Media
Issue Date
1940-06-01
Volume
2
Issue Number
3
Plaintext
J
The Seafarers^ Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y., SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1940 446 NO. 3
Seamen Will Introduee
New Insuranee Measure!
Hearings Held On
insurance Bill
For Seamen
<$>
ACTION BY:
Sailors Union Bocks
Militant SiU Crews
To Win Raise!
SAGA OF THE "UNORGANIZED"
CALMAR STEAMSHIP LINE
S.S. ALAMAR
May 3, 1940
Editor, Soaiarcrs' Log,
Dear Brothers:
• On Tuesday, April 30, a joint meeting was called of all
departments for the purpose of determining when and if we
were to receive the same wages as the West Coast Unions.
May 1st was the date that the new wage increases were to
go intlj effect. We felt, and rightly so, that we as union men
could not take the ship ea.st for less money than West Coast
seamen were getting"for it. (Regardless of the rantings of
the N.M.U. that they were out to "organize" and promote
Jjetter conditions for us H
The captain (S.S. ALAMAR)
was requested to find out as soon
as possible, and we carried on un
til Thursday, . which was the
scheduled sailing day. In the
meantime the engine department
Toted to pay off if the raise was
not forthcoming. Thursday morn
ing, the committee wont up to ask
the old man if he had received
any word from New York. "No,"
he said, "not yet!"
Negotiate With ,
Eastern S.S. Go.
Negotiations with the
Eastern Steamship Com
pany are proceeding on the
proposed agreement be
tween that company and
the Seafarers Intemational
Union. The preesnt status
of the negotiations is an
extension granted to June
15, 1940. Before final ac
tion is taken the proposals
and counterproposals will
be submitted for approval.
In the event we are unable
to reach a satisfactory
agreement thru the medium
of direct negotiations he
fore the expiration date,
the organization will be ob
liged to take more vigorous
action in support of our
just demands.
Get Support
: Then, two of the members of
the crew were dispatched to, Port-
land to contact the Sailors Union
of the Pacific, 'brother Massey,
the Portland agent of tho SUP,
sent a teletype message to Harry
(Continued on page 4)
Fink
Training
Admitted
Editorial
Reorganizing TKe
"Unorganized"
Admiral Wiley, head of the
training ship program of the Ma
ritime Commission, has openly
admitted what we have charged
since the program was inaugu
rated. Speaking at tlie ceremonies
organized by the shipowners here
in the annual observance of Na
tional Maritime Day, Wiley, re
porting on the Maritime Commis
sion's training program, stated:
. . it was doubtful that
men given pay and subsis
tence, while they are In
training will want to follow
the guidance of union lead
ers, (Journal of Commerce,
May 23, 1940)
Oppose Fink Reserve
Our opposition to the training
ship program has been based,
from the very beginning, on the
contention that the essence of the
(Continued On page 4)
Bureaucrats have a supreme contempt for the intelligence of
the rank and file worker. Nowhere is this better demon.strated
than in the colossal insult to the intelligence of the seamen con
tained in the propaganda spread by the bureaucratic clique, rul
ing the roost, in the National Maritime Union! This propaganda
has been aptly characterized by members of the SIU as: "The
Saga of the 'Unorganized' Steamship Lines." The dictionary de
fines a "Saga" as a legend, tale, or myth.
Upside Down
The legend then, is that ships under contract to the SIU are
"unorganized." We have always been taught that workers seek
organization to better their condition, increase their wages, and
get protection on the job. That has been the experience of• the
labor' movement ai»d is the primary reason for the existence of
trade unions. But that Was before Lawrenson became the chair
man of the NMU "reorganization" committee. Now everything
is turned upside down I Things look a lot different when you're
standing on your head—as those who read the. Pilot may readily
suspect It's an interesting phenomena and one that bears further
analysis.
Human Perversity!
The Seafarers has won an increase of ten dollars per month,
PLUS TEN CENTS PER HOUR INCREASE IN OVER
TIME RATE, on offshore ships under contract to the SIU. That
is, on the socalled "unorganized" ships. In the same run, the
NMU has received NO increase in overtime! Yot, Mr. Lawren
son, CNRC, wants to reorganize the "unorganized" into accepting
a reduction in overtime payment!
(For the information of the uninitiated, CNRC stands for
Chairman National Reorganization Committee^ He won his letters
hy his success in breaking down conditions.)
A similar situation exists whereby SIU ship.«i sailing to Med-
iterranean ports receive a "bonus of fifty dollars per month, whilt
NMU ships in the same run receive a thirty-dollar bonus. It's
just the perversity of human nature that impels the SIU crews
(Continued on page 2)
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
War Bonus Wage Increase
Illegal Practice
NEW YORK
New Measure Being Drafted Which Will
Eliminate Objectionable Features
Of Present Bill!
Appearing before the House Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries hearing on the proposed Unemployment
Insurance Bill for seamen, Harry Luiideberg, representing
the opinion of the SUP and SIU expressed our combined op
position to the bill in its present form. The bill is on a par
with a whole series of bills which have been intioduced in
Congress in the last period, proposing to "give" the seamen
varioxis benefits—in exchange for relinquishing our control
over the union hiring hall. As vith the others, our decision
was that it was too high a price to paj' for the doubtful bene
fits contained in the bill.
> Dangerous Clauses
The bill provides that "The
Board may establish, maintain
and operate free employment
offices and may designate as
free employment offices facili
tic.s maintained by (1) a mari
time labor organization or (2)
a State, Territorial, foreign
or the Federal Government,"
The bill further gives the
Board authority to, "pre
scribe a procedure for regis
tration of unemployed em
ployees at employment of
fices," and states that "the
Board may, when an employee
registers, make such nota
tions upon his certificate of
discharge, continuous dis
charge book, or other docu
ment in his possession, as it
deems expedient in the ad
ministration of this Act." The
seamen have had many sad
experiences with the making
of "notation.s" on their pa
pers and have learned that
such a procedure can easily
develop into a blacklist.
Our Position
In expressing our objections to
this Bill, Brother Lundeberg stat-
ed: "We are in favor of unem-
ployment insurance for seamen,
but not at the price wo must pay
under this bill. . . , After years of
bitter experience with govern-
ment and employers employment
services and offices, seamen have,
finally fought for and won the
ri^ht to an absolutely indepen-
dent control of their own em-
ployment offices—their hiring
halls. These halls today are
completely removed from the
domination of any interest other
than that of the men themselves.
It is the very independent natnxe
(Continued on page 4)
WAR
BONUS
The following is a copy of the
rider attached to vessels under
contract with the SIU sailing to
ports in the Mediterranean:
1. "Emergency compensation
at the rate of $50 per month, in
addition to the wages as pre
scribed in these articles, shall
be paid to each member of the
unlicensed personel of the
crew, from the time the Ship
departs from the last port on
the Atlantic Coast of the United
States and until the return of
he vessel to the • first United
States port.
2. "The company agrees to
furnish war risk insurance in
the amount of $5,000 for each
member of the crew from the
time the vessel departs from
the last port in the U.S. until
her return to the first port In
the U.S., as per insurance pol
icy or certificate to be made
available at the company's
main office.
3. "For the loss of clothing
resulting from being sunk,
bombed, mined or caused by
war conditions or activity,
seamen shall be paid $150 cash.
4. "in case vessel Is lost, de
stroyed, seized, sold or aban
doned, crew to be returned to
Atlantic Coast port. Wages and
bonus to continue until arrival."
COMPARISON
WITH NMU!
In a rocont circular distributed
by the NMU trnd signed by Joe
Curran we are informed that:
The War Bonuses (NMU) are to
(Continued on page 3)
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Saturday, June 1,194!0
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/ ^ Published bj Uie
Seafarem^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Feder,ation of L^or
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New york (Phone: BOwling Green 93437) 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston L. 330 Atlantic Avenue
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia .6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 14 North Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico 8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East' Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami S15 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 7oth Street
Texas City lO.I IIh .Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:.
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Editor: Tom Kerry—Former Editor of "West Coast Firemen"
Editorial
Reorganizing The
**Un a rgan ized "
(Continued from Page 1)
to resist being reorgani:5etl out of twenty-dollars per month. How
hacJcrcard!
Fetir ihe Truth
Other examples could be irroduccd, but the above are sufficient
to illustrate our point. Which iSj that all we have to do is to
adopt the logic of the CNRC^ and we'll all be standing on our
heads—or walking on our heels, which produces approximately
the same sensation! Now, the NMU propaganda artists are not
the mental cretins that they appear to be. They work on the
thcor}' that if a falsehood is repeated loud enough and often
enough, it will come to be accepted as the truth—at least by a
certain section of the workers.
In fact, what they fear above all else, is the truth, because
then the loudest and most persistent cfamor for reorganization
would come from the NMU membership themselves, who like all
workers are.simple enough to believe that the function of a trade
union is to increase the wages of those organized in the union and
vvould find it rather difficult to understand why they had to take
less than "unorganized" workers.
l^umbo'Jumbo
"The SIU is a constant tlireat to the progress of the NMU,'*
saj'^s Mr. Lawrenson. and . . . "has got to be wiped off this coast
if all seamen are to gain the benefits which would accrue from
one unified organization." From what has been stated above, it is
evident that the "PROGRESS" referred to is the more or less
progressive march to the rear led by General Lawrenson. His
crocodile tears over the poor seamen deprived of the "BENE
FITS", of "reorganization," is actually heartrending!
All the mumbojumbo about organizing tlie "unorganized"
SIU ships is .just .so much sand thrown in the. eyes of the NMU
njembership. It's primary purpose is to conceal the bankruptcy
; of the ruling clique whose main efforts are devoted to dragging
the seamen organized in the SIU down to the lower level estab
lished by. Curran and Co.
On the March
"The SIU has got to be wiped out," says Lawrenson. Be
cause,? . . . Yes, because it does stand as a constant threat of ex
posing the reactionary character of the phoney clique in the lead
ership of the NMU who have done more to retard the progress
of the seamen than any other factor. Tlie truth is beginning to
Bjeep thrqugh, the "fianitary cordon" thrown around the NMU
rank and file and it v/on't be long before the membership begins
doing a little "reorganizing" of the top committee. When that
time comes, the seamen can really march forward to greater prog
icss and security.
OUT OF THE MAILBAG
PHILADELPHIA
URGES SUPPORI
FOR PRPERi
Now that the Seafarers' Log is
going to be published regularly, I
don't see why the members who
can afi'ord to do so don't make
some effort to relieve the financial
strain that the Union no doubt
will be put to in Order to ensure^
its continued publication.
Want Regular Issue!
Ill the couree of my duties I've
liad many requests for the "Log";
many times I had to argue my
way cut because I had no "Logs"
to give the men. 1 know they are
right when tliey raise cain about
it, not being put out regularly, as
this is the only practical means
we have of keeping our member
sliip posted on the affairs of the
Union. It is very essential that
every effort' should be made to
have it come weekly or two times
a week, if possible. This is up to
the membership themselves. The
following in my opinion is a very
feasible method to aid us in our
ai.m.
