Media
Issue Date
1940-07-09
Volume
2
Issue Number
6
Plaintext
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HIMIU "LEADERS" FINK ON SEAKIEM!
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y., TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1940 .446 No. 6
Out of Their Own Mouths
A Record of Betrayal!
All seamen should be made aware of the monstrous
swindle perpetrated by the "leadership" of the NMU in
foisting lower wage and overtime standaids on the seamen
under their control. There is more involved than just the
betrayal of the NMU membership. It is a matter of common
knowledge, to those familiar with the history of the labor
movement, that lower standards in one section of any particu
lar industry, inevitably creates a powerful tendency for em
ployers to stabilize wages and working eoiulilions along the
lowest established level.
For Union Wage Standards
Labor unions have confronted this condition, particularly
where an important section of the industry remained unor
ganized, and have striven to overcome the danger by extend
ing organization to the entire industry in order to stabilize
wages and conditions ALONG THE HIGHER LEVEL. In
order to prevent this, employers have used many devices not
the least of which is the company union which functions as a
tool of the employer in preventing the imposition of top
union wages and conditions. Company unions are known as
>fink agencies because they serve to break down the higher
levels established by bonafide labor unions, and serve in the
interest of the boss; instead of the workers whom they are
presumed to represent.
Menace to All Seamen
Thus, the action of the leadership of the NMU in estab
lishing substandard wages and working conditions in an im
portant section of the industry, constitutes a serious menace
to ALL seamen. Such action can only be designated as that
of PINKS who serve the interest of the shipowner instead of
the membership they are supposed to represent. How was it
possible for Curran and Co. to put across their sellout on
men, many of whom walked the picket line in the strugglo
for conditions? They had to cover up their tracks with a
formula which could be made to appear rea.sonable to at least
a section of the membership. With the aid of their machine
which terrorizes and intimidates the opposition, the program
was shoved down the throats of the membership. It would
be instructive to examine this '' formula for betrayal!" In do
ing so, we will use direct quotation^ from the official organ
of the NMU Pilot, and from official minutes of NMU meetings.
Formula for Betrayal
In the May 3, 1940, issue of the Pilot, the NMU negotiat
ing committee composed of Joe Curran, H. McKenzie and
W. Curott, reported that they had reached an agreement with
the American Merchant Marine Institute, regarding wage in
creases, Section 2 of the report stated:
"The Union also demanded an increase in the over
thne rate. However, the increase in the overtime was
waived on the basis THAT THE PRESENT BONUSES
of $30 to the Mediterranean and $40 to Bilboa, Spain,
would remain in eflfect."
In order that there would be no mistake about WHO
"waived" the increase in overtime, the article amplified this
point by stating:
"The Union also agreed to waive its demand fop an
increase in the overtime rate on the basis THAT TPES
PRESENT BONUSES for $30 to the Mediterranean and
$40 to Bilboa, Spain, would remain in effect."
This was the "formula!" To sacrifice the ten cents per
hour increase in the overtime rate in exchange for a bonus
—which by Curran's own admission, was already in effect!
It was presented to the NMU membership on an EITHEROR
basis! EITHER the overtime increase, OR, the bonus. They
were to trade something they already had, for . , . FOR? . . .
{Continued on Page 4T
Pilot Announces $2.50
Sellout in Midst of
S.I. U. Negotiations
FLASH!
Tb^ addendum to ilie
agreement with the A. H.
Bull Steamship Co. was
signed today after being
approved by a majority of
the membership in the
branches and aboard the
ships. The agreement pro
vides for an increase of
$7.50 per month plus 10c
per hour in overtime on the
coastwise run, and $10 per
month plus 10c per hour
when the ships sail on a
foreign voyage.
MEETING
HELD!
Paeifle Coast maritime unions
observed the July 5th memorial
in honor of those maritime work,
ers who died in the struggle for
union organization on the Paci
fict Coast' in the historic 1934
strike. In the port 'of New York,
the Sailors Union of the Pacide
and the Pacific Coast Marine
Firemen declared an official July
5th holiday and held a memorial
meeting at the West Coast hall
at 105 Broad St., which was at
tended by over 200 Sailors and
Firemen.
On the first memorial day in
July 1935, Harry Lundeberg,
then president of the Maritime
Federation of the Pacific, voiced
the sentiments of the West Coast
maritime woikers in commemo
rating their honored dead, in
these words:
"On this day^ July 'Sth, we pay
tribute, to those Brothers who
made the supreme sacrifice . . .
Brothers DAFFRON, LINDBERG,
HELLAND, WILLIAMS, BOR
DOISE, SPERRY, PARKER,
KNUDSEN and MGRENCV.
"These slain brothers of ours
must not have died in vain. We
must not only perpetuate the
names of these heroic martyrs,
but we must carry on the fight
and demonstrate to the world
that we stand ready to defend our
.Unions and the conditions we
have vvoh. We' will continue
Stronger than ever; the. fight for
better conditions; the fight for
which our nine fellow workers
laid down their lives."
BULL LINE RAISES FINAL'
OFFER TO $7.50 PER MONTH
10c. PER HOUR OVERTIME!
Report NMU Ready to Man Coastwise Ships
If SlU Strikes for Wages and Conditions
The, SIU negotiating committee met with the
officials of the Bull Line last week, on the
union's demand for an increase in the wage and
overtime rate. Our demand was for the regular
$10 per month raise, plus the 10 cents per hour
in the overtime rate. Having previously con
cluded successful negotiations for the ten and
ten, with other coastwise operators; namely. Sea
train, Range, Waterman, C & G lines, etc., the
SIU committee was determined to gain a similar
increase in the BuU One, one of the largest <if
the coastwise operators.
A Stab in the Back
Negotiations were proceeding satisfactorily, backed by
the support of the Bull Line crews, when like a thunderbolt
the Bilot came out with an announcement that the NMU
"leaders" were recommending that their membership accept
a $2.50 per month increase from the coastwise lines
nnder NMU apeement, WITH NO INCREASE IN OVER
TIME! The Bull Line officials immediately seised upon this
rotten sellout and confronted the SIU committee with it.
KNOW THIS, YOU MEN ON TEE BULL LINE SHIPS!
YOU WERE STABBEii IN THE BACK IN THE MIDST OP
A STRUGGLE FOR HIGHER WAGES AND CONDITIONS
BY THE ROTTEN CURRAN CLIQUE WHO RULE THE
ROOST IN THE NATIONAL MARITIME UNION!
No. 1 Pinkherder
After this occurred, the
union committee was unable
to make any further progress,
despite the splendid support
from the erews. The company
stiffened its attitude, and it
appeared as though the crews
would have to take action to
enforce our demands. To add
insult to injury, we learned
from a reliable source that
the officials of the NMU had
informed the shipowners that
if the SIU struck the coast
wise ships, the NMU would
furnish crews and sail the
ships! It won't be long before
Curran puts out his shingle as
scabherder No. 1 for the ship
owners.
Pinal Proposal
However, the S|IU was not
to be fi'ightened by finkherd
4>
ers into "waiving" our de
mands and continued the
pressure for an adjustment of
the wage and. overtime in
crease. Finally the Bull Line
came through with an offer of
$7.50 per month increase in
wages, plus 10 cents per hour
in overtime and announced
that this was their final offer.
Under the circumstances, the
committee felt that it would
be unwise to strike the ships
for the additional .$2.50 and
tie up around 24 ships in wliat
might prove to be a costly
struggle. They therefore sub
mitted the proposal to the
membership for ratification
with a recommendation that
it be aeeepted. A ntimber of
ships have already voted on
the proposal and have accept
ed it. The final results of th'^
ballot will not be known until
later.
(The report of the SIU negoti.
ating committee is printed else
tvhere in this issue.) .
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rHE SBAFARERS' LOG Tuesday, July 9, 1940
— ):i
^ >ubll^ed byrtJie
' SeajhYet^^ %^ IMton
of North America
Affiliated toith the American Federati^ of Eiibor
HARRT tUNDEBEROi Actli^ Presl&biit
110 Market Street, lloom' sfW.^sah Eraiicisicd, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTiRB
New York {f>hbae: BOwllng Green 93437) ,2 Stone Street
BRANCHEB
Roston • .T. 5 ,.(1 ^333 Atlantic Avenue
' Ti'bVidettce ......:;... .''ieS So. Main Street
f»hlladelplila ......6 Nortb 6tli Street
''Baltimore • , %>'• ., • .14 Nortb Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San JogbriWto Rieb 8 Covadonga Street
~ District
HEADQUARTERS
Nfew Orleans ..... v.... ̂ 309 Charties Street
» . BRANCHED
Savannali ^S'Etot Bay Streat
JacksonTllle ..................................136 Bay Street
Tampa ...' 206 Soutli Vranklin Street
MobUe 5Ef So. Conceptibn Street
Texas City • ̂ —105 4th Street N,
Great Lahei District
TfEADQUARTERS
Betroit .i ...'• • ...IUSS Third Street
ADDRESS r.T. CQRiiESPONbENGE CONCERNING THIS
PVBLlOAflON TO:
• • THE SEAFA^RS' LOG"
O. Box ̂ Church St. Annek, New yOffc, N. Y.
Editor'. Tom Kerry Former Editor of "West Coast Firemen"
S.S. DELMUNDO (Crew)
to PAN ATLANTIC (Crew) r:
&.S: EELLiiJCHAM (Crew)
S;S. PAN KB AFT (Crew) .. •
S.S. HASTINGS (Crew)
to KOFREk (Crew)
to. SAOCAEAPPA (Crew)
S.S. DELPLATA (Crew) i
8.S. MARSADQCK (Crew & Officers) ..
Joe Barone • 1.00
G. F. Hickey 1.00
Fred Bdrenson 1.00
M. J. Kennedy 1.00
A. Kaiser ..' 1.00
$ 8.50
26.00
6.00
3.00
7.75
8.80
1.50
6.10
13.00
Sk S. Seakay
<lood Ship
Odd &ews
Several meinbers of the union
(SIU) have shiled on the good
ship Seakay since thsit ship came
out of the yards a little over a
year ago. The Seakay, is just
attoiit What We haVe all been fight
ing for as far as living conditions
afe concerned, but those several
menibers all agree on one thing
cfews of the soft eiriployed by the
oillce of the keystone Tankship
COfpoiatioii (not much union
men: men from back in the Jer
sey sticks; potential scabs, etc..
Votild spoil aiid ruiA Completely
any cdhditibn's given Or gained
on the ship.
Ciiraiige Ct^acter!
,^he chief and first assistant ar
willing to concede almost any
thing, and anything reasonable—
in the way of conditions and
overtime, and the men in the
crew of the black gang are re
luctant to take anything given
them for fear it might make
some one (typist or Ibss) in the
olfice 'think that they afe demand
ing too much.
Then theie is the character, in
the black gang, who tells you, if
you get a little mad at him, that
you had better leave him alone
$85.65
Ll TOTAL > • • • • t • • I $85.65
w..
The following is a list of men
who have donated to the Seafar
ers' Log:
8.8.. Psn Atlantic
r;Watson ,$1.00
Gichenko I.OO
Gabaree .1.00
Oliver 1.00
Larson 1.00
Brinkman 1.00
"pAawley 1.00
, ROckford .................. 1.00
Jordan .50
Kostegan 1.00
"ismith .L. .:;. 1.00
Yitou 1.00
Penton 1.00
Schnider 1.00
Bryant 1.00
Maxie 1.00
Austin ..................... 1.00
Hill 1.00
Picklen .....1.00
Niorfleet 1.00
Clejnntons 1.00
Henderson 1.00
Abe 1.00
Mr. Shortmann • ... .1.00
Mr. Burns 1.00
Mr. Botts .............*50
W. H. Mahler 1.00
Blakely 50
Eastman, H .50
Johnston, E 1;00
Howard, J. ,
Dennis, I. ...
