Media
Issue Date
1943-11-26
Volume
5
Issue Number
34
Plaintext
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Vol. y. NEW YORK, N.Y.. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 26, 1943 No. 34
Censors Ease
Restriction
On News
WASHINGTON — A twelve-
point program designed to relax
many of the restrictions now
placed upon steamship operators,
the War Shipping Administra
tion and the unions with respect
to release of information con
cerning the activities of the war
time merchant marine, has been
completed and will become effec
tive immediately, it was learned
this week.
The program is the result of
negotiations between the War
Shipping Administration, the
Navy and the Office of Censor
ship and represents the first time
since the outbreak of the war
that there has been any relaxa
tion of the restrictions which
have heretofore been imposed
upon merchant ship operations.
;AS an exeriment, the War
Shipping Administration releas
ed four press releases, which
were checked by the Office of
War Information and with the
Navy. These stories, the WSA
points out, "unfreeze" the fol
lowing twelve features, formerly
untold under interpretations of
the code or sometimes told in
part by the Navy about a "cargo
ship";
Release by WSA.
Name and type of ship.
Enemy action or special
event.
General location.
Approximate date.
Names of personneL
Addresses of personnel.
Comment by captain or
others.
Name of operator or agent.
Name of yard where built.
When launched.
Structural reliability.
Although the twelve-point pro
gram as it now stands is not a
complete relaxation of code re-
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
.8-
9.
10.
11.
12.
ARMY MAN LAUDS
OUR FIGHT FOR
CONDITIONS
Nov. 2. 1943
Editor:
Dear Brother:
Copies of the LOG are com
ing really on time and each
succeeding issue seems better
than the last. I was more than
impressed upon reading the
last issue and seeing that our
Union is still in there fighting
despite bureaucratic pressure.
I was disheartened upon hear
ing of the Sabotage of the se
curity watch program but
now I see that the shipowners
are paying through the nose
for that.
I had occasion to speak to
the crew of a ship that pulled
in here recently. Half were
NMU and the others were
RMO. The NMU boys were
pretty well disgusted with the
whole set-up and I showed
them a copy of the LOG and
pointed out the many bonuses
our crews are still collecting
even after being paid off. They
said they were going over to
the SIU when they returned
and in doing so, they would
know how they stood on
unionism.
I'm enclosing a $5 donation
and wish I could make it
more. Although I'm taking
War Bonds, I feel that our
Union stands for the same
principles and security.
Steady a^ she goes.
Fraternally yours,
Sgt. Dimitri J. Keigis
Co. A. 562nd Maintenance
APO 503—c/o P. M.
San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic Fishermen Call
Strike For Living Wage
Faced with the breakdown of union-governmcnt-industry negotiations for an in
creased price for their catch, the Atlantic Fishermen's Union, SIU, pulled the pins on
the New York, Boston and New Bedford fleets this week. This strike followed months
of fruitless negotiations with the fish wholesalers and the OPA, and followed the taking
of an official strike vote following a "cooling off" period as demanded by the Smith-
Release 20 Greek
Seamen; Open New
Maritime Club
strictions, it is understood that as
Allied progress is made in both
Europe and in the Pacific other
provisions which now affect se
curity:-will be lifted. It is under
stood that work is continuing be
tween the three departments
along these lines.
NEW YORK, (ITF) — Twenty
Greek seamen have been releas
ed from federal detention at Ellis
Island in response to representa
tions by the Greek Maritime
Welfare Committee and the
Greek Maritime Union, it was
announced this week at the Com
mittee's offices, 18 East 41st St.
Eleven men will soon ship out
aboard Green and other Allied
merchant vessels while the rest
are expected to join the Greek
Navy.
The decision of the federal
authorities, according to a com
mittee spokesman, followed an
investigation of the men's com
plaints by a-delegation composed
of Mr. Christopher S. Stephano,
chairman of the G.M.W.C., Pe-
tros Spiridacos, secretary of the
Greek Maritime Union, and a
representative of the U. S. Im
migration Department.
The immigration officials, sat
isfied with the assurance given,
have paroled the men into the
custody of the Recruitment and
Manning Organization of the
War Shipping Administration. It
was suggested in maritime circles
that as a matter of future pro
cedure, all Greek seamen re
leased from federal custody be
turned over to the Greek Mar-
{Continued on Page 4)
^Connally Bill.
During the past week Patrick
McHugh, Secretary-Treasurer of
the union, had spent several days
in Washington confering with
industry representatives and of
ficials of the OPA, He presented
figures proving that the fisher
men were not able to maintain
an American standard of living
under present OPA price ceil
ings.
Many OPA officials resisted
the granting of an increase in
catch price on the excuse that it
would increase the cost of living
for the consumer. This would
only be true if the wholesalers
were allowed to pass along to the
consumer the small increase
asked by the union. Were the
wholesalers forced to cut their
profits a bit, both the consumer
11 SIU Men Prisoners Of War
RUFUS E. STOUGH, Cook
1419% Terpsichore St.
New Orleans, La.
HENRY B. WILSON, AB
422 Grand Ave.
Cumberland, Maine
ALFRED S. KATZ, Utility
2971 Ford St.
Brooklyn, New York
WILLIAM E.'LEAVER, FOW
Natasulga, Alabama
GEORGE A. RIGGINS, Wiper
210 Drumont Place
Norfolk, Virginia
MANUEL M. LEDESMA,
Messman
Honolulu, T. H.
FRED G. STILLWELL,
Pumpman
Gresham, Oregon
CARL G. RYDBERG. OS
Hilo, T. H.
PAUL PETRO, OS
447 Mathews Street
Gary, Indiana
EARL SPEAR, Chief Steward
920 Galier Street
New Orleans, La.
WILLIAM R. SMITH, Oiler
5700 Palisades Ave.
West New York, N. J.
The above brothers have been listed as prisoners of war by the Navy Department.
Most of these men were torpedoed while delivering war goods to Europe, and were sub
sequently captured and interned by the Nazis. The SIU is now taking steps to send
them packages of food and tobacco, and will do all in its power to see that they receive
such aid as is possible under the circumstances.
However much these brothers will appreciate the smokes we send them, we are cer
tain that their greatest desire will be that we maintain union conditions so that when the
war ends they will not trade Nazi slavery for American shipowner slavery.
and the fishermen wpuld be pro
tected. The idea of less profits
was, of course, like waving a red
flag at a bull. The wholesalers
went beserk.
Most of the fleets in the three
ports were at sea when the strike
call was issued and the full ef
fect of the tie-up won't be felt for
several days. The mackerel fleet
is not effected as the union ne
gotiated a satisfactory price for
this fish some time ago. Neither
will the Gloucester fleet be ef
fected, as this port's local also
reached a satisfactory agreement
on prices. Those fleets effected
are the Boston fleet with 50 large
boats and 800 men; the New
Bedford fleet with 75 smaller
boats and 800 men; and the New
York fleet with about 30 boats
and 300 men.
—Justice
a.'
-1,1 -,
'S
v. J,
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' Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Kovember 26. 1943 1
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SEAFARERS
Puhlished by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
ApUated xvUh tlx Amsricsfi Vsdsrstion -cf Labor .
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ "Presidenf
110 Mariket Street, Saa Francisco. Calif.
JOHN HAWK - - - - - - - Secy-Treas.
P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City
MATTHEW DUSKANfi - Washhtgton Kep.
424 5 til Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
•www
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS
• 2 Slone St.
..330 Atlantic Ave
,.14 North Cay St
. .6 North 6th St
..25 Commercial PI
..309 Chartres St
..218 East Bay St
..423 East Piatt St
..55 So. Conception. St...
..45 Ponce de Leon
..219 20th Street
. .2021 S. Federal Highway.
NEW YORK (4)
BOSTON (10)
BALTIMORE (2)
PHILADELPHIA
NORFOLK...
NEW ORLEANS (16)
SAVANNAH
TAMPA........a..•*.
MOBILE
PUERTO RICO
GALVESTON
FT. LAUDERDALE....
PHONE
. . BOwling Green 9-3437
..Liberty 405 7
...Calvert 4539
...Lombard 7651
.".Norfolk 4-1083
..Canal 3336
..Savannah 3-1728"
..Tampa MM-1323
...Dial 2-1392
..Puerto cle Tierra
..Galveston 2-8043
..Ft. Lauderdale 1601
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STMET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
267
French Seamen's Union Is
Reorganized; Growing At
Phenominal Rate Of Speed
NEW YORK, (ITF)--The .story
of. .the reconstruction of the
" STench ' Sieainen's Union, is the
story of a fight against fascism
and evidence of the desire of
French merchant seamen all over
the world to reconstruct democ
racy in their native land.