Need Your Support
It is a simple matter for any
ship delegate to put a doilation
list out when the ship is paying
off, and wliatever sum is collected
can he turned over to Wie Agent
or Patrolmen at the nearest
branch or if you prefer, send to
the Seafarers' Log Editor. For
such donations you may demand
a receipt covering the entire sum,
and it will be accredited to what
ever sliip the donation is made
from. Or if an individual member
should care to, he may receive an
individual receipt in his name,
provided of course he makes an
individual d^mation.
Members Need Voice
So let's go to town. Brothers,
and make the "Log'' a paper that
ail of us will be proud of! It is
actually the life blood of any or
ganization to have an organ that
will at all times be the voice of
the membership.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph Flanagan,
Phiiadelphla, Pa.
Believes What
He Reads
Almost I
P.S. Will you kindly enter this
in next issue of "Log." We have
several membership books at
Plilla. Branch as follows:
Deck Dept.:
B. Powell, Harold Reid, Jr.,
William P. Noglee, Russel Low-
ery, K. Bateman, Gabriel Fratus.
Engine Dept.: "
David Lathrop, Arnold E.
Thompson, John Tom Brennon,
Clarence H. Demiard, 0. C. Ham
by, Rowland Weiks, Giovani Mi
lanto.
Steicard Dept.:
Eric Lynch, Jos. Handflnger,
Orin W. Austin, Charlie Safford,
Chas. H. Smith, Jaa. Smith, Jos.
H. Smith, Henery W. Smith, Per
cy Salmon, A. Saavedra,
These books have been in our
hail for some time now. If mem
beis whose names are on this list
will communicate with us, we
will be^^^glad to forward book to
near^t hail.
Texas City, Texas
May 15, 1940
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Being a trusting soul and be
lieving everything I read, no mat
ter where I read it, I was sure
that all that was needed for the
N.M.U. to complete the much
publicized re oganization of the
Tankers was to collect the money
that the tankermen were begging
them to take and to inform the
company oflicials th.at they would
consent to have the company rep
resentatives appear, hat in hand,
at the N.:M.U. olllces to sign an
agreement.
ILLUSION BLASTED!
But lo and behold! After a few
weeks contacting these afore
mentioned tankermen, I was most
a.stonished (!) to Icarii that even
the attractive winter bargain
rates (which are being contin
ued) of one buck down payment
and two bits a month wa.s consid
ered a trifle too much. From my
couversatlou with a number of
exNMU'ers, I gathered the uii
niistakable impression that the
only way they would considor go
ing back into the NMU would be
on the basis of having equal grab
riglits at the treasury. So, maybe
you just can't believe EVERY
THING you read! Another Illu
sion ruined! .
HOW COME?
No tankermen storming the por
tals of the NMU! No shipowners
standing in line outside the NMU
oflioe waiting to be admitted to
be allowed to sign up! No raisq
In overtime rates on NMU con
tracted (?) ships. .Did I hear
some one say; "It don't mat'tei
about the ten cent per hour raise,
first get some overtime." Tut, tut!
The "unorganized" ships, listed
in each issue of the "PileIt" get
it! How come?
VISIT NEW HALL
Oh, oh! If we had a "fifty thou
sand" membership, maybe, just
maybe, I could get a teyf men
around our nice new hail in
Texas City, at 105—4th St. Give
me a ring when around the neigh
borhood, phone number 722. The
way it is now, when I want to
talk to a seaman when there are
no ships in port, I have to talk
to some of the NMU members and
they always spoil it by wanting
to join the only outfit which is
going ahead as a UNION run by
the members, for the members,
the S e a f a r e r s' International
Union.
Steady and full ahead!
A. W. Armstrong,
Acting Agent,
Texas City, Tegas,
105—4th St., Phonf
BUY UNION
MAO£
722
SKILLED LABOR
SHORTAGE PUNGTURED
Washington, D.C—With 6,000,
000 names on the active file of
the Federal Employipent Service,
including many skilled mechanics.
Secretary of Labor Perkins dis
counted the deluge of propaganda
relative to an alleged scarcity of
skilled labor menacing the na
tional defense program.
"I cannot think of any process
in the whole defense program for
which there are no men avail
able," she declared.
500 CCC Boys to Join
Training Schools
An additional 500 boys are to
be released by the Civilian Con
servation Corps (CCC Camps) on
request of the Maritime Commis
sion for enrolment in the mer
chant marine training schools op
erated by the Commission. This
will bring the total of CCC boys
chosen for enrolment in the train
ing ships to approximately 900
for this year.
Previous enrolment numbered
250 boys last October and 150 in
May. Of the most recent batch,
400 will go to the Gallups Island
station in Boston Harbor and 100
to the St. Petersburg, Florida,
training station.
Brothers:
The above caption is continual
ly being inserted in practically
all real labor publications, but
there is rarely any explanation of
the vital importance of this issue.
Every union man who wishes to
make his organized power felt,
even tho he is not directly con
nected with a particular indus
try, should insist on nothing but
union commodities when making
any kind of purchase.
FOR GOOD OF ALL
This \vi(l help, not only the in
dividual tliat buys, but w;!! b.? a
great assistance to every union
brother in gaining better condi
tions and wages. If the demand
for Union Made products in
crease, so will the task of getting
recognition for organized labor
be made easier. There may be an
objection by some who will re
mark that tliey can get nonunion
made good.s cheaper. The follow
ing will explain some of the rea
sons why you may be able to get
nonunion made goods a few pen
nies cheaper.
OPEN SHOP TACTKIS
First we take tl»e case of over
ambitious Chambers of Com
merce, In communities where the
open shops flourish, yoh will al
ways find these scum doing their
dirt. They send invitations to
manufacturers and producers to
bring their e.stablishments to
their particular city, with prom
ises of cheap labor and insurance
against "labor troubie." By lower
ing the standard of living of the
workers in their community they
weaken the entire labor move
ment.
PIIISON LABOR
Then there is prison labor to
take into consideration. Goods
produced in prison are placed on
thq market at cutthroat prices.
The consumer is usually enticed
by their cheapness but there is
no need for me to go into detail
about the conditions under which
these goods are produced nor the
effect of their sale on organized
labor..
Last but not least, are the
goo'ds produced In foreign coun
tries with the use of conscripted
labor. This is nothing short of
slavery.
BUY UNION GOODS
The above considerations should
prove to every unionminded
worker that if we want to con
tinue getting miioii wages and
conditions, we will have to be
come consumers of Union Made
goods. So let our watchword be: ,
Union made goods for Union
men's protection! Insist that your
families follow this motto and
let's hope the day will come when
we will see nothing but Union
Made products on the market.
Jos. Flanagan
In Memoriam
JOHN R. FORBES
Died in the Marine Hospital
at Norfolk on April 25, 1940
ALFRED LARKE
Died at the Marine Hospital
at" New York on May 5, 1940
S. BARRERQ
Died at the Marine Hospital
at New York on April 24.
MARION FIELDS
Died at Savannah, Georgia,
on May 14, 1940.
LERQY AKINS
Died at New York on
May 5, 1940
:
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Saturday, June 1, 1940 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
What's Doing
Around The Ports
TAMPA
Things In this port are about
as hot as tlie weather. Paddy
Whaien, the great Baltimore Sta
llncompoop, is down here ped
dling the line. He's just aching to
save the boys down here, but un
fortunately (for Paddy), many of
his potential converts have been
"saved" before and have found
the proces.s so painful tlint' they
arc extremely reluctant to go
through the experience again, de
spite all of Paddy's eloquence.
Paddy, who is suppo.scd to be on
his vacation, is having a lot of
"explaining" to do about the
plioney N.M.U. tanker agreement,
which is causing; much unhappi
ness among the men on the .ships.
:» » *
Shipping has been very good.
There is still some chiseling go
ing on board of some of the Bull
Line and Waterman ships. It's up
to the crews to report to the pa
trolmen any attempt to chisel on
the agreement. If you've got a
legitimate beef, bring it to the at
tention of your union representa
. live instead of banging some bar
• tender's ear about it. Every mem
ber, should strive to leave the
ship in a better condition than
when he got on. With the proper
support from the ship's crew we
can put an end to any chiseling
that's going on. Report your
beefs! Support your patrolmen!
Win better conditions! Build a
greater S.i!.U.
PHILADELPHIA
Had a little busine.ss in the port
the other day, crpwcd the Sea
Train West Texas, ,and believe
me, the rank and file came into
their own. Piggy Norman sailed
as Engineer's Utility Man, while
good old Brother Waldo Gripe
sailed her as Quartermaster, all
in all, the crew was a fine gang.
; ' • * »
We are having a little difficulty
In supplying the men for the va
rious jobs that come in, as we
have very few men on the beach
here.
» • *
We are reviving the old Marine
Council that held the waterfront
in abeyance in the past, and it
looks like everything will be rosy
in the future. The next meeting
will be 52840, and then . we are
going to go to town in earnest.
» Hi "ii
The American Range lines have
sold the Calabee to an unnamed
firm, but I was' informed on reli
able authority that she would still
remain under contract to the
S.I.U. We had a telephone bill as
long as your arm last month, call
ing Baltimore and New York, so
some of you men who are on the
beach In these two ports better
hop It over here, as we hate like
hell to fatten the telephone com
pany.
« « «
The SeaTrain New Jersey is
scheduled to take on a crew the
fir.st week in July, so you doe
heavy monkeys might as well lay
on the beach here for five weeks
as anywhere else, so get going.
I hear a lot of squawking about
the "Log." Well, who ever heard
of getting something good for
nothing. Let's get going the
donationsi • '
* « «
Well, here's ,to a bigger and bet
tor "Log, long may it flourish.
J. F. Flanagan,
Harry J. Collins,
Phi la Branch
SAVAISNAH
May 24, 1940
Shipping has been fairly good
in the past week, due primarily,
to the S.S. City of Montgomery,
Savannah Line, coming out of the
boneyard, where she has been
laying for the past three years.
Prospects for the coming week,
however, don't look very promis
ing.
» • •
"Several important clarifications
and addenda to our agreement
with the South Atlantic SS Co.
were negotiated here on May
22nd and were m.ade effective as
of that date. Copy of the clarifi
cations is as follows:
DECK DEPARTMENT
1. "On s.hips where members
of the unlicensed personnel are
required to do carpenter work,
due to the ship not carrying a
carpenter, the seaman or sea
men be paid at the rat^ of 25
cents per hour for this work In
addition .to their dally wages.
2. "In Working Rules, Deck
Dep't., Section 1, last para
graph, be changed to read:
'Sailors required to stand gang'
way watches in port after 5
p!m. and before 8 a.m., Satur
day afternoons, Sundays and
holidays to be paid at the regu
lar overtime rate of 80 cents
per hour.'
3. "When seamen are re
quired to clean bilges, rose
boxes or cofferdam, it shall be
considered overtime for the
watch on deck, and (over)
time and onehalf for the
watches below.
4. "Section 14. Shifting or
hauling ship after 5 p.m. and
before 8 a.m. shall be consid
ered overtime, a minimum'of
two hours to be paid for same."