Collins, C. ..,
kieholson, H.
Fabacher ....
.....I .75
, .50
I .;. .......... .50
.50
i.ob
Total .$7^75,
8.S. Kbfresi
Foster, E. 50
Thomas, R l.bO
Jones, J. 1.00
Bishop .50
Scott, 0. 1.00
Bray, T. .50
Kimball .50
Beatfie 50
Rutherford 50
Durant, W. ...1.00
Lindsey 50
Lawrence .80
Demouy .50
: Total ..l.';$26.00
S.S. Pan i^raft
Reyndlds, D. ;., ;.. .$1.00
*Moates 1.00
Moorei L. B. ...... i.'.>1,00
Total .....$3.b0
• r 8.8: 'H,astin()s
Mitchell, P: flpO
;jeiiseniuSi J. . . .50
" Hdlcorabe ..............., .50
Iftester, W. ...../. ;S0
Total ...v.$8.80
S.S. Bellingham
Hewett t....,...$1.00
Gallagher
Walters, B. ,
Walters, A. ,
Betancourt ,
Rivera .,..,
Malloy
Biackw'ell .,
Moore, J.^ ...
Baker ......
Anderson, J,
.50
.50
.25
.25.
, 50
1.00,
.50
.50
.50'
Total $6.00
SrA De'lpfata
S. E. Co'rkerh
E. Bailey
e. Piedra
.06.
.60
,i50'
because his relatives work in the
office.
^Phoney Books
You will also find quite a few
men Who are very, very aggres
sive organizers—for the NMU.
That is, they were until the NMU
lost the NLRB election—and so
badly, too. Now, those same ag,
^resslve organizers are rery loud
in letting everyone know thgt
they voted nonunion.
There were only two men on
the ship with "SltT books, and 95
per cent of the crew with $1.25
books. They took these books, for
the most part, because they were
convinced that they would have
to get' off of the ship in case the
NMU Won the election, alnd fha
NMU had those country hoys
scared to death that they would
lose their jobs.
Brass Buttons
The food is fair, but could be
a lot better if some of the so mil
itant men wbiild get after the
steward, ilie steward wears his
blue and brass unifojm on duty
and worships no god but the port
steward.
It is too bad that the crew of
S.S. Seakay are like they are—
because, without crossing the
captain, some of the mates, the
chief, first assistant, and most of
the rest of the engineers, condi
tions could be gained that would:
be second to none in the whole
shipping industry, G 80.
UNION OUSTING
p&o
Unfair
Charges of
Practice
.Whenever the NMU Pilot comes out boasting of another
"vietorj," it's a sure sign that the seamen are .heing sold »
down the river. Every "victory" for Cnrran and Co! sp^Is ,
'DEFEAT for thfe men that sail the ships. Nowherp is this ,
more evident than in the recent prononnce'menth of the • • :
tory" of the NMU in the P & 0 Line. First, it is necessary
to establish the fact that the P&O is facing eliarges of luifair
labor practices filed by the SIU and cannot sign an agree
raent with any one nntil a hearing has been held on these
charges.
f|
Fink Called in
The STE has acdiirrinlated. a
mass of evidence proving he
yoiid reiisoijable douiit that
the P ^ b Line deliberately
provoked a strike in order to
break their agreeiiient with
the SIU, and then spent thou
sands of dollars to break the
strike and set up a cpmpany
union. When the SIU got the
dope on the company and
lailed them before the Board
to answer the charges, the
NMU yims called in to do the
dirt.v work for the P&O and
gladly offered their services
as a fink agency to protect the
& 0 from bona fide nniph
ization. It would be instme
iyo to examine the history of
his affair.
sit Cracks P & 0
The SIU vyas the only labor
pany forbidding the SIU frpm
picketing tile docks. Then the
compShy ran 'knilounce'ihenis In
the paper, telling the men to
epme back to Work as the strike
was o'ff, abd with 'help of ^he
hired stooges, succeeded in stam
peding some of the men to the
ships.
Form Company Union
The next step was the fbrfna'.
tion of an "Independent Union"
oompfeteiy cbhtrolled by tbe P A
0 officials. The men were terror
ized and Intimidated back Into
slavery, if a man dkred to irtter
a protest, he lost his job. The
company openly boasted that they
had riot dniy broken' the strike,
but the morale of the men as
well! They thought they had u«
licked and said tl^at thV SIUWvas
finished In the P & O fleet. They
failed to take into, consideration
the fact that the SIU with 2d;000
mep on both coasfts, enjoying th«
best contracts, wages and worki
ing conditions^ in the industry,
would hot take their phoney
t
I.ll
J;
union ever to negotiate and sigh moves lying down.
J. Butler .50
J. Savocca M
E. Lane .50
L. kelley 1,00
E. Demaree .50
T. Keyser . .50
C, Trolson l.bO
Total $6.10
S.S. Delmundo
McRobinsbn .......... ,.., $l.oO
ft. Butler ..
A. Wltulski
11. ft'bstcher
J. Lyons . . .
if: Gollmer .
G. Davis ...
J. MArt'ello
Alliston ...
J. UaimpbeH
t. Larida ..,
i.oo
l;ob
• i50
• :5D
.50
• .50
' .50
LOb
I'Ob
Lbb
TotM ..........:....;. ,5$8;5b
8!8.'^accarappa " •
.'AIUBO Lopez
Gohr,, J. .
i^ksen, T.
:5Q
an kgreemeht with the P&O
vvhich gave the men decent Work
ing conditions and wages. FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY,
the company was forced to live
up to 'the fetter of the agreement
abd was stopped from discrimi
nating against the men for en
gaging in union activities. When
the company found that they
couldn't run the SIU like they
had unions in the past, they set
about to destroy the Sl'u and re
gain control over the men through
a company union.
Union Busting Outfit
The first thing they did was to
stall on negotiations When our
Agreement had expired and
through their Stooges, provoked
strike at a time when the hego
tiations .for a new agreement
were practically concluded. The
men pOurided the bricks for abbut
CO days during which the com
pany dodged all attempts to set
tie the dispute through negotia
tiqn.s. Large sums of money were
spent fo discredit the qfflcials of
the SIU and start a "back to
work" movement in the usual
unionbusting style of labor hat
ers throughout the country.
Can't Buy. Immunity
At the same time, the P&O
demanded of Wiljiam Green that
he remove the SIU from the State
of Florida. They were informed
that the SUP,was the parent body
Ihe SIU and that they would
hWye to deal vyfth ll'iindeberg. The
company sent brie of theib stooges
to Liihdeber^, demanded that the
Gulf officials of the SIU be re
moved, so that the company could
"regain their 'control' through a
ctihipany dominated union. Luh
deberg informed them that they
were dealipg with a bqna fide la
bor, unioh.tfik^^ hot bo
bought off, and that the ,8111 wiks
here'to Stay! '
Use lABdr Spies
The company then heaorfed to
their main weapraspthe labor
spies, and the courtsV.Evld^^^^^
kvallahle filat paid hirelings of
'ilie cdmpaliy Vrere' spIeaiiYhg cofi
Total
' .• • fiisfbn hiUMg tMe m^nl iGi injufic
Was procured , through; the
.........,..$1.50 political connections hf the com
Charges Filed
Before the company knew what
was going on. tlie SIU had se.
cured a mass of damaging eVl
dence against the P&O and
Blapped a charge of unfair labor .
practice against the bompany be.
fore the NLftft. We Were nble to
prove that the company waa '
guilty of a grbss violation of t'ha
law. When the SIU filed Us caso
against the company :ln January,
1940, a representative of tha
NLRB went to the NMU and
asked them if they had any
claims or charges to offer against
the P & O. The Board was in.
formed by Jones and Whalen ttiat
the NMU had no claim and could
not muster more than seven or
eight members in the entire P &
0 fleet. This cam be verified ;by
the records in the NLRB office 'in
New Orleans.
pffier to Compromise
The SIU then unileiYdok a cam
paign of organization on the P ft
O Ships, exposed the phoney com
pany union setup and showed
the men who was responsible for
depriving them of the decent
wages and coriditions that were
theirs under the SIU agreement.
The P ft O, learning that we had
the goods on them, tacitly ad
mifted that they were guilty of
destroying the union by Offerifag
0 compromise with the SlU. SeV
eral proposals were .offered by
the" SIU and the company "which
Were rejected. The Uitlou deulded
to push the ease before the i
NLRB. The P ft O realizing that
they wuld be convicted signed a
proposal for a settlement with the
Sltr, hut we soon learned that
this was done tb create the im
pression that the company was
acting In good fafth ,while all the
time the uhdei'handed scheming i
went, on to prevent; real union! i
zation of the P & 6 fleet.
" Fife NMU
Nevertheless, the SlU went
throMgh vyjth their sidg, qf the
proposal met with .the men
F fleet to' explain
oilr ppkltidnL Art* ONTII!: >rt!S
Tll^ THE INMU HAD MADE
ND "ATTEMPT TO. CONTACT
(Continued, on, page 4)
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Tuesday, July 9,1940 l
(
THE SEAFARERS "LOG
Wihat*js Doing
TEXAS CJTY
Texas City, Texas
June 29, 1940
Editor, Seafarers* Log
Dear and Brother:
Things are booming down here
this week, nlno men sl^ipped, two
Seatrains in and out, tiie Marga
ret and the pride of the Atwaters,
the Wm. C.
. Next week should be fairly
good also as 'the Phi'la Navy
Range Line) should be back
down here.
The Heiman Frasch came in
and took a couple of O.S.
We now have a fevy of the boys
lying around here, and it is the
best thing that has happened yet
in this portL the members seem
to think that this #ort is not a
gpod spot to hang out in, we",
this will show that she lis. Once
the boys get jsstablished around
here and with the Seatrain work
every week, this wifl be One of
the best.
'tMPA
The master of the Margaret
tried hard to bother everyone fhie
last week, trying tlie old stuff
that a seaman can't pay off in an men. Tlie men sailing the P & 0
Tampa, Florida.
July, 2, 1940
The fieafarers' Log:
Paddy Whalen, Blackle Myers,
and Frank Jones are still around
attempting to further" befuddle
and confuse the men in the P & 0
of the true facts concerning them,
the company and the SIU, and
trying to Sell them out of a good
contract, already aigned for by
the company, just for a few lousy
bucks to fatten the coffers of the
NMU, and in return giving them
a ?l25 book that is no good to
them and which they couldn't
ship on if^they ever got oh the
beach,
* • •
These "Three saviors of Amer
loan Seamen" are working in the
usual Comrny Style, sitting back
in the background and having
their stooges and men they have
pumped up with ^their dirty, rot
ten lies arid propaganda to do
their talking and organizing and
spread their prearranged crap,
* m »
Wiialen and his comrades are
trying to peddle "A Good Con
tract" and "Protection" to these
American port, here's the score
on this thing.
The Deck Dept. decided that
they wanted to pay off at 5
o'cloclc on Tuesday afternoon.
