Media
Issue Date
1943-06-11
Volume
5
Issue Number
12
Plaintext
'-Z'
OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT.
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. V. 280 NEW YORK, N.Y., FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1943 No. 12
Agents Conference Tightens War
Operations Of Atlantic And Gulf
BUSY AGENTS ARE PHOTOGRAPHED AT CONFERENCE
(Standing) Charles Waid, Savannah; Harry Collins, Philadelphia; Matthew Dughane, Internatienal Rep'
resentativa; Olden Banks, Mobile; Joe Plannagan, Baltimore; John Mogan, Boston; D. L. Parker, Tampa;
and A. W. Armstrong, New Orleans.
(Seated) J. K. Shaugnassey, Port Everglades; Matthew Biggs, International Representative; Frank Wil
liams, New York; Harry Lundeberg, International President; John Hawk, Secretary-Treasurer; E, R.
Wallace, Galveston and Martin Trainor, Norfolk.
WSA SABOTAGES SEAFARERS'
SECURITY WATCH CONTRACT
/ . The lasV is»ae-oF-the
Log announced that a Security
Watch Agreement had been nego
tiated with the Mississippi, Water
man and South Atlantic j^ines.
'Since then, however, the union has
been sabotaged by the War Ship
ping Administration, which in
structed the sliipowners not to
sign the agpeement. The Log pub
lish^ the Agreement because it
had been negotiated in good faith
by both the union and the ship
owners through the regular collec
tive bargaining apparatus, and we
' assumed- that it would become
binding on all parties.
But we reckoned without the
swivel chair artists in W.ashington.
Mr. Hubert Wyckoff apparently
disapproves the SIU agreement be
cause it goes further than the SUP
agreement and he is worried that
it might cut into the shipowners',
profits a bit. "> •
Here is the letter sent by Wyck-
off to the union and to the oper
ators:
Mr. John Hawk
Secretary-Treasurer
Seafarers International Union
Of North America
2 Stone Street
New York, New York
Dear Mr. Hawk;
This letter is In reference to
Supplements to collective bargain
ing agreements between your
Union and Waterman Steamship
Agency, Ltd. South - Atlantic
Steamship Line, and Mississippi
Shipping Company, Inc. The sup
plementary agreements deal with
the subject of port security
watches required by Regulations
for the Security of Vessels in Port,
issued and approved December 31,
1942, )particularly Sections 6.305
arid 6.322 of those Regulations.v
: A somewhat similar order wa.s
issued by the Commandant of the
Twelfth Naval-District-shortly afr
ter Pearl Harbor, affecting vessels
on the Pacific Coast, as a result of
which the Pacific American " Ship
owners Association, representing
the Pacific Coast offshore opera
tors, and the unions affected en
tered into supplementary agree
ments on the subject of port se
curity watches. These supplemen
tary agreements have b^n ap
proved both by the War Shipping
Administration and also by the
National War Labor Board; and
our advice is that they have work
ed out in practice to the satisfac
tion of all parties concerned.
The three supplementary agree
ments were negotiated between
ybur union and the three compan
ies above named subject to ap
proval by the War Shipping Ad
ministration in accordance with
of paragraph 2 of the Statement
Policy dated May 4, 1942.
The standing of these port se
curity watches in compliance with
the Ck>ast Guard Regulations is an
emergency measure brought about
by reason of the existence of the
war; .and it is therefore a subject
upon which the War Shipping Ad
ministration feels uniformity of
treatment is desirable. Many of
the clauses in the three proposed
supplementary agreements arc
modeled on those found in the Pa
cific Coast agreements; some
clauses merely clarify provisions
found in the Pacific Coast agree
ments; but there arc some provis
ions which go beyond the Pacific
Cioast agreements and require the
standing of watches in situations
not required by the Coast Guard
{Continued on Page 3)
Forges Close International
Labor Ties For Post War
Struggle With Shipowners
The conference held last week by. the Agent'the
Atlantic and Gulf District of the SIU, resulted in many
important constitutional and organizational revisions aimed
at the tightening of the union apparatus for the critical
war and post war periods.
Meeting at Hotel Sc. George in^
New York, May 26 to June 1, the
SIU Agents drew up proposed re
visions to the Constitution, enact
ed emergency clauses for the ship
ping rules and passed ten resolu
tions to serve as guides for the
union's operation in the months to
The Seafarers Log
Seditious?
Brother Armstrong reported
to the Agents' Conference that
several issues of the SEAFAR
ERS LOG were seized by Cus
toms Agents in New Orleans
when union delegates attempted
to take the paper aboard the
S. S. George Washington.
The SEAFARERS LOG is an
official union paper, distributed
on the S. S. George Washington
to union men. Is such a publi
cation and such a distribution
seditious in the eyes of the In
ternal Revenue Department? If
80, these bureaucrats go even
further than Smith and Dies
and Cox who yell for labor's
blood in the halls of Congress.
This action is being protested
to the Internal Revenue Depart
ment and the War Shipping Ad
ministration. The issue is an
important one for what is in
volved is the freedom of the en
tire labor press.
Macauley Gives SIU The Brush-Off
Spotlight loving Edward 'Macayley, Deputy
Administrator of the War Sliipping Administra
tion, is usually right-on deck at the NMU hoop-
de-doops because he know there will be plenty of
photographers present. Check through back is
sues of The Pilot and you'll see plenty of photo
graphs of the Captain smiling benignly on Ham
Head and his sweater boys. But when it comes
to a real working conference of SIU Agents
(without photogmphers and publicity), then the
Captain is too busy to attend.
The SIU Agents Cionference was called for the
specific purpose of increasing the efficiency of
crewing operations on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts—a subject presumably of interest to the
Captain. But despite the sending of two invita
tions, Macauley refused to leave Washington.
The following exchange of telegrams tells the
story:
{From Hawk to Macauley, May 26)
The Agents of the Atlantic and Gulf District
of the Seafarers International Union of North
America, in duly assembled conference at the St.
George Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, have gone
on record requesting you or Mr. Hubert Wyckoff
to address this gathering, or that you designate a
duly authorized representative of the War Slip
ping Administration to address this conference
on the over all operations of the War Shipping
Administration. Please wire reply.
{From Macauley to Hawk, May 27)
Refering your telegram 26th requesting repre
sentative War Slipping Administration address
conference now in session, regret no suitable rep
resentative available this week. How long will
conference last?
{From Hawk to Macauley, Mtfv 28)
This Is to advise you that the Seafarers Inter
national Union Agents Conference will be in ses
sion all day Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 51.
Please reply as to whether you can have a repre
sentative here.
{From Macauley to Hawk, May 29)
Regret impracticable to send representative for
conference. Appreciate the invitation.
come. All resolutions and motions
passed by the Conference will now
be submitted to the membership
for ratification.
Highlight of the Cionference was
the appearance of Omar Becu, Am
erican Representative of the Inter
national Transport Workers Feder
ation. Also present were repre
sentatives of the Danish, Nor
wegian," Swidish, English, Yu
goslavian, Belgian and Dutch sea
men's unions. These brothers were
seted on the Conference as frater
nal delegates and joined in a lively
and instructive discussion on the
international problems facing the
seamen's unions of all countries.
The result was a tightening of the
fraternal bonds uniting SlU men
with their foreign brothers and the
laying of ground work for post
war action, on an international
scale, against the shipowners.
(Tlie text of Omar Becu's open
ing remarks to the conference is
printed on page 3 of this issue of
the Log.)
The resolutions passed by the
Conference pertained to: 1, A de
mand that the Coast Guard cease
delegating its authority on sea
men's papers to the RMO; 2. The
granting to the Port Agents the
authority to set hall to ship time
for dispatched men; 3. A demand
that the MWEB restore port and
area bonuses and that it confine it
self to the settlement of disputes
between shipowners and union; 4.
A call for the organization of all
unlicensed men riding SIU con
tracted ships; 5. A demand that
the WSA approve the Security
Watch Agreement reached between
the Union and the Mississippi,
Waterman and South Atlantic
Waterman and South Atlantic lines;
7. Tightening of rules covering the
transfering from one department
to another; 8. Clarification of va
cation clauses hr contracts; 9. Ag-
gitation for a boost in Bosun pay
to $150 per month; and 10. Pre
paration for the winning of the
four watch system after the war as
a means of keeping Union men
employed during the anticipated
depression.
The full text of all resolutions
are printed in this issue of the Log.
All members should study them
carefully so that they can partici-.
pate in the discussion and cast in
telligent ballots at the Brmch
meetings.
I
• ''MP, V:.:
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Page Twd THE SE A ILEA'S' LOG 3?iid^, -Jurie 11,
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the 'American- Pederation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ President
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK - - - - - - - Secy-Treas.
2 Stone Street, New York City
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep.
424 .5th Street, N. W., Washington, D, C.
wi » m
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
I
. BOwliing Green 9-3430
.BOwIing Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
NEW YORK 2 Stone St
Dispatcher's 0£Bce...
Agent
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St d;i:ve; .
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St. Lombard ?651
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI ...Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS ...309 Chartres St Canal 3336
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St. Savannah 3-1728
TAMPA 423 East Piatt St Tampa MM-1323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St Dial Z-1392
PUERTO RICO 45 Ponce de Leon. Puerto de TIeiTa
GALVESTON 219 20lh Street Galveston 2-8043
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway..
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
DR Asked To Correct
Muddle On Seaman Papers
Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt
President, United States of America
White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
The Agents of the Atlantic and Gulf District of the Seafarers In
ternational Union of North America, assembled in conference at the St.
George Hotel, Brooklyn, New York on June 1, 1943, instructed me
to bririg to your attention a situation which is harming the effort
and hindering this Union in fulfilling its obligation to supply crews to
vessels which it has under contract.
I am enclosing a resolution that was adopted at the Agents Con
ference and is self-explanatory.
Before the Coast Guard delegated authority of approving all ap
plicants for seamen's papers to the Recruitment and^ Manning Organi
zation of the War Shipping Administration, this Union dealt directly
with the local U. S. Steamboat Inspectors and the U. S. Shipping Com
missioners and experienced little or no difficulty in obtaining seamen's
papers for the men who wanted to go to sea.