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
1. "The 4 to 8 watch shall re
lieve itself for supper.
2. "Section 8 (b) shall be
changed to read; 'Both the oiler
and the man on watch (fireman
or watertender) detailed to look
after the plant, shall receive
overtime while cargo Is being
worked with ship's winches' at
all times betwen the hours of
5 p.m. and 8 a.m., and on Sat
urday afternoons, Sundays or
holidays."
3. "When ship Is shifted be
tween the hours of 5 p.m. and
8 a.m., the watertender or fire
man, but not both, on watch
shall be paid at the regular
overtime rate.
4. "Section 9. Add paragraph
(b1). When firemen are re
quired to blow tubes or super
heaters between the . hours of
5 p.m. and 8 a.m., or on Satur
day afternoons, Sundays or
holidays, they shall be paid at
the regular overtime rate for
same."
The South Allautic SS Co. • was
one of the last companies under
agreement with the SIU_to come
thru with the overtime clariflca
tions listed in the above addenda
to our agreement. These provi
sions have been previously em
bodied in the rest of our agree
ments.
Chas. 'Waid, Agent
HO^§Tm
Houston, Texas,
May 25, 1940
The port of Houston Is still go
ing strong and.shipping is boom
ing. Can't get enough bookmen
and we are shipping quite a few
trip card men,
A considerable number of NMU
men come in most every day • who
are anxious to join the Seafarers
International Union. It seems
that they are getting fed up with
the promi.ses of the top fraction
boys. Despite all the phoney
propaganda in the Pilot the NMU
rank and file around this port are
getting wise to the fact that the
SIU is a democratic organization
run by the membership. A.s they
don't get much overtime and
very little backing from their own
oificials, I am willing to bet that
in another year we will have all
the rank and file members of the
NMU in our Union and damn near
all their ships too.
* « * '
That's all for this week! Best
regards to the Seafarers Log and
all brother members.
D.L. Parker, Agent
TEXAS CITY
The old refrain, is the theme
song here . . , Where, oh where,
are the seamen? We'll get two or
three on the beach, a ship comes
in, and no men to be found. I'm
fast becoming the skeleton in the
closet here in town. Mothers put
wayward kids to sleep by telling
them I'm coming to ship them
out. Shipped 5 trip card men last
week ... 4 this week!
• * *
The mate on the MARSADOK
coming into Galveston was right
on the job down on deck wajit
ing to help the Sailors on the
gear. He was informed that the
gang was capable of struggling
along without his aid. One more
mate educated! If all the crews
take the saijie attitude it won't
be long before these ambitious
ofllcers stay where they belong
and make a name for themselves
by doing their own . work instead
of messing around the crew.
• • •
Steady as she goes!
A. 'W. Armstrong
Attention!
«
Acting agent A. "W. Arm
strong, Texas City, Texas, re
quests us to announce the new
address of the hall which has
been opened in Texas City.
The address:
Texas City Branch
Seafarers International
105—4th St. ,North
Phone 722
Brothers shipping into this
port are invited' to call at our
new hall. Brother Armstrong
reports that shipping in Texas
City has been very good.
BALTIMORE
News
And Views
mw ORLEANS
May 24, 1940
Shipping is so good here in
New Orleans at the present time
that we will have to keep step
ping in order to man the ships if
it keeps up at this rate.
« • *
Last week we. shipped 85 men.
This week, so far, we have reach
ed the 100 mark. Note that this
Is exceptionally good for the few
ships that touch this port.
• • «' • '•
We have very few MFOW and
SUP men on the beach here at the
present time. In the next couple
of weeks one of the Weyei'hauser
ships is due to Come out.
* • •
The S.S. DEL MAR, Mississippi
Shipping Co. wagon, was In here
with a good beef. Three men
BALTIMORE, Md., May 25,
1940:—Shipping continues fairly
good out of this port with the
turnover of approximately 85 men
a week about average. Tripcard
men are being shipped at the rate
of about ten per week and it
looks like there will be a sharp
pickup in that direction unless
the present beach list of 153
members starts climbing.
Shipping Good!
Mississippi's DELBRAZIL .should
take her crew sometiinc next
week and coupled with Ocean
Dominion's COELLEDA which Ls
ahso scheduled to take her crew
within the next few days; it looks
like we are going to have a tough
time filling all the jobs. With
drawal of Bull Line's HELEN,
HILTON, ELIZABETH, and COR
NELLS from the fruit service is
scheduled but it is doubtful if
they will tie up and release their
crews as in other years.
Uncertainty as to the outcome
of the present battle on the West
ern Front is making the prospec
tive buyers of some of the ships
of the tiedup fleet hedge a little
but If the European situation
should stabilize itself shortly and
the Mediterranean can be kept
open the demand for seamen will
be the heaviest in the history of
the U.S. Merchant Marine.
War Bonus Gain
Following the negotiations
which >upped the war bonus to
fifty dollars per month on the
South Atlantic SS Line's ship.s
bound for the Mediterranean;
Brothers R. E. Dickey and Elkins
went after Waterman, SS while
their GATEWAY CITY was lay
lug here and got the fifty dollar
rate for her crew after a .short
delay in signing articles. The
bonus riders provide for payment
of the bonus from the last U.S.
port leaving to the first U.S. port
on return and also calls for a five
thousand dollar insurance rate.
With the ten dollar increase on
wages AB's on these ships will be
paid $132.50 per month. The ten
dollar wage increase has been
put over on all .offshore and in
tercoastal ships and negotiations
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
War Bonus Wafje Increase
Illegal Practice
NEW YORK
are now in process
coastwise Lines.
with the
(Continued from Par/e l)
remain as is: $30 per month for
ships going into, the Mediterra
nean; $40 per month for ships go
ing to Bilboa, Spain; and 25% for
ships going to the Far East and
India area. These bonuses will
remain in effect until January 1st,
1941." In comparison, the SIU
'• rews .sailing to the Mediterra
nean are getting $20 a month
more than NMU crews in the
same run.
And Curran's buzzards still
strain their guts trying to main
tain the fiction that ships under
contract to the SIU are "unorgan
ized" ships. If It's true that these
ships are unorganized, then we
' leave it to Mr. Curran to explain
to his membership why "unorgan
ized" ships get $20 a month more
than ships which are "organized"
In the NMU! It's a high price to
pay for the rather dubious pleas
ure of being associated with the
Curran, Lawrenson, wrecking
crew.
WAGES AND
OVEIiriME!*
Another revealing comparison
betiveeii the "unoiKiwiizfed" stand
ards established by the SIU and
the "organized" NMU. ... On off
shore ships under contract to the
SIU we have been able to win an
increase of ten dollars per month
in wages PLUS TEN CENTS
PER HOUR INCREASE IN OUR
OVERTIME RATE! The NMU
got NO increase in overtime and
the ten dollar increase in wages
was sp*ecifically designated as,
"temporary additional compensa
tion, not tied directly with the
basic wage." Curran and Co.
must think we're living in
"Reversia" where "unorganized"
workers get higher wages and
better working conditions than
"organized" workers! But if yon
belong to the NMU and refuse to
believe the iripe peddled in the
"Pilot" ihen you're nothing but a
"disrupter" who should be
purged—and most likely will be!
Sharp LooKout!
The Commission's RED JACK
ET surrendered her Waterman
charter upon arrival here and is
being turned over to the Grace
Line. SUP here will crew her up.
The CITY OF FLINT also took a
West Coast crew and left for the
coast. Expatrolrfian John Lul
took the Schoharie for a trip to
the Mediterranean. Agent Elkins
Is living up to his name of eagle
eye these days with NMU men
crowding the Hall looking for
membership. The Agent picked
out two exNMU patrolmen and
a well known Commie before
they got to the investigating
committee.
W. H. Elkins, Agent
wer§ hurt on the voyage and the
company did not want to pay ex
tra compensation to the other
members of the deck gang. The
deck gang all quit so she laid
here overnight waiting on a full
deck gang. The beef was settled
this morning at ten o'clock, with
the bid deck crew returning to
work.
« « «
Everything is going shipshape
in this port and throughout the
Gulf.
0. M. Rogerai
liLEGAL f
PRACTICE
On voting a crew member off a
ship. . . . This practice has been
condemned as contrary to the
best interests of the organization
and must be discontinued. Be
fore a brother can be voted off a
ship, charges must be preferred
befo.e the membership at head
quarters or any branch office of
the union, so that the member
charged can be assured of a fair
trial. This procedure Is neces
sary to eliminate the danger of
mixing personal prejudices with
union business. The membership
has gone on record to'take action
against any crew guilty of violat
ing the procedure established by
the union in regard to voting a
brother member off a ship.
STRIKE
FUND
The Seafarers' strike and or
ganization fund for the Atlantic
District has passed the $20,000
mark this week. On May 25, the
fund totalled $20,350. Collections
on the. fund have been coming In
at the rate of about $400 pel!
week. As no member Is consid
ered in good standing unless big
strike assessment has been paid,
we urge those who have not yet
paid to contact their parolman oi;
agent at the first opportuuly. j
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THE S E A F A R E R S ' L O G Saturday, Jufie 1, 1940 .
MOBILE SAYS;
n
r£.: •
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N.M.U. BLITZKRIEG
BOGS DOWN!
is..,
, Mobile, Alai. .
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dea^ Sir and Brother,
lAecording to the issues of the "Pile It" a few weeks ago,
the N.M.U. were very cohfideht that they" were goingto take
over the Waterman ships and they really expected that it
was going to be just as easy as taking candy away from a
baby. But I think they have a different slant on the situation
now. I'd like to know just how they are pacifjing their
Membership now after making such bold statements that
they would have the Waterman ships in a short while and
then failing so pathetically.
Blitzkrieg Bogs Down ^
When the Supreme Court
upheld the N.L.R.B.'s ruling
that the Waterman S,S. Co.
must offer reinstatement and
back pay to the discharged
members of the crews of the
Bienville and the Fairland,
notices of this ruling were
very prominently displayed
on the front page of the "Pile
It." Now, after the hue and
cry has died down, the Water
man case has been relegated
to an unimportant place on
one of the back pages. It
seems that the N.M.U. has fi
nally come to realize that tak
ing over the Waterman ships
is a task that they are not
quite able to accomplish. In a
recent issue" of the N.M.U. of
ficial publication, there was
the glaring headline "Fir.st
Man Back on Waterman." It
further states that the trek
back to Waterman ships was
under way when James Stew
art was reinstated on the S.S.
Fairland in July, 1937. This
is a distortion of the truth.
instatemcnt' to James Stewart,
which the Company did. He was
placed on the S.S. Pan Royal as
fireman. Now he is back in Mo
bile, having left the ship up
North. When asked by an S.I.U.
member why he left the ship, he
replied that the crew wouldn't
have anything to do with him
and that they wouldn't speak to
him, so he quit. Well, well, what
a bad bunch of boys. I guess now,
the COMMY STOOGES who act
as oiBcials of the N.M.U. in this
port will petition the N.L.R.B, to
make the S.I.U. men fondie and
pet these rats who are placed on
the Waterman ships.
