Media
Issue Date
1943-02-05
Volume
5
Issue Number
3
Plaintext
^^SSEUS JOQ
1^^ OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1943 No. 3
WSA Creates
Discipline
Board
P
Back again on the old saw
'about "discipline breaking down
aboard ship," the War Shipping
Administration has set up a special
board whose function will be "to
restore and maintain the authority
of ship masters."
This is the old anti-union prop
aganda line always used by the
shipowners when they saw a chance
to land a blow on organized labor.
The truth is that those skippers
who have trouble maintaining dis
cipline, arc the ones who attempt
to violate union working rules. It
is the brass hat with the Napoleon
complex that has discipline
trouble. Any skipper that keeps
his nose clean, does his own work,
and demands that the crew does its
work—within the frame of the
union contract — has little or no
trouble with American seamen.
The personnel of the new WSA
Discipline Board is as follows:
James L. Adams, assistant general
counsel, H. W. Jackson, manager
marine operation, and Erich Neil-
sen, assistant director Maritime
Labor Relations.
Looks like a bunch of Washing
ton career men are going to carry
the ball a while for the shipowners.
More Draft Board
Bungling Told
Evidence is piling up that the
local draft boards, especially those
located inland, are acting' in a
criminally irresponsible manner
when it comes to deferring merch
ant seamen. Many boards have
cornpletely disregarded directives
from the national office of Selec
tive Service in Washington, and
are inducting men in the army.
Other boards have brought crim
inal charges against seamen for the
slightest infraction of the compli
cated bookkeeping rules laid down.
The following two examples,
'clipped from two newspapers,
serves to illustrate our point.
{Item From Wasbhigfon, D, C.
Newspaper)
" "Carroll J. Rollins, young Mes-
sick, Va., seaman has been listed by
his draft board as the only delin
quent, and Rollins' parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Floyd J. Rollins, don't
like it.
"For they said today, at the time
the draft board was labeling Car
roll a delinquent he was drifting
on a raft in the mid-Atlantic with
five shipmates from a vessel that
had been torpedoed ancF sunk by an
ehcmy submarine.
"Furthermore, they added, the
{Continued on Page 4)
New SIU Officers Elected
Merchant Seamen
See The Sights
New York is quite a hot spot
for seamen these days, and it does
n't cost them a plug nickle. The
town has finally awakened to the
fact that it is the merchant seamen
that keep things moving in this
war, and is now treating them
royally.
Many canteens and clubs have
been opened to give the boys a
good time, and most of them are
on the up and up. The best spot,
according to those who have made
the rounds, is the American
Theatre Wing Merchant Seamen's
Club. This club, run by actors
and actresses, has distributed 10,-
000 free tickets to theatres,
movies, operas, radio shows and
boxing matches in the two weeks
since it was opened. Tickets are
distributed every day from 12 to
9 P.M. And then, of course, there
are some nice kittens around to
dance with.
The- newest canteen open for the
seamen is at the Ritz—no less.
Every Sunday night the Ritz Tow
ers on Park Ave., at 57th Street
holds open house. Dancing, floor
show, hostesses from Park Ave
nue, etc., etc.
Quite a change from the old
days when a man that wandered
aboijt 14rh street was muscled in
to the back alleys.
1943 Officials Take Office
At Once; Hawk Opens 4th Term
The annual election of officers for the Atlantic and Gulf District of the Sea
farers International Union has been completed, the results concurred in by the Branches
up and down the coast, and the new officers were sworn in last Monday, February 1.
This year the offices of Atlantic District Representative and Gulf District Rep
resentative were eliminated from the ballot, as were various port patrolmen. This was
• done in order to streamline the or
ganization for the utmost economy
A Slight Change
of Plans
Secretary-Treasurer
At the last convention held by
the National Maritime Union,
San Francisco was selected asi
the site of the 1943 convention.