Next day at 3 o'clock the master
called all hands up midship and
asked each one, will you stand by
to sail the ship. The answer was
no, we have given the requireil
notice and we want to pay off, so
tlie deck gang came asliore. Gang
way watch was stood till mid
night, so that all hands carried
out all orders except they would
not sail as they had quit the
ship.
Nekt morning the inspectors
werp called and set aroUnd the
ship.til! afternoon, then returned
to Galveston, The only charge
possible was that the men did not
give the required 24 hours notice.
The crew was in the right, as
there was no sailing board ported
till Wednesday morning around
breakfast time.
The SUP fought this sqme case
out a few ye'aVs ago on the Inter,
costal ships, and the jaw stated
that an American seaman can de
mand ^nd get half his. Wages In
any American port if he is on ar
ticles or not quit.
So, this crew was completely
in the clear and after the inspec
tors were called off and the com
'pany agreed" to reopen negotia
tions In New York, they sailed
the ship, '•
Did you ever try to get a D.C.
ice box in a nurry .for a snip?
Try it some time; The Wm, C.
Atwater came in needing one and
I've lost ten lbs trying to dig one
up. It'6 no question of the com
pany not putting it on the ship,
it's just a question Of finding one
to put on. The springs in all the
bunks are being fixed and new
.mattresses and pillows are going;
on. The steward is replacing the
silver, and the dishes arb being
p'ut: up to the mark. Also, 'the
coal burning fireman on this tUb
wanted a water cooler in the flrei
room, this is also being put in, <;
So, nil In all, plenty o^'ac'tldn;
who the Kell said "plecEird.
Steady hs^ghe.goes, , ; /
W, Arfpstrong.
ships know from past experience
and dbn't have to be told that the
P & O S.S, Co. has been one of
tlie toughest companies on the
Coast to get any kind of condi
tions out of,
IK w
The SIU and the men on these
sijifis have this company over a
barrel good and tight for the first
time Ih history, and the company
Is forced to give these men a
good contract SUITABLE TO
THE MEN ON THE SHIPS
WITH 7£)c Afij HOUR OVER
TIME, providing 'the men will
take it,
* • *
What contract could suit you
better tlian one of your own mak
ing? What ahd where could you
get better union protection than
from a union that can force such
conditions from a company like
this?
The NMU will never be able to
force such a proposition from the
P & O or any other company.
They never have,
« *
The fellows on these ships bet
ter wake up and do a little think
ing far themselves, otherwise
they're,.floinfl to Wind up behind
the eight ball^ and you can bet
your bottom dqHar that neither
Paddy, Blackie rior Frank will be
there with them, i
Fraternally,
J. S. White,
In lieu of overtime on board
the Merchants and Miners ships
are paying all hands off with Ice
cream!
Vincent J. Yakavo'nfs,
BOSTON
PHlLADEtjPmA
Pbila., June 27, 1940.
Tom Kerry, Editor
Seafarers' Log
Well, Brothers, Collins is on his
well earned vacation. We sure
hope he has a pleasant one. I
imagine it will be pleasant even
if he merely stays 'h'oriie for the
entire week, because he will at
least get away' from those beefs
for a while. This in itself is a va
cation. I have a fueling that he
will miss his oppoi'tunities of get
ting conditions and such for the
crews from the shipowners. He
has never forgotten how much
the shipowner has taken from us,
and delights in being able to gain
at least some of them back.
Brother Buckman is acting as
patrolman, and is doing a splen
did job of it. Jack Warner is
around again after a lengthy so
journ on a tanker. The gas didn't
seem to affect him any. Wimpy
Gillis interrupted me just at this
pdint to ask me for a match. ,Ev
et<y time Wimpy comes around,
you can bet you wil be touched
Tor something, Re Just can't help
it, as it is ah intuitioh With hi'm.
We have more than enough
men on our shipping list now for
the normal amount of jobs that
seep through this port, but I
think when the new Seatrain
ships a crew, our list will be very
depleted, especially the rated
mj8in. According to the dope, she
will ship a crew about the 6th of
July or earlier, #
MOBILE
Although we had no chance to
vote on the agents' conference,
due to lack of a quorum, the
members around here think there
are many very constructive pro
posals recommended to the mem
bership.
Mobile, Ala,
J'une 26, 1940,
Editor, Seafarers' Log,
Dear Sir and Brother:
The first of the five ships that
the Waterman S.S, Company re
cently purchased, the Yapalaga,
has arrived here in Mobile, She
will undergo extensive repairs
and ship a crew approximately
six weeks from now. The other
four ships will be towed over
from New Orleans shortly to un
dergo repairs alSo,
« * *
The S.S, Saccarappa arrived
here yesterday morning from
Mediterranean ports and paid ofif.
There was quite an argument
relative to transportation which
was finally settled 'to the aatlfi
faction of the crew. She will sail
this afternoon for Cuba^ back
here and thence to the Atlantic
Coast. Fractically a full crew Was
shipped on her,
* * *
The TenCent Taxi Company
here in Mobile has been declared
unfair by the Teamsters and
Chauffeurs Local 991, Sixtyone
cab drivers, affiliated with The
AFL, have walked out and
thrown a picket line around the
company propeity aUd waiting
rriom. At present thefe are about
ten scab drivers operating cabs,
but we are very confident of a
successful conclusion to the
strike. Every union man and wo
man in Mobile is lending active
aid to the strikers in their effort
to secure fair conditions.
* IK »
The NMU element in this town
is practically nil. In fact, since
that "Trek back to the Waterman
ships" fiopped^ the Gommies here
are very conspicuous by their ab
sence and Comrat Drury is look
ing very seedy these days. Can it
be that the membership of the
NMU are asking tjilestions about
why the NMU 'Blitzkrieg' over
the Waterman ships failed so
miserably?
• » » .
Enclosed you will find a list of
men who have donated to the
Seafarers' Log, Please publish
these names and amounts.
Fraternally yours,
Robert A, Matthews, Eng. Pat,
NEWS FROM
(Atlantic DistHict)
Balluls Shipping
Everyone Vote!
NEW YOBK
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville, Fla,
July 1, 1940,
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Seafarers' International
Union of North America is over
one year old, ahd I wonder if
some of our members of.the SIU
realize what it has done for them,
with the aid of the officials and
the majority of the membership.
We have gained conditions and
wages, .so a seaman can at least
live awhile ashore, something that
the old unions, prior to our exls
Deck and
J C! :
Shipping good for
Engine Departments!
* • •
The AFL fishermen's Union fi
nally won their strike after three
months on the picket, line. Cpn
tihiious picket lines were main
tained for the duration of the
strike,
• « «
The Marine is'ospital that was
formerly located in Chelsea has
moved to its new location in
Brighton, '
* * «
qnehundr^ecl^poteijtial finks an,
rived Jn Boston on. tbo, S,S, .Amer*
Jean Sf^inan,, to be^Atatiol.^ed at.
'Gallup's Jslancj, , ,th'p ; Maritime
Commission's Fink Training, sta
tion.
The Republicans are holding a
cohvenfiOn in this fair city, and
William Green, President of the
AFL spoke to the gathering a
spell. Right now they are fight
ing amongst themselves to see
who will nominated for the Presi
deucy. According to newspaper
reports dh the convention, they' tence, couldn't'do for years,
are fighting each other tooth arid
nail for this honor. It would do
some of those politici^s good to
follow the example of the SIU in
conducting their conventions. I
can't' imagine any chace for har
mony arid good government when
these delegated leaders
agree Amongst themselvee, brit
this is politics. Or maybe I'm
dumb.
ALL MEMBERS WftO
HAVE NOT YET VOlSSD
bN THE AMALGABIATrON
BALLOT AND THE BAL
LOT ON THE ADOPTION
OF UNIFORM BHIPPING
RULES ARE URGED TO DO
SO AT ONCE ! BE SlStE
TO COME UP TO YOUR
BRANCH AND CAST YOUR
VOTE TOEH YOUR R#rP
IS IN P6RT! ALL SHIR'S
DELEGATES ARH INFORM
ED TO INSTRUCT THE
CREW TO VOTE H4 THIS
REFERENDUlSir. GIT
AFTER THE SLACKigRS
AND SEE THAT THEY
VOTE!
Vote on Amalgamation!
Voting on the amalgama
tion of the Atlantic and (Ttilf
Districts began the first we.ek
ill July in all port.s. This is
one of the mo.st inipoi'tant
questions to confront the or
ganization in some time.
Amalgamation of the two di.s
tricts into one unified orga'ni
zation ivill strengthen the or
ganization as a whole and
eliminate many of the dual
functions that no\v ixist. It
is important that every mem
ber vote on this question!
Vote on Shipping Rules
,In addition to the ballot on
Amalgamating the both dis
tricts. balloting is in progress
on the set of uniforin shipping
rules adopted by the Agents
conference at Atlanta last
month. This concerns eVhry
member on both the Atlantic
and Gulf so don't neglect to
get your ballot and vote on
both these questions.
Shipping Good!
Shipping. continnes very
good in the port of New York
with about thirtyfive permit
men shipped In the past week.
« « ii>
It could have been done before,
but a lot of you can see why it
wasn't by this time. The funda
mental ba.se of fi, union Is the ma
terial in it, and the SIU has it.
As this organization Is built of
material, now is the time
when we must keep it intact dur
ing this crucial period when the
shipowners, along with the rats
* • » and Commy stooges, are turning
hoaven and earth to put us in
chains again,
,Th,e shipowners along vyith
their stooges, are bent more .than
ever today to take away our
^ . iiains,! ̂ hat we have "fought for,
a donation for its upkeep Lfoi .y«ara, sb that wecoord have
fSc the kind of. aplrit that, deaeht food and. living (Conditions
kiboard the ships. The best way
to Jose' this is'for the inembers
of the SIU tc'get .tlrunk on sail
ing ̂ Jays, argue amongst them
The Seafarers' Log is a very
popular pqpe.r amongst our mem
bers, Evei^ ship I Visit there Is
always, a discussion on ways and
means to keep up its publication.
Every crew pledges itselv'es to
mafke
This
.makes for good union men arid a;
Strang mnion, .Keep up the aqod.
wo.rk, .,itothe.rs^, your efforts '^^e.
more .than appreeiated, ,
Fraterpally, yours,
Joseph Flanagan^ No. 542
A lot of them say: Let George
do it, he stays sober. If he wants
to stand the watcbes and do all
fhe work, that is O.K. by riie. Re
inember the slogan: AN INJURY
TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO
ALL! Study this phrase,carefully,
there is a lot of meaning to it,
r * *
It is necessary. Brothers, that
we exercise the utmost Selfdis
cipline amongst ourselves, and
every niember of our union. Ir
responsible action and bii'm beefs
aboard a ship are only giving the
shipowner the weapon he is lopk
ing for, and that Ls, to put tho
seamen back in chains again;
and when they are around your
neck this time, it will be a long
time before you slied them again,
» * •
So, Brothers, members, as long
as we are made of that rnaterial
that makes a good union man,
then we will forge ahead to that
goal 6f ours, and that is: A Na
tional Seamen's Union, for sea
men, by seamen.
Steady as she goes,
Fred Lauritano.
icselves, and miss 'watches at alii
times.
' ' Vote Notv r r
• UnUorm Shipping
'• • J
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THE SEAFARERS* LOG Tuesday, July 9, 1940
Out of Their Own Mouths
A Record of Betrayal!
{Continued from Page 1)
^'waiving (not asking for) the demand for an increase in
the overtime rates!"
