Media
Issue Date
1943-07-30
Volume
5
Issue Number
18
Plaintext
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OFFICIAL OBOAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTBICT.
^ SEAFABEB8' INTEBNATIONAL UNION OF NOBTH AMEBICA
VOL. V. w NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1943 No. 18
MWEB Again
Oversteps
Authority
The Maritime War Emergency
Board is again trying to extend
its jurisdiction to the field of
compensation and general wel
fare of the seamen—a move be
ing fought by the SIU-SUP.
The MWEB was established at
the time of the big bonus beef
in 1941, and its sole function is
the settlement of disputes be
tween the unions and operators
over bonus and war risk insur
ance rates. Since its establish
ment, however, it has conduct
ed an almost constant campaign
to extend its jurisdiction and
authority.
The correspondence printed
below is self-explanitory and re
veals the latest MWEB maneuver
in this direction.
Maritime War Emergency Board
Washington, D. C.
June 17, 1943
TO THE PARTIES SIGNATORY
TO TME STATEMENT OP
PRINCIPLES:
Attached is a copy of a letter
which the Maritime War Emer
gency Board addressed to the
Administrator, War Shipping
Administration.
Should the Parties Signatory
care to comment on the subject
outlined in the letter, it is sug
gested that all comments be ad
dressed to the Administrator,
War Shipping Administration,
Washington, D. C.
ERICH NIELSON,
Secretary
Maritime War Emergency Board
Washington, D. C.
June 16, 1943
Admiral E. S. Land
Administrator
War Shipping Administration
Washington, D. C.
Dear Admiral Land:
The Maritime War Emergency
Board has examined the ques
tion of insurance for seamen in
the light of recent decisions and
the action taken by the War
Shipping Administration for the
purpose of carrying put the
same. The Board recognizes
that these decisions and the ac
tion which you have taken in
conjuction therewith virtqally
exhaust the .field of life and dis
ability insurance for seamen le
gally open to the Board and the
War Shipping Administration.
The Board has been advised
that there exists a large field of
operating and industrial risks
lying beyond the Decision lA as
, Amended. Methods of operation
' of vessels during war times in
such fields as loading and dis
charging create conditions which
it is believed materially increase
the chances of industrial acci
dents. While under certaha cir
cumstances the seamen might
recover under the Jones Act on
negligence theories, cases will
{Continued on Page 4)
SHIPOWNER FRAMES-UP
'NEW ENGLAND' SEAMEN
New Withholding Tax
On Wages Explained
By Theodore Thomson
From the 1st of July all seamen will have 20% "pay as you go"
tax withheld from their monthly pay.
If you are single you have a monthly basic exemption of $52-
before your income is taxed. If you are married your exemption is
$104, and if married and have one child (or another dependent)
your exemption is $130.00.
You also receive exemptions for additional portions. of a
month, as follows: for each day over the 30 day exemption you are
allowed $1.70 if single, $^.50 if married and 85 cents per day for
each additional dependent.
Suppose you are out for 3 months and 16 days. If single your
exemption would run as follows:
3 months at $52.00 .$156.00
16 days at $1.70 27.20
Total exemption $183.20
If your total wages, overtime and bonus amount to $735.00 you
would then deduct your exemption of $183.20, and find that $551.80
is the amount taxable. 20% of your taxable income ($551.80) would
be $110.36. Deduct this from your total earnings.
Total earnings $735.00
20% deduction of taxable portion 110.36
To determine Federal Old Age Benefit, robnjr'ahd board allow
ance must be added at the rate of $36 per month, or $1.20 per day.
Thus, 3 months and 16 days @ $1.20 is $127.20, add thi.s to your
earnings of $735.00
127.20
862.20 1% of which is $8.62, so your final computa
tion would be as follows:
Total Earnings $735.00
"Pay as you go" tax 110.36
. $624.64
Social Security Tax , 8.62
Net Wages $616.02
Company Foments Strike
To Jeopardize W.L.B. Case
The SIU was the victim of a huge frame-up this past
week-end, a frame-up designed to jeopardize the union's
case before the War Labor Board in which a boost of pay
was being demanded for the men of the New England
Steamship Line.
Canteen Moves
July 21, 1943
Editor, Seafarers Log,
2'Stone Street,
Room 213, New York
Please post this notice on
your bulletin board, Spivys
original Merchant Marine
Canteen will move to a new
air-bonditiohed. room Tues
day, July 27, 1943. This is the
canteen that opened one
year ago at the George
Washington Hotel, then
moved to the Ritz Tower.
Now we are located at the
Sheraton Hotel 37 Street and
Lexington Avenue. The Can
teen will function every
Tuesday night. Our first
show include such artists as
Frances Faye, Arthur Blake,
Nora Sheridan, the fioor
show- - of Leon and Eddys,
Patsy Flick, the Follies Girls,
Sid Gary, Name Band and
several other artists. Please
come and help us celebrate.
—SPIVY
The British Broadcasting Company reported Est week that its German monitering station had
picked up an official Nazi broadcast which admitted that the S.S. Rcbin Moore had been tor
pedoed on May 21, 1941 by a German submarine.
The Robin Moore, manned by a full SIU crew, was the first American merchant ship tor
pedoed by the Axis in this war, and went down seven months before we were officially at war
with Germany. Up to this week the German Gavernment never officially admitted that on.? of
their subs sank the Robin Moore—even though the SIU crew testified that they had been ques
tioned by the German skipper of the raider which sent the torpedo plunging into their ship.
The above picture of the survivors was taken when they landed in Capetown, South' Africa,
after spending 14 days in an open Ifeboat.
I
'i > .V ^ JiL •-"li.N
A wildcat strike broke out on
the SS. Martha's Vineyard on
July 25, tying the boat up long
enough to miss its morning run
on July 26 between New Bedford,
Mass., and the Island, and long
enough to give an opportimity
for the Army, Navy and 'War
Labor Board to descend upon
the port and threaten all sorts
of dire consequences to the men
and the union. In a telegram
written by a Boston War Labor
Board official, the direct threat
was made that tlie Board might
rule against the union on its
I>ending case involving the New
Ekigland men, because of the
strike. And therein lies tactiC
of the shipowner. Tlie strike
broke out at the worst possible
moment, for the case had only
been presented to the "WLB
panel the day before, and the
panel had promised a prompt
decision — provided the boats
were kept in oi>eration during
the time they were considering
the case.
BRASS HATS MOVE -
Less than 24 hours after the
panel had heard the case, the
pin was pulled, all the Brass Hats
began to scream about the sabo
taging of national defense. Be
fore the union officials had re
ceived any official notification
of the strike, three army and
navy meri were on their way to
New Bedford, and the Boston
papers had mysteriously receiv
ed a wild press release telling of
the hundreds of people strande'd
at Martha's Vineyard (all of
which was promptly printed on
the front pages of Monday's
papers).
Fortunately Joe Lapham ar
rived on the spot early Monday
morning. He had previously
been instructed by the Secre
tary-Treasurer to inform the
men on the "Martha's Vineyard"
and the "Nantucket" about the
progress of the case before the
Board. When Lapham found
the pins had been pulled, he
telephoned the New York head
quarters and upon instruction
began to get the men back to
work—explaining how their ac
tion at this time was playing in
to the hands of the shipowner.
Only one scheduled trip of the
"Martha's Vineyard" was delay
ed, in spite of the stories car-
{Continued on Page 4)
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
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ftLgb TWO (EliB ftBAfAREttd tO^ j^day. iy7^,.lflS f
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' IP^TERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ President
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK Secy-Treas.
P. O, ]^x if, Station F., I4evr York Qty
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep.
424 5 th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
Directory of Branches
BRANCH
NEW YORK (4)
BOSTON
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PHILADELPHIA
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FT. LAUDERDALE, a a
ADDRESS
. 2 Stone Sta. aaaaaaaaaaa^
Deck & Engine Dispatcher.
Steward Dispatcher
Agent
a .330 Atlantic Ara.
a 14 North Gay St.
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a a 25 Commercial PL.
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PHOMB
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• BOwying Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
Calvert 4539
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.Norfolk 4-1083
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PUBLICATION OFFICE:
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CREW HONORS BAKER
FOR HEROISM AT SEA
RESOLUTION
WliEfeHAS, On Ajirii 11, 1949, tiftcni tSNe Oecaslon of an enemy
attack tipfon this vessel and the subse^ent teihporary abandon-
teent of said vessel. Ordinary Seaman, caeorge E. Baker did vol
untarily climb down a rape ladder wMie the ship was still under
way and at great risk to himself did cut lohse a stamped lifeboat
containing the Chief E&igineer, J. G. Erstns, a on^ armed man,
from the side of the vessel, and
WHEREAS, in consequence of such act the aforesaid George E.
Baker did place his life in danger, and suffered fatigue and im
mersion for a period of nearly half an hour, part of the time in
ftoating oil, before being picked up by a lifeboat, and
WHEREAS, such utter disregard df danger to himself and
T^lmgness tP risk his life fdr a partially cripped shipmate unable
to help himself are a credit to the finest traditions of the Ameri
can Merchant Marine, now therefore be it
iRESOLVED, that We his shipmateSsi undersigned as a slight
token of our admiration for his cotirageoUs action, do hereby pre
sent this resolution to the said
GEORGE £. BAKBR
and be it further
•RESOLYED, that three capies be made Of this resolution. One
to be given to the said George E. BtakSr as a Dieiueuto of tills crew
and vessel. The second to be ueiit to the SilT.-of which the said
Ordinary Seaman is a member. With a tequest that this resolution
be published In the Seafarer's Log, if the tJiiion may see fit. The
third copy to be sent to Smith & Johnson Co., owners of this ves
sel, to do with as they may see fit.
DATED this 22nd day of June, fii the year Of our Lord, 1943.,
HEADQUARTERS Snd ITANK GR.