Today, however, the National
Council is conducting a refer
endum vote in order to change
the convention site to New
York City.
Strangel
The NMU even bought them
selves a fancy hall in San
Francisco in preparation for
the big convention. Why the
sudden shift?
Our guess is that the 1943,
clam bake was to be a "victory"
celebration marking the NMU
invasion of the West Coast.
Since there has been no vic
tory, it would be pointless to
meet in the deserted S.F. hall.
No sense in transporting Cur-
ran and his coterie to the West
Coast just for a wake.
JOHN HAWK
NMU WIND ARTIST RIDES SHIRT
TAIL ON GAINS BY SEAFARERS
In the Jan. 8 issue oi The Pilot,
J.ick Lawrenson, NMU Vice-
President, reported the results of
his raiding tactics on the Great
Lakes when he attempted to force
seamen sailing the "steel" boats in
to his union. Lawrenson gave his
campaign a lot of fan-fare but
wound up by taking the case to
the War I.ahor Board in an at
tempt to obtain government aid in
getting conditions.
"The Union recognizes that this
is the first marine case before the
War Labor Board, and recognizes
too, that the issues are different
from any other case that the
Board has heard to date," Lawren
son wrote in The Pilot.
This is a lot of bilge water!
Lawrenson attempts to make it
appear that he is blazing new trials
—but in reality he is tagging along
in the 'path of the Great Lakes
District of the SIU, basing his en
tire case upon SIU precidents al
ready established, the only differ
ence being that he did not quite
have the guts to ask for the full
benefits won by the SIU.
And this is not a matter of op
inion, but a matter of record as
published by the War Labor Board
Life Boats To Have
Fishing Equipment
The U. S. Coast Guard has is
sued a regulation requiring
every ship of over 3,000 gross
tons to provide each life boat
with a fishing kit. The regula
tions call for several types of
hooks and line and bait, design
ed to enable the men to catch
all sorts of fish in any water.
All material for fishing will be
packed in a metal waterproof
key opening can.
This new regulation should
greatly reduce the loss of life
due to exhaustion of ordinary
emergency rations aboard the
life boats.
itself. All one has to do is to
glance over the following break
down of WLB records to see just
what sort of a B.S. artist Lawren
son really is.
The quotations concerning the
SIU are from the WLB release on
case No. 198 in the dispute be
tween the Gre.it T.akes District of
the SIU and the Detroit and Cleve
land Navigation Company. It was
this case, filed on June 4, 1942,
which really set the precedents for
conditions on the Lakes, and which
formed the bases for Lawrenson's
appeal.
The quotations concerning the
NMU are from WLB Mediation
Panel Report on case No. 376
which was not introduced by the
union until Nov. 28, 1942 — or
until six months after the SIU had
won its dispute.
{Continued on Page 4)
the war and efficiency during
years.
Brother John Hawk was re
elected Secretary-Treasurer of the
District without opposition. This
is the fourth time that the mem
bership has returned Hawk to
this office. The majority of the in
cumbent port agents and patrol
men were also re-elected, thus as
suring the union of experienced
officers for the difficult year that
lies ahead.
Assessment Passed
Highlight of the election was
the passage of the resolution pro
viding for an annual $3 assessment
to build the strike fund. The pas
sage of this assessment testifies to
the determination of SIU men to
fully prepare for the inevitable
struggle with the shipowners after
the war ends. This assessment will
build the strike fund to the point
where a full scale economic struggle
with the operators can be financed
through to victory and the preser
vation of present conditions.
The Secretary-Treasurer is now
having special receipts and stamps
made for this assessment and they
will be in the hajnds of the patrol
men within the week. All mem
bers should be certain to pay the
strike assessment next time they
pay dues.
Baltimore Mix-Up
The only dark spot in the en
tire election was the port of Balti
more where the election proceedings
became pretty well fouled up. The
General Tallying Committee found
several discrepencies in the voting
and disqualified the entire vote
cast in the port. Secretary-Treas
urer John Hawk, following the
recommendation of the Tallying
Committee, has brought formal
I charges against the men who voted
more than once and against the
Agent of the port who failed to
catch the errors.