4yvertime Increase "JFoivcd"/
Remember, that the SUP had already established a new standard
«f ten dollars increase per month^ PUUS ten cents per hour In the
• overtime rate. By "waiving" the overtime increase, Curran and Co
<indermined the higher UNION levell But let's take It on the
EITHEROR basis and see if there was any justification for the
formula." Only a small percentage of the ships under contract
to the NMU were in the Mediterranean run.
How small is Indicated by McKenzie, (Minutes NMU meeting
May 9) who reported that; "One reason why we couldn't Qet the
.80 cents an hour overtime is because we were faced with a situa
tion that we had to guarantee the present war bonus on the Medi
terranean Export Line ships and $40 bonus on the Lykes Bros, ships
4Eiofiid iLO oSiiiwS, Spsin*'''
THEREFORE, A SMALL SECTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP
WAS BENEFITTING AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LARGE
M.AJORITY! In addition, the entrance of Italy into the war was just
« matter of time. Everyone knew that, especially the shipowners.
With Italy entering the war, the Mediterranean wouldl be closedf to
American shipping and the,NMU membership would get NEITHER
the increase In overtime, NOR the war bonus! That is exactly what
ftappened!
iGetting Nothing for Something
The result of the policy of swapping something for nothing
penalized the whole membership of the NMU as well as endanger
ing the higher standard established in the rest of the industry. Was
Uiere any justification for that policy? The fact of the matter is:
iTHE SIU HAS BEEN GETTING $50 WAR BONUS FOR THE MEDI
iTERRANEAN RUN WHICH IS $20 MORE THAN THE NMU WERE
^JETTING BUT THIS DID NOT DETER US FROM DEMANDING;
• • AND GETTING, THE OVERTIME INCREASE OF 10c PER HOUR!
Ifot only did Curran fink by "waiving the overtime increase but he
proved himself a twotime loser by finking on the higher estab
^shed war bonus!
Pouring On the Oil!
Ip ithe same issue of the Pilot (May 3, 1940) the question of the
Coastwise operators was stated thus:
"The coastwise operatorii( refused to consider any wage In
crease. They have agreed, however, to continue negotiations.
... To avoid a deadlock which would prevent an Immediate In
( crease for the men sailing the majority of ships funning off
shore, since it was impossible to reach an agreement with the
coastwise: operators, the Union negotiators agreed to take the
wage question up separately with the coastwise lines."
So far, so good! This announcement, however, was followed by
ft period of agitation in the Pilot and in the NMU meetings to the
effect that the coastwise operators could not afford jui increase and
ftnyone who advocated taking action to force the issue was nothing
ibut an agent of the shipowners!
Softening Up the Sheep!
A period was required to prepare the membership for the sell
• out! Iftjthe May 24 issue of the Pilot, cold water was thrown on the
.«xpec^P8s for an increase in the coastwise lines by the following
ftrgumehts:':
" t 2. "We (NMU) have not been able to disprove that there
. Is a wide* differential between profits of the off shore and coast
: wise operators." •
I O 3. 'IThe stubborn position of the coastwise operators is ex
• j emplified by their recent tying up of the trade before" they
J virhuld'pay a nickel additional increase to the longshor<tmen."
• '.'A."Owing to the present European situation, any day the
MORE ABOUT:
P&O Facing
Unfair Labor
Charges!
(Continued from page 2)
CREWS OF THE P A O SHIPS!
It is now plain that the P A O
signed the proposal in bad faith
and we have every reason to be
lieve that the campany called in
the NMU In order to prevent the
men from getting an agreement!
At every meeting held, NMU rep
resentatives, WHO HAD DENIED
ANY CLAIM IN THE P&O
FLEET AND WERE NOT MEN
TIONED IN THE PROPOSAL,
were Invited to address the meet
ing AFTER THE SlU REPRE
SENTATIVES HAD BEEN EX
CUSED!
A Willing Tool
The company realized that if
the proposal was approved by the
men on the ships, the overtime
rate would have to be raised and
working agreement covering
wages and conditions would have
to be signed within 60 days. THE
ONLY WAY TO STALL OFF
THIS INCREASE FOR THE
MEN WAS TO HAVE THE NMU
ENTER THE PICTURE! In this
way the company saves thou
sands of dollars that should be
going into the pockets of the
men. It is clearly established by
the NLRB that the P&O can
not bargain with any other union
than the SIU until the case is
settled, either by agreement or
by a hearing before the board.
The longer the company can stall
this off by utilizing the NMU, the
more money the men are going
to lose. Once again, the NMU has
proved a willing fool of the ship
owners.
CutBate Finkatorinm
The NMU is passing around
their phoney "preliminary mem
bership" books at one buck per
copy which entitles the bearer to
"attend meetings of the NMU,
pay 25 cehts per month for that
privilege, AND THAT'S ALL!
They have tried to create the
impression that these phoney
books are all the men need—until
Report of Negotiations
With Bull Line Co.
• •
!
entire "Mediterranean may be blacked out—tying up the U.S.
L1nies;'!Lykes and Export Lines fleets. This might create an
adverseeconomic situation for the Union—of which the opera
tors ̂ arewell aware."
,.iToo ftod. tneg couldn't have thought of tMt before they
"waived" the overtime increase!)
5. "There is disc the possibility that the longshoremen might
resent a sudden tieup throwing them out of work, unless we
give'^them the score. Stooges could utilize this resentment
i against the Union."
j (Curran's solicitude for "the longshoremen" is very touch-
J img. Joe Ryan will undoubtedly be very pleased to hear it.)
iCold Waaler Propaganda
This coldwater propaganda was supplemented in the member
ship meetings by similar reports from the leading lights. In the
minutes of the NMU membership meeting of May 9, McKenzie
fttates: "I don't think we should get too optimistic on the question
bf getting a $10 increase on the Porto Rican and coastwise lines."
jCurran follows McKenzie and says: "We can't get the $10 wage in
creases yet, but I'm sure that at Monday's meeting the companies
are going to turn us down flat. I'm sure of that." This process of
ftoftening up the membership continued thruout the month, even
after the SIU had succeeded In forcing a number of coastwise
operators to agree to a wage raise of ten dollars plus ten cents.
^Another Curran "Victory
Towards the end of June, Curran and Co. evidently were con
yineed that the membership had been softened up enough to swallow
another "victory." While the SIU was in the midst 0$ negotiations
"With one of the large coastwise operators, the Pilot came out with
"the announcement that the NMU negotiating committee was recom.
Amending to its membership that they accept a proposal from the
• eoastwfse lines under NMU contract, for an increase of $2.50 per
smontb, "with no InoreaBc In evertime! This outright finking was
taken full advantage of and resulted In a weakening of our conten
• ilpn that our demand for, $10 plus 10 cents in overtime was justi
they get an, agreement. The men
will then discover that the one
buck was just a down payment
on the 25 buck price for member
ship. The short change artists
running the NMU cutrate fink
emporiunt, will pull any and all
kinds of fakery In order to get
their hands into the pockets of
the seamen.
Company Union Victory
If the NMU wins many more
such "victories," the shipowners
will be saved the trouble of
breaking strikes and forming
company unions—Curran and Co.
will do it for them!
All Members
Attend Your Union
Meeting
WHEN SHIP IS IN
PORTI
Important Matters
Coming Up
EVERY WEEKl
Report of your Negotiating Committee elected at the
regular business meeting at Headquarters, July 1, 19^,
to meet with the Bull Line officials on proposed adden
dum to our agreement providing for an increase in the
wage and overtime rate of pay.
'• » # # ; ,
Your committee met with the Bull Line officials on
Tuesday, July 2, 1940, at 11:00 A.M. and entered into
negotiations on the proposal of the Union for an in
crease of $10 per month plus lOe per hour in the over
time rate, and the eouuterproposals of the Company
which began at $2.50 per month inerease on the strictly
coastwise ships and $5.00 per month on ships running to
Porto Rico, w'ith no increase in the overtime rate. ,
After many hours of discussion and argument, your
committee was successful in having the company raise
its proposal to $7.50 per month wage increase plus the
10c per hour increase in overtime.
N,M, U, SellOut Hurts Negotiations
The position of the Union was considerably weak
ened by the fact that the NIklU Pilot had come out, in
the midst of our negotiations, with the announcement
that the negotiating committee for the NMU was recom
mending to its membership that they accept a proposed
increase of $2.50 per month with NO INCREASE IN
OVERTIME, On ships in the coastwise trade under con
tract to the NMU. This resulted in a stiffening the
Company's attitude against the demand of your nego
tiating committee for the $10 pins 10c per hour increase
The negotiating committee meeting was adjourned
at 8:15 PJM. with the Company standing firm, utilising
to the full their strongest argument which was the
finky action taken by the commie leadership of the NMU
in. selling out the seamen.
Fined Proposal Submitted
The final understanding reached was that the $7.50
per month increase plus the 10c per hour raise in over
time, was to prevail on ALL Bull Line ships in the coast
wise run including those running to Porto Rico Any
of the ships that touch a foreign port would pay the
$10.00 per month plus the 10c per hour increase. The
addendum to the agreement is to be retroactive to July
I, 1940, and is to extend to the same termination date
as our regular agreement.
Committee Advises Acceptance
In view of all of the circumstances involved, we,
your committee, feel that it is advisable to accept the
proposal for the $7.50 wage increase plus the 10c per
hour increase in overtime, as the Company has indicated
that they will not increase their offer under any circum
stances short of a costly struggle.
"We therefore, submit this proposal for the ratifica
tion of the membership.
For the Committee: J. BRIDGES, No. G86
S. BOYLSTON, No. 50013
B. RAMIREZ, No. 187
JOHN HAWE:, SecTreas.
h
ISTHMIAN PLAYS GAME!
We. have just received a
copy of the wages and work
ing rules issued for its crews
by the Isthmian SS Line, one
of the slickest antiunion out
fits in the country. It was in
structive to observe that the
istlimian SS Co. has practical
ly adopted the working rules
and wage scale, in force under
the NMU agreement. Altho
Isthmian has no contract with
any union covering its unli
censed personnel they find the
NMU agreement a perfect in
strument for keeping their
employees in seaslavery.
fied by present cQndltions. Despite this stab in the back^ we were
able to get $?.50 per month PLUS ten cents per hour in overtime!
The Right Label!
On the basis of the evidence, every union man is justified in
labelling the Curran gang in the leadership of the NMU as a gang
of finkherders whose main function seems to be to break down
the wage standards and conditions of the American seamen. To he
iabelied as finks—and to be treated as such! The seamen will pay
dearly for having tolerated the "leadership" of Curran's wrecking
crew!
Follow .the Leader
Of course, when the NMU were
given an increase in some of
their off shore ships of ten dol
lars per month, with no increase
in overtime, Isthmian followed
suit and granted a similar in
crease; also with no increase in
overtime. They think they can
avoid unionization by playing
"follow the leader" with Joe Cur.
ran. Only its difficult for many
seamen to distinguish who is "the
leader," the shipowners or the
NMU I It's a certainty that more
and more of the seamen are be
ginning to realize that when the
Curran mob begins to play games
with the shipowners, the seamen
get It In the neck.
Men Aren't Fooled
Most of the men aboard Isth
mian Line ships want top union
wages and conditions and realize
that the only way to get them is
by joining the SIU which has set
the highest standard on the East
Coast and (3ulf. They aren't
fooled by the crumbs that are
tossed to them by the Company
In order to prevent orpinfzation.
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HIMIU "LEADERS" FINK ON SEAKIEM!