AaPaOa 7S8 Ua Sa ABMY
Subject: George E. Baker, Ordinary Seumait
To. Whom it may concern. •
f la On April 11, 1943 after the ship upon which I was Cargo
Sectirity Officer was engaged in enefiiy action, I saw George E.
Baker go to the aid and rescue the one armed Chief Engineer,
who was in a sinking lifeboat.
2. This man did at his own accord risk his life and endanger
himself in order to save the life of a shipmate.
3. I personally saw and witnessed the whole episode.
4. This man should be awarded some medal to give hjin pro
per recognition for upholdhig -the txtiditions of the Merchant
itatlne.
WlLUAlit D. SINGLETGN 0263682
' Major, XT. fl. Army
Cargo Security Officer
^The Call
"At the recent NMU Conven
tion the stage was dressed up ds a
'Liberty Ship' with Joe Curran
standing npoji the bridge."
—News Report.
'^Captain" Curran
He stood on the deck
Of a land-locked ship.
Far, far from the danger zone,
A make-beliere ship
With a inake-beiieVe skipper,
Let tWs, by all, be known,
A paper-mache afaip
On a political sea,
^ With Cap. winds that were
* fun Mown.
In spite of the roaring
Gales of load' words
And Conuminist- breeze that
blew,
The ship dldh't sfatrer.
The ship coaldn't move.
And landlocked Were Its Pil-
ot$> too,
For highly |mid hoinbast
Cannot hierit the deeds
That seamen are called on
to do.
LE ENVOI:
A phony ship and a phony
skipper, *
Ladling the soup with a
Communist dipper,
Dipping the GRAVY by the
light of the moon,
Charting their course by the-
Great Homed spoon,
Alas, men awaken from their
sleep ioo.soon!
'—Top-An'-Lift
Out of the Foes^l
by
X.
We wonder why the President ordered Admiral Land (so he
says) to put 50% of our new ships tljiat will come down the ways
under British Registry? There are thousands of trainees at
GheepshOad Bay Who have to wait from 3 to 6 months after they
finish their course before they can be assigned to a ship. Then
there are menibers of the various seamen's unions who have to
wait arourid some time (especially after a convoy or two comes in)'
and still Admiral Land answered the former Shipping Board stiff,
"No Coffee time Joe," that there Is a shortage of American seamen,
and that the President deemed it wise to turn over half of out
new ships to the British.
A little while back we were talking to a British Mate, who
informed us that tliefe was a shortage of British seamen, that
the coinpahMs in England had to take a great number of blaek-
listed men to sail their ships. Now they suddenly have a surplus
of British seaffiefl arid our government Is worried about the Brit-i
ish seameft -haVirig too riiany wrirtfclas in their bellies (while our
ships are Feturriiftg to Port on shoi't rations) so they turn oVef
our new ships to them.
Admiral Land states that the ships are going to be turned
back to'us after the Wftr. We happen to remember the condition
in which a nev/ C-2 was, turned back lo us after the British had
the ship for 2 trips. "The ship was the kind that American seamen
call a horiie,-swivel seSite iri' the mess room, tiled bath, etc. When
the British got the ship they tove out the swivel seats and replaced
them with wooden benches and boarded-up the showers so the
British seamen wouldnit get the idea that he was entitled to such
luxury. The engine room was a wreck and needed new fittings
before the ship could make another voyage. So you see what will
happen to all our new ships after they get through with them.
They will be in woi'st condition than some of our rust buckets are
in at the present time. It .seems as though our Government is not
concerned vrith the welfare of American seamen after the war, nof
what hstppens to those ten million men after they return from the
war. It's the same old story, United States foots the bill and the
taxpayers gets it In the rieck.
•-a r'l
f jll
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Friday, Inly 3*, 1943 THE EEAFA&EKg LOO Page ThMfli
NEW ORLEANS
• Things here are in the usual
dtUier, nothing to do but chew
feiger mails for a few days then
the phone starts and all the
scows that other ports refuse
to have anything to do with
start dropping in here. The
pride of the Ore line came pole-
hig up the bayous. Senor Squires
was on hand ' to- .state that she
was a beauty, a good feeder and
a mighty fine ship along with
other things. One of the other
things was the fact that Squires
tells me that we work under the
West Coast agreements but not
the general rules. I pointed out
to the gent that the SUP states
very clearly that Q.Ms, shall
stand gangway watch, he says
no. Showed him in the Cooks
and Stewards that meal hours
for supper is from 5:00 o'clock,
he says no. I say we shall have
committee, lie says no commit
tee. I say I ship one good crew
this ship and I sing Bye and
Bye.
One thing that gets mc rather
, warm around the collar, all the
draft dodgers in the nation are
telling each other how to rim
the war. Ferinstance, every night
in my search for gems of wis
dom I turn on my five buck
(pre-war) radio and about all I
hear is the great need for mer
chant seamen. They state very
definitely that this is vital and
that all recruits shall be draft
free. Also they advertise that if
you go to the upgrade school
that they have here that this is
also draft free, I have men who
have gone to sea for years, one
man has had exactly five weeks
aidiore since the war started. He
signed on foreign articles on the
seventh, on the tenth (nearly
sailing day) he got his orders to
report for Induction, he went to
his board and told them he was
about to sail. No smoke. Army
bound. He contacted the hall
and we called everybody in th^
State and at the last minute,
frem what he gathered from
everybody he decided to sail any-
Mfray. We may have a real beef
on this in the near future and
if vre do I believe that we should
carry it to 'the highest power
possible and find out once and
fof all if the fink herders can
guarantee clearance and the
men that are actually sailing
the ships get kicked around like
a football.
Steady as she goes.
ARMY, Agent
WHArS DOING
Around the Ports
with the outfit. At least Bro.
Jason can rest assured the ^ips
carrying Sea Bees are well arm
ed and well convoyed and not
many, if any, get hit by tin fish
es. TTie quarters for troops go
ing over seas arc not as roomy
and comfortable as the quarters
SIU men have on ships, so Jason
will have to put up mth cramp
ed quarters for a few weeks go
ing across. Bon voyage, Di'o. Ja
son.
Brother Bob Burton is out at
the Rest Home in Pass Christian,
Missfissippl. He's lost three ships
since the war started, so it looks
like he's a bad bet as a ship
mate. He's very un-patriotic be
cause he just don't bring the
ships back after taking them
out. The last crew that was with
Bob claim he's a damn good
cook or maybe the fish he cook
ed tasted good because they
were in the lifeboat for 11 days.
Bob said he doesn't recommend
the rations they have in the
lifeboats for a good mid-night
snack, and fish cooked with sun
burn oil is much better than
anything they have in the boats.
Bob said for all SIU men that
are in the Gulf Area to come out
to Camp Kittiwake and really
enjoy life, according to Bob it's
tops and he is going to home
stead until they kick him out.
C. J. STEPHENS,
Patrolman
PHILADELPHIA
Shipping has slowed down
some around this port. Plenty
of shipping on West Coast ships.
Had a beef on a ship from the
coast in regards to transporta
tion, the beef is still hanging
fire with the crew remaining on
the ship and the Captain trying
to get them to pay off under
mutual consent. All other ships
that paid off the crew under
mutual consent later paid off
the remaining crew members
with transportation back to the
coast. Anyone having a beef in
regards to transportation should
sit tight until all the cargo is
o.ut, then they will probably pay
off with transportation back to
the coast.
One of our ships went out re
cently with quite a few Sea Bee's
aboard. I wonder if Brother
Jason, former Patrolman from
' N.O., will be one of the many Sea
Bees being sent across? Bro. Ja
son didn't-know Sea Bees were
sent overseas when he joined up
Regards to all SIU & SUP
members all over the world, and
here we come with a little bit of
sense and also a little nonsense.
Our old pickle puss Agent, Jo
Jo Flanagan paid Philadelphia
a recent visit, and "OLD SAR
CASM," himself is still the ugli
est man in the universe, but he
came into the hall dressed ala
John Barry more. But that Army
G.I. haircut isure looked bad. Are
you planning on joining the
U. S. Army or the Salvation
Army, Jo Jo?
Leo (The Lip) Gillis is doing
real well now. He is the Dis
patcher here, and is doing a
swell job, both as a dispatcher
and a diplomat. We always
knew thaf you had the braim^
and initiative Lippy, and from
now on, when George (The
Greek) Karpctos tries to tell us
that you are dumb enough to
sail on mollasses tankers, we are
going to ship him over to Sicily.
The SS of a certain well
known steamship line, and this
is no BULL either, tried to leave
with a full verified crew of sea
men, and also a double crew of
cock-roaches and termites. The
crew got In connection with our
very boisterous Agent, and he
immediately went into a few
contortions, face turning red,
forehead white, and fists doub
led up, and boy what a grand
slam battle he had with this
famous company's stooges. (All
of the battle was in words). Hell
•Yes, he won, and the company
had the ship fumigated, much
against their will.
Clarence (Corn Pone) Hodge,
Pete (ha ha) De Vries, Catha-
houla Larsen, Bob (Do the worst
you can) Hillman and quite a
few of the old PhlUy stiffs are
beginning to show up here, and
ready to sail another rust buck
et lanywhere or anyhow. Hodge
states that he went aboard the
above named vessel, and made
himself a sandwich, whereupon,
five large cock-roaches immedi
ately grabbed the sandwich away
from him, and from what
Hodge avers, one of the roaches
must have been a Charley Mc-
(3arthy, for he yelled: Hey Corn
Pone, don't you get any mustard
on these Iron Maidens (Liberty
Ships)?
Harry (Man Mountain Dean)
Collins, has lost 14 pounds, 3
oimches running up and down
the waterfront. Keep it up Harry
and you will soon be as stream
lined as Joe Volpian used to be
when he was a working stiff.
