Issue Date
1957-12-20
Volume
20
Issue Number
2
Plaintext
• OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THI SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION • ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO •
•f -
i
%y SIU CERTIFIED ON
i
f.:- •••* FOUR ROBIN SHIPS
Stoiy On Page 3
;• 'ft
a
ConfffOtul^'iionS Herbert Brand (right) accepts fost
prize for the best news front page in annual La
bor Press Ass'n competition. Ketiring ILPA president Gordon Cole presented
prize, one of four %on by the LOG. (Story on Page 6.)
U * y Cs^mm for Robin Locksley once again
DOCK, f O ujr* go up on the shipping board at SIU
headquarters, following NLRB certification of SIU bargaining
rights for the first four-Robin ships to vote. Dispatcher Scotty
Aubusson does the honors. (Story bn Page 3.)
Taking A Reading. ® steadies his arm as nurse
Patsy Schexnayder checks his blood pressure at the temporary
SIU medical center in New Orleans. Like a similar facility in
Mobile, it provides no-cost medical exams for Seafarers and
SIU families in the area. Permanent centers in both ports will
be established eventually similar to the one in New York.
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FsfC.Tw* SEAFARERS LOG j»«c^ber
ia&:
AFL-CIO Votes M'time
Policy, Ousts 3 Unions
ATLANTIC CITY—Demonstrating their willingness to clean their own house, delegates
to the 2nd merged convention of the AFL-CIO overwhelmingly faced up to the "disagreeable
task" of-expelling three unions with corrupt leadership. This action dominated the six-day
which convention here,
adopted over 150 policy state
ments ranging from a demand
on the Government for a "com
prehensive long-range program" in
maritime to a call for a national
holiday on the January 30th birth
day of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The
statement on maritime policy was
based on resolutions adopted ear
lier by the Maritime Trades De
partment convention. The MTD
had submitted a program of 14
resolutions on maritime to the
AFL-CIO. (See story on page 8.)
Organized labor's traditional
support of progressive legislation
and a forthright statement on na
tional and international affairs was
likewise reaffirmed by some 900
delegates representing ISV^ million
union workers. SIU-A&G secre
tary-treasurer Paul Hall, Morris
Weisberger, SUP; Sam Bennett,
MFOW; Ed Turner, MCS; Hal
Banks, SIU Canadian District, and
Andrea Gomez of the SlU-affiliated
Fishery & Cannery Workers Un
ions comprised the SIUNA dele
gation.
New Union Chartered
The expulsion orders cut loose
million members with the Fed
eration's ouster of the Teamsters,
Bakery & Confectionery Workers
and Laundry Workers unions. A
new affiliate, the American Bak
ery & Confectionery Workers, was
immediately granted a charter to
replace the ousted bakers group.
Attorney for the ousted group was
Bakers Out Of AFL-CIO;
Cooper Out Of Bakers
The expelled Bakery and Confectionery Workers Interna,-^
tional Union, ousted from the AFL-CIO for ethical practices
violations, has let it be known that Herman E. Cooper has
been replaced as the union's-f
general counsel. Mr. Cooper,'
who is also attorney for the
National Maritime Union, had been
identified with some of the occur
ences leading up to the expulsion
of the union by the AFL-CIO. A
rival union, the American Federa
tion of Bakery Workers, has been
chartered by the Federation and
represents a very sizable opposi
tion group to the administration of
James C. Cross, the president of
the expelled union. Previously,
-Mr. Cooper was dropped as coun
sel by Bakery Workers Local 484.
Cross had been ousted by the
Federation after charges had been
brought against him for misuse of
union funds for personal purposes
and for purging Curtis E. Sims,
former secretary-treasurer of the
international, who sought to bring
Cross to account. The McClellan
committee had investigated Cross'
actions and also had questioned
Mr. Cooper at some length. The
questioning brought out that Sims
had been bounced on Cross' coun
ter-charges, and that Mr. Cooper
had prepared a guilty verdict
against Sims even before the
charges against him had been
heard.
Mr., Cooper had to admit to the
committee that he had not pre
pared any acquittal verdict in ad
vance, only the guilty verdict, A
sample of the committee's ques
tioning of Mr. Cooper follows:
SENATOR ERVIN: . . . in
other words, you drew a reso-
SEAFARERS LOG
Dec. 20, 1957 Vol. XX, No. 2
PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treasurer
HEHBEHX BBAND. Editor: BEBDARD SEA-
ICAN, Art Editor. HERMAN ARTHUR, IB^vlN
SrivACK, AL MAsxnr, JOHN BRAZIL. Stag
Wrtters. BILL MOODT, GUU Area Repre
sentative- •
Published biweekly et the ticaUquarters
ef the Seafarers international Union, At
lantic « Gulf District, AFL-CIO, «75 Fourth
Avenue Brooklyn M, NY. Tel. HYaeinth
*•4*00. Entered es second cla.cs matter
At the Post Office In Brooklyn. NY. undor
the Acf of f us, 34/ 1f12. .
1120
lution In advance of the meet
ing to sustain the charges pre
ferred by Cross against Sims
before the Executive board
bad had. an opportunity to pass
on those charges.
MR. COOPER. Not at all
sir. The suspension resolution
which I drew related to the
charges not yet heard.
SENATOR ERVIN. That Is
what I am talking about. That
is exactly what I thought.
Another phase of the commit
tee's questioning dealt with Mr.
Cooper's handling of $24,000 in
special fees at the last Bakery
union convention, $8,000 of which
was in cash. Committee members
expressed considerable curiosity as
to why Mr. Cooper had taken part
of the fee in cash and what was
done with it. It was brought out
that an $8,000 ca.sh deposit was
made by Mr. Cooper after the com
mittee started its investigation and
some time after the payment of
the fee.
Sen. Kennedy Critical
Following the conclusion of the
questioning. Senator John Ken
nedy (Dem.-Mass.) sharply criti
cized Cooper's actions. A story in
the "New York Times" of August 6
quoted Kennedy as follows:
"We have seen lawyers do
ing more than advising clients
of their legal rights," he said.
The "Times" story went on to
say that Kennedy referred by
name to Herman Cooper and<
added this quotation:
"I hope," Senator Kennedy
said, "that the respective bar
associations are getting the
transcripts of these hearings
and will see if these lawyers
are meeting their responsibili
ties . . ."
Curran made oblique reference
to Mr. Cooper and the Bakers in
his report to the last NMU conven
tion, In one instance Curran said
the AFL-CIO should not intervene
on an ethical practice basis in
"fractional disputes" as a "sad per
version" of the codes. Since the
Bakers ynlon was the only one in
,, , ̂, (C;on.lJe»jf41^ on jjagq J),,
Herman E. Cooper, who is also the
attorney for the NMU.
Clean-up moves by the United
Textile Workers and the Distillery
Workers resulted in the lifting of
their suspensions, pending their
continued operation under Federa
tion supervision. The expulsion of
a Chicago Federal local official on
corruption charges was also up
held. ^
AFL - CIO president George
Meany, secretary-treasurer William
F. Schnitzler and 25 vice-presi
dents were reelected by acclama
tion. Two pew vice-presidents,
Peter T. Schoemann and Paul L.
Phillips, presidents of the Plum
bers and the Papermakers respec
tively,, jyej-e named to replace John
F. £^lish,^Qf the Teamsters and
Herman Winter of the Bakers.
A variety of conventional resolu
tions rapped the Administration's
labor policies and the strike-break
ing practices made possible by the
Taft-Hartley Act, and called for
intensified union organizing drives
despite the current anti-union hys
teria. (See story on page 3.) They
urged more political action by
labor as the only means of winning
improved social legislation such as
improved wage and hour laws and
social security protection.
The delegates derided proposals
for a national wage freeze and for
abolishing the 40-hour week now
while prices and unemployment
are rising. They called for broad
Federal aid for schools, housing
and farmers, and for closing off tax
loopholes that-aid runaway indus
tries, such as shipping, in order to
give tax relief to low-income
groups.
On the global front, the role of
the United Nations and the im
portance of continued negotiation
within the UN and in direct rela
tions with other nations was
stressed as a key to world peace.
The work of the International Con
federation of Free Trade Unions
and the International Labor Or
ganization in combatting Commu
nism was also warmly applauded.
In other action, the assemblage
praised labor's community service
program such as the voluntary re
lief efforts by Louisiana Seafarers
and other unionists after Hurricane
Audrey. It urged speed in mer
gers of state and local central labor
bodies and the handling of all
jurisdictional disputes within the
Federation.
NEXT MEETING
DECEMBER 26
Because of the Christ
mas holiday, the next SIU
membership meetings in
oil ports will be held at
7 PM, Thursday, Decem
ber 26 instead of Christ
mas night, December 25.
Those who wish to be ex
cused from the meeting
should request permission
by telegrom. The follow
ing SIU meetings will be:
Jonuory 8
Jonuory 22 .
February 5
n > •:
pair of SIUNA oldtimers With 114 yean of seotime between
Ihem pose aboard the ACS-operated SS Coal Miner on soiling
day in Norfollc. On the left, the senior member of the pair is
SlU-A&G veteran Oscar Rosmon, OS, who mode his first trip fd
sed In 1898. In the galley^on the Miner is MCS brother Ridgwoy
6. .Thomas, galley utilitymon, who began sailing in 1902.
FMB Acts On Charters:
Coal Ships Headed
Back To Boneyard
WASHINGTON—The Federal Maritime Board has for
mally ordered the Casimir Pulaski returned to the US bone-
yard, cutting the American Coal Shipping fleet from seven to
The Pulaski was one of-* : six.
nine ships so treated in the
FMB's formal review of out
standing ship charters. The agency
acted on the ground that condi
tions no longer existed to justify
charters.
A second ship, the Cleveland
Abbe, was reported next in line to
head for lay-up.
Barring a sudden revival of the
dry cargo market, the FMB is ex
pected to continue recalling other
American Coal ships as, tliejr char
ters expire. Despite its grahdoise
announcements as to future plans
for coal carriers, the company
owns only one ship of its own un
der the ACS banner, the Liberty
ship Coal Miner, and that has been
carrying grain for several months
now.
American Coal's own lack of In-
Set Holiday
MealForSIU
Ships, Halls
On ship or ashore. Seafarers will
be sitting down to enjoy Christmas
Day dinners next Wednesday. As
has been the custom with the SIU,
Seafarers on the beach and their
families are invited to attend a
Christmas Day dinner under SIU
auspices in all ports.
Holiday dinners on Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year's Day
have been traditional with the SIU.
More than 600 Seafarers, their
wives and children attended the
Thanksgiving dinner in the head
quarters cafeteria this year with
the outports also pulling big
crowds.
The menus, both from the ships
and the halls, usually include such
items lis soup, turkey, ham or beef,
complete with all the triifimings.
In addition there are the usual nuts
and candy, pies and cakes for those
with, a sweet tooth.
Dinner will be served in the
headquarters cafeteria from .10:00
AM until 3:00 PM, For those halls
which are not equipped with cafe
teria facilities, arrangements have
been made with:nearby hotels, and
restaurantfL, ;,H ^
terest in retaining the Government
charters wa^ shown when it failed
to send any representative to a De
cember 9 hearing on the subject
called by the FMB. The hearing
was scheduled to give the opera
tors involved an opportunity to
object if they so desired. SIU of
ficials said if ACS was really in
terested in keeping these ships op
erating it would have showed up
at the hearing.
An unnamed company spokes
man told "Business Week" maga
zine that the slump in rates wai
directly responsible for the com-
An informal NLRB confer
ence was held Wednesday af ter
noon on the unfair labor pracr
tice charges filed by the SIU
against American Coal. The
NLRB attorney proposed a set
tlement which would not fully
remedy these charges.. The pror
posed settlement did call upon
the company to stop recogniz
ing and assisting the NMU and
to stop favoring the NMU over
the SIU in hiring and fking.
The company would be required
to post notices to that effect.
The SIU's position was that
such action would, in effect, su
percede the court order on hir
ing and give full control of hir
ing back to the company. The
result would be to give the com
pany a relatively free hand,
which was what was responsi
ble for the court order in the
first instance.
In view of the lengthy com
pany history of discrimination
against the SIU, the Union
asked that the NLRB proceed
with the pending charges aaginst
the company.
pany's plight, "A US-flag ship
hauling coal to Europe needs to
get $8 a ton to cover all its costs,"
he said. "It's the competition from
foreign-flag ships that can get by
for a little more than $3 a ton
that's causing us to lay up our
vessels." •
Despite the fact that this is usu
ally the height of the coal-shipping
season, recent coal charters to Eu-
rppe hive been going at h0"more
• - CCohtlnued on page" l5) '
'm
it, IW SEAFARERS L0€> Par* nra«
Robin Ships Back In SlU
Another 2 Ships Won; NMU
Crewmen Cast SlU Votes
Robin Line jobs started going back on the SIU rotary hiring board this week
as the National Labor Relations Board certified the SIU as collective bargaining
agents for the first four ships voted in the Robin Line fleet, marking the beginning
of the end of the NMU raidt —
SIU crewmen from the Robin Trent whoop it up at o gala party
celebrating the 20-13 defeat they and two NMU men handed the
NMU in last week's NLRB election. The sign points out that "18
SIU men vote unchallenged" but SIU gpt 20 of the 33 votes when
two NMU crewmen cast their votes for SIU. Al Spanraft (kneel
ing) asks "How come, Joe???" in a reference to NMU president
Joe Curran. Holding the sign (I to r) are, A. Clemens, W. Hand
and A. Arnold.
in the fleet. Seafarer Ho
Fung Chit was the first to
be hired as he threw in pir
a passenger utility job on
the Robin Locksley on
Monday afternoon.
Even after the certification,
the NMU's desperate raid con
tinued. The company agreed to
call the NMU hall for five jobs
aboard the Locksley after the com
pany had signed an interim agree
ment on hiring with the" SIU. SIU
headquarters officials' stiw'thfe com
pany action as further evidence of
the NMU's decision to raid Sea
farers' jobs at every opportunity.
When this NMU tactic collapsed
and the company started calling
AFL-CIO Hits One-Sided
/
Proposals On Labor Laws
' ATLANTIC CITY—SIUNA president Paul Hall pinpointed the labor movement's reac
tion to proposed new labor laws for 1958 at the AFL-CIO convention here last week.
"We don't need any more legislation," Hall told the convention, "If anything, we have
too much legislation now.
An AFL-CIO policy statement
adopted later showed little
enthusiasm for the legislative pro
gram previewed at the conven
tion's opening session by . Secretary
-,.of Labor James P. Mitchell. The
cabinet officer said the proposals
he had outlined had the specific
endorsement of the White House.
Most of the trade union opposi
tion to the Administration's pro
gram centered on its one-sided
approach and its efforts to impose
Federal controls on internal union
affairs. The only actual area of
agreement between the AFL-CIO
ahd the Administration is on leg
islation requiring public disciosure
of the financial transactions of all
welfare and pension plans, wheth
er administered jointly, by unions
or by management only.
f-
Employer groups want the law
to cover union funds only, and to
keep their own operations from
public scrutiny. This position was
reaffirmed at the convention of
the National Association of Manu
facturers in Chicago last week
The "bosses union" came out
instead for a national "right-to-
work" law and other restrictive
measures directed against unions
only. The American Farm Bureau
Federation took the same stand as
the NAM and other business
groups on "right-to-work" pro
posals last week.
Other Limits On Unions
In addition to the weifare fund
disclosure law, the Government's
lOBS labor program called for com
pulsory union financial reports
and appointment of a special com-
'50-50' Props US
Ships Against Slump
The value of the "50-50" law as a prop for shipping in gen
eral has been demonstrated strongly in the recent weeks of
decline in the shipping business. "The December 7 issue of
•'•Riioinocc Woolr" rr>r>r>rto tVint"*-"Business Week" reports that
rates for US tramp ship opera
tors have slipped far less than
those for tankers or other carriers
because of the "50-50" cushion.
Last year at this timO, the mag
azine reports, both foreign and
domestic tramps had been getting
^Can-Shakers'
Have No OK
The membership, is again cau
tioned to beware of persons
soliciting funds on ships in be
half of memorials or any other
so-called "worthy, causes." No
"can-shakers" or solicitors have
been authorized by the,!S(lU.' '
around $65,000 a month on long-
term charters. Today, the rate on
foreign tramps is about $25,000 a
month on the long term, but $45,-
000 a month for American-flag
operators.
The difference lies in the "50-50"
law which provides that one-half
of the Government's foreign aid
and agricultural surplus shipments
must travel on US-flag vessels.
Foreign aid business is expected to
pick up after the first of the year
when shipments scheduled by the
Government get moving.
Were it not for the "50-50" pro
vision, it is clear that many more
US-flag ships would be laying up
and large numbers- of seamen's
Jobs Would go down the drain.
missioner to prosecute any viola
tions, Federal laws covering brib
ery and embezzlement of union
funds and secret ballot union elec
tions, and further restrictions on
union picketing rights.
AFL-CIO statements criticizing
these proposals noted their failure
to apply the same strict standards
to corporations as on unions. The
labor position has always been that
where wrongdoing has occurred,
it has stemmed from cooperation
between corrupt unions and man
agement, and that the responsi
bility rests on both.
The convention also compared
the emphasis on labor abuses to
the "slap on the wrist" treatment
of management in hearings by a
special Senate committee this year.
It rapped the committee foy not
showing the same vigor in dealing
with union - busting tactics by
management.
Secretary Mitchell's pledge that
the Administration would fight
against a national "right-to-work'
law or moves to make labor unions
subject to the anti-trust laws was
the only source or comfort in the
Administration's labor package.
Lk. Charles
Has Decline
LAKE CHARLES—Shipping fell
off In the last period but still two
"C" cards managed to ship out.
One went in tlie black gang and
one in the stewards department.
.Calling into this area over the
past period were the Government
Camp, Bents Fort, Fort Hoskins,
Bradford Island, Winter Hill, Chi-
wawa, Cantigny, Council Grove and
the CS Baltimore (Cities Service);
Petro-Chem (Valentine) and the
Val Chera (Heron). All were in
good shape wlHt-only'mihor beefs
which - were settled at- the -pay<^.
SIU halls for jobs, the NMU put
up what it called a "picket line'
outside the Robin pier in Brook
lyn. Despite the so-called 'pickit
line" all crafts—mates, engineer.s
longshoremen and others—con
tinued to work and the NMU
even sent its own men through its
own "picket line" to work aboard
the Robin Trent. The Trent is one
of the ships won by the Slf.' which
The following by-play took
place at Wednesday afternoon's
election on the Robin Goodfel-
low:
First NMU official: "I'm the
NMU observer."
Second NMU official: "No,
you're not. They told me I'm
the observer."
SIU observer: "I don't care
who the observer is as long as
he stays in the corner and keeps
quiet."
4;
A crewmember approaches
the table to get his ballot.
NMU observer: "Stop the elec
tion! That man's in no condi
tion to vote! Hold everything!"
SIU observer: "I don't know
if you are interested, but I just
want to tell you—^he's an NMU
member."
Another ship, the Robin Goodfel-
low, voted SIU by 25 to 10 on
Wednesday afternoon.
Despite a campaign, of several
months' duration, during which all
replacements were hired from NMU
halls, the NMU managed to win
just one ship in the fleet, the Robin
Mowbray. The NMU got the ship
simply because 11 Seafarers wera
fired off their jobs by the com
pany and replaced through th«
NMU hall. The count on this vessel
was 25 to 11.
The first four ships, which ar*
now certified for the SlU, are tha
Robin Sherwood, Robin Gray, Rob
in Kirk and Robin Locksley which
voted over-all SIU 108, NMU 13.
Total votes to date on seven ships
are SIU 164, NMU 61.
Talks On Contract
Negotiations are expected to get
underway shortly with Moore-Mc-
Cormack, the owners of the Robin
(Continued on page 15)
has not yet been certified bv the
Labor Board.
The NMU picketing may have
been prompted by another severe
setback in the fleet when NMU
members aboard the Robin Trent
voted for the SIU in the National
Labor Relations Board election on
that ship. Fifteen NMU members
on the ship cast non-voided and
unchallenged ballots on the Locks-
ley but the NMU wound up with
only 13 votes.
Resent Curran
Seafarers aboard the Trent re
ported that NMU members on
board had expressed burning re
sentment against NMU President
Joseph Curran. The final count on
the Trent was SIU 20, NMU 13.
Vote $25
In-Hospifal
Holiday Gift
Hospitalized Seafarers will again
receive a Christmas bonus this year
from the SIU Welfare Plan. Th«
traditional $25 bonus will be given
to Seafarers by the welfare servica
department representatives vrho
will call at the hospitals.
The bonus, which has been paid
every year since the Welfare Plan
began in 1950, is given in addition
to the regular weekly hospital bene
fit. It will help the Seafarers in tha
hospital do a little Christmas shop
ping for their families and friends.
Any Seafarer who is a hospital
in-patient one day or more during
the week of December 19th through
25th will be eligible for the bonus
payments.
In addition to hospitalized men,
the bonus will be paid to all Sea
farers on the disability lists. Tha
checks will be mailed out with their
regular $150 monthly check cover
ing their SIU disability benefit.
First Seafarar shipped to the Robin Locksley on Monday whan
Robin Line pbs want back on the SIU shipping board was H. F.
Chit, MM (front, left). Next to him is ACS oldtimar Aba Golds-
mit, who was steward on tha coal ship Walter Hinas Page bafora
the laid u)).'' Oiijiditehar Scotty Aubusson made tha'^ll. ^
5 I
• -i
.'
•"l
Pace Four SEAFARERS LOG
Calif. Upsets Jobless $
PecMnbeyJtO^ lUUT , |||^ 'M
Ban, UK's 60-Day Rule
Backed by the weight of the seniority hiring rules set forth
In the SIU contract, a Seafarer in California has just won a
significant decision assuring state unemployment benefits
for seamen who leave their t"
ships under the 60-day rule in
the contract.
The California ruling comes in
the wake of earlier decisions up
holding the 60-day rule in New
York, Delaware and Alabama. Sea
farer Ira Kenneth Coats pressed the
appeal after he was denied state
benefits last June. He had paid off
the SS Grain Shipper in Tacoma,
Wash., in May.
According to the decision handed
down by the Los Angeles Area
Referee's Office "on Coats' appeal,
he was wrongfully denied benefits
originally since he had left his
ship under a specific provision of
the Union contract. Prior to this
decision, seamen with B or C
Kniority leaving ships under the
60-day rule were considered to
have quit "without good cause" and
therefore denied benefits.
The men subsequei.tly had to
wait out a normal one-week waiting
period plus a four-week penalty
period before thej could obtain
benefits. The ruling in Coats' case
differed with the pattern estab
lished by a 1948 state decision
covering cases where seamen left
ships to conform with union ship
ping rules only.
A change in California law now
requires seamen to wait out the
penalty period if they left ships on
or after September 11, 1957 to
comply with union policy. This
change penalizes members of some
of the West Coast unions, including
the Sailors Union of the Pacific,
but does not apply to SlU-A&G
men. The SUP rule is not stipulated
under the contract.
Seamen who left ships between
February, 1957, and September 11
are not penalized, however. The
provision for a penalty waiting
period was apparently dropped for
a time and then reactivated. Ac
cording to the "West Coast Sailors,"
the SUP is seeking to have the law
changed again.
Another aspect of Coats' case was
that his claim was based partly
on shoreside employment before he
returned to the sea early this year.
He came into the SIU originally as
an organizer in the successful
Cities Service organizing drive, but
quit the sea in 1950. He said his
experience since then as a court
clerk and bail bondsman no doubt
helped him wade through the red
tape necessary to press the appeal
for immediate benefits. He sails as
an AB.
In connection with applications
for future unemployment benefits
in all states by Seafarers with B or
C seniority, SIU headquarters con
tinued to stress one major point
concerning payoffs under the 60-
day rule. The applicant must list
"contract rule" rather than "union
rule" as his reason for leaving a
ship. Merely listing "60-day rule"
or "union rule" is not accepted as
sufficient reason. Those who re
member to carry along a copy of
the SIU contract spelling out the
seniority provisions can speed
things along.
SIU attorneys are studying the
latest California decision to see if
a uniform ruling for the 60-day
rule can now be obtained in all
states on the basis of the decision
in the key maritime states of New
York and California.
^ Wow IN BOTH
24 Apply
For Union's
Scholarships
Nine Seafarers and children of
Seafarers have completed all the
qualifications for the SIU scholar
ship contest. Another 15 applica
tions are now being processed in
the annual competition for five
$6,000 scholarships twarded by
the Seafarers Welfare Plan.
Four of the nine applicants who
have completed their requirements
have already taken the standard
College Entrance Examination.
The results of the examinations
are a primary factor in determin
ing the scholarship winners.
There is still time for additional
applicants to qualify for the
scholarship, provided they make
arrangements to take the College
Entrance Examination by March
15. To qualify for this examina
tion, all requirements must be
completed by February 15 plus a
reservation for the test.
Other material required by the
Plan includes graduation in the
upper third of the high school
class, a transcript of the candi
date's high school record and three
letters of reference, one of them
from the high school principal.
Candidates must have three
years' seatime on SIU ships either
in their own right or through their
fathers. Ninety days of the time
must be in the previous calendar
year and one day in the 90 before
making application.
Selection of the winners takes
place each spring. A board of uni
versity administrators decides on
the basis of the record and the
test results which of the candidates
are most deserving of the awards.
Of the five scholarships awarded
each year, at least one is reserved
for a Seafarer with the other lour
open to both Seafarers and chil
dren of #IU men. , .
.
.is.-
M
Do IVitb If • • ••
V
7
One job of a safeJy-conscIous crew ?s fo make
)ll fir sure all fire-fighting gear is in top-notch con
dition. The second, and equally-important task,
is to know what gear to use in a given situation
and how.
Take fire extinguishers as an example. There
are four types-—soda and acid, foam, carbon
tetrachloride and carbon dioxide. Each of them
have different functions and may be operated
differently. Using the wrong one in the wrong
place can be downright dangerous. When the
emergency arises, there isn't always time to read
the directions on the cylinder.
Make a point of knowing where the extinguish
ers are located, how they work, what they are
for and what their pitfalls ore. Some day that
knowledge may pay off in lives saved.
An SIU Ship is a Safe
. '7
ISi.-
I
.,.1., -5.:.
Mlt:.
lleoember 20,195f SEAFARERS LOG Pare Fire
Coasi' Guardmen demonstrate the use of Geiger counters in
searching cargo coming into the US from Iron Curtain ports. The
men check both American and foreign-flag vessels. SlU-manned
Lohgview Victory got the treatment after returning from Poland,
PoUsh Run Ship Gets
Radiation Scrutiny
A checK fQr radioactivity was conducted last month on
the SlU-contracted Longview Victory (Victory Carriers), fol-
lowiiig its return from Poland. The investigation, carried out
^by Coast Guard agents armed
US, Reds
WASHINGTON — The Govern
ment has signed a $21 million con
tract with New York Shipbuilding
Corp. for the construction of an
atomic merchant ship. The con
tract came on the heels of a Rus
sian announcement of the launch
ing of the hull of an atom-powered
icebreaker.
The American vessel, the NS
(nuclear ship) Savannah, is ex
pected to be launched in 1960. Ac
cording to specifications the 21,000-
ton ship will be 587 feet long with
« 78-foot beam and have an aver
age service speed of 20 knots. A
$9.8 million power plant is now
being constructed by Babcock &
Wilcox Company.
Earlier this month the Soviet
Union launched the hull of the
atomic icebreaker, the Lenin. Ac
cording to the releases, the ship
will be as high as a six-story build
ing with a 16,000-ton displacement.
She is expected to run at an aver
age speed of 16 knotCln clear
water.
Boston On
Slow Bell
BOSTON—The prior period's
spurt of activity fell through during
the last two weeks. All of the avail
able jobs were quickly filled by
class "A" men anxious to ship out
before the holidays.
The Robin Trent, Robin Mowbray
(Robin); Steel Architect (Isthmian);
Bents Fort, Royal Oak (Cities Serv
ice) and the Pan Oceanic Trans
porter^ (Penn. Navigation) called
Into port during the period. The
Winter Hill (Cities Service) was
the only ship paying off and sign
ing on during the last two weeks.
with- geiger counters, is the
latest phase of the agency's
program for maintaining port se
curity.
Between 15 and 20 Coast Guards
men boarded the Longview at
Quarantine and made a two-hour
inspection of cargo hatches, ma
chinery and other places that
might hold atomic devices. Later
they followed the ship to drydock
in Hoboken, and maintained guard
on the gangway while it was serv
iced. Coast Guard boats also cir
cled the ship all the time it stayed
at the dock. -
The Coast Guard has been mak
ing routine checks for several years
on ships returning from Iron Cur
tain countries. Most of the inspec
tions have been conducted on for
eign ships. With the start of
American grain exports to Poland,
American ships calling there can
expect searches on their return.
The Longview Victory sailed
from the Gulf several months ago
with I cargo of grain for Poland.
She was in Gdynia for a week and
came back in ballast.
Bull Files Supreme Court
Appeal On SIO's Strike
WASHINGTON—Action by the Supreme Court on a decision of the Circuit Court of Ap
peals upholding the SlU's right to strike the Bull Line is now being awaited here. The high
court may take its usual holiday recess before then, however. •
The SlU has appealed the-* ^^
limited stay of the Circuit
Court's ruling granted by Su
preme Court Justice John M. Har
lan two weeks ago. In turn, Bull
Line has filed an answer to the
Union's application plus a petition
of its own to have the full court
review the case.
Justice Harlan had granted Bull
a limited stay until this past Mon
day to file for review. The Union
must now file its answer to the
company petition and, in the in
terim, the original anti-strike-in
junction granted by District Court
Judge Walter Bruchhausen re
mains In effect. The appeals court
had ruled a month ago that the
lower court order "must be set
aside."
A separate injunction proceed
ing by the Bull Line in Nw York
State Supreme Court? postiprbhed
during the SIU's appeal against the
original Federal injunction, is also
still pending.
The SIU struck Bull on August
19 following a breakdown in nego
tiations under the wage reopening
clause of the SIU agreement with
the company. Two days later, in
separate wage disputes, the Mas
ters, Mates and Pilots and the Ma
rine Engineers Beneficial Associa
tion also struck the company and
set up thejr own picketlines.
Company operations resumed
about two months ago after the
District Court issued two injunc
tions, one against the SIU on Octo
ber 1st, and a later one against th*
officers unions. The SIU appeal
was upheld unanimously by the
Circuit Court on November 21st.
Curran's Still The
'Man Out Of Step'
Back on April 26, the SEAFARERS LOG characterized
NMU President Joseph Curran as a "Man Out Of Step." His
irresponsible action since then and on the eve of the AFL-
ClO convention, while posing-*-
as an apostle of labor unity,
merely adds detail to the pic
ture.