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Organ of the Atlantic^ Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II NEW YORK, N. Y., TUESDAY, JULY 9, 1940 .446 No. 6
Out of Their Own Mouths
A Record of Betrayal!
All seamen should be made aware of the monstrous
swindle perpetrated by the "leadership" of the NMU in
foisting lower wage and overtime standaids on the seamen
under their control. There is more involved than just the
betrayal of the NMU membership. It is a matter of common
knowledge, to those familiar with the history of the labor
movement, that lower standards in one section of any particu
lar industry, inevitably creates a powerful tendency for em
ployers to stabilize wages and working eoiulilions along the
lowest established level.
For Union Wage Standards
Labor unions have confronted this condition, particularly
where an important section of the industry remained unor
ganized, and have striven to overcome the danger by extend
ing organization to the entire industry in order to stabilize
wages and conditions ALONG THE HIGHER LEVEL. In
order to prevent this, employers have used many devices not
the least of which is the company union which functions as a
tool of the employer in preventing the imposition of top
union wages and conditions. Company unions are known as
>fink agencies because they serve to break down the higher
levels established by bonafide labor unions, and serve in the
interest of the boss; instead of the workers whom they are
presumed to represent.
Menace to All Seamen
Thus, the action of the leadership of the NMU in estab
lishing substandard wages and working conditions in an im
portant section of the industry, constitutes a serious menace
to ALL seamen. Such action can only be designated as that
of PINKS who serve the interest of the shipowner instead of
the membership they are supposed to represent. How was it
possible for Curran and Co. to put across their sellout on
men, many of whom walked the picket line in the strugglo
for conditions? They had to cover up their tracks with a
formula which could be made to appear rea.sonable to at least
a section of the membership. With the aid of their machine
which terrorizes and intimidates the opposition, the program
was shoved down the throats of the membership. It would
be instructive to examine this '' formula for betrayal!" In do
ing so, we will use direct quotation^ from the official organ
of the NMU Pilot, and from official minutes of NMU meetings.
Formula for Betrayal
In the May 3, 1940, issue of the Pilot, the NMU negotiat
ing committee composed of Joe Curran, H. McKenzie and
W. Curott, reported that they had reached an agreement with
the American Merchant Marine Institute, regarding wage in
creases, Section 2 of the report stated:
"The Union also demanded an increase in the over
thne rate. However, the increase in the overtime was
waived on the basis THAT THE PRESENT BONUSES
of $30 to the Mediterranean and $40 to Bilboa, Spain,
would remain in eflfect."
In order that there would be no mistake about WHO
"waived" the increase in overtime, the article amplified this
point by stating:
"The Union also agreed to waive its demand fop an
increase in the overtime rate on the basis THAT TPES
PRESENT BONUSES for $30 to the Mediterranean and
$40 to Bilboa, Spain, would remain in effect."
This was the "formula!" To sacrifice the ten cents per
hour increase in the overtime rate in exchange for a bonus
—which by Curran's own admission, was already in effect!
It was presented to the NMU membership on an EITHEROR
basis! EITHER the overtime increase, OR, the bonus. They
were to trade something they already had, for . , . FOR? . . .
{Continued on Page 4T
Pilot Announces $2.50
Sellout in Midst of
S.I. U. Negotiations
FLASH!
Tb^ addendum to ilie
agreement with the A. H.
Bull Steamship Co. was
signed today after being
approved by a majority of
the membership in the
branches and aboard the
ships. The agreement pro
vides for an increase of
$7.50 per month plus 10c
per hour in overtime on the
coastwise run, and $10 per
month plus 10c per hour
when the ships sail on a
foreign voyage.
MEETING
HELD!
Paeifle Coast maritime unions
observed the July 5th memorial
in honor of those maritime work,
ers who died in the struggle for
union organization on the Paci
fict Coast' in the historic 1934
strike. In the port 'of New York,
the Sailors Union of the Pacide
and the Pacific Coast Marine
Firemen declared an official July
5th holiday and held a memorial
meeting at the West Coast hall
at 105 Broad St., which was at
tended by over 200 Sailors and
Firemen.
On the first memorial day in
July 1935, Harry Lundeberg,
then president of the Maritime
Federation of the Pacific, voiced
the sentiments of the West Coast
maritime woikers in commemo
rating their honored dead, in
these words:
"On this day^ July 'Sth, we pay
tribute, to those Brothers who
made the supreme sacrifice . . .
Brothers DAFFRON, LINDBERG,
HELLAND, WILLIAMS, BOR
DOISE, SPERRY, PARKER,
KNUDSEN and MGRENCV.
"These slain brothers of ours
must not have died in vain. We
must not only perpetuate the
names of these heroic martyrs,
but we must carry on the fight
and demonstrate to the world
that we stand ready to defend our
.Unions and the conditions we
have vvoh. We' will continue
Stronger than ever; the. fight for
better conditions; the fight for
which our nine fellow workers
laid down their lives."
BULL LINE RAISES FINAL'
OFFER TO $7.50 PER MONTH
10c. PER HOUR OVERTIME!
Report NMU Ready to Man Coastwise Ships
If SlU Strikes for Wages and Conditions
The, SIU negotiating committee met with the
officials of the Bull Line last week, on the
union's demand for an increase in the wage and
overtime rate. Our demand was for the regular
$10 per month raise, plus the 10 cents per hour
in the overtime rate. Having previously con
cluded successful negotiations for the ten and
ten, with other coastwise operators; namely. Sea
train, Range, Waterman, C & G lines, etc., the
SIU committee was determined to gain a similar
increase in the BuU One, one of the largest <if
the coastwise operators.
A Stab in the Back
Negotiations were proceeding satisfactorily, backed by
the support of the Bull Line crews, when like a thunderbolt
the Bilot came out with an announcement that the NMU
"leaders" were recommending that their membership accept
a $2.50 per month increase from the coastwise lines
nnder NMU apeement, WITH NO INCREASE IN OVER
TIME! The Bull Line officials immediately seised upon this
rotten sellout and confronted the SIU committee with it.
KNOW THIS, YOU MEN ON TEE BULL LINE SHIPS!
YOU WERE STABBEii IN THE BACK IN THE MIDST OP
A STRUGGLE FOR HIGHER WAGES AND CONDITIONS
BY THE ROTTEN CURRAN CLIQUE WHO RULE THE
ROOST IN THE NATIONAL MARITIME UNION!
No. 1 Pinkherder
After this occurred, the
union committee was unable
to make any further progress,
despite the splendid support
from the erews. The company
stiffened its attitude, and it
appeared as though the crews
would have to take action to
enforce our demands. To add
insult to injury, we learned
from a reliable source that
the officials of the NMU had
informed the shipowners that
if the SIU struck the coast
wise ships, the NMU would
furnish crews and sail the
ships! It won't be long before
Curran puts out his shingle as
scabherder No. 1 for the ship
owners.
Pinal Proposal
However, the S|IU was not
to be fi'ightened by finkherd
4>
ers into "waiving" our de
mands and continued the
pressure for an adjustment of
the wage and. overtime in
crease. Finally the Bull Line
came through with an offer of
$7.50 per month increase in
wages, plus 10 cents per hour
in overtime and announced
that this was their final offer.
Under the circumstances, the
committee felt that it would
be unwise to strike the ships
for the additional .$2.50 and
tie up around 24 ships in wliat
might prove to be a costly
struggle. They therefore sub
mitted the proposal to the
membership for ratification
with a recommendation that
it be aeeepted. A ntimber of
ships have already voted on
the proposal and have accept
ed it. The final results of th'^
ballot will not be known until
later.
(The report of the SIU negoti.
ating committee is printed else
tvhere in this issue.) .
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rHE SBAFARERS' LOG Tuesday, July 9, 1940
— ):i
^ >ubll^ed byrtJie
' SeajhYet^^ %^ IMton
of North America
Affiliated toith the American Federati^ of Eiibor
HARRT tUNDEBEROi Actli^ Presl&biit
110 Market Street, lloom' sfW.^sah Eraiicisicd, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTiRB
New York {f>hbae: BOwllng Green 93437) ,2 Stone Street
BRANCHEB
Roston • .T. 5 ,.(1 ^333 Atlantic Avenue
' Ti'bVidettce ......:;... .''ieS So. Main Street
f»hlladelplila ......6 Nortb 6tli Street
''Baltimore • , %>'• ., • .14 Nortb Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San JogbriWto Rieb 8 Covadonga Street
~ District
HEADQUARTERS
Nfew Orleans ..... v.... ̂ 309 Charties Street
» . BRANCHED
Savannali ^S'Etot Bay Streat
JacksonTllle ..................................136 Bay Street
Tampa ...' 206 Soutli Vranklin Street
MobUe 5Ef So. Conceptibn Street
Texas City • ̂ —105 4th Street N,
Great Lahei District
TfEADQUARTERS
Betroit .i ...'• • ...IUSS Third Street
ADDRESS r.T. CQRiiESPONbENGE CONCERNING THIS
PVBLlOAflON TO:
• • THE SEAFA^RS' LOG"
O. Box ̂ Church St. Annek, New yOffc, N. Y.
Editor'. Tom Kerry Former Editor of "West Coast Firemen"
S.S. DELMUNDO (Crew)
to PAN ATLANTIC (Crew) r:
&.S: EELLiiJCHAM (Crew)
S;S. PAN KB AFT (Crew) .. •
S.S. HASTINGS (Crew)
to KOFREk (Crew)
to. SAOCAEAPPA (Crew)
S.S. DELPLATA (Crew) i
8.S. MARSADQCK (Crew & Officers) ..
Joe Barone • 1.00
G. F. Hickey 1.00
Fred Bdrenson 1.00
M. J. Kennedy 1.00
A. Kaiser ..' 1.00
$ 8.50
26.00
6.00
3.00
7.75
8.80
1.50
6.10
13.00
Sk S. Seakay
<lood Ship
Odd &ews
Several meinbers of the union
(SIU) have shiled on the good
ship Seakay since thsit ship came
out of the yards a little over a
year ago. The Seakay, is just
attoiit What We haVe all been fight
ing for as far as living conditions
afe concerned, but those several
menibers all agree on one thing
cfews of the soft eiriployed by the
oillce of the keystone Tankship
COfpoiatioii (not much union
men: men from back in the Jer
sey sticks; potential scabs, etc..
Votild spoil aiid ruiA Completely
any cdhditibn's given Or gained
on the ship.
Ciiraiige Ct^acter!
,^he chief and first assistant ar
willing to concede almost any
thing, and anything reasonable—
in the way of conditions and
overtime, and the men in the
crew of the black gang are re
luctant to take anything given
them for fear it might make
some one (typist or Ibss) in the
olfice 'think that they afe demand
ing too much.
Then theie is the character, in
the black gang, who tells you, if
you get a little mad at him, that
you had better leave him alone
$85.65
Ll TOTAL > • • • • t • • I $85.65
w..
The following is a list of men
who have donated to the Seafar
ers' Log:
8.8.. Psn Atlantic
r;Watson ,$1.00
Gichenko I.OO
Gabaree .1.00
Oliver 1.00
Larson 1.00
Brinkman 1.00
"pAawley 1.00
, ROckford .................. 1.00
Jordan .50
Kostegan 1.00
"ismith .L. .:;. 1.00
Yitou 1.00
Penton 1.00
Schnider 1.00
Bryant 1.00
Maxie 1.00
Austin ..................... 1.00
Hill 1.00
Picklen .....1.00
Niorfleet 1.00
Clejnntons 1.00
Henderson 1.00
Abe 1.00
Mr. Shortmann • ... .1.00
Mr. Burns 1.00
Mr. Botts .............*50
W. H. Mahler 1.00
Blakely 50
Eastman, H .50
Johnston, E 1;00
Howard, J. ,
Dennis, I. ...