Rosey Rosenberg, the galloping
Ordinary Seaman has now gal
loped back on board of a liberty
rust bucket to go to parts un
known. Hey Rosey, did you
really fall for that little red
head in Australia? Remember
you are an old-timer Rosey, and
we are at a premium here m
America, and I'm not cooking
with gas either.
Joe (RACE HORSE) Volpian,
according to the Galley News is
still around New York, and the
writer, who has just made a tour
of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ten
nessee, Indiana, Illnois, and
back through Florida finds out
that now that "Count Fleet,"
that great champion race horse
has retired, Joe will not be able
to pick any winners. Now Joe,
we know your a great handi-
oapper from the City of New
Orleans, and never a one horse
parlay player. Get in there and
pitch Joseph. Where, oh where
are you Ray "Red" Sweeney?
See that Joe does not cry his
eyes out over Count Fleet.
The writer has just won bis
case against a famous Mlobile SS
Co., and such case set a preced
ent that no matter where a sea
man gets hurt or injured, as
long as he is on the articles, and
did not get injured through his
own misconduct, the SS Com
pany is responsible. This is a
break for all Merchant Seamen,
and though all of the SS stooges
and their under-stooges tried
like hell to beat the case, the
United States Supreme Court
said to them: Pay off and shut
up.
Rope chokers (AB's) are real
ly scarce around here, and as
Curve Ball Wallace once stated:
We have good AB's and then we
also have those that like to go
to school first to learn how to
really lay down and let the hon-
est-to-God AB's do the real
work. In fact, some of these
trainees ask so many foolish and
nonsensical questions that tkey
will drive a real AB to see a psy
chiatrist to find out whether
they have dementia-praecox or
psychoisis. In American the
above means crazy. - .
Henry McLemore is at the
whole old quashy bunk again.
Harry, are you trying to be a
second Westbrook Pegler? If so,
then why don't you get paid for
your coliunn (Pegler does) and
also you can get on the NAM'S
payroll also. In case you are too
thick to know what NAM signi
fies, for your information, it is
the National Association of Man
ufacturers, who would have a
real union man shot if he asked
for a cnimb of bread. In closing,
Henry, please allow me to state
that the kind of tripe that you
write, such as the Merchant
Sailors do nothing on board
ships, and that the gun crew
does it all, would fit very good
into the Chicago Tribune, or I
might go so far as to say the
"DAILY SHIRKER" (Daily
Worker, to you Hank).
Enough said now, Mr.- Editor,
and so for an adios from the
gang in the Scrapple Eating City
and from the writer, scallions to
the likes of Pegler, McLemore
and their bosses.
D.C.J.
GALVESTON
Things have picked up in the
past week for this port. Had the
experience of seeing the condi
tions on a ship that the com
pany will not sign an agreement
with any union. The fireman on
watch, while working cargo be
tween 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., does
not receive any overtime. This
ship carries no deck engineer.
The overtime is 85c per hour.
Two pots on the stove, while the
saloon has pork chops and what
•not, the messroom is served hot
dogs. The steward was asked
for milk for the crew, he" stated
that milk was only for the offi
cers. And for dessert (plenty of
prunes, dried peaches) when
there is plenty of fresh fruit
here in this port going to waste.
Yes, boys, this is an American
WSA owned ship.
I was to understand that all
quarters on the Liberty ships
were to be uniform. Not on this
one. "Where the oilers room is
on the starboard side, that was
torn dovra, made into a real good
room for none other than the
steward. The oilers were pushed
back in the small room on the
port side. In Washington they
told me nothing but full lockers
for our gallant seamen, not on
this ship. By the looks of this
ship, they are starting to bring
back conditions of the old days.
Here is something for the RMO
and unorganized to think over.
Why should a seaman join the
SIU. Why should he join a union
just to get a job, why should he
pay dues. Aren't unions more
or less of a racket? Aren't union
leaders usually unscrupulous, or
downright dishonest? What do
they ever do for their member
ship? These questions are not
new Brother. You have heard
them before; in fact, they are
very old. Let us endeavor to ex
amine these questions and de
termine wheather there is any
basis for us to believe that they
are true. If they are true, no
one should join a labor union;
no one should join the SIU. Let
us see:
One does not have to join the
SIU to get a job. Almost every
member of the SIU had, or could
of had a job before he ever
heard of the SIU. Why? Many
members joined the SIU in or
der to help us sail the diip, to
do something for their couirtey,
to help win the war, and, incl-i
dently to benefit themselves, fl-
nancially and otherwise. What
the average person wants to
know is this: what has the SIU
done, or what will it do, which
vvould make it worth while to
invest his money in a union book
and pay dues? The answer to
this queston Is: Look at the
wages, overtime and the work
ing conditions of the SIU con
tract ships. They head all, which
is Something for the NMU to
shoot for to get in their con
tracts. Ask any member of thq
SIU, he can tell you.
In the first place, the SIU la
an honestly-run Union, We in
vite anyone to produce evidence
to the contrary. This union la
clean and its officials are hon
est, will not sell you out. It haa
an unblemished record. Its of
ficials do not shake a tin can in
front of your face everytime you
pay off, or call at the union hall,
to give a helping hand to Russia,
Bridges, U. S. S. or what have
you. And we do not sponsor lost
causes; we do not engage in po
litical action, or does it collect
or atten^pt to collect funds for
any outside crganizations, move
ments, causes, or individuals.
"When this war Is over, you -will
need the SIU. Don't let your
union spirit down now.
E. R. WALLACE, .Agent
NORFOLK
West Ck>ast shipis are piling in
to Norfolk every day, Hammond
Lumber, American Haywire,
Warehouser, McCormick, Alaska
Fisheries, etc., and thus far not
a single S'UP member has re
mained in Norfolk after paying
off. This month so far -we have
shipped 18 AB's, 13 Ordinaries>
2 Carpenters and one Bos'n on
these ships, the majority of
them permit card men. There
are beefs galore on these ships
but most of them have to be
referred to the hall in New York
—another headache for Weis-
berger.
Right now the most acute lo
cal headache is a shortage of
coal burning firemen, both white
and colored. FLASH to Brother
FLANAGAN: We have a four
watch agreement with one com
pany and in addition an extra
fireman is carried plus every
one getting every fourth trip off
wth full pay—^this goes for the
AB's also. The Cooks get every
other trip off with pay.
BROTHER PARKER and the
Tampa gang should be interest
ed in knowing that ADMIRAL
BLDJKIE ROBERTS has dis
carded his high pressure outfit
in favor of a shovel and is now
busily manhaandling the black
diamonds. "Red" Simmons is
Ch. Steward on the same wagon
and several other Tampaltes,
including "Red" Duffy, "Babe"
Miller, and Brother Gonzalez,
have also become knights of the
shovel and slice bar.
A beef on a new South Atlan
tic Liberty ship was settled sat
isfactorily after a few logs were
cancelled and charges against
two crew members dropped. We
believe the Captain is now a
wiser man and incidentally, the
mate a sadder man. Other beefs
on other ships were on minor
issues and were straightened
out aboard ship. A NMU Stew
ard crept aboard a Bull ship
but was promptly yanked and
{Continued on Page 4)
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Ta.ge Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, July 30, IMS
^Around The Ports
n\
I
MWEBAgain
Authority
[Continued from Page 1)
arise where negligence is not
present, and accordingly, no
right of compensation, except
the very limited right to main
tenance and cure, from the re
sulting disability will exist. Fur
thermore, the question of what
is negligence under wartime
conditions presents many diffi-
cut problems.
As was so pertinently pfointed
out to the Congress in tlie course
of the hearings on the "Omni
bus Bill," the vessel and her
cargo are fully protected against
all risks of loss, expense, or
damage, and it seems to the
Board that every effort should
be made in justice to the sea
men and in the interest of the
American Merchant Marine, to
afford to them coverage equally
comprehensive. Regandlesst of
the cause which results in the
loss of life or disability of the
seamen the practical conse
quences to him or his depend
ents remains unchanged.
Therefore, the Board respect
fully suggests that the War
Shipping Administration con
sider what steps might be taken,
as a wartime measure, to pro
vide death and disability insur
ance which will cover the field
Of operating and industrial risks
lying beyond the Eiecision lA as
Amended, of the Maritime War
temergency Board, In the event
the War Shipping Administra
tion considers it desirable and
necessary to provide a form of
industrial insurance, the Board
suggests that the agreement of
both unions and operators to
the broad objectives of the pro
posed program should be solic
ited and the support of such in
terests obtained to the greatest
possible extent prior to any con
sideration of the details of a
specific insurance problem.
(Signed)
Edward Macauley, Chairman
Frank P. Graham
John R. Steelman
• • •
[Continued from Page 3)
replaced with a man from the
hall.
¥/ARNrMG ^ QUITE A FEV/
NMU BORERS ARE CREEPING
ABOARD SIU SHIPS IN BALTI
MORE AND NEW YORK THRU
THE MEDIUM OF THE WSA—
We get rid of the termites here
but the best cure is an examin
ation of discharges pf these
guys when they first show up.
Today two of them showed up
from the WSA and in addition
to admitting NMU membership
after their papers were exam-
Lned, they also admitted having
isailed SIU ships on trip cards.
We dispatched them right back
to the WSA. Their names are—
MONROE SIMMON and WM. J.
LARKIN. Watch out for these
birds. A committee from the
floor examined them and recom
mended that they be allowed to
ship only after repudiating the
NMU and paying all dues and
assessments plus dues for the
time they were sailing on a SIU
ship.
FINALLY-If any old timers
want a good soft coal burning
job with plenty of groceries and
a good agreement — THEN GET
ON THE WAY TO NORFOLK—
White or colored—there are jobs
Company Foments Strike
To Jeopardize W.L.B. Case
[Continued from Page 1)
ried in the Boston and New
York newspapers which made it
appear that a full fledged strike
was being conducted by the
union.
SHIPOWNER GAIN
for both if they're book mem
bers.