For some weeks prior to the con
vention, Curran had been making
much of the "unity" theme. But
what were Curran's "contribu
tions" to labor unity recently? They
were as follows:
• He continued his efforts to in
volve former AFL and former CIO
BME, SIU Win Big $ $
Gains For Willis Officers
PHILADELPHIA—Disregarding a raid by the NMU's
United Marine Division, the SIU and the Brotherhood of Ma
rine Engineers have racked up sizable monetary gains
and other improvements for •
the deck and engine room of
ficers of the C. G. Willis fleet.
The gains, highlighted by wage in
creases ranging from $135 to $218
a month, were scored while un
licensed crewmembers of the in-
tercoastal tug fleet waited for ac
tion on an election petition filed
by the NMU affiliate. The- deck
officers and the deckhands, cooks
and ullers are represented by the
SIU's Harbor and Inland Water
ways Division.
The two-year agreement cover
ing the Willis officers was nego
tiated by five engineers and four
captains and mates off the boats.
The men came in from various
points along the Atlantic Coast at
union expense to attend the con
tract talks. The agreement, which
has been ratified by membership
vote, covers about 60 officers.
Under the contract, which takes
effect January 1, 1958, deck offi
cers will receive increases ranging
from $135 to $213 a month. By
January 1959, captains will be paid
$720 a month, relief captains $684
a month, and mates $648. The
crews work on a 20-day on, 10-day
off basis.
Wage rates for engineers go up
from $160 to $218 a month.- Be
fore the agreement expires, engi
neers will receive the following;
chief engineers—$695; relief chief
engineers—$672; and assistant en
gineers—$648.
The agreement also provides for
improvements in welfare benefits
and working conditions. Under the
pact, deck officers will be covered
by the SIU deep sea welfare plan,
and engineers will be entitled to
greater employer contributions un
der the BME Welfare Plaa
Negotiations took place while
unlicensed crewmembers of the
Willis fleet awaited further action
on a petition by Local 333 of the
United Marine Division. The peti
tion was filed on the eve of the
contract reopener.
SIU officials pointed out that the
petition stood in the way of nego
tiations for similar increases for
the cooks, deckhands, and oilers.
Originally, the NMU affiliate had
indicated that it would seek an
election covering all Willis em
ployees. But at the time it filed,
it asked for the right to represent
only the unlicensed crewmen.
The HIWD signed a fir.st-time
contract with Willis last year after
it won an election over the United
Marine Division by a count of 69
to 2. Prior to the vote, the boats
had been a non-union operation.
The raid made use of a Taft-
Hartley law attack on the union
shop clause and other items in the
existing SlU-HlWD agreement.
This was in ironic contrast with
NMU President Joe Curran's fre
quent declarations that NMU
would not use T-H against other
unions.
groupings in NMU affairs by in
troducing NMU resolutions against
the SIU before CIO Central Labor
bodies. Just before the AFL-
CIO meti Curran prevailed on the
California Industrial Union Coun
cil to "condemn" the SIU for its
action in American Coal.
Such action on Curran's part can
only have the effect of establish
ing a breach between the Califoiv
List Details In
Cables To Union
When notifying headquarters
by cable or wireless that a Sea
farer has paid off in a foreign
port because of injury or illness,
ships' delegates should include
the following information:
The man's full name, his SIU
book number, name of the ship,
the port of payoff and the hos
pital where he is being treated.
The response of ships' crews
to the Union's request ior these
notifications has been very good.
Sometimes though, not all of
the above information has been
included. Be sure to list all of
this data so that the SIU can
act as promptly as .possible.
uaoffOT/ryljj
nia CIO and the California State
Federation of Labor, two organiza
tions which have been discussing
merger on the state level for many
months.
One 0)! the big unfinished jobs
in completing the merger of or
ganized labor has been the com
bining of these state and local
central labor bodies, with big or
ganizations like the California cen
tral bodies an important factor.
Curran's action then, simply
amounts to disruption of the mer
ger process.
Naturally, delegates to the Cali
fornia CIO group knew nothing
about the NMU's - collusion with
District 50 against AFL-CIO ships*
officers unions and the SIU. Nor
did they know about NMU raiding
in the Robin Line or in the Willis
fieet where NMU attorneys did not
SIW
hesitate to attack the union shop
clause as "illegal", a pitch identi
cal to that employed by "right to
work" advocates.
• Curran continued to defend his
raid on Robin Line, where the
NMU attempted to force Seafarers
out of their jobs and thus deprive
them of job rights they had for
18 years. Curran's pitch is that
"Labor Will Fight Robin Line Rul
ing," which translated into factual
language would mean that labor
would fight for Curran's right to
raid an opposing union's membei--
ship and failing of that, have them
fired from their jobs.
Curran himself, on other occa
sions, has expressed great indigna
tion against raiding. Yet even after
his union's own raid on Robin Line
had failed miserably, and Seafar
ers, and even NMU men on the
ships had rejected the NMU as
their bargaining agent, he threw
picket lines around the Robin ships
as the final act in his pattern of
disruption.
Curran then ordered his own
men, NMU members, to cross the
(Continued on page 15)
'35
Pace Sfac SEAFARERS LOG December 20,, .1957
LOG Has Won 23 Awards
In Labor Press Competition
Prize-Winning Editorial
I
The addition of four more awards this year has boosted the LOG's impressive string of
rizes in International Labor Press Association competition since 1947 to 23. Ten of these
ave been won since' the competition was broadened following AFL-CIO merger in 1955.
These and other statistics ^
reflect the fact that while the
SIU-A&G District is numeri
cally small compared to some
AFL-CIO international unions, the
LOG "as the organ of an expand
ing, enterprising union" has con
tinued to play a major role as a
trade union and a maritime publi
cation.
The preceeding quotation was
published just six years ago in
1951, when the current LOG for
mat was first introduced in con-
Junction with the opening of the
then-new SIU headquarters build
ing in Brooklyn. Since the "new"
LOG made its debut, the SIU
newspaper has accumulated 17 of
its 23 awards, winning at least two
in every contest category open to
it in the annual ILPA competition.
The LOG has placed first or
second for the top award—general
editorial excellence—among inter
national union newspapers in fbur
of the past six years. It won the
second spot for 1957, when first
place went to the Retail, Wholesale
& Department Store Union's "Rec
ord."
Judging for this year's awards
was done by members of the facul-
UtRSWPS
SHIP BILLS
Samples of LOG front pages (above) wfiich won first prize for
"good lively molce-up" from 1957 contest judges. Cartoon by
Art Editor Bernard Seaman (below) cited for award was in April
27. 1956, issue.
ty of Columbia University's Grad
uate School of Journalism, who
commented on the LOG as follows:
"Provides best coverage of its own
field and combines interesting
aspects from all labor. Layout
bright and imaginative . . .
A 16-page, bi-weekly tabloid
since May, 1955, the LOG has pub
lished issues of up to 32 pages in
cluding special supplements from
time to time. As the key link be
tween the Union ashore and the
seagoing membership, its function
has always been broader than that
of a shoreside union publication.
The Maritime Paper
Accordingly, it has long been
recognized as "thfe'' newspaper in
maritime and it has likewise kept
pace with "the growing recognition
of both fh# SIU and its member
ship in labor affairs generally.
Avoiding the pitfalls of "boiler
plate" material and a variety of
syndicated matter, it has been
given freshness by the steady
stream of news and feature items
sent in by the Seafarers during
their travels all over the world.
This, in turn, has given every
Seafarer a stake in his Union's
newspaper as well as an identity
with it, and the admonition "Sure,
but it was in the LOG!" is enough
to quench an argument. Again,
editorial contributions are not the
whole story either, since-the LOG
has always been fully supported
by membership contributions.
Thus endowed with membership
and Union support, the LOG has
been constantly striving to live up
to its trade union function in mar
itime and in the trade union move
ment. A typical issue of the paper
may include about 30 timely news-
stories, an equal number of photo
graphs and cartoon features, a
dozen or more regular columns
and membership-originated items
plus the usual routine notices.
world a smkmg oi _ former
th. .»•»»"?"»
rest of the story. inadequate, what
can beuwB have .only a hanaiu» g usually
short of °®"^®^asons these ship ®P"^h^way than mam-
accidents and
It's no accident «^at -h^
of lea'^g . ijpr bv the day and the
future.- It's up -trend and rnn»«»j , j^ure.- Ks up „ the-tvenu :^"-
Editorial in August 3, 1956, LOG won prize for pinpointing safety
pr(}{)lems "in an interesting, convincing and specific way."
birth and death announcements,
letters, digests of ships' minutes
and other pertinent material.
The LOG "package" demon
strates the state of 'the Union at
any given time. Texts of the SIU
constitution. Union contracts, SIU
V/elfare Plan agreements, shipping
rules and other special material
are also published regularly.
SIU entries earned two. prizes
the first time the LOG entered an
ILPA contest in 1947. The string
of successes' has been broken only
three times, once when no entries
were submitted since the LOG
editor was one of the judges.
Overall, the LOG's 23-award total
includes eight first prizes, 11
seconds and four thirds. These
include five front page awards,
four for editorial excellence, three
for written editorials, six for edi
torial cartoons, four for feature
material and one "grand award"
from the 1956 contest.
Robin Line Shipping Cheers NY
NEW YORK—Headquarters, as well as the membership, again wants to thank the broth
ers who stuck by their jobs on the Robin Line ships long enough for the NLRB to hold the
elections. Many ports have put formal of thanks in the record.
As was reported, the SIU
Won the first four ships voted
by a heavy majority, despite
"tempting" offers of NMU books
and the chance to work under the
NMU contract. Some of the Sea
farers on these vessels have in
formed headquarters that their
wives have received letters from
the NMU in an attempt to convert
them to their line.
The Robin Mowbray voted NMU
after most of the crew were either
fired or left the vessel and were
replaced by NMU members.
Outlook Good
Bill Hall, assistant secretary-
treasurer, reports that shipping for
the port has been good throughout
the last two weeks. Some jobs were
hanging on the board for several
calls before they could find takers.
The outlook for the coming period
is also good with a sizable number
of ships scheduled to arrive for
payoffs and a couple of others com
ing out of temporary lay-up and
signing on crews.
Most of the jobs came from the
27 vessels that paid off during the
past period. This was the greatest
number of ships paying off in this
port within one period for over a
^^^r;iThere wer^ thr^e s4iips sigh-,
ing on and eight were in transit.
Among the vessels paying off
here were the Alcoa Partner,
Alcoa Runner, Alcoa Pegasus (Al
coa); Beatrice, Elizabeth, Kathryn,
Frances, Carolyn (Bull); Seatrain
Georgia, New York (Seatrain);
Steel Architect, Steel Designer,
Steel Vendor (Isthmian); Almena,
Morning Light, Andrew Jackson
(Waterman); Robin Mowbray, Robin
Locksley (Robin) and the Armonk
(New Jersey Indust.).
The Valley Forge (Penn. Nay.);
Andrew Jackson .(Waterman) and
the Mankato Victory (Victory Car
riers) signed on while the Seatrains
New Jersey, Georgia, New York,
Savannah (Seatrain); Pennmar
(Calmar); Val Chem (Heron); Sand-
captain (Const. Agg.), and the
Michael (Carras) were in transit.
^ B A
PORTO'CALL
675•-4w.A^«^nF -12/6
BCCOfeClJ/'Aj ©AU77MC»ee
IMT SEAFARERS LOG Par*. SeTM
DOUAR'S WORTH
Guide To Better Buying
By Sidney Margolitu
Costs High On Second Mortgages
A growing number of moderate-income families are undertaking
second mortgages at interest rates of as much as 15 jper cent.
The use of second mortgages and other costly lending practices has
reached such proportions that two Congressional committees are in
vestigating the situation. FHA Commissioner Norman Mason has warned
that reports from FHA field directors indicate these practices are
growing fast. Three out of ten sales of houses currently are being
financed with second mortgages, The Connecticut FHA director, for
example, estimates that 30 per cent of conventional home-sale trans
actions In his state currently involve second mortgages and land con
tracts, a "dangerous type of conditional sales contract. Six months ago
his estimate, was eight per cent.
The reason for the growing number of second mortgages is that
prices of bouses have gone up but banks and other lenders have held
_down the amounts they will lend on first mortgages. They want to
play safe by lending only 60 or 75 per cent of the appraised value of
the house. Too, the appraised
value often is lower than thfr ac
tual market price the buyer jpys.
Thus a family buying a house for
$15,000 nowadays often finds it
can get a first mortgage of only
$10,000.
Construction costs throughout
the country rose three per cent
during the twelve months thr&ugh
Septembef, according to the T. W.
Dodge Corp. The price of almost
every type of structure shows a
rise of 148 per cent over the 1941
construction. Thus, a house that
cost $8,000 to build in 1941 now
is tagged $19,840, exclusive of the
cost of land and financing.
As prices of houses have risen
and mortgage money has gotten
tighter, lenders have demanded
increasingly higher fees. In the
midcastcrn states, as New York
and New Jersey, lenders ask dis
counts "of as much as 12-14 per cent, in addition to the interest charge
of six per cent. Thus, you might borrow $3,000 on a second mortgage,
but sign a contract to repay $3,400, and pay six per cent interest on
$3,400, not the $3,000 you actually got.
California Squeezes Tm
But-it's in the house-hungry Southwest and West Coast that charges
for second mortgages have reached perhaps their highest level. Cali
fornia, for example, permits "trust deeds" instead of mortgages, and
allows lenders to charge ten per cent interest on "second trust deeds"
In addition to brokerage fees and service charges. The brokerage fees
are regulated by law at five per cent for mortgages of one year, ten
per cent for two years and 15 for three. Brokers build up their fees
by influencing borrowers to take out the three-year mortgages on
which they charge the 15 per cent brokerage fee in addition to the
ten per cent annual interest. On top of that, they charge borrowers-
for costs and expenses of as much as four per cent more. Finally they
calculate these charges on the basis of the face amount of the mort
gage, rather than the amount the borrower receives. Thus, the actual
Interest rate on a second trust deed often becomes 15 per cent.
One homeowner reported to the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
that he had to agree to, pay a commission of $500 to a broker to get a
second mortgage loan of $1,800. On top of that, he was supposed to
pay interest of ten per cent, and not on the $1,800 he actually re
ceived, but on the $2,300 amount which included the commission.
Trust Deeds Risky
Trust deeds themselves are risky for home buyers, and should be
avoided if at all possible. A ti'ust deed is not the same as an ordinary
mortgage.
Under a mortgage you yourself keep title to your property, and
merely pledge ft as security. Under a trust deed you sign over your
title to the property to a third party called a trustee.
If you fall behind in your payments, you generally have 90 days to
bring your account up to date by paying all back payments, interest
charges and any legal expenses the lender may have incurred. After
90 days, when the notice of sale has been published, you have to pay
off the entire balance in full if you want to keep your property. After
sale at auction by the trustee, you have no redemption rights.
For the sake of a $1,000 loan, you can lose your home and all your
equity in it.
An even more dangerous way to finance a home is through a "land
sales contract," sometimes called a conditional sales contract. Here
the seller retains title to the property tmtil you have paid, usually,
one-third or one-half the purchase price. (Jenerally, land contracts
provide that you forfeit all the payments you already made if you
default on your payment schedule. Thus, you can pay off, say $5,000
on a $15,000 house,* and if you fall behind, lose the house and all you
paid in.
Second mortgages and similar unsound home-financing devices got
many families in trouble back in the 1920's. Finally this practice
helped get the whole country into trouble by bringing about a wave of
foreclosures in the early 30's.
The Home Owners' Loan Corporation had to be created to help
homeowners and lenders through the worst part of the big depression.
It refinanced more than a million homes in three years.
Don't let history repeat itself at your expense. Stay away from
"trustors ' and other mortgage , brokers, and second mortgages. alto
gether, if at all possible.
NewMEBA
Unit formed
for Lakes
DETROIT—Preparing for the
all-oiit Great Lakes-Seaway organ
izing drive planned in coordination
with the Maritime Trades Depart
ment, the Marine Engineers Bene
ficial Association has consolidated
all Great Lakes engineers in one
local imion.
The 93-year-old Local 3 of this
city has surrendered its charter,
with its members joining Great
Lakes Local 101. The newly-formed
organization will hold a convention
in Cleveland early next month for
the purpose of drafting an organ
izing program, electing officers and
attending to other details involved
in its establishment.
Other preparations for Lakes' or
ganizing include the establishment
of MTD port councils in virtually
all major Great Lakes ports. The
recent MTD convention stressed
the considerable organizing oppor
tunities that will be available on
the Lakes once the Seaway opens.
Checking Where The Money Goes
Seafarers Ronald Burton, AB (loft), and Eugene W. Bent, FWT,
check over the SiU secretary-treasurer's weekly financial report in
the auditing room at headquarters. The Weekly reports are posted
after an audit by a rank-and-file committee.
fenbaker of Canada is ex
pected to take steps to resolve
the strike issues on his return from
the NATO talks. The Prime.^ Min
ister actively stepped into the dis
pute after the Canadian Depart
ment of Labour was unable to come
up with a solution.
The world-wide labor solidarity
in support of the SIU strike gained
further support last week when
the AFL-CIO convention in Atlan
tic City pledged its backing to the
Canadian strikers.
Earlier, the Maritime Trades De
partment convention endorsed "the
fight of our Canadian brothers to
preserve trade union representa
tion." An MTD resolution saluted
"the maritime workers of the free
trade union movement... for their
prpmpt efforts and stirring display
of international trade union fra
ternity in joining to crush the
Canadian government-sponsored at
tempt at union busting."
CNS attempted to break the SIU
strike, with government approval,
by transferring its eight ships to
Trinidad registry after the strikers
turned down a take-it-or-leave-it
wage offer. The CNS offer Involved
a two-step 15 percent package, well
below the already-trimmed-down
20 percent demands for which the
men originally struck on July 4th.
Present base pay for ABs is $204
per month.
The company has already failed
in several attempts to import
strikebreakers, both from the West
Indies and England, with the result
that all its ships continue to lay
idle in Halifax. Five ships origi
nally tied up here were shifted to
Halifax last month after being
sailed by ships' officers under
cover of night. Three had already
been idled in Halifax.
In addition to the AFL-CiO and
MTD support, the strike has the
active endorsement of the Cana
dian Labour 'Congress, Interna
tional Confederation of Free Trade
Unions, British Trades Union Con
gress, International Transportwork-
ers Federation as well as the SIU
of North America and its affiliates.
Key support is pledged by the
Seamen's & Waterfront Workers
Trade Union in Port-of-Spain, Trin
idad, which has condemned the
company's "strikebreaking tactics"
and advised local port authorities
and Canadian officials that its
members will not handle the "hot"
CNS ships. The SWWTU is the only
recognized transimrt union in Port-
of-Spain.
Urge Tuna Import Limit
To Save US Fishery Jobs
WASHINGTON—Appearing before the United States Tar
iff Commission, Lester Balinger of the SIU of NA's fish and
cannery divisions called for additional legislative protection
for the domestic tuna and al-"^
bacore fishing industry.
Put Postal Zone
On LOG Address
The Post Office Department
has requested that Seafarers
and their families include postal
zone numbers in sending
changes of address into the
LOG. The use of the zone num
ber will greatly speed the flow
of the mail and will facilitate
delivery.
Failure to include the zone
number can hold up delivery
of the paper. The LOO is now
in the process of zoning its
entiremailing. Hsit,: ,
Balinger pointed to a "ter
rific" decline in job opportunities
for West Coast tuna fishermen
which, since 1952, amounts to
about 30 percent overall. Boats
lost at sea, he said, have not been
^replaced by American owners, and
many boats have left the US to fish
with foreign crews and deliver
their catch to
foreign ports.
By contrast, he
said, fish imports
have been on the
rise since 1951.
The result has
been a tremen
dous turnover in
manpower in the
domestic fleet be
cause of a decline
in the men's earnings. Price cuts
in domestic fish upon which the
men's earnings depend on a share
basis have combined with a re
duced volume.
In 1956, he said, fishermen were
averaging about $4,900 a year. This
year the averages will work out to
about $3,950 for working 15 or 16
hours daily, seven days a week.
The future of the industry is
entirely dependent on protective
legislation," BAlingei>Tlle<!lafed. The
union and the industry is calling
for limits on imports and increased
tariff charges.
Balinger
Cooper Out
Of Bakers
(Continued from page 2)
which there was such a dispute
over the question of behavior of
the union's president, it appears
clearly that Curran's reference is
^eant for them.
The other Curran statement
praised Mr. Cooper as resolving
"to stay clear of union policy and
program."
It is interesting to note that the
Senate committee's criticism of
Mr. Cooper was based on his ac
tively "taking sides" with Cross
against the opposition in the bak
ers union irrespective of the merits
of the situation and his role as
union counsel for all the members.
Similarly, Mr. Cooper has been ac
cused by the NMU opposition of
taking sides" on behalf of Mr.
Curran. In one instance, as cited
by the LOG, Mr. Cooper actively
urged NMU members on the SS
United States Jto vote,-fpr the Cur
ran slate in an NMU election.
Prime Minister Enters Canadian
SIU Strike; See Settlement Near
MONTREAL—A break in the 170-day-oId strike by the SIU Canadian District against
the government-owned Canadian National Steamships, Ltd., now awaits the wind-up of this
week's North Atlantic Treaty Organization conference in Paris.
Prime Minister John F. Die-
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Pace Eisrht i. SEAFARERS LOG December ^0, 195* « >•
MTD ACTS ON MARITIME PROBLEMS
. Fourteen resolutions dealing
with a variety of maritime prob
lems including subsidies, national
legislation, the hiring hall, the St.
Lawrence Seaway and others were
approved at the convention of the Mari
time Trades Department early this
month. In addition, the convention acted
to broaden the executive board of MTD
in recognition of the growth oif the or
ganization and also took steps to imple
ment its organizing program.
As previously reported in the SEA
FARERS LOG, the convention heard ad
dresses from AFL-CIO President George
Meany in which he called the Depart
ment the "one place ... in the AFL-CIO
trade union structure" for all marine un
ions; from MTD President Paul Hall on
the objectives of the organization and
from AFL-CIO legislative representative
Andrew Biemiller.
In addition, the convention heard a
pledge from John Livingston, AFL-CIO
Director of Organization, to cooperate
wholeheartedly in any MTD organizing
campaign. Other speakers included
James Brownlow of the Metal Trades
Department and Nelson Cruikshank of
the AFL-CIO Social Service Department.
The executive board was broadened
by the addition of three new members-
Herbert L. Daggett for the Marine Engi
neers Beneficial Association; A. J. Lough-
rey for the International Brotherhood of
Boilermakers and Russell Stephens for
the Technical Engineers.
The following is a digest of MTD con
vention resolutions;
Subsidies
The -convention noted that no appre
ciable'' progress had been made by the
US on a more equitable subsidy pro
gram. It reiterated its opposition to
granting subsidies only to a limited num
ber of companies as putting "a premium
on bad management" and a "bar to a
healthy and expanding industry."
4^
Livingston Pledges
Full Aid To MTD
Seaway
With the coming opening of the Sea-
-Ivay, the MTD has been making prepara
tions for the vast organizing potential
involved. The convention recommended
"a full-scale, coordinated organizing
campaign . . . with a view to ultimate
representation of all the workers in
volved under the banner of the respec
tive AFL-CIO unions."
ii $• i>
"maximum effort by the Maritime Trades
Department" to promote revival of these
trades and "US Government encourage
ment of new methods of operation. They
further recommended "Congressional
Amendment of the 1936 Merchant Ma
rine Act to provide construction subsi
dies as an inducement to new enterprise
in this field."
4> t- t
Anti'Labor
Legislation
ILO
The constructive contributions oL;||FL-
CIO delegates to the Internation^JLili^
Organization were lauded "despiW tre
efforts of reactionary employer members
to cripple the essential functions of ILO."
4" 4" J"
Urging greater organizing efforts .
by all unions, AFL-CIO director of
organization John Livingston
pledged all possible Federation
aid in drives by MTD unions.
Delegates denounced efforts by the
enemies of labor to destroy trade unions
and declared, "we must vigorously op
pose any and all legislative attempts on
national and local levels to invade, the,
rights of free working men and
women, .
$ 4^
Fish Imports
MSTS
'50-50'
The convention noted that it is "im
perative that we continue the fight on
all levels to preserve '50-50' ... in the
face of constant attacks on this legisla
tion."
The maintenance of a huge peacetime
commercial fleet by the Military Sea
Transport Service came under heavy fire.
The convention called it "a service-un
necessary and costly to the American
taxpayer" and "usurpation of the func
tions of private US shipping and the
consequent deprivation of the benefits
of trade union representation from the
workers involved."
4- 4- 4-
Marine Hospitals
The resolution warned that the ground
work is being laid for another attack on
the Public Health Service. It pointed out
that maritime ranks third in accident
rates and seamen "are constantly ex
posed to pestilence and disease peculiar
to the ports ... at which they must
call . . ." It urged an end to the con
stant threats to eliminate facilities.
4" 4" 4"
AFL-CIO Director of Organization
John Livingston made a strong pledge
of all possible aid to the Maritime Trades
Department's campaign to organize on
the St. Lawrence Seaway. Livingston
declared, "As far as our. Department of
Organization is concerned, within the
limits of the manpower that we will have
at the time, we will be very interested
in your work and your project, and we
will not be behind you—we will be right
out there in front with y^u, no matter
how rough some of your cahipaigns may
get."
Livingston also remarked, "I think it
is extremely important that Depart
ments such as yours exist because it is
only by standing together and pooling
your ideas and your forces that you can
do a more effective job in your respec
tive fields organizationally, on the leg
islative front, and at the collective bar-
gaining table."
Cheap fish imports Mve depressed
wPrk opportunities and income in the
domestic fisheries. Consequently, the
Department urged "the enactment of
adequate legislation to protect the fish
ermen and cannery workers."
4> 4> 4
Runaways
The convention called the American
maritime worker "one of the chief vic
tims" of the runaways and charged that
maritime workers' "welfare has been
completely ignored by the Maritime Ad
ministration." It called for "necessary
remedial legislation to halt further ship
transfers. . ."
4> 4" 4-
Canadian Strike
Hiring Hall
Long Range
M'time Program
Convention guest Peter McGavin,
special assistant to AFL-CIO Pres.
George Meany; SlU Mobile port
agent Cal Tanner and BME pres.
Ray McKay make up a three
some.
The Government was criticized for its
"hit and miss" approach to maritime
which was attributed to the lack of a
"broad, long-range maritime program."
The convention called for steps to effect
such a program and to allow "member
unions of the Maritime Trades Depart
ment to participate in its development."
The hiring hall method of employment
was hailed as "the most effective means
of insuring fair and equitable distribu
tion of work." The resolve called for
"proper federal legislation ... to guar
antee that the hiring hall be recognized
as the proper medium for employment
in all industries in which its use has
been an accepted practice."
4> 4' 4«
The convention denounced the trans
fer action of the Government-owned
Canadian National Steamship Lines as
"one of the most vicious attempts at the
destruction of union yyages, conditions
and representation." It cited the vigor
ous fight waged against the transfer by
the SlU Canadian District and the ef
fective support received from all over
the world. The MTD went on record as
supporting the fight and "salutes the
maritime workers of the free trade union
movement . . . for their stirring display;
of internationar trade union frater
nity. .."
4i 4> 4
ITF and ICFTU
Domestic Shipping
The losses in this field were noted up
until recently when new methods were
put in play to revive the trades. Con
sequently, the delegates recommended
The convention saluted the Interna
tional Transportworkers Federation and
the International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions as democratic bulwarks
and instrumentalities for the protection
of the economic rights of maritime
workers.
\
President William A. Calvin of
the Boilermakers was elected vice-
president of the Building & Con
struction Trades Department of
the AFL-CIO to succeed Teamster
President Dave Beck. Beck an
nounced that he was resigning
from the department because he
would be terminating his position
with the Teamsters "in the fore
seeable future."
4i 4< 41
William Schnitzler, AFL - CIO
secretary-treasurer, has announced
the establishment of a one-year
internship for graduate students
starting July 1, 1958. The intern
ship will Consist of a one-year po
sition with the Federation's Re
search Department working on
economic analysis, labor legislar
tion and collective bargaining: de
velopments and will offer, direct
experience and training of com
petent young people for positions,
in trade union research. Graduates
of universities having specialized
units in the field of labor and in
dustrial relations, who will not
have reached their 26th birthday
by July 1, 1958, and, who have com
pleted one year of graduate work
will be eligible for the positions.
4^ 4^ 4^
Seven locals of the Meat Cutters
Union in Chicago have negotiated
a contract providing for wage in
creases from 32.5 to 38.75 cents an
hour over a two-year period. The
agreements, ratified at local mem
bership meetings, covers all chain
and independent supernaarkets in
the Chicago area except Jewel and
National Tea Co. The' members
rejected the proposals from the
two holdout companies, and voted
in favor of a strike if an agreement
could not be reached. The wage
and welfare Increases are retroac
tive to Oct. 5, 1957.
3rd Trailership Enters SerWce
-
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.. '
'S-'
MOBILE—The SS Fairland, the third vessel to be converted into a trailership, entered
Pan-Atlantic's sea-land service early this month. The ship will service the ports of New
York, Miami, New Orleans and Tampa. .
The fourth vessel, the SS"^
Raphael Semmes, is scheduled
for completion in several
weeks. The Raphael Semmes will
round out the first phase of Pan-
Atlantic's new service.' The com
pany wilkhave two trailerships op
erating between NY, Miami, Hous
ton and Tampa; two between New
York and Miami, New Orleans
and Tampa; and two sea-land
tankers between New York and
Houston.
Seafarers in this port are taking
advantage of the new medical exr
aminations being given by the SIU's
Welfare Department. About seven
to ten men a day are being x-rayed
and receiving cardiographs. It Is
hpped'that the center will be! able
to expand and take in: dependents
in the near future.
The city-wide bus strike here
entered its seventh week with little
hope of a settlement. Port agent
Cal Tanner continued to work with
the fact-finding committee until he
had to leave for the AFL-CIO Con
vention in Atlantic City. Although
making good progress, the com
mittee has not been able to settle
the dispute.
While shipping has not been
booming, many of the men are
being choosy and leaving the jobs
on the board for a couple of calls.
It is expected that the freezing
weather and the coming Christmas
holidays will add to the number of
men on the beach in this area.
Among the ships in this port
during the past period were the
LaSalle, Wacosta, Warrior and
Madaket (Watermanl, the Alcoa
Planter, Patriot, Clipper Pilgrim,
Corsair, the Steel Age and Steel
Appjentice.
%
PHOTOS
sToRtes,
?oeTRY
•y-4
December 20i 19ST SEAFARERS LOG Pare Nine '
THt MT D CONVENTION @ Delegates of 12 unions rep
resenting virtually the entire i
maritime industry are shown '
at Atlantic Gity convention at
which they worked out a pro
gram of mutual action ''on
common problems.
Arnold Zuider (r)
AFSCME. witli Grain
Millers' K. Schneider.
Ship officers ohattinr are E. N. Altman, J.
Calhoun tmd Pres. Herbert Darrett, MEBA;
Moe Welnstein, MM&Ft V. O'Reilly, MEBA.