Collins, C. ..,
kieholson, H.
Fabacher ....
.....I .75
, .50
I .;. .......... .50
.50
i.ob
Total .$7^75,
8.S. Kbfresi
Foster, E. 50
Thomas, R l.bO
Jones, J. 1.00
Bishop .50
Scott, 0. 1.00
Bray, T. .50
Kimball .50
Beatfie 50
Rutherford 50
Durant, W. ...1.00
Lindsey 50
Lawrence .80
Demouy .50
: Total ..l.';$26.00
S.S. Pan i^raft
Reyndlds, D. ;., ;.. .$1.00
*Moates 1.00
Moorei L. B. ...... i.'.>1,00
Total .....$3.b0
• r 8.8: 'H,astin()s
Mitchell, P: flpO
;jeiiseniuSi J. . . .50
" Hdlcorabe ..............., .50
Iftester, W. ...../. ;S0
Total ...v.$8.80
S.S. Bellingham
Hewett t....,...$1.00
Gallagher
Walters, B. ,
Walters, A. ,
Betancourt ,
Rivera .,..,
Malloy
Biackw'ell .,
Moore, J.^ ...
Baker ......
Anderson, J,
.50
.50
.25
.25.
, 50
1.00,
.50
.50
.50'
Total $6.00
SrA De'lpfata
S. E. Co'rkerh
E. Bailey
e. Piedra
.06.
.60
,i50'
because his relatives work in the
office.
^Phoney Books
You will also find quite a few
men Who are very, very aggres
sive organizers—for the NMU.
That is, they were until the NMU
lost the NLRB election—and so
badly, too. Now, those same ag,
^resslve organizers are rery loud
in letting everyone know thgt
they voted nonunion.
There were only two men on
the ship with "SltT books, and 95
per cent of the crew with $1.25
books. They took these books, for
the most part, because they were
convinced that they would have
to get' off of the ship in case the
NMU Won the election, alnd fha
NMU had those country hoys
scared to death that they would
lose their jobs.
Brass Buttons
The food is fair, but could be
a lot better if some of the so mil
itant men wbiild get after the
steward, ilie steward wears his
blue and brass unifojm on duty
and worships no god but the port
steward.
It is too bad that the crew of
S.S. Seakay are like they are—
because, without crossing the
captain, some of the mates, the
chief, first assistant, and most of
the rest of the engineers, condi
tions could be gained that would:
be second to none in the whole
shipping industry, G 80.
UNION OUSTING
p&o
Unfair
Charges of
Practice
.Whenever the NMU Pilot comes out boasting of another
"vietorj," it's a sure sign that the seamen are .heing sold »
down the river. Every "victory" for Cnrran and Co! sp^Is ,
'DEFEAT for thfe men that sail the ships. Nowherp is this ,
more evident than in the recent prononnce'menth of the • • :
tory" of the NMU in the P & 0 Line. First, it is necessary
to establish the fact that the P&O is facing eliarges of luifair
labor practices filed by the SIU and cannot sign an agree
raent with any one nntil a hearing has been held on these
charges.
f|
Fink Called in
The STE has acdiirrinlated. a
mass of evidence proving he
yoiid reiisoijable douiit that
the P ^ b Line deliberately
provoked a strike in order to
break their agreeiiient with
the SIU, and then spent thou
sands of dollars to break the
strike and set up a cpmpany
union. When the SIU got the
dope on the company and
lailed them before the Board
to answer the charges, the
NMU yims called in to do the
dirt.v work for the P&O and
gladly offered their services
as a fink agency to protect the
& 0 from bona fide nniph
ization. It would be instme
iyo to examine the history of
his affair.
sit Cracks P & 0
The SIU vyas the only labor
pany forbidding the SIU frpm
picketing tile docks. Then the
compShy ran 'knilounce'ihenis In
the paper, telling the men to
epme back to Work as the strike
was o'ff, abd with 'help of ^he
hired stooges, succeeded in stam
peding some of the men to the
ships.
Form Company Union
The next step was the fbrfna'.
tion of an "Independent Union"
oompfeteiy cbhtrolled by tbe P A
0 officials. The men were terror
ized and Intimidated back Into
slavery, if a man dkred to irtter
a protest, he lost his job. The
company openly boasted that they
had riot dniy broken' the strike,
but the morale of the men as
well! They thought they had u«
licked and said tl^at thV SIUWvas
finished In the P & O fleet. They
failed to take into, consideration
the fact that the SIU with 2d;000
mep on both coasfts, enjoying th«
best contracts, wages and worki
ing conditions^ in the industry,
would hot take their phoney
t
I.ll
J;
union ever to negotiate and sigh moves lying down.
J. Butler .50
J. Savocca M
E. Lane .50
L. kelley 1,00
E. Demaree .50
T. Keyser . .50
C, Trolson l.bO
Total $6.10
S.S. Delmundo
McRobinsbn .......... ,.., $l.oO
ft. Butler ..
A. Wltulski
11. ft'bstcher
J. Lyons . . .
if: Gollmer .
G. Davis ...
J. MArt'ello
Alliston ...
J. UaimpbeH
t. Larida ..,
i.oo
l;ob
• i50
• :5D
.50
• .50
' .50
LOb
I'Ob
Lbb
TotM ..........:....;. ,5$8;5b
8!8.'^accarappa " •
.'AIUBO Lopez
Gohr,, J. .
i^ksen, T.
:5Q
an kgreemeht with the P&O
vvhich gave the men decent Work
ing conditions and wages. FOR
THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY,
the company was forced to live
up to 'the fetter of the agreement
abd was stopped from discrimi
nating against the men for en
gaging in union activities. When
the company found that they
couldn't run the SIU like they
had unions in the past, they set
about to destroy the Sl'u and re
gain control over the men through
a company union.
Union Busting Outfit
The first thing they did was to
stall on negotiations When our
Agreement had expired and
through their Stooges, provoked
strike at a time when the hego
tiations .for a new agreement
were practically concluded. The
men pOurided the bricks for abbut
CO days during which the com
pany dodged all attempts to set
tie the dispute through negotia
tiqn.s. Large sums of money were
spent fo discredit the qfflcials of
the SIU and start a "back to
work" movement in the usual
unionbusting style of labor hat
ers throughout the country.
Can't Buy. Immunity
At the same time, the P&O
demanded of Wiljiam Green that
he remove the SIU from the State
of Florida. They were informed
that the SUP,was the parent body
Ihe SIU and that they would
hWye to deal vyfth ll'iindeberg. The
company sent brie of theib stooges
to Liihdeber^, demanded that the
Gulf officials of the SIU be re
moved, so that the company could
"regain their 'control' through a
ctihipany dominated union. Luh
deberg informed them that they
were dealipg with a bqna fide la
bor, unioh.tfik^^ hot bo
bought off, and that the ,8111 wiks
here'to Stay! '
Use lABdr Spies
The company then heaorfed to
their main weapraspthe labor
spies, and the courtsV.Evld^^^^^
kvallahle filat paid hirelings of
'ilie cdmpaliy Vrere' spIeaiiYhg cofi
Total
' .• • fiisfbn hiUMg tMe m^nl iGi injufic
Was procured , through; the
.........,..$1.50 political connections hf the com
Charges Filed
Before the company knew what
was going on. tlie SIU had se.
cured a mass of damaging eVl
dence against the P&O and
Blapped a charge of unfair labor .
practice against the bompany be.
fore the NLftft. We Were nble to
prove that the company waa '
guilty of a grbss violation of t'ha
law. When the SIU filed Us caso
against the company :ln January,
1940, a representative of tha
NLRB went to the NMU and
asked them if they had any
claims or charges to offer against
the P & O. The Board was in.
formed by Jones and Whalen ttiat
the NMU had no claim and could
not muster more than seven or
eight members in the entire P &
0 fleet. This cam be verified ;by
the records in the NLRB office 'in
New Orleans.
pffier to Compromise
The SIU then unileiYdok a cam
paign of organization on the P ft
O Ships, exposed the phoney com
pany union setup and showed
the men who was responsible for
depriving them of the decent
wages and coriditions that were
theirs under the SIU agreement.
The P ft O, learning that we had
the goods on them, tacitly ad
mifted that they were guilty of
destroying the union by Offerifag
0 compromise with the SlU. SeV
eral proposals were .offered by
the" SIU and the company "which
Were rejected. The Uitlou deulded
to push the ease before the i
NLRB. The P ft O realizing that
they wuld be convicted signed a
proposal for a settlement with the
Sltr, hut we soon learned that
this was done tb create the im
pression that the company was
acting In good fafth ,while all the
time the uhdei'handed scheming i
went, on to prevent; real union! i
zation of the P & 6 fleet.
" Fife NMU
Nevertheless, the SlU went
throMgh vyjth their sidg, qf the
proposal met with .the men
F fleet to' explain
oilr ppkltidnL Art* ONTII!: >rt!S
Tll^ THE INMU HAD MADE
ND "ATTEMPT TO. CONTACT
(Continued, on, page 4)
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Tuesday, July 9,1940 l
(
THE SEAFARERS "LOG
Wihat*js Doing
TEXAS CJTY
Texas City, Texas
June 29, 1940
Editor, Seafarers* Log
Dear and Brother:
Things are booming down here
this week, nlno men sl^ipped, two
Seatrains in and out, tiie Marga
ret and the pride of the Atwaters,
the Wm. C.
. Next week should be fairly
good also as 'the Phi'la Navy
Range Line) should be back
down here.
The Heiman Frasch came in
and took a couple of O.S.
We now have a fevy of the boys
lying around here, and it is the
best thing that has happened yet
in this portL the members seem
to think that this #ort is not a
gpod spot to hang out in, we",
this will show that she lis. Once
the boys get jsstablished around
here and with the Seatrain work
every week, this wifl be One of
the best.
'tMPA
The master of the Margaret
tried hard to bother everyone fhie
last week, trying tlie old stuff
that a seaman can't pay off in an men. Tlie men sailing the P & 0
Tampa, Florida.
July, 2, 1940
The fieafarers' Log:
Paddy Whalen, Blackle Myers,
and Frank Jones are still around
attempting to further" befuddle
and confuse the men in the P & 0
of the true facts concerning them,
the company and the SIU, and
trying to Sell them out of a good
contract, already aigned for by
the company, just for a few lousy
bucks to fatten the coffers of the
NMU, and in return giving them
a ?l25 book that is no good to
them and which they couldn't
ship on if^they ever got oh the
beach,
* • •
These "Three saviors of Amer
loan Seamen" are working in the
usual Comrny Style, sitting back
in the background and having
their stooges and men they have
pumped up with ^their dirty, rot
ten lies arid propaganda to do
their talking and organizing and
spread their prearranged crap,
* m »
Wiialen and his comrades are
trying to peddle "A Good Con
tract" and "Protection" to these
American port, here's the score
on this thing.
The Deck Dept. decided that
they wanted to pay off at 5
o'cloclc on Tuesday afternoon.
Next day at 3 o'clock the master
called all hands up midship and
asked each one, will you stand by
to sail the ship. The answer was
no, we have given the requireil
notice and we want to pay off, so
tlie deck gang came asliore. Gang
way watch was stood till mid
night, so that all hands carried
out all orders except they would
not sail as they had quit the
ship.