No sooner had CJeneral Charles
deGaulle escaped from France
to England than the French mer
chant ships followed his lead.
Soon after their arrival in Eng
land, the crews of these ships
•got together to form on foreign
soil, the trade union they had
seen made illegal at home. From
June, 1940 until the liberation of
North Africa by allied armies,
these were the only French sea
men "delivering the goods." Many
others, unable to escape, worked
at home in the underground
movement and many were forced
to work for the Vichy Govern
ment.
At the time North Africa was
freed and the larger part of the
French merchant fleet joined the
fleets of all the United Nations,
the men in these ships had no
legal union and almost no or
ganization. Trade unions had
been prohibited by Vichy, both
in France and in North Africa;
Early in the Spring of 1943, sev
eral of these ships came in to
New York harbor for repairs, re
fitting and arming. In almost no
time these seamen had gotten to-
V-762 gether and decided to organize
once more, the union they had
all once been members of. At
the first meeting of the union
held in New Yoik, nearly 350
French seamen attended. This
represented an almost 100% at
tendance with the exception of
those who had to remain on
duty aboard their ships. Enthu-. ballots received
siasm ran high and- once more L^om train, engine and yard ser-
Americah workers have built the greatest navy in the world.
Rail Workers Are
Voting Wdkotrt
these men could look to the fu- vice" workers by the Transporta-
ture with hope. Other, ships fol-Brotherhoods are running
lowed and their crews too, joined ..ai^^st 100 per cent" in favor of
the union. ^ walkout, President D. B. Rob-
But the story in England and ertson of the Locomotive Fire-
America, is not the only one.
Two hundred seamen in Algiers
organized in April the Algerian
Seamen's Union. By May their
number had risen to over five
hundred. In June their example
was followed by the seamen in
Oran with another two hundred
members. News has now reached
the office of the French Seamen's
Union in New York that the va
rious local unions of seamen in
North Africa have joined to
gether and that they are in close
touch with the union in England,
which is affiliated to the Inter
national Transport Workers' Fed-
jeration. Thus, the French sea-
"men have once more been
brought together in the same
union, regardless of the type of
.ship' they sail, or the department
in which they work.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8th TO 13th
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 357 170 281 808
REGISTERED 265 217 240 722
men and Enginemen revealed on
Wednesday.
The early returns are mainly
from roads near the headquarters
of several of the Brotherhoods
and are being tabulated as they
come in. If the present rate of
"yes" votes continues, a , record
majority for a strike \yill he roll
ed up, Robertson predicted.
"The response from these em
ployes demonstrates beyond a
doubt how bitterly the men feel
over the way they have been
treated," Robertson declared.
The Firemen and Enginemen's
chief also made it clear the
unions are "definitely not inter
ested" an an offer of Economic
Stabilizer Fred M. Vinson to
"raise the ante" slightly on the
miserly 4-cent increase awarded
by an Emergency Board to the
workers represented by the five
Brotherhoods.
As reported in another story on
this page, Vinson, in announcing
a sliding, scale of increases rec:
ommended by the board for the
"non-operating" workers, said he
was willing to apply the same
formula to the "operating" group.
That would mean 5 to 6 ceiits an
hour, instead of 4 cents for some
of the operating employes.
J-hom, JhsL o&Aoi PMAJL —
ONE FOR THE BOOK
President Roosevelt has ap
pointed a committee of five to
find oiit about the cost of living.
He doesn't need'a conimittee. He
can jget the dope the way the
Labor Herald gets it—namely,
from the housewives.
He, himself, could go to the
OPA. There; he will learn that
subsidies were given to reduce
the cost of butter by two and
one-half cents per pound. Im
mediately there was little or no
butter. Announcement was made
that there would be plenty of
butter for fall and .winter be
cause the tubs of the armed
forces were full to the overflow
ing. Butler got scarcer and
scarcer. Now the OPA announces
the price of butter is to be ad
vanced six cents per pound.
The President has appointed a
committee to inquire into all
these details and thousands
more. Safe bet! The committee
will bring in a report that every
thing is fine and dandy and
working people are a worthless
lot for wanting butter on- their
bread. That has been the sys
tem so far. We expect no imme-
'diaite change.
—Lal»r Herald
"We're interested in fairness,
not in handouts," Robertson" as
serted. "Our men want decent
itreatment, not stuff such as that.
They're more angry and resent
ful than they have been in years."
THOSE "STABS IN !
THE BACK'*
Dispatches received in only
one (lay this month told of the
return of 24,000 striking' aircr^
makers in Britain and the settle
ment of two coaL strikes involv-,
ing 6,000 men, with a strike (jf
Scotch shipbuilders looming. We
don't hear so much nowadays
about how British workers stanii
for any old thing "to win thb
war," with the war right in their,
front yard.
That old gag has died out, anfl
our people are beginning to sus
pect that maybe the Briffsib;
workers know a few things
about war from close acquaint
ance, That the winning of' this,
or any other war, can be helped
or speeded by submission to in
dustrial tyranny has never been
proved. It's just assumed' by
loud-talking Babbits who are
sitting this war out, as they sat
the last one out^—and grabbing
big profits for sitting.
» » »
Over here "Wb are still told
that this or that strike maj' cause
the death of an American soldier.
But there is not and never was,
one proved casualty in the Amer
ican Army caused by any lack
of arms or ammunition becauM
of an industrial stoppage.
—United Mine Workers Journal
Kdep In Touch With '
Draft Board ].
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;;fW-: - i-
Friday, November 26, 1943 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three i
r,w-
WHAT'S DOnifG
Around the Porte
MOBILE
1
Weil brothers, I-have just had
the pleasure of giving a gander
to the greatest piece of exagger
ation that was ever placed on
'paper with printer's ink. And be
lieve me brothers, I have seen
sojme • awful misconstruance of
the facts by this element. The
title of this mastcl'picce is, "The
NMU, What. It. Is And What It
Does." This book is suppose to
be put up by the educational
committee of the National Mari
time Union and published by one
Leo Huberman.
.Now the average youngster
that just recently came into the
n;aritime industry knows little or
nothing about this set-up. He
•w'puld read this book and natur
ally assume that the NMU was
really responsible for the wages
and working conditions that the
seamen are enjoying on the
ships today.
-Now for the average layman
that don't know the score, I will
try to define this suppose-to-be
labor organization known as the
NMU. We will take it in the or
der of the title. First, this NMU
is only one chapter of a large
drama which consumed a - very
long time for a number of play
wrights to turn out. They com
pleted it in 1917 and titled it
Bolshevism and later on they
titled it Communism. The heads
of the playwrights were changed
from time to time, the head of
them now is one, Joe Stalin.
• Then it became the problem of
•their salesmen to sell-this drania
to the poor working stiffs of the
world. The program was to sell
this - play to three industries,
mainly, the transportation indus
try, the communication industry
and the publication industry.
Their conception was if they
could accomplish this feat they
would have the world by the tail
on a down hill drag. They tried
to sell their slush for years under
the guise of the Maritime Work
ers Industrial Union, but could
not get in the groove with this
moniker. So, at the Moscow
convention in 1935 the commis
sars decided to take anothep
tack, so they came out with a
new program. This was subse
quent to the collective bargain
ing election on the Pacific Coast
in 1934 to determine who would
be the collective agency to bar
gain for workers. Then the In
ternational Longshoreman's As
sociation and The International
Seamen's Union was declared the
bargaining agents by the work
ers.
The program was to instruct
all fellow-travelers and commie
stooge's to join these two organi
zations and disrupt the organiza
tions and discredit the officials
until they could take control of
these organizations.
Around about this time was a
bird by the name of Joe Curran
who was working in the Grace
Line shore gang in New YoTk for
$.50 an hour when the scale
of pay for painters in New York
at that time was $1.00 an hour.
]^e joined the Eastern & Gulf
Sailors Association of the Inter
national Seamen Union. Reason
was that The International Sea
men Union had a contract with
Grace Line. He joined the Union
in May 1935 and never paid any
more dues until September. He
got himself in bad standing im
mediately, which is bad and very
rotten unionism in anyone's
uniori. Now this was the man
that they singled out to lead this
herd. You can draw your own
conclusion.