In a letter to Branch Agents,
Hawk said, "Pursuant to the Com
mittee's recommendation, the fol-
I lowing brothers are to answer
I charges for violations of the Con
stitution's provisions on balloting.
Clarence Wallace, No. 5318; Leo-
{Con tin lied on Page 4)
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Page Two THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, February 5, 1943
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Pubiuhta &v CM
SEAFiUlERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Guli District
AtffUatta vrifh CM Anmioan FtdtroXion of Labor
HASRY LUNDEBERQ, Intemcrtloncd Pr«ld*nt
110 l.(cEr]c«t Street Room 402, Sea Frondsco, Cdlii.
ADDBEBB ALL OORBBBPONDENOH OONOBRNIKO
PUBLICATION TOt
"THE SEAFABEBS' LOG
P. O. 25, Station P, Now Yorio N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 9-8346
TMIM
9n Wmwhiam
ALEXANDER, HARRY Fireman
BANKS, O. C. 2nd Cook
CENTENO, FRANCIS Wiper
CRA^W^FORD, THOMAS A.R.
ELLSE, T. W. Messman
GENNARO, LOUIS DE Fireman
HOLMS, BARRY Oiler
JONES, LEWIS Deck Engineer
KEANE, EDWARD Messman
MACKSEY, ANTHONY Oiler
McCULL, JAMES Bosun
MURRAY, THOMAS F Messman
PAS, HERMAN Chief Cook
PEREZ, MARCELINO Wiper
PETITTI, CHARLES A.B.
SQUIRES, JOSEPH ,. A.B.
TILLEY, F. H. Steward
VARELA, JESUS •. • • .^Watertender
WILSON, CHARLES ...^ OS
WYNN, LEWIS 3rd Cook
Out of the Focsl
by
it. ec.
The brothers who were squawking about .torpedo pins, victory pins
«r what have you, may now secure a ribbon from the WSA for every
time they survive a torpedoing, by writing to that office.
AAA
Now that H. J. Collins has left for Philly, things are quiet around
Headquarters. We can just see him now, telling the boys all about his
--escapades in the Big City. Snozzy Gorman, Frank Kcaveney, John
(Red) Carolan swaping tales in the Bean Pot. Keaveney is anxious to
hear from his buddy, George Cowles. Mike Walsh telling us about his
heart ailment, but we still think the girls should keep a sharp lookout
now that he's back in New York. Max Longfellow is shipping out of
New York these days. Brother McCudden an Australian member telling
US how much he likes America and the Americans.
Now that the War Manpower Commission has come out with a
definite statement as to its policy, we'll expect to see a great many of
the beachcombers shipping out unless they want to get into the Army.
Klous Frey has been inducted into the Army. Wally Dorfmaster and
Lcroy (Rah Hah) Parrish have entered the school at New London.
PERSONALS
CHARLES WINFORD
Your local draft board and the
FBI are trying to locate you for
failure to notify the board of your
whcr-abouts. Get in touch with
your board in Savannah at once.
ALFRED V. VILK
Your papers and passport have
been found. Call for them at the
office of the Secretary-Treasurer.
Dutch Seafarers
Mark New Gains
NEW YORK, N.Y. —ITF —
Substantial improvements in the
wages and working conditions of
the Dutch merchant seamen have
been incorporated into the new
collective agreement signed in De
cember, 1942, in London, by rep
resentatives of the Netherlands
Government in exile, shipowners,
the Dutch Central Transport
Workers' Union and the Officers'
Organization, it was armounced
jointly by P. J. Vanderberge, sec
retary, and J. J. Vandevile, ships'
representative of the New York
branch of the Dutch Central
Transport Workers' Union.