This meant a more rapid crewing of ships needed to transport war
supplies. In the interest of al! out war effort, this procedure should
be revived.
Very truly yours,
JOHN HAWK
4-
rR€P01?T OI\
^ASHirXGTOtV 'I
Since my arrival back in Wash
ington after attending the SIU
Agents Conference in New York,
I have been working with the SIU
committee that was elected to con
tact governrheht agencies here and
submit some of the problems
which are confronting the union.
Contact the Coast Guard regarding
the RMO having the power to
clear all requests for applicants for
seamens certificates, and from all
indications there will be a change
in this policy.
The WSA has informed the
commit.ee that they will not ap
prove of the Port &curity Watch
Agreemelit tha^was negotiated by
the SIU and the operators.
A meeting was held this after
noon between the committee and
the WSA regarding the crews
quarters on the Liberty ships.
Maritime War
Emergency Board:
There are several disputes re
garding attack bonus and the fol
lowing ships are involved: Jefferson
Meyers and Vermont in Murmansk,
Raphel Semmes in .j\vonmouth
England and left the dock and was
in channel when Bristol Channel
was attacked. Francis Marion was
anchored at Hull when an attack
occured there. Carles Brantley
Aycock was at I^wport Wales
when an attack occured there. The
Aims Of WSA-RMO
by Sam Shatkovnick
On May 20 the newspaper columnist Drew Pearson
wrote in his Column "Washington Merry-go-round" that
the WSA is staying up nights, "conspiring to drive the
maritime unions from the sea" by training a surplus of
apprentice seamen for which no jobs are available. This is
a fact which the SIU has been
pointing out for months, hut this
is the first time that a national
columnist has broken the story.
With union seamen risking their
lives on ill-planned, slow WSA
freighters, the WSA procedes to
train "tractable" (servant-like)
apprentice seamen for the purpose
of smashing the unions. Why such
an attitude on the part of the ship
owners and the WSA? The Union
seamen sail the ships, run the risk
deliver the cargo. What more can
they ask of the seamen. The only
thing they ask is that we give up
our union and go hack to the old
days of the U. S. Shipping Board
and the fink halls.
Merchant Seamen's Club In Glasgow
Thanks to the contributions of
the members of the American
Federation of Labor, merchant
seamen of all Allied nations spend
ing their shore leaves in Glasgow,
Scotland, can now obtain rest, re
creation, food, and when necessary
warm clothing, at the newly open
ed Havelock Wilson Glasgow Mer
chant Seamen's Club. The club
has been established and will be
maintained with funds donated by
AFL members through the Labor
League for Human Rights.
American Ambassador John G.
Winant, at the opening ceremonies,
read a cable from Matthew Woll,
president of the Labor League for
Human Rights, in which Mr. Woll
declared:
"It does us'no special honor to
iiave been able to assist the mer
chant seamen who hear the brunt
of our fight. It is in the spirit of
fellowship that we have sent our
contribution; we hope you will ac
cept it in that spirit."
Ambassador Winant then spoke
in terms of high praise for Ameri
can workers, not only in acknowl
edging their contributions for the
Glasgow Merchant Seamen's Club,
hut also for the support rendered
in many other ways to projects de
signed to relieve the suffering of
their British comrades.
The club, which was named for
Havelock Wilson, founder of the
British Seamen's Union, will offer
facilities long needed by seamen
ashqre'from their hard and danger
ous duties with the Atlantic con
voys.
But in their dealings with the
shipowners and builders, the WSA
asks nothing. On the contrary,
public money is flowing into mil
lions of dollars in cool profits. And
when these unholy twins are
caught red handed in scandalous
profiteering, and in building defec
tive ships, the WSA, press, radio,
hushes the affair up and merely
reprimands them for being
naughty boys. Then we hear that'
the WSA rewards them by giving
them more millions In contracts for
their "E" production.
From its inception, the Mari
time Commission's real purpose has
been to smash the unions. We sea
men haven't any confidence in this
biased government organization
In order not to have our union
destroyed, as has been done in to
talitarian countries, we must hind
ourselves together and fight for our
right to have a collective, demo
cratic union. We must fight to
destroy the shipowner-RMO-fink
card system which has been en
dorsed by the Stalinist top fraction
in the NMU.
Board is yerifying the above claind
and as soon as the company noti
fies them as to the entries made iij"
the different ships* log hooks, of
can he verified by the proper mil-
ftary authorities, bonuses will
payable. i
Board has ruled that part of thd
crew is entitled to bonuses until
they arrived in the U. S. This case
is not completely settled as the
union contended that all of the
crew are entitled to bonus. Board
is investigating the claims.
S.S. Fitz John Porter:
Some the.^5mb:'(S^f the
crew Were given shore leave by the
master and were notified that the
vessel would leave the dock at 12
noon and to be aboard at 11. Crew!
were ashore and the vessel left at
A.M. Crew was prevented from;
going aboard the vessel due to the
port regulations which prohibit
any hum boat to take members o;£
any crew on hoard a vessel that-is
lying in the stream waiting tfli
make up a convoy. If this ordef
had not been in effect, crew would
have made the vessel. Union con
tends crew is entitled to ,wage8i
bonus and loss of personal effects.
More on this next week.
Out af the Foesl
by
3-- a.
The only registration card
will accept is a union card!
we
Remember — Don*t Sign
WSA-RMO Fink Cards
The record held by Jules Souza of being in a lifeboat for 34 dajni
was finally broken by six other SIU men headed by Marvin Swint wlwi •
were in a lifeboat for 44 days. We believe that the brothers are shooc- '
ing for that record of 83 days at sea in an open lifeboat. Wouldn't'bi^ .
surprised if some SIU man passed it.
AAA
All the brothers were shocked to hear of the sudden death of BoB
Hageman who passed away in his sleep. The organization regrets
loss of such an able Union brother. George Piasecki had to he oper
ated on after his ordeal in a lifeboat for 22 days. We received a letter
from Africa wherein Carroll Quinnt informed us about his marriage)
and his intention to join the Army. We wish him luck. John Carr^
who recently bought $1700 worth of bonds came around Hearquarter»
asking for a stake offering the" bonds as collateral. Al Cramer finilly
got that Iceland money changed into American money yith the help
of Jack Hawk. Ail the bar iflies have got their hands out. -Donald E.
Kraft was called into the Navy. We hope he will be hack soon.
AAA
The Governor of the Bahamas recently made a visit to the Cutting
Estate in Gladstone, N. J. and had a chat with each of the seamen re
cuperating there. Bros. Benson and Quinn were right up front whest
pictures were taken of the popular visitors. The TAM O SHANTER!
Club of Kearney supplied all the food and entertainment- for the occa
sion.
A A A
Andy Smith made his first trip as Bosun. He is now shipping ouS
of New Orleans. Frank Saxon and Harold Miller have decided to take
a vacation, after stay aboard the same ship for over a year. Frsyifc
Saxon is going after his 2nd Mate's ticket. Peter Larsen who told us
there was a special Heaven for seamen, arrived safely after a 15 montih
voyage. One of the hrot;hers believed that the Heaven he speaks 'about
is right next door to Hell.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
MAY 17 TO MAY 29
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL '
6HIPPEO 350 291 ^ 270 911 t:
REGISTERED 287 300 162 '829 •
ON HAND 206 1fi9 173
'/!!
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^ . I Friday, June 11, T943; THE SEAFARERS' TOG Page Three
I.T.F. Official Calls For Close
International Union Ties Now
By Omar Betcu
American Representative of
the I.T.F.
(T^ar/ of opening remarks to SIU
Agents' Conference)
President and brother unionists,
I have to excuse, first of all, our
Chinese Seamen's representative
and our Greek Seamen's represen
tative, who were given short no
tice of this conference and have
not been able to attend. But I am
very happy to be here with you,
and 1 must say that I feel very
much at case. Altho this is the first
time that I have been at one of
your conferences, I feel so, because
the Seafarers' International Union
^ is an affiliate of th c^terna^jonaV
Transj^rt Workers' Federation anc
also because I am convinced that
there does not exist any group o:
workers in the world who have
such a natural and practical rela
tionship as the seamen.
1 extend to you all fraternal anc
courteous greetings and wishes in
behalf of the International Trans
port Workers' Federation and in
behalf of the Coordinating Com
mittee of the Allied Seamen's
Unions which are represented here
in the United States. I thank you
'in my personal name and also in
the name of my brothers here pres
ent for the kind invitation you
have extended to us to attend your
conference.
No industry in the world has a
Stronger international character
than the maritime industry. In no
other industry have the employers
-such a strong international coop
eration as the ship owners through
their International Slupping Feder
ation. Many .ship owners from dif
ferent countries have close inter
national agreements and confer-
ei^ces relating to different shipping
routes and trades.
Ship owners have even a regular
practice to transfer the flag of their
ships to the flag of another coun-
V.. when it suits thier financial
imerest. The international compe
tition between ship owners, especi
ally among those who ha-ve no
commercial agreements, have to a
great extent up until now been dis
loyal and greatly unfair through
the fact that there have al-ways
existed such a great difference be
tween the wages and working .con-
•ditions of the seamen of one coun
try with regard to the seamen of
another country. The seamen have
thus far, and will continue to be,
the first victims of such an oli
garchy, if we do not find the means
among ourselves to internationally
combat and end those practices, es
pecially after th ewar.
Since many years, in fadt, since
1919, and the Washington confer
ence, our International has display
ed our best efforts to arrive at an
iilternational equalization of wages
and working conditions of seamen.
Some minor international conven
tions were adopted through our
efforts in Geneva under the aus
pices of the international labor or
ganization; but the greatest part of
our objects rerhain still to be
achieved. T think that this will be
our postwar task. But, in. order to
do so, with the greatest possible
success, we must plan now, in or-
(> der'to be ready when peace comes.