They continued on their pro
gram until some time in 1937
when this element was cited for
using the name of the Interna
tional Seamen Union to collect
the union's funds on the union
books. Then overnight the Na
tional Maritime Union was born.
Joe Curran placed head of it and
that's what the NMU is. Now
any old timer is well acquainted
with these facts but the new
comers to the industry are not
and this is for their benefit.
Later on we will see if we can
define what the NMU does, and
until that time brothers, try to
keep her in the channel.
OLDEN BANKS, Agent
TAMPA
From the looks of the other
branche.s' minutes the voting has
not begun so very strong. I sup
pose that in the near future
when the convoys come in things
will pick up some. We have
quite a few members in this
branch and I have to raise hell to
get a balloting committee to
serve. After the voting is over
you will hear all kinds of hell
raised because some so-and-so
got in office.
Well, if they would take as
much interest in their voting as
they do in condemning the offi
cials that are now in office and
the new ones that will be install
ed, probably we would have a
union that would be a super-du-
per. It seems to me that quite a
number of our members are not
taking their union to heart as
they once did, maybe it is due
to the war or the swift pace that
we are now travelling.
The USS and the Conunies
opened up the new place here on
the 31st of October and from
what I can read in the papers
they had quite a blowout. Bro.
Swanson of the NMU was one of
the main speakers, and Senator
Pepper, who is well known for
his anti-labor activities in this
state. Oh, by the way, Swanson
has taken to the Cement Block
(One of the new cement ships
that are being built here) as
Boatswain. It seems that the
man with the long whiskers gave
him a notice to go to sea or be
drafted.
A West Coast ship was in the
other day from a six month trip
and they paid off without many
beefs and continued their way
back to the coast with first class
transportation. The ship was
turned over to the Navy and be
lieve me they, got a nice looking
ship.
Quite a few of the Tampa boys
are back from a long trip and
they seem to be very happy to
get back to the Palmettos and
orange groves where they can
spread the bull without any in-
teruption from the Yanks.
Shipping here is very slow but
we do a little dues business, now
and then. Wonder how 'Bro.
Army is making out with the
Flagship of the Waterman Fleet,
Part Orleans. I want him to take
care of that ship as she is the
pride and, joy of the Tampa
Branch (Sometimes).
From all the information, the
Bull Line is going to take one of
the floating brick bats that is
coming out of the yard in the
near future. That's all for this
week.
D. L. PARKER, Agent
Th^ 99 Yeair Club
Oh, come with me to the NMU
And see. Club 99,
It's there you'll meet the oidtimers
With strike cards sublime.
The men who built the NMtX
Shall rrieet you at the door,^
Yes, you shall meet the real men
And you shall learn the score.
Yes, a famous Club of the NMU
Is that called 99,
No Communist faker in the lot
So do not waste your time.
No agents of Joseph Stalin there
No bums froni Browder's knee.
No draft dodging Commie windbags
But men who sail the sea.
How do you join Club 99?
Well, here is what you do.
While on an NMU madhouse
Just praise the SIU,
Or call Joe Curran a liar
Or the Communist line a fake
Then you're a candidate for the Club
A brother on the make.
Just say "to hell with Stalin"
And the door is opened wide
For the Commie rats ride every ship
And o'er your thoughts preside.
Or wonder where, your cash has gone
The millions of the past
Of Murray Stein and the Party bums
And you are there at last.
—Top an' Lift.
NEW SOCtAU SECUR1TY'TAX*6IVES YOU:
seA/ff/rs; lot/eex PAYpmoos.
PAYMPAfr eyppy iY££f( rap g$ tv££ASs
Sk IF PVAiOi ALLOW.. "
INCREASED INCOME OR SALES TAX 6IVES YOU:
PO /MPP0y£Af£P7S: 8£/Y££/7S P£AfA/M.
SMALL: PAY P£P/00 Sf/opn •
PAVPPPiODS e/yrrp /u
osoAuye TO /e w££ps., ^ |
This chart shows unemployment benefits for a married man
who earns $40 a week in a factory and supports a family of
four. Left: Benefits under Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill. Right:
If sales or income tax is imposed instead. The worker will
receive only those benefits now in effect under state laws.
(AFL Labor's Monthly Survey chart via Federated Pictures)
ILGWU Would Scrap
Little Steel Policy
Scrapping of the "arbitrary
and rigid Little Steel formula to
make room for a more flexible
wage policy" to meet the needs
of workers and consumers was
demanded by the general execu
tive board of the International
Ladies Garment Workers Union
in a resolution made public yes
terday by David Dubinsky, pre.s-
ident of the union.
"The only real effect of the
Little Steel formula to date has
been the practical freezing of
wages," the resolution declared.
"Stabilization of living costs, as
every consumer knows, is largely
wishful thinking, while the true
inflationary forces, the industrial
combines which control living
necessities, are having a field
day.
"We demand that the arbitrary
and rigid Little Steel formula be
scrapped to make room for a
more flexible wage policy
NEW AGREEMENTS
CONCLUDED
The New York office of the In
ternational Transport Workers
Federation reports the conclus
ion, in London, of new and more
favorable agreements for the
members of the National Union
of British Seamen. The new pact
provides a standard overtime
rate for all foreign-going ships
Df two shillings, three pence fo?
carpenters, bosuns and donkey-
men, two shillings for other se
nior ratings and one shilling for
seamen with junior ratings. The
overtime is to apply to all ves
sels and crew members in all de
partments.
The steward department per
sonnel also have won an improv
ed working schedule w h i c H
shortens their hours and provid
es them with more consecutive
time off. Compensation for loss
of effects has been almost doubl
ed for British seamen by the new
agreement which now sets the
allowance at twenty-five pounds.
SIU And Tanker Members
On West Coast
Central Registeringr and Dispatching Office
Open in SUP Headquarters at San Francisco
For SIU Members and T, C/s in
Deck, Engine and Steward Departments
Increased shipping on West Coast by SIU members
has made it necessary to open a separate and complete
business ofRce to be devoted solely to registering and car
ing for the needs of SIU members in all departments.
.^1 SIU members in San Francisco are required to im
mediately register in SIU office at 59 Clay St. SIU members
in SUP Branches on the West Coast are to register in the
respective SUP Office and receive an SIU shipping card.
SIU shipping cards will have preference on SIU ships and
will be recognized by all SUP Dispatchers. SIU Deck mem
bers will have second preference when SUP members are
available.
For Further Information:
Call your union offices and tanker organizers at the
addresses listed below. You will always finds somebody at
these numbers exceptmg at night.
SEATTLE, WASH.—86 Seneca St.—Phone Elliott 6752.
—^E. Coester or Johnson.
PORTLAND, OREGON—111 West Burnside St.—Phone
Beacon 4336—John Massey or C. Atkins.
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA—257 Fifth St.—Phone Rich
mond 4021—^Louie Glebe or Banks.
VANCOUVER, B. C.—340 B. Gamble St.—Phone Pacific
7824—^Hugh Murphy.
WILMINGTON, California — 440 Avalon Blvd. —Phone
4449.
NEW YORK CITY — 105 Broad St. — Phone BOwling
Green 9-9530—Morris Weisberger.
SAN FRANCISCO—59 Clay St.—Phone Exbrook 8229—
Phil Conley.
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Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 26, 1943
r
AFL WINS VITAL TEST CASES
Relea^ 20 Greek
Seamen; Open New
Maritime Club
BASAAR
{Continued from Page 1)
iners Club in New. York, •a joint
enterprise of the U. S. and Greek
governments. The club home, it
was explained, offers ample
housing facilities and cai-e for the
men imtil their departure from
the United States.
Official opening of the Greek
Mariners Club, located at West
59th St., took place on Monday,
November 15, 6:30 P.M. The
Greek Ambassador Simeon Dia-
mantopoulos, Archibishop Athen-
agoras. Mayor La Guardia, Mr.
Marshall E. Dimock, assistant
deputy administrator of the
WSA, attended the dedication
ceremonies.
The club has housing, rest and
restaurant facilities for about 80
seamen and is managed by a
board of directors composed of
American and Greek shipping
officials, representatives of the
Greek-American community, the
shipowners and the Greek Mari
time Union. "The new club en
joys the wholehearted support of
the American and Greek author
ities and all other interested
groups," Mr. Taylor said. "We
look forward to an era of fruitful
activities. These activities, I am
sure, will not only be of benefit
to our seamen but also strength
en the bonds between the Ameri
can and Greek peoples."