The union, an affiliate of the In
ternational Transport Workers'
Federation, has been operating in
the United States since the fall of
1940.
The new agreement which went
into effect on January 1, 1943,
covers more than 17,000 seafarers
aboard Dutch ships engaged in the
Allied cause. The basic wage of
the lower ratings has been increas
ed by 15 guilders (about $8.10)
per month, thus bringing the basic
pay of an A.B. up to 118.50 guild
ers or about $63. In addition all
officers and men receive an equal
monthly war bonus of $40, re
gardless of their rank, long voyage
allowances amounting to 10% of
the basic pay, and a shore bonus
of $1.00 per day paid to the lower
ratings in all ports outside the
United Kirigdom,
In consideration of the long
drawn out negotiations in London,
all officers and men above 18 years
are entitled to an extra payment of
$40, and $20 for all men below
18 years of age.
Working hours which ran in
certain departments as high as 72
hours per week, have been reduced
to an average of 56 hours. Com
pensation for loss of effects has al
so been raised by 10%, and com
pensation payments for ordinary
and war accidents have been eqaul-
izcd. The 10% deduction former
ly taken out of the men's pay and
kept in a special savings account
to he paid out after the war, has
been eliminated at the insistence
of the union.
REPORT FROM
Washington
By Matthew Dushane
Editor's Mail
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
I am writing this letter asking
all of the membenship to take up
donations for the fellows who are
in the hospitals. A lot of these fel
lows have been in various hospitals
over a year, which means that they
cannot collect hospital benefits
from the union. There are several
of them that haven't any money or
any means of getting any. Person
ally, I was in the hospital for a
year «nd a half. In that time I re
ceived one year's benefits. For the
other half of the year I didn't re
ceive anything which is according
to constitution.
Remember, a lot of these fellows
have been shipmates of yours, so
why not shell out a few nickles
for them. You wo;t^t miss it and
they will need it and appreciate it
a lot. Remember that you, too,
may he sick and broke some time.
ARTHUR L. GRESHAM
1*
I
Selective Service:
John Mahonney, A.B. has been going to sea for 12 years, was ordered
inducted into the Army by Local Board No. 10 Seattle, and the case
was referred to Selective Service here. Was advised that Naval Intelli
gence and operations of the War Shipping Administration have recom
mended to the Local Draft Board not to defer this man. Advised the
Agent to appeal the case and submit a report to Headquarters. f
The Recruiting and Manning division of the War Shipping Ad
ministration have presented a proposal to the National Headquarters of
Selective Service where by they will handle the deferment of Merchant
Seamen. That is they intend to handle all the cases for all Merchant
Seamen, and they will fill out form 42-A and make formal requests for
deferments to Selective Service. They will also inform Selective Service
as to the activity of Merchant Seamen. Selective Service- has agreed tQ
the proposal that was submitted by the WSA.
I have taken this up with Capt. Schmidt of Selective Service, and
asked him if this was compulsory, and were the union compelled to co
operate. He informed me that this is not compulsory and that if the
unions did not cooperate, it was doomed.
Here we have a case of where one division of the WSA are request
ing Selective Service that they he allowed to handle all the deferments
for Merchant Seamen, appeals, check-up on seamen, etc.—and in an
other case where another division of the WSA recommends to a Local
Draft Board not to defer a seaman. The Unions should take this ques
tion up and express their opinion on whether they want the W.S.A. to
he in a position to black hall any seaman that they do not like or will
not cater to the whims of some individual in the WSA. All branches
and Headquarters should send telegrams into" the National Headquarters
of the Selective Service System and oppose the RMO of the WSA having
anything to do with request for deferment or handling of appeals for
deferment for Merchant Seamen. All telegrams or letters should he
addressed to General Hershey, Director. Paul V. McNutt, Director of
the War Manpower Commission should also he advised of whatever ac
tion the Union takes.