MARTY TRAINOR, Agent
SAVANNAH
•
July 23, 1943
Admiral E. S. Land,
Administrator
War Shipping Admin i.>Lratlon
Wiashingt'On. D. C.
Dear Sir:
I received from the Maritime
War Emergency Board a copy
of a letter sent by that body to
you concerning compensation
rules for injured and disabled
seamen. Since the MWEB asked
•that I send .my comments to
you, I am doing so.
In the first place let me re-
I>eat what tliis union has said
time and again—the question of
compensation for injuries aside
from regular war risk insurance
is entirely outside of the juris
diction of the MWEB. The Board
was established for the sole pur
pose of settling bqpus and war
risk insurance disputes between
the unions and the operators. It
should confine itself to this task.
As for the letter, I find it
vague. Does the Board have In
mipd some sort of compensation
act, similar to the Longshore-
. Shipping in this p>ort is still
pretty fair with new ships com
ing out of Jacksonville, Wil
mington and here. Average
about one ship a week to find a
crew for and stay busy trying to
find old-timers for them. A few
of the old-timers have been
drifting in here lately and I
don't know whether watermel
ons remind them of torpedoes,
but every time they pass a
watermelon stand they make a
detour, but I guess that will soon
change. Shipped a crew last
week for a new Calmar Line out
of Wilmington and am expect
ing a new Liberty ship out of
here around the last of this
month, July. Have a few men
registered here but will be look
ing for more men with ratings
in all departments around that
time. If there are any old-timers
with ratings in all departments
who want a new ship, come on
down around that time -^and I
more than likely will be able to
use you.
CHARLES WAID, Agent
'exsonals
WILUAM R. DIXON
Your union book has been
found. Call fcr it at the office
of the Secretary-Treasurer in
New York City.
men's Act? If so, we are defin
itely opposed. Does it have
something else in mind? If so,
it does not make this clear.
Should your office draw up
concrete proprasals, this union
would be happy to consider
them and render an opinion.
But we oan not give blanket en
dorsement to the vague gener
alities submitted to you by the
MIWEB.
Very truly yours,
JOHN HAWK
Those are the bare facts. We
say that this was a shipowner
inspired strike because, first, it
worked to the obvious advan
tage of the shipowners who had
presented an extremely weak
cavse to the Board the day before
and who stood to gam by thou
sands of dollars in pay increas
es being refused by prejudicing
the Board against the union:
and second, because there is a
series of extremely suspicious
circumstances which pointed di
rectly to the guilt of the ship
owner and several of his highly
placed friends. ,
Here are the details:
SATURDAY (Aftemoori, July
24) John Hawk, Carol Johnson,
John Mogan and Joe Lapham
presented the SIU's case for
wage raises for the New Eng
land men to a WLB panel in
New Bedford. The hearing end
ed around 5:30 p.m. and Hawk
and Johnson left for New York,
Mogan for Boston, Lapham for
Providence, instructed to report
back to the New England men
on Monday morning. The three
members of the panel presum
ably left for their homes.
SUNDAY, July 24: Still in New
Bedford and gumshoeing around
the ships was Mr. Haas, Supt. of
New England, and (strangely) a
Mr. John Mullen, representative
of the Disputes Divison of the
Boston Regions War Labor Board
who attended the Panel hearing
of this case the day before. Why
Mr. Mullins remained in town
is a mystery which grows thick
er when his subsequent actions
are examined.
At 9:15 Sunday morning Mr.
Mullen decides- to take a ride on
the first boat out. Who turns
up as his traveling companions
but Mr. Hass, Superintendent
of the Line and Mr. Valez, As
sistant to Hass.* When Mullen
first went aboard he was careful
to let all the men know that he
was from the War Labor Board
and had heard their case pre
sented by the union the day be
fore. After having established
himself as a WLB official, he
spent the rest of the voyage
scratching the back of Mr. Haas.
Seeing Mufien and Haas play
ing footie all day naturally con
vinced the crew that the ship
owner had the case all sewed up.
Their appeal for a wage raise
had already been shuffled
around by the Board for 8
months without any action, and
the sight of Mullen and Haas on
such intimate terms put them
right in the mood to pull the
piAt
antics of Mr. Haas. The Union
has delt with Mr. Haas before,
and every time there is a merest
suggestion of a work stoppage,
he goes Into a tail spin. This
time, however, he seemed
strongly unperturbed about the
strike. All day Sunday he made
no attempt to get in touch with
either the Boston or New York
office of the union. All day Mon
day he made no attempt to get
in touch with the Boston or New
York ofidce of the union. Al
though Hawk put through two
long distance calls for him on
Monday, he was unavailable at
both times and has not, to this
date, spoken to Hawk who heads
the union concerning the walk
out. It seemed as if the strike
fit right into his plans—^thus ac
counting for the absence of his
usual case of apoplexy.
While Mr. Haas and Mr. Mul
len took great care that the
Union did not hear of the strike,
someone took good care that
the War Labor Board and the
Boston papers did hear about it.
The first official notice of the
strike that the union received
was the following telegram re
ceived Monday afternoon:
MONEY DUE
COMPANY STOOGES
On the way to the ship's berth
in New Bedford, a couple of the.
crew members (who ore now be
ing* investigated by the union
for possible connection with the
shipowner), began to agitate
for a 'strike. By the time the
ship tied up, the. crew was con
vinced that the cards were
stacked against them and walk
ed off.
And here begins the strange
W.L.B. THREAT
"Following wire sent today to
union committee. Quote. The
action of the unlicensed person
nel of the steamers Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard of the
New England Steamship Com
pany line in engaging in a work
stoppage is a violation of labor'^s
pledge that there would be no
strikes for the duration of the
war as well as a violation of the
promise given by your duly
elected officers to the War Labor
Board panel which is now con
sidering the merits of your case.
"You are warned also that the
strike is a violation of the War
Labor Disputes Act. The Army
and Navy have advised us of
their great interest in Lliis mat
ter. Only when normal opera
tions are restored can this Board
consider the promptly dispose of
your wage demands. This work
stoppage may prejudice the back
pay question before the Board.
Unquote."
LOUIS R. BECKER,
Asst. Dir. Disputes Division,
War Labor Board (10).
By the time this telegram had
arrived in New York'-the Army
and Navy Brass Hats were al
ready on their way to New Bed
ford and the Boston papers had
smeared the story over theh
front pages.
RUMP COMMITTEE
The Crew of the S.S. Richard
Henry Lee can collect $125 at
tack bonus money for the Port
of Algiers on March 26, 1043, by
calling at the Calmar Line of
fice, 25 Broadway, New York
City.
• "» »
Crew of SJS. A^tt Ransome
has 3 days subsistence and
transportation money coming.
Collect Smith £e Johnson, 89
Broad Street, New York City.
» • . »
Bosun of S.S. Matt Ransome
has 97 hours overtime <x>mlng.
See Patrolman. Hart, Room 502,
2 Stone Street, New York City,
* » »
Following Steward Depart
ment men have money coming
from the last trip on the S. S.
Josiah Bartlett: <
KARL KARLSON—$2.53
JAMES WEST-$2.53
JAMES BATTLE—$2.53
* » »
Deck Department of S.S. Grace
Abbott has overtime coming.
Collect Calmar Line office in „
New York. i
The "union committee" refer-
ed to In the telegram, and the
body to which the original of
the message had been sent, was
a rump committee set-up aboard
the ship under the encourage
ment of "company" stooges, and
which had conducted the .strike
behind the union's back. We
are reliably informed that Mr.
Mullefi had in his possession the
names of this committee and
was prepared to act upon it four
hours before the walkout occur-
ed. It looks like he and Mr.
Haas had their lines well laid.
Unfortunately for Mr. Haas
and Company, Joe Lapham was
In New Bedford oa Monday
morning. He had no prior
knowledge of the walk-out be
ing cooked up by the company,
but was coming to give a routtrio
report to the_crews. Being on^
the scene he was able to prompt
ly explain the situation to the
men and get the boats sailing.
If, as Haas had no doubt plan=
ned, no union official had been
in the port Monday morning,
the Brass H^'ts and the Boston
papers could really have worked
themselves into hysterics, and
the shipowners little game would
have been a complete success.
As it is, in spite of the prompt
action of the Union and the un
derstanding and • disciplined ac
tion of the crews in returning to
work, there is a po.sibility that
the WLB panel may have been
prejudiced.
This whole thing smells of
Shipowner provocation. For our
part, we intend to track down
any stooges that may be in the
organization and are operating
to the detriment of the union.
But we certainly exjiect the Bos
ton Regional War Labor Board
to investigate the strange con
duct of Mr. Mullen.
The ships are now sailing and
the men are awaiting the decis
ion of-the WLB. But the men
and the union is entitled to full
protection from further provo
cative actions on the part of
either the shipowner or Mr.
Mullen. » • '» *
TELEGRAM FROM
THE NATIONAL WAR
LABOR BOARD
July 27, 1943
John Hawk, Sec.-Treas.
Seafarers International Union
New York, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
Your telegram of July 27th
addressed to Chairman Davis
has been received. Thank you
for your statement of the sue--
cessful efforts of the Seafarers
International Union in bringing
to a quick end the strike which
recently took place at the New
England Steamship Company.
We have discussed the con-^
tents of your telegram with rep
resentatives of our Boston office,
and understand that they have
received data relating to the
causes of the work stoppage.
Very trulys yours,
MELVIN LEVY,
Adminiatratlve Officer
War Labor Board
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I-:
OFFICIAL OBOAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTBICT.
^ SEAFABEB8' INTEBNATIONAL UNION OF NOBTH AMEBICA
VOL. V. w NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, JULY 30, 1943 No. 18
MWEB Again
Oversteps
Authority
The Maritime War Emergency
Board is again trying to extend
its jurisdiction to the field of
compensation and general wel
fare of the seamen—a move be
ing fought by the SIU-SUP.