Listehinr to talk are (1 to r) M. Stephens,
Technical Engineers; Joe Trainer, IBL;
Stephen Leslie, Operating Engineers.
SIU Pacific District was represented by Ed
Turner, Marine Cooks; Morris Weisberger;
Sailors; Sam Bennett, Marine Firemen.
W. Pendergast, Boil
ermakers and A. Matz,
Firemen & Oilers.
Harry O'ReiUy, MTD Secretary; James
Brownlow, Metal Trades Dep't, and Jack
McDonald, Operating Engineers, confer.
Fred Farnen, SIU Great Lakes District;
Rolla Johnson, MM&P, and Stanley Thomp
son, Great Lakes Detroit agent, in huddle.
Int'l Brotherhood of Longshoremen's huddle
features (1 to r) E. L. Slaughter, secretary;
Larry Long, president; Joe Trainor.
Andre.IV Biemiller,
AFL-GIO legislativb
rep, wail, speaker.
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Setting The Deck Straight
SEAFARERS LOG
November 27 Through December 10
Registered
SiU-HIWD members J. W. Edwards (left) and L T. Squires, deck
hands on the G&H tug J. Harris Masterson, team up to coil some
line in Houston. The Masterson is one of 26 boots in the G&H
fleet.
Defense Council Affirms
Need For Merchant Fleet
WASHINGTON—^Reports of the impending death of the
US merchant marine replacement program have turned out
to be greatly exaggerated. The Office of Defense Mobiliza
tion has notified Rep. Herbert —— —
C. Bonner, chairman of the.
House Merchant Committee
"that the policy that an adequate
merchant marine is essential for
defense purposes should be re
affirmed."
It had been previously reported
that the US merchant marine pol
icy .was under review by the Na
tional Security Council, and there
This Seabag's
Loaded With Oil
LONDON — Two British scien
tists have developed a long flexible
sea-going bag capable of carrying
some 10 tons of oil at the end of
a tow. The model, a tubular bag
67 feet long and three feet wide
in diamater, successfully passed a
series of tests in rough seas.
Professors W. Hawthorne and
John Paige of Cambridge Univer
sity built their sea-going bag out
of a thin but strong flexible mate
rial similar to nylon. When empty
the container weighs less thay one
two-hundredths as much as the
cargo it carries and can be folded
and carried in the back of an
automobile. When full the bag
rides fairly low in the water with
about 90 percent of it submerged.
Major oil companies are inter
ested . in the development of flex
ible seagoing containers as an
answer to the rising cost of tanker
construction. The estimated cost
of producing such a bag is about
one-seventh that reqiiirea to build
comparable space in a standard
tanker. Besearch on seagoing con-
ta ners will continue until one be
can. produced capable of handling
j^GOG tons of oil.
One present use of the smaller-
Bized bags may be in unloading
supertankers at ports which do not
have sufficient berthing facilities.
They can be easily filled through
a hosepipe aUached to their stem,
bound with other containers, and
towed into port by tug boata
had been suggestions to the effect
that the merchant marine would
no longer be considered as having
any defense value in the missile
age.
Gordon Gray, the Defense Mo-
bilizer, wrote to Bonner that the
matter had been considered by a
special committee made up of rep
resentatives of the Office of De
fense Mobilization, the Defense
Department and the Maritime Ad
ministration, and that the commit
tee's findings had been approved
by the higher-ups on the Defense
Mobilization Board.
Gray also said that the Board
favors a merchant fleet of approx
imately the present level as an in
terim goal and calls for a "long-
range program for the replacement
of ships which will become obso
lete."
Not spelled out in the letter, are
the methods by which this replace
ment program is to be accom
plished. The Maritime Trades De
partment convention had called for
a union voice in long-range plan
ning for maritime and also has
been critical of the favoring of a
limited number of subsidized oper
ators at the expense of the rest of
the US merchant marine.
Lending further emphasis to the
need for a US merchant fleet was
a series of articles in last week's
"New York Times" on the critical
shortages in the United States in
reserves of vital raw materials for
US industry. The "Times" articles
pointed out that such items as
chrome, tin, rubber, copper, lead,
bauxite, iron ore, manganese, and
large amounts of oil have to be Im
ported—some of these items from
far off places such as Turkey, In
dia, Malaya and the far reaches of
South America.
Since these shortages will get
worse as the years go by, that
means greater dependence on ship
ping to maintain a flow of raw
materials. Consequently, if the
United States should neglect its
merchant marine, it would put its
entire economy at the mercy of
•foreign flags. "•
Fort Deck Deck Ens. Ens. Stew. Stew. Totil Total ;;totai -
A B A B ' A . B A B ' . RSs. '"
Boston 1 • . . a . ̂ . .. IG 2 7 4 5 1 - 22 7 •
New York ............ 1 *... .. 95 13 69 12 53 9 217 34 -251?,
Philadelphia 1 ...... . .. 16 0 12 4 8 3 36 7 . 43
Baltimore .. 49 22 3G 25 33 2G 112 67 170
Norfolk 3 8 7 1 5 22 15 37
Savannah 3 7 4 2 1 18 8 26
Tampa — 4 5 3 5 1 20 8 28
Mobile ....... .. 3G 7 22 6 3G 6 82 19 101
New Orleans .. 4G 22 29 11 45 , 11 114 44 158 .
Lake Charies 9 11 IG 5 7 24 26 50
Houston 16- 19 2G 15 11 58 47 105
Wilmington S 12 19 14 7 43 31 74
San Francisco .. 15 4 12 9 22 10 49 23 72
Seattle .. ............ 12 12 12 8 4 38 28 66
Deck Deck •nt. Ens. Stew. stew. Total Total Total
Total
A B A B A B A B . Res.. -
Total .. 354 122 255 146 246 96 855 364 1219 p:
- •. Shipped
-•f £
Fort Deck Deck Deck Bng. Ens. Ens. stew. stew. stew. Total Total Total Total
Boston
A B C A B ' C A B c A B C Ship,
Boston 7 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 G 12 0 0 12 .
New York . 76 12 6 56 21 8 35 9 2 167 42 16 225 ]
Philadelphia . 5 1 0 4 4 1 3 1 G 12 6 1 19 r
Baltimore . 64 2G 1 51 19 1 42 17 G 157. 56 2 215 ;
Norfolk . 8 9 0 6 8 0 1 6 1 15 23 1 39 ,
Savannah /. . 1 0 0 4 3 0 1 0 G 6 3 0 9 :•
Tampa . 6 1 0 4 1 2 2 2 G 12 4 2 18 "
Mobile . 35 7 0 28 11 2 22 10 G 85 28 2 115
New Orleans . 32 13 1 33 5 0 33 9 3 98 27 4 129
Lake Charles 8 6 0 10 8 1 4 3 2 22 17 3 42
Houston . IG 5 0 19 7 0 8 6 G 37 18 0 55
Wilmington 4 4 0 3 0 0 4 G G 11 4 0 15
San Francisco 2 2 0 9 0 0 6 0 G 17 2 0 19
Seattle . 22 3 0 13 7 0 12 2 G 47 12 6 .59
Deck Deck Deck Bnfl. Ens. Ens. 1 Itew. Stew. Stew. Total Total Total Total
Total
A B C A B C A B c A B c Ship.
Total 28G 83 8 242 94 15 176 65 8 698 242 31 971
Shipping lagged again during the last two weeks, despite the approaching year-end holi
days. Both job activity and registration fell off; shipping to 971 and registration to 1,219.
The usual holiday pile-offs and consequent job boom at year's-end has failed to develop
so far, although the last pe--*" —— •:—
riod may have been too early
-1
for it in the face or the slug
gish shipping over a good part of
this year. The holiday boom ordi
narily extends into January as Sea
farers pay off for vacations and
to get time off with their families.
Five SIU ports managed to im
prove their showing despite the
general job fall-off. Mobile and
Baltimore were particularly active.
New York, Norfolk and Savannah
also rose. Seattle, remained "as is,
but was still active.
Declines were listed for Boston,
Philadelphia, Tampa, New Orleans,
Lake Charles, Houston, Wilmington
and San Francisco. The return of
Robin Line jobs on SIU shippin;^
boards should help out in the near
future.
Registration and shipping ran
fairly close in the engine depart
ment, which shipped half the class
C jobs.
A futher breakdown by seniority
groups showed the class B regis
tration slightly higher than in the
last period, and the B shipping
about the same as before. The de
clines, therefore, were all in the
class A column. However, the class
A proportion of jobs shipped rose
to 72 percent of to total. Class B
shipping also went up, to 25 per
cent of the job total.
The foUowing is the forecast port
by port.
Boston: Quiet... New York: Fair
. . Philadelphia: Fair . . . Balti
more: Good . . . Norfolk: Fair ...
Savannah: Slow . . . Tampa: Fair
Mobile: Good ... New Orleans:
Good . . . Lake Charles: Fair . . .
Houston: Good . . . Wilmington:
Fair . . . San Francisco: Quiet . . .
Seattle: Good.
Hold Up Suez Canal
Expansion^ Need $
Under a newly-adopted development program, the Suez
Canal Authority plans to deepen the waterway to take tank-|
ers of 65,000 deadweight tons and to increase traffic capacity
to 56 vessels a day, and even--*-
tually 80 to 90 vessels a day.
Colonel Mahmound Yunes,
board chairman and managing di
rector of the Canal authority, said
that the authority plans to start its
$2GG million program as soon as
possible. However, its Schedule for
deepening the waterway to 45 feet
depends on whether the authority
can borrow money against future
toll revenues .
In his status report on the
canal development, Mahmound an
nounced that the canal was still
18 inches short of its pre-blockade
depth of 35 feet, but that it would
reach that level by April or earlier.
Daily transit through the Egyptian-
nationalized waterway has in
creased to 47 vessels from the 41.9
pre-blockade average.
The Suez Company manager is
in the United States "contacting my
customers"—the shipowners—"on
what services we can provide for
them." He is also meeting Eugene
Black, president of the World Bank
in an effort to raise the necessary
funds here. Mahmound reaffirmed
the Egyptian government's declara
tion that the canal tolls wpuld not
be raised more than one percent
a year. "For the present," he added,
"We have no intention of raising
the tolls."
SF Has LitUe
Ship Activity
SAN . FRANCISCO — Shipping
took a dive in this port during the
past two weeks. There was only
one ship, the Iberville (Waterman),
signing on.
The Massmar, Marymar (Calmar)
and the Hurricane - (Waterman)
pulled into port for servicing.
There were no reported beefs and
all were in good shape.
Stay Put For Idle Pay
Seafarers who are collecting state unemployment benefits whila
on the beach waiting to ship are urged to stay put and avoid ^
changing their mailing addresses if they want to continue re
ceiving their checks regularly. Several Seafarers have already
experienced interruptions of from three to five weeks in getting
their next check after they notified the state unemployment
offices that they had moved and chjinged their mailing address.
An average delay of a month is reported in most cases, causing
. considerable hardship to.the men involved., .
'WRT&CALl
bJS'iff'AB r
IN mriim
l>e««ei|ilier so, 1M7 SEAFARERS LOG Paff« Elevev
.skjt'-v
'Next Door' start Work On 'Seaway'
Between N' Orleans, Gulf
NEW ORLEANS—Coiistruction of a deepwater tidewater
channel from the Mississippi River to the Gulf which will
give New Orleans a second outlet to the sea commenced last
week. "• •
Start of construction of the
channel, which will be 76
miles long on completion, brought
reality to the dreams of Crescent
City shipping and civic interests
who have been trying to promote
such a project for more than a
century.
Business, civic and political lead
ers were present for cerenjonies
which preceded a dynamite blast
that started work on the first ex
cavation. The channel, to cost an
estimated $96 million, will cut
through land except for >26 miles
of open water in Chandeleur Sound
near the Gulf terminus of the new
route which will result in savings
in time and distance for New Or
leans-bound shipping.
Engineers predict from five to
ten years will be required to com
plete the project.
Ships,
Bait. Busy
With
Festivities
BALTIMORE—It has beert
fairly busy period in this port
Shipping picked up a great deal,
running far ahead of registration
The biggest increase was in the
deck department where over ,80
Class "A" and "B" men shipped
out.
Everyone is getting ready for the
Christmas holidays. The hall is be
ing decorated and the turkeys are
on order for the Christmas dinner.
The dinners will be served in the
Union's cafeteria for the men on
the beach here and their families.
All are invited to come iiT and eat
to their heart's content.
On the shipping side, there were
17 vessels paying off, nine signed
on and nine in transit. The Royal
Oak, Cantigny (Cities Service);
Santore, Venore, Oremar, Feltore,
Chiiore (Ore); Joseiina (Lib. Nav.);
Bethcoaster (Calmar); Citrus
Packer (Waterman); Robin Locksley
(Robin); Steel Age (Isthmian);
Evblyn, Jean, Emilia (Bull); Seastar
(Traders) and the Charles Dunaif
(Colonial Nav.) all paid off while
the Venore, Oremar, Feltore, Sant
ore, Chiiore (Ore); Kenmar, Beth-
coaster JCalmar); Joseiina (Lib.
Nav.) and the Evelyn (Bull) signed
on.
The, in-transit ships were the
Alcoa Runner and Pegasus (Alcoa);
Calmar (Calmar); Steel Vendor
(Isthmian): Cubore, Baltore (Ore);
Morning Light (Waterman) and; the
The forthright action taken by the AFL-CIO to clean its
own house of corrupt influences—admittedly a "disagreeable
task" involving the expulsion of 1^^ million flsade union
ists—is now on the record. It remains to be seen whether
the bosses' "unions" will take a similar position on abuses in
their own backyard.
No one even expects the NAM to bring General Electric
up on charges becaus^its salesmen provided "call girls" for
big appliance buyers. The newspapers put a "boys will be
boys" label on this sort of thing, so it's conveniently over
looked along with that multitude of sins known as "common
business practices." These may range from bribery and
price-rigging to arson and tax evasion, of course, but who's
to throw the first stone anyway?
Thus the current offensive by business groups to get more
"right-to-work" bills and punitive labor laws passed has
a certain smell about it. Contrast the AFL-CIO's unequivo
cal endorsement wtih the business spokesmen's own cries of
outraged innocence over such proposals as those calling
for the financial dealings^ of all welfare and pension funds,
including those run by management alone, to be put under
public scrutiny.
Furthermore, despite the anti-labor emphasis of the Sen
ate committee's hearings this year, it's pretty apparent
that for every union representative who allegedly took a
bribe or kickback there was a businessman who gave it. In
the same way, industry's crimes of strikebreaking, union-
busting and exploitation of workers via "sweetheart" con
tracts is viewed as "business expediency" and dismissed
lightly. Some kind of a clean-up is badly needed there.
. $1 $1
Back Again
The appearance of Robin Line jobs on SIU shipping boards
once more is a tribute to the spirit of the Seafarers forced
to work under heavy -pressures, including an inferior -Na
tional Maritime Union contract on these ships.
An interesting sidelight on the SIU victory is that despite
the lures dangled before the Robin men to win support for
the NMU raid, even two NMU members on the Robin Trent
voted SIU. All Seafarers salute their brothers in Robin Line
for their unanimous endorsement of the SIU.
Recognition for the SIU and the SEAFARERS LOG in the
form of four 1957 International Labor Press Association
awards in a contest involving 300 varied AFL-CIO union
publications come at an appropriate time of the year. The
LOG staff would therefore like ,to thank all Seafarers for
their unending support over the years and wish season's
Kyska Takes
Seattle Crew
SEATTLE—It hao been a slow
shipping period for this port with
the SS Kyska (Waterman) supply
ing most of the business. She had
been in temporary lay-up but took
on a full crew during the period.
The Afoundria (Waterman) paid
off while the Iberville (Waterman)
and the Seamar (Calmar) supplied
the in-transit business. There were
only a^few minor beefs which were
settled satisfactorily.
Unions'
Hurricane Aid
ATLANTIC CITY—The Ameri
can Red Cross has awarded two
certificates to Louisiana union
groups in appreciation of the aid
organized labor gave victims of
Hurricane Audrey which struck
the Louisiana-Texas border early
in August.
Philip Piro, president of the
Louisiana State Building Trades
Council, accepted one in behalf of
the skilled craftsmen of Louisiana
who 3onate<f their time and efforts
to rebuild 22 homes for hurricane
victims in Cameron Parish, La.
President Victor Bussie and E. J.
Bourg, secretary of the Louisiana
State Labor Council, also received
one for their organization's "out
standing cooperation" during the
relief operations.
Many Seafarers from Lake
Charles and New Orleans had
joined with other union members to
help clear the sites and then sup
plied the muscle and brawn re
quired in the many manual con
struction jobs as aids to the build
ing tradesmen. In addition to the
union supplying manpower, many
SIU ships made large donations
to help feed and clothe the hurri
cane victims.
QUESTION: The SUP membership has gone on record for motor
ized lifeboats on all ships. Do you feel that this is necessary?
Cabins (rexrci^)." }^^^ Jrgrqetm^ and smooth sailing to all hands.' •
Jorge Vega, carpenter: Yes,
think motorized lifeboats are neces
sary for the safe
ty both of the
crew and passen
gers. I know
from my own ex-
perience that
they would have
been welcome
during the last
war when you
had to get away
from the ship fast when she was
hit. Taking care of the lifeboats
is part of my job on ship and I
would rather sec motors on them.
t J"
Dimitrios Giafis, OS: Lifeboats
with motors are much more valu
able than ones
with oars. They
are faster, easier
to man and han
dle, and don't put
a strain on the
men. I am at
home with both
types but would
prefer a motor to
an oar any day.
t
Regino Vazquez, messman: I
agree with the SUP membership
that every ship
should have mo
torized boats
aboard. Men act
differently under
pressure and
some might find
it difficult to han
dle an 040*, but i
motor would help
them get away
irom the «hlp »uch faflk4r than
•'toarii would.
Matthew Fanes, wiper: One big
difference in using motors is that
fewer men are
required to man
the boats. This
leaves more room
to pick up vic
tims of a crash,
or to carry more
passengers and
c r e w m e m-
bers when the
ship is sinking.
Two or three men could handle a
motor boat, but it requires some
seven men to handle the oars.
$> •
Rafeal Caraballo, 2nd cook: I
think that lifeboats on every ship
should have both
oars and motors.
The oars may be
needed if the
motor conks out.
But I think the
motors are pre
ferable since they
are much better
in fighting a
strong tide than
oars.
Teddy Wiatrowski, FWT: Motors
are a must. I was on a ship near
the Andrea Doria
when she sank.
We had to man
the oars and
"idiot" sticks to
try to help out.
• If it had not been
for _^the motor-
boats^ on the II
d' F r a ri c e, the
death toll would
have been much higher.
.. •hi
All
•111
•0
Page Twelve SEAFARERS LOG Dee^W 20, 1957
i
Robin SIU Crews Welcomed Back
An enthusiastic commendation and welcome from Seafarers on the 88 Fairland has
gone out to the crews of the first four Robin Line ships to come back under the SIU banner.
Shortly after individual letters went out to crewmembers on the Robin Gray, Robin
Sherwood, Robin Kirk and Ro
bin Locksley on December 10,
the SIU received formal cer
tification as bargaining agent for
the ships from the NLRB. To
gether, they had rolled up a vote
of 108 for the SIU to 13 for the
NMU). Two other Robin ships, the
Robin Trent and Robin Goodfellow
have since boosted the SIU victory
string. (Story on page 3.)
The message signed by the Fair-
land's delegates on behalf of its
SIU crew lauded the Robin Line
men for "your sacrifices. It is
such spirit as you recently demon
strated which makes our organiza
tion second to none in maritime.
"We, the rank and file members
of the SIU aboard this trailership,
wish to compliment you for the
bang-up job you did," it stated.
The letter also issued a welcome
"to the new members who have
been rewarded to come under the
SIU banner" as a result of the vote.
"We are confident that you will
find you made the best choice."
Full text of the Fairland's mes
sage was as follows:
After The Haul Was Over
Bosun Frank Gospor (left) surveys the wreckage. left over after
the Steel Navigator discharged a lQCid.-$l.deck cargo at Inchon.
Joe Duffy, DM, looks like he'd like to wash his hands of the whole
mess, too. They didn't say just what the stuff was. The ship was
on the Gulf-Hawaii-Far East run. Photo by G. F. Abundo.
To the Crew, SS Robin Gray, Robin Sherwood, Robin Kirk and
Robin Locksley;
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
At our last regular meeting of December 7, 1957, a discussion was
held on the result of the recent bargaining election held aboard your
ship where you overwhelmingly voted for representation by Seafarers
International Union over the NMU.
We, the rank and file members of the SIU aboard this trailership,
wish to compliment you for the bang-up job you did.
To the SIU members who stayed on these ships and endured the
inconveniences and inferior provisions of the NMU contract which you
were forced to work under during the last several months: We thank
you for your sacrifices.
It is such spirit as you recently demonstrated which makes our
organization second to none in maritime.
To the new members who have been rewarded by coming under
our SIU banner: Welcome to our organization. We are confident
that you will find you made the best choice when you voted to be rep
resented by the Seafarers International Union, the best Union on any
waterfront.
To you all, Greetings, Smooth Sailing, and Merry Christmas.
For the Crew of the SS Fairland:
Charles E. Wells Bud J. Lowrey
Ship's delegate Engine delegate
Joe Holsenbeck Robert C. Tripp!
Deck delegate Steward delegate
LOG-A-RHYTHM:
Sea Song
By Thurston Lewis
Hi ho! Let's go!
Out where the breezes bloiv!
There's where in salty air
Our hearts must be.
Hi ho! Cast off the lines!
Let's go! This is our wine.
O'er the waves, be they our graves
We're out to sea!^
Hi ho! Distant shore!
Bombay or Singapore;.
From Capetown to Baltimore,
This is the life for mel
We are the SIU;
From Pensacola or Kalamazoo,
Seafarers, strong and true.
The Brotherhood of the Seal
SEAFARERS IN THE HOSPITALS
USPHS
STATEN
E. Matllicws
J. Cil
P. Scidenbers
N. Katoul
A. Verdemar^
F. Hannaford
S. Swienckoski
I. DeNobriga
H. Simmons
HOSPITAL
ISLAND, NY
L. nhino
N. Gaylord
0. Adams
- R. Lopez
J. Miniz
1. Sieger
H. Jurgenson
W. Shaw
USPHS HOSPITAL
MANHATTAN BEACH
Manuel Antonana Archibald McGuinan
Eiadio Aris
Fortunate Bacomo
Joseph J. Bass
Meivin W. Bass
James F. Clarke
Juan Denopra
John J. DriscoII
Fabin Furmanek
Joseph M. GiUard
Bart E. Guranick
Everett Haislett
Wade B. HarreU
Taib Hassen
BUiy R. Hiil
Antonio Infante
H. C. Mclssac
Leo Mannaugh
Albert MartinelU
Vic Milazzo
Joseph B. Murphy
W. P. O'Dea
C. Osinski
George G. Phifer
G. A. Puissegur
Winston E. Renny
G. E. Shumaker
Kevin B. Skelly
Henry E. Smith
Michael Toth
Harry S. Tuttle
Ludwig Kristiansen Virgil E. Wiimoth
Frederick Landry Pon Wing
Patrick McCann Dexter Worrell
USPHS HOSPITAL
NEW ORLEANS. LA.
William Bargoiie
Cleophas Bcaslcy
John W. Bigwood
Claude Blanks
Charles Cantwell
L. CarrasquiUo
George Curry
Donald Dambrino
Sidney Day
Harvls Dyas
Ben D. ..Foster
Floron Foster
Adelin Fruge
Dennis Gomez
Leon Cordon
RusseU Grantham
Alvin Henderson
George Hobbs •
George Hubcr
James Hudson
Edward G. Knapp
Antoine Landry
Leo Lang
WUIiam Lawless
Isidore Levy
Huminado Llenos
Edward Moore
Michael'Muzio
Chas. Nicholson
Faustina Orjales
Winford Powell
Allen Ritchie
Wert A. Spencer
Jay C. Steele,
Nicholas Tala . ,
Charles'E. Taylor.
Gerald L. Thaxton Thomas White
Lucien Theriot Marion C. Willey Jr.
James E. Ward Clifford Wuertz
Francis Wasmer Jacob Zimmer
USPHS HOSPITAL
BALTIMORE, MD.
Ben L. Bone
E. Bueno
Rosario Copani
David Caldwell
Ben H. Faulk
Clarence Gardner
Gorman T. Glaze
Sam Hacker
Frederick Harris
Walter Jackson
Jan .S. Kozerski
Alejandio Lopez
Waller MitcheU
Thomas Mungo
F. L. O'Laughlin
John Ossmon
Murray A. Plyler
Matias Puchero
Alexander Rever
Stanley Rodgers
Joseph Roll
G. H. Seeberger
August A. Smith
John A. Smith
Lloyd Wilson
Joseph Williams
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Joseph H. Berger L. A. Ready
Raoul P. Cabrera
John P. Cox
A. B. Ismail
Olus J. McCann
Fred Reimolt
Chas. J. Sincere
William C. Watson
Lewie A. Wilkerson
Quitting Ship?
Notify Union
A reminder from SIU head
quarters cautions all Seafarers
leaving their ships to contact
the hall in ample time to allow
the Union to dispatch a replace
ment. Failure to give notice be
fore paying off ipay cause a de
layed sailing, force the ship to
sail short of the manning re
quirements and needlessly make
the work tougher for your ship
mates, . '
USPHS HOSPITAL -
BOSTON, MASS.
Florenclo Letle George D. Rourke
James A. Patrice Steven A. Wimami
William J. Powers
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAVANNAH, GA.
Jimmle Littleton James T. Moore
Roy H. McCance Willie C. Sanders
Fred Miller Luther Vaughn Jr.
USPHS HOSPITAL
GALVESTON, TEXAS
B. F. Grlce Nighbert Stratoa
Louie HoUlday
USPHS HOSPITAL
SEATTLE, WASH.
-B. E. McLeod F. R. Napoll
USPHS HOSPITAL
NORFOLK, VA.
Dewey GUlikln Joseph C. WaUacs
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAN JUAN. PR
Florlan J. GUnski
USPHS HOSPITAL
MIAMI. FLA.
James W. Canard
USPHS HOSPITAL
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
B. F. Delbler W. E. OrzechowsU
Siegfried Gnittke John C. Palmer
James R. Hodges A. J. Panepinte
VA HOSPITAL
HOUSTON. TEXAS
John P. Williamson
EASTERN SHORE STATE HOSPITAL
CAMBRIDGE, MD.
Thomas R. Lehny
VA HOSPITAL
BOSTON. MASS.
Thomas W. KiUion
SAILORS SNUG HARBOR
STATEN ISLAND. NY
Victor B, Cooper
USPHS HOSPITAL
MEMPHIS. TENN,
Charles Burton
MONTEBELLO
CHRONIC DISEASE HOSPITAL
BALTIMORE,. MDj.,-. !; • •
FHinclsco Bueno
Broader Medical
Benefits Asked
To the Editor:
Along with the free health
examinations furnished to our
SIU membership, medicinal and
hospital care should also be
provided for brothers who are
in good standing but are on the
beach for any great length of
time.
This would cover the brothers
who, perhaps because of poor
shipping, are not eligible for
Letters To
The Editor
All letters to the editor for
t^blication in the SEAFAR
ERS LOG must be signed
by, the writer. .Names will
be withheld upon request.
USPHS services after a period
of 90, days. After an examina
tion by the doctor's at our SIU
medical centers, prescriptions
would be given for medications
which they could otherivise not
afford and the brothers who re
quired hospital care would be
protected.
This is really a must for our
entire membership in the near
future, and is sincerely and
fraternally submitted from the
Grain Shipper for appraisal by
the brothers.
John J. Jellette
Abe Partner
4« 4-
Union Benefits
Called Big Help
To the Editor:
I would like to thank the SIU
Welfare Services Department
for all the help It has given my
husband since his heart attack.
Without this aid and kindness,
he would have been lost.
It is wonderful to know that
there are such nice men work
ing with the SIU. I also wish
to express my gratitude to the
trustees of the Seafarers Wel
fare Plan for the disability ben
efits my husband will receive.
I don't know what we would
have done if we did not get the
check from the Seafarers Wel
fare Plan today. I was laid off
from work Nov. 14 and my hus-
, band was admitted to the
USPHS hospital in Staten Is
land on Nov. 3.
At least now my husband will
not have to worry, and with
God's help he will get well from
his heart attack. This would be
a better world to live in if there
were more unions like the SIU
and the men who work wiik it.
I would like you to print this in
the -SEAFARERS LOO. God
bless you.
Mrs. Mary Kelps
4 t 4
Laud Crews For
Hospital Visits
To the Editor:
We would like to express our
thanks first to Mr. Green, the
Bull Line agent in Ponce, Puerto
Rico, for the very fine attention
he has given us in every way.
We don't think any better atten
tion could have been gotten any
place.
We also have been visited by
Luis Ramirez, ship's delegate
from the Elizabeth, who brought
us things that came in very
handy. When the Jean came in
on Thanksgiving Day, Mr. Green
told the crew we were in the
hospital and they went all out
to give us a real holiday dinner.
They also brought us magazines,
cigarettes and a cribbage board
wl^ich we really needed to pass
the time.
Two Union brothers on the
beach here, Anthony Gonzale's
and Victor Carbone, also visited
us, for which we both are very-
thankful.
We should be back in. the
States soon, so we'll close for
now with thanks to everyone.
2 SIU Brothers
(Names withheld)
4 4 4
Welfare Assist :
is Appreciated
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter to ex
press my heartfelt appreciation,'
to the SIU for its wonderful
kindness to my mother in her
bereavement on the death of
my father, Francisco L. Perez.
Toby Flynn of the SIU Vel-
fare Services Department was
especially very helpful and sym
pathetic. I wish to thank each
and everyone on behalf of all
my family. God bless all of you: ,':
Mrs. Lucille Hale
4 4 4
Offers Thanks
For SIU Help
To the Editor:
This is just a note of thanks
for the prompt and courteous
service provided for my wife
Mary when she was in need of
hospital care. The SIU Welfare
Services Department really
came through in style.
I Rm aboard the Steel Ad
vocate in Calcutta right now.
Thank you all again for your
help.
George O'Roiirko
All Set To Go On The Town
The gang's all spruced' up ready to go ashore after the pay
off of the Yaka on the West Coast. Included are Kramer,
bosun; Pricll, deck engineer; Bob White, AB, dnd Chandler,
steward. Sam Joseph handled the, camera work. ,
December tO, 1957 SEAFARER& LOG Pare Thirteen
fTIIL DISIONIR (Itthmlan), Sapt.
t-^halrman, a. Wriihti Saeralary, J.
RMC. Roma rapal?» mada, Diacuiiion
t>ai improper handling of repalra.
Vet* o< thankf to delegate. New dela-
gata and reporter elected. Proper
•ttire to he worn In meaahall and
pentrr. Keep paaaagewaya clean: cota
ta ba put away aaiely. Laundry to be
aleaned up after uaing. Return hooka
to library after reading.