"Stop it, Helen, the OPA just froze you at 97 cents."
y-/S9-'/a Drmpn for OtPce of War Information
MONEY DUE
Blddle Would Tighten
Law Against Stowaways
Attorney General Francis Bid-
die has requested Congress to
strengthen existing laws against
ship stowaways by rewording
the Act of June 11, 1940, to make
it clear that anyone who stows
away on certain merchant ves
sels has committed a criminal
offense, whether or not he is ap
prehended before disembarking.
The Attorney General's recom
mendation, which was contained
in a letter sent to the Speaker of
the Kouse of Representatives, a
few days ago, pointed out that
existing law assumes that a
stowaway will be apprehended
before leaving the ship, but
leaves some doubts as to the
status of anyone who stows
away successfully and is not dis
covered until after he has left
the ship.
Mr. Biddle proposed that Con
gress clear up the matter by
striking out a clause that anyone
who has illegally secreted him
self aboard a United States ship
shall be considered guilty of an
offense if he is "found * * at
or before the time of arrival of
such ves-sel." With this deletion
it would be possible for the At
torney General's office to pro
ceed against any stowaway on
an American ship discovered
within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The communication from Mr.
Biddle has been turned over to
V the House Committee on Mer
chant Marine and Fisheries.
The logging of the Steward's
Department of the S.S. Daniel
Willard has been reversed by the
Commissioner after a lengthy
trial. The men involved can col
lect their extra meal money and
log refund from Calmar Line
Office.
Extra meal money on S.S. Mel
ville is now payable at the Pier
25 office of the Eastern S.S. Co.
The men involved are:
G. Lynch, Cook
W. Williams, Cook
G. Ellis, Utility
Barnes, Messman
Yancey, Messman
» St
Following brothers have over
time coming from Bull Line:
Roland Stradling 138 hrs.
James Smalls 100 hrs.
Robert Stackhouse 100 hrs.
Pete Sudol 85 hrs.
John Pritchard 35 hrs.
Albert Myers 20 hrs.
St * St
The following crew members
of the S.S. William Pepper have
overtime coming from Calmar
Line, 39 Broadway, New York
City:
Harry Justice
Herbert Watson
Joseph Sleczkowski
George Cuddy
William Harden
P. Yurick
* « •
The following crew members
of the S.S. Steelore have over
time and extra meal money due:
Wilton Shaw
Gerald Usher
Jordan Smith
Wilbert Williams
Injurin Devonish
* • •
Extra meals money is payable
to entire Steward Department of
S.S. Kenmar. Collect Calmar
Line. 39 Broadway, New York
City.
SHIP NAMED
FOR HUDDELL
WASHINGTON — Upon the
suggestion of William Green,
President of AFL, the name of
Arthur M. Huddell, one-time
president of the International
Union of Operating Engineers, is
to be given to a Liberty ship
now under construction.
Recognized as a leader of the
labor movement in the early part
of the century, Huddell, who was
born at Danvers, Mass., in 1869,
served as president of the Boston
Central Labor Union and organ
izer for the International Union
of Operating Engineers, Commis
sioner of Old Age Pensions of
Massachusetts, Civil Service
Commissioner from 1918 to 1922,
president of the Boston Building
and Construction Trades Council,
1910, and business agent for the
Building and Construction Trades
Council of Boston from 1911 to
1918. He became General Presi
dent of the Operating Engineers
in 1921 and served in that cap
acity until his death in 1931.
Marine Insurance Cut
WASHINGTON—• Reduced for
the second time in little more
than 3 months, the rate for Gov
ernment war risk insurance on
officers and seamen in the Mer
chant Marine is now $2, the War
Shipping A d m i nistration an
nounces. Until July 15 the pre
mium rate per $1000 of insurance
in addition to the $5,000 insur
ance furnished by the Govern
ment, was $7.50 per month. On
that date it was cut to $4. The
second reduction is in line with
making life insurance against
war risks and certain specified
marine perils more easily avail
able to merchant ship crews and
reflects diminished peril of Axis
attacks at sea.
Knocks Out
Anti-Labor
Act In Fla.
Foes of -labor who have been
ti-ying to destroy unions through
court action and legislation, state
by state, suffered one of their
most important reversals this
week at the hands of the Florida
Supreme Court.
That tribunal threw out a suit
started by Attorney General Tom
Watson to outlaw, closed shop
union agreements with the Tam
pa Shipbuilding Company and
other plants in the Everglade
State.
With the support of reaction
ary newspapers, Watson has been
crusading against unions for the
past few years and climaxed his
campaign by litigating to break
the A. F. of L. contract with
Tampa Shipbuilding. He won
out in a lower state court, but
met his "Waterloo" in the high
court.
DEFENDS AGREEMENT
All of Watson's arguments
against closed shop agreements
were demolished in the opinion.
Such agreements, the tribunal
held, are neither contrary to pub
lic policy nor in violation of the
state constitution. They are sus
tained by such Federal laws as
the Norris-La Guardia Act, Sher
man Anti-Trust Act and the
Wagner Act, the court pointed
out.
"Furlhermore, we find no
proof that compliance with
the contract has resulted in
a retardation of the war ef-
ford," the court said in punc
turing another claim of Wat
son.
"The parties may negotiate
any contracts not contrary to law
or good morals. Management is
free to hire only union men if it
chooses. Likewise, labor is free
to work only with union men if
it chooses."
BLOW FOR LABOR-HATERS
Joseph A. Padway, A. F. of L.
general counsel, who argued the
case for the unions in the court,
declared the decision strikes a
powerful blow against anti-labor
forces throughout the nation.
It will help, he said, in defeat
ing an amendment to the Florida
state constitution barring closed
shops, which will be voted upon
in a referendum next fall. The
amendment was submitted by
the last state legislature.
Padway added that "this rul
ing gives us new ammunition in
our battle to knock out laws in
other states which have been
designed to wreck unions by re
stricting or prohibiting closed
shop agreements."
'iA-Sonals
Brother Frank Donnally is laid
up in Ellis Island Hospital in
New York. He would like to re
ceive a visit from any of his old
shipmates. He is in Ward 25.
Closed Shop
Is Upheld
By WLB
WASHINGTON — The WLB
has unanimously ordered that a
union shop clause be retained id
a contract between the Webe?
Showcase and Fixture Co. of Los
Angeles and four AFL building
trades unions.
The company had claimed that
the union shop clause and the
contract were terminated when
the union asked for a reopening
of the contract under a provision
giving either party the right to
serve notice of a desire to "mo
dify, amend or terminate it."
The WLB found that, on the
contrary, the record showed that
the union's intent was not to ter
minate the contract, but to mo
dify and amend it. The Board
therefore ordered employees who
were hired during the period in
which the company claimed that
t was not bound by the union
shop clauses, to become members
of the union in good standing
within two weeks or seek jobs
elsewhere.
Wayne L. Morse, public mem
ber, in an opinion outlining the
reasons for the WLB's action,
said that the Board was aware
that the company had hired d
arge number of employees re
cently who did not become union
members, but this did not justify
the Board's setting aside a union
shop clause which it found had
never expired.
"It is unfortunate that the com
pany has hired such a largie •
number of non-union employees
n direct violation of its contrac
tual obligations to the union,"
Morse said. "The fact that the
company may lose their services
is unfortunate but not nearly as
unfortunate as the situation
would be if the company were
allowed to defeat the legitimate
rights of the union in the man
ner it has attempted to in this
case ..."
The Board urged union officials
to grant every reasonable con-*
cession to provide those em
ployees who join the union with
in the two-week period ample
time to pay the union's initiation
fee. Dean Morse said. Dues for'
such employees will start from
the time of the Board's order.
The unions in the case are lo
cals of the Sheet Metal Workers'
International Association, Re
frigeration Fitters, Welders and
Apprentices, Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paper-
hangers of America, and the
United Brotherhood of Carpen
ters and Joiners of America.
The Weber Company, which
formerly produced fixtures, now
manufactures airplane wings and
employes more than 1,200 peo
ple, .twice as many as before the
war.
^
Honor Roll
CREW S. S.
RICHARD RUSH $15.00
N. WERNERSON 5.00
C. GORING 4.00
E. MAULE 2.00
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SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
Vol. y. NEW YORK, N.Y.. FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 26, 1943 No. 34
Censors Ease
Restriction
On News
WASHINGTON — A twelve-
point program designed to relax
many of the restrictions now
placed upon steamship operators,
the War Shipping Administra
tion and the unions with respect
to release of information con
cerning the activities of the war
time merchant marine, has been
completed and will become effec
tive immediately, it was learned
this week.