MORE ABOUT:
Hearings Held
On Insurance
Measures!
(dontintied from page 1)
of the hiring halls and the very,
facythat theyJ)elong wholly and
soieiy to seainS withbul ihter'fer
• f
Presents True Picture
Now, for the benefit of the
members who are not familiar
with the situation down here, I'll
present the true and unadulter
ated picture of what has actually
taken place as regards these men
who have been reinstated on the
Waterman ships. On March 30
M. C. Jones was reinstated aboard
the S.S. Pan Kraft as wiper. The
chip was scheduled to sail at five
o'clock the following morning and
Jones was there at the scheduled
sailing time. He told the crew
that he was forced to either ac
cept reinstatement on that ship
or lose his certificate of member
ship in the N.M.U. and he further
stated that if the crew would al
low him to sail in the ship from
Mobile that he would gladly leave
the ship when they arrived in an
sther port. Well, instead of sail
ang at 5 A.M. the ship didn't sail
until 10 A.M., ,and in the interval
between these hours Jones went
fishore and didn't return to sail
In the ship.
Another One Down
The next man to accept rein
statement was James Stewart and
be was put on the S.S. Hastings
as fireman. He' rode the ship as
far as Panama City and on arriv
al there he quit the ship and re
turned to Mobile. He immediately
filed charges of threatening
against members of the crew of
the Hastings. But the joker in
that deal Is that he never at any
tirae asked the Master of the ship
for any protection and in his
jcharges he failed, to mention the
fact that, the crew took up a tar
paulin mu.ster and paid his fare
itakK to Mobile. .
The officials of the N.M.U. ap
opeal^d, to the N.L.R.B., and they
told Waterman to again offer re
Healthy Reaction
There were two men placed on
the S.S. KofresI as fireman and
mess boy. These men told the
crew that If they would let them
ride the ship, they would get off
when the ship got back to Mobile.
They stated that due to the
amount of money the N.M.U. had
spent on tiiem In their fight
against Waterman S.S. Company,
they hkd to accept reinstatement
on that ship. When the ship ar
rived in Mobile these two men
quit the ship over the objections
of Drury and Robinson who
pleaded with them for an hour to
stay on the ship but to no avail
They said they were going to
quit going to sea, and if they ever
went to sea again, it would be as
S.I.U. members.
Thumbs Down
You can see by all this, just
how far the N.M.U. has gone in
their effort to take the already
well organized S.I.U. men under
their socalled "protective wing.
They have accomplished just ex
actly nothing. Even that generous
offer of equal transfer and full
membership rights is not enough
to fool the S.I.U. men into accept
ing membership in the COMMU
NIST PARTY controlled N.M.U.
It seems that the S.I.U. men have
got in the habit of having a DEM
GCRATIC organization, and let
me "fell you, brother, ,that's a
habit that is hard to give up.
Some day thtf Commissars will
realize that real bona fide seamen
want no part of their dictatorship.
Members Want "Log"
As a closing word I'd like to
add that there has been quite a
bit of diseussjpn around the hall
lately relative to sending copies
of the "Log" to the ships for the
members who don't have a
chance to get them otherwise.
They point out that the N.M.U.
has that as one of their policies,
and they see no reason why we
can't do the same thing. It is a
very good idea in my estimation,
and it will serve to get the mem
bership interested in the paper,
and it should get some donations
to help defray the expense on
publishing it. If we all take an in
terest in thp "Log," we can re
ally go places.; That's all for this
week.
Fraternally yours,
Robert A. Matthews,
Eng. Patrolman,
Mobile Branch
ence from any single outside in
terest that causes seamen to
stand ready to oppose to the ut
most of their power any Invasion
of their control of their own hir
ing halls."
(Upon his return from the
hearings at Washington, brother
Lundeberg informs us that a sub-
stitute bill providing for unem-
ployment insurance for seamen is
being prepared, wkieh vjiXl elim-
inate the objectionable and dan-
gerous features of the present
bill, while retaining the principle
of payment of insurance relief
for unemployed seamen. This bill
will be submitted to Congress
with the backing of the SJJPSIV
and the support of the organized
labor movement. It'will be drawn
up by seamen familiar with the
problems of the seafaring groups
and will NOT surrender any of
our hard won gains.)
Sweet Racket!
The NMUCIO brain trust has
been ballyhooing this bill to high
heaven. A clue to their anxiety
on behalf of the measure lies in
a provision in the bill which au
thorizes the Board to permit un
ion officials to distribute the un
employment Insurance checks.
What a sweet racket Curran and
Co. could make out of a setup
like that! They hope that this
power would permit them to
maintain a deathgrip, on the
membership of the NMU and
would gladly trade what little
control they have over the hiring
hall in exchange for the privilege
of dispensing the unemployment
relief checks.
MORE ABOUT;
Fink
Training
Admitted
(Continued from Page ])
program' involved the training of
finks as a potential reserve to re
place union • men aboard ships,
particularly in the event of a dis
pute between the shipowners and
tlie unions. As for training men
in seamanship, that can beet bb
done by actual experience gained
in working aboard ships, and
has been proven time and again
that there is no substitute for
such training.
Enroll COO Boys!
When the training ship pro
gram was first begun, it was an
nounced that only bona fide sea
men would be eligible for enrol
ment. We were asked to believe
that the sole purpose of the pro
gram was to take up the slack in
unemployment and to Increase
the efficiency of the American
seamen. It was not long after
that a general recruiting cam
paign was launched among the
COG camps and plow jockeys In
the country for personnel to man
the training ships.
SellOut AHists
These birds think that they can
solve the problems of the seamen
by using the methods of a ward
heeler! Instead of depending on
the economic strength of organ
ized labor they are always run
ning to some politician to make a
deal with them. All they ask in
excliange is the privilege of re
maining at the head of a dues
collecting agency. It is in the
nature of things that this politi
cal horsetrading results in the
loss of the independence of the
union. That is the least concern
of the Curran clique.
Narrow Escape I
If our memory serves us, It was
not so long ago, that the same
clique petitioned the Maritime
Commission to establish minimum
wages and working conditions
for the seamen. It was the vigor
ous opposition of the ivUPSIU
that put the skids to that move.
Shortly after, thru the militant
action of the SUP membership, a
wageraise of ten dollars a month
nd tSii cents per hour increase
In overtime was won on the Pa
cific Coast, followed by similar
increases for the SlU In the off
shore trade. If Curran and Ca
had been successful in getting the
Maritime Commission to estab
lish minimum wage scales It
would have been well nigh impos
sible to get an increase over the
established minimum.
On Guard!
We can expect further attempts
in the near future to legislate the
seamen out of control of the hir
ing hall, and other conditions
which have been won thru mili
tant action. We will have to be
extremely wary of the horab
trading politicians who come to
us bearing gifts.
AntiUnion Education
Young men and boys were re
cruited, most of whom having
never belonged to a trade union
were considered desirable mate
rial for that type of training
which, Admiral Wiley boasts, will
result in an unwillingness "to fol
low the guidance of union lead
ers." in other words, it is admit
ted that an antiunion attitude is
being fostered among the train
ing ship personnel. This type o?
education can only result in the
"training" of actual and potential
finks.
Well to Remember!
it is well to remember that de
spite the resistance of the Sea
farers' international oh the East
Coast and Gulf, and the Sailors
Union of the Pacific on the
West Coast, the training program
was established with the support
of Joe Curran and the N.M.U.
who endorsed the program and
Sabotaged our fight against it.
Curran and his stooges who were
instrumental in establishing the
Maritime Commission finkhall
and finktraining program
MORE ABOUT;
Sailors Union
Backs SlU
Crews!
(Continued from page 1)
Lundeberg lirid we, the represen
tatives of the crew, sent a tele
gram to headquarters of the SIU
at New York. We received word
from Harry Lundeberg to go
ahead and have the entire crew
pay off and at the same time, to
contact any other Calmar Line
and Watbrmhn Lihe ships iii the
vicihity of Portland.
Brother Barlow of the SUP,
Ward of tlie Marine Firemen and
the two members of the crew of
the Alamar immediately weat.'
aboard the Texmar and received
the promise of the crew of 100%
support. We then went back
aboard the Alamar. The crew of
the Alamar demanded to he paid '
off and the skipper said that he
would have to make the payroll
out, and our pay wouid be ready
for us Friday morning.
%
.ii
. Win Raise
Friday morning about ten
o'clock, we received word from
the old man that the raise would
be forthcoming as of May 1st.
Immediately, the SUP hall was
contacted, and they having re
ceived word due to Harry Lunde
berg negotiating for us, told us
to go ahead and carry on with a
new rider attached to the articles
(no promises—the real thing, or
else) and that all Calmar and
Waterman intercoastal ships were
0 come under the new wage
scale. How is that for ACTION?
And where were the "organiz
ers" of the N.M.U. who were go
ing to get conditions for us? Oh,
yes! We forgot to call them up
we were too busy forcing UNION
conditions on UNION ships. This
spearhead action of the loyal
SIU crew of the S.S. Alamar, in
cidentally, affects some fifteen
more ships.
Appreciation
We want to thank the Sailors
Union of the Pacific, particularly
Brothers Massey and Barlow for
their wonderful cooperation. Also
Brother Ward of the MFOW.
Book No. 106,
Seafarers' International,
Atlantic District
structlon of unionism in the nria
ritlme industry, unless the Amer
wlll J lean seamen rid themselves pi
yet be responsible for the de these leeches.
SEAFARERS LOG
Honor Roll
S.S. Major Wheeler $ 2.90
S.S. Delmar 12.35
S.S. Beatrice 12.65
S.S. Arrow (Engine and Deck) 6.50 $34.40 1 1
Furman Mayhew, $1.00; Lambert Smith,
$.50; Joe Gallen, .$1.00; Jos. Flanagan, .$.50; T
J. Catharth, $1.00; Theodore Correll, $1.00;
W. Jona, $1.00; H. R. Senger, $1.00; B. P.
Rees, $1.00; Tom Jenkins, $1.00; H. Smith,
$1.00; W. S. Hart, $.50; Wra. Rlakelv $1.00;
Stan Markowski, $.50; Kornelensen, $.50; R.
Lindle, $.50;.Ed McGraw, $1,00; W. Connors, .
$2,00; J. Lnndgren, $1.00; Ghas. Ricketts,
$.50; L. O. Schmidt, $.50; Holliday, $.50;
V. Lopez, $.505; Tbos. Isaksen, $.50; Benny
2!orieia,$.50; John Healey, $.50; C. Corbin,
$.50; Jesse Vinson, $.50; Sam Watson, $.50; V
J. C. Drumbaugh, $1,00; L. B. Leytou,$.50;
D. E, Burns, .$.50; A. Appfer, $1.50 ,. .$25.50 $2&50
Total $59.90
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The Seafarers^ Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y., SATURDAY, JUNE 1, 1940 446 NO. 3
Seamen Will Introduee
New Insuranee Measure!