Nov. 10—Chairman, C. Wright; Sec
retary, (none). Special meeting. New
delegate elected. Present delegate
hospitalized in Karachi;
DIL MAR (Miss.), Nov. S—Chair
man, R. Steugh; Secretary, C. Dowl-
ing. Two men hospitalized—Hq. no-
tiSed. Ship's fund S127. Purchased
movies^ repaired machine: S50 given
to two hospitalized men: SIO to re-
;patrlated seamen. Some disputed ot.
Reports accepted. Movies to be pur-
Chased next trip. Leaks in silver
locker to be repaired—unsafe.
ARMONK (Overseas), Nov. 10—
Chairman, A. Ressko; Secretary, J.
Sulllvsn. Repairs to be made. Beefs
to be taken to dept. heads. Reporter
elected. One man missed ship. Re
port accepted. Need hot water In
laundry. Need new line for hot water.
General cleaning in passageways,
meashalls A foc'sles. Ship being laid
up. Repairs to be done in messhalla
and recreation room. Dogs to be re
paired. Donations for ship's fund re
quested.
OCEAN iVA (Maritime Overseas),
Sept. IS—Chairman, H. Hutchlns; Sec
retary, W. Anderson. All rooms in
crew quarters painted: all other re
pairs made. Report from PH read to-
crew re: coal beef. Vote of thanks
to men taking these Jobs. Vote of
thanks to delegate for good Job in
keeping men on the ball; also to
steward dept. for good food and
service.
ELIZABETH (Bull), Nov. 17—Chair
man, F. Dunn; Secretary, H. Dom-
browskl. Some repair lists prepared.
Some disputed ot. No heating facili
ties in bosun's room. Safety delegate
elected. Report aceepted. Welfare
plan list posted. Laundry to be closed
in port and key to be retained by
' gangway watch.
; JOHN B. WATERMAN (Waterman),
Nov. IS—Chairman, C. Walter; Secre
tary, D. Pontes. New delegate elected.
Report accepted. New treasurer and
reporter elected. Discussion on linen
change. Bread from shore is dry.
MICHAEL (Carres), Nov. 11—Chair
man, B. Brown; Secretary, J. Harty.
Floral wreath sent to deceased mother
of brother—paid off in Corpus Christ!
and flew home. Collected S22 for
flowers—will make another donation
at payoff. Few hours disputed ot.
Vote of thanks to steward dept Col
lection to be taken up for ship's fund
at payoff.
HASTINGS (Waterman), Nov. 17—
Chairman, D. Byrne; Secretary, J.
wells. No beefs. New delegate elect
ed. Repair list to be checked for
repairs. ^
FELTORG (Ore Nav.), Nov. 27 —
Chairman, C. Locke; Secretary, D.
Pearre. One man missed ship. One
man hospitalized in Canal Zone. New
delegate elected. Bathrooms need re
pairing.
ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), Nov. 24—
Chairman, C. DeHospedeles; Secre
tary, R. Hall. Report on Robin Lines,
longshore beef. Beefs to be taken to
dept. delegates. Ship's fund S4.20.
Requested shelves for rain and cold
weather gear. Reports accepted.
CAROLYN (Bull), Nov. 26—Chair
man, J. Pachece, Jr., Secretary, A.
iSela. .Sick man paid off in PR. Few
hours disputed ot. To see patrolman
about washing marhlne.
thanks to steward d>ipt.
Vote of
WILLIAM H. CARRUTH (Penn.),
Nov. n—Chairman, L. HInson; Secre
tary, M. Oswald. New delegate elect
ed. Four men missed ship in Mobile.
No ice water in scuttle butt. Tank
broken—^needs replacing.
SEATRAIN SAVANNAH (Seatrain),
Nov. 27—Chairman, C. Lee, Jr., Sec
retary, R. May. Ship's fund $44.22.
One man missed ship. Few hours dis
puted ot. Discussion on electrician
dissatisfaction. To be referred to
boarding patrolman.
STEEL ARCHITECT (Isthmian), Nov.
17—Chairman, C. Saver; Secretary, C.
Chea. Milk shortage. One man missed
ship in Long Beach—reported to SIU
hall. Few hours disputed ot. Reports
accepted. Motion to discuss sanitary
conditions with patrolman and get
better living conditions. Only dele
gates to report beefs to patrolman.
Need more logs. No lava soap on
ship. Discussion on new shipping call
—crew in favor of old system. See
patrolman about repairs. Ship to be
fumigated for rats and roaches. Dis
cussion on painting of rooms and
decks. Lack ot cooperation and in
sufficient funds for painting—^to be
referred to Board of Health.
GATEWAY CITY (Pan Atlantic),
Nov. 2a—Chairman, J. Martus; Secre
tary, J. Austin. Repairs to be made.
One man hurt in Tampa. Ship's fund
$2.30. One man missed ship. Repair
lists to be turned in to mate and
engineers. See patrolman about heat
during hot weather In aft quarters.
Suggestion ot have cold drinks in hot
weather.
SEATRAIN NBW YORK (Seatrain),
Nev. 2$—Chairman, H. Lynch; Secre
tary, C. Oliver. Few hours disputed
ot. Three men getting off. Vote of
thanks to steward dept. for Job well
done in culinary dept.
STEEL ARTISAN (Isthmian), Oct. 27
—Chairman, J. Justus; Secretary, D.
Grant. New washing put aboard.
Dinner party held at NY from safety
award was huge success. Everyone
had wonderful time. Ship's fund $22.
Discussed mall situation. Due to diffi
culty in sending mail: steward con
sented to handle maU where possible.
CITIES S E R V I C B BALTIMORE
(Cities Service), Nev. 29—Chairman,
H. Waller; Secretary, L. P. Hagmann.
All repairs completed. Two men fired
due to drunkenness. Reports accepted.
Sanitary men to do all cleaning of
quarters and passageways. Members
requested to keep cigarette urns
clean except for cigarette butts. List
of rules posted. Messhall to be clean
at all times. Vote of thanks to cook
for very fine Thanksgiving dinner.
LA SALLE (Waterman), Nev. >—
Chairman. J. Ballay; Secretary, G.
Bales. One man missed ship. One
man hospitalized. Men did not turn to
for securing. Ship's fund $S.40. One
man created disturbance on ship.
OREMAR (Ore Nav.), Nov. 21 —
Chairman, B. Flmovicz; Secretary,
E. A. Boyd. Ship's fund S33.76. Rec
ommend that members be more order
ly in using night pantry. Suggestion
.to post instructions near washing ma
chine for proper use.
SANTORB (Ore Nav.), Nev. 24—
Chairman, J. Hayes; Secretary, A.
Myrax. Ship's fund $12.26. New dele
gate elected. Need new washing ma
chine. Cups to be returned to mess
hall.
ROBIN LOCKSLBY (Rebin Line),
Nev. 24—Chairman, E. Smith; Secre
tary, A. Beck. Voting to take place
at 2 PM. Delegate asked men to
stay aboard until after election. 40
hours disputed ot. Repair list submit
ted. Crew requested to wash clothes'
in laundry before 10 PM to avoid dis
turbing men. Keep washing machine
clean.
SEATRAIN GEORGIA (Seatrain),
Nov. 24—Chairman, S. Charles; Sec
retary, R. Matarahgelo. Safety meet
ing attended by delegates—60 day
shipping rule in effect and clarified.
Letters to officials In Washington
sent and acknowledged. Ship's fund
$17.61. Report accepted. Request
three kinds of ice cream, books for
crew from headquarters. Crew should
write Social Security Administration
for accounts data.
M V FONCi (Fence), Nov. 21 —
Chairman, F. Miller; Secretary, W.
Heater. Patrolman to meet ship to
settle disputed ot. Reports accepted.
Ship's fund $1.33. Donations of 80c
requested to build up fund.
Hiy Gang!
Beaming smiles on these two
handsome youngsters -broad
cast a cheery hello to all
hands. The boys are Jimmy,
5 (left), and Joey, 3, sons of
Seafarer Partha Jernigan,
oiler, of Brentwood, LI, NY.
T urkey Day'ColdLimch'
Had 'Em All Shook Up
Elvis Presley may have everybody "all shook up" on the
musical front, but the steward on the Neva West easily
nlatched him when he pulled a fast menu switch on the top
side gang last Thanksgiving-f —
in Brownsville, Texas.
The day began innocently
enough. Steward Walter R. Geis
typed out the day's menus for top
side and then sent them up. Soon
after, the Neva West's skipper.
Captain Snodgrass, came down to
the saloon for coifee and found a
"hell of a roar going on" with all
the officers trying to talk at once.
When it finally quieted down
enough for the captain to ask what
was the matter, the answer was,
"By God, captain, have you looked
at the menu for today yet? This is
Thanksgiving Day—and In port—
and what do we have but a cold
lunch!" And there it was on the bill
'SPOT PHOTOS RECORD
CARGO MISHAP ON ROVER
The knack of being in the right place at the right time with
your camera loaded and ready is one of the sure-fire ways of
getting good "spot" pictures when something's happening.
Right on tap at pierside in-*
Honolulu when a shoreside
crane failed while loading
deck cargo for the Steel Rover,
Seafarer Lawrence Chapman was
able to grab his shots long before
local news photographers even
heard about the mishap. Chapman's
photos covered all phases of the
mishap from the time the shore-
side crane failed until a floating
crane was put to work the next
morning to right things once again.
No one was reported hurt but
some of the handrails and awning
supports on the fantail of the
Rover took a beating when the
dock crane lost an 18-ton Navy
crane it was trying to put aboard
and smashed into the ship. The
deck cargo fell into the drink at
pier 19 and was finally retrieved
when divers hooked up its lines to
a floating crane brought in to
tackle the job.
The accident delayed the sched
uled sailing to l/orfolk, since the
collapsed shore crane had to be
removed from the ship and the
deck cargo had to be. retrieved
after its. overnight stay in the wa
ter between the ship and the dock.
The Rover finally got away after
divers checked the ship's screw
and reported no damage.
of fare for Thursday, November
28: "Dinner . . . Cold Lunch."
By now all shook up like the rest
of the officers, the skipper headed
for the galley to find out the score.
When he got there, the chief cook
calmly told him that It was a holi
day, so the steward department
was going to take off for town and
have Thanksgiving dinner ashore.
While this seemed like a pretty
reasonable thing to do, "the cap
tain looked like he was going to
blow a fuse," reported Duke Hall.
But unable to keep it up much
longer, the chef admitted the
whole thing was a joke.
Dinner for the Neva West, lik*
on all SIU ships that day, natur
ally included the traditional roast
turkey and trimmings, among a
variety of other items provided for
the holiday.
Other SIU ships that came in for
high praise on their menus and
service for Turkey Day included
both Cities Service supertankers,
the Miami and Baltimore, plus the
Longview Victory and Jean Lafitte.
No other menus have been re
ceived by the LOG to date, but it
can readily be assumed they
matched all the others.
Turnbuckle (1) from an unseen floating crane' astern of the Steel
Rover was later attached by drivers to lines which held deck
cargo (2) suspended in the water overnight. Diver (photo at right)
checks his air lines before going down. A failure in a shoreside
crone which was lifting on 18-ton Navy crone onto the Rover
caused some damage to the ship, which left Honolulu late.
1
•~A
at-
SEAFARERS LOG Deceoiber so; Ml
All's Well With The Falrpert
Sa
Lined up for some picture-tak
ing, Seafarers on tne Fairport
take a breather in the mess-
hall during coffeetime. In
cluded in the gang (above,
i to r) are W. McBride, DM;
Woody. Pesen, deck engineer;
Robbie, OS; Jimmy, DM; J.
Nagy, wiper, and Ted, AB.
At right are R. M. Godwin,
night cook and baker (left),
and chief cook J. B. Fernan
dez in the messhall. The pic
ture-taken in both cases were
not identified.
LOG-A-RHYTHM:
Chasing Memories
By M. Dwyer
Last night I chased a memory.
And caught it on the fly;
You'll never know the thrill
it brings
Until someday you try.
The utter splendid ecstasy
Forgotten now and then,
By too much living in the present,
And forgetting when.
Your heart will sing
And thrill once more.
To happy days
And countless bliss.
Last night I chased a memory.
Through bright, star-studded skies
Editor,
SEAFARERS LOG,
675 Fourth Ave.,
Brooklyn 32, NY
I would like to receive the
SEAFARERS LOG — please
>ut my name on your mailing
ist. (Print Information)
NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY ZONE ..
STATE
TO'AVOID DUPLICATION: If you
• ra an old fu|>tcribai and have a
ehanga of addrett, pieasa give your
former addrett below:
ADDRESS ..............
CITY .........ZONE...
ST^KTE' . . •a a', ."a a a a a a a a
And saw once more the wrinkles
deep
In the corners of blue eyes.
The leather-tanned skin.
From sun and wind.
From too much ocean spray;
These features
Sometimes I can see.
Forever and a day.
Oh, count your blessings, women
fair.
Whose men still till the sod.
Who crave no more to sail the
sea,
Though seamen's hearts
Were made by God.
For when a man the ocean roams
And leaves behind his home.
He sometimes wakes in dead of
night
Or thinks on watch alone.
Then memories are all you'll have
To cling to, fast and true.
And jealousy will fill your heart
Lest he's forgotten you.
You'll wonder, if it pays to be
So faithful and so true.
Then count the months.
The weeks, the days.
Til he sails back to you.
SIUHAU
DIRECTORY
SlU, A&G District
BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St.
Earl Sheppard. Agent EAstern 7.4900
BOSTON 276 State St.
James Sbeehan. Agent Riuhmond 24)140
HOUSTON.... 4202 Canal St.
Robert Matthews. Agent
Capital 3-4089: 3-1080
LAKE CHARLES, La 1419 Ryan St.
Leroy Clarke. Agent HEmlock 6-5744
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner. Agent HEmlock 2-1754
MORGAN CITY 912 Front St.
Tom Gould, Agent Phone 2156
NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
Lindsey Williams. Agent Tulane 8626
NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn
HYacinth 9-6600
NORFOLK .......127-129 Bank St.
Ben Rees, Agent MAdlson 2-9834
PHILADELPHIA..,. 337 Market St.
S. Cardullo. Agent Market 7-1635
PUERTA de TIERRA PR .... 101 Pelayo
Sal Colls. Agent . Phone 2-5996.
SAN FRANCISCO . 450 Harrison St.
M^rty Breithoff, Agent Douglas 2-5475
SAVANNAH .2 Abercorn St.
B. B. McAuley. Agent . Adams 3-1728
SEATTLE, 3505 1st Ave.
Jen GiUette, Agent Elliott 4334
TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St.
Tom Banning, Agent Phone 2-1323
WILMINGTON, Calif.... 505 Marine Ave.
Reed Humphries, Agent Terminal 4-2874
HEADQUARTERS....675 4th Ave.. Bklyn.
SECRCTARY-TREASURER
Paul HaU
ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS
J. Algina, Deck
J. Volplan, Eng.
£. Mooney, Std.
C. Simmons. Joint
W. Hall, Joint
R. Matthews. Joint
SUP
HONOLULU 16 Merchant St.
Phone 5-8777
PORTLAND 211 SW Clay St.
CApital 3-4336
RICHMOND. Calif 510 Macdonald Ave.
BEacon 2-0925
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harri.son St.
Douglas 2-8363
SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave.
Main 0290
WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave.
Terminal 4-3131
NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn
HYacinth 9-6165
Canadian District
HALIFAX, N.S 128Mi HoUis St.
Phone 3-8911
MONTREAL 634 St. James St. West
PLateau 8161
FORT WILLIAM 408 Simpson St.
Untario Phone; 3-3221
PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St.
Ontario Phone: 5591
TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E.
EMpire 4-5719
VICTORIA, BC 617% Cormorant St.
EMpire 4531
VANCOUVER, BC 298 Main St.
Pacific 3468
SYDNEY, NS 304 Charlotte St.
Phone: 6346
BAGOTVILLE, Quebec 20 Elgin St.
Phone: 545
THOROLD, Ontario 52 St. Davids St.
CAnal 7-3202
QUEBEC 44 Sault-au-Matelot
Quebec Phone; 3-1569
SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St.
NB OX 2-5431
Great Lakes District
ALPENA 1215 N. Second Ave.
Phone: 713-J
BUFFALO, NY 180 Main St.
Phone: Cleveland 7391
CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave., NE
Phone: Main 1-0147
DcTROlT 1038 3rd St.
Phone: Woodward 1-6857
DULUTH 621 W. Superior St.
Phone: Randolph 2-4110
SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 92nd St.
Phone: Essex 5-2410
Rivera
Kirk Raps Pay
Under NMU Pact
To the Editor:
This is to inform you that
everything is running smoothly
on the SS Robin Kirk, despite
the fact that we are still work
ing under the NMU contract.
We, the crew of the Robin
Kirk, by experiencing the con
ditions of the NMU contract
and by our payoffs, know that
the NMU has played into the
hands of the shipping com
panies with which they have
negotiated contracts. As you
know, when
the NLRB
election was
held on board
this ship, this
crew voted
10 0 percent
SIU.
The result
of this elec
tion expresses
better than
anything else hoW we feel about
our Union, Hs policies, its prin
ciples and all the progress it
has made throughout the years
in working conditions and
wages.
We expect to be leaving soon
from Jacksonville for Cape
town, which means that we
shall be at sea for Christmas.
Normally it is nOt my habit to
ask for anything, not even for
Christmas, but, on behalf of the
crew of the SS Robin Kirk and
myself, I would like to say that
the best Christmas present you
could give us is a cable from
you stating that the Robin Kirk
has been certified by the NLRB
and that we may once again
have the privilege of working
under an SIU contract and
under SIU conditions.
Robert Rivera
Ship's delegate
(Fd. note: Merry Christmas!
Santa came by early and the
first four Robin ships to vote,
including the Kirk, has have
already been certified. See the
story on page 3.)
i"' 4«
Widow Lauds
SIU Kindness
To the Editor:
I would at this time like to
express my deep and sincere
gratitude to the former ship
mates and friends of my late
husband, John C. "Red" Caro-
lan, who have been so kind and
thoughtful to me. .
Letters and messages from
many ports of the world have
been received, many of them
since his death was reported in
the October 25th LOG. Special
thanks to the SIU men who
were in San Francisco at dif
ferent times during his illness
and visited him at home and in
the USPHS hospital, as he really
enjoyed those visits.
Thanks also to the ones who
went so helpful to, me'at the
time of his death, and to his
shipmates from the SS Robin
Hood for their coot>eration.- In
addition. Marty Breithof and
Leon Johnson at the San Fran
cisco hall have been and a^e
still a great help to me, and
are never too busy to give in
formation and advice.
Lastly, words cahnot express
my appreciation for the kind
and sincere letter from Paijl
Hall, which I will always keep.
Friends are wonderful to have
in time of sorrow.
Mrs. J. C. Cardan
4" 4-
Ships in Pusan
Hold 'Reunion'
To the Editor:
It looked like" old home week
there in Pusan recently. Be
sides our gang on the Fairport,
the La Salle, Wild Ranger and
Maiden Creek, all V/atetman
ships, and Ocean Evelyn and
Rebecca, two other good SIU
ships, were all there at the
same time.
A good time was had by all
as a lot of old buddies got to
gether again over a beer and
sailed a few ships from the
bars and clubs. I know they are
also looking forward to such a
pleasant get-together again
, soon.
Robert M. Godwin
Ship's reporter
4* ii" if
Sen. Butler Vows
Aid To Hospitals
To the Editor:
Enclosed is a letter from
Senator John M. Butler in
answer to our compiunication
urging the continuation of the
US marine hospital program
as is.
It should be of interest'to
Seafarers since Sen. Butler is
on the Senate Merchant Marine
Committee. ; v
The following is the text:
"Dear Friends:
"It is a particular pleasure
to me to have the benefit of
your recommendations concern
ing the continuation of the our
Public Health Service Hospitals.
"For some time now the im
portant question outlined in
yoi^ letter has been of the
greatest concern to me and I
have always endeavored to
assure the continued availabili
ty of- these hospital facilities to
the American Merchant Marine.
"iRest assured that I will
have your Interest in mind in
connection with this important
matter during the months to
come.'*
The letter was signed by
"John M. Butler, United States
Senator."
Crewmemiiers
SS Sanfore
'Sea-Spray' .By Seafarer "Red" Fink
I'U H/IVB
encoH
UNO
[HOW VO VOO tlKF
.*/.• •
I '"J-..
^Df^iidMr SO. 19OT SSAFARERS LOG r*g» iFUtfem
fMt Resumes Run
Undet Trusteeship
MIAMI—Trustees of the bankrupt TMT Trailer Ferry, Inc.,
have received permission from R Federal court to put the
1 company back into service between Jacksonville, Fla.> and
Puerto Rico.
The court has approved in
principle plans by TMT trus
tees to negotiate with a group of
businessmen interested in operat
ing the SlU-contracted company's
assets, including the heavily-mort
gaged Carib Queen. ^
The business group has advanced
the trustees $20,000 to cover ex
penses and possible losses for a
20Tday period involved in getting
three TMT barges back into serv
ice hauling cargo now piling up on
i piers in Jacksonville and Puerto
Hico.
In addition, the business group
ihas offered to charter the Csrib
jQueen for iO or 15 years at a guar
anteed annual rental of $500,000
and has offered to finance repairs
on the vessel estimated at between
$350,000 to $500,000.
Robin Ships
Again SlU
(Continued from page 3)
Line fieet, on a new contract for
the Robin ships.
' Seafarers on the Robin Line
ships had been put under heavy
pressure since the NMU raid be
gan. They were urged either to
quit the ship or come into the
NMU and were promised full NMU
books without payment of initiation
fees as well as other advantages if
only they would support the NMU.
Personal pleas by NMU President
.Joseph Curran were included in
^the sales pitch.
•' However, as the crew of the
^Robin Kirk noted in a letter in this
'issue of the SEAFARERS LOG,
working under the NMU contract
convinced Seafarers that the NMU
had absolutely nothing to offer
them. The best Christmas present
they could get, the Kirk crew said,
was news that they were back un
der an SIU agreement.
The deaths of the following Sea
farers have been reported to the
Seafarers Welfare Plan and the
SIU death benefit is being paid to
their beneficiaries.
John H. Bove, 57j Brother Bove
died of natural
cauaea at the US
Public Health
Service Hospital
in Staten Island.
He became a full
member of the
SIU in 1944 and
sailed in the
steward depart
ment on SIU
ships. He is survived by his wife,
Frances Jean Bove, of the Bronx,
New York. Burial was in St. Ray
mond's Cemetery, Bronx, NY.
4" 4* 4"
Alfred Bokan, S3: A maUgnant
tumor caused the
death of Seafarer
Alfred Bokan in
Baltimore. Broth
er Bokan Joined
the SIU in 1943
and sailed In
the deck depart
ment. He is sur
vived by his
mother, Mrs.
Helen Yager, of Georgetown, Dela
ware. Place of burial is not known.
Pastrano Pays A Social Call
Out Of Step
(Continued from page 5)
NMU picket line. Having igpored
many other picket lines such as
those of AFL-CIO mates and , en
gineers, the NMU president's order
has^ become habitual.
Curran attempted to cover up
his activities in having SIU men
^ fired off Robin ships by declaring
that Seafarers "were allowed to
^keep their Jobs" when Moore-Mc-
Cormack bought the ships. That
explains why 11 Seafarers " were
fired off the Rot)in Mowbray, the
only way, incidentally, the NMU
could win a ship.
• Caught flat-footed in his raid
on Willis, which the SIU organized
^st year and won by a 69-2 count,
^rran has taken no steps to with
draw his charge that the union
shop is "illegal" and should be
abolished. The Willis affair is raid
ing of the purest and most primi-
ttve kind, with NMU representa
tives waiting until the contract was
fp be rernegotiated and then mov-
Ibg in and petitioning for disallow
ance of the SIU-HIWD agreement
ih the fleet.
: These actions by Curran are un
fortunate, and revealing of his ir
responsibility. But they will not
and have not stopped the construe--
f ive program of the rest of the mar-
iUme labor movement and nf the-
•• ."-jps'v.s
Coal Ships To
Go In Boneyard
(Continued from page 2)
than $4.50 a ton. Huge stockpiles
of coal in Europe and increasing
exports to "West Europe from Po
lish mines are helping to depress
rates.
At present, the company has two
of its six ships stiil in operation.
One ship, the Coal Miner, is carry
ing grain. The other, the Thomas
Paine, is making its last chartered
delivery and wiil probably Join the
other vessels in lay-up.
"Early last year," the "Business
Week" article declared, "fright
rates on coal shipped from the US
to Western Europe ran as high as
$22 a-ton." Had American Coal
not attempted to operate with a
company union of deck and engine
officers, it probably would have
gotten 30 ships out and capitalized
on the rate bonanza.
Even after the beef began, the
dispute could have been quickly
settled to the benefit of the com
pany and the unions on the basis
of AFL-CIO president George
Meany's proposal last February 21.
Meany called for the SIU to with
draw from the fleet if the NMU
would agree to support the li
censed officers' unions in their bid
for a contract. The SIU agreed to
the Meany proposal but the NMU
refused.
In the view of SIU headquarters,
had the NMU gone along with the
Meany proposal, the. company
would have had no alternative but
to contract for officers with - the
AFL-CIO licensed officers' unions.
In that instance, the coal fleet op
eration would have heen the bon
anza it was originaDy ekpected to
i -
Popular with ,SIU fight fans in New Orleans, heavyweight contender Willie Pastrano, son
of Seafarer Frank Pastrano, 2nd cook, pays a social call at the SIU hall in the Crescent
City. Pictured 11 to r) are Seafarers Red Gleason and Bill Storey; Dave DiVincenti, of
Pastrano's camp; Pastrano; Seafarer Vic Miorana; New Orleans lightweight Ralph Dupas,
and Seafarers Clyde "Whitey" Lanier, Manfred'Osborn and Joe Stocker. Both boxers
began their careers gf^Sf^ii^ary's CYO gym in New OrlMns' famed French Market quarter.
Pastrano's last bout was in London,, where he whipped Britain's Dick Richardson.
- RECENT ARRIVALS -
All of the following SIU families
have received a $200 maternity
benefit plus a $25 bond from the
Union in the baby's name:
Jane O'Krogly, bom October 24,
1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Alfred
H. O'Krogly, Plains, Pa.
4 4 4
Steven Carroll Poufids, born
June 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Edwin B. Pounds, Houston, Texas.
4 4 4
Regina Lynn Tucker, born May
19, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. John
D. Tucker, Cumberland, Md.
John William Little, born Feb
ruary 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
John Little Jr., Bayonne; NJ.
4 4 4
Perry Charles Bennett, born Oc
tober 27,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Rodney J. Bennett, New Orleans,
La.
4 4 4
Sandra Allen Stringfellow, born
November 22, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Charles L. Stringfellow, Mo
bile, Ala.
4 4 4
Erik Melvin Smith, born Novem
ber 9, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Melvin H. Smith, Glenburnie, Md.
4 4 4
Robin Elizabeth Thompson, born
October 9, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. William R. Thompson, Mobile,
Ala.
4 4 4
William Wayne House, born No
vember 19, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. William A. House, Ormond
Beach, Fla.
4 4 4
Michael Lewis Tulp, born No
vember 18, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. John Tulp Jr., Galveston,
Texas.
4 4 4
Edward V. Giiabert, born August
5,-1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ven
tura Giiabert Colas, Brooklyn, NY.
4 4 4
Vincent Joseph MllauesI, born
October 22, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Eugene MilanesL Brooklyn,
NY.
4 4 4
Jose Romero Jr., born August 24,
1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Jose L.
Romero, Houston, Texas.
4 4 4
James Lewis Perclvai, born Oc
tober 3lii 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs,
James L. . Percival, Charleston
Heights,-:
Guy Michael Cuccia, born No
vember 21, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Jacob J. Cuccia Jr., New Or
leans, La.
4 4 4
Bessie C. Nicolas, born October
20.1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Fran
cisco Nicolas, Catonsville, Md.
4 4 4
Leon Roy Curry Jr., born Octo
ber 26, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Leon Curry, Fletcher, NC.
Nature In Raw (Walled In)
Is Latest Cruise
Moore-McCormick's new vessel, the SS Brasil, will offer
the latest in luxury cruise features next year—that of abso
lute communion with nature, or in the language of the lay
man, nude sun bathing.
The Brasil, due to enter
service next year, will have a
special solarium deck built atop the
liner's dummy funnel. To keep
within the limits of respectability,
the deck will be split by a "solid"
wall forming two rooms, one for
the ladies and one for the men.
(How high is that wall, anyway?)
The sun worshippers will relax be
hind a curved solex glass wind
shield and toast to their hearts'
content.
In announcing the new feature,
Robert Lee, vice-chairman of the
board, said that the company was
merely keeping up with the times
"There is a demand for solaria of
this kind. They are very popular
iir tropical regions. On our thirty-
one day cruises to South America
opportunities to get a good healthy
coat of tan are Unsurpassed. So
iWA/Vljy not let the sun worshippers:
have a secluded ar-ea where they
can enjoy the full benefit of the
sun."
Yeah, but how can the passen
gers show it off?
Joseph Robert Lordan
Important that he get in touch
with Benjamin Chex-ry, attorney,
at 1522 Race Street, Philadelphia
2, Pa., concerning settlement of
his mother's estate. Anybody
knowing his whereabouts urged to
notify the above.
4 4 4
Anyone knowing the whereabouts
of chief mate Thomas Heaney or
Nick Leone is asked to contact
Robert Welker at 219 48th St.,
Union City, NJ, or call Union
4-8627.
4 4 4
Tony "Art" Cornman, FWT
Get in touch with your wife,
Mary, at 3119 Baldwin St., Los
Angeles 31, Calif., as soon as pos
sible. Very important.
4 4 4
Federal income tax and state
social security refunds are being
held for the following men by F. P.
Corcoran, Room 201, SUP Building,
450 Harrison St., San Franciscn,
Calif.:
Karl E. Eriksson, Walter F.
Hudgens, Walter J. Oaks, Don L.
Pagel, Sverre R. Pederssen, Charles
Russeli, Carl E. H. Snygg aAd Luis
E. Torres. • .
1,
'aj
•'.'rs f
-^1
I
••ai • •' •. •
sfs-r
•1'-' ^
{ •. "
i- -- '.
t:
h
nl-
.1
SEAFARERS LOG
• OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL U N IO N • AT LA NTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO •
iiiliT
ii
\
^o9t
11
I
}
* 4,1
S'-' /
.
, ers I»«e''»""°."f ^tcIO
& Gulf
J" SiJ-:
t'-fw-
•f -
i
%y SIU CERTIFIED ON
i
f.:- •••* FOUR ROBIN SHIPS
Stoiy On Page 3
;• 'ft
a
ConfffOtul^'iionS Herbert Brand (right) accepts fost
prize for the best news front page in annual La
bor Press Ass'n competition. Ketiring ILPA president Gordon Cole presented
prize, one of four %on by the LOG. (Story on Page 6.)