The program is the result of
negotiations between the War
Shipping Administration, the
Navy and the Office of Censor
ship and represents the first time
since the outbreak of the war
that there has been any relaxa
tion of the restrictions which
have heretofore been imposed
upon merchant ship operations.
;AS an exeriment, the War
Shipping Administration releas
ed four press releases, which
were checked by the Office of
War Information and with the
Navy. These stories, the WSA
points out, "unfreeze" the fol
lowing twelve features, formerly
untold under interpretations of
the code or sometimes told in
part by the Navy about a "cargo
ship";
Release by WSA.
Name and type of ship.
Enemy action or special
event.
General location.
Approximate date.
Names of personneL
Addresses of personnel.
Comment by captain or
others.
Name of operator or agent.
Name of yard where built.
When launched.
Structural reliability.
Although the twelve-point pro
gram as it now stands is not a
complete relaxation of code re-
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
.8-
9.
10.
11.
12.
ARMY MAN LAUDS
OUR FIGHT FOR
CONDITIONS
Nov. 2. 1943
Editor:
Dear Brother:
Copies of the LOG are com
ing really on time and each
succeeding issue seems better
than the last. I was more than
impressed upon reading the
last issue and seeing that our
Union is still in there fighting
despite bureaucratic pressure.
I was disheartened upon hear
ing of the Sabotage of the se
curity watch program but
now I see that the shipowners
are paying through the nose
for that.
I had occasion to speak to
the crew of a ship that pulled
in here recently. Half were
NMU and the others were
RMO. The NMU boys were
pretty well disgusted with the
whole set-up and I showed
them a copy of the LOG and
pointed out the many bonuses
our crews are still collecting
even after being paid off. They
said they were going over to
the SIU when they returned
and in doing so, they would
know how they stood on
unionism.
I'm enclosing a $5 donation
and wish I could make it
more. Although I'm taking
War Bonds, I feel that our
Union stands for the same
principles and security.
Steady a^ she goes.
Fraternally yours,
Sgt. Dimitri J. Keigis
Co. A. 562nd Maintenance
APO 503—c/o P. M.
San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic Fishermen Call
Strike For Living Wage
Faced with the breakdown of union-governmcnt-industry negotiations for an in
creased price for their catch, the Atlantic Fishermen's Union, SIU, pulled the pins on
the New York, Boston and New Bedford fleets this week. This strike followed months
of fruitless negotiations with the fish wholesalers and the OPA, and followed the taking
of an official strike vote following a "cooling off" period as demanded by the Smith-
Release 20 Greek
Seamen; Open New
Maritime Club
strictions, it is understood that as
Allied progress is made in both
Europe and in the Pacific other
provisions which now affect se
curity:-will be lifted. It is under
stood that work is continuing be
tween the three departments
along these lines.
NEW YORK, (ITF) — Twenty
Greek seamen have been releas
ed from federal detention at Ellis
Island in response to representa
tions by the Greek Maritime
Welfare Committee and the
Greek Maritime Union, it was
announced this week at the Com
mittee's offices, 18 East 41st St.
Eleven men will soon ship out
aboard Green and other Allied
merchant vessels while the rest
are expected to join the Greek
Navy.
The decision of the federal
authorities, according to a com
mittee spokesman, followed an
investigation of the men's com
plaints by a-delegation composed
of Mr. Christopher S. Stephano,
chairman of the G.M.W.C., Pe-
tros Spiridacos, secretary of the
Greek Maritime Union, and a
representative of the U. S. Im
migration Department.
The immigration officials, sat
isfied with the assurance given,
have paroled the men into the
custody of the Recruitment and
Manning Organization of the
War Shipping Administration. It
was suggested in maritime circles
that as a matter of future pro
cedure, all Greek seamen re
leased from federal custody be
turned over to the Greek Mar-
{Continued on Page 4)
^Connally Bill.
During the past week Patrick
McHugh, Secretary-Treasurer of
the union, had spent several days
in Washington confering with
industry representatives and of
ficials of the OPA, He presented
figures proving that the fisher
men were not able to maintain
an American standard of living
under present OPA price ceil
ings.
Many OPA officials resisted
the granting of an increase in
catch price on the excuse that it
would increase the cost of living
for the consumer. This would
only be true if the wholesalers
were allowed to pass along to the
consumer the small increase
asked by the union. Were the
wholesalers forced to cut their
profits a bit, both the consumer
11 SIU Men Prisoners Of War
RUFUS E. STOUGH, Cook
1419% Terpsichore St.
New Orleans, La.
HENRY B. WILSON, AB
422 Grand Ave.
Cumberland, Maine
ALFRED S. KATZ, Utility
2971 Ford St.
Brooklyn, New York
WILLIAM E.'LEAVER, FOW
Natasulga, Alabama
GEORGE A. RIGGINS, Wiper
210 Drumont Place
Norfolk, Virginia
MANUEL M. LEDESMA,
Messman
Honolulu, T. H.
FRED G. STILLWELL,
Pumpman
Gresham, Oregon
CARL G. RYDBERG. OS
Hilo, T. H.
PAUL PETRO, OS
447 Mathews Street
Gary, Indiana
EARL SPEAR, Chief Steward
920 Galier Street
New Orleans, La.
WILLIAM R. SMITH, Oiler
5700 Palisades Ave.
West New York, N. J.
The above brothers have been listed as prisoners of war by the Navy Department.
Most of these men were torpedoed while delivering war goods to Europe, and were sub
sequently captured and interned by the Nazis. The SIU is now taking steps to send
them packages of food and tobacco, and will do all in its power to see that they receive
such aid as is possible under the circumstances.
However much these brothers will appreciate the smokes we send them, we are cer
tain that their greatest desire will be that we maintain union conditions so that when the
war ends they will not trade Nazi slavery for American shipowner slavery.
and the fishermen wpuld be pro
tected. The idea of less profits
was, of course, like waving a red
flag at a bull. The wholesalers
went beserk.
Most of the fleets in the three
ports were at sea when the strike
call was issued and the full ef
fect of the tie-up won't be felt for
several days. The mackerel fleet
is not effected as the union ne
gotiated a satisfactory price for
this fish some time ago. Neither
will the Gloucester fleet be ef
fected, as this port's local also
reached a satisfactory agreement
on prices. Those fleets effected
are the Boston fleet with 50 large
boats and 800 men; the New
Bedford fleet with 75 smaller
boats and 800 men; and the New
York fleet with about 30 boats
and 300 men.
—Justice
a.'
-1,1 -,
'S
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wsEiwc-^raesi
' Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, Kovember 26. 1943 1
S-'i
iv-
I
ft"
f ll:
SEAFARERS
Puhlished by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
ApUated xvUh tlx Amsricsfi Vsdsrstion -cf Labor .
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ "Presidenf
110 Mariket Street, Saa Francisco. Calif.
JOHN HAWK - - - - - - - Secy-Treas.
P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City
MATTHEW DUSKANfi - Washhtgton Kep.
424 5 til Street, N. W., Washington, D. C.
•www
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS
• 2 Slone St.
..330 Atlantic Ave
,.14 North Cay St
. .6 North 6th St
..25 Commercial PI
..309 Chartres St
..218 East Bay St
..423 East Piatt St
..55 So. Conception. St...
..45 Ponce de Leon
..219 20th Street
. .2021 S. Federal Highway.
NEW YORK (4)
BOSTON (10)
BALTIMORE (2)
PHILADELPHIA
NORFOLK...
NEW ORLEANS (16)
SAVANNAH
TAMPA........a..•*.
MOBILE
PUERTO RICO
GALVESTON
FT. LAUDERDALE....
PHONE
. . BOwling Green 9-3437
..Liberty 405 7
...Calvert 4539
...Lombard 7651
.".Norfolk 4-1083
..Canal 3336
..Savannah 3-1728"
..Tampa MM-1323
...Dial 2-1392
..Puerto cle Tierra
..Galveston 2-8043
..Ft. Lauderdale 1601
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STMET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
267
French Seamen's Union Is
Reorganized; Growing At
Phenominal Rate Of Speed
NEW YORK, (ITF)--The .story
of. .the reconstruction of the
" STench ' Sieainen's Union, is the
story of a fight against fascism
and evidence of the desire of
French merchant seamen all over
the world to reconstruct democ
racy in their native land.