War Relocation Authority:
Received serveral requests from some of our members who are in
terned in the centers of the WRA. Contacted Mr. T. Holland and re
quested to know what is the hold up on these men. I was informed that
Naval Intelligence is opposed to these men being released. These men
have nearly all been cleared by the F.B.I, and other government agencies.
Mr. Holland has informed me that all of the men that arc interned and
that have been cleared can and will he released to go up on the lakes
until we can get clearances that they can sail off shore.
Mardy Polaner, Sec.-Treas. S.I.U. Great Lakes District is now in
town and in a conference that was held with Mr. Holland, he has agreed
to make arrangements that these men will be given employment on ves
sels on the Lakes. Mr. Flolland has assured us that the WRA will allow
these men to leave the camps if we can supply ttem with a job, and will
give us all the assistance that he can, and in the meantime he is trying
to get the Naval Intelligence to change their opposition regarding al
lowing the men to sail out of the Atlantic Coast ports.
Maritime War Emergency Board:
The MWEB has ruled that if a ship goes into the straits of Gibral
tar, and then goes into a port in the Mediterranean and then goes back
through the Straits of Gibraltar, men are entitled to three (3) bonuses.
Hudson Bay; Board has ruled that when ships are in Hudson Bay ports,
rule regarding no bonus payable while in the western hemisphere shall
apply, ports, open sea roadsteads, and anchorages, shall he governed by
the. Hydrographic office sailing directions, and the United States Coast
pilot, check with decision No. 7 and 7 Revised. Bonus is payable while
in Hudson Bay hut not in some rivers and ports.
Board has ruled that Carlos Trunninger is entitled to wages and
bonus while being detained by the British Authorities in England.
Mailing list of the MWEB is being very poorly handled, several
complaints have come into my office regarding material not being sent
out, yours truly was also being left 6ut. This has been brought to the
attention of Mr. E. Nielsen, Sec. MWEB., who has promised to cor
rect same.
War Labor Board:
\
The WLB is now divided into twelve (12) regional tribunals and .
all cases will not be handed by their regional offices. Panels are being
{Continiied on Page 3)
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BSFiewidl
Friday, February 5, 1943 THE SEAFARERS'LOG Page Three
i
WHArS DOING
Around the Ports
MOBILE
Vt^ell, Brothers, I just had the
pleasure of looking at the propa
ganda sheet, for the front organi
zation known as the National
Maritime Union. Dated Dec. 18,
1942, on page 9 under the heading
of Mobile, it states that three
N.M.U. vessels which was sched
uled to pay otf in Mobile agreed to
pay off in New Orleans to avoid
any delay in the loading of the
ships. Then it refers to what a
great tradition these three crews
represent inasmuch as one S.I.U.
crew was requested to do the same
thing but paid off in Mobile. Then
it states that this is no reflection
Pn S.I.U. members but rather on
the war time policy of that Union.
Now let us get this thing
straight so there will be no misun
derstanding in anybody's mind.
There was a convoy of ships arrive
here, with three ships represented
by the N.M.U. and one by the
S.I.U. At that time, the Manning
and Recruiting Organization had
just opened an office here in this
port and they did not have any
men (neither did the N.M.U. for
that matter) to replace the crews
if J^ey had paid off. So the only
thing that they could do was to
request the crews to take the ship
to New Orleans and pay off where
they could get replacements. Tlien
the Port Captain for the Company
contacted this hall and explained
what the score was. It was very
explicitely explained to the com
pany that the Seafarers Interna
tional Union had a contract with
the company and it was the union's
responsibility to supply the crew
for this ship and not the Recruit
ing and Manning Office. The com
pany was informed that we would
crew the ship up, and if we did not
have enough men here to fill up
the crew we would get them from
New Orleans.
And that my dear friends, is
just what the Recruiting and Man
ning Organization did not want
us to do. They had requested us
to call their office for men. After
thiat was all straightened out, the
crew was paid off and went home,
and wc shipped another crew to
the ship and the ship sailed with
out any delay with a satisfied crew.