U * y Cs^mm for Robin Locksley once again
DOCK, f O ujr* go up on the shipping board at SIU
headquarters, following NLRB certification of SIU bargaining
rights for the first four-Robin ships to vote. Dispatcher Scotty
Aubusson does the honors. (Story bn Page 3.)
Taking A Reading. ® steadies his arm as nurse
Patsy Schexnayder checks his blood pressure at the temporary
SIU medical center in New Orleans. Like a similar facility in
Mobile, it provides no-cost medical exams for Seafarers and
SIU families in the area. Permanent centers in both ports will
be established eventually similar to the one in New York.
••11
:iil
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4#
...r
..3
m
'3i'
•yi
Si'
vM
:8g®!S
•
—^'vr •- • -T''^ '• "
FsfC.Tw* SEAFARERS LOG j»«c^ber
ia&:
AFL-CIO Votes M'time
Policy, Ousts 3 Unions
ATLANTIC CITY—Demonstrating their willingness to clean their own house, delegates
to the 2nd merged convention of the AFL-CIO overwhelmingly faced up to the "disagreeable
task" of-expelling three unions with corrupt leadership. This action dominated the six-day
which convention here,
adopted over 150 policy state
ments ranging from a demand
on the Government for a "com
prehensive long-range program" in
maritime to a call for a national
holiday on the January 30th birth
day of Franklin D. Roosevelt. The
statement on maritime policy was
based on resolutions adopted ear
lier by the Maritime Trades De
partment convention. The MTD
had submitted a program of 14
resolutions on maritime to the
AFL-CIO. (See story on page 8.)
Organized labor's traditional
support of progressive legislation
and a forthright statement on na
tional and international affairs was
likewise reaffirmed by some 900
delegates representing ISV^ million
union workers. SIU-A&G secre
tary-treasurer Paul Hall, Morris
Weisberger, SUP; Sam Bennett,
MFOW; Ed Turner, MCS; Hal
Banks, SIU Canadian District, and
Andrea Gomez of the SlU-affiliated
Fishery & Cannery Workers Un
ions comprised the SIUNA dele
gation.
New Union Chartered
The expulsion orders cut loose
million members with the Fed
eration's ouster of the Teamsters,
Bakery & Confectionery Workers
and Laundry Workers unions. A
new affiliate, the American Bak
ery & Confectionery Workers, was
immediately granted a charter to
replace the ousted bakers group.
Attorney for the ousted group was
Bakers Out Of AFL-CIO;
Cooper Out Of Bakers
The expelled Bakery and Confectionery Workers Interna,-^
tional Union, ousted from the AFL-CIO for ethical practices
violations, has let it be known that Herman E. Cooper has
been replaced as the union's-f
general counsel. Mr. Cooper,'
who is also attorney for the
National Maritime Union, had been
identified with some of the occur
ences leading up to the expulsion
of the union by the AFL-CIO. A
rival union, the American Federa
tion of Bakery Workers, has been
chartered by the Federation and
represents a very sizable opposi
tion group to the administration of
James C. Cross, the president of
the expelled union. Previously,
-Mr. Cooper was dropped as coun
sel by Bakery Workers Local 484.
Cross had been ousted by the
Federation after charges had been
brought against him for misuse of
union funds for personal purposes
and for purging Curtis E. Sims,
former secretary-treasurer of the
international, who sought to bring
Cross to account. The McClellan
committee had investigated Cross'
actions and also had questioned
Mr. Cooper at some length. The
questioning brought out that Sims
had been bounced on Cross' coun
ter-charges, and that Mr. Cooper
had prepared a guilty verdict
against Sims even before the
charges against him had been
heard.
Mr., Cooper had to admit to the
committee that he had not pre
pared any acquittal verdict in ad
vance, only the guilty verdict, A
sample of the committee's ques
tioning of Mr. Cooper follows:
SENATOR ERVIN: . . . in
other words, you drew a reso-
SEAFARERS LOG
Dec. 20, 1957 Vol. XX, No. 2
PAUL HALL, Secretary-Treasurer
HEHBEHX BBAND. Editor: BEBDARD SEA-
ICAN, Art Editor. HERMAN ARTHUR, IB^vlN
SrivACK, AL MAsxnr, JOHN BRAZIL. Stag
Wrtters. BILL MOODT, GUU Area Repre
sentative- •
Published biweekly et the ticaUquarters
ef the Seafarers international Union, At
lantic « Gulf District, AFL-CIO, «75 Fourth
Avenue Brooklyn M, NY. Tel. HYaeinth
*•4*00. Entered es second cla.cs matter
At the Post Office In Brooklyn. NY. undor
the Acf of f us, 34/ 1f12. .
1120
lution In advance of the meet
ing to sustain the charges pre
ferred by Cross against Sims
before the Executive board
bad had. an opportunity to pass
on those charges.
MR. COOPER. Not at all
sir. The suspension resolution
which I drew related to the
charges not yet heard.
SENATOR ERVIN. That Is
what I am talking about. That
is exactly what I thought.
Another phase of the commit
tee's questioning dealt with Mr.
Cooper's handling of $24,000 in
special fees at the last Bakery
union convention, $8,000 of which
was in cash. Committee members
expressed considerable curiosity as
to why Mr. Cooper had taken part
of the fee in cash and what was
done with it. It was brought out
that an $8,000 ca.sh deposit was
made by Mr. Cooper after the com
mittee started its investigation and
some time after the payment of
the fee.
Sen. Kennedy Critical
Following the conclusion of the
questioning. Senator John Ken
nedy (Dem.-Mass.) sharply criti
cized Cooper's actions. A story in
the "New York Times" of August 6
quoted Kennedy as follows:
"We have seen lawyers do
ing more than advising clients
of their legal rights," he said.
The "Times" story went on to
say that Kennedy referred by
name to Herman Cooper and<
added this quotation:
"I hope," Senator Kennedy
said, "that the respective bar
associations are getting the
transcripts of these hearings
and will see if these lawyers
are meeting their responsibili
ties . . ."
Curran made oblique reference
to Mr. Cooper and the Bakers in
his report to the last NMU conven
tion, In one instance Curran said
the AFL-CIO should not intervene
on an ethical practice basis in
"fractional disputes" as a "sad per
version" of the codes. Since the
Bakers ynlon was the only one in
,, , ̂, (C;on.lJe»jf41^ on jjagq J),,
Herman E. Cooper, who is also the
attorney for the NMU.
Clean-up moves by the United
Textile Workers and the Distillery
Workers resulted in the lifting of
their suspensions, pending their
continued operation under Federa
tion supervision. The expulsion of
a Chicago Federal local official on
corruption charges was also up
held. ^
AFL - CIO president George
Meany, secretary-treasurer William
F. Schnitzler and 25 vice-presi
dents were reelected by acclama
tion. Two pew vice-presidents,
Peter T. Schoemann and Paul L.
Phillips, presidents of the Plum
bers and the Papermakers respec
tively,, jyej-e named to replace John
F. £^lish,^Qf the Teamsters and
Herman Winter of the Bakers.
A variety of conventional resolu
tions rapped the Administration's
labor policies and the strike-break
ing practices made possible by the
Taft-Hartley Act, and called for
intensified union organizing drives
despite the current anti-union hys
teria. (See story on page 3.) They
urged more political action by
labor as the only means of winning
improved social legislation such as
improved wage and hour laws and
social security protection.
The delegates derided proposals
for a national wage freeze and for
abolishing the 40-hour week now
while prices and unemployment
are rising. They called for broad
Federal aid for schools, housing
and farmers, and for closing off tax
loopholes that-aid runaway indus
tries, such as shipping, in order to
give tax relief to low-income
groups.
On the global front, the role of
the United Nations and the im
portance of continued negotiation
within the UN and in direct rela
tions with other nations was
stressed as a key to world peace.
The work of the International Con
federation of Free Trade Unions
and the International Labor Or
ganization in combatting Commu
nism was also warmly applauded.
In other action, the assemblage
praised labor's community service
program such as the voluntary re
lief efforts by Louisiana Seafarers
and other unionists after Hurricane
Audrey. It urged speed in mer
gers of state and local central labor
bodies and the handling of all
jurisdictional disputes within the
Federation.
NEXT MEETING
DECEMBER 26
Because of the Christ
mas holiday, the next SIU
membership meetings in
oil ports will be held at
7 PM, Thursday, Decem
ber 26 instead of Christ
mas night, December 25.
Those who wish to be ex
cused from the meeting
should request permission
by telegrom. The follow
ing SIU meetings will be:
Jonuory 8
Jonuory 22 .
February 5
n > •:
pair of SIUNA oldtimers With 114 yean of seotime between
Ihem pose aboard the ACS-operated SS Coal Miner on soiling
day in Norfollc. On the left, the senior member of the pair is
SlU-A&G veteran Oscar Rosmon, OS, who mode his first trip fd
sed In 1898. In the galley^on the Miner is MCS brother Ridgwoy
6. .Thomas, galley utilitymon, who began sailing in 1902.
FMB Acts On Charters:
Coal Ships Headed
Back To Boneyard
WASHINGTON—The Federal Maritime Board has for
mally ordered the Casimir Pulaski returned to the US bone-
yard, cutting the American Coal Shipping fleet from seven to
The Pulaski was one of-* : six.
nine ships so treated in the
FMB's formal review of out
standing ship charters. The agency
acted on the ground that condi
tions no longer existed to justify
charters.
A second ship, the Cleveland
Abbe, was reported next in line to
head for lay-up.
Barring a sudden revival of the
dry cargo market, the FMB is ex
pected to continue recalling other
American Coal ships as, tliejr char
ters expire. Despite its grahdoise
announcements as to future plans
for coal carriers, the company
owns only one ship of its own un
der the ACS banner, the Liberty
ship Coal Miner, and that has been
carrying grain for several months
now.
American Coal's own lack of In-
Set Holiday
MealForSIU
Ships, Halls
On ship or ashore. Seafarers will
be sitting down to enjoy Christmas
Day dinners next Wednesday. As
has been the custom with the SIU,
Seafarers on the beach and their
families are invited to attend a
Christmas Day dinner under SIU
auspices in all ports.
Holiday dinners on Thanksgiving,
Christmas and New Year's Day
have been traditional with the SIU.
More than 600 Seafarers, their
wives and children attended the
Thanksgiving dinner in the head
quarters cafeteria this year with
the outports also pulling big
crowds.
The menus, both from the ships
and the halls, usually include such
items lis soup, turkey, ham or beef,
complete with all the triifimings.
In addition there are the usual nuts
and candy, pies and cakes for those
with, a sweet tooth.
Dinner will be served in the
headquarters cafeteria from .10:00
AM until 3:00 PM, For those halls
which are not equipped with cafe
teria facilities, arrangements have
been made with:nearby hotels, and
restaurantfL, ;,H ^
terest in retaining the Government
charters wa^ shown when it failed
to send any representative to a De
cember 9 hearing on the subject
called by the FMB. The hearing
was scheduled to give the opera
tors involved an opportunity to
object if they so desired. SIU of
ficials said if ACS was really in
terested in keeping these ships op
erating it would have showed up
at the hearing.
An unnamed company spokes
man told "Business Week" maga
zine that the slump in rates wai
directly responsible for the com-
An informal NLRB confer
ence was held Wednesday af ter
noon on the unfair labor pracr
tice charges filed by the SIU
against American Coal. The
NLRB attorney proposed a set
tlement which would not fully
remedy these charges.. The pror
posed settlement did call upon
the company to stop recogniz
ing and assisting the NMU and
to stop favoring the NMU over
the SIU in hiring and fking.
The company would be required
to post notices to that effect.
The SIU's position was that
such action would, in effect, su
percede the court order on hir
ing and give full control of hir
ing back to the company. The
result would be to give the com
pany a relatively free hand,
which was what was responsi
ble for the court order in the
first instance.
In view of the lengthy com
pany history of discrimination
against the SIU, the Union
asked that the NLRB proceed
with the pending charges aaginst
the company.
pany's plight, "A US-flag ship
hauling coal to Europe needs to
get $8 a ton to cover all its costs,"
he said. "It's the competition from
foreign-flag ships that can get by
for a little more than $3 a ton
that's causing us to lay up our
vessels." •
Despite the fact that this is usu
ally the height of the coal-shipping
season, recent coal charters to Eu-
rppe hive been going at h0"more
• - CCohtlnued on page" l5) '
'm
it, IW SEAFARERS L0€> Par* nra«
Robin Ships Back In SlU
Another 2 Ships Won; NMU
Crewmen Cast SlU Votes
Robin Line jobs started going back on the SIU rotary hiring board this week
as the National Labor Relations Board certified the SIU as collective bargaining
agents for the first four ships voted in the Robin Line fleet, marking the beginning
of the end of the NMU raidt —
SIU crewmen from the Robin Trent whoop it up at o gala party
celebrating the 20-13 defeat they and two NMU men handed the
NMU in last week's NLRB election. The sign points out that "18
SIU men vote unchallenged" but SIU gpt 20 of the 33 votes when
two NMU crewmen cast their votes for SIU. Al Spanraft (kneel
ing) asks "How come, Joe???" in a reference to NMU president
Joe Curran. Holding the sign (I to r) are, A. Clemens, W. Hand
and A. Arnold.
in the fleet. Seafarer Ho
Fung Chit was the first to
be hired as he threw in pir
a passenger utility job on
the Robin Locksley on
Monday afternoon.
Even after the certification,
the NMU's desperate raid con
tinued. The company agreed to
call the NMU hall for five jobs
aboard the Locksley after the com
pany had signed an interim agree
ment on hiring with the" SIU. SIU
headquarters officials' stiw'thfe com
pany action as further evidence of
the NMU's decision to raid Sea
farers' jobs at every opportunity.
When this NMU tactic collapsed
and the company started calling
AFL-CIO Hits One-Sided
/
Proposals On Labor Laws
' ATLANTIC CITY—SIUNA president Paul Hall pinpointed the labor movement's reac
tion to proposed new labor laws for 1958 at the AFL-CIO convention here last week.
"We don't need any more legislation," Hall told the convention, "If anything, we have
too much legislation now.
An AFL-CIO policy statement
adopted later showed little
enthusiasm for the legislative pro
gram previewed at the conven
tion's opening session by . Secretary
-,.of Labor James P. Mitchell. The
cabinet officer said the proposals
he had outlined had the specific
endorsement of the White House.
Most of the trade union opposi
tion to the Administration's pro
gram centered on its one-sided
approach and its efforts to impose
Federal controls on internal union
affairs. The only actual area of
agreement between the AFL-CIO
ahd the Administration is on leg
islation requiring public disciosure
of the financial transactions of all
welfare and pension plans, wheth
er administered jointly, by unions
or by management only.
f-
Employer groups want the law
to cover union funds only, and to
keep their own operations from
public scrutiny. This position was
reaffirmed at the convention of
the National Association of Manu
facturers in Chicago last week
The "bosses union" came out
instead for a national "right-to-
work" law and other restrictive
measures directed against unions
only. The American Farm Bureau
Federation took the same stand as
the NAM and other business
groups on "right-to-work" pro
posals last week.
Other Limits On Unions
In addition to the weifare fund
disclosure law, the Government's
lOBS labor program called for com
pulsory union financial reports
and appointment of a special com-
'50-50' Props US
Ships Against Slump
The value of the "50-50" law as a prop for shipping in gen
eral has been demonstrated strongly in the recent weeks of
decline in the shipping business. "The December 7 issue of
•'•Riioinocc Woolr" rr>r>r>rto tVint"*-"Business Week" reports that
rates for US tramp ship opera
tors have slipped far less than
those for tankers or other carriers
because of the "50-50" cushion.
Last year at this timO, the mag
azine reports, both foreign and
domestic tramps had been getting
^Can-Shakers'
Have No OK
The membership, is again cau
tioned to beware of persons
soliciting funds on ships in be
half of memorials or any other
so-called "worthy, causes." No
"can-shakers" or solicitors have
been authorized by the,!S(lU.' '
around $65,000 a month on long-
term charters. Today, the rate on
foreign tramps is about $25,000 a
month on the long term, but $45,-
000 a month for American-flag
operators.
The difference lies in the "50-50"
law which provides that one-half
of the Government's foreign aid
and agricultural surplus shipments
must travel on US-flag vessels.
Foreign aid business is expected to
pick up after the first of the year
when shipments scheduled by the
Government get moving.
Were it not for the "50-50" pro
vision, it is clear that many more
US-flag ships would be laying up
and large numbers- of seamen's
Jobs Would go down the drain.
missioner to prosecute any viola
tions, Federal laws covering brib
ery and embezzlement of union
funds and secret ballot union elec
tions, and further restrictions on
union picketing rights.
AFL-CIO statements criticizing
these proposals noted their failure
to apply the same strict standards
to corporations as on unions. The
labor position has always been that
where wrongdoing has occurred,
it has stemmed from cooperation
between corrupt unions and man
agement, and that the responsi
bility rests on both.
The convention also compared
the emphasis on labor abuses to
the "slap on the wrist" treatment
of management in hearings by a
special Senate committee this year.
It rapped the committee foy not
showing the same vigor in dealing
with union - busting tactics by
management.
Secretary Mitchell's pledge that
the Administration would fight
against a national "right-to-work'
law or moves to make labor unions
subject to the anti-trust laws was
the only source or comfort in the
Administration's labor package.
Lk. Charles
Has Decline
LAKE CHARLES—Shipping fell
off In the last period but still two
"C" cards managed to ship out.
One went in tlie black gang and
one in the stewards department.
.Calling into this area over the
past period were the Government
Camp, Bents Fort, Fort Hoskins,
Bradford Island, Winter Hill, Chi-
wawa, Cantigny, Council Grove and
the CS Baltimore (Cities Service);
Petro-Chem (Valentine) and the
Val Chera (Heron). All were in
good shape wlHt-only'mihor beefs
which - were settled at- the -pay<^.
SIU halls for jobs, the NMU put
up what it called a "picket line'
outside the Robin pier in Brook
lyn. Despite the so-called 'pickit
line" all crafts—mates, engineer.s
longshoremen and others—con
tinued to work and the NMU
even sent its own men through its
own "picket line" to work aboard
the Robin Trent. The Trent is one
of the ships won by the Slf.' which
The following by-play took
place at Wednesday afternoon's
election on the Robin Goodfel-
low:
First NMU official: "I'm the
NMU observer."
Second NMU official: "No,
you're not. They told me I'm
the observer."
SIU observer: "I don't care
who the observer is as long as
he stays in the corner and keeps
quiet."
4;
A crewmember approaches
the table to get his ballot.
NMU observer: "Stop the elec
tion! That man's in no condi
tion to vote! Hold everything!"
SIU observer: "I don't know
if you are interested, but I just
want to tell you—^he's an NMU
member."
Another ship, the Robin Goodfel-
low, voted SIU by 25 to 10 on
Wednesday afternoon.
Despite a campaign, of several
months' duration, during which all
replacements were hired from NMU
halls, the NMU managed to win
just one ship in the fleet, the Robin
Mowbray. The NMU got the ship
simply because 11 Seafarers wera
fired off their jobs by the com
pany and replaced through th«
NMU hall. The count on this vessel
was 25 to 11.
The first four ships, which ar*
now certified for the SlU, are tha
Robin Sherwood, Robin Gray, Rob
in Kirk and Robin Locksley which
voted over-all SIU 108, NMU 13.
Total votes to date on seven ships
are SIU 164, NMU 61.
Talks On Contract
Negotiations are expected to get
underway shortly with Moore-Mc-
Cormack, the owners of the Robin
(Continued on page 15)
has not yet been certified bv the
Labor Board.
The NMU picketing may have
been prompted by another severe
setback in the fleet when NMU
members aboard the Robin Trent
voted for the SIU in the National
Labor Relations Board election on
that ship. Fifteen NMU members
on the ship cast non-voided and
unchallenged ballots on the Locks-
ley but the NMU wound up with
only 13 votes.
Resent Curran
Seafarers aboard the Trent re
ported that NMU members on
board had expressed burning re
sentment against NMU President
Joseph Curran. The final count on
the Trent was SIU 20, NMU 13.
Vote $25
In-Hospifal
Holiday Gift
Hospitalized Seafarers will again
receive a Christmas bonus this year
from the SIU Welfare Plan. Th«
traditional $25 bonus will be given
to Seafarers by the welfare servica
department representatives vrho
will call at the hospitals.
The bonus, which has been paid
every year since the Welfare Plan
began in 1950, is given in addition
to the regular weekly hospital bene
fit. It will help the Seafarers in tha
hospital do a little Christmas shop
ping for their families and friends.
Any Seafarer who is a hospital
in-patient one day or more during
the week of December 19th through
25th will be eligible for the bonus
payments.
In addition to hospitalized men,
the bonus will be paid to all Sea
farers on the disability lists. Tha
checks will be mailed out with their
regular $150 monthly check cover
ing their SIU disability benefit.
First Seafarar shipped to the Robin Locksley on Monday whan
Robin Line pbs want back on the SIU shipping board was H. F.
Chit, MM (front, left). Next to him is ACS oldtimar Aba Golds-
mit, who was steward on tha coal ship Walter Hinas Page bafora
the laid u)).'' Oiijiditehar Scotty Aubusson made tha'^ll. ^
5 I
• -i
.'
•"l
Pace Four SEAFARERS LOG
Calif. Upsets Jobless $
PecMnbeyJtO^ lUUT , |||^ 'M
Ban, UK's 60-Day Rule
Backed by the weight of the seniority hiring rules set forth
In the SIU contract, a Seafarer in California has just won a
significant decision assuring state unemployment benefits
for seamen who leave their t"
ships under the 60-day rule in
the contract.
The California ruling comes in
the wake of earlier decisions up
holding the 60-day rule in New
York, Delaware and Alabama. Sea
farer Ira Kenneth Coats pressed the
appeal after he was denied state
benefits last June. He had paid off
the SS Grain Shipper in Tacoma,
Wash., in May.
According to the decision handed
down by the Los Angeles Area
Referee's Office "on Coats' appeal,
he was wrongfully denied benefits
originally since he had left his
ship under a specific provision of
the Union contract. Prior to this
decision, seamen with B or C
Kniority leaving ships under the
60-day rule were considered to
have quit "without good cause" and
therefore denied benefits.
The men subsequei.tly had to
wait out a normal one-week waiting
period plus a four-week penalty
period before thej could obtain
benefits. The ruling in Coats' case
differed with the pattern estab
lished by a 1948 state decision
covering cases where seamen left
ships to conform with union ship
ping rules only.
A change in California law now
requires seamen to wait out the
penalty period if they left ships on
or after September 11, 1957 to
comply with union policy. This
change penalizes members of some
of the West Coast unions, including
the Sailors Union of the Pacific,
but does not apply to SlU-A&G
men. The SUP rule is not stipulated
under the contract.
Seamen who left ships between
February, 1957, and September 11
are not penalized, however. The
provision for a penalty waiting
period was apparently dropped for
a time and then reactivated. Ac
cording to the "West Coast Sailors,"
the SUP is seeking to have the law
changed again.
Another aspect of Coats' case was
that his claim was based partly
on shoreside employment before he
returned to the sea early this year.
He came into the SIU originally as
an organizer in the successful
Cities Service organizing drive, but
quit the sea in 1950. He said his
experience since then as a court
clerk and bail bondsman no doubt
helped him wade through the red
tape necessary to press the appeal
for immediate benefits. He sails as
an AB.
In connection with applications
for future unemployment benefits
in all states by Seafarers with B or
C seniority, SIU headquarters con
tinued to stress one major point
concerning payoffs under the 60-
day rule. The applicant must list
"contract rule" rather than "union
rule" as his reason for leaving a
ship. Merely listing "60-day rule"
or "union rule" is not accepted as
sufficient reason. Those who re
member to carry along a copy of
the SIU contract spelling out the
seniority provisions can speed
things along.
SIU attorneys are studying the
latest California decision to see if
a uniform ruling for the 60-day
rule can now be obtained in all
states on the basis of the decision
in the key maritime states of New
York and California.
^ Wow IN BOTH
24 Apply
For Union's
Scholarships
Nine Seafarers and children of
Seafarers have completed all the
qualifications for the SIU scholar
ship contest. Another 15 applica
tions are now being processed in
the annual competition for five
$6,000 scholarships twarded by
the Seafarers Welfare Plan.
Four of the nine applicants who
have completed their requirements
have already taken the standard
College Entrance Examination.
The results of the examinations
are a primary factor in determin
ing the scholarship winners.
There is still time for additional
applicants to qualify for the
scholarship, provided they make
arrangements to take the College
Entrance Examination by March
15. To qualify for this examina
tion, all requirements must be
completed by February 15 plus a
reservation for the test.
Other material required by the
Plan includes graduation in the
upper third of the high school
class, a transcript of the candi
date's high school record and three
letters of reference, one of them
from the high school principal.
Candidates must have three
years' seatime on SIU ships either
in their own right or through their
fathers. Ninety days of the time
must be in the previous calendar
year and one day in the 90 before
making application.
Selection of the winners takes
place each spring. A board of uni
versity administrators decides on
the basis of the record and the
test results which of the candidates
are most deserving of the awards.
Of the five scholarships awarded
each year, at least one is reserved
for a Seafarer with the other lour
open to both Seafarers and chil
dren of #IU men. , .
.
.is.-
M
Do IVitb If • • ••
V
7
One job of a safeJy-conscIous crew ?s fo make
)ll fir sure all fire-fighting gear is in top-notch con
dition. The second, and equally-important task,
is to know what gear to use in a given situation
and how.
Take fire extinguishers as an example. There
are four types-—soda and acid, foam, carbon
tetrachloride and carbon dioxide. Each of them
have different functions and may be operated
differently. Using the wrong one in the wrong
place can be downright dangerous. When the
emergency arises, there isn't always time to read
the directions on the cylinder.
Make a point of knowing where the extinguish
ers are located, how they work, what they are
for and what their pitfalls ore. Some day that
knowledge may pay off in lives saved.
An SIU Ship is a Safe
. '7
ISi.-
I
.,.1., -5.:.
Mlt:.
lleoember 20,195f SEAFARERS LOG Pare Fire
Coasi' Guardmen demonstrate the use of Geiger counters in
searching cargo coming into the US from Iron Curtain ports. The
men check both American and foreign-flag vessels. SlU-manned
Lohgview Victory got the treatment after returning from Poland,
PoUsh Run Ship Gets
Radiation Scrutiny
A checK fQr radioactivity was conducted last month on
the SlU-contracted Longview Victory (Victory Carriers), fol-
lowiiig its return from Poland. The investigation, carried out
^by Coast Guard agents armed
US, Reds
WASHINGTON — The Govern
ment has signed a $21 million con
tract with New York Shipbuilding
Corp. for the construction of an
atomic merchant ship. The con
tract came on the heels of a Rus
sian announcement of the launch
ing of the hull of an atom-powered
icebreaker.
The American vessel, the NS
(nuclear ship) Savannah, is ex
pected to be launched in 1960. Ac
cording to specifications the 21,000-
ton ship will be 587 feet long with
« 78-foot beam and have an aver
age service speed of 20 knots. A
$9.8 million power plant is now
being constructed by Babcock &
Wilcox Company.
Earlier this month the Soviet
Union launched the hull of the
atomic icebreaker, the Lenin. Ac
cording to the releases, the ship
will be as high as a six-story build
ing with a 16,000-ton displacement.
She is expected to run at an aver
age speed of 16 knotCln clear
water.
Boston On
Slow Bell
BOSTON—The prior period's
spurt of activity fell through during
the last two weeks. All of the avail
able jobs were quickly filled by
class "A" men anxious to ship out
before the holidays.
The Robin Trent, Robin Mowbray
(Robin); Steel Architect (Isthmian);
Bents Fort, Royal Oak (Cities Serv
ice) and the Pan Oceanic Trans
porter^ (Penn. Navigation) called
Into port during the period. The
Winter Hill (Cities Service) was
the only ship paying off and sign
ing on during the last two weeks.
with- geiger counters, is the
latest phase of the agency's
program for maintaining port se
curity.
Between 15 and 20 Coast Guards
men boarded the Longview at
Quarantine and made a two-hour
inspection of cargo hatches, ma
chinery and other places that
might hold atomic devices. Later
they followed the ship to drydock
in Hoboken, and maintained guard
on the gangway while it was serv
iced. Coast Guard boats also cir
cled the ship all the time it stayed
at the dock. -
The Coast Guard has been mak
ing routine checks for several years
on ships returning from Iron Cur
tain countries. Most of the inspec
tions have been conducted on for
eign ships. With the start of
American grain exports to Poland,
American ships calling there can
expect searches on their return.
The Longview Victory sailed
from the Gulf several months ago
with I cargo of grain for Poland.
She was in Gdynia for a week and
came back in ballast.
Bull Files Supreme Court
Appeal On SIO's Strike
WASHINGTON—Action by the Supreme Court on a decision of the Circuit Court of Ap
peals upholding the SlU's right to strike the Bull Line is now being awaited here. The high
court may take its usual holiday recess before then, however. •
The SlU has appealed the-* ^^
limited stay of the Circuit
Court's ruling granted by Su
preme Court Justice John M. Har
lan two weeks ago. In turn, Bull
Line has filed an answer to the
Union's application plus a petition
of its own to have the full court
review the case.
Justice Harlan had granted Bull
a limited stay until this past Mon
day to file for review. The Union
must now file its answer to the
company petition and, in the in
terim, the original anti-strike-in
junction granted by District Court
Judge Walter Bruchhausen re
mains In effect. The appeals court
had ruled a month ago that the
lower court order "must be set
aside."
A separate injunction proceed
ing by the Bull Line in Nw York
State Supreme Court? postiprbhed
during the SIU's appeal against the
original Federal injunction, is also
still pending.
The SIU struck Bull on August
19 following a breakdown in nego
tiations under the wage reopening
clause of the SIU agreement with
the company. Two days later, in
separate wage disputes, the Mas
ters, Mates and Pilots and the Ma
rine Engineers Beneficial Associa
tion also struck the company and
set up thejr own picketlines.
Company operations resumed
about two months ago after the
District Court issued two injunc
tions, one against the SIU on Octo
ber 1st, and a later one against th*
officers unions. The SIU appeal
was upheld unanimously by the
Circuit Court on November 21st.
Curran's Still The
'Man Out Of Step'
Back on April 26, the SEAFARERS LOG characterized
NMU President Joseph Curran as a "Man Out Of Step." His
irresponsible action since then and on the eve of the AFL-
ClO convention, while posing-*-
as an apostle of labor unity,
merely adds detail to the pic
ture.
For some weeks prior to the con
vention, Curran had been making
much of the "unity" theme. But
what were Curran's "contribu
tions" to labor unity recently? They
were as follows:
• He continued his efforts to in
volve former AFL and former CIO
BME, SIU Win Big $ $
Gains For Willis Officers
PHILADELPHIA—Disregarding a raid by the NMU's
United Marine Division, the SIU and the Brotherhood of Ma
rine Engineers have racked up sizable monetary gains
and other improvements for •
the deck and engine room of
ficers of the C. G. Willis fleet.