No sooner had CJeneral Charles
deGaulle escaped from France
to England than the French mer
chant ships followed his lead.
Soon after their arrival in Eng
land, the crews of these ships
•got together to form on foreign
soil, the trade union they had
seen made illegal at home. From
June, 1940 until the liberation of
North Africa by allied armies,
these were the only French sea
men "delivering the goods." Many
others, unable to escape, worked
at home in the underground
movement and many were forced
to work for the Vichy Govern
ment.
At the time North Africa was
freed and the larger part of the
French merchant fleet joined the
fleets of all the United Nations,
the men in these ships had no
legal union and almost no or
ganization. Trade unions had
been prohibited by Vichy, both
in France and in North Africa;
Early in the Spring of 1943, sev
eral of these ships came in to
New York harbor for repairs, re
fitting and arming. In almost no
time these seamen had gotten to-
V-762 gether and decided to organize
once more, the union they had
all once been members of. At
the first meeting of the union
held in New Yoik, nearly 350
French seamen attended. This
represented an almost 100% at
tendance with the exception of
those who had to remain on
duty aboard their ships. Enthu-. ballots received
siasm ran high and- once more L^om train, engine and yard ser-
Americah workers have built the greatest navy in the world.
Rail Workers Are
Voting Wdkotrt
these men could look to the fu- vice" workers by the Transporta-
ture with hope. Other, ships fol-Brotherhoods are running
lowed and their crews too, joined ..ai^^st 100 per cent" in favor of
the union. ^ walkout, President D. B. Rob-
But the story in England and ertson of the Locomotive Fire-
America, is not the only one.
Two hundred seamen in Algiers
organized in April the Algerian
Seamen's Union. By May their
number had risen to over five
hundred. In June their example
was followed by the seamen in
Oran with another two hundred
members. News has now reached
the office of the French Seamen's
Union in New York that the va
rious local unions of seamen in
North Africa have joined to
gether and that they are in close
touch with the union in England,
which is affiliated to the Inter
national Transport Workers' Fed-
jeration. Thus, the French sea-
"men have once more been
brought together in the same
union, regardless of the type of
.ship' they sail, or the department
in which they work.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
WEEK OF NOVEMBER 8th TO 13th
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 357 170 281 808
REGISTERED 265 217 240 722
men and Enginemen revealed on
Wednesday.
The early returns are mainly
from roads near the headquarters
of several of the Brotherhoods
and are being tabulated as they
come in. If the present rate of
"yes" votes continues, a , record
majority for a strike \yill he roll
ed up, Robertson predicted.
"The response from these em
ployes demonstrates beyond a
doubt how bitterly the men feel
over the way they have been
treated," Robertson declared.
The Firemen and Enginemen's
chief also made it clear the
unions are "definitely not inter
ested" an an offer of Economic
Stabilizer Fred M. Vinson to
"raise the ante" slightly on the
miserly 4-cent increase awarded
by an Emergency Board to the
workers represented by the five
Brotherhoods.
As reported in another story on
this page, Vinson, in announcing
a sliding, scale of increases rec:
ommended by the board for the
"non-operating" workers, said he
was willing to apply the same
formula to the "operating" group.
That would mean 5 to 6 ceiits an
hour, instead of 4 cents for some
of the operating employes.
J-hom, JhsL o&Aoi PMAJL —
ONE FOR THE BOOK
President Roosevelt has ap
pointed a committee of five to
find oiit about the cost of living.
He doesn't need'a conimittee. He
can jget the dope the way the
Labor Herald gets it—namely,
from the housewives.
He, himself, could go to the
OPA. There; he will learn that
subsidies were given to reduce
the cost of butter by two and
one-half cents per pound. Im
mediately there was little or no
butter. Announcement was made
that there would be plenty of
butter for fall and .winter be
cause the tubs of the armed
forces were full to the overflow
ing. Butler got scarcer and
scarcer. Now the OPA announces
the price of butter is to be ad
vanced six cents per pound.
The President has appointed a
committee to inquire into all
these details and thousands
more. Safe bet! The committee
will bring in a report that every
thing is fine and dandy and
working people are a worthless
lot for wanting butter on- their
bread. That has been the sys
tem so far. We expect no imme-
'diaite change.
—Lal»r Herald
"We're interested in fairness,
not in handouts," Robertson" as
serted. "Our men want decent
itreatment, not stuff such as that.
They're more angry and resent
ful than they have been in years."
THOSE "STABS IN !
THE BACK'*
Dispatches received in only
one (lay this month told of the
return of 24,000 striking' aircr^
makers in Britain and the settle
ment of two coaL strikes involv-,
ing 6,000 men, with a strike (jf
Scotch shipbuilders looming. We
don't hear so much nowadays
about how British workers stanii
for any old thing "to win thb
war," with the war right in their,
front yard.
That old gag has died out, anfl
our people are beginning to sus
pect that maybe the Briffsib;
workers know a few things
about war from close acquaint
ance, That the winning of' this,
or any other war, can be helped
or speeded by submission to in
dustrial tyranny has never been
proved. It's just assumed' by
loud-talking Babbits who are
sitting this war out, as they sat
the last one out^—and grabbing
big profits for sitting.
» » »
Over here "Wb are still told
that this or that strike maj' cause
the death of an American soldier.
But there is not and never was,
one proved casualty in the Amer
ican Army caused by any lack
of arms or ammunition becauM
of an industrial stoppage.
—United Mine Workers Journal
Kdep In Touch With '
Draft Board ].
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;;fW-: - i-
Friday, November 26, 1943 THE SEAFARERS LOG Page Three i
r,w-
WHAT'S DOnifG
Around the Porte
MOBILE
1
Weil brothers, I-have just had
the pleasure of giving a gander
to the greatest piece of exagger
ation that was ever placed on
'paper with printer's ink. And be
lieve me brothers, I have seen
sojme • awful misconstruance of
the facts by this element. The
title of this mastcl'picce is, "The
NMU, What. It. Is And What It
Does." This book is suppose to
be put up by the educational
committee of the National Mari
time Union and published by one
Leo Huberman.
.Now the average youngster
that just recently came into the
n;aritime industry knows little or
nothing about this set-up. He
•w'puld read this book and natur
ally assume that the NMU was
really responsible for the wages
and working conditions that the
seamen are enjoying on the
ships today.
-Now for the average layman
that don't know the score, I will
try to define this suppose-to-be
labor organization known as the
NMU. We will take it in the or
der of the title. First, this NMU
is only one chapter of a large
drama which consumed a - very
long time for a number of play
wrights to turn out. They com
pleted it in 1917 and titled it
Bolshevism and later on they
titled it Communism. The heads
of the playwrights were changed
from time to time, the head of
them now is one, Joe Stalin.
• Then it became the problem of
•their salesmen to sell-this drania
to the poor working stiffs of the
world. The program was to sell
this - play to three industries,
mainly, the transportation indus
try, the communication industry
and the publication industry.
Their conception was if they
could accomplish this feat they
would have the world by the tail
on a down hill drag. They tried
to sell their slush for years under
the guise of the Maritime Work
ers Industrial Union, but could
not get in the groove with this
moniker. So, at the Moscow
convention in 1935 the commis
sars decided to take anothep
tack, so they came out with a
new program. This was subse
quent to the collective bargain
ing election on the Pacific Coast
in 1934 to determine who would
be the collective agency to bar
gain for workers. Then the In
ternational Longshoreman's As
sociation and The International
Seamen's Union was declared the
bargaining agents by the work
ers.
The program was to instruct
all fellow-travelers and commie
stooge's to join these two organi
zations and disrupt the organiza
tions and discredit the officials
until they could take control of
these organizations.
Around about this time was a
bird by the name of Joe Curran
who was working in the Grace
Line shore gang in New YoTk for
$.50 an hour when the scale
of pay for painters in New York
at that time was $1.00 an hour.
]^e joined the Eastern & Gulf
Sailors Association of the Inter
national Seamen Union. Reason
was that The International Sea
men Union had a contract with
Grace Line. He joined the Union
in May 1935 and never paid any
more dues until September. He
got himself in bad standing im
mediately, which is bad and very
rotten unionism in anyone's
uniori. Now this was the man
that they singled out to lead this
herd. You can draw your own
conclusion.