Tjhere is no doubt, in our opin
ion, in the opinion of lal the or-
gantkations afiilliated v/ith the In
ternational Transport Worker's
Federation, that we will then need
the greatest possible international
strength and international soldar-
ity, much greater than ever before;
for if we have failed in past, there
is no doubt it is due to the fact
that there were some weaknesses in
our international chainwork. In
this way of thinking, Brother
President, I must value very strong
ly the cooperation which the Sea
farers' International Union has of
fered us through its cooperation. It
fills a gap which we have been
looking forward to filling for so
many years. We were far away
from each other. Perhaps the In
ternational Tronsport Workers'
Federation has always been looked
your paft'as a ji-fropear/*
body, which in fact it has never
been. It is a world-wide interna
tional organization, helping trans
port workers and seamen, in par
ticular, from the far east, from all
parts of the world, but we have
never succeeded in bringing a clos
er link with you, the American
seamen.
Tlae principles of international
brotherhood shown by the Seafar
ers' International Union proves, in
our opinion, to be a good, sound
and auspicious signal for the fu
ture. The part to be played by the
American seamen after the war at
International Seamen's and Trans
port Workers' conferences can be
of tremendous importance to our
international movement. We sin-
ITF FRATERNIAL DELEGATES
(Standing) William Post, Dutch Central Transport Workers; John
S. Thore, Swedish Seamen's Union; Thorleif Eriksen, Norwegian
Seamen's Union; Ernest Raberg, Swedish Seamen's Union; and Fred
Cla"^58«, Amalgnmat J^^ariisi.f^^fea'mei^s Union. '
(Seated) George Thompson, National Union of Seamen of Great
Britain; Omar Becu, Belgian Seamen's Union, and August Dijan,
Officers and Seamen's Union of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
cerely hope that we will prove to
the whole world that international
brotherhood is no longer an idle
word.
I think. Brothers, that especially
now, during the war, we will prove
it. All of our seamen of the United
Nations and even some of some
neutral countries—^let me say, for
instance, our good Swedish sea
men, they won't mind me
saying so, and although their coun
try is neutral—they are whole
heartedly with us in our struggle,
doing their bit. Also those of some
other neutral countries I say do not
spare any effort or sacrifice to keep
the way open and to make it pos
sible that we achieve that interna
tional objective we have been
reaching for for so many years.
Hundreds of ship are sailing now
adays with international crews.
You find in some of your own ships
a dozen nationalities. You find
that they are on our ships. You
find them on all these ships, sailing
for the common goals.
Those different nationalities,
combined together, with one
thought, and they prove again
what international brotherhood
means when it is necessary to dis
play such a solidarity. They learii
to know and to appreciate each
other. They learn to know eacil
other's standards of living. I think
and I sincerely hope that we all
will profit by the lessons which are
given to us now at such a great
cost, under loss of lives.
I probably can end by paying
the highest tribute to the gallant
attitude of the American .seameni
for their brave struggle against ouf
common enemy, and let me alsd
especially pay a tribute to those of
your seamen who have already lost
their lives in this struggle against
the brutal aggression of the op-
fiftS-SQT. > '
And, Brother President, if there
is anybody present at your confer
ence who would like to have some
information with regard to the
structure of our International
Transport "Workers' Federation,
with regard to our activities in the
past and with regard perhaps also
to the program which we can
achieve for the future. Although
it would take too much of your
time to develop such a program
that is in the hands, in fact, of our
main offices which are establishedi
in the United Kingdom since the
outbreak of the war, I will be
happy to give any inforgiation you
may desire and which I can give,
{The highlights of the general
discussioji will appear in future «-
sues of the LOG.)
Edgar Leadlie
Arthur Engler
Louis Wolins .
0. A. Beaver
Roger Kearns
William Daley
Douglas Raulhic
B. SHULER
P. BRADSHAW
C, SOSTELLO
TERRENCE D. O'CONNOR
'^sona I s
Will former members of the chew
of S.S. Warrior who know Jack
Wilson, former watertend'er, who
became ill while the vessel was be-
ng fumigated at Manila, please
communicate with Col C. Beren-
holtz, 312 Equitable Building, Bai-
tmore 2, Maryland.
WSA SABOTAGES SEAFARERS*
SECURITY WATCH CONTRACT
RAY HOLDER
Your book and papers have been
found. Get them at headquarters
office, Room 213, 2 Stone St., New
York City.
WILLIAM R. DIXON
Please contact the New York
Agent next time you are in town.
MONEY DUE
Steward's Department S.S.
West Gatomska have division of
wages due. Collect Mississippi
Line, New Orleans. •* » »
Crew of S.S. Kofrfesi have attack
bonus coming from Waterman Line,
19 Rector St, N.Y.C.
{Continued from Page 1)
Regulations.
' It has been suggested both to
the union and to the operators in
volved that there be further nego
tiation, but it is understood that
this suggestion was not agreeable
to the union.
This is to advise, therefore, that
these three proposed supplementary
agreements are, disapproved inso
far as they affect vessels bareboat
chartered to or owned by the War
Shipping Administration.
The War Shipping Administra
tion is ready to assist in taking
whatever steps may be necessary to
resolve this deadlock.
Sincerely yours,
HUBERT WYCKOFF,
Assistant Deputy
Administrator for
Maritim.e I.abor Rehtions
In the past, skippers in most
every outfit have been breaking
and maintaining watches contrary
to the agreements and in many in
stances have restricted shore liberty
in ports where shore liberty was
not restricted by law, the excuse
was government restrictions, but
the real reasons have been for se
curity or safety of the ship with
out the payment of overtime. The
skippers attempt to jam this
through without paying overtime
for those required to remain aboard
ship after putting in a regular
eight hour day.
Since Washington has disapprov
ed of the Security Watch Agree
ment which would have brought
an orderly solution to this problem,
the only course left open to the
union is fo strictly enforce the
existing agreements and see that
the operators pay overtime in every
instance called for under the exist
ing contract.
The only way the union can
make the shipowners live up to
the contract is by getting full re
ports at the time the ships pay off
in this country. It is up to all
ships crews and department dele
gates to keep on their toes and re
cord all shore liberty restrictions
and the ports in which they occur.
A record shall be kept of the
watches, when and how they are
broken or maintained so the union
can enforce the full letter of thq
agreements.
The union stands ready at any
time to place in effect the Security
Watch Agreement which it nego
tiated in good faith. But if the
WSA insists in sabotaging our col
lective bargaining with the ship
owners, if it persists in attempts
to force upon us an inferior agree
ment to the one we negotiated,
then we'll sit tight and ride along
on our regular contracts. In the
long run the WSA brain-boys are
going to find that it costs the ship
owners more to operate without a
Security Watch Agreement than
with one.
Remember — Don*t Sign
WSA'RMO Fink Cards
Seafarers Asks Miners
Return To AFL
William Green, President
American Federation of Labor
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Agents of this union met in conference in New York on
May 26 to June 1, and instructed mo to inform you and the Exe
cutive Board of the AFL, that we heartily approve the acceptance
of the United Mine Workers of America back into the AFL.
It is the opinion of the AFL seamen on the Atlantic and Gulf
Coasts that the miners deserve the full support of the AFL in
their present struggle against the War Labor Board and the Lit
tle Steel Formula. The miners can best be support if they are
part of the Federaton.
Moreover, the miners' long and chershed tradition of trade
union militancy will bring to the ranks of the AFL much needed
strength for the difficult days ahead.
We therefore urge immediate and favorable action upon
Presidebt John L. Lewis' application for readmittance to our
Federation.
Fraternally yours,
JOHN HAWK
I.-'' k:
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Page Four THE SEAFARERS' LOG FrifJay, June 11, 194J
IF-
1^
Resolutions Passed By Conference
;;Ji' „
l„E?
Seamens*
Certificates
Resolution No. 1
WHEREAS: Since the enact-
iucnt of the Merchant Marine
Laws of 1936, it has been the duty
of the U. S. Steamboat Inspection
& Navigation Service to issue cer
tificates to applicants wishing to
go to sea, and having the qualifi
cations as prescribed by law, and
WHEREAS: The President of
the U. S., in an Executive Order
h^ empowered the U. S. Coast
Guard to administer the U. S. Mer
chant Marine Laws that come un
der the jurisdiction of the Bureau
Marine Inspection Service, and
WHEREAS: The U. S. Coast
Guard has now given the R.M.O.
of the W.S.A., the 'power of ap
proving applicants for Merchant
Marine certificates, which power
. rightfully and only belongs within
the jurisdiction of the Coast
Guard, *and
WHEREAS: The R.M.O. is dis
criminating by not approving of
applicants wishing to go to sea
who are below or above the age
limits required by the U. S. Mari
time Training Service for recruits,
and
\fTiEREAS: The R.M.O. is also
discriminating against men who
have been rejected by the armed
jforces for service, but arc physic
ally abje to (perform duti^ on
board vessels, and
WHEREAS: The War Man
power Commission has issued a di
rective to Selective Service to give
consideration for deferment to ac
tive Merchant Seamen who do not
exceed 30 days ashore in between
ships, and
WHEREAS: Under the terms of
©ur collective bargaining agree
ments, the Union is duty bound to
supply crews to vessels on which
the Union has an agreement, and
WHEREAS: The R.M.O.
hindering the Unions' effort to
fullfill its obligations in supplying
crews to vessels with which the
union has collective bargainning
agreements, and the Statement of
Policy agreed upon by the War
Shipping Administration, and the
Union, therefor be it
RESOLVED: That to further
contribute to the all out war ef
fort, the Seafarers International
Union, Atlantic & Gulf District
urge Vice Admiral Russell R.
Waesche, Commandant of the U.S.
. Coast Guard to rescind his order,
thereby enabling men who wish to
go to sea and contribute their part
towards our war effort to do so,
and not be obstructed -by the dis
criminatory policy of the R.M.O.,
and be it further
RESOLVED: That we instruct
our Sec.-Treas., John Hawk to
forward copies of this Resolution
to Pres. F. D. Roosevelt, Vice Ad
miral Russell R. Waesche, Com
mandant of U.S.C.G., Mr. Paul V.