Nekt morning the inspectors
werp called and set aroUnd the
ship.til! afternoon, then returned
to Galveston, The only charge
possible was that the men did not
give the required 24 hours notice.
The crew was in the right, as
there was no sailing board ported
till Wednesday morning around
breakfast time.
The SUP fought this sqme case
out a few ye'aVs ago on the Inter,
costal ships, and the jaw stated
that an American seaman can de
mand ^nd get half his. Wages In
any American port if he is on ar
ticles or not quit.
So, this crew was completely
in the clear and after the inspec
tors were called off and the com
'pany agreed" to reopen negotia
tions In New York, they sailed
the ship, '•
Did you ever try to get a D.C.
ice box in a nurry .for a snip?
Try it some time; The Wm, C.
Atwater came in needing one and
I've lost ten lbs trying to dig one
up. It'6 no question of the com
pany not putting it on the ship,
it's just a question Of finding one
to put on. The springs in all the
bunks are being fixed and new
.mattresses and pillows are going;
on. The steward is replacing the
silver, and the dishes arb being
p'ut: up to the mark. Also, 'the
coal burning fireman on this tUb
wanted a water cooler in the flrei
room, this is also being put in, <;
So, nil In all, plenty o^'ac'tldn;
who the Kell said "plecEird.
Steady hs^ghe.goes, , ; /
W, Arfpstrong.
ships know from past experience
and dbn't have to be told that the
P & O S.S, Co. has been one of
tlie toughest companies on the
Coast to get any kind of condi
tions out of,
IK w
The SIU and the men on these
sijifis have this company over a
barrel good and tight for the first
time Ih history, and the company
Is forced to give these men a
good contract SUITABLE TO
THE MEN ON THE SHIPS
WITH 7£)c Afij HOUR OVER
TIME, providing 'the men will
take it,
* • *
What contract could suit you
better tlian one of your own mak
ing? What ahd where could you
get better union protection than
from a union that can force such
conditions from a company like
this?
The NMU will never be able to
force such a proposition from the
P & O or any other company.
They never have,
« *
The fellows on these ships bet
ter wake up and do a little think
ing far themselves, otherwise
they're,.floinfl to Wind up behind
the eight ball^ and you can bet
your bottom dqHar that neither
Paddy, Blackie rior Frank will be
there with them, i
Fraternally,
J. S. White,
In lieu of overtime on board
the Merchants and Miners ships
are paying all hands off with Ice
cream!
Vincent J. Yakavo'nfs,
BOSTON
PHlLADEtjPmA
Pbila., June 27, 1940.
Tom Kerry, Editor
Seafarers' Log
Well, Brothers, Collins is on his
well earned vacation. We sure
hope he has a pleasant one. I
imagine it will be pleasant even
if he merely stays 'h'oriie for the
entire week, because he will at
least get away' from those beefs
for a while. This in itself is a va
cation. I have a fueling that he
will miss his oppoi'tunities of get
ting conditions and such for the
crews from the shipowners. He
has never forgotten how much
the shipowner has taken from us,
and delights in being able to gain
at least some of them back.
Brother Buckman is acting as
patrolman, and is doing a splen
did job of it. Jack Warner is
around again after a lengthy so
journ on a tanker. The gas didn't
seem to affect him any. Wimpy
Gillis interrupted me just at this
pdint to ask me for a match. ,Ev
et<y time Wimpy comes around,
you can bet you wil be touched
Tor something, Re Just can't help
it, as it is ah intuitioh With hi'm.
We have more than enough
men on our shipping list now for
the normal amount of jobs that
seep through this port, but I
think when the new Seatrain
ships a crew, our list will be very
depleted, especially the rated
mj8in. According to the dope, she
will ship a crew about the 6th of
July or earlier, #
MOBILE
Although we had no chance to
vote on the agents' conference,
due to lack of a quorum, the
members around here think there
are many very constructive pro
posals recommended to the mem
bership.
Mobile, Ala,
J'une 26, 1940,
Editor, Seafarers' Log,
Dear Sir and Brother:
The first of the five ships that
the Waterman S.S, Company re
cently purchased, the Yapalaga,
has arrived here in Mobile, She
will undergo extensive repairs
and ship a crew approximately
six weeks from now. The other
four ships will be towed over
from New Orleans shortly to un
dergo repairs alSo,
« * *
The S.S, Saccarappa arrived
here yesterday morning from
Mediterranean ports and paid ofif.
There was quite an argument
relative to transportation which
was finally settled 'to the aatlfi
faction of the crew. She will sail
this afternoon for Cuba^ back
here and thence to the Atlantic
Coast. Fractically a full crew Was
shipped on her,
* * *
The TenCent Taxi Company
here in Mobile has been declared
unfair by the Teamsters and
Chauffeurs Local 991, Sixtyone
cab drivers, affiliated with The
AFL, have walked out and
thrown a picket line around the
company propeity aUd waiting
rriom. At present thefe are about
ten scab drivers operating cabs,
but we are very confident of a
successful conclusion to the
strike. Every union man and wo
man in Mobile is lending active
aid to the strikers in their effort
to secure fair conditions.
* IK »
The NMU element in this town
is practically nil. In fact, since
that "Trek back to the Waterman
ships" fiopped^ the Gommies here
are very conspicuous by their ab
sence and Comrat Drury is look
ing very seedy these days. Can it
be that the membership of the
NMU are asking tjilestions about
why the NMU 'Blitzkrieg' over
the Waterman ships failed so
miserably?
• » » .
Enclosed you will find a list of
men who have donated to the
Seafarers' Log, Please publish
these names and amounts.
Fraternally yours,
Robert A, Matthews, Eng. Pat,
NEWS FROM
(Atlantic DistHict)
Balluls Shipping
Everyone Vote!
NEW YOBK
JACKSONVILLE
Jacksonville, Fla,
July 1, 1940,
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Seafarers' International
Union of North America is over
one year old, ahd I wonder if
some of our members of.the SIU
realize what it has done for them,
with the aid of the officials and
the majority of the membership.
We have gained conditions and
wages, .so a seaman can at least
live awhile ashore, something that
the old unions, prior to our exls
Deck and
J C! :
Shipping good for
Engine Departments!
* • •
The AFL fishermen's Union fi
nally won their strike after three
months on the picket, line. Cpn
tihiious picket lines were main
tained for the duration of the
strike,
• « «
The Marine is'ospital that was
formerly located in Chelsea has
moved to its new location in
Brighton, '
* * «
qnehundr^ecl^poteijtial finks an,
rived Jn Boston on. tbo, S,S, .Amer*
Jean Sf^inan,, to be^Atatiol.^ed at.
'Gallup's Jslancj, , ,th'p ; Maritime
Commission's Fink Training, sta
tion.
The Republicans are holding a
cohvenfiOn in this fair city, and
William Green, President of the
AFL spoke to the gathering a
spell. Right now they are fight
ing amongst themselves to see
who will nominated for the Presi
deucy. According to newspaper
reports dh the convention, they' tence, couldn't'do for years,
are fighting each other tooth arid
nail for this honor. It would do
some of those politici^s good to
follow the example of the SIU in
conducting their conventions. I
can't' imagine any chace for har
mony arid good government when
these delegated leaders
agree Amongst themselvee, brit
this is politics. Or maybe I'm
dumb.
ALL MEMBERS WftO
HAVE NOT YET VOlSSD
bN THE AMALGABIATrON
BALLOT AND THE BAL
LOT ON THE ADOPTION
OF UNIFORM BHIPPING
RULES ARE URGED TO DO
SO AT ONCE ! BE SlStE
TO COME UP TO YOUR
BRANCH AND CAST YOUR
VOTE TOEH YOUR R#rP
IS IN P6RT! ALL SHIR'S
DELEGATES ARH INFORM
ED TO INSTRUCT THE
CREW TO VOTE H4 THIS
REFERENDUlSir. GIT
AFTER THE SLACKigRS
AND SEE THAT THEY
VOTE!
Vote on Amalgamation!
Voting on the amalgama
tion of the Atlantic and (Ttilf
Districts began the first we.ek
ill July in all port.s. This is
one of the mo.st inipoi'tant
questions to confront the or
ganization in some time.
Amalgamation of the two di.s
tricts into one unified orga'ni
zation ivill strengthen the or
ganization as a whole and
eliminate many of the dual
functions that no\v ixist. It
is important that every mem
ber vote on this question!
Vote on Shipping Rules
,In addition to the ballot on
Amalgamating the both dis
tricts. balloting is in progress
on the set of uniforin shipping
rules adopted by the Agents
conference at Atlanta last
month. This concerns eVhry
member on both the Atlantic
and Gulf so don't neglect to
get your ballot and vote on
both these questions.
Shipping Good!
Shipping. continnes very
good in the port of New York
with about thirtyfive permit
men shipped In the past week.
« « ii>
It could have been done before,
but a lot of you can see why it
wasn't by this time. The funda
mental ba.se of fi, union Is the ma
terial in it, and the SIU has it.
As this organization Is built of
material, now is the time
when we must keep it intact dur
ing this crucial period when the
shipowners, along with the rats
* • » and Commy stooges, are turning
hoaven and earth to put us in
chains again,
,Th,e shipowners along vyith
their stooges, are bent more .than
ever today to take away our
^ . iiains,! ̂ hat we have "fought for,
a donation for its upkeep Lfoi .y«ara, sb that wecoord have
fSc the kind of. aplrit that, deaeht food and. living (Conditions
kiboard the ships. The best way
to Jose' this is'for the inembers
of the SIU tc'get .tlrunk on sail
ing ̂ Jays, argue amongst them
The Seafarers' Log is a very
popular pqpe.r amongst our mem
bers, Evei^ ship I Visit there Is
always, a discussion on ways and
means to keep up its publication.
Every crew pledges itselv'es to
mafke
This
.makes for good union men arid a;
Strang mnion, .Keep up the aqod.
wo.rk, .,itothe.rs^, your efforts '^^e.
more .than appreeiated, ,
Fraterpally, yours,
Joseph Flanagan^ No. 542
A lot of them say: Let George
do it, he stays sober. If he wants
to stand the watcbes and do all
fhe work, that is O.K. by riie. Re
inember the slogan: AN INJURY
TO ONE IS AN INJURY TO
ALL! Study this phrase,carefully,
there is a lot of meaning to it,
r * *
It is necessary. Brothers, that
we exercise the utmost Selfdis
cipline amongst ourselves, and
every niember of our union. Ir
responsible action and bii'm beefs
aboard a ship are only giving the
shipowner the weapon he is lopk
ing for, and that Ls, to put tho
seamen back in chains again;
and when they are around your
neck this time, it will be a long
time before you slied them again,
» * •
So, Brothers, members, as long
as we are made of that rnaterial
that makes a good union man,
then we will forge ahead to that
goal 6f ours, and that is: A Na
tional Seamen's Union, for sea
men, by seamen.
Steady as she goes,
Fred Lauritano.
icselves, and miss 'watches at alii
times.
' ' Vote Notv r r
• UnUorm Shipping
'• • J
' in
M-
r. I
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Sr
THE SEAFARERS* LOG Tuesday, July 9, 1940
Out of Their Own Mouths
A Record of Betrayal!
{Continued from Page 1)
^'waiving (not asking for) the demand for an increase in
the overtime rates!"