They continued on their pro
gram until some time in 1937
when this element was cited for
using the name of the Interna
tional Seamen Union to collect
the union's funds on the union
books. Then overnight the Na
tional Maritime Union was born.
Joe Curran placed head of it and
that's what the NMU is. Now
any old timer is well acquainted
with these facts but the new
comers to the industry are not
and this is for their benefit.
Later on we will see if we can
define what the NMU does, and
until that time brothers, try to
keep her in the channel.
OLDEN BANKS, Agent
TAMPA
From the looks of the other
branche.s' minutes the voting has
not begun so very strong. I sup
pose that in the near future
when the convoys come in things
will pick up some. We have
quite a few members in this
branch and I have to raise hell to
get a balloting committee to
serve. After the voting is over
you will hear all kinds of hell
raised because some so-and-so
got in office.
Well, if they would take as
much interest in their voting as
they do in condemning the offi
cials that are now in office and
the new ones that will be install
ed, probably we would have a
union that would be a super-du-
per. It seems to me that quite a
number of our members are not
taking their union to heart as
they once did, maybe it is due
to the war or the swift pace that
we are now travelling.
The USS and the Conunies
opened up the new place here on
the 31st of October and from
what I can read in the papers
they had quite a blowout. Bro.
Swanson of the NMU was one of
the main speakers, and Senator
Pepper, who is well known for
his anti-labor activities in this
state. Oh, by the way, Swanson
has taken to the Cement Block
(One of the new cement ships
that are being built here) as
Boatswain. It seems that the
man with the long whiskers gave
him a notice to go to sea or be
drafted.
A West Coast ship was in the
other day from a six month trip
and they paid off without many
beefs and continued their way
back to the coast with first class
transportation. The ship was
turned over to the Navy and be
lieve me they, got a nice looking
ship.
Quite a few of the Tampa boys
are back from a long trip and
they seem to be very happy to
get back to the Palmettos and
orange groves where they can
spread the bull without any in-
teruption from the Yanks.
Shipping here is very slow but
we do a little dues business, now
and then. Wonder how 'Bro.
Army is making out with the
Flagship of the Waterman Fleet,
Part Orleans. I want him to take
care of that ship as she is the
pride and, joy of the Tampa
Branch (Sometimes).
From all the information, the
Bull Line is going to take one of
the floating brick bats that is
coming out of the yard in the
near future. That's all for this
week.
D. L. PARKER, Agent
Th^ 99 Yeair Club
Oh, come with me to the NMU
And see. Club 99,
It's there you'll meet the oidtimers
With strike cards sublime.
The men who built the NMtX
Shall rrieet you at the door,^
Yes, you shall meet the real men
And you shall learn the score.
Yes, a famous Club of the NMU
Is that called 99,
No Communist faker in the lot
So do not waste your time.
No agents of Joseph Stalin there
No bums froni Browder's knee.
No draft dodging Commie windbags
But men who sail the sea.
How do you join Club 99?
Well, here is what you do.
While on an NMU madhouse
Just praise the SIU,
Or call Joe Curran a liar
Or the Communist line a fake
Then you're a candidate for the Club
A brother on the make.
Just say "to hell with Stalin"
And the door is opened wide
For the Commie rats ride every ship
And o'er your thoughts preside.
Or wonder where, your cash has gone
The millions of the past
Of Murray Stein and the Party bums
And you are there at last.
—Top an' Lift.
NEW SOCtAU SECUR1TY'TAX*6IVES YOU:
seA/ff/rs; lot/eex PAYpmoos.
PAYMPAfr eyppy iY££f( rap g$ tv££ASs
Sk IF PVAiOi ALLOW.. "
INCREASED INCOME OR SALES TAX 6IVES YOU:
PO /MPP0y£Af£P7S: 8£/Y££/7S P£AfA/M.
SMALL: PAY P£P/00 Sf/opn •
PAVPPPiODS e/yrrp /u
osoAuye TO /e w££ps., ^ |
This chart shows unemployment benefits for a married man
who earns $40 a week in a factory and supports a family of
four. Left: Benefits under Wagner-Murray-Dingell Bill. Right:
If sales or income tax is imposed instead. The worker will
receive only those benefits now in effect under state laws.
(AFL Labor's Monthly Survey chart via Federated Pictures)
ILGWU Would Scrap
Little Steel Policy
Scrapping of the "arbitrary
and rigid Little Steel formula to
make room for a more flexible
wage policy" to meet the needs
of workers and consumers was
demanded by the general execu
tive board of the International
Ladies Garment Workers Union
in a resolution made public yes
terday by David Dubinsky, pre.s-
ident of the union.
"The only real effect of the
Little Steel formula to date has
been the practical freezing of
wages," the resolution declared.
"Stabilization of living costs, as
every consumer knows, is largely
wishful thinking, while the true
inflationary forces, the industrial
combines which control living
necessities, are having a field
day.
"We demand that the arbitrary
and rigid Little Steel formula be
scrapped to make room for a
more flexible wage policy
NEW AGREEMENTS
CONCLUDED
The New York office of the In
ternational Transport Workers
Federation reports the conclus
ion, in London, of new and more
favorable agreements for the
members of the National Union
of British Seamen. The new pact
provides a standard overtime
rate for all foreign-going ships
Df two shillings, three pence fo?
carpenters, bosuns and donkey-
men, two shillings for other se
nior ratings and one shilling for
seamen with junior ratings. The
overtime is to apply to all ves
sels and crew members in all de
partments.
The steward department per
sonnel also have won an improv
ed working schedule w h i c H
shortens their hours and provid
es them with more consecutive
time off. Compensation for loss
of effects has been almost doubl
ed for British seamen by the new
agreement which now sets the
allowance at twenty-five pounds.
SIU And Tanker Members
On West Coast
Central Registeringr and Dispatching Office
Open in SUP Headquarters at San Francisco
For SIU Members and T, C/s in
Deck, Engine and Steward Departments
Increased shipping on West Coast by SIU members
has made it necessary to open a separate and complete
business ofRce to be devoted solely to registering and car
ing for the needs of SIU members in all departments.
.^1 SIU members in San Francisco are required to im
mediately register in SIU office at 59 Clay St. SIU members
in SUP Branches on the West Coast are to register in the
respective SUP Office and receive an SIU shipping card.
SIU shipping cards will have preference on SIU ships and
will be recognized by all SUP Dispatchers. SIU Deck mem
bers will have second preference when SUP members are
available.
For Further Information:
Call your union offices and tanker organizers at the
addresses listed below. You will always finds somebody at
these numbers exceptmg at night.
SEATTLE, WASH.—86 Seneca St.—Phone Elliott 6752.
—^E. Coester or Johnson.
PORTLAND, OREGON—111 West Burnside St.—Phone
Beacon 4336—John Massey or C. Atkins.
RICHMOND, CALIFORNIA—257 Fifth St.—Phone Rich
mond 4021—^Louie Glebe or Banks.
VANCOUVER, B. C.—340 B. Gamble St.—Phone Pacific
7824—^Hugh Murphy.
WILMINGTON, California — 440 Avalon Blvd. —Phone
4449.
NEW YORK CITY — 105 Broad St. — Phone BOwling
Green 9-9530—Morris Weisberger.
SAN FRANCISCO—59 Clay St.—Phone Exbrook 8229—
Phil Conley.
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®f®SSraBS!6«aq CP
Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Friday, November 26, 1943
r
AFL WINS VITAL TEST CASES
Relea^ 20 Greek
Seamen; Open New
Maritime Club
BASAAR
{Continued from Page 1)
iners Club in New. York, •a joint
enterprise of the U. S. and Greek
governments. The club home, it
was explained, offers ample
housing facilities and cai-e for the
men imtil their departure from
the United States.
Official opening of the Greek
Mariners Club, located at West
59th St., took place on Monday,
November 15, 6:30 P.M. The
Greek Ambassador Simeon Dia-
mantopoulos, Archibishop Athen-
agoras. Mayor La Guardia, Mr.
Marshall E. Dimock, assistant
deputy administrator of the
WSA, attended the dedication
ceremonies.
The club has housing, rest and
restaurant facilities for about 80
seamen and is managed by a
board of directors composed of
American and Greek shipping
officials, representatives of the
Greek-American community, the
shipowners and the Greek Mari
time Union. "The new club en
joys the wholehearted support of
the American and Greek author
ities and all other interested
groups," Mr. Taylor said. "We
look forward to an era of fruitful
activities. These activities, I am
sure, will not only be of benefit
to our seamen but also strength
en the bonds between the Ameri
can and Greek peoples."