McNutt, Chairman of War Man
power Commission, and Congress
man Otis S. Bland, Chairman,
Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries.
cial to the majority of the mem
bership concerned, and
WHEREAS: At this time cer
tain recommendations are in order
for additional shipping rules, and
WHEREAS: We, the Agents
assembled here in" conference go on
record to add to the shipping rules
for war time conditions, therefore
be it
RESOLVED: That each respec
tive port be empowered to set
time limit as to when a man shall
report aboard a ship when he has
been dispatched, arid be it further
RESOLVED: That when the
time limit is set in the various
ports, and a man who was dis
patched to a ship and who fails to
show up within that set time, that
RESOLVED: That we issue trip
cards to these men, collect dues,
and the strike and organizational
assessment on these trip cards, and
be it finally
RESOLVED: That all agents
and patrolmen are hereby instruct
ed to organize and join into the
union all persons who have U. S.
Certificates, and meet with the re
quirements of the union as per
Article lU of the Seafarers Inter
national Union, Atlantic and Gulf
District Constitution.
Security Watch
Resolution No. 5
WHEREAS: The Atlantic and
Gulf District of the Seafarers In
ternational Union has negotiated
securitjr watch agreements with
IS
Dispatching
Time Rule
< Resolution No. 2
WHEREAS; It has been the
policy of the Agents Conferences
in the past to bring back to the
membership certain recommenda
tions, and
Trip Cards
Resolution No. 4
WHE^REAS: Quite a few men
are sailing aboard S.I.U. contract
ships who do not have union books,
and
WHEREAS: They enjoy tfie
same benefits aboard ship that
union men have fuoght for, and
WHEREAS: Some of these men
make a trip or two and never make
WHEREAS: TTicse recommen- any effort to join tb« union, there-
dations have proven to be bcnefi- fore be it
Mississippi Lines, such agreements
being designed to provide for ship
safety in war time, and
WHEREAS: This agreement
was reached between the union and
the operators through the regular
collective bargaining apparatus,
with the aid and approval of the
conciliation service of the U. S.
Dept. of Labor, and subject to the
approval of the W.S.A., and
WHEREAS: The W.S.A. in
formed the union that it would
give prompt attention and decision
on this agreement, and
WHEREAS: Upon May 22,
1943, Herbert Wyckoff, assistant
deputy administrator of the W.S.A.
informed the union and the op
erators that the W.S.A. disapprov
ed the agreement but desired fur
ther discussions toward the impo
sition upon the S.I.U. of the S.U.P.
security watch agreement, and
WHEREAS: The S.U.P. agree
ment covers only the Deck Dept.,
while the S.I.U. covers all 3 depts.
and
WHEREAS: Other difference in
East and West coast working con
ditions makes the S.U.P. agree
ment all but impossible of opera
tion on S.I.U. ships, therefore be it
RESOLVEDr That delegates
from the S.I.U. Agents Conference
now convened in New York pro-
cede immediately to Washington to
fight this move of the W.S.A. to
intervene and upset our collective
bargaining relationship with the
operators and use all means to
force confirmation of tliis security
watch agrement, and be it finally
RESOLVED: That should the
W.S.A. continue its efforts to sa
botage this agreement, the dele
gates shall be empowered- to take
the problem directly to the War
Labor Board and/or other govern
ment agencies concerned with this
dispute.
Department
Transfers
Resolution No. 7
WHEREAS: Sydney Gretcher,
when he was acting Secretary-
Treasurer of the Atlantic & Gulf
District of the Seafarers* Interna
tional Union of North America is
sued an order that all agents were
instructed to register any member
of any repartment on the shipping
list that the member requested,
providing the memb"?r had the in
dorsement on his certificate, re
gardless of what department his
union book designated, and
WHEREAS; This order has nev
er been rescinded by the union of
ficially, and
WHEREAS: This system of or
ganization is ilot in any sense of
another juan be dispatched to the
^^place, and be it i J^h-i Waterman, South Atlantic and^
RESOLVED: That the afore
mentioned member will not receive
any remuneration for being ship
ped, and be it further
RESOLVED: That if a man is
drunk or otherwise refuses to sail
the ship, that he be automatically
fined the sum of twenty-five
($21.00). This to be notated in
the remaik column in his member
ship book by the agent in the port
where this has occurred, and be it
finally
RESOLVED: That this be
adopted as a war time measure
with the recommendation that it
go on the referendum ballot at the
next general election.
MWEB and
Bonus Demand
Resolution No. 3
WHEREAS: The Seafarers In
tcrnational Union, Atlantic and
Gulf District are signatory to the
Statement of Principles, and in the
Statement of Principle the duties
of the Maritime War Emergency
Board are strictly defined, and
WHEREAS: The Board is duty
bound by the Statement of Prin
ciples to make decisions only in
cases where in the union and the
employers have a dispute and can
not agree, and
WHEREAS: The Board con
tends that they can, upon their
own motion, make decisions, there
fore be it
RESOLVED: That this con
ference go on record and request
the board members to live up to
the Statement of Principles and
only make decisions where there is
a dispute between the union and
the employers and they can not
come to an agreement, and be it
further
RESOLVED: Tliat the board be
instructed to restore the port and
area bonuses that were in effect
prior to March 1st, 1943, and be it
finally
RESOLVED: That the board be
instructed to immediately correct
the gross inequities that exist in
the war risk insurance, namely re
patriation limit of two years, and
lovr disability benefits.
the word, bona-fide trade unionism,
and
WHEREAS: This jumbled up
rule is disintc?grating the efficiency
of the union to the detriment of
the men on the ships, and
WHEREAS: The Union was or
ganized for just that particular
purpose, to protect the men that
are on the ships, therefore be it '
RESOLVED: That members
shall only be permitted to register
on the department shipping list
that their union book indicates.
WHEREAS: The present scale
of wages gives the Bos'n is only
$7.50 per month more than the
A.B.'s and Q.M.'s, and
WHEREAS: It is practically
impossible to ^et experienced A.B.'s
to assume the responsibility of
of Bos'n at this scale of wages, and
WHEREAS: Under a directive
issued by the U. S. Coast Guard an
experienced A.B. can act as Mite
for a salary of $185.00 and there
fore be it
RESOLVED: That' men who
and if there arc no members in thel^'f^ three years discharges as A.&
union hall available, then the men
on the other shipping list that have
the indorsement on their certificate
shall have preference to the job,
and be it further
• RESOLVED: any new'
member is initiated in the union,
he shall specify what dept. he de
sires to sail in to the Investigation
Committee and such specification
shall be inserted in his membership
book when issued at Headquarters,
and be it finally
RESOLVED: That no member
shall be allowed to transfer from
one department to another until
he has served six months in his par
ticular rating, without permission
from the membership.
Vacation Clause
Resolution No.-8
WHEREAS: The Seafarers In
ternational Union, Atlanntic and
Gulf District have in some of their
agremcnts a clause where, in order
for a person to receive vacation
benefits, it is necessary for him to
quit his vessel, and
WHEREAS: ^Fhis clause in this
section was incorporated into the
agreement at a time when shipping
was very slack and
WHEREAS: Due to the short
age of seamen, this creates a dif
ficult situation, therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Sec'y.-
Treas. stand instructed to contact
all S.S. Companies where the union
has a vacation section in the agree
ments and re-negotiate an amend
ment to the vacation section to al
low seamen who arc entitled to a
vacation to receive same and-stay
on board the ship and be it finally
RESOLVED: That this amend
ment to the section be limited for
the duration of the war only.
Bosun Pay Scale
Resolution No. 9
WHEREAS: Under the Little
Steel Formula any inequality in
present wages can be taken up and
adjusted, and '
who do sail as Bos'n shall be paid
at the rate of $150.00 per month,
and be it further
RESOLVED: That copies of this
resolution be forwarded to the
members of the W.S.A, ryl. t'T
Washington representative be in
structed to contact the board
members to explain the necessity
of this action.
Four-Watch System f'
Resolution No. 10 .
WHEREAS: Due to the present
conflict between the Axis Powers
and the United Nations it has ber»
come necessary to construct thou
sands of new ships to carry food
and war materials to our Allies
and armed forces in all parts of
the world, and,
WHEREAS: The United States
Government, through its agencies,
has trained and is still training
thousands of seamen to man these
ships, and,
WHEREAS: After internation
al commerce returns to peace time
levels, a large percentage of these
war tiipe built vesseL will be laid-
up, as they were after World War
No. 1, and,
WHEREAS: The laying-up of
these ships will cre.i(te an unem
ployment problem among the
workers of the American Merchant
Marine, especially the seamen,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED: That this
Union go on record as in favor of
the Four-Watch-System to cope
with the expected unemployment
situation and that after the war
the officials of the SIU of N.A^ ••
use their utmost efforts to negoti
ate agreements to incorporate the
Four-Watch-System in all the
agreements and be it finally,
RESOLVED: That we repledge
ourselves not to strike any vesseb
during this war and that any mem
ber who advocates the slowing-up
of transportation or strike (other
than through the medium of thfe
Constitution) shall be expelled
from the Union as an obstruction
ist.
BULLARD, SAMUEL T
BUSTIN, L. R
CARTER, J. D
DE LOACH, B
DIX, DANNY :
ELLIOTT, ROBERT
AB
FOW
Messman
A.B.
Oiler
Messman
Messman
Fireman
GROOVER, CHARLES W
HAMPTON, JOHN
HAYMAN, GEORGE W. Jr 3rd Cook
HUGGINS, WOODROW Deck Engineer
JERNIGAN, LEROY FOW
KILEY, MELVIN _. _ OS
Me DANIEL, THOMAS J> 2nd Cook
PICKETT, LOREN Messman
TXAYLOR, FRED ; Fireman
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OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT.