Hearings Held On
insurance Bill
For Seamen
<$>
ACTION BY:
Sailors Union Bocks
Militant SiU Crews
To Win Raise!
SAGA OF THE "UNORGANIZED"
CALMAR STEAMSHIP LINE
S.S. ALAMAR
May 3, 1940
Editor, Soaiarcrs' Log,
Dear Brothers:
• On Tuesday, April 30, a joint meeting was called of all
departments for the purpose of determining when and if we
were to receive the same wages as the West Coast Unions.
May 1st was the date that the new wage increases were to
go intlj effect. We felt, and rightly so, that we as union men
could not take the ship ea.st for less money than West Coast
seamen were getting"for it. (Regardless of the rantings of
the N.M.U. that they were out to "organize" and promote
Jjetter conditions for us H
The captain (S.S. ALAMAR)
was requested to find out as soon
as possible, and we carried on un
til Thursday, . which was the
scheduled sailing day. In the
meantime the engine department
Toted to pay off if the raise was
not forthcoming. Thursday morn
ing, the committee wont up to ask
the old man if he had received
any word from New York. "No,"
he said, "not yet!"
Negotiate With ,
Eastern S.S. Go.
Negotiations with the
Eastern Steamship Com
pany are proceeding on the
proposed agreement be
tween that company and
the Seafarers Intemational
Union. The preesnt status
of the negotiations is an
extension granted to June
15, 1940. Before final ac
tion is taken the proposals
and counterproposals will
be submitted for approval.
In the event we are unable
to reach a satisfactory
agreement thru the medium
of direct negotiations he
fore the expiration date,
the organization will be ob
liged to take more vigorous
action in support of our
just demands.
Get Support
: Then, two of the members of
the crew were dispatched to, Port-
land to contact the Sailors Union
of the Pacific, 'brother Massey,
the Portland agent of tho SUP,
sent a teletype message to Harry
(Continued on page 4)
Fink
Training
Admitted
Editorial
Reorganizing TKe
"Unorganized"
Admiral Wiley, head of the
training ship program of the Ma
ritime Commission, has openly
admitted what we have charged
since the program was inaugu
rated. Speaking at tlie ceremonies
organized by the shipowners here
in the annual observance of Na
tional Maritime Day, Wiley, re
porting on the Maritime Commis
sion's training program, stated:
. . it was doubtful that
men given pay and subsis
tence, while they are In
training will want to follow
the guidance of union lead
ers, (Journal of Commerce,
May 23, 1940)
Oppose Fink Reserve
Our opposition to the training
ship program has been based,
from the very beginning, on the
contention that the essence of the
(Continued On page 4)
Bureaucrats have a supreme contempt for the intelligence of
the rank and file worker. Nowhere is this better demon.strated
than in the colossal insult to the intelligence of the seamen con
tained in the propaganda spread by the bureaucratic clique, rul
ing the roost, in the National Maritime Union! This propaganda
has been aptly characterized by members of the SIU as: "The
Saga of the 'Unorganized' Steamship Lines." The dictionary de
fines a "Saga" as a legend, tale, or myth.
Upside Down
The legend then, is that ships under contract to the SIU are
"unorganized." We have always been taught that workers seek
organization to better their condition, increase their wages, and
get protection on the job. That has been the experience of• the
labor' movement ai»d is the primary reason for the existence of
trade unions. But that Was before Lawrenson became the chair
man of the NMU "reorganization" committee. Now everything
is turned upside down I Things look a lot different when you're
standing on your head—as those who read the. Pilot may readily
suspect It's an interesting phenomena and one that bears further
analysis.
Human Perversity!
The Seafarers has won an increase of ten dollars per month,
PLUS TEN CENTS PER HOUR INCREASE IN OVER
TIME RATE, on offshore ships under contract to the SIU. That
is, on the socalled "unorganized" ships. In the same run, the
NMU has received NO increase in overtime! Yot, Mr. Lawren
son, CNRC, wants to reorganize the "unorganized" into accepting
a reduction in overtime payment!
(For the information of the uninitiated, CNRC stands for
Chairman National Reorganization Committee^ He won his letters
hy his success in breaking down conditions.)
A similar situation exists whereby SIU ship.«i sailing to Med-
iterranean ports receive a "bonus of fifty dollars per month, whilt
NMU ships in the same run receive a thirty-dollar bonus. It's
just the perversity of human nature that impels the SIU crews
(Continued on page 2)
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
War Bonus Wage Increase
Illegal Practice
NEW YORK
New Measure Being Drafted Which Will
Eliminate Objectionable Features
Of Present Bill!
Appearing before the House Committee on Merchant
Marine and Fisheries hearing on the proposed Unemployment
Insurance Bill for seamen, Harry Luiideberg, representing
the opinion of the SUP and SIU expressed our combined op
position to the bill in its present form. The bill is on a par
with a whole series of bills which have been intioduced in
Congress in the last period, proposing to "give" the seamen
varioxis benefits—in exchange for relinquishing our control
over the union hiring hall. As vith the others, our decision
was that it was too high a price to paj' for the doubtful bene
fits contained in the bill.
> Dangerous Clauses
The bill provides that "The
Board may establish, maintain
and operate free employment
offices and may designate as
free employment offices facili
tic.s maintained by (1) a mari
time labor organization or (2)
a State, Territorial, foreign
or the Federal Government,"
The bill further gives the
Board authority to, "pre
scribe a procedure for regis
tration of unemployed em
ployees at employment of
fices," and states that "the
Board may, when an employee
registers, make such nota
tions upon his certificate of
discharge, continuous dis
charge book, or other docu
ment in his possession, as it
deems expedient in the ad
ministration of this Act." The
seamen have had many sad
experiences with the making
of "notation.s" on their pa
pers and have learned that
such a procedure can easily
develop into a blacklist.
Our Position
In expressing our objections to
this Bill, Brother Lundeberg stat-
ed: "We are in favor of unem-
ployment insurance for seamen,
but not at the price wo must pay
under this bill. . . , After years of
bitter experience with govern-
ment and employers employment
services and offices, seamen have,
finally fought for and won the
ri^ht to an absolutely indepen-
dent control of their own em-
ployment offices—their hiring
halls. These halls today are
completely removed from the
domination of any interest other
than that of the men themselves.
It is the very independent natnxe
(Continued on page 4)
WAR
BONUS
The following is a copy of the
rider attached to vessels under
contract with the SIU sailing to
ports in the Mediterranean:
1. "Emergency compensation
at the rate of $50 per month, in
addition to the wages as pre
scribed in these articles, shall
be paid to each member of the
unlicensed personel of the
crew, from the time the Ship
departs from the last port on
the Atlantic Coast of the United
States and until the return of
he vessel to the • first United
States port.
2. "The company agrees to
furnish war risk insurance in
the amount of $5,000 for each
member of the crew from the
time the vessel departs from
the last port in the U.S. until
her return to the first port In
the U.S., as per insurance pol
icy or certificate to be made
available at the company's
main office.
3. "For the loss of clothing
resulting from being sunk,
bombed, mined or caused by
war conditions or activity,
seamen shall be paid $150 cash.
4. "in case vessel Is lost, de
stroyed, seized, sold or aban
doned, crew to be returned to
Atlantic Coast port. Wages and
bonus to continue until arrival."
COMPARISON
WITH NMU!
In a rocont circular distributed
by the NMU trnd signed by Joe
Curran we are informed that:
The War Bonuses (NMU) are to
(Continued on page 3)
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Saturday, June 1,194!0
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¥' 7 'i • •
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/ ^ Published bj Uie
Seafarem^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Feder,ation of L^or
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New york (Phone: BOwling Green 93437) 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston L. 330 Atlantic Avenue
Providence 465 So. Main Street
Philadelphia .6 North 6th Street
Baltimore 14 North Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico 8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BRANCHES
Savannah 218 East' Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami S15 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston 1712 7oth Street
Texas City lO.I IIh .Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:.
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Editor: Tom Kerry—Former Editor of "West Coast Firemen"
Editorial
Reorganizing The
**Un a rgan ized "
(Continued from Page 1)
to resist being reorgani:5etl out of twenty-dollars per month. How
hacJcrcard!
Fetir ihe Truth
Other examples could be irroduccd, but the above are sufficient
to illustrate our point. Which iSj that all we have to do is to
adopt the logic of the CNRC^ and we'll all be standing on our
heads—or walking on our heels, which produces approximately
the same sensation! Now, the NMU propaganda artists are not
the mental cretins that they appear to be. They work on the
thcor}' that if a falsehood is repeated loud enough and often
enough, it will come to be accepted as the truth—at least by a
certain section of the workers.
In fact, what they fear above all else, is the truth, because
then the loudest and most persistent cfamor for reorganization
would come from the NMU membership themselves, who like all
workers are.simple enough to believe that the function of a trade
union is to increase the wages of those organized in the union and
vvould find it rather difficult to understand why they had to take
less than "unorganized" workers.
l^umbo'Jumbo
"The SIU is a constant tlireat to the progress of the NMU,'*
saj'^s Mr. Lawrenson. and . . . "has got to be wiped off this coast
if all seamen are to gain the benefits which would accrue from
one unified organization." From what has been stated above, it is
evident that the "PROGRESS" referred to is the more or less
progressive march to the rear led by General Lawrenson. His
crocodile tears over the poor seamen deprived of the "BENE
FITS", of "reorganization," is actually heartrending!
All the mumbojumbo about organizing tlie "unorganized"
SIU ships is .just .so much sand thrown in the. eyes of the NMU
njembership. It's primary purpose is to conceal the bankruptcy
; of the ruling clique whose main efforts are devoted to dragging
the seamen organized in the SIU down to the lower level estab
lished by. Curran and Co.
On the March
"The SIU has got to be wiped out," says Lawrenson. Be
cause,? . . . Yes, because it does stand as a constant threat of ex
posing the reactionary character of the phoney clique in the lead
ership of the NMU who have done more to retard the progress
of the seamen than any other factor. Tlie truth is beginning to
Bjeep thrqugh, the "fianitary cordon" thrown around the NMU
rank and file and it v/on't be long before the membership begins
doing a little "reorganizing" of the top committee. When that
time comes, the seamen can really march forward to greater prog
icss and security.
OUT OF THE MAILBAG
PHILADELPHIA
URGES SUPPORI
FOR PRPERi
Now that the Seafarers' Log is
going to be published regularly, I
don't see why the members who
can afi'ord to do so don't make
some effort to relieve the financial
strain that the Union no doubt
will be put to in Order to ensure^
its continued publication.
Want Regular Issue!
Ill the couree of my duties I've
liad many requests for the "Log";
many times I had to argue my
way cut because I had no "Logs"
to give the men. 1 know they are
right when tliey raise cain about
it, not being put out regularly, as
this is the only practical means
we have of keeping our member
sliip posted on the affairs of the
Union. It is very essential that
every effort' should be made to
have it come weekly or two times
a week, if possible. This is up to
the membership themselves. The
following in my opinion is a very
feasible method to aid us in our
ai.m.