The gains, highlighted by wage in
creases ranging from $135 to $218
a month, were scored while un
licensed crewmembers of the in-
tercoastal tug fleet waited for ac
tion on an election petition filed
by the NMU affiliate. The- deck
officers and the deckhands, cooks
and ullers are represented by the
SIU's Harbor and Inland Water
ways Division.
The two-year agreement cover
ing the Willis officers was nego
tiated by five engineers and four
captains and mates off the boats.
The men came in from various
points along the Atlantic Coast at
union expense to attend the con
tract talks. The agreement, which
has been ratified by membership
vote, covers about 60 officers.
Under the contract, which takes
effect January 1, 1958, deck offi
cers will receive increases ranging
from $135 to $213 a month. By
January 1959, captains will be paid
$720 a month, relief captains $684
a month, and mates $648. The
crews work on a 20-day on, 10-day
off basis.
Wage rates for engineers go up
from $160 to $218 a month.- Be
fore the agreement expires, engi
neers will receive the following;
chief engineers—$695; relief chief
engineers—$672; and assistant en
gineers—$648.
The agreement also provides for
improvements in welfare benefits
and working conditions. Under the
pact, deck officers will be covered
by the SIU deep sea welfare plan,
and engineers will be entitled to
greater employer contributions un
der the BME Welfare Plaa
Negotiations took place while
unlicensed crewmembers of the
Willis fleet awaited further action
on a petition by Local 333 of the
United Marine Division. The peti
tion was filed on the eve of the
contract reopener.
SIU officials pointed out that the
petition stood in the way of nego
tiations for similar increases for
the cooks, deckhands, and oilers.
Originally, the NMU affiliate had
indicated that it would seek an
election covering all Willis em
ployees. But at the time it filed,
it asked for the right to represent
only the unlicensed crewmen.
The HIWD signed a fir.st-time
contract with Willis last year after
it won an election over the United
Marine Division by a count of 69
to 2. Prior to the vote, the boats
had been a non-union operation.
The raid made use of a Taft-
Hartley law attack on the union
shop clause and other items in the
existing SlU-HlWD agreement.
This was in ironic contrast with
NMU President Joe Curran's fre
quent declarations that NMU
would not use T-H against other
unions.
groupings in NMU affairs by in
troducing NMU resolutions against
the SIU before CIO Central Labor
bodies. Just before the AFL-
CIO meti Curran prevailed on the
California Industrial Union Coun
cil to "condemn" the SIU for its
action in American Coal.
Such action on Curran's part can
only have the effect of establish
ing a breach between the Califoiv
List Details In
Cables To Union
When notifying headquarters
by cable or wireless that a Sea
farer has paid off in a foreign
port because of injury or illness,
ships' delegates should include
the following information:
The man's full name, his SIU
book number, name of the ship,
the port of payoff and the hos
pital where he is being treated.
The response of ships' crews
to the Union's request ior these
notifications has been very good.
Sometimes though, not all of
the above information has been
included. Be sure to list all of
this data so that the SIU can
act as promptly as .possible.
uaoffOT/ryljj
nia CIO and the California State
Federation of Labor, two organiza
tions which have been discussing
merger on the state level for many
months.
One 0)! the big unfinished jobs
in completing the merger of or
ganized labor has been the com
bining of these state and local
central labor bodies, with big or
ganizations like the California cen
tral bodies an important factor.
Curran's action then, simply
amounts to disruption of the mer
ger process.
Naturally, delegates to the Cali
fornia CIO group knew nothing
about the NMU's - collusion with
District 50 against AFL-CIO ships*
officers unions and the SIU. Nor
did they know about NMU raiding
in the Robin Line or in the Willis
fieet where NMU attorneys did not
SIW
hesitate to attack the union shop
clause as "illegal", a pitch identi
cal to that employed by "right to
work" advocates.
• Curran continued to defend his
raid on Robin Line, where the
NMU attempted to force Seafarers
out of their jobs and thus deprive
them of job rights they had for
18 years. Curran's pitch is that
"Labor Will Fight Robin Line Rul
ing," which translated into factual
language would mean that labor
would fight for Curran's right to
raid an opposing union's membei--
ship and failing of that, have them
fired from their jobs.
Curran himself, on other occa
sions, has expressed great indigna
tion against raiding. Yet even after
his union's own raid on Robin Line
had failed miserably, and Seafar
ers, and even NMU men on the
ships had rejected the NMU as
their bargaining agent, he threw
picket lines around the Robin ships
as the final act in his pattern of
disruption.
Curran then ordered his own
men, NMU members, to cross the
(Continued on page 15)
'35
Pace Sfac SEAFARERS LOG December 20,, .1957
LOG Has Won 23 Awards
In Labor Press Competition
Prize-Winning Editorial
I
The addition of four more awards this year has boosted the LOG's impressive string of
rizes in International Labor Press Association competition since 1947 to 23. Ten of these
ave been won since' the competition was broadened following AFL-CIO merger in 1955.
These and other statistics ^
reflect the fact that while the
SIU-A&G District is numeri
cally small compared to some
AFL-CIO international unions, the
LOG "as the organ of an expand
ing, enterprising union" has con
tinued to play a major role as a
trade union and a maritime publi
cation.
The preceeding quotation was
published just six years ago in
1951, when the current LOG for
mat was first introduced in con-
Junction with the opening of the
then-new SIU headquarters build
ing in Brooklyn. Since the "new"
LOG made its debut, the SIU
newspaper has accumulated 17 of
its 23 awards, winning at least two
in every contest category open to
it in the annual ILPA competition.
The LOG has placed first or
second for the top award—general
editorial excellence—among inter
national union newspapers in fbur
of the past six years. It won the
second spot for 1957, when first
place went to the Retail, Wholesale
& Department Store Union's "Rec
ord."
Judging for this year's awards
was done by members of the facul-
UtRSWPS
SHIP BILLS
Samples of LOG front pages (above) wfiich won first prize for
"good lively molce-up" from 1957 contest judges. Cartoon by
Art Editor Bernard Seaman (below) cited for award was in April
27. 1956, issue.
ty of Columbia University's Grad
uate School of Journalism, who
commented on the LOG as follows:
"Provides best coverage of its own
field and combines interesting
aspects from all labor. Layout
bright and imaginative . . .
A 16-page, bi-weekly tabloid
since May, 1955, the LOG has pub
lished issues of up to 32 pages in
cluding special supplements from
time to time. As the key link be
tween the Union ashore and the
seagoing membership, its function
has always been broader than that
of a shoreside union publication.
The Maritime Paper
Accordingly, it has long been
recognized as "thfe'' newspaper in
maritime and it has likewise kept
pace with "the growing recognition
of both fh# SIU and its member
ship in labor affairs generally.
Avoiding the pitfalls of "boiler
plate" material and a variety of
syndicated matter, it has been
given freshness by the steady
stream of news and feature items
sent in by the Seafarers during
their travels all over the world.
This, in turn, has given every
Seafarer a stake in his Union's
newspaper as well as an identity
with it, and the admonition "Sure,
but it was in the LOG!" is enough
to quench an argument. Again,
editorial contributions are not the
whole story either, since-the LOG
has always been fully supported
by membership contributions.
Thus endowed with membership
and Union support, the LOG has
been constantly striving to live up
to its trade union function in mar
itime and in the trade union move
ment. A typical issue of the paper
may include about 30 timely news-
stories, an equal number of photo
graphs and cartoon features, a
dozen or more regular columns
and membership-originated items
plus the usual routine notices.
world a smkmg oi _ former
th. .»•»»"?"»
rest of the story. inadequate, what
can beuwB have .only a hanaiu» g usually
short of °®"^®^asons these ship ®P"^h^way than mam-
accidents and
It's no accident «^at -h^
of lea'^g . ijpr bv the day and the
future.- It's up -trend and rnn»«»j , j^ure.- Ks up „ the-tvenu :^"-
Editorial in August 3, 1956, LOG won prize for pinpointing safety
pr(}{)lems "in an interesting, convincing and specific way."
birth and death announcements,
letters, digests of ships' minutes
and other pertinent material.
The LOG "package" demon
strates the state of 'the Union at
any given time. Texts of the SIU
constitution. Union contracts, SIU
V/elfare Plan agreements, shipping
rules and other special material
are also published regularly.
SIU entries earned two. prizes
the first time the LOG entered an
ILPA contest in 1947. The string
of successes' has been broken only
three times, once when no entries
were submitted since the LOG
editor was one of the judges.
Overall, the LOG's 23-award total
includes eight first prizes, 11
seconds and four thirds. These
include five front page awards,
four for editorial excellence, three
for written editorials, six for edi
torial cartoons, four for feature
material and one "grand award"
from the 1956 contest.
Robin Line Shipping Cheers NY
NEW YORK—Headquarters, as well as the membership, again wants to thank the broth
ers who stuck by their jobs on the Robin Line ships long enough for the NLRB to hold the
elections. Many ports have put formal of thanks in the record.
As was reported, the SIU
Won the first four ships voted
by a heavy majority, despite
"tempting" offers of NMU books
and the chance to work under the
NMU contract. Some of the Sea
farers on these vessels have in
formed headquarters that their
wives have received letters from
the NMU in an attempt to convert
them to their line.
The Robin Mowbray voted NMU
after most of the crew were either
fired or left the vessel and were
replaced by NMU members.
Outlook Good
Bill Hall, assistant secretary-
treasurer, reports that shipping for
the port has been good throughout
the last two weeks. Some jobs were
hanging on the board for several
calls before they could find takers.
The outlook for the coming period
is also good with a sizable number
of ships scheduled to arrive for
payoffs and a couple of others com
ing out of temporary lay-up and
signing on crews.
Most of the jobs came from the
27 vessels that paid off during the
past period. This was the greatest
number of ships paying off in this
port within one period for over a
^^^r;iThere wer^ thr^e s4iips sigh-,
ing on and eight were in transit.
Among the vessels paying off
here were the Alcoa Partner,
Alcoa Runner, Alcoa Pegasus (Al
coa); Beatrice, Elizabeth, Kathryn,
Frances, Carolyn (Bull); Seatrain
Georgia, New York (Seatrain);
Steel Architect, Steel Designer,
Steel Vendor (Isthmian); Almena,
Morning Light, Andrew Jackson
(Waterman); Robin Mowbray, Robin
Locksley (Robin) and the Armonk
(New Jersey Indust.).
The Valley Forge (Penn. Nay.);
Andrew Jackson .(Waterman) and
the Mankato Victory (Victory Car
riers) signed on while the Seatrains
New Jersey, Georgia, New York,
Savannah (Seatrain); Pennmar
(Calmar); Val Chem (Heron); Sand-
captain (Const. Agg.), and the
Michael (Carras) were in transit.
^ B A
PORTO'CALL
675•-4w.A^«^nF -12/6
BCCOfeClJ/'Aj ©AU77MC»ee
IMT SEAFARERS LOG Par*. SeTM
DOUAR'S WORTH
Guide To Better Buying
By Sidney Margolitu
Costs High On Second Mortgages
A growing number of moderate-income families are undertaking
second mortgages at interest rates of as much as 15 jper cent.
The use of second mortgages and other costly lending practices has
reached such proportions that two Congressional committees are in
vestigating the situation. FHA Commissioner Norman Mason has warned
that reports from FHA field directors indicate these practices are
growing fast. Three out of ten sales of houses currently are being
financed with second mortgages, The Connecticut FHA director, for
example, estimates that 30 per cent of conventional home-sale trans
actions In his state currently involve second mortgages and land con
tracts, a "dangerous type of conditional sales contract. Six months ago
his estimate, was eight per cent.
The reason for the growing number of second mortgages is that
prices of bouses have gone up but banks and other lenders have held
_down the amounts they will lend on first mortgages. They want to
play safe by lending only 60 or 75 per cent of the appraised value of
the house. Too, the appraised
value often is lower than thfr ac
tual market price the buyer jpys.
Thus a family buying a house for
$15,000 nowadays often finds it
can get a first mortgage of only
$10,000.
Construction costs throughout
the country rose three per cent
during the twelve months thr&ugh
Septembef, according to the T. W.
Dodge Corp. The price of almost
every type of structure shows a
rise of 148 per cent over the 1941
construction. Thus, a house that
cost $8,000 to build in 1941 now
is tagged $19,840, exclusive of the
cost of land and financing.
As prices of houses have risen
and mortgage money has gotten
tighter, lenders have demanded
increasingly higher fees. In the
midcastcrn states, as New York
and New Jersey, lenders ask dis
counts "of as much as 12-14 per cent, in addition to the interest charge
of six per cent. Thus, you might borrow $3,000 on a second mortgage,
but sign a contract to repay $3,400, and pay six per cent interest on
$3,400, not the $3,000 you actually got.
California Squeezes Tm
But-it's in the house-hungry Southwest and West Coast that charges
for second mortgages have reached perhaps their highest level. Cali
fornia, for example, permits "trust deeds" instead of mortgages, and
allows lenders to charge ten per cent interest on "second trust deeds"
In addition to brokerage fees and service charges. The brokerage fees
are regulated by law at five per cent for mortgages of one year, ten
per cent for two years and 15 for three. Brokers build up their fees
by influencing borrowers to take out the three-year mortgages on
which they charge the 15 per cent brokerage fee in addition to the
ten per cent annual interest. On top of that, they charge borrowers-
for costs and expenses of as much as four per cent more. Finally they
calculate these charges on the basis of the face amount of the mort
gage, rather than the amount the borrower receives. Thus, the actual
Interest rate on a second trust deed often becomes 15 per cent.
One homeowner reported to the Los Angeles Better Business Bureau
that he had to agree to, pay a commission of $500 to a broker to get a
second mortgage loan of $1,800. On top of that, he was supposed to
pay interest of ten per cent, and not on the $1,800 he actually re
ceived, but on the $2,300 amount which included the commission.
Trust Deeds Risky
Trust deeds themselves are risky for home buyers, and should be
avoided if at all possible. A ti'ust deed is not the same as an ordinary
mortgage.
Under a mortgage you yourself keep title to your property, and
merely pledge ft as security. Under a trust deed you sign over your
title to the property to a third party called a trustee.
If you fall behind in your payments, you generally have 90 days to
bring your account up to date by paying all back payments, interest
charges and any legal expenses the lender may have incurred. After
90 days, when the notice of sale has been published, you have to pay
off the entire balance in full if you want to keep your property. After
sale at auction by the trustee, you have no redemption rights.
For the sake of a $1,000 loan, you can lose your home and all your
equity in it.
An even more dangerous way to finance a home is through a "land
sales contract," sometimes called a conditional sales contract. Here
the seller retains title to the property tmtil you have paid, usually,
one-third or one-half the purchase price. (Jenerally, land contracts
provide that you forfeit all the payments you already made if you
default on your payment schedule. Thus, you can pay off, say $5,000
on a $15,000 house,* and if you fall behind, lose the house and all you
paid in.
Second mortgages and similar unsound home-financing devices got
many families in trouble back in the 1920's. Finally this practice
helped get the whole country into trouble by bringing about a wave of
foreclosures in the early 30's.
The Home Owners' Loan Corporation had to be created to help
homeowners and lenders through the worst part of the big depression.
It refinanced more than a million homes in three years.
Don't let history repeat itself at your expense. Stay away from
"trustors ' and other mortgage , brokers, and second mortgages. alto
gether, if at all possible.
NewMEBA
Unit formed
for Lakes
DETROIT—Preparing for the
all-oiit Great Lakes-Seaway organ
izing drive planned in coordination
with the Maritime Trades Depart
ment, the Marine Engineers Bene
ficial Association has consolidated
all Great Lakes engineers in one
local imion.
The 93-year-old Local 3 of this
city has surrendered its charter,
with its members joining Great
Lakes Local 101. The newly-formed
organization will hold a convention
in Cleveland early next month for
the purpose of drafting an organ
izing program, electing officers and
attending to other details involved
in its establishment.
Other preparations for Lakes' or
ganizing include the establishment
of MTD port councils in virtually
all major Great Lakes ports. The
recent MTD convention stressed
the considerable organizing oppor
tunities that will be available on
the Lakes once the Seaway opens.
Checking Where The Money Goes
Seafarers Ronald Burton, AB (loft), and Eugene W. Bent, FWT,
check over the SiU secretary-treasurer's weekly financial report in
the auditing room at headquarters. The Weekly reports are posted
after an audit by a rank-and-file committee.
fenbaker of Canada is ex
pected to take steps to resolve
the strike issues on his return from
the NATO talks. The Prime.^ Min
ister actively stepped into the dis
pute after the Canadian Depart
ment of Labour was unable to come
up with a solution.
The world-wide labor solidarity
in support of the SIU strike gained
further support last week when
the AFL-CIO convention in Atlan
tic City pledged its backing to the
Canadian strikers.
Earlier, the Maritime Trades De
partment convention endorsed "the
fight of our Canadian brothers to
preserve trade union representa
tion." An MTD resolution saluted
"the maritime workers of the free
trade union movement... for their
prpmpt efforts and stirring display
of international trade union fra
ternity in joining to crush the
Canadian government-sponsored at
tempt at union busting."
CNS attempted to break the SIU
strike, with government approval,
by transferring its eight ships to
Trinidad registry after the strikers
turned down a take-it-or-leave-it
wage offer. The CNS offer Involved
a two-step 15 percent package, well
below the already-trimmed-down
20 percent demands for which the
men originally struck on July 4th.
Present base pay for ABs is $204
per month.
The company has already failed
in several attempts to import
strikebreakers, both from the West
Indies and England, with the result
that all its ships continue to lay
idle in Halifax. Five ships origi
nally tied up here were shifted to
Halifax last month after being
sailed by ships' officers under
cover of night. Three had already
been idled in Halifax.
In addition to the AFL-CiO and
MTD support, the strike has the
active endorsement of the Cana
dian Labour 'Congress, Interna
tional Confederation of Free Trade
Unions, British Trades Union Con
gress, International Transportwork-
ers Federation as well as the SIU
of North America and its affiliates.
Key support is pledged by the
Seamen's & Waterfront Workers
Trade Union in Port-of-Spain, Trin
idad, which has condemned the
company's "strikebreaking tactics"
and advised local port authorities
and Canadian officials that its
members will not handle the "hot"
CNS ships. The SWWTU is the only
recognized transimrt union in Port-
of-Spain.
Urge Tuna Import Limit
To Save US Fishery Jobs
WASHINGTON—Appearing before the United States Tar
iff Commission, Lester Balinger of the SIU of NA's fish and
cannery divisions called for additional legislative protection
for the domestic tuna and al-"^
bacore fishing industry.
Put Postal Zone
On LOG Address
The Post Office Department
has requested that Seafarers
and their families include postal
zone numbers in sending
changes of address into the
LOG. The use of the zone num
ber will greatly speed the flow
of the mail and will facilitate
delivery.
Failure to include the zone
number can hold up delivery
of the paper. The LOO is now
in the process of zoning its
entiremailing. Hsit,: ,
Balinger pointed to a "ter
rific" decline in job opportunities
for West Coast tuna fishermen
which, since 1952, amounts to
about 30 percent overall. Boats
lost at sea, he said, have not been
^replaced by American owners, and
many boats have left the US to fish
with foreign crews and deliver
their catch to
foreign ports.
By contrast, he
said, fish imports
have been on the
rise since 1951.
The result has
been a tremen
dous turnover in
manpower in the
domestic fleet be
cause of a decline
in the men's earnings. Price cuts
in domestic fish upon which the
men's earnings depend on a share
basis have combined with a re
duced volume.
In 1956, he said, fishermen were
averaging about $4,900 a year. This
year the averages will work out to
about $3,950 for working 15 or 16
hours daily, seven days a week.
The future of the industry is
entirely dependent on protective
legislation," BAlingei>Tlle<!lafed. The
union and the industry is calling
for limits on imports and increased
tariff charges.
Balinger
Cooper Out
Of Bakers
(Continued from page 2)
which there was such a dispute
over the question of behavior of
the union's president, it appears
clearly that Curran's reference is
^eant for them.
The other Curran statement
praised Mr. Cooper as resolving
"to stay clear of union policy and
program."
It is interesting to note that the
Senate committee's criticism of
Mr. Cooper was based on his ac
tively "taking sides" with Cross
against the opposition in the bak
ers union irrespective of the merits
of the situation and his role as
union counsel for all the members.
Similarly, Mr. Cooper has been ac
cused by the NMU opposition of
taking sides" on behalf of Mr.
Curran. In one instance, as cited
by the LOG, Mr. Cooper actively
urged NMU members on the SS
United States Jto vote,-fpr the Cur
ran slate in an NMU election.
Prime Minister Enters Canadian
SIU Strike; See Settlement Near
MONTREAL—A break in the 170-day-oId strike by the SIU Canadian District against
the government-owned Canadian National Steamships, Ltd., now awaits the wind-up of this
week's North Atlantic Treaty Organization conference in Paris.
Prime Minister John F. Die-
w
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Pace Eisrht i. SEAFARERS LOG December ^0, 195* « >•
MTD ACTS ON MARITIME PROBLEMS
. Fourteen resolutions dealing
with a variety of maritime prob
lems including subsidies, national
legislation, the hiring hall, the St.
Lawrence Seaway and others were
approved at the convention of the Mari
time Trades Department early this
month. In addition, the convention acted
to broaden the executive board of MTD
in recognition of the growth oif the or
ganization and also took steps to imple
ment its organizing program.
As previously reported in the SEA
FARERS LOG, the convention heard ad
dresses from AFL-CIO President George
Meany in which he called the Depart
ment the "one place ... in the AFL-CIO
trade union structure" for all marine un
ions; from MTD President Paul Hall on
the objectives of the organization and
from AFL-CIO legislative representative
Andrew Biemiller.
In addition, the convention heard a
pledge from John Livingston, AFL-CIO
Director of Organization, to cooperate
wholeheartedly in any MTD organizing
campaign. Other speakers included
James Brownlow of the Metal Trades
Department and Nelson Cruikshank of
the AFL-CIO Social Service Department.
The executive board was broadened
by the addition of three new members-
Herbert L. Daggett for the Marine Engi
neers Beneficial Association; A. J. Lough-
rey for the International Brotherhood of
Boilermakers and Russell Stephens for
the Technical Engineers.
The following is a digest of MTD con
vention resolutions;
Subsidies
The -convention noted that no appre
ciable'' progress had been made by the
US on a more equitable subsidy pro
gram. It reiterated its opposition to
granting subsidies only to a limited num
ber of companies as putting "a premium
on bad management" and a "bar to a
healthy and expanding industry."
4^
Livingston Pledges
Full Aid To MTD
Seaway
With the coming opening of the Sea-
-Ivay, the MTD has been making prepara
tions for the vast organizing potential
involved. The convention recommended
"a full-scale, coordinated organizing
campaign . . . with a view to ultimate
representation of all the workers in
volved under the banner of the respec
tive AFL-CIO unions."
ii $• i>
"maximum effort by the Maritime Trades
Department" to promote revival of these
trades and "US Government encourage
ment of new methods of operation. They
further recommended "Congressional
Amendment of the 1936 Merchant Ma
rine Act to provide construction subsi
dies as an inducement to new enterprise
in this field."
4> t- t
Anti'Labor
Legislation
ILO
The constructive contributions oL;||FL-
CIO delegates to the Internation^JLili^
Organization were lauded "despiW tre
efforts of reactionary employer members
to cripple the essential functions of ILO."
4" 4" J"
Urging greater organizing efforts .
by all unions, AFL-CIO director of
organization John Livingston
pledged all possible Federation
aid in drives by MTD unions.
Delegates denounced efforts by the
enemies of labor to destroy trade unions
and declared, "we must vigorously op
pose any and all legislative attempts on
national and local levels to invade, the,
rights of free working men and
women, .
$ 4^
Fish Imports
MSTS
'50-50'
The convention noted that it is "im
perative that we continue the fight on
all levels to preserve '50-50' ... in the
face of constant attacks on this legisla
tion."
The maintenance of a huge peacetime
commercial fleet by the Military Sea
Transport Service came under heavy fire.
The convention called it "a service-un
necessary and costly to the American
taxpayer" and "usurpation of the func
tions of private US shipping and the
consequent deprivation of the benefits
of trade union representation from the
workers involved."
4- 4- 4-
Marine Hospitals
The resolution warned that the ground
work is being laid for another attack on
the Public Health Service. It pointed out
that maritime ranks third in accident
rates and seamen "are constantly ex
posed to pestilence and disease peculiar
to the ports ... at which they must
call . . ." It urged an end to the con
stant threats to eliminate facilities.
4" 4" 4"
AFL-CIO Director of Organization
John Livingston made a strong pledge
of all possible aid to the Maritime Trades
Department's campaign to organize on
the St. Lawrence Seaway. Livingston
declared, "As far as our. Department of
Organization is concerned, within the
limits of the manpower that we will have
at the time, we will be very interested
in your work and your project, and we
will not be behind you—we will be right
out there in front with y^u, no matter
how rough some of your cahipaigns may
get."
Livingston also remarked, "I think it
is extremely important that Depart
ments such as yours exist because it is
only by standing together and pooling
your ideas and your forces that you can
do a more effective job in your respec
tive fields organizationally, on the leg
islative front, and at the collective bar-
gaining table."
Cheap fish imports Mve depressed
wPrk opportunities and income in the
domestic fisheries. Consequently, the
Department urged "the enactment of
adequate legislation to protect the fish
ermen and cannery workers."
4> 4> 4
Runaways
The convention called the American
maritime worker "one of the chief vic
tims" of the runaways and charged that
maritime workers' "welfare has been
completely ignored by the Maritime Ad
ministration." It called for "necessary
remedial legislation to halt further ship
transfers. . ."
4> 4" 4-
Canadian Strike
Hiring Hall
Long Range
M'time Program
Convention guest Peter McGavin,
special assistant to AFL-CIO Pres.
George Meany; SlU Mobile port
agent Cal Tanner and BME pres.
Ray McKay make up a three
some.
The Government was criticized for its
"hit and miss" approach to maritime
which was attributed to the lack of a
"broad, long-range maritime program."
The convention called for steps to effect
such a program and to allow "member
unions of the Maritime Trades Depart
ment to participate in its development."
The hiring hall method of employment
was hailed as "the most effective means
of insuring fair and equitable distribu
tion of work." The resolve called for
"proper federal legislation ... to guar
antee that the hiring hall be recognized
as the proper medium for employment
in all industries in which its use has
been an accepted practice."
4> 4' 4«
The convention denounced the trans
fer action of the Government-owned
Canadian National Steamship Lines as
"one of the most vicious attempts at the
destruction of union yyages, conditions
and representation." It cited the vigor
ous fight waged against the transfer by
the SlU Canadian District and the ef
fective support received from all over
the world. The MTD went on record as
supporting the fight and "salutes the
maritime workers of the free trade union
movement . . . for their stirring display;
of internationar trade union frater
nity. .."
4i 4> 4
ITF and ICFTU
Domestic Shipping
The losses in this field were noted up
until recently when new methods were
put in play to revive the trades. Con
sequently, the delegates recommended
The convention saluted the Interna
tional Transportworkers Federation and
the International Confederation of Free
Trade Unions as democratic bulwarks
and instrumentalities for the protection
of the economic rights of maritime
workers.
\
President William A. Calvin of
the Boilermakers was elected vice-
president of the Building & Con
struction Trades Department of
the AFL-CIO to succeed Teamster
President Dave Beck. Beck an
nounced that he was resigning
from the department because he
would be terminating his position
with the Teamsters "in the fore
seeable future."
4i 4< 41
William Schnitzler, AFL - CIO
secretary-treasurer, has announced
the establishment of a one-year
internship for graduate students
starting July 1, 1958. The intern
ship will Consist of a one-year po
sition with the Federation's Re
search Department working on
economic analysis, labor legislar
tion and collective bargaining: de
velopments and will offer, direct
experience and training of com
petent young people for positions,
in trade union research. Graduates
of universities having specialized
units in the field of labor and in
dustrial relations, who will not
have reached their 26th birthday
by July 1, 1958, and, who have com
pleted one year of graduate work
will be eligible for the positions.
4^ 4^ 4^
Seven locals of the Meat Cutters
Union in Chicago have negotiated
a contract providing for wage in
creases from 32.5 to 38.75 cents an
hour over a two-year period. The
agreements, ratified at local mem
bership meetings, covers all chain
and independent supernaarkets in
the Chicago area except Jewel and
National Tea Co. The' members
rejected the proposals from the
two holdout companies, and voted
in favor of a strike if an agreement
could not be reached. The wage
and welfare Increases are retroac
tive to Oct. 5, 1957.
3rd Trailership Enters SerWce
-
• r,.
.. '
'S-'
MOBILE—The SS Fairland, the third vessel to be converted into a trailership, entered
Pan-Atlantic's sea-land service early this month. The ship will service the ports of New
York, Miami, New Orleans and Tampa. .
The fourth vessel, the SS"^
Raphael Semmes, is scheduled
for completion in several
weeks. The Raphael Semmes will
round out the first phase of Pan-
Atlantic's new service.' The com
pany wilkhave two trailerships op
erating between NY, Miami, Hous
ton and Tampa; two between New
York and Miami, New Orleans
and Tampa; and two sea-land
tankers between New York and
Houston.
Seafarers in this port are taking
advantage of the new medical exr
aminations being given by the SIU's
Welfare Department. About seven
to ten men a day are being x-rayed
and receiving cardiographs. It Is
hpped'that the center will be! able
to expand and take in: dependents
in the near future.
The city-wide bus strike here
entered its seventh week with little
hope of a settlement. Port agent
Cal Tanner continued to work with
the fact-finding committee until he
had to leave for the AFL-CIO Con
vention in Atlantic City. Although
making good progress, the com
mittee has not been able to settle
the dispute.
While shipping has not been
booming, many of the men are
being choosy and leaving the jobs
on the board for a couple of calls.
It is expected that the freezing
weather and the coming Christmas
holidays will add to the number of
men on the beach in this area.
Among the ships in this port
during the past period were the
LaSalle, Wacosta, Warrior and
Madaket (Watermanl, the Alcoa
Planter, Patriot, Clipper Pilgrim,
Corsair, the Steel Age and Steel
Appjentice.
%
PHOTOS
sToRtes,
?oeTRY
•y-4
December 20i 19ST SEAFARERS LOG Pare Nine '
THt MT D CONVENTION @ Delegates of 12 unions rep
resenting virtually the entire i
maritime industry are shown '
at Atlantic Gity convention at
which they worked out a pro
gram of mutual action ''on
common problems.
Arnold Zuider (r)
AFSCME. witli Grain
Millers' K. Schneider.
Ship officers ohattinr are E. N. Altman, J.
Calhoun tmd Pres. Herbert Darrett, MEBA;
Moe Welnstein, MM&Ft V. O'Reilly, MEBA.
Listehinr to talk are (1 to r) M. Stephens,
Technical Engineers; Joe Trainer, IBL;
Stephen Leslie, Operating Engineers.