The MWEB was established at
the time of the big bonus beef
in 1941, and its sole function is
the settlement of disputes be
tween the unions and operators
over bonus and war risk insur
ance rates. Since its establish
ment, however, it has conduct
ed an almost constant campaign
to extend its jurisdiction and
authority.
The correspondence printed
below is self-explanitory and re
veals the latest MWEB maneuver
in this direction.
Maritime War Emergency Board
Washington, D. C.
June 17, 1943
TO THE PARTIES SIGNATORY
TO TME STATEMENT OP
PRINCIPLES:
Attached is a copy of a letter
which the Maritime War Emer
gency Board addressed to the
Administrator, War Shipping
Administration.
Should the Parties Signatory
care to comment on the subject
outlined in the letter, it is sug
gested that all comments be ad
dressed to the Administrator,
War Shipping Administration,
Washington, D. C.
ERICH NIELSON,
Secretary
Maritime War Emergency Board
Washington, D. C.
June 16, 1943
Admiral E. S. Land
Administrator
War Shipping Administration
Washington, D. C.
Dear Admiral Land:
The Maritime War Emergency
Board has examined the ques
tion of insurance for seamen in
the light of recent decisions and
the action taken by the War
Shipping Administration for the
purpose of carrying put the
same. The Board recognizes
that these decisions and the ac
tion which you have taken in
conjuction therewith virtqally
exhaust the .field of life and dis
ability insurance for seamen le
gally open to the Board and the
War Shipping Administration.
The Board has been advised
that there exists a large field of
operating and industrial risks
lying beyond the Decision lA as
, Amended. Methods of operation
' of vessels during war times in
such fields as loading and dis
charging create conditions which
it is believed materially increase
the chances of industrial acci
dents. While under certaha cir
cumstances the seamen might
recover under the Jones Act on
negligence theories, cases will
{Continued on Page 4)
SHIPOWNER FRAMES-UP
'NEW ENGLAND' SEAMEN
New Withholding Tax
On Wages Explained
By Theodore Thomson
From the 1st of July all seamen will have 20% "pay as you go"
tax withheld from their monthly pay.
If you are single you have a monthly basic exemption of $52-
before your income is taxed. If you are married your exemption is
$104, and if married and have one child (or another dependent)
your exemption is $130.00.
You also receive exemptions for additional portions. of a
month, as follows: for each day over the 30 day exemption you are
allowed $1.70 if single, $^.50 if married and 85 cents per day for
each additional dependent.
Suppose you are out for 3 months and 16 days. If single your
exemption would run as follows:
3 months at $52.00 .$156.00
16 days at $1.70 27.20
Total exemption $183.20
If your total wages, overtime and bonus amount to $735.00 you
would then deduct your exemption of $183.20, and find that $551.80
is the amount taxable. 20% of your taxable income ($551.80) would
be $110.36. Deduct this from your total earnings.
Total earnings $735.00
20% deduction of taxable portion 110.36
To determine Federal Old Age Benefit, robnjr'ahd board allow
ance must be added at the rate of $36 per month, or $1.20 per day.
Thus, 3 months and 16 days @ $1.20 is $127.20, add thi.s to your
earnings of $735.00
127.20
862.20 1% of which is $8.62, so your final computa
tion would be as follows:
Total Earnings $735.00
"Pay as you go" tax 110.36
. $624.64
Social Security Tax , 8.62
Net Wages $616.02
Company Foments Strike
To Jeopardize W.L.B. Case
The SIU was the victim of a huge frame-up this past
week-end, a frame-up designed to jeopardize the union's
case before the War Labor Board in which a boost of pay
was being demanded for the men of the New England
Steamship Line.
Canteen Moves
July 21, 1943
Editor, Seafarers Log,
2'Stone Street,
Room 213, New York
Please post this notice on
your bulletin board, Spivys
original Merchant Marine
Canteen will move to a new
air-bonditiohed. room Tues
day, July 27, 1943. This is the
canteen that opened one
year ago at the George
Washington Hotel, then
moved to the Ritz Tower.
Now we are located at the
Sheraton Hotel 37 Street and
Lexington Avenue. The Can
teen will function every
Tuesday night. Our first
show include such artists as
Frances Faye, Arthur Blake,
Nora Sheridan, the fioor
show- - of Leon and Eddys,
Patsy Flick, the Follies Girls,
Sid Gary, Name Band and
several other artists. Please
come and help us celebrate.
—SPIVY
The British Broadcasting Company reported Est week that its German monitering station had
picked up an official Nazi broadcast which admitted that the S.S. Rcbin Moore had been tor
pedoed on May 21, 1941 by a German submarine.
The Robin Moore, manned by a full SIU crew, was the first American merchant ship tor
pedoed by the Axis in this war, and went down seven months before we were officially at war
with Germany. Up to this week the German Gavernment never officially admitted that on.? of
their subs sank the Robin Moore—even though the SIU crew testified that they had been ques
tioned by the German skipper of the raider which sent the torpedo plunging into their ship.
The above picture of the survivors was taken when they landed in Capetown, South' Africa,
after spending 14 days in an open Ifeboat.
I
'i > .V ^ JiL •-"li.N
A wildcat strike broke out on
the SS. Martha's Vineyard on
July 25, tying the boat up long
enough to miss its morning run
on July 26 between New Bedford,
Mass., and the Island, and long
enough to give an opportimity
for the Army, Navy and 'War
Labor Board to descend upon
the port and threaten all sorts
of dire consequences to the men
and the union. In a telegram
written by a Boston War Labor
Board official, the direct threat
was made that tlie Board might
rule against the union on its
I>ending case involving the New
Ekigland men, because of the
strike. And therein lies tactiC
of the shipowner. Tlie strike
broke out at the worst possible
moment, for the case had only
been presented to the "WLB
panel the day before, and the
panel had promised a prompt
decision — provided the boats
were kept in oi>eration during
the time they were considering
the case.
BRASS HATS MOVE -
Less than 24 hours after the
panel had heard the case, the
pin was pulled, all the Brass Hats
began to scream about the sabo
taging of national defense. Be
fore the union officials had re
ceived any official notification
of the strike, three army and
navy meri were on their way to
New Bedford, and the Boston
papers had mysteriously receiv
ed a wild press release telling of
the hundreds of people strande'd
at Martha's Vineyard (all of
which was promptly printed on
the front pages of Monday's
papers).
Fortunately Joe Lapham ar
rived on the spot early Monday
morning. He had previously
been instructed by the Secre
tary-Treasurer to inform the
men on the "Martha's Vineyard"
and the "Nantucket" about the
progress of the case before the
Board. When Lapham found
the pins had been pulled, he
telephoned the New York head
quarters and upon instruction
began to get the men back to
work—explaining how their ac
tion at this time was playing in
to the hands of the shipowner.
Only one scheduled trip of the
"Martha's Vineyard" was delay
ed, in spite of the stories car-
{Continued on Page 4)
•';®l
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ftLgb TWO (EliB ftBAfAREttd tO^ j^day. iy7^,.lflS f
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' IP^TERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ President
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK Secy-Treas.
P. O, ]^x if, Station F., I4evr York Qty
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep.
424 5 th Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
Directory of Branches
BRANCH
NEW YORK (4)
BOSTON
BALTIMORE (2)
PHILADELPHIA
NORFOLK
NEW ORLEANS (ie().
SAVANNAH
TAMP A>>....*.a.*..«
IVlOBILEa faa**«...,aa
PUERTO RICO
GALVESTON
FT. LAUDERDALE, a a
ADDRESS
. 2 Stone Sta. aaaaaaaaaaa^
Deck & Engine Dispatcher.
Steward Dispatcher
Agent
a .330 Atlantic Ara.
a 14 North Gay St.
a.6 North 6th St
a a 25 Commercial PL.
a 309 Chartres St
a .218 East Bay St.
..423 East Piatt St
..55 So. Conception St.....
a a 45 Ponce de Leon
a .219 20th Street • ...aaaaa
..2021 Sa Federal Hightray.
PHOMB
.BOwUng Green 9-3450
.BOwling Green 9-6786
• BOwying Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
Calvert 4539
. Lombard 7651
.Norfolk 4-1083
.Canal 3336
• Savannah 3-1728
Tampa MM.1329
. Dial £-1302
.Puerto de TIerra
.Galveston a-8043
..Ft. Lauderdale 1601
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET •
New York City BOwling Green 9-834tf
CREW HONORS BAKER
FOR HEROISM AT SEA
RESOLUTION
WliEfeHAS, On Ajirii 11, 1949, tiftcni tSNe Oecaslon of an enemy
attack tipfon this vessel and the subse^ent teihporary abandon-
teent of said vessel. Ordinary Seaman, caeorge E. Baker did vol
untarily climb down a rape ladder wMie the ship was still under
way and at great risk to himself did cut lohse a stamped lifeboat
containing the Chief E&igineer, J. G. Erstns, a on^ armed man,
from the side of the vessel, and
WHEREAS, in consequence of such act the aforesaid George E.
Baker did place his life in danger, and suffered fatigue and im
mersion for a period of nearly half an hour, part of the time in
ftoating oil, before being picked up by a lifeboat, and
WHEREAS, such utter disregard df danger to himself and
T^lmgness tP risk his life fdr a partially cripped shipmate unable
to help himself are a credit to the finest traditions of the Ameri
can Merchant Marine, now therefore be it
iRESOLVED, that We his shipmateSsi undersigned as a slight
token of our admiration for his cotirageoUs action, do hereby pre
sent this resolution to the said
GEORGE £. BAKBR
and be it further
•RESOLYED, that three capies be made Of this resolution. One
to be given to the said George E. BtakSr as a Dieiueuto of tills crew
and vessel. The second to be ueiit to the SilT.-of which the said
Ordinary Seaman is a member. With a tequest that this resolution
be published In the Seafarer's Log, if the tJiiion may see fit. The
third copy to be sent to Smith & Johnson Co., owners of this ves
sel, to do with as they may see fit.