Need Your Support
It is a simple matter for any
ship delegate to put a doilation
list out when the ship is paying
off, and wliatever sum is collected
can he turned over to Wie Agent
or Patrolmen at the nearest
branch or if you prefer, send to
the Seafarers' Log Editor. For
such donations you may demand
a receipt covering the entire sum,
and it will be accredited to what
ever sliip the donation is made
from. Or if an individual member
should care to, he may receive an
individual receipt in his name,
provided of course he makes an
individual d^mation.
Members Need Voice
So let's go to town. Brothers,
and make the "Log'' a paper that
ail of us will be proud of! It is
actually the life blood of any or
ganization to have an organ that
will at all times be the voice of
the membership.
Sincerely yours,
Joseph Flanagan,
Phiiadelphla, Pa.
Believes What
He Reads
Almost I
P.S. Will you kindly enter this
in next issue of "Log." We have
several membership books at
Plilla. Branch as follows:
Deck Dept.:
B. Powell, Harold Reid, Jr.,
William P. Noglee, Russel Low-
ery, K. Bateman, Gabriel Fratus.
Engine Dept.: "
David Lathrop, Arnold E.
Thompson, John Tom Brennon,
Clarence H. Demiard, 0. C. Ham
by, Rowland Weiks, Giovani Mi
lanto.
Steicard Dept.:
Eric Lynch, Jos. Handflnger,
Orin W. Austin, Charlie Safford,
Chas. H. Smith, Jaa. Smith, Jos.
H. Smith, Henery W. Smith, Per
cy Salmon, A. Saavedra,
These books have been in our
hail for some time now. If mem
beis whose names are on this list
will communicate with us, we
will be^^^glad to forward book to
near^t hail.
Texas City, Texas
May 15, 1940
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Being a trusting soul and be
lieving everything I read, no mat
ter where I read it, I was sure
that all that was needed for the
N.M.U. to complete the much
publicized re oganization of the
Tankers was to collect the money
that the tankermen were begging
them to take and to inform the
company oflicials th.at they would
consent to have the company rep
resentatives appear, hat in hand,
at the N.:M.U. olllces to sign an
agreement.
ILLUSION BLASTED!
But lo and behold! After a few
weeks contacting these afore
mentioned tankermen, I was most
a.stonished (!) to Icarii that even
the attractive winter bargain
rates (which are being contin
ued) of one buck down payment
and two bits a month wa.s consid
ered a trifle too much. From my
couversatlou with a number of
exNMU'ers, I gathered the uii
niistakable impression that the
only way they would considor go
ing back into the NMU would be
on the basis of having equal grab
riglits at the treasury. So, maybe
you just can't believe EVERY
THING you read! Another Illu
sion ruined! .
HOW COME?
No tankermen storming the por
tals of the NMU! No shipowners
standing in line outside the NMU
oflioe waiting to be admitted to
be allowed to sign up! No raisq
In overtime rates on NMU con
tracted (?) ships. .Did I hear
some one say; "It don't mat'tei
about the ten cent per hour raise,
first get some overtime." Tut, tut!
The "unorganized" ships, listed
in each issue of the "PileIt" get
it! How come?
VISIT NEW HALL
Oh, oh! If we had a "fifty thou
sand" membership, maybe, just
maybe, I could get a teyf men
around our nice new hail in
Texas City, at 105—4th St. Give
me a ring when around the neigh
borhood, phone number 722. The
way it is now, when I want to
talk to a seaman when there are
no ships in port, I have to talk
to some of the NMU members and
they always spoil it by wanting
to join the only outfit which is
going ahead as a UNION run by
the members, for the members,
the S e a f a r e r s' International
Union.
Steady and full ahead!
A. W. Armstrong,
Acting Agent,
Texas City, Tegas,
105—4th St., Phonf
BUY UNION
MAO£
722
SKILLED LABOR
SHORTAGE PUNGTURED
Washington, D.C—With 6,000,
000 names on the active file of
the Federal Employipent Service,
including many skilled mechanics.
Secretary of Labor Perkins dis
counted the deluge of propaganda
relative to an alleged scarcity of
skilled labor menacing the na
tional defense program.
"I cannot think of any process
in the whole defense program for
which there are no men avail
able," she declared.
500 CCC Boys to Join
Training Schools
An additional 500 boys are to
be released by the Civilian Con
servation Corps (CCC Camps) on
request of the Maritime Commis
sion for enrolment in the mer
chant marine training schools op
erated by the Commission. This
will bring the total of CCC boys
chosen for enrolment in the train
ing ships to approximately 900
for this year.
Previous enrolment numbered
250 boys last October and 150 in
May. Of the most recent batch,
400 will go to the Gallups Island
station in Boston Harbor and 100
to the St. Petersburg, Florida,
training station.
Brothers:
The above caption is continual
ly being inserted in practically
all real labor publications, but
there is rarely any explanation of
the vital importance of this issue.
Every union man who wishes to
make his organized power felt,
even tho he is not directly con
nected with a particular indus
try, should insist on nothing but
union commodities when making
any kind of purchase.
FOR GOOD OF ALL
This \vi(l help, not only the in
dividual tliat buys, but w;!! b.? a
great assistance to every union
brother in gaining better condi
tions and wages. If the demand
for Union Made products in
crease, so will the task of getting
recognition for organized labor
be made easier. There may be an
objection by some who will re
mark that tliey can get nonunion
made good.s cheaper. The follow
ing will explain some of the rea
sons why you may be able to get
nonunion made goods a few pen
nies cheaper.
OPEN SHOP TACTKIS
First we take tl»e case of over
ambitious Chambers of Com
merce, In communities where the
open shops flourish, yoh will al
ways find these scum doing their
dirt. They send invitations to
manufacturers and producers to
bring their e.stablishments to
their particular city, with prom
ises of cheap labor and insurance
against "labor troubie." By lower
ing the standard of living of the
workers in their community they
weaken the entire labor move
ment.
PIIISON LABOR
Then there is prison labor to
take into consideration. Goods
produced in prison are placed on
thq market at cutthroat prices.
The consumer is usually enticed
by their cheapness but there is
no need for me to go into detail
about the conditions under which
these goods are produced nor the
effect of their sale on organized
labor..
Last but not least, are the
goo'ds produced In foreign coun
tries with the use of conscripted
labor. This is nothing short of
slavery.
BUY UNION GOODS
The above considerations should
prove to every unionminded
worker that if we want to con
tinue getting miioii wages and
conditions, we will have to be
come consumers of Union Made
goods. So let our watchword be: ,
Union made goods for Union
men's protection! Insist that your
families follow this motto and
let's hope the day will come when
we will see nothing but Union
Made products on the market.
Jos. Flanagan
In Memoriam
JOHN R. FORBES
Died in the Marine Hospital
at Norfolk on April 25, 1940
ALFRED LARKE
Died at the Marine Hospital
at" New York on May 5, 1940
S. BARRERQ
Died at the Marine Hospital
at New York on April 24.
MARION FIELDS
Died at Savannah, Georgia,
on May 14, 1940.
LERQY AKINS
Died at New York on
May 5, 1940
:
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Saturday, June 1, 1940 THE SEAFARERS' LOG
What's Doing
Around The Ports
TAMPA
Things In this port are about
as hot as tlie weather. Paddy
Whaien, the great Baltimore Sta
llncompoop, is down here ped
dling the line. He's just aching to
save the boys down here, but un
fortunately (for Paddy), many of
his potential converts have been
"saved" before and have found
the proces.s so painful tlint' they
arc extremely reluctant to go
through the experience again, de
spite all of Paddy's eloquence.
Paddy, who is suppo.scd to be on
his vacation, is having a lot of
"explaining" to do about the
plioney N.M.U. tanker agreement,
which is causing; much unhappi
ness among the men on the .ships.
:» » *
Shipping has been very good.
There is still some chiseling go
ing on board of some of the Bull
Line and Waterman ships. It's up
to the crews to report to the pa
trolmen any attempt to chisel on
the agreement. If you've got a
legitimate beef, bring it to the at
tention of your union representa
. live instead of banging some bar
• tender's ear about it. Every mem
ber, should strive to leave the
ship in a better condition than
when he got on. With the proper
support from the ship's crew we
can put an end to any chiseling
that's going on. Report your
beefs! Support your patrolmen!
Win better conditions! Build a
greater S.i!.U.
PHILADELPHIA
Had a little busine.ss in the port
the other day, crpwcd the Sea
Train West Texas, ,and believe
me, the rank and file came into
their own. Piggy Norman sailed
as Engineer's Utility Man, while
good old Brother Waldo Gripe
sailed her as Quartermaster, all
in all, the crew was a fine gang.
; ' • * »
We are having a little difficulty
In supplying the men for the va
rious jobs that come in, as we
have very few men on the beach
here.
» • *
We are reviving the old Marine
Council that held the waterfront
in abeyance in the past, and it
looks like everything will be rosy
in the future. The next meeting
will be 52840, and then . we are
going to go to town in earnest.
» Hi "ii
The American Range lines have
sold the Calabee to an unnamed
firm, but I was' informed on reli
able authority that she would still
remain under contract to the
S.I.U. We had a telephone bill as
long as your arm last month, call
ing Baltimore and New York, so
some of you men who are on the
beach In these two ports better
hop It over here, as we hate like
hell to fatten the telephone com
pany.
« « «
The SeaTrain New Jersey is
scheduled to take on a crew the
fir.st week in July, so you doe
heavy monkeys might as well lay
on the beach here for five weeks
as anywhere else, so get going.
I hear a lot of squawking about
the "Log." Well, who ever heard
of getting something good for
nothing. Let's get going the
donationsi • '
* « «
Well, here's ,to a bigger and bet
tor "Log, long may it flourish.
J. F. Flanagan,
Harry J. Collins,
Phi la Branch
SAVAISNAH
May 24, 1940
Shipping has been fairly good
in the past week, due primarily,
to the S.S. City of Montgomery,
Savannah Line, coming out of the
boneyard, where she has been
laying for the past three years.
Prospects for the coming week,
however, don't look very promis
ing.
» • •
"Several important clarifications
and addenda to our agreement
with the South Atlantic SS Co.
were negotiated here on May
22nd and were m.ade effective as
of that date. Copy of the clarifi
cations is as follows:
DECK DEPARTMENT
1. "On s.hips where members
of the unlicensed personnel are
required to do carpenter work,
due to the ship not carrying a
carpenter, the seaman or sea
men be paid at the rat^ of 25
cents per hour for this work In
addition .to their dally wages.
2. "In Working Rules, Deck
Dep't., Section 1, last para
graph, be changed to read:
'Sailors required to stand gang'
way watches in port after 5
p!m. and before 8 a.m., Satur
day afternoons, Sundays and
holidays to be paid at the regu
lar overtime rate of 80 cents
per hour.'
3. "When seamen are re
quired to clean bilges, rose
boxes or cofferdam, it shall be
considered overtime for the
watch on deck, and (over)
time and onehalf for the
watches below.