SIU Pacific District was represented by Ed
Turner, Marine Cooks; Morris Weisberger;
Sailors; Sam Bennett, Marine Firemen.
W. Pendergast, Boil
ermakers and A. Matz,
Firemen & Oilers.
Harry O'ReiUy, MTD Secretary; James
Brownlow, Metal Trades Dep't, and Jack
McDonald, Operating Engineers, confer.
Fred Farnen, SIU Great Lakes District;
Rolla Johnson, MM&P, and Stanley Thomp
son, Great Lakes Detroit agent, in huddle.
Int'l Brotherhood of Longshoremen's huddle
features (1 to r) E. L. Slaughter, secretary;
Larry Long, president; Joe Trainor.
Andre.IV Biemiller,
AFL-GIO legislativb
rep, wail, speaker.
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Face T»
Setting The Deck Straight
SEAFARERS LOG
November 27 Through December 10
Registered
SiU-HIWD members J. W. Edwards (left) and L T. Squires, deck
hands on the G&H tug J. Harris Masterson, team up to coil some
line in Houston. The Masterson is one of 26 boots in the G&H
fleet.
Defense Council Affirms
Need For Merchant Fleet
WASHINGTON—^Reports of the impending death of the
US merchant marine replacement program have turned out
to be greatly exaggerated. The Office of Defense Mobiliza
tion has notified Rep. Herbert —— —
C. Bonner, chairman of the.
House Merchant Committee
"that the policy that an adequate
merchant marine is essential for
defense purposes should be re
affirmed."
It had been previously reported
that the US merchant marine pol
icy .was under review by the Na
tional Security Council, and there
This Seabag's
Loaded With Oil
LONDON — Two British scien
tists have developed a long flexible
sea-going bag capable of carrying
some 10 tons of oil at the end of
a tow. The model, a tubular bag
67 feet long and three feet wide
in diamater, successfully passed a
series of tests in rough seas.
Professors W. Hawthorne and
John Paige of Cambridge Univer
sity built their sea-going bag out
of a thin but strong flexible mate
rial similar to nylon. When empty
the container weighs less thay one
two-hundredths as much as the
cargo it carries and can be folded
and carried in the back of an
automobile. When full the bag
rides fairly low in the water with
about 90 percent of it submerged.
Major oil companies are inter
ested . in the development of flex
ible seagoing containers as an
answer to the rising cost of tanker
construction. The estimated cost
of producing such a bag is about
one-seventh that reqiiirea to build
comparable space in a standard
tanker. Besearch on seagoing con-
ta ners will continue until one be
can. produced capable of handling
j^GOG tons of oil.
One present use of the smaller-
Bized bags may be in unloading
supertankers at ports which do not
have sufficient berthing facilities.
They can be easily filled through
a hosepipe aUached to their stem,
bound with other containers, and
towed into port by tug boata
had been suggestions to the effect
that the merchant marine would
no longer be considered as having
any defense value in the missile
age.
Gordon Gray, the Defense Mo-
bilizer, wrote to Bonner that the
matter had been considered by a
special committee made up of rep
resentatives of the Office of De
fense Mobilization, the Defense
Department and the Maritime Ad
ministration, and that the commit
tee's findings had been approved
by the higher-ups on the Defense
Mobilization Board.
Gray also said that the Board
favors a merchant fleet of approx
imately the present level as an in
terim goal and calls for a "long-
range program for the replacement
of ships which will become obso
lete."
Not spelled out in the letter, are
the methods by which this replace
ment program is to be accom
plished. The Maritime Trades De
partment convention had called for
a union voice in long-range plan
ning for maritime and also has
been critical of the favoring of a
limited number of subsidized oper
ators at the expense of the rest of
the US merchant marine.
Lending further emphasis to the
need for a US merchant fleet was
a series of articles in last week's
"New York Times" on the critical
shortages in the United States in
reserves of vital raw materials for
US industry. The "Times" articles
pointed out that such items as
chrome, tin, rubber, copper, lead,
bauxite, iron ore, manganese, and
large amounts of oil have to be Im
ported—some of these items from
far off places such as Turkey, In
dia, Malaya and the far reaches of
South America.
Since these shortages will get
worse as the years go by, that
means greater dependence on ship
ping to maintain a flow of raw
materials. Consequently, if the
United States should neglect its
merchant marine, it would put its
entire economy at the mercy of
•foreign flags. "•
Fort Deck Deck Ens. Ens. Stew. Stew. Totil Total ;;totai -
A B A B ' A . B A B ' . RSs. '"
Boston 1 • . . a . ̂ . .. IG 2 7 4 5 1 - 22 7 •
New York ............ 1 *... .. 95 13 69 12 53 9 217 34 -251?,
Philadelphia 1 ...... . .. 16 0 12 4 8 3 36 7 . 43
Baltimore .. 49 22 3G 25 33 2G 112 67 170
Norfolk 3 8 7 1 5 22 15 37
Savannah 3 7 4 2 1 18 8 26
Tampa — 4 5 3 5 1 20 8 28
Mobile ....... .. 3G 7 22 6 3G 6 82 19 101
New Orleans .. 4G 22 29 11 45 , 11 114 44 158 .
Lake Charies 9 11 IG 5 7 24 26 50
Houston 16- 19 2G 15 11 58 47 105
Wilmington S 12 19 14 7 43 31 74
San Francisco .. 15 4 12 9 22 10 49 23 72
Seattle .. ............ 12 12 12 8 4 38 28 66
Deck Deck •nt. Ens. Stew. stew. Total Total Total
Total
A B A B A B A B . Res.. -
Total .. 354 122 255 146 246 96 855 364 1219 p:
- •. Shipped
-•f £
Fort Deck Deck Deck Bng. Ens. Ens. stew. stew. stew. Total Total Total Total
Boston
A B C A B ' C A B c A B C Ship,
Boston 7 0 0 2 0 0 3 0 G 12 0 0 12 .
New York . 76 12 6 56 21 8 35 9 2 167 42 16 225 ]
Philadelphia . 5 1 0 4 4 1 3 1 G 12 6 1 19 r
Baltimore . 64 2G 1 51 19 1 42 17 G 157. 56 2 215 ;
Norfolk . 8 9 0 6 8 0 1 6 1 15 23 1 39 ,
Savannah /. . 1 0 0 4 3 0 1 0 G 6 3 0 9 :•
Tampa . 6 1 0 4 1 2 2 2 G 12 4 2 18 "
Mobile . 35 7 0 28 11 2 22 10 G 85 28 2 115
New Orleans . 32 13 1 33 5 0 33 9 3 98 27 4 129
Lake Charles 8 6 0 10 8 1 4 3 2 22 17 3 42
Houston . IG 5 0 19 7 0 8 6 G 37 18 0 55
Wilmington 4 4 0 3 0 0 4 G G 11 4 0 15
San Francisco 2 2 0 9 0 0 6 0 G 17 2 0 19
Seattle . 22 3 0 13 7 0 12 2 G 47 12 6 .59
Deck Deck Deck Bnfl. Ens. Ens. 1 Itew. Stew. Stew. Total Total Total Total
Total
A B C A B C A B c A B c Ship.
Total 28G 83 8 242 94 15 176 65 8 698 242 31 971
Shipping lagged again during the last two weeks, despite the approaching year-end holi
days. Both job activity and registration fell off; shipping to 971 and registration to 1,219.
The usual holiday pile-offs and consequent job boom at year's-end has failed to develop
so far, although the last pe--*" —— •:—
riod may have been too early
-1
for it in the face or the slug
gish shipping over a good part of
this year. The holiday boom ordi
narily extends into January as Sea
farers pay off for vacations and
to get time off with their families.
Five SIU ports managed to im
prove their showing despite the
general job fall-off. Mobile and
Baltimore were particularly active.
New York, Norfolk and Savannah
also rose. Seattle, remained "as is,
but was still active.
Declines were listed for Boston,
Philadelphia, Tampa, New Orleans,
Lake Charles, Houston, Wilmington
and San Francisco. The return of
Robin Line jobs on SIU shippin;^
boards should help out in the near
future.
Registration and shipping ran
fairly close in the engine depart
ment, which shipped half the class
C jobs.
A futher breakdown by seniority
groups showed the class B regis
tration slightly higher than in the
last period, and the B shipping
about the same as before. The de
clines, therefore, were all in the
class A column. However, the class
A proportion of jobs shipped rose
to 72 percent of to total. Class B
shipping also went up, to 25 per
cent of the job total.
The foUowing is the forecast port
by port.
Boston: Quiet... New York: Fair
. . Philadelphia: Fair . . . Balti
more: Good . . . Norfolk: Fair ...
Savannah: Slow . . . Tampa: Fair
Mobile: Good ... New Orleans:
Good . . . Lake Charles: Fair . . .
Houston: Good . . . Wilmington:
Fair . . . San Francisco: Quiet . . .
Seattle: Good.
Hold Up Suez Canal
Expansion^ Need $
Under a newly-adopted development program, the Suez
Canal Authority plans to deepen the waterway to take tank-|
ers of 65,000 deadweight tons and to increase traffic capacity
to 56 vessels a day, and even--*-
tually 80 to 90 vessels a day.
Colonel Mahmound Yunes,
board chairman and managing di
rector of the Canal authority, said
that the authority plans to start its
$2GG million program as soon as
possible. However, its Schedule for
deepening the waterway to 45 feet
depends on whether the authority
can borrow money against future
toll revenues .
In his status report on the
canal development, Mahmound an
nounced that the canal was still
18 inches short of its pre-blockade
depth of 35 feet, but that it would
reach that level by April or earlier.
Daily transit through the Egyptian-
nationalized waterway has in
creased to 47 vessels from the 41.9
pre-blockade average.
The Suez Company manager is
in the United States "contacting my
customers"—the shipowners—"on
what services we can provide for
them." He is also meeting Eugene
Black, president of the World Bank
in an effort to raise the necessary
funds here. Mahmound reaffirmed
the Egyptian government's declara
tion that the canal tolls wpuld not
be raised more than one percent
a year. "For the present," he added,
"We have no intention of raising
the tolls."
SF Has LitUe
Ship Activity
SAN . FRANCISCO — Shipping
took a dive in this port during the
past two weeks. There was only
one ship, the Iberville (Waterman),
signing on.
The Massmar, Marymar (Calmar)
and the Hurricane - (Waterman)
pulled into port for servicing.
There were no reported beefs and
all were in good shape.
Stay Put For Idle Pay
Seafarers who are collecting state unemployment benefits whila
on the beach waiting to ship are urged to stay put and avoid ^
changing their mailing addresses if they want to continue re
ceiving their checks regularly. Several Seafarers have already
experienced interruptions of from three to five weeks in getting
their next check after they notified the state unemployment
offices that they had moved and chjinged their mailing address.
An average delay of a month is reported in most cases, causing
. considerable hardship to.the men involved., .
'WRT&CALl
bJS'iff'AB r
IN mriim
l>e««ei|ilier so, 1M7 SEAFARERS LOG Paff« Elevev
.skjt'-v
'Next Door' start Work On 'Seaway'
Between N' Orleans, Gulf
NEW ORLEANS—Coiistruction of a deepwater tidewater
channel from the Mississippi River to the Gulf which will
give New Orleans a second outlet to the sea commenced last
week. "• •
Start of construction of the
channel, which will be 76
miles long on completion, brought
reality to the dreams of Crescent
City shipping and civic interests
who have been trying to promote
such a project for more than a
century.
Business, civic and political lead
ers were present for cerenjonies
which preceded a dynamite blast
that started work on the first ex
cavation. The channel, to cost an
estimated $96 million, will cut
through land except for >26 miles
of open water in Chandeleur Sound
near the Gulf terminus of the new
route which will result in savings
in time and distance for New Or
leans-bound shipping.
Engineers predict from five to
ten years will be required to com
plete the project.
Ships,
Bait. Busy
With
Festivities
BALTIMORE—It has beert
fairly busy period in this port
Shipping picked up a great deal,
running far ahead of registration
The biggest increase was in the
deck department where over ,80
Class "A" and "B" men shipped
out.
Everyone is getting ready for the
Christmas holidays. The hall is be
ing decorated and the turkeys are
on order for the Christmas dinner.
The dinners will be served in the
Union's cafeteria for the men on
the beach here and their families.
All are invited to come iiT and eat
to their heart's content.
On the shipping side, there were
17 vessels paying off, nine signed
on and nine in transit. The Royal
Oak, Cantigny (Cities Service);
Santore, Venore, Oremar, Feltore,
Chiiore (Ore); Joseiina (Lib. Nav.);
Bethcoaster (Calmar); Citrus
Packer (Waterman); Robin Locksley
(Robin); Steel Age (Isthmian);
Evblyn, Jean, Emilia (Bull); Seastar
(Traders) and the Charles Dunaif
(Colonial Nav.) all paid off while
the Venore, Oremar, Feltore, Sant
ore, Chiiore (Ore); Kenmar, Beth-
coaster JCalmar); Joseiina (Lib.
Nav.) and the Evelyn (Bull) signed
on.
The, in-transit ships were the
Alcoa Runner and Pegasus (Alcoa);
Calmar (Calmar); Steel Vendor
(Isthmian): Cubore, Baltore (Ore);
Morning Light (Waterman) and; the
The forthright action taken by the AFL-CIO to clean its
own house of corrupt influences—admittedly a "disagreeable
task" involving the expulsion of 1^^ million flsade union
ists—is now on the record. It remains to be seen whether
the bosses' "unions" will take a similar position on abuses in
their own backyard.
No one even expects the NAM to bring General Electric
up on charges becaus^its salesmen provided "call girls" for
big appliance buyers. The newspapers put a "boys will be
boys" label on this sort of thing, so it's conveniently over
looked along with that multitude of sins known as "common
business practices." These may range from bribery and
price-rigging to arson and tax evasion, of course, but who's
to throw the first stone anyway?
Thus the current offensive by business groups to get more
"right-to-work" bills and punitive labor laws passed has
a certain smell about it. Contrast the AFL-CIO's unequivo
cal endorsement wtih the business spokesmen's own cries of
outraged innocence over such proposals as those calling
for the financial dealings^ of all welfare and pension funds,
including those run by management alone, to be put under
public scrutiny.
Furthermore, despite the anti-labor emphasis of the Sen
ate committee's hearings this year, it's pretty apparent
that for every union representative who allegedly took a
bribe or kickback there was a businessman who gave it. In
the same way, industry's crimes of strikebreaking, union-
busting and exploitation of workers via "sweetheart" con
tracts is viewed as "business expediency" and dismissed
lightly. Some kind of a clean-up is badly needed there.
. $1 $1
Back Again
The appearance of Robin Line jobs on SIU shipping boards
once more is a tribute to the spirit of the Seafarers forced
to work under heavy -pressures, including an inferior -Na
tional Maritime Union contract on these ships.
An interesting sidelight on the SIU victory is that despite
the lures dangled before the Robin men to win support for
the NMU raid, even two NMU members on the Robin Trent
voted SIU. All Seafarers salute their brothers in Robin Line
for their unanimous endorsement of the SIU.
Recognition for the SIU and the SEAFARERS LOG in the
form of four 1957 International Labor Press Association
awards in a contest involving 300 varied AFL-CIO union
publications come at an appropriate time of the year. The
LOG staff would therefore like ,to thank all Seafarers for
their unending support over the years and wish season's
Kyska Takes
Seattle Crew
SEATTLE—It hao been a slow
shipping period for this port with
the SS Kyska (Waterman) supply
ing most of the business. She had
been in temporary lay-up but took
on a full crew during the period.
The Afoundria (Waterman) paid
off while the Iberville (Waterman)
and the Seamar (Calmar) supplied
the in-transit business. There were
only a^few minor beefs which were
settled satisfactorily.
Unions'
Hurricane Aid
ATLANTIC CITY—The Ameri
can Red Cross has awarded two
certificates to Louisiana union
groups in appreciation of the aid
organized labor gave victims of
Hurricane Audrey which struck
the Louisiana-Texas border early
in August.
Philip Piro, president of the
Louisiana State Building Trades
Council, accepted one in behalf of
the skilled craftsmen of Louisiana
who 3onate<f their time and efforts
to rebuild 22 homes for hurricane
victims in Cameron Parish, La.
President Victor Bussie and E. J.
Bourg, secretary of the Louisiana
State Labor Council, also received
one for their organization's "out
standing cooperation" during the
relief operations.
Many Seafarers from Lake
Charles and New Orleans had
joined with other union members to
help clear the sites and then sup
plied the muscle and brawn re
quired in the many manual con
struction jobs as aids to the build
ing tradesmen. In addition to the
union supplying manpower, many
SIU ships made large donations
to help feed and clothe the hurri
cane victims.
QUESTION: The SUP membership has gone on record for motor
ized lifeboats on all ships. Do you feel that this is necessary?
Cabins (rexrci^)." }^^^ Jrgrqetm^ and smooth sailing to all hands.' •
Jorge Vega, carpenter: Yes,
think motorized lifeboats are neces
sary for the safe
ty both of the
crew and passen
gers. I know
from my own ex-
perience that
they would have
been welcome
during the last
war when you
had to get away
from the ship fast when she was
hit. Taking care of the lifeboats
is part of my job on ship and I
would rather sec motors on them.
t J"
Dimitrios Giafis, OS: Lifeboats
with motors are much more valu
able than ones
with oars. They
are faster, easier
to man and han
dle, and don't put
a strain on the
men. I am at
home with both
types but would
prefer a motor to
an oar any day.
t
Regino Vazquez, messman: I
agree with the SUP membership
that every ship
should have mo
torized boats
aboard. Men act
differently under
pressure and
some might find
it difficult to han
dle an 040*, but i
motor would help
them get away
irom the «hlp »uch faflk4r than
•'toarii would.
Matthew Fanes, wiper: One big
difference in using motors is that
fewer men are
required to man
the boats. This
leaves more room
to pick up vic
tims of a crash,
or to carry more
passengers and
c r e w m e m-
bers when the
ship is sinking.
Two or three men could handle a
motor boat, but it requires some
seven men to handle the oars.
$> •
Rafeal Caraballo, 2nd cook: I
think that lifeboats on every ship
should have both
oars and motors.
The oars may be
needed if the
motor conks out.
But I think the
motors are pre
ferable since they
are much better
in fighting a
strong tide than
oars.
Teddy Wiatrowski, FWT: Motors
are a must. I was on a ship near
the Andrea Doria
when she sank.
We had to man
the oars and
"idiot" sticks to
try to help out.
• If it had not been
for _^the motor-
boats^ on the II
d' F r a ri c e, the
death toll would
have been much higher.
.. •hi
All
•111
•0
Page Twelve SEAFARERS LOG Dee^W 20, 1957
i
Robin SIU Crews Welcomed Back
An enthusiastic commendation and welcome from Seafarers on the 88 Fairland has
gone out to the crews of the first four Robin Line ships to come back under the SIU banner.
Shortly after individual letters went out to crewmembers on the Robin Gray, Robin
Sherwood, Robin Kirk and Ro
bin Locksley on December 10,
the SIU received formal cer
tification as bargaining agent for
the ships from the NLRB. To
gether, they had rolled up a vote
of 108 for the SIU to 13 for the
NMU). Two other Robin ships, the
Robin Trent and Robin Goodfellow
have since boosted the SIU victory
string. (Story on page 3.)
The message signed by the Fair-
land's delegates on behalf of its
SIU crew lauded the Robin Line
men for "your sacrifices. It is
such spirit as you recently demon
strated which makes our organiza
tion second to none in maritime.
"We, the rank and file members
of the SIU aboard this trailership,
wish to compliment you for the
bang-up job you did," it stated.
The letter also issued a welcome
"to the new members who have
been rewarded to come under the
SIU banner" as a result of the vote.
"We are confident that you will
find you made the best choice."
Full text of the Fairland's mes
sage was as follows:
After The Haul Was Over
Bosun Frank Gospor (left) surveys the wreckage. left over after
the Steel Navigator discharged a lQCid.-$l.deck cargo at Inchon.
Joe Duffy, DM, looks like he'd like to wash his hands of the whole
mess, too. They didn't say just what the stuff was. The ship was
on the Gulf-Hawaii-Far East run. Photo by G. F. Abundo.
To the Crew, SS Robin Gray, Robin Sherwood, Robin Kirk and
Robin Locksley;
Dear Sirs and Brothers:
At our last regular meeting of December 7, 1957, a discussion was
held on the result of the recent bargaining election held aboard your
ship where you overwhelmingly voted for representation by Seafarers
International Union over the NMU.
We, the rank and file members of the SIU aboard this trailership,
wish to compliment you for the bang-up job you did.
To the SIU members who stayed on these ships and endured the
inconveniences and inferior provisions of the NMU contract which you
were forced to work under during the last several months: We thank
you for your sacrifices.
It is such spirit as you recently demonstrated which makes our
organization second to none in maritime.
To the new members who have been rewarded by coming under
our SIU banner: Welcome to our organization. We are confident
that you will find you made the best choice when you voted to be rep
resented by the Seafarers International Union, the best Union on any
waterfront.
To you all, Greetings, Smooth Sailing, and Merry Christmas.
For the Crew of the SS Fairland:
Charles E. Wells Bud J. Lowrey
Ship's delegate Engine delegate
Joe Holsenbeck Robert C. Tripp!
Deck delegate Steward delegate
LOG-A-RHYTHM:
Sea Song
By Thurston Lewis
Hi ho! Let's go!
Out where the breezes bloiv!
There's where in salty air
Our hearts must be.
Hi ho! Cast off the lines!
Let's go! This is our wine.
O'er the waves, be they our graves
We're out to sea!^
Hi ho! Distant shore!
Bombay or Singapore;.
From Capetown to Baltimore,
This is the life for mel
We are the SIU;
From Pensacola or Kalamazoo,
Seafarers, strong and true.
The Brotherhood of the Seal
SEAFARERS IN THE HOSPITALS
USPHS
STATEN
E. Matllicws
J. Cil
P. Scidenbers
N. Katoul
A. Verdemar^
F. Hannaford
S. Swienckoski
I. DeNobriga
H. Simmons
HOSPITAL
ISLAND, NY
L. nhino
N. Gaylord
0. Adams
- R. Lopez
J. Miniz
1. Sieger
H. Jurgenson
W. Shaw
USPHS HOSPITAL
MANHATTAN BEACH
Manuel Antonana Archibald McGuinan
Eiadio Aris
Fortunate Bacomo
Joseph J. Bass
Meivin W. Bass
James F. Clarke
Juan Denopra
John J. DriscoII
Fabin Furmanek
Joseph M. GiUard
Bart E. Guranick
Everett Haislett
Wade B. HarreU
Taib Hassen
BUiy R. Hiil
Antonio Infante
H. C. Mclssac
Leo Mannaugh
Albert MartinelU
Vic Milazzo
Joseph B. Murphy
W. P. O'Dea
C. Osinski
George G. Phifer
G. A. Puissegur
Winston E. Renny
G. E. Shumaker
Kevin B. Skelly
Henry E. Smith
Michael Toth
Harry S. Tuttle
Ludwig Kristiansen Virgil E. Wiimoth
Frederick Landry Pon Wing
Patrick McCann Dexter Worrell
USPHS HOSPITAL
NEW ORLEANS. LA.
William Bargoiie
Cleophas Bcaslcy
John W. Bigwood
Claude Blanks
Charles Cantwell
L. CarrasquiUo
George Curry
Donald Dambrino
Sidney Day
Harvls Dyas
Ben D. ..Foster
Floron Foster
Adelin Fruge
Dennis Gomez
Leon Cordon
RusseU Grantham
Alvin Henderson
George Hobbs •
George Hubcr
James Hudson
Edward G. Knapp
Antoine Landry
Leo Lang
WUIiam Lawless
Isidore Levy
Huminado Llenos
Edward Moore
Michael'Muzio
Chas. Nicholson
Faustina Orjales
Winford Powell
Allen Ritchie
Wert A. Spencer
Jay C. Steele,
Nicholas Tala . ,
Charles'E. Taylor.
Gerald L. Thaxton Thomas White
Lucien Theriot Marion C. Willey Jr.
James E. Ward Clifford Wuertz
Francis Wasmer Jacob Zimmer
USPHS HOSPITAL
BALTIMORE, MD.
Ben L. Bone
E. Bueno
Rosario Copani
David Caldwell
Ben H. Faulk
Clarence Gardner
Gorman T. Glaze
Sam Hacker
Frederick Harris
Walter Jackson
Jan .S. Kozerski
Alejandio Lopez
Waller MitcheU
Thomas Mungo
F. L. O'Laughlin
John Ossmon
Murray A. Plyler
Matias Puchero
Alexander Rever
Stanley Rodgers
Joseph Roll
G. H. Seeberger
August A. Smith
John A. Smith
Lloyd Wilson
Joseph Williams
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIF.
Joseph H. Berger L. A. Ready
Raoul P. Cabrera
John P. Cox
A. B. Ismail
Olus J. McCann
Fred Reimolt
Chas. J. Sincere
William C. Watson
Lewie A. Wilkerson
Quitting Ship?
Notify Union
A reminder from SIU head
quarters cautions all Seafarers
leaving their ships to contact
the hall in ample time to allow
the Union to dispatch a replace
ment. Failure to give notice be
fore paying off ipay cause a de
layed sailing, force the ship to
sail short of the manning re
quirements and needlessly make
the work tougher for your ship
mates, . '
USPHS HOSPITAL -
BOSTON, MASS.
Florenclo Letle George D. Rourke
James A. Patrice Steven A. Wimami
William J. Powers
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAVANNAH, GA.
Jimmle Littleton James T. Moore
Roy H. McCance Willie C. Sanders
Fred Miller Luther Vaughn Jr.
USPHS HOSPITAL
GALVESTON, TEXAS
B. F. Grlce Nighbert Stratoa
Louie HoUlday
USPHS HOSPITAL
SEATTLE, WASH.
-B. E. McLeod F. R. Napoll
USPHS HOSPITAL
NORFOLK, VA.
Dewey GUlikln Joseph C. WaUacs
USPHS HOSPITAL
SAN JUAN. PR
Florlan J. GUnski
USPHS HOSPITAL
MIAMI. FLA.
James W. Canard
USPHS HOSPITAL
FORT WORTH, TEXAS
B. F. Delbler W. E. OrzechowsU
Siegfried Gnittke John C. Palmer
James R. Hodges A. J. Panepinte
VA HOSPITAL
HOUSTON. TEXAS
John P. Williamson
EASTERN SHORE STATE HOSPITAL
CAMBRIDGE, MD.
Thomas R. Lehny
VA HOSPITAL
BOSTON. MASS.
Thomas W. KiUion
SAILORS SNUG HARBOR
STATEN ISLAND. NY
Victor B, Cooper
USPHS HOSPITAL
MEMPHIS. TENN,
Charles Burton
MONTEBELLO
CHRONIC DISEASE HOSPITAL
BALTIMORE,. MDj.,-. !; • •
FHinclsco Bueno
Broader Medical
Benefits Asked
To the Editor:
Along with the free health
examinations furnished to our
SIU membership, medicinal and
hospital care should also be
provided for brothers who are
in good standing but are on the
beach for any great length of
time.
This would cover the brothers
who, perhaps because of poor
shipping, are not eligible for
Letters To
The Editor
All letters to the editor for
t^blication in the SEAFAR
ERS LOG must be signed
by, the writer. .Names will
be withheld upon request.
USPHS services after a period
of 90, days. After an examina
tion by the doctor's at our SIU
medical centers, prescriptions
would be given for medications
which they could otherivise not
afford and the brothers who re
quired hospital care would be
protected.
This is really a must for our
entire membership in the near
future, and is sincerely and
fraternally submitted from the
Grain Shipper for appraisal by
the brothers.
John J. Jellette
Abe Partner
4« 4-
Union Benefits
Called Big Help
To the Editor:
I would like to thank the SIU
Welfare Services Department
for all the help It has given my
husband since his heart attack.
Without this aid and kindness,
he would have been lost.
It is wonderful to know that
there are such nice men work
ing with the SIU. I also wish
to express my gratitude to the
trustees of the Seafarers Wel
fare Plan for the disability ben
efits my husband will receive.
I don't know what we would
have done if we did not get the
check from the Seafarers Wel
fare Plan today. I was laid off
from work Nov. 14 and my hus-
, band was admitted to the
USPHS hospital in Staten Is
land on Nov. 3.
At least now my husband will
not have to worry, and with
God's help he will get well from
his heart attack. This would be
a better world to live in if there
were more unions like the SIU
and the men who work wiik it.
I would like you to print this in
the -SEAFARERS LOO. God
bless you.
Mrs. Mary Kelps
4 t 4
Laud Crews For
Hospital Visits
To the Editor:
We would like to express our
thanks first to Mr. Green, the
Bull Line agent in Ponce, Puerto
Rico, for the very fine attention
he has given us in every way.
We don't think any better atten
tion could have been gotten any
place.
We also have been visited by
Luis Ramirez, ship's delegate
from the Elizabeth, who brought
us things that came in very
handy. When the Jean came in
on Thanksgiving Day, Mr. Green
told the crew we were in the
hospital and they went all out
to give us a real holiday dinner.
They also brought us magazines,
cigarettes and a cribbage board
wl^ich we really needed to pass
the time.
Two Union brothers on the
beach here, Anthony Gonzale's
and Victor Carbone, also visited
us, for which we both are very-
thankful.
We should be back in. the
States soon, so we'll close for
now with thanks to everyone.
2 SIU Brothers
(Names withheld)
4 4 4
Welfare Assist :
is Appreciated
To the Editor:
I am writing this letter to ex
press my heartfelt appreciation,'
to the SIU for its wonderful
kindness to my mother in her
bereavement on the death of
my father, Francisco L. Perez.
Toby Flynn of the SIU Vel-
fare Services Department was
especially very helpful and sym
pathetic. I wish to thank each
and everyone on behalf of all
my family. God bless all of you: ,':
Mrs. Lucille Hale
4 4 4
Offers Thanks
For SIU Help
To the Editor:
This is just a note of thanks
for the prompt and courteous
service provided for my wife
Mary when she was in need of
hospital care. The SIU Welfare
Services Department really
came through in style.
I Rm aboard the Steel Ad
vocate in Calcutta right now.
Thank you all again for your
help.
George O'Roiirko
All Set To Go On The Town
The gang's all spruced' up ready to go ashore after the pay
off of the Yaka on the West Coast. Included are Kramer,
bosun; Pricll, deck engineer; Bob White, AB, dnd Chandler,
steward. Sam Joseph handled the, camera work. ,
December tO, 1957 SEAFARER& LOG Pare Thirteen
fTIIL DISIONIR (Itthmlan), Sapt.
t-^halrman, a. Wriihti Saeralary, J.
RMC. Roma rapal?» mada, Diacuiiion
t>ai improper handling of repalra.
Vet* o< thankf to delegate. New dela-
gata and reporter elected. Proper
•ttire to he worn In meaahall and
pentrr. Keep paaaagewaya clean: cota
ta ba put away aaiely. Laundry to be
aleaned up after uaing. Return hooka
to library after reading.