"Stop it, Helen, the OPA just froze you at 97 cents."
y-/S9-'/a Drmpn for OtPce of War Information
MONEY DUE
Blddle Would Tighten
Law Against Stowaways
Attorney General Francis Bid-
die has requested Congress to
strengthen existing laws against
ship stowaways by rewording
the Act of June 11, 1940, to make
it clear that anyone who stows
away on certain merchant ves
sels has committed a criminal
offense, whether or not he is ap
prehended before disembarking.
The Attorney General's recom
mendation, which was contained
in a letter sent to the Speaker of
the Kouse of Representatives, a
few days ago, pointed out that
existing law assumes that a
stowaway will be apprehended
before leaving the ship, but
leaves some doubts as to the
status of anyone who stows
away successfully and is not dis
covered until after he has left
the ship.
Mr. Biddle proposed that Con
gress clear up the matter by
striking out a clause that anyone
who has illegally secreted him
self aboard a United States ship
shall be considered guilty of an
offense if he is "found * * at
or before the time of arrival of
such ves-sel." With this deletion
it would be possible for the At
torney General's office to pro
ceed against any stowaway on
an American ship discovered
within the jurisdiction of the
United States.
The communication from Mr.
Biddle has been turned over to
V the House Committee on Mer
chant Marine and Fisheries.
The logging of the Steward's
Department of the S.S. Daniel
Willard has been reversed by the
Commissioner after a lengthy
trial. The men involved can col
lect their extra meal money and
log refund from Calmar Line
Office.
Extra meal money on S.S. Mel
ville is now payable at the Pier
25 office of the Eastern S.S. Co.
The men involved are:
G. Lynch, Cook
W. Williams, Cook
G. Ellis, Utility
Barnes, Messman
Yancey, Messman
» St
Following brothers have over
time coming from Bull Line:
Roland Stradling 138 hrs.
James Smalls 100 hrs.
Robert Stackhouse 100 hrs.
Pete Sudol 85 hrs.
John Pritchard 35 hrs.
Albert Myers 20 hrs.
St * St
The following crew members
of the S.S. William Pepper have
overtime coming from Calmar
Line, 39 Broadway, New York
City:
Harry Justice
Herbert Watson
Joseph Sleczkowski
George Cuddy
William Harden
P. Yurick
* « •
The following crew members
of the S.S. Steelore have over
time and extra meal money due:
Wilton Shaw
Gerald Usher
Jordan Smith
Wilbert Williams
Injurin Devonish
* • •
Extra meals money is payable
to entire Steward Department of
S.S. Kenmar. Collect Calmar
Line. 39 Broadway, New York
City.
SHIP NAMED
FOR HUDDELL
WASHINGTON — Upon the
suggestion of William Green,
President of AFL, the name of
Arthur M. Huddell, one-time
president of the International
Union of Operating Engineers, is
to be given to a Liberty ship
now under construction.
Recognized as a leader of the
labor movement in the early part
of the century, Huddell, who was
born at Danvers, Mass., in 1869,
served as president of the Boston
Central Labor Union and organ
izer for the International Union
of Operating Engineers, Commis
sioner of Old Age Pensions of
Massachusetts, Civil Service
Commissioner from 1918 to 1922,
president of the Boston Building
and Construction Trades Council,
1910, and business agent for the
Building and Construction Trades
Council of Boston from 1911 to
1918. He became General Presi
dent of the Operating Engineers
in 1921 and served in that cap
acity until his death in 1931.
Marine Insurance Cut
WASHINGTON—• Reduced for
the second time in little more
than 3 months, the rate for Gov
ernment war risk insurance on
officers and seamen in the Mer
chant Marine is now $2, the War
Shipping A d m i nistration an
nounces. Until July 15 the pre
mium rate per $1000 of insurance
in addition to the $5,000 insur
ance furnished by the Govern
ment, was $7.50 per month. On
that date it was cut to $4. The
second reduction is in line with
making life insurance against
war risks and certain specified
marine perils more easily avail
able to merchant ship crews and
reflects diminished peril of Axis
attacks at sea.
Knocks Out
Anti-Labor
Act In Fla.
Foes of -labor who have been
ti-ying to destroy unions through
court action and legislation, state
by state, suffered one of their
most important reversals this
week at the hands of the Florida
Supreme Court.
That tribunal threw out a suit
started by Attorney General Tom
Watson to outlaw, closed shop
union agreements with the Tam
pa Shipbuilding Company and
other plants in the Everglade
State.
With the support of reaction
ary newspapers, Watson has been
crusading against unions for the
past few years and climaxed his
campaign by litigating to break
the A. F. of L. contract with
Tampa Shipbuilding. He won
out in a lower state court, but
met his "Waterloo" in the high
court.
DEFENDS AGREEMENT
All of Watson's arguments
against closed shop agreements
were demolished in the opinion.
Such agreements, the tribunal
held, are neither contrary to pub
lic policy nor in violation of the
state constitution. They are sus
tained by such Federal laws as
the Norris-La Guardia Act, Sher
man Anti-Trust Act and the
Wagner Act, the court pointed
out.
"Furlhermore, we find no
proof that compliance with
the contract has resulted in
a retardation of the war ef-
ford," the court said in punc
turing another claim of Wat
son.
"The parties may negotiate
any contracts not contrary to law
or good morals. Management is
free to hire only union men if it
chooses. Likewise, labor is free
to work only with union men if
it chooses."
BLOW FOR LABOR-HATERS
Joseph A. Padway, A. F. of L.
general counsel, who argued the
case for the unions in the court,
declared the decision strikes a
powerful blow against anti-labor
forces throughout the nation.
It will help, he said, in defeat
ing an amendment to the Florida
state constitution barring closed
shops, which will be voted upon
in a referendum next fall. The
amendment was submitted by
the last state legislature.
Padway added that "this rul
ing gives us new ammunition in
our battle to knock out laws in
other states which have been
designed to wreck unions by re
stricting or prohibiting closed
shop agreements."
'iA-Sonals
Brother Frank Donnally is laid
up in Ellis Island Hospital in
New York. He would like to re
ceive a visit from any of his old
shipmates. He is in Ward 25.
Closed Shop
Is Upheld
By WLB
WASHINGTON — The WLB
has unanimously ordered that a
union shop clause be retained id
a contract between the Webe?
Showcase and Fixture Co. of Los
Angeles and four AFL building
trades unions.
The company had claimed that
the union shop clause and the
contract were terminated when
the union asked for a reopening
of the contract under a provision
giving either party the right to
serve notice of a desire to "mo
dify, amend or terminate it."
The WLB found that, on the
contrary, the record showed that
the union's intent was not to ter
minate the contract, but to mo
dify and amend it. The Board
therefore ordered employees who
were hired during the period in
which the company claimed that
t was not bound by the union
shop clauses, to become members
of the union in good standing
within two weeks or seek jobs
elsewhere.
Wayne L. Morse, public mem
ber, in an opinion outlining the
reasons for the WLB's action,
said that the Board was aware
that the company had hired d
arge number of employees re
cently who did not become union
members, but this did not justify
the Board's setting aside a union
shop clause which it found had
never expired.
"It is unfortunate that the com
pany has hired such a largie •
number of non-union employees
n direct violation of its contrac
tual obligations to the union,"
Morse said. "The fact that the
company may lose their services
is unfortunate but not nearly as
unfortunate as the situation
would be if the company were
allowed to defeat the legitimate
rights of the union in the man
ner it has attempted to in this
case ..."
The Board urged union officials
to grant every reasonable con-*
cession to provide those em
ployees who join the union with
in the two-week period ample
time to pay the union's initiation
fee. Dean Morse said. Dues for'
such employees will start from
the time of the Board's order.
The unions in the case are lo
cals of the Sheet Metal Workers'
International Association, Re
frigeration Fitters, Welders and
Apprentices, Brotherhood of
Painters, Decorators and Paper-
hangers of America, and the
United Brotherhood of Carpen
ters and Joiners of America.
The Weber Company, which
formerly produced fixtures, now
manufactures airplane wings and
employes more than 1,200 peo
ple, .twice as many as before the
war.
^
Honor Roll
CREW S. S.
RICHARD RUSH $15.00
N. WERNERSON 5.00
C. GORING 4.00
E. MAULE 2.00
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