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. V. 280 NEW YORK, N.Y., FRIDAY, JUNE II, 1943 No. 12
Agents Conference Tightens War
Operations Of Atlantic And Gulf
BUSY AGENTS ARE PHOTOGRAPHED AT CONFERENCE
(Standing) Charles Waid, Savannah; Harry Collins, Philadelphia; Matthew Dughane, Internatienal Rep'
resentativa; Olden Banks, Mobile; Joe Plannagan, Baltimore; John Mogan, Boston; D. L. Parker, Tampa;
and A. W. Armstrong, New Orleans.
(Seated) J. K. Shaugnassey, Port Everglades; Matthew Biggs, International Representative; Frank Wil
liams, New York; Harry Lundeberg, International President; John Hawk, Secretary-Treasurer; E, R.
Wallace, Galveston and Martin Trainor, Norfolk.
WSA SABOTAGES SEAFARERS'
SECURITY WATCH CONTRACT
/ . The lasV is»ae-oF-the
Log announced that a Security
Watch Agreement had been nego
tiated with the Mississippi, Water
man and South Atlantic j^ines.
'Since then, however, the union has
been sabotaged by the War Ship
ping Administration, which in
structed the sliipowners not to
sign the agpeement. The Log pub
lish^ the Agreement because it
had been negotiated in good faith
by both the union and the ship
owners through the regular collec
tive bargaining apparatus, and we
' assumed- that it would become
binding on all parties.
But we reckoned without the
swivel chair artists in W.ashington.
Mr. Hubert Wyckoff apparently
disapproves the SIU agreement be
cause it goes further than the SUP
agreement and he is worried that
it might cut into the shipowners',
profits a bit. "> •
Here is the letter sent by Wyck-
off to the union and to the oper
ators:
Mr. John Hawk
Secretary-Treasurer
Seafarers International Union
Of North America
2 Stone Street
New York, New York
Dear Mr. Hawk;
This letter is In reference to
Supplements to collective bargain
ing agreements between your
Union and Waterman Steamship
Agency, Ltd. South - Atlantic
Steamship Line, and Mississippi
Shipping Company, Inc. The sup
plementary agreements deal with
the subject of port security
watches required by Regulations
for the Security of Vessels in Port,
issued and approved December 31,
1942, )particularly Sections 6.305
arid 6.322 of those Regulations.v
: A somewhat similar order wa.s
issued by the Commandant of the
Twelfth Naval-District-shortly afr
ter Pearl Harbor, affecting vessels
on the Pacific Coast, as a result of
which the Pacific American " Ship
owners Association, representing
the Pacific Coast offshore opera
tors, and the unions affected en
tered into supplementary agree
ments on the subject of port se
curity watches. These supplemen
tary agreements have b^n ap
proved both by the War Shipping
Administration and also by the
National War Labor Board; and
our advice is that they have work
ed out in practice to the satisfac
tion of all parties concerned.
The three supplementary agree
ments were negotiated between
ybur union and the three compan
ies above named subject to ap
proval by the War Shipping Ad
ministration in accordance with
of paragraph 2 of the Statement
Policy dated May 4, 1942.
The standing of these port se
curity watches in compliance with
the Ck>ast Guard Regulations is an
emergency measure brought about
by reason of the existence of the
war; .and it is therefore a subject
upon which the War Shipping Ad
ministration feels uniformity of
treatment is desirable. Many of
the clauses in the three proposed
supplementary agreements arc
modeled on those found in the Pa
cific Coast agreements; some
clauses merely clarify provisions
found in the Pacific Coast agree
ments; but there arc some provis
ions which go beyond the Pacific
Cioast agreements and require the
standing of watches in situations
not required by the Coast Guard
{Continued on Page 3)
Forges Close International
Labor Ties For Post War
Struggle With Shipowners
The conference held last week by. the Agent'the
Atlantic and Gulf District of the SIU, resulted in many
important constitutional and organizational revisions aimed
at the tightening of the union apparatus for the critical
war and post war periods.
Meeting at Hotel Sc. George in^
New York, May 26 to June 1, the
SIU Agents drew up proposed re
visions to the Constitution, enact
ed emergency clauses for the ship
ping rules and passed ten resolu
tions to serve as guides for the
union's operation in the months to
The Seafarers Log
Seditious?
Brother Armstrong reported
to the Agents' Conference that
several issues of the SEAFAR
ERS LOG were seized by Cus
toms Agents in New Orleans
when union delegates attempted
to take the paper aboard the
S. S. George Washington.
The SEAFARERS LOG is an
official union paper, distributed
on the S. S. George Washington
to union men. Is such a publi
cation and such a distribution
seditious in the eyes of the In
ternal Revenue Department? If
80, these bureaucrats go even
further than Smith and Dies
and Cox who yell for labor's
blood in the halls of Congress.
This action is being protested
to the Internal Revenue Depart
ment and the War Shipping Ad
ministration. The issue is an
important one for what is in
volved is the freedom of the en
tire labor press.
Macauley Gives SIU The Brush-Off
Spotlight loving Edward 'Macayley, Deputy
Administrator of the War Sliipping Administra
tion, is usually right-on deck at the NMU hoop-
de-doops because he know there will be plenty of
photographers present. Check through back is
sues of The Pilot and you'll see plenty of photo
graphs of the Captain smiling benignly on Ham
Head and his sweater boys. But when it comes
to a real working conference of SIU Agents
(without photogmphers and publicity), then the
Captain is too busy to attend.
The SIU Agents Cionference was called for the
specific purpose of increasing the efficiency of
crewing operations on the Atlantic and Gulf
coasts—a subject presumably of interest to the
Captain. But despite the sending of two invita
tions, Macauley refused to leave Washington.
The following exchange of telegrams tells the
story:
{From Hawk to Macauley, May 26)
The Agents of the Atlantic and Gulf District
of the Seafarers International Union of North
America, in duly assembled conference at the St.
George Hotel in Brooklyn, New York, have gone
on record requesting you or Mr. Hubert Wyckoff
to address this gathering, or that you designate a
duly authorized representative of the War Slip
ping Administration to address this conference
on the over all operations of the War Shipping
Administration. Please wire reply.
{From Macauley to Hawk, May 27)
Refering your telegram 26th requesting repre
sentative War Slipping Administration address
conference now in session, regret no suitable rep
resentative available this week. How long will
conference last?
{From Hawk to Macauley, Mtfv 28)
This Is to advise you that the Seafarers Inter
national Union Agents Conference will be in ses
sion all day Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 51.
Please reply as to whether you can have a repre
sentative here.
{From Macauley to Hawk, May 29)
Regret impracticable to send representative for
conference. Appreciate the invitation.
come. All resolutions and motions
passed by the Conference will now
be submitted to the membership
for ratification.
Highlight of the Cionference was
the appearance of Omar Becu, Am
erican Representative of the Inter
national Transport Workers Feder
ation. Also present were repre
sentatives of the Danish, Nor
wegian," Swidish, English, Yu
goslavian, Belgian and Dutch sea
men's unions. These brothers were
seted on the Conference as frater
nal delegates and joined in a lively
and instructive discussion on the
international problems facing the
seamen's unions of all countries.
The result was a tightening of the
fraternal bonds uniting SlU men
with their foreign brothers and the
laying of ground work for post
war action, on an international
scale, against the shipowners.
(Tlie text of Omar Becu's open
ing remarks to the conference is
printed on page 3 of this issue of
the Log.)
The resolutions passed by the
Conference pertained to: 1, A de
mand that the Coast Guard cease
delegating its authority on sea
men's papers to the RMO; 2. The
granting to the Port Agents the
authority to set hall to ship time
for dispatched men; 3. A demand
that the MWEB restore port and
area bonuses and that it confine it
self to the settlement of disputes
between shipowners and union; 4.
A call for the organization of all
unlicensed men riding SIU con
tracted ships; 5. A demand that
the WSA approve the Security
Watch Agreement reached between
the Union and the Mississippi,
Waterman and South Atlantic
Waterman and South Atlantic lines;
7. Tightening of rules covering the
transfering from one department
to another; 8. Clarification of va
cation clauses hr contracts; 9. Ag-
gitation for a boost in Bosun pay
to $150 per month; and 10. Pre
paration for the winning of the
four watch system after the war as
a means of keeping Union men
employed during the anticipated
depression.
The full text of all resolutions
are printed in this issue of the Log.
All members should study them
carefully so that they can partici-.
pate in the discussion and cast in
telligent ballots at the Brmch
meetings.
I
• ''MP, V:.:
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Page Twd THE SE A ILEA'S' LOG 3?iid^, -Jurie 11,
SEAFARERS LOG
Published by the
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Gulf District
Affiliated with the 'American- Pederation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ President
110 Market Street, San Francisco, Calif.
JOHN HAWK - - - - - - - Secy-Treas.
2 Stone Street, New York City
MATTHEW DUSHANE - - - Washington Rep.
424 .5th Street, N. W., Washington, D, C.
wi » m
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
I
. BOwliing Green 9-3430
.BOwIing Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
NEW YORK 2 Stone St
Dispatcher's 0£Bce...
Agent
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St d;i:ve; .
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St. Lombard ?651
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI ...Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS ...309 Chartres St Canal 3336
SAVANNAH 218 East Bay St. Savannah 3-1728
TAMPA 423 East Piatt St Tampa MM-1323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St Dial Z-1392
PUERTO RICO 45 Ponce de Leon. Puerto de TIeiTa
GALVESTON 219 20lh Street Galveston 2-8043
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway..
PUBLICATION OFFICE:
ROOM 213, 2 STONE STREET
New York City BOwling Green 9-8346
DR Asked To Correct
Muddle On Seaman Papers
Honorable Franklin D. Roosevelt
President, United States of America
White House
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
The Agents of the Atlantic and Gulf District of the Seafarers In
ternational Union of North America, assembled in conference at the St.
George Hotel, Brooklyn, New York on June 1, 1943, instructed me
to bririg to your attention a situation which is harming the effort
and hindering this Union in fulfilling its obligation to supply crews to
vessels which it has under contract.
I am enclosing a resolution that was adopted at the Agents Con
ference and is self-explanatory.