DATED this 22nd day of June, fii the year Of our Lord, 1943.,
HEADQUARTERS Snd ITANK GR.
AaPaOa 7S8 Ua Sa ABMY
Subject: George E. Baker, Ordinary Seumait
To. Whom it may concern. •
f la On April 11, 1943 after the ship upon which I was Cargo
Sectirity Officer was engaged in enefiiy action, I saw George E.
Baker go to the aid and rescue the one armed Chief Engineer,
who was in a sinking lifeboat.
2. This man did at his own accord risk his life and endanger
himself in order to save the life of a shipmate.
3. I personally saw and witnessed the whole episode.
4. This man should be awarded some medal to give hjin pro
per recognition for upholdhig -the txtiditions of the Merchant
itatlne.
WlLUAlit D. SINGLETGN 0263682
' Major, XT. fl. Army
Cargo Security Officer
^The Call
"At the recent NMU Conven
tion the stage was dressed up ds a
'Liberty Ship' with Joe Curran
standing npoji the bridge."
—News Report.
'^Captain" Curran
He stood on the deck
Of a land-locked ship.
Far, far from the danger zone,
A make-beliere ship
With a inake-beiieVe skipper,
Let tWs, by all, be known,
A paper-mache afaip
On a political sea,
^ With Cap. winds that were
* fun Mown.
In spite of the roaring
Gales of load' words
And Conuminist- breeze that
blew,
The ship dldh't sfatrer.
The ship coaldn't move.
And landlocked Were Its Pil-
ot$> too,
For highly |mid hoinbast
Cannot hierit the deeds
That seamen are called on
to do.
LE ENVOI:
A phony ship and a phony
skipper, *
Ladling the soup with a
Communist dipper,
Dipping the GRAVY by the
light of the moon,
Charting their course by the-
Great Homed spoon,
Alas, men awaken from their
sleep ioo.soon!
'—Top-An'-Lift
Out of the Foes^l
by
X.
We wonder why the President ordered Admiral Land (so he
says) to put 50% of our new ships tljiat will come down the ways
under British Registry? There are thousands of trainees at
GheepshOad Bay Who have to wait from 3 to 6 months after they
finish their course before they can be assigned to a ship. Then
there are menibers of the various seamen's unions who have to
wait arourid some time (especially after a convoy or two comes in)'
and still Admiral Land answered the former Shipping Board stiff,
"No Coffee time Joe," that there Is a shortage of American seamen,
and that the President deemed it wise to turn over half of out
new ships to the British.
A little while back we were talking to a British Mate, who
informed us that tliefe was a shortage of British seamen, that
the coinpahMs in England had to take a great number of blaek-
listed men to sail their ships. Now they suddenly have a surplus
of British seaffiefl arid our government Is worried about the Brit-i
ish seameft -haVirig too riiany wrirtfclas in their bellies (while our
ships are Feturriiftg to Port on shoi't rations) so they turn oVef
our new ships to them.
Admiral Land states that the ships are going to be turned
back to'us after the Wftr. We happen to remember the condition
in which a nev/ C-2 was, turned back lo us after the British had
the ship for 2 trips. "The ship was the kind that American seamen
call a horiie,-swivel seSite iri' the mess room, tiled bath, etc. When
the British got the ship they tove out the swivel seats and replaced
them with wooden benches and boarded-up the showers so the
British seamen wouldnit get the idea that he was entitled to such
luxury. The engine room was a wreck and needed new fittings
before the ship could make another voyage. So you see what will
happen to all our new ships after they get through with them.
They will be in woi'st condition than some of our rust buckets are
in at the present time. It .seems as though our Government is not
concerned vrith the welfare of American seamen after the war, nof
what hstppens to those ten million men after they return from the
war. It's the same old story, United States foots the bill and the
taxpayers gets it In the rieck.
•-a r'l
f jll
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
Friday, Inly 3*, 1943 THE EEAFA&EKg LOO Page ThMfli
NEW ORLEANS
• Things here are in the usual
dtUier, nothing to do but chew
feiger mails for a few days then
the phone starts and all the
scows that other ports refuse
to have anything to do with
start dropping in here. The
pride of the Ore line came pole-
hig up the bayous. Senor Squires
was on hand ' to- .state that she
was a beauty, a good feeder and
a mighty fine ship along with
other things. One of the other
things was the fact that Squires
tells me that we work under the
West Coast agreements but not
the general rules. I pointed out
to the gent that the SUP states
very clearly that Q.Ms, shall
stand gangway watch, he says
no. Showed him in the Cooks
and Stewards that meal hours
for supper is from 5:00 o'clock,
he says no. I say we shall have
committee, lie says no commit
tee. I say I ship one good crew
this ship and I sing Bye and
Bye.
One thing that gets mc rather
, warm around the collar, all the
draft dodgers in the nation are
telling each other how to rim
the war. Ferinstance, every night
in my search for gems of wis
dom I turn on my five buck
(pre-war) radio and about all I
hear is the great need for mer
chant seamen. They state very
definitely that this is vital and
that all recruits shall be draft
free. Also they advertise that if
you go to the upgrade school
that they have here that this is
also draft free, I have men who
have gone to sea for years, one
man has had exactly five weeks
aidiore since the war started. He
signed on foreign articles on the
seventh, on the tenth (nearly
sailing day) he got his orders to
report for Induction, he went to
his board and told them he was
about to sail. No smoke. Army
bound. He contacted the hall
and we called everybody in th^
State and at the last minute,
frem what he gathered from
everybody he decided to sail any-
Mfray. We may have a real beef
on this in the near future and
if vre do I believe that we should
carry it to 'the highest power
possible and find out once and
fof all if the fink herders can
guarantee clearance and the
men that are actually sailing
the ships get kicked around like
a football.
Steady as she goes.
ARMY, Agent
WHArS DOING
Around the Ports
with the outfit. At least Bro.
Jason can rest assured the ^ips
carrying Sea Bees are well arm
ed and well convoyed and not
many, if any, get hit by tin fish
es. TTie quarters for troops go
ing over seas arc not as roomy
and comfortable as the quarters
SIU men have on ships, so Jason
will have to put up mth cramp
ed quarters for a few weeks go
ing across. Bon voyage, Di'o. Ja
son.
Brother Bob Burton is out at
the Rest Home in Pass Christian,
Missfissippl. He's lost three ships
since the war started, so it looks
like he's a bad bet as a ship
mate. He's very un-patriotic be
cause he just don't bring the
ships back after taking them
out. The last crew that was with
Bob claim he's a damn good
cook or maybe the fish he cook
ed tasted good because they
were in the lifeboat for 11 days.
Bob said he doesn't recommend
the rations they have in the
lifeboats for a good mid-night
snack, and fish cooked with sun
burn oil is much better than
anything they have in the boats.
Bob said for all SIU men that
are in the Gulf Area to come out
to Camp Kittiwake and really
enjoy life, according to Bob it's
tops and he is going to home
stead until they kick him out.
C. J. STEPHENS,
Patrolman
PHILADELPHIA
Shipping has slowed down
some around this port. Plenty
of shipping on West Coast ships.
Had a beef on a ship from the
coast in regards to transporta
tion, the beef is still hanging
fire with the crew remaining on
the ship and the Captain trying
to get them to pay off under
mutual consent. All other ships
that paid off the crew under
mutual consent later paid off
the remaining crew members
with transportation back to the
coast. Anyone having a beef in
regards to transportation should
sit tight until all the cargo is
o.ut, then they will probably pay
off with transportation back to
the coast.
One of our ships went out re
cently with quite a few Sea Bee's
aboard. I wonder if Brother
Jason, former Patrolman from
' N.O., will be one of the many Sea
Bees being sent across? Bro. Ja
son didn't-know Sea Bees were
sent overseas when he joined up
Regards to all SIU & SUP
members all over the world, and
here we come with a little bit of
sense and also a little nonsense.
Our old pickle puss Agent, Jo
Jo Flanagan paid Philadelphia
a recent visit, and "OLD SAR
CASM," himself is still the ugli
est man in the universe, but he
came into the hall dressed ala
John Barry more. But that Army
G.I. haircut isure looked bad. Are
you planning on joining the
U. S. Army or the Salvation
Army, Jo Jo?
Leo (The Lip) Gillis is doing
real well now. He is the Dis
patcher here, and is doing a
swell job, both as a dispatcher
and a diplomat. We always
knew thaf you had the braim^
and initiative Lippy, and from
now on, when George (The
Greek) Karpctos tries to tell us
that you are dumb enough to
sail on mollasses tankers, we are
going to ship him over to Sicily.
The SS of a certain well
known steamship line, and this
is no BULL either, tried to leave
with a full verified crew of sea
men, and also a double crew of
cock-roaches and termites. The
crew got In connection with our
very boisterous Agent, and he
immediately went into a few
contortions, face turning red,
forehead white, and fists doub
led up, and boy what a grand
slam battle he had with this
famous company's stooges. (All
of the battle was in words). Hell
•Yes, he won, and the company
had the ship fumigated, much
against their will.
Clarence (Corn Pone) Hodge,
Pete (ha ha) De Vries, Catha-
houla Larsen, Bob (Do the worst
you can) Hillman and quite a
few of the old PhlUy stiffs are
beginning to show up here, and
ready to sail another rust buck
et lanywhere or anyhow. Hodge
states that he went aboard the
above named vessel, and made
himself a sandwich, whereupon,
five large cock-roaches immedi
ately grabbed the sandwich away
from him, and from what
Hodge avers, one of the roaches
must have been a Charley Mc-
(3arthy, for he yelled: Hey Corn
Pone, don't you get any mustard
on these Iron Maidens (Liberty
Ships)?