4yvertime Increase "JFoivcd"/
Remember, that the SUP had already established a new standard
«f ten dollars increase per month^ PUUS ten cents per hour In the
• overtime rate. By "waiving" the overtime increase, Curran and Co
<indermined the higher UNION levell But let's take It on the
EITHEROR basis and see if there was any justification for the
formula." Only a small percentage of the ships under contract
to the NMU were in the Mediterranean run.
How small is Indicated by McKenzie, (Minutes NMU meeting
May 9) who reported that; "One reason why we couldn't Qet the
.80 cents an hour overtime is because we were faced with a situa
tion that we had to guarantee the present war bonus on the Medi
terranean Export Line ships and $40 bonus on the Lykes Bros, ships
4Eiofiid iLO oSiiiwS, Spsin*'''
THEREFORE, A SMALL SECTION OF THE MEMBERSHIP
WAS BENEFITTING AT THE EXPENSE OF THE LARGE
M.AJORITY! In addition, the entrance of Italy into the war was just
« matter of time. Everyone knew that, especially the shipowners.
With Italy entering the war, the Mediterranean wouldl be closedf to
American shipping and the,NMU membership would get NEITHER
the increase In overtime, NOR the war bonus! That is exactly what
ftappened!
iGetting Nothing for Something
The result of the policy of swapping something for nothing
penalized the whole membership of the NMU as well as endanger
ing the higher standard established in the rest of the industry. Was
Uiere any justification for that policy? The fact of the matter is:
iTHE SIU HAS BEEN GETTING $50 WAR BONUS FOR THE MEDI
iTERRANEAN RUN WHICH IS $20 MORE THAN THE NMU WERE
^JETTING BUT THIS DID NOT DETER US FROM DEMANDING;
• • AND GETTING, THE OVERTIME INCREASE OF 10c PER HOUR!
Ifot only did Curran fink by "waiving the overtime increase but he
proved himself a twotime loser by finking on the higher estab
^shed war bonus!
Pouring On the Oil!
Ip ithe same issue of the Pilot (May 3, 1940) the question of the
Coastwise operators was stated thus:
"The coastwise operatorii( refused to consider any wage In
crease. They have agreed, however, to continue negotiations.
... To avoid a deadlock which would prevent an Immediate In
( crease for the men sailing the majority of ships funning off
shore, since it was impossible to reach an agreement with the
coastwise: operators, the Union negotiators agreed to take the
wage question up separately with the coastwise lines."
So far, so good! This announcement, however, was followed by
ft period of agitation in the Pilot and in the NMU meetings to the
effect that the coastwise operators could not afford jui increase and
ftnyone who advocated taking action to force the issue was nothing
ibut an agent of the shipowners!
Softening Up the Sheep!
A period was required to prepare the membership for the sell
• out! Iftjthe May 24 issue of the Pilot, cold water was thrown on the
.«xpec^P8s for an increase in the coastwise lines by the following
ftrgumehts:':
" t 2. "We (NMU) have not been able to disprove that there
. Is a wide* differential between profits of the off shore and coast
: wise operators." •
I O 3. 'IThe stubborn position of the coastwise operators is ex
• j emplified by their recent tying up of the trade before" they
J virhuld'pay a nickel additional increase to the longshor<tmen."
• '.'A."Owing to the present European situation, any day the
MORE ABOUT:
P&O Facing
Unfair Labor
Charges!
(Continued from page 2)
CREWS OF THE P A O SHIPS!
It is now plain that the P A O
signed the proposal in bad faith
and we have every reason to be
lieve that the campany called in
the NMU In order to prevent the
men from getting an agreement!
At every meeting held, NMU rep
resentatives, WHO HAD DENIED
ANY CLAIM IN THE P&O
FLEET AND WERE NOT MEN
TIONED IN THE PROPOSAL,
were Invited to address the meet
ing AFTER THE SlU REPRE
SENTATIVES HAD BEEN EX
CUSED!
A Willing Tool
The company realized that if
the proposal was approved by the
men on the ships, the overtime
rate would have to be raised and
working agreement covering
wages and conditions would have
to be signed within 60 days. THE
ONLY WAY TO STALL OFF
THIS INCREASE FOR THE
MEN WAS TO HAVE THE NMU
ENTER THE PICTURE! In this
way the company saves thou
sands of dollars that should be
going into the pockets of the
men. It is clearly established by
the NLRB that the P&O can
not bargain with any other union
than the SIU until the case is
settled, either by agreement or
by a hearing before the board.
The longer the company can stall
this off by utilizing the NMU, the
more money the men are going
to lose. Once again, the NMU has
proved a willing fool of the ship
owners.
CutBate Finkatorinm
The NMU is passing around
their phoney "preliminary mem
bership" books at one buck per
copy which entitles the bearer to
"attend meetings of the NMU,
pay 25 cehts per month for that
privilege, AND THAT'S ALL!
They have tried to create the
impression that these phoney
books are all the men need—until
Report of Negotiations
With Bull Line Co.
• •
!
entire "Mediterranean may be blacked out—tying up the U.S.
L1nies;'!Lykes and Export Lines fleets. This might create an
adverseeconomic situation for the Union—of which the opera
tors ̂ arewell aware."
,.iToo ftod. tneg couldn't have thought of tMt before they
"waived" the overtime increase!)
5. "There is disc the possibility that the longshoremen might
resent a sudden tieup throwing them out of work, unless we
give'^them the score. Stooges could utilize this resentment
i against the Union."
j (Curran's solicitude for "the longshoremen" is very touch-
J img. Joe Ryan will undoubtedly be very pleased to hear it.)
iCold Waaler Propaganda
This coldwater propaganda was supplemented in the member
ship meetings by similar reports from the leading lights. In the
minutes of the NMU membership meeting of May 9, McKenzie
fttates: "I don't think we should get too optimistic on the question
bf getting a $10 increase on the Porto Rican and coastwise lines."
jCurran follows McKenzie and says: "We can't get the $10 wage in
creases yet, but I'm sure that at Monday's meeting the companies
are going to turn us down flat. I'm sure of that." This process of
ftoftening up the membership continued thruout the month, even
after the SIU had succeeded In forcing a number of coastwise
operators to agree to a wage raise of ten dollars plus ten cents.
^Another Curran "Victory
Towards the end of June, Curran and Co. evidently were con
yineed that the membership had been softened up enough to swallow
another "victory." While the SIU was in the midst 0$ negotiations
"With one of the large coastwise operators, the Pilot came out with
"the announcement that the NMU negotiating committee was recom.
Amending to its membership that they accept a proposal from the
• eoastwfse lines under NMU contract, for an increase of $2.50 per
smontb, "with no InoreaBc In evertime! This outright finking was
taken full advantage of and resulted In a weakening of our conten
• ilpn that our demand for, $10 plus 10 cents in overtime was justi
they get an, agreement. The men
will then discover that the one
buck was just a down payment
on the 25 buck price for member
ship. The short change artists
running the NMU cutrate fink
emporiunt, will pull any and all
kinds of fakery In order to get
their hands into the pockets of
the seamen.
Company Union Victory
If the NMU wins many more
such "victories," the shipowners
will be saved the trouble of
breaking strikes and forming
company unions—Curran and Co.
will do it for them!
All Members
Attend Your Union
Meeting
WHEN SHIP IS IN
PORTI
Important Matters
Coming Up
EVERY WEEKl
Report of your Negotiating Committee elected at the
regular business meeting at Headquarters, July 1, 19^,
to meet with the Bull Line officials on proposed adden
dum to our agreement providing for an increase in the
wage and overtime rate of pay.
'• » # # ; ,
Your committee met with the Bull Line officials on
Tuesday, July 2, 1940, at 11:00 A.M. and entered into
negotiations on the proposal of the Union for an in
crease of $10 per month plus lOe per hour in the over
time rate, and the eouuterproposals of the Company
which began at $2.50 per month inerease on the strictly
coastwise ships and $5.00 per month on ships running to
Porto Rico, w'ith no increase in the overtime rate. ,
After many hours of discussion and argument, your
committee was successful in having the company raise
its proposal to $7.50 per month wage increase plus the
10c per hour increase in overtime.
N,M, U, SellOut Hurts Negotiations
The position of the Union was considerably weak
ened by the fact that the NIklU Pilot had come out, in
the midst of our negotiations, with the announcement
that the negotiating committee for the NMU was recom
mending to its membership that they accept a proposed
increase of $2.50 per month with NO INCREASE IN
OVERTIME, On ships in the coastwise trade under con
tract to the NMU. This resulted in a stiffening the
Company's attitude against the demand of your nego
tiating committee for the $10 pins 10c per hour increase
The negotiating committee meeting was adjourned
at 8:15 PJM. with the Company standing firm, utilising
to the full their strongest argument which was the
finky action taken by the commie leadership of the NMU
in. selling out the seamen.
Fined Proposal Submitted
The final understanding reached was that the $7.50
per month increase plus the 10c per hour raise in over
time, was to prevail on ALL Bull Line ships in the coast
wise run including those running to Porto Rico Any
of the ships that touch a foreign port would pay the
$10.00 per month plus the 10c per hour increase. The
addendum to the agreement is to be retroactive to July
I, 1940, and is to extend to the same termination date
as our regular agreement.
Committee Advises Acceptance
In view of all of the circumstances involved, we,
your committee, feel that it is advisable to accept the
proposal for the $7.50 wage increase plus the 10c per
hour increase in overtime, as the Company has indicated
that they will not increase their offer under any circum
stances short of a costly struggle.
"We therefore, submit this proposal for the ratifica
tion of the membership.
For the Committee: J. BRIDGES, No. G86
S. BOYLSTON, No. 50013
B. RAMIREZ, No. 187
JOHN HAWE:, SecTreas.
h
ISTHMIAN PLAYS GAME!
We. have just received a
copy of the wages and work
ing rules issued for its crews
by the Isthmian SS Line, one
of the slickest antiunion out
fits in the country. It was in
structive to observe that the
istlimian SS Co. has practical
ly adopted the working rules
and wage scale, in force under
the NMU agreement. Altho
Isthmian has no contract with
any union covering its unli
censed personnel they find the
NMU agreement a perfect in
strument for keeping their
employees in seaslavery.
fied by present cQndltions. Despite this stab in the back^ we were
able to get $?.50 per month PLUS ten cents per hour in overtime!
The Right Label!
On the basis of the evidence, every union man is justified in
labelling the Curran gang in the leadership of the NMU as a gang
of finkherders whose main function seems to be to break down
the wage standards and conditions of the American seamen. To he
iabelied as finks—and to be treated as such! The seamen will pay
dearly for having tolerated the "leadership" of Curran's wrecking
crew!
Follow .the Leader
Of course, when the NMU were
given an increase in some of
their off shore ships of ten dol
lars per month, with no increase
in overtime, Isthmian followed
suit and granted a similar in
crease; also with no increase in
overtime. They think they can
avoid unionization by playing
"follow the leader" with Joe Cur.
ran. Only its difficult for many
seamen to distinguish who is "the
leader," the shipowners or the
NMU I It's a certainty that more
and more of the seamen are be
ginning to realize that when the
Curran mob begins to play games
with the shipowners, the seamen
get It In the neck.
Men Aren't Fooled
Most of the men aboard Isth
mian Line ships want top union
wages and conditions and realize
that the only way to get them is
by joining the SIU which has set
the highest standard on the East
Coast and (3ulf. They aren't
fooled by the crumbs that are
tossed to them by the Company
In order to prevent orpinfzation.
' ',V :'i
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