4. "Section 14. Shifting or
hauling ship after 5 p.m. and
before 8 a.m. shall be consid
ered overtime, a minimum'of
two hours to be paid for same."
ENGINE DEPARTMENT
1. "The 4 to 8 watch shall re
lieve itself for supper.
2. "Section 8 (b) shall be
changed to read; 'Both the oiler
and the man on watch (fireman
or watertender) detailed to look
after the plant, shall receive
overtime while cargo Is being
worked with ship's winches' at
all times betwen the hours of
5 p.m. and 8 a.m., and on Sat
urday afternoons, Sundays or
holidays."
3. "When ship Is shifted be
tween the hours of 5 p.m. and
8 a.m., the watertender or fire
man, but not both, on watch
shall be paid at the regular
overtime rate.
4. "Section 9. Add paragraph
(b1). When firemen are re
quired to blow tubes or super
heaters between the . hours of
5 p.m. and 8 a.m., or on Satur
day afternoons, Sundays or
holidays, they shall be paid at
the regular overtime rate for
same."
The South Allautic SS Co. • was
one of the last companies under
agreement with the SIU_to come
thru with the overtime clariflca
tions listed in the above addenda
to our agreement. These provi
sions have been previously em
bodied in the rest of our agree
ments.
Chas. 'Waid, Agent
HO^§Tm
Houston, Texas,
May 25, 1940
The port of Houston Is still go
ing strong and.shipping is boom
ing. Can't get enough bookmen
and we are shipping quite a few
trip card men,
A considerable number of NMU
men come in most every day • who
are anxious to join the Seafarers
International Union. It seems
that they are getting fed up with
the promi.ses of the top fraction
boys. Despite all the phoney
propaganda in the Pilot the NMU
rank and file around this port are
getting wise to the fact that the
SIU is a democratic organization
run by the membership. A.s they
don't get much overtime and
very little backing from their own
oificials, I am willing to bet that
in another year we will have all
the rank and file members of the
NMU in our Union and damn near
all their ships too.
* « * '
That's all for this week! Best
regards to the Seafarers Log and
all brother members.
D.L. Parker, Agent
TEXAS CITY
The old refrain, is the theme
song here . . , Where, oh where,
are the seamen? We'll get two or
three on the beach, a ship comes
in, and no men to be found. I'm
fast becoming the skeleton in the
closet here in town. Mothers put
wayward kids to sleep by telling
them I'm coming to ship them
out. Shipped 5 trip card men last
week ... 4 this week!
• * *
The mate on the MARSADOK
coming into Galveston was right
on the job down on deck wajit
ing to help the Sailors on the
gear. He was informed that the
gang was capable of struggling
along without his aid. One more
mate educated! If all the crews
take the saijie attitude it won't
be long before these ambitious
ofllcers stay where they belong
and make a name for themselves
by doing their own . work instead
of messing around the crew.
• • •
Steady as she goes!
A. 'W. Armstrong
Attention!
«
Acting agent A. "W. Arm
strong, Texas City, Texas, re
quests us to announce the new
address of the hall which has
been opened in Texas City.
The address:
Texas City Branch
Seafarers International
105—4th St. ,North
Phone 722
Brothers shipping into this
port are invited' to call at our
new hall. Brother Armstrong
reports that shipping in Texas
City has been very good.
BALTIMORE
News
And Views
mw ORLEANS
May 24, 1940
Shipping is so good here in
New Orleans at the present time
that we will have to keep step
ping in order to man the ships if
it keeps up at this rate.
« • *
Last week we. shipped 85 men.
This week, so far, we have reach
ed the 100 mark. Note that this
Is exceptionally good for the few
ships that touch this port.
• • «' • '•
We have very few MFOW and
SUP men on the beach here at the
present time. In the next couple
of weeks one of the Weyei'hauser
ships is due to Come out.
* • •
The S.S. DEL MAR, Mississippi
Shipping Co. wagon, was In here
with a good beef. Three men
BALTIMORE, Md., May 25,
1940:—Shipping continues fairly
good out of this port with the
turnover of approximately 85 men
a week about average. Tripcard
men are being shipped at the rate
of about ten per week and it
looks like there will be a sharp
pickup in that direction unless
the present beach list of 153
members starts climbing.
Shipping Good!
Mississippi's DELBRAZIL .should
take her crew sometiinc next
week and coupled with Ocean
Dominion's COELLEDA which Ls
ahso scheduled to take her crew
within the next few days; it looks
like we are going to have a tough
time filling all the jobs. With
drawal of Bull Line's HELEN,
HILTON, ELIZABETH, and COR
NELLS from the fruit service is
scheduled but it is doubtful if
they will tie up and release their
crews as in other years.
Uncertainty as to the outcome
of the present battle on the West
ern Front is making the prospec
tive buyers of some of the ships
of the tiedup fleet hedge a little
but If the European situation
should stabilize itself shortly and
the Mediterranean can be kept
open the demand for seamen will
be the heaviest in the history of
the U.S. Merchant Marine.
War Bonus Gain
Following the negotiations
which >upped the war bonus to
fifty dollars per month on the
South Atlantic SS Line's ship.s
bound for the Mediterranean;
Brothers R. E. Dickey and Elkins
went after Waterman, SS while
their GATEWAY CITY was lay
lug here and got the fifty dollar
rate for her crew after a .short
delay in signing articles. The
bonus riders provide for payment
of the bonus from the last U.S.
port leaving to the first U.S. port
on return and also calls for a five
thousand dollar insurance rate.
With the ten dollar increase on
wages AB's on these ships will be
paid $132.50 per month. The ten
dollar wage increase has been
put over on all .offshore and in
tercoastal ships and negotiations
NEWS FROM
Headquarters
War Bonus Wafje Increase
Illegal Practice
NEW YORK
are now in process
coastwise Lines.
with the
(Continued from Par/e l)
remain as is: $30 per month for
ships going into, the Mediterra
nean; $40 per month for ships go
ing to Bilboa, Spain; and 25% for
ships going to the Far East and
India area. These bonuses will
remain in effect until January 1st,
1941." In comparison, the SIU
'• rews .sailing to the Mediterra
nean are getting $20 a month
more than NMU crews in the
same run.
And Curran's buzzards still
strain their guts trying to main
tain the fiction that ships under
contract to the SIU are "unorgan
ized" ships. If It's true that these
ships are unorganized, then we
' leave it to Mr. Curran to explain
to his membership why "unorgan
ized" ships get $20 a month more
than ships which are "organized"
In the NMU! It's a high price to
pay for the rather dubious pleas
ure of being associated with the
Curran, Lawrenson, wrecking
crew.
WAGES AND
OVEIiriME!*
Another revealing comparison
betiveeii the "unoiKiwiizfed" stand
ards established by the SIU and
the "organized" NMU. ... On off
shore ships under contract to the
SIU we have been able to win an
increase of ten dollars per month
in wages PLUS TEN CENTS
PER HOUR INCREASE IN OUR
OVERTIME RATE! The NMU
got NO increase in overtime and
the ten dollar increase in wages
was sp*ecifically designated as,
"temporary additional compensa
tion, not tied directly with the
basic wage." Curran and Co.
must think we're living in
"Reversia" where "unorganized"
workers get higher wages and
better working conditions than
"organized" workers! But if yon
belong to the NMU and refuse to
believe the iripe peddled in the
"Pilot" ihen you're nothing but a
"disrupter" who should be
purged—and most likely will be!
Sharp LooKout!
The Commission's RED JACK
ET surrendered her Waterman
charter upon arrival here and is
being turned over to the Grace
Line. SUP here will crew her up.
The CITY OF FLINT also took a
West Coast crew and left for the
coast. Expatrolrfian John Lul
took the Schoharie for a trip to
the Mediterranean. Agent Elkins
Is living up to his name of eagle
eye these days with NMU men
crowding the Hall looking for
membership. The Agent picked
out two exNMU patrolmen and
a well known Commie before
they got to the investigating
committee.
W. H. Elkins, Agent
wer§ hurt on the voyage and the
company did not want to pay ex
tra compensation to the other
members of the deck gang. The
deck gang all quit so she laid
here overnight waiting on a full
deck gang. The beef was settled
this morning at ten o'clock, with
the bid deck crew returning to
work.
« « «
Everything is going shipshape
in this port and throughout the
Gulf.
0. M. Rogerai
liLEGAL f
PRACTICE
On voting a crew member off a
ship. . . . This practice has been
condemned as contrary to the
best interests of the organization
and must be discontinued. Be
fore a brother can be voted off a
ship, charges must be preferred
befo.e the membership at head
quarters or any branch office of
the union, so that the member
charged can be assured of a fair
trial. This procedure Is neces
sary to eliminate the danger of
mixing personal prejudices with
union business. The membership
has gone on record to'take action
against any crew guilty of violat
ing the procedure established by
the union in regard to voting a
brother member off a ship.
STRIKE
FUND
The Seafarers' strike and or
ganization fund for the Atlantic
District has passed the $20,000
mark this week. On May 25, the
fund totalled $20,350. Collections
on the. fund have been coming In
at the rate of about $400 pel!
week. As no member Is consid
ered in good standing unless big
strike assessment has been paid,
we urge those who have not yet
paid to contact their parolman oi;
agent at the first opportuuly. j
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THE S E A F A R E R S ' L O G Saturday, Jufie 1, 1940 .
MOBILE SAYS;
n
r£.: •
• V:
N.M.U. BLITZKRIEG
BOGS DOWN!
is..,
, Mobile, Alai. .
Editor, Seafarers' Log
Dea^ Sir and Brother,
lAecording to the issues of the "Pile It" a few weeks ago,
the N.M.U. were very cohfideht that they" were goingto take
over the Waterman ships and they really expected that it
was going to be just as easy as taking candy away from a
baby. But I think they have a different slant on the situation
now. I'd like to know just how they are pacifjing their
Membership now after making such bold statements that
they would have the Waterman ships in a short while and
then failing so pathetically.
Blitzkrieg Bogs Down ^
When the Supreme Court
upheld the N.L.R.B.'s ruling
that the Waterman S,S. Co.
must offer reinstatement and
back pay to the discharged
members of the crews of the
Bienville and the Fairland,
notices of this ruling were
very prominently displayed
on the front page of the "Pile
It." Now, after the hue and
cry has died down, the Water
man case has been relegated
to an unimportant place on
one of the back pages. It
seems that the N.M.U. has fi
nally come to realize that tak
ing over the Waterman ships
is a task that they are not
quite able to accomplish. In a
recent issue" of the N.M.U. of
ficial publication, there was
the glaring headline "Fir.st
Man Back on Waterman." It
further states that the trek
back to Waterman ships was
under way when James Stew
art was reinstated on the S.S.
Fairland in July, 1937. This
is a distortion of the truth.
instatemcnt' to James Stewart,
which the Company did. He was
placed on the S.S. Pan Royal as
fireman. Now he is back in Mo
bile, having left the ship up
North. When asked by an S.I.U.
member why he left the ship, he
replied that the crew wouldn't
have anything to do with him
and that they wouldn't speak to
him, so he quit. Well, well, what
a bad bunch of boys. I guess now,
the COMMY STOOGES who act
as oiBcials of the N.M.U. in this
port will petition the N.L.R.B, to
make the S.I.U. men fondie and
pet these rats who are placed on
the Waterman ships.