Before the Coast Guard delegated authority of approving all ap
plicants for seamen's papers to the Recruitment and^ Manning Organi
zation of the War Shipping Administration, this Union dealt directly
with the local U. S. Steamboat Inspectors and the U. S. Shipping Com
missioners and experienced little or no difficulty in obtaining seamen's
papers for the men who wanted to go to sea.
This meant a more rapid crewing of ships needed to transport war
supplies. In the interest of al! out war effort, this procedure should
be revived.
Very truly yours,
JOHN HAWK
4-
rR€P01?T OI\
^ASHirXGTOtV 'I
Since my arrival back in Wash
ington after attending the SIU
Agents Conference in New York,
I have been working with the SIU
committee that was elected to con
tact governrheht agencies here and
submit some of the problems
which are confronting the union.
Contact the Coast Guard regarding
the RMO having the power to
clear all requests for applicants for
seamens certificates, and from all
indications there will be a change
in this policy.
The WSA has informed the
commit.ee that they will not ap
prove of the Port &curity Watch
Agreemelit tha^was negotiated by
the SIU and the operators.
A meeting was held this after
noon between the committee and
the WSA regarding the crews
quarters on the Liberty ships.
Maritime War
Emergency Board:
There are several disputes re
garding attack bonus and the fol
lowing ships are involved: Jefferson
Meyers and Vermont in Murmansk,
Raphel Semmes in .j\vonmouth
England and left the dock and was
in channel when Bristol Channel
was attacked. Francis Marion was
anchored at Hull when an attack
occured there. Carles Brantley
Aycock was at I^wport Wales
when an attack occured there. The
Aims Of WSA-RMO
by Sam Shatkovnick
On May 20 the newspaper columnist Drew Pearson
wrote in his Column "Washington Merry-go-round" that
the WSA is staying up nights, "conspiring to drive the
maritime unions from the sea" by training a surplus of
apprentice seamen for which no jobs are available. This is
a fact which the SIU has been
pointing out for months, hut this
is the first time that a national
columnist has broken the story.
With union seamen risking their
lives on ill-planned, slow WSA
freighters, the WSA procedes to
train "tractable" (servant-like)
apprentice seamen for the purpose
of smashing the unions. Why such
an attitude on the part of the ship
owners and the WSA? The Union
seamen sail the ships, run the risk
deliver the cargo. What more can
they ask of the seamen. The only
thing they ask is that we give up
our union and go hack to the old
days of the U. S. Shipping Board
and the fink halls.
Merchant Seamen's Club In Glasgow
Thanks to the contributions of
the members of the American
Federation of Labor, merchant
seamen of all Allied nations spend
ing their shore leaves in Glasgow,
Scotland, can now obtain rest, re
creation, food, and when necessary
warm clothing, at the newly open
ed Havelock Wilson Glasgow Mer
chant Seamen's Club. The club
has been established and will be
maintained with funds donated by
AFL members through the Labor
League for Human Rights.
American Ambassador John G.
Winant, at the opening ceremonies,
read a cable from Matthew Woll,
president of the Labor League for
Human Rights, in which Mr. Woll
declared:
"It does us'no special honor to
iiave been able to assist the mer
chant seamen who hear the brunt
of our fight. It is in the spirit of
fellowship that we have sent our
contribution; we hope you will ac
cept it in that spirit."
Ambassador Winant then spoke
in terms of high praise for Ameri
can workers, not only in acknowl
edging their contributions for the
Glasgow Merchant Seamen's Club,
hut also for the support rendered
in many other ways to projects de
signed to relieve the suffering of
their British comrades.
The club, which was named for
Havelock Wilson, founder of the
British Seamen's Union, will offer
facilities long needed by seamen
ashqre'from their hard and danger
ous duties with the Atlantic con
voys.
But in their dealings with the
shipowners and builders, the WSA
asks nothing. On the contrary,
public money is flowing into mil
lions of dollars in cool profits. And
when these unholy twins are
caught red handed in scandalous
profiteering, and in building defec
tive ships, the WSA, press, radio,
hushes the affair up and merely
reprimands them for being
naughty boys. Then we hear that'
the WSA rewards them by giving
them more millions In contracts for
their "E" production.
From its inception, the Mari
time Commission's real purpose has
been to smash the unions. We sea
men haven't any confidence in this
biased government organization
In order not to have our union
destroyed, as has been done in to
talitarian countries, we must hind
ourselves together and fight for our
right to have a collective, demo
cratic union. We must fight to
destroy the shipowner-RMO-fink
card system which has been en
dorsed by the Stalinist top fraction
in the NMU.
Board is yerifying the above claind
and as soon as the company noti
fies them as to the entries made iij"
the different ships* log hooks, of
can he verified by the proper mil-
ftary authorities, bonuses will
payable. i
Board has ruled that part of thd
crew is entitled to bonuses until
they arrived in the U. S. This case
is not completely settled as the
union contended that all of the
crew are entitled to bonus. Board
is investigating the claims.
S.S. Fitz John Porter:
Some the.^5mb:'(S^f the
crew Were given shore leave by the
master and were notified that the
vessel would leave the dock at 12
noon and to be aboard at 11. Crew!
were ashore and the vessel left at
A.M. Crew was prevented from;
going aboard the vessel due to the
port regulations which prohibit
any hum boat to take members o;£
any crew on hoard a vessel that-is
lying in the stream waiting tfli
make up a convoy. If this ordef
had not been in effect, crew would
have made the vessel. Union con
tends crew is entitled to ,wage8i
bonus and loss of personal effects.
More on this next week.
Out af the Foesl
by
3-- a.
The only registration card
will accept is a union card!
we
Remember — Don*t Sign
WSA-RMO Fink Cards
The record held by Jules Souza of being in a lifeboat for 34 dajni
was finally broken by six other SIU men headed by Marvin Swint wlwi •
were in a lifeboat for 44 days. We believe that the brothers are shooc- '
ing for that record of 83 days at sea in an open lifeboat. Wouldn't'bi^ .
surprised if some SIU man passed it.
AAA
All the brothers were shocked to hear of the sudden death of BoB
Hageman who passed away in his sleep. The organization regrets
loss of such an able Union brother. George Piasecki had to he oper
ated on after his ordeal in a lifeboat for 22 days. We received a letter
from Africa wherein Carroll Quinnt informed us about his marriage)
and his intention to join the Army. We wish him luck. John Carr^
who recently bought $1700 worth of bonds came around Hearquarter»
asking for a stake offering the" bonds as collateral. Al Cramer finilly
got that Iceland money changed into American money yith the help
of Jack Hawk. Ail the bar iflies have got their hands out. -Donald E.
Kraft was called into the Navy. We hope he will be hack soon.
AAA
The Governor of the Bahamas recently made a visit to the Cutting
Estate in Gladstone, N. J. and had a chat with each of the seamen re
cuperating there. Bros. Benson and Quinn were right up front whest
pictures were taken of the popular visitors. The TAM O SHANTER!
Club of Kearney supplied all the food and entertainment- for the occa
sion.
A A A
Andy Smith made his first trip as Bosun. He is now shipping ouS
of New Orleans. Frank Saxon and Harold Miller have decided to take
a vacation, after stay aboard the same ship for over a year. Frsyifc
Saxon is going after his 2nd Mate's ticket. Peter Larsen who told us
there was a special Heaven for seamen, arrived safely after a 15 montih
voyage. One of the hrot;hers believed that the Heaven he speaks 'about
is right next door to Hell.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
MAY 17 TO MAY 29
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL '
6HIPPEO 350 291 ^ 270 911 t:
REGISTERED 287 300 162 '829 •
ON HAND 206 1fi9 173
'/!!
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^ . I Friday, June 11, T943; THE SEAFARERS' TOG Page Three
I.T.F. Official Calls For Close
International Union Ties Now
By Omar Betcu
American Representative of
the I.T.F.
(T^ar/ of opening remarks to SIU
Agents' Conference)
President and brother unionists,
I have to excuse, first of all, our
Chinese Seamen's representative
and our Greek Seamen's represen
tative, who were given short no
tice of this conference and have
not been able to attend. But I am
very happy to be here with you,
and 1 must say that I feel very
much at case. Altho this is the first
time that I have been at one of
your conferences, I feel so, because
the Seafarers' International Union
^ is an affiliate of th c^terna^jonaV
Transj^rt Workers' Federation anc
also because I am convinced that
there does not exist any group o:
workers in the world who have
such a natural and practical rela
tionship as the seamen.
1 extend to you all fraternal anc
courteous greetings and wishes in
behalf of the International Trans
port Workers' Federation and in
behalf of the Coordinating Com
mittee of the Allied Seamen's
Unions which are represented here
in the United States. I thank you
'in my personal name and also in
the name of my brothers here pres
ent for the kind invitation you
have extended to us to attend your
conference.
No industry in the world has a
Stronger international character
than the maritime industry. In no
other industry have the employers
-such a strong international coop
eration as the ship owners through
their International Slupping Feder
ation. Many .ship owners from dif
ferent countries have close inter
national agreements and confer-
ei^ces relating to different shipping
routes and trades.
Ship owners have even a regular
practice to transfer the flag of their
ships to the flag of another coun-
V.. when it suits thier financial
imerest. The international compe
tition between ship owners, especi
ally among those who ha-ve no
commercial agreements, have to a
great extent up until now been dis
loyal and greatly unfair through
the fact that there have al-ways
existed such a great difference be
tween the wages and working .con-
•ditions of the seamen of one coun
try with regard to the seamen of
another country. The seamen have
thus far, and will continue to be,
the first victims of such an oli
garchy, if we do not find the means
among ourselves to internationally
combat and end those practices, es
pecially after th ewar.
Since many years, in fadt, since
1919, and the Washington confer
ence, our International has display
ed our best efforts to arrive at an
iilternational equalization of wages
and working conditions of seamen.
Some minor international conven
tions were adopted through our
efforts in Geneva under the aus
pices of the international labor or
ganization; but the greatest part of
our objects rerhain still to be
achieved. T think that this will be
our postwar task. But, in. order to
do so, with the greatest possible
success, we must plan now, in or-
(> der'to be ready when peace comes.