Harry (Man Mountain Dean)
Collins, has lost 14 pounds, 3
oimches running up and down
the waterfront. Keep it up Harry
and you will soon be as stream
lined as Joe Volpian used to be
when he was a working stiff.
Rosey Rosenberg, the galloping
Ordinary Seaman has now gal
loped back on board of a liberty
rust bucket to go to parts un
known. Hey Rosey, did you
really fall for that little red
head in Australia? Remember
you are an old-timer Rosey, and
we are at a premium here m
America, and I'm not cooking
with gas either.
Joe (RACE HORSE) Volpian,
according to the Galley News is
still around New York, and the
writer, who has just made a tour
of Louisiana, Mississippi, Ten
nessee, Indiana, Illnois, and
back through Florida finds out
that now that "Count Fleet,"
that great champion race horse
has retired, Joe will not be able
to pick any winners. Now Joe,
we know your a great handi-
oapper from the City of New
Orleans, and never a one horse
parlay player. Get in there and
pitch Joseph. Where, oh where
are you Ray "Red" Sweeney?
See that Joe does not cry his
eyes out over Count Fleet.
The writer has just won bis
case against a famous Mlobile SS
Co., and such case set a preced
ent that no matter where a sea
man gets hurt or injured, as
long as he is on the articles, and
did not get injured through his
own misconduct, the SS Com
pany is responsible. This is a
break for all Merchant Seamen,
and though all of the SS stooges
and their under-stooges tried
like hell to beat the case, the
United States Supreme Court
said to them: Pay off and shut
up.
Rope chokers (AB's) are real
ly scarce around here, and as
Curve Ball Wallace once stated:
We have good AB's and then we
also have those that like to go
to school first to learn how to
really lay down and let the hon-
est-to-God AB's do the real
work. In fact, some of these
trainees ask so many foolish and
nonsensical questions that tkey
will drive a real AB to see a psy
chiatrist to find out whether
they have dementia-praecox or
psychoisis. In American the
above means crazy. - .
Henry McLemore is at the
whole old quashy bunk again.
Harry, are you trying to be a
second Westbrook Pegler? If so,
then why don't you get paid for
your coliunn (Pegler does) and
also you can get on the NAM'S
payroll also. In case you are too
thick to know what NAM signi
fies, for your information, it is
the National Association of Man
ufacturers, who would have a
real union man shot if he asked
for a cnimb of bread. In closing,
Henry, please allow me to state
that the kind of tripe that you
write, such as the Merchant
Sailors do nothing on board
ships, and that the gun crew
does it all, would fit very good
into the Chicago Tribune, or I
might go so far as to say the
"DAILY SHIRKER" (Daily
Worker, to you Hank).
Enough said now, Mr.- Editor,
and so for an adios from the
gang in the Scrapple Eating City
and from the writer, scallions to
the likes of Pegler, McLemore
and their bosses.
D.C.J.
GALVESTON
Things have picked up in the
past week for this port. Had the
experience of seeing the condi
tions on a ship that the com
pany will not sign an agreement
with any union. The fireman on
watch, while working cargo be
tween 5 p.m. and 8 a.m., does
not receive any overtime. This
ship carries no deck engineer.
The overtime is 85c per hour.
Two pots on the stove, while the
saloon has pork chops and what
•not, the messroom is served hot
dogs. The steward was asked
for milk for the crew, he" stated
that milk was only for the offi
cers. And for dessert (plenty of
prunes, dried peaches) when
there is plenty of fresh fruit
here in this port going to waste.
Yes, boys, this is an American
WSA owned ship.
I was to understand that all
quarters on the Liberty ships
were to be uniform. Not on this
one. "Where the oilers room is
on the starboard side, that was
torn dovra, made into a real good
room for none other than the
steward. The oilers were pushed
back in the small room on the
port side. In Washington they
told me nothing but full lockers
for our gallant seamen, not on
this ship. By the looks of this
ship, they are starting to bring
back conditions of the old days.
Here is something for the RMO
and unorganized to think over.
Why should a seaman join the
SIU. Why should he join a union
just to get a job, why should he
pay dues. Aren't unions more
or less of a racket? Aren't union
leaders usually unscrupulous, or
downright dishonest? What do
they ever do for their member
ship? These questions are not
new Brother. You have heard
them before; in fact, they are
very old. Let us endeavor to ex
amine these questions and de
termine wheather there is any
basis for us to believe that they
are true. If they are true, no
one should join a labor union;
no one should join the SIU. Let
us see:
One does not have to join the
SIU to get a job. Almost every
member of the SIU had, or could
of had a job before he ever
heard of the SIU. Why? Many
members joined the SIU in or
der to help us sail the diip, to
do something for their couirtey,
to help win the war, and, incl-i
dently to benefit themselves, fl-
nancially and otherwise. What
the average person wants to
know is this: what has the SIU
done, or what will it do, which
vvould make it worth while to
invest his money in a union book
and pay dues? The answer to
this queston Is: Look at the
wages, overtime and the work
ing conditions of the SIU con
tract ships. They head all, which
is Something for the NMU to
shoot for to get in their con
tracts. Ask any member of thq
SIU, he can tell you.
In the first place, the SIU la
an honestly-run Union, We in
vite anyone to produce evidence
to the contrary. This union la
clean and its officials are hon
est, will not sell you out. It haa
an unblemished record. Its of
ficials do not shake a tin can in
front of your face everytime you
pay off, or call at the union hall,
to give a helping hand to Russia,
Bridges, U. S. S. or what have
you. And we do not sponsor lost
causes; we do not engage in po
litical action, or does it collect
or atten^pt to collect funds for
any outside crganizations, move
ments, causes, or individuals.
"When this war Is over, you -will
need the SIU. Don't let your
union spirit down now.
E. R. WALLACE, .Agent
NORFOLK
West Ck>ast shipis are piling in
to Norfolk every day, Hammond
Lumber, American Haywire,
Warehouser, McCormick, Alaska
Fisheries, etc., and thus far not
a single S'UP member has re
mained in Norfolk after paying
off. This month so far -we have
shipped 18 AB's, 13 Ordinaries>
2 Carpenters and one Bos'n on
these ships, the majority of
them permit card men. There
are beefs galore on these ships
but most of them have to be
referred to the hall in New York
—another headache for Weis-
berger.
Right now the most acute lo
cal headache is a shortage of
coal burning firemen, both white
and colored. FLASH to Brother
FLANAGAN: We have a four
watch agreement with one com
pany and in addition an extra
fireman is carried plus every
one getting every fourth trip off
wth full pay—^this goes for the
AB's also. The Cooks get every
other trip off with pay.
BROTHER PARKER and the
Tampa gang should be interest
ed in knowing that ADMIRAL
BLDJKIE ROBERTS has dis
carded his high pressure outfit
in favor of a shovel and is now
busily manhaandling the black
diamonds. "Red" Simmons is
Ch. Steward on the same wagon
and several other Tampaltes,
including "Red" Duffy, "Babe"
Miller, and Brother Gonzalez,
have also become knights of the
shovel and slice bar.
A beef on a new South Atlan
tic Liberty ship was settled sat
isfactorily after a few logs were
cancelled and charges against
two crew members dropped. We
believe the Captain is now a
wiser man and incidentally, the
mate a sadder man. Other beefs
on other ships were on minor
issues and were straightened
out aboard ship. A NMU Stew
ard crept aboard a Bull ship
but was promptly yanked and
{Continued on Page 4)
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Ta.ge Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, July 30, IMS
^Around The Ports
n\
I
MWEBAgain
Authority
[Continued from Page 1)
arise where negligence is not
present, and accordingly, no
right of compensation, except
the very limited right to main
tenance and cure, from the re
sulting disability will exist. Fur
thermore, the question of what
is negligence under wartime
conditions presents many diffi-
cut problems.
As was so pertinently pfointed
out to the Congress in tlie course
of the hearings on the "Omni
bus Bill," the vessel and her
cargo are fully protected against
all risks of loss, expense, or
damage, and it seems to the
Board that every effort should
be made in justice to the sea
men and in the interest of the
American Merchant Marine, to
afford to them coverage equally
comprehensive. Regandlesst of
the cause which results in the
loss of life or disability of the
seamen the practical conse
quences to him or his depend
ents remains unchanged.
Therefore, the Board respect
fully suggests that the War
Shipping Administration con
sider what steps might be taken,
as a wartime measure, to pro
vide death and disability insur
ance which will cover the field
Of operating and industrial risks
lying beyond the Eiecision lA as
Amended, of the Maritime War
temergency Board, In the event
the War Shipping Administra
tion considers it desirable and
necessary to provide a form of
industrial insurance, the Board
suggests that the agreement of
both unions and operators to
the broad objectives of the pro
posed program should be solic
ited and the support of such in
terests obtained to the greatest
possible extent prior to any con
sideration of the details of a
specific insurance problem.
(Signed)
Edward Macauley, Chairman
Frank P. Graham
John R. Steelman
• • •
[Continued from Page 3)
replaced with a man from the
hall.
¥/ARNrMG ^ QUITE A FEV/
NMU BORERS ARE CREEPING
ABOARD SIU SHIPS IN BALTI
MORE AND NEW YORK THRU
THE MEDIUM OF THE WSA—
We get rid of the termites here
but the best cure is an examin
ation of discharges pf these
guys when they first show up.
Today two of them showed up
from the WSA and in addition
to admitting NMU membership
after their papers were exam-
Lned, they also admitted having
isailed SIU ships on trip cards.
We dispatched them right back
to the WSA. Their names are—
MONROE SIMMON and WM. J.
LARKIN. Watch out for these
birds. A committee from the
floor examined them and recom
mended that they be allowed to
ship only after repudiating the
NMU and paying all dues and
assessments plus dues for the
time they were sailing on a SIU
ship.