Nov. 10—Chairman, C. Wright; Sec
retary, (none). Special meeting. New
delegate elected. Present delegate
hospitalized in Karachi;
DIL MAR (Miss.), Nov. S—Chair
man, R. Steugh; Secretary, C. Dowl-
ing. Two men hospitalized—Hq. no-
tiSed. Ship's fund S127. Purchased
movies^ repaired machine: S50 given
to two hospitalized men: SIO to re-
;patrlated seamen. Some disputed ot.
Reports accepted. Movies to be pur-
Chased next trip. Leaks in silver
locker to be repaired—unsafe.
ARMONK (Overseas), Nov. 10—
Chairman, A. Ressko; Secretary, J.
Sulllvsn. Repairs to be made. Beefs
to be taken to dept. heads. Reporter
elected. One man missed ship. Re
port accepted. Need hot water In
laundry. Need new line for hot water.
General cleaning in passageways,
meashalls A foc'sles. Ship being laid
up. Repairs to be done in messhalla
and recreation room. Dogs to be re
paired. Donations for ship's fund re
quested.
OCEAN iVA (Maritime Overseas),
Sept. IS—Chairman, H. Hutchlns; Sec
retary, W. Anderson. All rooms in
crew quarters painted: all other re
pairs made. Report from PH read to-
crew re: coal beef. Vote of thanks
to men taking these Jobs. Vote of
thanks to delegate for good Job in
keeping men on the ball; also to
steward dept. for good food and
service.
ELIZABETH (Bull), Nov. 17—Chair
man, F. Dunn; Secretary, H. Dom-
browskl. Some repair lists prepared.
Some disputed ot. No heating facili
ties in bosun's room. Safety delegate
elected. Report aceepted. Welfare
plan list posted. Laundry to be closed
in port and key to be retained by
' gangway watch.
; JOHN B. WATERMAN (Waterman),
Nov. IS—Chairman, C. Walter; Secre
tary, D. Pontes. New delegate elected.
Report accepted. New treasurer and
reporter elected. Discussion on linen
change. Bread from shore is dry.
MICHAEL (Carres), Nov. 11—Chair
man, B. Brown; Secretary, J. Harty.
Floral wreath sent to deceased mother
of brother—paid off in Corpus Christ!
and flew home. Collected S22 for
flowers—will make another donation
at payoff. Few hours disputed ot.
Vote of thanks to steward dept Col
lection to be taken up for ship's fund
at payoff.
HASTINGS (Waterman), Nov. 17—
Chairman, D. Byrne; Secretary, J.
wells. No beefs. New delegate elect
ed. Repair list to be checked for
repairs. ^
FELTORG (Ore Nav.), Nov. 27 —
Chairman, C. Locke; Secretary, D.
Pearre. One man missed ship. One
man hospitalized in Canal Zone. New
delegate elected. Bathrooms need re
pairing.
ALCOA RUNNER (Alcoa), Nov. 24—
Chairman, C. DeHospedeles; Secre
tary, R. Hall. Report on Robin Lines,
longshore beef. Beefs to be taken to
dept. delegates. Ship's fund S4.20.
Requested shelves for rain and cold
weather gear. Reports accepted.
CAROLYN (Bull), Nov. 26—Chair
man, J. Pachece, Jr., Secretary, A.
iSela. .Sick man paid off in PR. Few
hours disputed ot. To see patrolman
about washing marhlne.
thanks to steward d>ipt.
Vote of
WILLIAM H. CARRUTH (Penn.),
Nov. n—Chairman, L. HInson; Secre
tary, M. Oswald. New delegate elect
ed. Four men missed ship in Mobile.
No ice water in scuttle butt. Tank
broken—^needs replacing.
SEATRAIN SAVANNAH (Seatrain),
Nov. 27—Chairman, C. Lee, Jr., Sec
retary, R. May. Ship's fund $44.22.
One man missed ship. Few hours dis
puted ot. Discussion on electrician
dissatisfaction. To be referred to
boarding patrolman.
STEEL ARCHITECT (Isthmian), Nov.
17—Chairman, C. Saver; Secretary, C.
Chea. Milk shortage. One man missed
ship in Long Beach—reported to SIU
hall. Few hours disputed ot. Reports
accepted. Motion to discuss sanitary
conditions with patrolman and get
better living conditions. Only dele
gates to report beefs to patrolman.
Need more logs. No lava soap on
ship. Discussion on new shipping call
—crew in favor of old system. See
patrolman about repairs. Ship to be
fumigated for rats and roaches. Dis
cussion on painting of rooms and
decks. Lack ot cooperation and in
sufficient funds for painting—^to be
referred to Board of Health.
GATEWAY CITY (Pan Atlantic),
Nov. 2a—Chairman, J. Martus; Secre
tary, J. Austin. Repairs to be made.
One man hurt in Tampa. Ship's fund
$2.30. One man missed ship. Repair
lists to be turned in to mate and
engineers. See patrolman about heat
during hot weather In aft quarters.
Suggestion ot have cold drinks in hot
weather.
SEATRAIN NBW YORK (Seatrain),
Nev. 2$—Chairman, H. Lynch; Secre
tary, C. Oliver. Few hours disputed
ot. Three men getting off. Vote of
thanks to steward dept. for Job well
done in culinary dept.
STEEL ARTISAN (Isthmian), Oct. 27
—Chairman, J. Justus; Secretary, D.
Grant. New washing put aboard.
Dinner party held at NY from safety
award was huge success. Everyone
had wonderful time. Ship's fund $22.
Discussed mall situation. Due to diffi
culty in sending mail: steward con
sented to handle maU where possible.
CITIES S E R V I C B BALTIMORE
(Cities Service), Nev. 29—Chairman,
H. Waller; Secretary, L. P. Hagmann.
All repairs completed. Two men fired
due to drunkenness. Reports accepted.
Sanitary men to do all cleaning of
quarters and passageways. Members
requested to keep cigarette urns
clean except for cigarette butts. List
of rules posted. Messhall to be clean
at all times. Vote of thanks to cook
for very fine Thanksgiving dinner.
LA SALLE (Waterman), Nev. >—
Chairman. J. Ballay; Secretary, G.
Bales. One man missed ship. One
man hospitalized. Men did not turn to
for securing. Ship's fund $S.40. One
man created disturbance on ship.
OREMAR (Ore Nav.), Nov. 21 —
Chairman, B. Flmovicz; Secretary,
E. A. Boyd. Ship's fund S33.76. Rec
ommend that members be more order
ly in using night pantry. Suggestion
.to post instructions near washing ma
chine for proper use.
SANTORB (Ore Nav.), Nev. 24—
Chairman, J. Hayes; Secretary, A.
Myrax. Ship's fund $12.26. New dele
gate elected. Need new washing ma
chine. Cups to be returned to mess
hall.
ROBIN LOCKSLBY (Rebin Line),
Nev. 24—Chairman, E. Smith; Secre
tary, A. Beck. Voting to take place
at 2 PM. Delegate asked men to
stay aboard until after election. 40
hours disputed ot. Repair list submit
ted. Crew requested to wash clothes'
in laundry before 10 PM to avoid dis
turbing men. Keep washing machine
clean.
SEATRAIN GEORGIA (Seatrain),
Nov. 24—Chairman, S. Charles; Sec
retary, R. Matarahgelo. Safety meet
ing attended by delegates—60 day
shipping rule in effect and clarified.
Letters to officials In Washington
sent and acknowledged. Ship's fund
$17.61. Report accepted. Request
three kinds of ice cream, books for
crew from headquarters. Crew should
write Social Security Administration
for accounts data.
M V FONCi (Fence), Nov. 21 —
Chairman, F. Miller; Secretary, W.
Heater. Patrolman to meet ship to
settle disputed ot. Reports accepted.
Ship's fund $1.33. Donations of 80c
requested to build up fund.
Hiy Gang!
Beaming smiles on these two
handsome youngsters -broad
cast a cheery hello to all
hands. The boys are Jimmy,
5 (left), and Joey, 3, sons of
Seafarer Partha Jernigan,
oiler, of Brentwood, LI, NY.
T urkey Day'ColdLimch'
Had 'Em All Shook Up
Elvis Presley may have everybody "all shook up" on the
musical front, but the steward on the Neva West easily
nlatched him when he pulled a fast menu switch on the top
side gang last Thanksgiving-f —
in Brownsville, Texas.
The day began innocently
enough. Steward Walter R. Geis
typed out the day's menus for top
side and then sent them up. Soon
after, the Neva West's skipper.
Captain Snodgrass, came down to
the saloon for coifee and found a
"hell of a roar going on" with all
the officers trying to talk at once.
When it finally quieted down
enough for the captain to ask what
was the matter, the answer was,
"By God, captain, have you looked
at the menu for today yet? This is
Thanksgiving Day—and In port—
and what do we have but a cold
lunch!" And there it was on the bill
'SPOT PHOTOS RECORD
CARGO MISHAP ON ROVER
The knack of being in the right place at the right time with
your camera loaded and ready is one of the sure-fire ways of
getting good "spot" pictures when something's happening.
Right on tap at pierside in-*
Honolulu when a shoreside
crane failed while loading
deck cargo for the Steel Rover,
Seafarer Lawrence Chapman was
able to grab his shots long before
local news photographers even
heard about the mishap. Chapman's
photos covered all phases of the
mishap from the time the shore-
side crane failed until a floating
crane was put to work the next
morning to right things once again.
No one was reported hurt but
some of the handrails and awning
supports on the fantail of the
Rover took a beating when the
dock crane lost an 18-ton Navy
crane it was trying to put aboard
and smashed into the ship. The
deck cargo fell into the drink at
pier 19 and was finally retrieved
when divers hooked up its lines to
a floating crane brought in to
tackle the job.
The accident delayed the sched
uled sailing to l/orfolk, since the
collapsed shore crane had to be
removed from the ship and the
deck cargo had to be. retrieved
after its. overnight stay in the wa
ter between the ship and the dock.
The Rover finally got away after
divers checked the ship's screw
and reported no damage.
of fare for Thursday, November
28: "Dinner . . . Cold Lunch."
By now all shook up like the rest
of the officers, the skipper headed
for the galley to find out the score.
When he got there, the chief cook
calmly told him that It was a holi
day, so the steward department
was going to take off for town and
have Thanksgiving dinner ashore.
While this seemed like a pretty
reasonable thing to do, "the cap
tain looked like he was going to
blow a fuse," reported Duke Hall.
But unable to keep it up much
longer, the chef admitted the
whole thing was a joke.
Dinner for the Neva West, lik*
on all SIU ships that day, natur
ally included the traditional roast
turkey and trimmings, among a
variety of other items provided for
the holiday.
Other SIU ships that came in for
high praise on their menus and
service for Turkey Day included
both Cities Service supertankers,
the Miami and Baltimore, plus the
Longview Victory and Jean Lafitte.
No other menus have been re
ceived by the LOG to date, but it
can readily be assumed they
matched all the others.
Turnbuckle (1) from an unseen floating crane' astern of the Steel
Rover was later attached by drivers to lines which held deck
cargo (2) suspended in the water overnight. Diver (photo at right)
checks his air lines before going down. A failure in a shoreside
crone which was lifting on 18-ton Navy crone onto the Rover
caused some damage to the ship, which left Honolulu late.
1
•~A
at-
SEAFARERS LOG Deceoiber so; Ml
All's Well With The Falrpert
Sa
Lined up for some picture-tak
ing, Seafarers on tne Fairport
take a breather in the mess-
hall during coffeetime. In
cluded in the gang (above,
i to r) are W. McBride, DM;
Woody. Pesen, deck engineer;
Robbie, OS; Jimmy, DM; J.
Nagy, wiper, and Ted, AB.
At right are R. M. Godwin,
night cook and baker (left),
and chief cook J. B. Fernan
dez in the messhall. The pic
ture-taken in both cases were
not identified.
LOG-A-RHYTHM:
Chasing Memories
By M. Dwyer
Last night I chased a memory.
And caught it on the fly;
You'll never know the thrill
it brings
Until someday you try.
The utter splendid ecstasy
Forgotten now and then,
By too much living in the present,
And forgetting when.
Your heart will sing
And thrill once more.
To happy days
And countless bliss.
Last night I chased a memory.
Through bright, star-studded skies
Editor,
SEAFARERS LOG,
675 Fourth Ave.,
Brooklyn 32, NY
I would like to receive the
SEAFARERS LOG — please
>ut my name on your mailing
ist. (Print Information)
NAME
STREET ADDRESS
CITY ZONE ..
STATE
TO'AVOID DUPLICATION: If you
• ra an old fu|>tcribai and have a
ehanga of addrett, pieasa give your
former addrett below:
ADDRESS ..............
CITY .........ZONE...
ST^KTE' . . •a a', ."a a a a a a a a
And saw once more the wrinkles
deep
In the corners of blue eyes.
The leather-tanned skin.
From sun and wind.
From too much ocean spray;
These features
Sometimes I can see.
Forever and a day.
Oh, count your blessings, women
fair.
Whose men still till the sod.
Who crave no more to sail the
sea,
Though seamen's hearts
Were made by God.
For when a man the ocean roams
And leaves behind his home.
He sometimes wakes in dead of
night
Or thinks on watch alone.
Then memories are all you'll have
To cling to, fast and true.
And jealousy will fill your heart
Lest he's forgotten you.
You'll wonder, if it pays to be
So faithful and so true.
Then count the months.
The weeks, the days.
Til he sails back to you.
SIUHAU
DIRECTORY
SlU, A&G District
BALTIMORE 1216 E. Baltimore St.
Earl Sheppard. Agent EAstern 7.4900
BOSTON 276 State St.
James Sbeehan. Agent Riuhmond 24)140
HOUSTON.... 4202 Canal St.
Robert Matthews. Agent
Capital 3-4089: 3-1080
LAKE CHARLES, La 1419 Ryan St.
Leroy Clarke. Agent HEmlock 6-5744
MOBILE 1 South Lawrence St.
Cal Tanner. Agent HEmlock 2-1754
MORGAN CITY 912 Front St.
Tom Gould, Agent Phone 2156
NEW ORLEANS 523 Bienville St.
Lindsey Williams. Agent Tulane 8626
NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn
HYacinth 9-6600
NORFOLK .......127-129 Bank St.
Ben Rees, Agent MAdlson 2-9834
PHILADELPHIA..,. 337 Market St.
S. Cardullo. Agent Market 7-1635
PUERTA de TIERRA PR .... 101 Pelayo
Sal Colls. Agent . Phone 2-5996.
SAN FRANCISCO . 450 Harrison St.
M^rty Breithoff, Agent Douglas 2-5475
SAVANNAH .2 Abercorn St.
B. B. McAuley. Agent . Adams 3-1728
SEATTLE, 3505 1st Ave.
Jen GiUette, Agent Elliott 4334
TAMPA 1809-1811 N. Franklin St.
Tom Banning, Agent Phone 2-1323
WILMINGTON, Calif.... 505 Marine Ave.
Reed Humphries, Agent Terminal 4-2874
HEADQUARTERS....675 4th Ave.. Bklyn.
SECRCTARY-TREASURER
Paul HaU
ASST. SECRETARY-TREASURERS
J. Algina, Deck
J. Volplan, Eng.
£. Mooney, Std.
C. Simmons. Joint
W. Hall, Joint
R. Matthews. Joint
SUP
HONOLULU 16 Merchant St.
Phone 5-8777
PORTLAND 211 SW Clay St.
CApital 3-4336
RICHMOND. Calif 510 Macdonald Ave.
BEacon 2-0925
SAN FRANCISCO 450 Harri.son St.
Douglas 2-8363
SEATTLE 2505 1st Ave.
Main 0290
WILMINGTON 505 Marine Ave.
Terminal 4-3131
NEW YORK 675 4th Ave., Brooklyn
HYacinth 9-6165
Canadian District
HALIFAX, N.S 128Mi HoUis St.
Phone 3-8911
MONTREAL 634 St. James St. West
PLateau 8161
FORT WILLIAM 408 Simpson St.
Untario Phone; 3-3221
PORT COLBORNE 103 Durham St.
Ontario Phone: 5591
TORONTO, Ontario 272 King St. E.
EMpire 4-5719
VICTORIA, BC 617% Cormorant St.
EMpire 4531
VANCOUVER, BC 298 Main St.
Pacific 3468
SYDNEY, NS 304 Charlotte St.
Phone: 6346
BAGOTVILLE, Quebec 20 Elgin St.
Phone: 545
THOROLD, Ontario 52 St. Davids St.
CAnal 7-3202
QUEBEC 44 Sault-au-Matelot
Quebec Phone; 3-1569
SAINT JOHN 177 Prince William St.
NB OX 2-5431
Great Lakes District
ALPENA 1215 N. Second Ave.
Phone: 713-J
BUFFALO, NY 180 Main St.
Phone: Cleveland 7391
CLEVELAND 734 Lakeside Ave., NE
Phone: Main 1-0147
DcTROlT 1038 3rd St.
Phone: Woodward 1-6857
DULUTH 621 W. Superior St.
Phone: Randolph 2-4110
SOUTH CHICAGO 3261 E. 92nd St.
Phone: Essex 5-2410
Rivera
Kirk Raps Pay
Under NMU Pact
To the Editor:
This is to inform you that
everything is running smoothly
on the SS Robin Kirk, despite
the fact that we are still work
ing under the NMU contract.
We, the crew of the Robin
Kirk, by experiencing the con
ditions of the NMU contract
and by our payoffs, know that
the NMU has played into the
hands of the shipping com
panies with which they have
negotiated contracts. As you
know, when
the NLRB
election was
held on board
this ship, this
crew voted
10 0 percent
SIU.
The result
of this elec
tion expresses
better than
anything else hoW we feel about
our Union, Hs policies, its prin
ciples and all the progress it
has made throughout the years
in working conditions and
wages.
We expect to be leaving soon
from Jacksonville for Cape
town, which means that we
shall be at sea for Christmas.
Normally it is nOt my habit to
ask for anything, not even for
Christmas, but, on behalf of the
crew of the SS Robin Kirk and
myself, I would like to say that
the best Christmas present you
could give us is a cable from
you stating that the Robin Kirk
has been certified by the NLRB
and that we may once again
have the privilege of working
under an SIU contract and
under SIU conditions.
Robert Rivera
Ship's delegate
(Fd. note: Merry Christmas!
Santa came by early and the
first four Robin ships to vote,
including the Kirk, has have
already been certified. See the
story on page 3.)
i"' 4«
Widow Lauds
SIU Kindness
To the Editor:
I would at this time like to
express my deep and sincere
gratitude to the former ship
mates and friends of my late
husband, John C. "Red" Caro-
lan, who have been so kind and
thoughtful to me. .
Letters and messages from
many ports of the world have
been received, many of them
since his death was reported in
the October 25th LOG. Special
thanks to the SIU men who
were in San Francisco at dif
ferent times during his illness
and visited him at home and in
the USPHS hospital, as he really
enjoyed those visits.
Thanks also to the ones who
went so helpful to, me'at the
time of his death, and to his
shipmates from the SS Robin
Hood for their coot>eration.- In
addition. Marty Breithof and
Leon Johnson at the San Fran
cisco hall have been and a^e
still a great help to me, and
are never too busy to give in
formation and advice.
Lastly, words cahnot express
my appreciation for the kind
and sincere letter from Paijl
Hall, which I will always keep.
Friends are wonderful to have
in time of sorrow.
Mrs. J. C. Cardan
4" 4-
Ships in Pusan
Hold 'Reunion'
To the Editor:
It looked like" old home week
there in Pusan recently. Be
sides our gang on the Fairport,
the La Salle, Wild Ranger and
Maiden Creek, all V/atetman
ships, and Ocean Evelyn and
Rebecca, two other good SIU
ships, were all there at the
same time.
A good time was had by all
as a lot of old buddies got to
gether again over a beer and
sailed a few ships from the
bars and clubs. I know they are
also looking forward to such a
pleasant get-together again
, soon.
Robert M. Godwin
Ship's reporter
4* ii" if
Sen. Butler Vows
Aid To Hospitals
To the Editor:
Enclosed is a letter from
Senator John M. Butler in
answer to our compiunication
urging the continuation of the
US marine hospital program
as is.
It should be of interest'to
Seafarers since Sen. Butler is
on the Senate Merchant Marine
Committee. ; v
The following is the text:
"Dear Friends:
"It is a particular pleasure
to me to have the benefit of
your recommendations concern
ing the continuation of the our
Public Health Service Hospitals.
"For some time now the im
portant question outlined in
yoi^ letter has been of the
greatest concern to me and I
have always endeavored to
assure the continued availabili
ty of- these hospital facilities to
the American Merchant Marine.
"iRest assured that I will
have your Interest in mind in
connection with this important
matter during the months to
come.'*
The letter was signed by
"John M. Butler, United States
Senator."
Crewmemiiers
SS Sanfore
'Sea-Spray' .By Seafarer "Red" Fink
I'U H/IVB
encoH
UNO
[HOW VO VOO tlKF
.*/.• •
I '"J-..
^Df^iidMr SO. 19OT SSAFARERS LOG r*g» iFUtfem
fMt Resumes Run
Undet Trusteeship
MIAMI—Trustees of the bankrupt TMT Trailer Ferry, Inc.,
have received permission from R Federal court to put the
1 company back into service between Jacksonville, Fla.> and
Puerto Rico.
The court has approved in
principle plans by TMT trus
tees to negotiate with a group of
businessmen interested in operat
ing the SlU-contracted company's
assets, including the heavily-mort
gaged Carib Queen. ^
The business group has advanced
the trustees $20,000 to cover ex
penses and possible losses for a
20Tday period involved in getting
three TMT barges back into serv
ice hauling cargo now piling up on
i piers in Jacksonville and Puerto
Hico.
In addition, the business group
ihas offered to charter the Csrib
jQueen for iO or 15 years at a guar
anteed annual rental of $500,000
and has offered to finance repairs
on the vessel estimated at between
$350,000 to $500,000.
Robin Ships
Again SlU
(Continued from page 3)
Line fieet, on a new contract for
the Robin ships.
' Seafarers on the Robin Line
ships had been put under heavy
pressure since the NMU raid be
gan. They were urged either to
quit the ship or come into the
NMU and were promised full NMU
books without payment of initiation
fees as well as other advantages if
only they would support the NMU.
Personal pleas by NMU President
.Joseph Curran were included in
^the sales pitch.
•' However, as the crew of the
^Robin Kirk noted in a letter in this
'issue of the SEAFARERS LOG,
working under the NMU contract
convinced Seafarers that the NMU
had absolutely nothing to offer
them. The best Christmas present
they could get, the Kirk crew said,
was news that they were back un
der an SIU agreement.
The deaths of the following Sea
farers have been reported to the
Seafarers Welfare Plan and the
SIU death benefit is being paid to
their beneficiaries.
John H. Bove, 57j Brother Bove
died of natural
cauaea at the US
Public Health
Service Hospital
in Staten Island.
He became a full
member of the
SIU in 1944 and
sailed in the
steward depart
ment on SIU
ships. He is survived by his wife,
Frances Jean Bove, of the Bronx,
New York. Burial was in St. Ray
mond's Cemetery, Bronx, NY.
4" 4* 4"
Alfred Bokan, S3: A maUgnant
tumor caused the
death of Seafarer
Alfred Bokan in
Baltimore. Broth
er Bokan Joined
the SIU in 1943
and sailed In
the deck depart
ment. He is sur
vived by his
mother, Mrs.
Helen Yager, of Georgetown, Dela
ware. Place of burial is not known.
Pastrano Pays A Social Call
Out Of Step
(Continued from page 5)
NMU picket line. Having igpored
many other picket lines such as
those of AFL-CIO mates and , en
gineers, the NMU president's order
has^ become habitual.
Curran attempted to cover up
his activities in having SIU men
^ fired off Robin ships by declaring
that Seafarers "were allowed to
^keep their Jobs" when Moore-Mc-
Cormack bought the ships. That
explains why 11 Seafarers " were
fired off the Rot)in Mowbray, the
only way, incidentally, the NMU
could win a ship.
• Caught flat-footed in his raid
on Willis, which the SIU organized
^st year and won by a 69-2 count,
^rran has taken no steps to with
draw his charge that the union
shop is "illegal" and should be
abolished. The Willis affair is raid
ing of the purest and most primi-
ttve kind, with NMU representa
tives waiting until the contract was
fp be rernegotiated and then mov-
Ibg in and petitioning for disallow
ance of the SIU-HIWD agreement
ih the fleet.
: These actions by Curran are un
fortunate, and revealing of his ir
responsibility. But they will not
and have not stopped the construe--
f ive program of the rest of the mar-
iUme labor movement and nf the-
•• ."-jps'v.s
Coal Ships To
Go In Boneyard
(Continued from page 2)
than $4.50 a ton. Huge stockpiles
of coal in Europe and increasing
exports to "West Europe from Po
lish mines are helping to depress
rates.
At present, the company has two
of its six ships stiil in operation.
One ship, the Coal Miner, is carry
ing grain. The other, the Thomas
Paine, is making its last chartered
delivery and wiil probably Join the
other vessels in lay-up.
"Early last year," the "Business
Week" article declared, "fright
rates on coal shipped from the US
to Western Europe ran as high as
$22 a-ton." Had American Coal
not attempted to operate with a
company union of deck and engine
officers, it probably would have
gotten 30 ships out and capitalized
on the rate bonanza.
Even after the beef began, the
dispute could have been quickly
settled to the benefit of the com
pany and the unions on the basis
of AFL-CIO president George
Meany's proposal last February 21.
Meany called for the SIU to with
draw from the fleet if the NMU
would agree to support the li
censed officers' unions in their bid
for a contract. The SIU agreed to
the Meany proposal but the NMU
refused.
In the view of SIU headquarters,
had the NMU gone along with the
Meany proposal, the. company
would have had no alternative but
to contract for officers with - the
AFL-CIO licensed officers' unions.
In that instance, the coal fleet op
eration would have heen the bon
anza it was originaDy ekpected to
i -
Popular with ,SIU fight fans in New Orleans, heavyweight contender Willie Pastrano, son
of Seafarer Frank Pastrano, 2nd cook, pays a social call at the SIU hall in the Crescent
City. Pictured 11 to r) are Seafarers Red Gleason and Bill Storey; Dave DiVincenti, of
Pastrano's camp; Pastrano; Seafarer Vic Miorana; New Orleans lightweight Ralph Dupas,
and Seafarers Clyde "Whitey" Lanier, Manfred'Osborn and Joe Stocker. Both boxers
began their careers gf^Sf^ii^ary's CYO gym in New OrlMns' famed French Market quarter.
Pastrano's last bout was in London,, where he whipped Britain's Dick Richardson.
- RECENT ARRIVALS -
All of the following SIU families
have received a $200 maternity
benefit plus a $25 bond from the
Union in the baby's name:
Jane O'Krogly, bom October 24,
1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Alfred
H. O'Krogly, Plains, Pa.
4 4 4
Steven Carroll Poufids, born
June 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Edwin B. Pounds, Houston, Texas.
4 4 4
Regina Lynn Tucker, born May
19, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. John
D. Tucker, Cumberland, Md.
John William Little, born Feb
ruary 2, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
John Little Jr., Bayonne; NJ.
4 4 4
Perry Charles Bennett, born Oc
tober 27,1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Rodney J. Bennett, New Orleans,
La.
4 4 4
Sandra Allen Stringfellow, born
November 22, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Charles L. Stringfellow, Mo
bile, Ala.
4 4 4
Erik Melvin Smith, born Novem
ber 9, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Melvin H. Smith, Glenburnie, Md.
4 4 4
Robin Elizabeth Thompson, born
October 9, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. William R. Thompson, Mobile,
Ala.
4 4 4
William Wayne House, born No
vember 19, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. William A. House, Ormond
Beach, Fla.
4 4 4
Michael Lewis Tulp, born No
vember 18, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. John Tulp Jr., Galveston,
Texas.
4 4 4
Edward V. Giiabert, born August
5,-1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Ven
tura Giiabert Colas, Brooklyn, NY.
4 4 4
Vincent Joseph MllauesI, born
October 22, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Eugene MilanesL Brooklyn,
NY.
4 4 4
Jose Romero Jr., born August 24,
1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Jose L.
Romero, Houston, Texas.
4 4 4
James Lewis Perclvai, born Oc
tober 3lii 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs,
James L. . Percival, Charleston
Heights,-:
Guy Michael Cuccia, born No
vember 21, 1957, to Seafarer and
Mrs. Jacob J. Cuccia Jr., New Or
leans, La.
4 4 4
Bessie C. Nicolas, born October
20.1957, to Seafarer and Mrs. Fran
cisco Nicolas, Catonsville, Md.
4 4 4
Leon Roy Curry Jr., born Octo
ber 26, 1957, to Seafarer and Mrs.
Leon Curry, Fletcher, NC.
Nature In Raw (Walled In)
Is Latest Cruise
Moore-McCormick's new vessel, the SS Brasil, will offer
the latest in luxury cruise features next year—that of abso
lute communion with nature, or in the language of the lay
man, nude sun bathing.
The Brasil, due to enter
service next year, will have a
special solarium deck built atop the
liner's dummy funnel. To keep
within the limits of respectability,
the deck will be split by a "solid"
wall forming two rooms, one for
the ladies and one for the men.
(How high is that wall, anyway?)
The sun worshippers will relax be
hind a curved solex glass wind
shield and toast to their hearts'
content.
In announcing the new feature,
Robert Lee, vice-chairman of the
board, said that the company was
merely keeping up with the times
"There is a demand for solaria of
this kind. They are very popular
iir tropical regions. On our thirty-
one day cruises to South America
opportunities to get a good healthy
coat of tan are Unsurpassed. So
iWA/Vljy not let the sun worshippers:
have a secluded ar-ea where they
can enjoy the full benefit of the
sun."
Yeah, but how can the passen
gers show it off?
Joseph Robert Lordan
Important that he get in touch
with Benjamin Chex-ry, attorney,
at 1522 Race Street, Philadelphia
2, Pa., concerning settlement of
his mother's estate. Anybody
knowing his whereabouts urged to
notify the above.
4 4 4
Anyone knowing the whereabouts
of chief mate Thomas Heaney or
Nick Leone is asked to contact
Robert Welker at 219 48th St.,
Union City, NJ, or call Union
4-8627.
4 4 4
Tony "Art" Cornman, FWT
Get in touch with your wife,
Mary, at 3119 Baldwin St., Los
Angeles 31, Calif., as soon as pos
sible. Very important.
4 4 4
Federal income tax and state
social security refunds are being
held for the following men by F. P.
Corcoran, Room 201, SUP Building,
450 Harrison St., San Franciscn,
Calif.:
Karl E. Eriksson, Walter F.
Hudgens, Walter J. Oaks, Don L.
Pagel, Sverre R. Pederssen, Charles
Russeli, Carl E. H. Snygg aAd Luis
E. Torres. • .
1,
'aj
•'.'rs f
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I
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sfs-r
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SEAFARERS LOG
• OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL U N IO N • AT LA NTIC AND GULF DISTRICT • AFL-CIO •
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