Tjhere is no doubt, in our opin
ion, in the opinion of lal the or-
gantkations afiilliated v/ith the In
ternational Transport Worker's
Federation, that we will then need
the greatest possible international
strength and international soldar-
ity, much greater than ever before;
for if we have failed in past, there
is no doubt it is due to the fact
that there were some weaknesses in
our international chainwork. In
this way of thinking, Brother
President, I must value very strong
ly the cooperation which the Sea
farers' International Union has of
fered us through its cooperation. It
fills a gap which we have been
looking forward to filling for so
many years. We were far away
from each other. Perhaps the In
ternational Tronsport Workers'
Federation has always been looked
your paft'as a ji-fropear/*
body, which in fact it has never
been. It is a world-wide interna
tional organization, helping trans
port workers and seamen, in par
ticular, from the far east, from all
parts of the world, but we have
never succeeded in bringing a clos
er link with you, the American
seamen.
Tlae principles of international
brotherhood shown by the Seafar
ers' International Union proves, in
our opinion, to be a good, sound
and auspicious signal for the fu
ture. The part to be played by the
American seamen after the war at
International Seamen's and Trans
port Workers' conferences can be
of tremendous importance to our
international movement. We sin-
ITF FRATERNIAL DELEGATES
(Standing) William Post, Dutch Central Transport Workers; John
S. Thore, Swedish Seamen's Union; Thorleif Eriksen, Norwegian
Seamen's Union; Ernest Raberg, Swedish Seamen's Union; and Fred
Cla"^58«, Amalgnmat J^^ariisi.f^^fea'mei^s Union. '
(Seated) George Thompson, National Union of Seamen of Great
Britain; Omar Becu, Belgian Seamen's Union, and August Dijan,
Officers and Seamen's Union of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia.
cerely hope that we will prove to
the whole world that international
brotherhood is no longer an idle
word.
I think. Brothers, that especially
now, during the war, we will prove
it. All of our seamen of the United
Nations and even some of some
neutral countries—^let me say, for
instance, our good Swedish sea
men, they won't mind me
saying so, and although their coun
try is neutral—they are whole
heartedly with us in our struggle,
doing their bit. Also those of some
other neutral countries I say do not
spare any effort or sacrifice to keep
the way open and to make it pos
sible that we achieve that interna
tional objective we have been
reaching for for so many years.
Hundreds of ship are sailing now
adays with international crews.
You find in some of your own ships
a dozen nationalities. You find
that they are on our ships. You
find them on all these ships, sailing
for the common goals.
Those different nationalities,
combined together, with one
thought, and they prove again
what international brotherhood
means when it is necessary to dis
play such a solidarity. They learii
to know and to appreciate each
other. They learn to know eacil
other's standards of living. I think
and I sincerely hope that we all
will profit by the lessons which are
given to us now at such a great
cost, under loss of lives.
I probably can end by paying
the highest tribute to the gallant
attitude of the American .seameni
for their brave struggle against ouf
common enemy, and let me alsd
especially pay a tribute to those of
your seamen who have already lost
their lives in this struggle against
the brutal aggression of the op-
fiftS-SQT. > '
And, Brother President, if there
is anybody present at your confer
ence who would like to have some
information with regard to the
structure of our International
Transport "Workers' Federation,
with regard to our activities in the
past and with regard perhaps also
to the program which we can
achieve for the future. Although
it would take too much of your
time to develop such a program
that is in the hands, in fact, of our
main offices which are establishedi
in the United Kingdom since the
outbreak of the war, I will be
happy to give any inforgiation you
may desire and which I can give,
{The highlights of the general
discussioji will appear in future «-
sues of the LOG.)
Edgar Leadlie
Arthur Engler
Louis Wolins .
0. A. Beaver
Roger Kearns
William Daley
Douglas Raulhic
B. SHULER
P. BRADSHAW
C, SOSTELLO
TERRENCE D. O'CONNOR
'^sona I s
Will former members of the chew
of S.S. Warrior who know Jack
Wilson, former watertend'er, who
became ill while the vessel was be-
ng fumigated at Manila, please
communicate with Col C. Beren-
holtz, 312 Equitable Building, Bai-
tmore 2, Maryland.
WSA SABOTAGES SEAFARERS*
SECURITY WATCH CONTRACT
RAY HOLDER
Your book and papers have been
found. Get them at headquarters
office, Room 213, 2 Stone St., New
York City.
WILLIAM R. DIXON
Please contact the New York
Agent next time you are in town.
MONEY DUE
Steward's Department S.S.
West Gatomska have division of
wages due. Collect Mississippi
Line, New Orleans. •* » »
Crew of S.S. Kofrfesi have attack
bonus coming from Waterman Line,
19 Rector St, N.Y.C.
{Continued from Page 1)
Regulations.
' It has been suggested both to
the union and to the operators in
volved that there be further nego
tiation, but it is understood that
this suggestion was not agreeable
to the union.
This is to advise, therefore, that
these three proposed supplementary
agreements are, disapproved inso
far as they affect vessels bareboat
chartered to or owned by the War
Shipping Administration.
The War Shipping Administra
tion is ready to assist in taking
whatever steps may be necessary to
resolve this deadlock.
Sincerely yours,
HUBERT WYCKOFF,
Assistant Deputy
Administrator for
Maritim.e I.abor Rehtions
In the past, skippers in most
every outfit have been breaking
and maintaining watches contrary
to the agreements and in many in
stances have restricted shore liberty
in ports where shore liberty was
not restricted by law, the excuse
was government restrictions, but
the real reasons have been for se
curity or safety of the ship with
out the payment of overtime. The
skippers attempt to jam this
through without paying overtime
for those required to remain aboard
ship after putting in a regular
eight hour day.
Since Washington has disapprov
ed of the Security Watch Agree
ment which would have brought
an orderly solution to this problem,
the only course left open to the
union is fo strictly enforce the
existing agreements and see that
the operators pay overtime in every
instance called for under the exist
ing contract.
The only way the union can
make the shipowners live up to
the contract is by getting full re
ports at the time the ships pay off
in this country. It is up to all
ships crews and department dele
gates to keep on their toes and re
cord all shore liberty restrictions
and the ports in which they occur.
A record shall be kept of the
watches, when and how they are
broken or maintained so the union
can enforce the full letter of thq
agreements.
The union stands ready at any
time to place in effect the Security
Watch Agreement which it nego
tiated in good faith. But if the
WSA insists in sabotaging our col
lective bargaining with the ship
owners, if it persists in attempts
to force upon us an inferior agree
ment to the one we negotiated,
then we'll sit tight and ride along
on our regular contracts. In the
long run the WSA brain-boys are
going to find that it costs the ship
owners more to operate without a
Security Watch Agreement than
with one.
Remember — Don*t Sign
WSA'RMO Fink Cards
Seafarers Asks Miners
Return To AFL
William Green, President
American Federation of Labor
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir and Brother:
The Agents of this union met in conference in New York on
May 26 to June 1, and instructed mo to inform you and the Exe
cutive Board of the AFL, that we heartily approve the acceptance
of the United Mine Workers of America back into the AFL.
It is the opinion of the AFL seamen on the Atlantic and Gulf
Coasts that the miners deserve the full support of the AFL in
their present struggle against the War Labor Board and the Lit
tle Steel Formula. The miners can best be support if they are
part of the Federaton.
Moreover, the miners' long and chershed tradition of trade
union militancy will bring to the ranks of the AFL much needed
strength for the difficult days ahead.
We therefore urge immediate and favorable action upon
Presidebt John L. Lewis' application for readmittance to our
Federation.
Fraternally yours,
JOHN HAWK
I.-'' k:
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Page Four THE SEAFARERS' LOG FrifJay, June 11, 194J
IF-
1^
Resolutions Passed By Conference
;;Ji' „
l„E?
Seamens*
Certificates
Resolution No. 1
WHEREAS: Since the enact-
iucnt of the Merchant Marine
Laws of 1936, it has been the duty
of the U. S. Steamboat Inspection
& Navigation Service to issue cer
tificates to applicants wishing to
go to sea, and having the qualifi
cations as prescribed by law, and
WHEREAS: The President of
the U. S., in an Executive Order
h^ empowered the U. S. Coast
Guard to administer the U. S. Mer
chant Marine Laws that come un
der the jurisdiction of the Bureau
Marine Inspection Service, and
WHEREAS: The U. S. Coast
Guard has now given the R.M.O.
of the W.S.A., the 'power of ap
proving applicants for Merchant
Marine certificates, which power
. rightfully and only belongs within
the jurisdiction of the Coast
Guard, *and
WHEREAS: The R.M.O. is dis
criminating by not approving of
applicants wishing to go to sea
who are below or above the age
limits required by the U. S. Mari
time Training Service for recruits,
and
\fTiEREAS: The R.M.O. is also
discriminating against men who
have been rejected by the armed
jforces for service, but arc physic
ally abje to (perform duti^ on
board vessels, and
WHEREAS: The War Man
power Commission has issued a di
rective to Selective Service to give
consideration for deferment to ac
tive Merchant Seamen who do not
exceed 30 days ashore in between
ships, and
WHEREAS: Under the terms of
©ur collective bargaining agree
ments, the Union is duty bound to
supply crews to vessels on which
the Union has an agreement, and
WHEREAS: The R.M.O.
hindering the Unions' effort to
fullfill its obligations in supplying
crews to vessels with which the
union has collective bargainning
agreements, and the Statement of
Policy agreed upon by the War
Shipping Administration, and the
Union, therefor be it
RESOLVED: That to further
contribute to the all out war ef
fort, the Seafarers International
Union, Atlantic & Gulf District
urge Vice Admiral Russell R.
Waesche, Commandant of the U.S.
. Coast Guard to rescind his order,
thereby enabling men who wish to
go to sea and contribute their part
towards our war effort to do so,
and not be obstructed -by the dis
criminatory policy of the R.M.O.,
and be it further
RESOLVED: That we instruct
our Sec.-Treas., John Hawk to
forward copies of this Resolution
to Pres. F. D. Roosevelt, Vice Ad
miral Russell R. Waesche, Com
mandant of U.S.C.G., Mr. Paul V.