FINALLY-If any old timers
want a good soft coal burning
job with plenty of groceries and
a good agreement — THEN GET
ON THE WAY TO NORFOLK—
White or colored—there are jobs
Company Foments Strike
To Jeopardize W.L.B. Case
[Continued from Page 1)
ried in the Boston and New
York newspapers which made it
appear that a full fledged strike
was being conducted by the
union.
SHIPOWNER GAIN
for both if they're book mem
bers.
MARTY TRAINOR, Agent
SAVANNAH
•
July 23, 1943
Admiral E. S. Land,
Administrator
War Shipping Admin i.>Lratlon
Wiashingt'On. D. C.
Dear Sir:
I received from the Maritime
War Emergency Board a copy
of a letter sent by that body to
you concerning compensation
rules for injured and disabled
seamen. Since the MWEB asked
•that I send .my comments to
you, I am doing so.
In the first place let me re-
I>eat what tliis union has said
time and again—the question of
compensation for injuries aside
from regular war risk insurance
is entirely outside of the juris
diction of the MWEB. The Board
was established for the sole pur
pose of settling bqpus and war
risk insurance disputes between
the unions and the operators. It
should confine itself to this task.
As for the letter, I find it
vague. Does the Board have In
mipd some sort of compensation
act, similar to the Longshore-
. Shipping in this p>ort is still
pretty fair with new ships com
ing out of Jacksonville, Wil
mington and here. Average
about one ship a week to find a
crew for and stay busy trying to
find old-timers for them. A few
of the old-timers have been
drifting in here lately and I
don't know whether watermel
ons remind them of torpedoes,
but every time they pass a
watermelon stand they make a
detour, but I guess that will soon
change. Shipped a crew last
week for a new Calmar Line out
of Wilmington and am expect
ing a new Liberty ship out of
here around the last of this
month, July. Have a few men
registered here but will be look
ing for more men with ratings
in all departments around that
time. If there are any old-timers
with ratings in all departments
who want a new ship, come on
down around that time -^and I
more than likely will be able to
use you.
CHARLES WAID, Agent
'exsonals
WILUAM R. DIXON
Your union book has been
found. Call fcr it at the office
of the Secretary-Treasurer in
New York City.
men's Act? If so, we are defin
itely opposed. Does it have
something else in mind? If so,
it does not make this clear.
Should your office draw up
concrete proprasals, this union
would be happy to consider
them and render an opinion.
But we oan not give blanket en
dorsement to the vague gener
alities submitted to you by the
MIWEB.
Very truly yours,
JOHN HAWK
Those are the bare facts. We
say that this was a shipowner
inspired strike because, first, it
worked to the obvious advan
tage of the shipowners who had
presented an extremely weak
cavse to the Board the day before
and who stood to gam by thou
sands of dollars in pay increas
es being refused by prejudicing
the Board against the union:
and second, because there is a
series of extremely suspicious
circumstances which pointed di
rectly to the guilt of the ship
owner and several of his highly
placed friends. ,
Here are the details:
SATURDAY (Aftemoori, July
24) John Hawk, Carol Johnson,
John Mogan and Joe Lapham
presented the SIU's case for
wage raises for the New Eng
land men to a WLB panel in
New Bedford. The hearing end
ed around 5:30 p.m. and Hawk
and Johnson left for New York,
Mogan for Boston, Lapham for
Providence, instructed to report
back to the New England men
on Monday morning. The three
members of the panel presum
ably left for their homes.
SUNDAY, July 24: Still in New
Bedford and gumshoeing around
the ships was Mr. Haas, Supt. of
New England, and (strangely) a
Mr. John Mullen, representative
of the Disputes Divison of the
Boston Regions War Labor Board
who attended the Panel hearing
of this case the day before. Why
Mr. Mullins remained in town
is a mystery which grows thick
er when his subsequent actions
are examined.
At 9:15 Sunday morning Mr.
Mullen decides- to take a ride on
the first boat out. Who turns
up as his traveling companions
but Mr. Hass, Superintendent
of the Line and Mr. Valez, As
sistant to Hass.* When Mullen
first went aboard he was careful
to let all the men know that he
was from the War Labor Board
and had heard their case pre
sented by the union the day be
fore. After having established
himself as a WLB official, he
spent the rest of the voyage
scratching the back of Mr. Haas.
Seeing Mufien and Haas play
ing footie all day naturally con
vinced the crew that the ship
owner had the case all sewed up.
Their appeal for a wage raise
had already been shuffled
around by the Board for 8
months without any action, and
the sight of Mullen and Haas on
such intimate terms put them
right in the mood to pull the
piAt
antics of Mr. Haas. The Union
has delt with Mr. Haas before,
and every time there is a merest
suggestion of a work stoppage,
he goes Into a tail spin. This
time, however, he seemed
strongly unperturbed about the
strike. All day Sunday he made
no attempt to get in touch with
either the Boston or New York
office of the union. All day Mon
day he made no attempt to get
in touch with the Boston or New
York ofidce of the union. Al
though Hawk put through two
long distance calls for him on
Monday, he was unavailable at
both times and has not, to this
date, spoken to Hawk who heads
the union concerning the walk
out. It seemed as if the strike
fit right into his plans—^thus ac
counting for the absence of his
usual case of apoplexy.
While Mr. Haas and Mr. Mul
len took great care that the
Union did not hear of the strike,
someone took good care that
the War Labor Board and the
Boston papers did hear about it.
The first official notice of the
strike that the union received
was the following telegram re
ceived Monday afternoon:
MONEY DUE
COMPANY STOOGES
On the way to the ship's berth
in New Bedford, a couple of the.
crew members (who ore now be
ing* investigated by the union
for possible connection with the
shipowner), began to agitate
for a 'strike. By the time the
ship tied up, the. crew was con
vinced that the cards were
stacked against them and walk
ed off.
And here begins the strange
W.L.B. THREAT
"Following wire sent today to
union committee. Quote. The
action of the unlicensed person
nel of the steamers Nantucket
and Martha's Vineyard of the
New England Steamship Com
pany line in engaging in a work
stoppage is a violation of labor'^s
pledge that there would be no
strikes for the duration of the
war as well as a violation of the
promise given by your duly
elected officers to the War Labor
Board panel which is now con
sidering the merits of your case.
"You are warned also that the
strike is a violation of the War
Labor Disputes Act. The Army
and Navy have advised us of
their great interest in Lliis mat
ter. Only when normal opera
tions are restored can this Board
consider the promptly dispose of
your wage demands. This work
stoppage may prejudice the back
pay question before the Board.
Unquote."
LOUIS R. BECKER,
Asst. Dir. Disputes Division,
War Labor Board (10).
By the time this telegram had
arrived in New York'-the Army
and Navy Brass Hats were al
ready on their way to New Bed
ford and the Boston papers had
smeared the story over theh
front pages.
RUMP COMMITTEE
The Crew of the S.S. Richard
Henry Lee can collect $125 at
tack bonus money for the Port
of Algiers on March 26, 1043, by
calling at the Calmar Line of
fice, 25 Broadway, New York
City.
• "» »
Crew of SJS. A^tt Ransome
has 3 days subsistence and
transportation money coming.
Collect Smith £e Johnson, 89
Broad Street, New York City.
» • . »
Bosun of S.S. Matt Ransome
has 97 hours overtime <x>mlng.
See Patrolman. Hart, Room 502,
2 Stone Street, New York City,
* » »
Following Steward Depart
ment men have money coming
from the last trip on the S. S.
Josiah Bartlett: <
KARL KARLSON—$2.53
JAMES WEST-$2.53
JAMES BATTLE—$2.53
* » »
Deck Department of S.S. Grace
Abbott has overtime coming.
Collect Calmar Line office in „
New York. i
The "union committee" refer-
ed to In the telegram, and the
body to which the original of
the message had been sent, was
a rump committee set-up aboard
the ship under the encourage
ment of "company" stooges, and
which had conducted the .strike
behind the union's back. We
are reliably informed that Mr.
Mullefi had in his possession the
names of this committee and
was prepared to act upon it four
hours before the walkout occur-
ed. It looks like he and Mr.
Haas had their lines well laid.
Unfortunately for Mr. Haas
and Company, Joe Lapham was
In New Bedford oa Monday
morning. He had no prior
knowledge of the walk-out be
ing cooked up by the company,
but was coming to give a routtrio
report to the_crews. Being on^
the scene he was able to prompt
ly explain the situation to the
men and get the boats sailing.
If, as Haas had no doubt plan=
ned, no union official had been
in the port Monday morning,
the Brass H^'ts and the Boston
papers could really have worked
themselves into hysterics, and
the shipowners little game would
have been a complete success.
As it is, in spite of the prompt
action of the Union and the un
derstanding and • disciplined ac
tion of the crews in returning to
work, there is a po.sibility that
the WLB panel may have been
prejudiced.
This whole thing smells of
Shipowner provocation. For our
part, we intend to track down
any stooges that may be in the
organization and are operating
to the detriment of the union.
But we certainly exjiect the Bos
ton Regional War Labor Board
to investigate the strange con
duct of Mr. Mullen.
The ships are now sailing and
the men are awaiting the decis
ion of-the WLB. But the men
and the union is entitled to full
protection from further provo
cative actions on the part of
either the shipowner or Mr.
Mullen. » • '» *
TELEGRAM FROM
THE NATIONAL WAR
LABOR BOARD
July 27, 1943
John Hawk, Sec.-Treas.
Seafarers International Union
New York, N. Y.
Dear Sir:
Your telegram of July 27th
addressed to Chairman Davis
has been received. Thank you
for your statement of the sue--
cessful efforts of the Seafarers
International Union in bringing
to a quick end the strike which
recently took place at the New
England Steamship Company.
We have discussed the con-^
tents of your telegram with rep
resentatives of our Boston office,
and understand that they have
received data relating to the
causes of the work stoppage.
Very trulys yours,
MELVIN LEVY,
Adminiatratlve Officer
War Labor Board
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