MORE ABOUT:
Hearings Held
On Insurance
Measures!
(dontintied from page 1)
of the hiring halls and the very,
facythat theyJ)elong wholly and
soieiy to seainS withbul ihter'fer
• f
Presents True Picture
Now, for the benefit of the
members who are not familiar
with the situation down here, I'll
present the true and unadulter
ated picture of what has actually
taken place as regards these men
who have been reinstated on the
Waterman ships. On March 30
M. C. Jones was reinstated aboard
the S.S. Pan Kraft as wiper. The
chip was scheduled to sail at five
o'clock the following morning and
Jones was there at the scheduled
sailing time. He told the crew
that he was forced to either ac
cept reinstatement on that ship
or lose his certificate of member
ship in the N.M.U. and he further
stated that if the crew would al
low him to sail in the ship from
Mobile that he would gladly leave
the ship when they arrived in an
sther port. Well, instead of sail
ang at 5 A.M. the ship didn't sail
until 10 A.M., ,and in the interval
between these hours Jones went
fishore and didn't return to sail
In the ship.
Another One Down
The next man to accept rein
statement was James Stewart and
be was put on the S.S. Hastings
as fireman. He' rode the ship as
far as Panama City and on arriv
al there he quit the ship and re
turned to Mobile. He immediately
filed charges of threatening
against members of the crew of
the Hastings. But the joker in
that deal Is that he never at any
tirae asked the Master of the ship
for any protection and in his
jcharges he failed, to mention the
fact that, the crew took up a tar
paulin mu.ster and paid his fare
itakK to Mobile. .
The officials of the N.M.U. ap
opeal^d, to the N.L.R.B., and they
told Waterman to again offer re
Healthy Reaction
There were two men placed on
the S.S. KofresI as fireman and
mess boy. These men told the
crew that If they would let them
ride the ship, they would get off
when the ship got back to Mobile.
They stated that due to the
amount of money the N.M.U. had
spent on tiiem In their fight
against Waterman S.S. Company,
they hkd to accept reinstatement
on that ship. When the ship ar
rived in Mobile these two men
quit the ship over the objections
of Drury and Robinson who
pleaded with them for an hour to
stay on the ship but to no avail
They said they were going to
quit going to sea, and if they ever
went to sea again, it would be as
S.I.U. members.
Thumbs Down
You can see by all this, just
how far the N.M.U. has gone in
their effort to take the already
well organized S.I.U. men under
their socalled "protective wing.
They have accomplished just ex
actly nothing. Even that generous
offer of equal transfer and full
membership rights is not enough
to fool the S.I.U. men into accept
ing membership in the COMMU
NIST PARTY controlled N.M.U.
It seems that the S.I.U. men have
got in the habit of having a DEM
GCRATIC organization, and let
me "fell you, brother, ,that's a
habit that is hard to give up.
Some day thtf Commissars will
realize that real bona fide seamen
want no part of their dictatorship.
Members Want "Log"
As a closing word I'd like to
add that there has been quite a
bit of diseussjpn around the hall
lately relative to sending copies
of the "Log" to the ships for the
members who don't have a
chance to get them otherwise.
They point out that the N.M.U.
has that as one of their policies,
and they see no reason why we
can't do the same thing. It is a
very good idea in my estimation,
and it will serve to get the mem
bership interested in the paper,
and it should get some donations
to help defray the expense on
publishing it. If we all take an in
terest in thp "Log," we can re
ally go places.; That's all for this
week.
Fraternally yours,
Robert A. Matthews,
Eng. Patrolman,
Mobile Branch
ence from any single outside in
terest that causes seamen to
stand ready to oppose to the ut
most of their power any Invasion
of their control of their own hir
ing halls."
(Upon his return from the
hearings at Washington, brother
Lundeberg informs us that a sub-
stitute bill providing for unem-
ployment insurance for seamen is
being prepared, wkieh vjiXl elim-
inate the objectionable and dan-
gerous features of the present
bill, while retaining the principle
of payment of insurance relief
for unemployed seamen. This bill
will be submitted to Congress
with the backing of the SJJPSIV
and the support of the organized
labor movement. It'will be drawn
up by seamen familiar with the
problems of the seafaring groups
and will NOT surrender any of
our hard won gains.)
Sweet Racket!
The NMUCIO brain trust has
been ballyhooing this bill to high
heaven. A clue to their anxiety
on behalf of the measure lies in
a provision in the bill which au
thorizes the Board to permit un
ion officials to distribute the un
employment Insurance checks.
What a sweet racket Curran and
Co. could make out of a setup
like that! They hope that this
power would permit them to
maintain a deathgrip, on the
membership of the NMU and
would gladly trade what little
control they have over the hiring
hall in exchange for the privilege
of dispensing the unemployment
relief checks.
MORE ABOUT;
Fink
Training
Admitted
(Continued from Page ])
program' involved the training of
finks as a potential reserve to re
place union • men aboard ships,
particularly in the event of a dis
pute between the shipowners and
tlie unions. As for training men
in seamanship, that can beet bb
done by actual experience gained
in working aboard ships, and
has been proven time and again
that there is no substitute for
such training.
Enroll COO Boys!
When the training ship pro
gram was first begun, it was an
nounced that only bona fide sea
men would be eligible for enrol
ment. We were asked to believe
that the sole purpose of the pro
gram was to take up the slack in
unemployment and to Increase
the efficiency of the American
seamen. It was not long after
that a general recruiting cam
paign was launched among the
COG camps and plow jockeys In
the country for personnel to man
the training ships.
SellOut AHists
These birds think that they can
solve the problems of the seamen
by using the methods of a ward
heeler! Instead of depending on
the economic strength of organ
ized labor they are always run
ning to some politician to make a
deal with them. All they ask in
excliange is the privilege of re
maining at the head of a dues
collecting agency. It is in the
nature of things that this politi
cal horsetrading results in the
loss of the independence of the
union. That is the least concern
of the Curran clique.
Narrow Escape I
If our memory serves us, It was
not so long ago, that the same
clique petitioned the Maritime
Commission to establish minimum
wages and working conditions
for the seamen. It was the vigor
ous opposition of the ivUPSIU
that put the skids to that move.
Shortly after, thru the militant
action of the SUP membership, a
wageraise of ten dollars a month
nd tSii cents per hour increase
In overtime was won on the Pa
cific Coast, followed by similar
increases for the SlU In the off
shore trade. If Curran and Ca
had been successful in getting the
Maritime Commission to estab
lish minimum wage scales It
would have been well nigh impos
sible to get an increase over the
established minimum.
On Guard!
We can expect further attempts
in the near future to legislate the
seamen out of control of the hir
ing hall, and other conditions
which have been won thru mili
tant action. We will have to be
extremely wary of the horab
trading politicians who come to
us bearing gifts.
AntiUnion Education
Young men and boys were re
cruited, most of whom having
never belonged to a trade union
were considered desirable mate
rial for that type of training
which, Admiral Wiley boasts, will
result in an unwillingness "to fol
low the guidance of union lead
ers." in other words, it is admit
ted that an antiunion attitude is
being fostered among the train
ing ship personnel. This type o?
education can only result in the
"training" of actual and potential
finks.
Well to Remember!
it is well to remember that de
spite the resistance of the Sea
farers' international oh the East
Coast and Gulf, and the Sailors
Union of the Pacific on the
West Coast, the training program
was established with the support
of Joe Curran and the N.M.U.
who endorsed the program and
Sabotaged our fight against it.
Curran and his stooges who were
instrumental in establishing the
Maritime Commission finkhall
and finktraining program
MORE ABOUT;
Sailors Union
Backs SlU
Crews!
(Continued from page 1)
Lundeberg lirid we, the represen
tatives of the crew, sent a tele
gram to headquarters of the SIU
at New York. We received word
from Harry Lundeberg to go
ahead and have the entire crew
pay off and at the same time, to
contact any other Calmar Line
and Watbrmhn Lihe ships iii the
vicihity of Portland.
Brother Barlow of the SUP,
Ward of tlie Marine Firemen and
the two members of the crew of
the Alamar immediately weat.'
aboard the Texmar and received
the promise of the crew of 100%
support. We then went back
aboard the Alamar. The crew of
the Alamar demanded to he paid '
off and the skipper said that he
would have to make the payroll
out, and our pay wouid be ready
for us Friday morning.
%
.ii
. Win Raise
Friday morning about ten
o'clock, we received word from
the old man that the raise would
be forthcoming as of May 1st.
Immediately, the SUP hall was
contacted, and they having re
ceived word due to Harry Lunde
berg negotiating for us, told us
to go ahead and carry on with a
new rider attached to the articles
(no promises—the real thing, or
else) and that all Calmar and
Waterman intercoastal ships were
0 come under the new wage
scale. How is that for ACTION?
And where were the "organiz
ers" of the N.M.U. who were go
ing to get conditions for us? Oh,
yes! We forgot to call them up
we were too busy forcing UNION
conditions on UNION ships. This
spearhead action of the loyal
SIU crew of the S.S. Alamar, in
cidentally, affects some fifteen
more ships.
Appreciation
We want to thank the Sailors
Union of the Pacific, particularly
Brothers Massey and Barlow for
their wonderful cooperation. Also
Brother Ward of the MFOW.
Book No. 106,
Seafarers' International,
Atlantic District
structlon of unionism in the nria
ritlme industry, unless the Amer
wlll J lean seamen rid themselves pi
yet be responsible for the de these leeches.
SEAFARERS LOG
Honor Roll
S.S. Major Wheeler $ 2.90
S.S. Delmar 12.35
S.S. Beatrice 12.65
S.S. Arrow (Engine and Deck) 6.50 $34.40 1 1
Furman Mayhew, $1.00; Lambert Smith,
$.50; Joe Gallen, .$1.00; Jos. Flanagan, .$.50; T
J. Catharth, $1.00; Theodore Correll, $1.00;
W. Jona, $1.00; H. R. Senger, $1.00; B. P.
Rees, $1.00; Tom Jenkins, $1.00; H. Smith,
$1.00; W. S. Hart, $.50; Wra. Rlakelv $1.00;
Stan Markowski, $.50; Kornelensen, $.50; R.
Lindle, $.50;.Ed McGraw, $1,00; W. Connors, .
$2,00; J. Lnndgren, $1.00; Ghas. Ricketts,
$.50; L. O. Schmidt, $.50; Holliday, $.50;
V. Lopez, $.505; Tbos. Isaksen, $.50; Benny
2!orieia,$.50; John Healey, $.50; C. Corbin,
$.50; Jesse Vinson, $.50; Sam Watson, $.50; V
J. C. Drumbaugh, $1,00; L. B. Leytou,$.50;
D. E, Burns, .$.50; A. Appfer, $1.50 ,. .$25.50 $2&50
Total $59.90
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