McNutt, Chairman of War Man
power Commission, and Congress
man Otis S. Bland, Chairman,
Committee on Merchant Marine
and Fisheries.
cial to the majority of the mem
bership concerned, and
WHEREAS: At this time cer
tain recommendations are in order
for additional shipping rules, and
WHEREAS: We, the Agents
assembled here in" conference go on
record to add to the shipping rules
for war time conditions, therefore
be it
RESOLVED: That each respec
tive port be empowered to set
time limit as to when a man shall
report aboard a ship when he has
been dispatched, arid be it further
RESOLVED: That when the
time limit is set in the various
ports, and a man who was dis
patched to a ship and who fails to
show up within that set time, that
RESOLVED: That we issue trip
cards to these men, collect dues,
and the strike and organizational
assessment on these trip cards, and
be it finally
RESOLVED: That all agents
and patrolmen are hereby instruct
ed to organize and join into the
union all persons who have U. S.
Certificates, and meet with the re
quirements of the union as per
Article lU of the Seafarers Inter
national Union, Atlantic and Gulf
District Constitution.
Security Watch
Resolution No. 5
WHEREAS: The Atlantic and
Gulf District of the Seafarers In
ternational Union has negotiated
securitjr watch agreements with
IS
Dispatching
Time Rule
< Resolution No. 2
WHEREAS; It has been the
policy of the Agents Conferences
in the past to bring back to the
membership certain recommenda
tions, and
Trip Cards
Resolution No. 4
WHE^REAS: Quite a few men
are sailing aboard S.I.U. contract
ships who do not have union books,
and
WHEREAS: They enjoy tfie
same benefits aboard ship that
union men have fuoght for, and
WHEREAS: Some of these men
make a trip or two and never make
WHEREAS: TTicse recommen- any effort to join tb« union, there-
dations have proven to be bcnefi- fore be it
Mississippi Lines, such agreements
being designed to provide for ship
safety in war time, and
WHEREAS: This agreement
was reached between the union and
the operators through the regular
collective bargaining apparatus,
with the aid and approval of the
conciliation service of the U. S.
Dept. of Labor, and subject to the
approval of the W.S.A., and
WHEREAS: The W.S.A. in
formed the union that it would
give prompt attention and decision
on this agreement, and
WHEREAS: Upon May 22,
1943, Herbert Wyckoff, assistant
deputy administrator of the W.S.A.
informed the union and the op
erators that the W.S.A. disapprov
ed the agreement but desired fur
ther discussions toward the impo
sition upon the S.I.U. of the S.U.P.
security watch agreement, and
WHEREAS: The S.U.P. agree
ment covers only the Deck Dept.,
while the S.I.U. covers all 3 depts.
and
WHEREAS: Other difference in
East and West coast working con
ditions makes the S.U.P. agree
ment all but impossible of opera
tion on S.I.U. ships, therefore be it
RESOLVEDr That delegates
from the S.I.U. Agents Conference
now convened in New York pro-
cede immediately to Washington to
fight this move of the W.S.A. to
intervene and upset our collective
bargaining relationship with the
operators and use all means to
force confirmation of tliis security
watch agrement, and be it finally
RESOLVED: That should the
W.S.A. continue its efforts to sa
botage this agreement, the dele
gates shall be empowered- to take
the problem directly to the War
Labor Board and/or other govern
ment agencies concerned with this
dispute.
Department
Transfers
Resolution No. 7
WHEREAS: Sydney Gretcher,
when he was acting Secretary-
Treasurer of the Atlantic & Gulf
District of the Seafarers* Interna
tional Union of North America is
sued an order that all agents were
instructed to register any member
of any repartment on the shipping
list that the member requested,
providing the memb"?r had the in
dorsement on his certificate, re
gardless of what department his
union book designated, and
WHEREAS; This order has nev
er been rescinded by the union of
ficially, and
WHEREAS: This system of or
ganization is ilot in any sense of
another juan be dispatched to the
^^place, and be it i J^h-i Waterman, South Atlantic and^
RESOLVED: That the afore
mentioned member will not receive
any remuneration for being ship
ped, and be it further
RESOLVED: That if a man is
drunk or otherwise refuses to sail
the ship, that he be automatically
fined the sum of twenty-five
($21.00). This to be notated in
the remaik column in his member
ship book by the agent in the port
where this has occurred, and be it
finally
RESOLVED: That this be
adopted as a war time measure
with the recommendation that it
go on the referendum ballot at the
next general election.
MWEB and
Bonus Demand
Resolution No. 3
WHEREAS: The Seafarers In
tcrnational Union, Atlantic and
Gulf District are signatory to the
Statement of Principles, and in the
Statement of Principle the duties
of the Maritime War Emergency
Board are strictly defined, and
WHEREAS: The Board is duty
bound by the Statement of Prin
ciples to make decisions only in
cases where in the union and the
employers have a dispute and can
not agree, and
WHEREAS: The Board con
tends that they can, upon their
own motion, make decisions, there
fore be it
RESOLVED: That this con
ference go on record and request
the board members to live up to
the Statement of Principles and
only make decisions where there is
a dispute between the union and
the employers and they can not
come to an agreement, and be it
further
RESOLVED: Tliat the board be
instructed to restore the port and
area bonuses that were in effect
prior to March 1st, 1943, and be it
finally
RESOLVED: That the board be
instructed to immediately correct
the gross inequities that exist in
the war risk insurance, namely re
patriation limit of two years, and
lovr disability benefits.
the word, bona-fide trade unionism,
and
WHEREAS: This jumbled up
rule is disintc?grating the efficiency
of the union to the detriment of
the men on the ships, and
WHEREAS: The Union was or
ganized for just that particular
purpose, to protect the men that
are on the ships, therefore be it '
RESOLVED: That members
shall only be permitted to register
on the department shipping list
that their union book indicates.
WHEREAS: The present scale
of wages gives the Bos'n is only
$7.50 per month more than the
A.B.'s and Q.M.'s, and
WHEREAS: It is practically
impossible to ^et experienced A.B.'s
to assume the responsibility of
of Bos'n at this scale of wages, and
WHEREAS: Under a directive
issued by the U. S. Coast Guard an
experienced A.B. can act as Mite
for a salary of $185.00 and there
fore be it
RESOLVED: That' men who
and if there arc no members in thel^'f^ three years discharges as A.&
union hall available, then the men
on the other shipping list that have
the indorsement on their certificate
shall have preference to the job,
and be it further
• RESOLVED: any new'
member is initiated in the union,
he shall specify what dept. he de
sires to sail in to the Investigation
Committee and such specification
shall be inserted in his membership
book when issued at Headquarters,
and be it finally
RESOLVED: That no member
shall be allowed to transfer from
one department to another until
he has served six months in his par
ticular rating, without permission
from the membership.
Vacation Clause
Resolution No.-8
WHEREAS: The Seafarers In
ternational Union, Atlanntic and
Gulf District have in some of their
agremcnts a clause where, in order
for a person to receive vacation
benefits, it is necessary for him to
quit his vessel, and
WHEREAS: ^Fhis clause in this
section was incorporated into the
agreement at a time when shipping
was very slack and
WHEREAS: Due to the short
age of seamen, this creates a dif
ficult situation, therefore be it
RESOLVED: That the Sec'y.-
Treas. stand instructed to contact
all S.S. Companies where the union
has a vacation section in the agree
ments and re-negotiate an amend
ment to the vacation section to al
low seamen who arc entitled to a
vacation to receive same and-stay
on board the ship and be it finally
RESOLVED: That this amend
ment to the section be limited for
the duration of the war only.
Bosun Pay Scale
Resolution No. 9
WHEREAS: Under the Little
Steel Formula any inequality in
present wages can be taken up and
adjusted, and '
who do sail as Bos'n shall be paid
at the rate of $150.00 per month,
and be it further
RESOLVED: That copies of this
resolution be forwarded to the
members of the W.S.A, ryl. t'T
Washington representative be in
structed to contact the board
members to explain the necessity
of this action.
Four-Watch System f'
Resolution No. 10 .
WHEREAS: Due to the present
conflict between the Axis Powers
and the United Nations it has ber»
come necessary to construct thou
sands of new ships to carry food
and war materials to our Allies
and armed forces in all parts of
the world, and,
WHEREAS: The United States
Government, through its agencies,
has trained and is still training
thousands of seamen to man these
ships, and,
WHEREAS: After internation
al commerce returns to peace time
levels, a large percentage of these
war tiipe built vesseL will be laid-
up, as they were after World War
No. 1, and,
WHEREAS: The laying-up of
these ships will cre.i(te an unem
ployment problem among the
workers of the American Merchant
Marine, especially the seamen,
therefore,
BE IT RESOLVED: That this
Union go on record as in favor of
the Four-Watch-System to cope
with the expected unemployment
situation and that after the war
the officials of the SIU of N.A^ ••
use their utmost efforts to negoti
ate agreements to incorporate the
Four-Watch-System in all the
agreements and be it finally,
RESOLVED: That we repledge
ourselves not to strike any vesseb
during this war and that any mem
ber who advocates the slowing-up
of transportation or strike (other
than through the medium of thfe
Constitution) shall be expelled
from the Union as an obstruction
ist.
BULLARD, SAMUEL T
BUSTIN, L. R
CARTER, J. D
DE LOACH, B
DIX, DANNY :
ELLIOTT, ROBERT
AB
FOW
Messman
A.B.
Oiler
Messman
Messman
Fireman
GROOVER, CHARLES W
HAMPTON, JOHN
HAYMAN, GEORGE W. Jr 3rd Cook
HUGGINS, WOODROW Deck Engineer
JERNIGAN, LEROY FOW
KILEY, MELVIN _. _ OS
Me DANIEL, THOMAS J> 2nd Cook
PICKETT, LOREN Messman
TXAYLOR, FRED ; Fireman
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