; Paul Bokelman, 82 Eustis Street, RoxWILMINGTON 440 Avalon Blvd. address below: Terminal 4-3131 Yancy, Discharge; Louis Fran- jury, Mass. ken, Papers; Daniel W. Conroy, 4 4 4 CASIMIRO B. PAMIA Papers; John Olano, Papers; Ben­ Name — An endorsed check belonging jamin Green, Papers; Martin BUFFALO 10 Exchange St. Cleveland 739.1 Crowley, Papers; Scalabrini Ben- to you was found in the New Street Address CHICAGO, ni. .' 3261 East 92nd St. so, Papers; George Thomas Doug­ York Hall and has been returned Phone: Essex 2410 las, Papers; to Waterman Steamship Com­ State City CLEVELAND 2602 Carroll St. pany, 19 Rector Street, New C. A. Jackson, Box; Alexander Main 0147 DETROIT i038 Third St. Stephenson, Suitcase; John Rie- York. Signed Cadillac 6857 bel, Seabag; G. M. Everett, Pack; 4 4 4 DULUTH.... 531 W. Michigan St. P. T. Archilles, Box; D. G. John­ Joseph-A. Ryan, get in touch Melrose 4110 Book No. son, Box; John Kneiss, Box; T. with Volpian et headquarters re­ TOLEDO..... i.. 815 Summit St. 2112 Omara, Pack; C. Newberg, Hand- garding an important matter. m Notice To All SIU Members SUP Gt. Lakes District m 3 �i. • " i y.. •s -Vii fl '' " • If r\'k ^ yff-r'. i'l-' W' 11-' 1.1 •" M . If Page Sixteen THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday. May 14, 1948 Anniston Gity Crew Tours India To See Sights Of Karachi, Calcutta The crew of Ihe SS Anniston City, Isthmian, takes the sun end gets its picture taken at the same time. Back row, left to right, J. Rudolph, D. Fontenla, A. Guna, F. Galvin, R. Schram, C. Ramos, G. Kyer, H. Thomson, and M. Hummel. Next row, in the same order, E. Jacobsen, A. Moller, B. Mondido, and C. Cessna. Bottom row, in the usual order, L. • Brain, I. Gorgas, C. Muscaretta, G. Sneeden, and G. Cline. The pictures of the Anniston City, which appear on this page, were taken last trip when the ship made the usual Far East run. All of the pictures were snapped by Brothers Paskowski, Cessna, and Sneeden. The above shot was taken while the crew was testing the Lyle Gun. which is part of the usual shipboard procedure. Crewmembe^s report that things are getting better aboard Isthmian ships since the new contract was signed. Another normal routine measure is Fire and Boat Drill. Above snapshot shows the crewmembers at their stations, ready for apy emergency.^ This was just a drill, but in the event a real fire had occurred, the members of the crew would have known exactly what to do. It is this type of preparedness that saves lives at sea. and it is for this reason that the Union has always pressed for safety measures to safeguard the lives of men. ii s. While on the Far East run, the Anniston City stopped at many ports. Just like tourists, the members of the crew went ashore to see the sights. Above, left to right, C. Cessna, a guide, F. Paskowski, and I. Gorgas, stand in front of the Jade Temple, in Calcutta.' This temple is one of the most unusual sights to see in India, and is visited each year by many thous* ands of devout Hindus, as well as by many tourists. The intricate carving of the pillars and steps, which is clearly visible in this picture, has attracted experts from all parts of the world to study this marvel of the age. India is the home of many other marvels and now that the war is over many tourists are making the trip to that mysterious country. The sights of Karachi also attracted our wan­ dering Brothers, and they hired an ancient horsedrawn vehicle to pull them around the city. Posing in front of the open carriage is a Karachi gendarme —cop to thosei who don't understand French. \ v /v: Another Calcutta sight which intrigued th? men of the Anniston City was the cremating of a body right in the streets, in the midst of people walking to and fro. India is so overcrowded that space for cemeteries cannot be spared, and so deceased persons are cremated and their ashes scattered. It used to be the custom for the widow to throw herself on the burn­ ing pile alsoi but this has been halted during the past fifty years. Karachi natives were as interested in the Annis­ ton City men as the seamen were in them. Wher­ ever they went they were stopped for conversation. Here a few of them paused to chat in the market­ place with some unselfconscious nativesi - • Brother Paskowski, above, makes the transition from a ship of the sea to a camel, the ship of the desert. He says that although the camel doesn't ' pitch and roll as much as a. ship,, still and all a ship smells better than a camel. . •• p'.- � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource May 14, 1948 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. X, No. 20 Description An account of the resource HEADLINES A&G GROWTH CONTINUES AS TWO MORE COMPANIES SIGN TANKER AGREEMENTS SEAFARERS HITS MERGER OF MEBA, RADIO MEN HARTLEY ADMITS SLAVE LAW WASTES GOV'T TIME MONEY NEW ORLEANS BRANCH TO OPEN NEW HALL REPORT ON CALMAR,ORE AGREEMENTS STEADY PARDE TO THE BONEYARD SLOWS UP BALTIMORE SHIPPING BOSTON SEAFARERS EYE NON-UNION TANKERS SHIPPING IS GLOOMY IN PHILLY BUT THEY HAVE ATHLETICS GALVESTON AWAITS GRAIN CARGOES COAL STRIKE END DOES NOT CHANGE NORFOLK PICTURE JOB DONE BY ORGANIZING STAFF PAYS OFF NEW YORK WITH SHIPS CREWING OF SOUTH ALANTIC SHIPS PROMISES ACTIVITY FOR SAVANNAH SEAFARERD GET QUICK SERVICE FROM BRANCH IN PUERTO RICO MOBILE EXPECTS SHIPS SOMEE DAY BUT NOBODY CAN SAY JUST WHEN CAVALIER WILL DROP NEW YORK FOR NEW ORELEANS AT END OF JUNE RETROACTIVE PAY WAITING DESOTO CREWMAN ASSAIL SHIRKERS,STRESS NEED FOR SOUND UNIONISM SIU CONTRACTED COMPANIES: ISTHMIAN ANNISTON CITY CREW TOURS INDIA TO SEE SIGHTS OF KARACHI,CALCUTTA Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 05/14/1948 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1948 Periodicals Seafarers Log