I want to remind the N.M.U.
that all other S.I.U. ships have
sailed out off this port on time
without delay by the crew. The
policy of this Union is to crew
them up and to keep right on do
ing it for us. And I just want to
challenge whoever was responsible
for the article to claim the same
record for the N.M.U., even if Joe
Curran did coin the phrase "Keep
*Em Sailing." I definitely know
that the N.M.U. has had ships tied
up in this Port as long as two
weeks waiting for crew.
Under the heading of "Passing
the Buck" by Joe Curran, this
great Emaff-vipator of the Seamen
goes back to 193^ and gives the
Matitime Commission a raking
oVet the coals because from its in
ception it has always tried to break
>^up the spirit of the N.M.U. Now
this Is really a joke. If you told
this to a government mule he
would kick your brains out. I just
wonder if Joe Curran forgets 1939
when the SUP and the SIU had
picket lines on all maritime offices
up and down the Coast and the
N.M.U. was sending their men in
and out of these places.
I stated previously that the pol
icy of the N.M.U. is to get all the
publicity and to hell with the con
ditions for the members. I will
cite you a few cases: Last Septem
ber the Hamlin F. McCormick of
The McCormick Line out of San
Francisco paid off here. The Deck
Department was under contract to
the S.U.P. which was represented
by the S.I.U. in this port. The
Stewards and Engine Departments
was under contracts to M. S. & C.
and the M. F. O. W. 8c W. of the
Pacific which was represented by
the N.M.U. in this port. The ship
had laid in Georgetown, B.C. for a
period of time and the company
deducted the time the ship had laid
in Georgetown from the voyage
bonus, stating they could not pay
bonus for that time the ship laid
there. After a lot of jaw Boning
the crew paid off. The N.M.U.
did not take any part in the ar
gument at any time, and was" quite
willing to forget all about the
matter. The S.I.U. took the case
to the M.W.E.B. and got a ruling
in the crew's favor and kept at
the company until they finally paid
off. That's only one case in sev
eral—I could go on for several
pages with this sort of thing.
Now you can readily understand
why the ship operators and the
W.S.A. is in favor of catering to
this outfit that you hear so much
about on the radio and you see so
much about in the Pilot. Brothers
just draw your own conclusions
about your unions.
OLDEN BANKS, Age,a
SAVANNAH
Shipping in the Savannah dis
trict is still fairly good. The fact
is that I'm still short of AB, Cooks
and Oilers.
Brother Biggs and myself at
tended the Southern Conference
and there introduced a telegram
from President Flarry Lundeberg
pretaining to the unfairness of col
lecting the Victory Tax from sea
men on the 1942 earnings.
Also introduced similar message
in the Central Body in Savannah,
Georgia. Also had the Mayor of
this City write Senator George,
head of the tax committee regard
ing the unfairness of collecting
this Victory tax from seamen when
there is no other group in the
States who have to pay on. their
1942 earnings. Due to all this
pressure some results have been
achieved.
Am expecting another ship out
around the 26 th of February for
the South Atlantic Steamship Line.
Thi; isuie Company expects a new
ship on the Pacific coast, no date
as yet.
CHARLES WAID, Agent
TAMPA
Brothers believe it or not, I saw
a miracle the other day and I am
still wondering if I am subject to
optical illusions. This past week
none other than one of the ex-pie-
cards (Sonny Simmons) came in
to the hall and wanted me to go
some place with him in a hurry. I
thought that he had some kind of
a beef on his hands so I grabbed
my ole shooting iron and we took
off. But lo and behold he had two
gals in the car, then things began
to take on a different version, es
pecially when he headed for the
Court House.
Now brothers this is hard to be
lieve. (The old Gator that has
caused a many broken heart and
was the first to use the well known
Gator slide on the banks of the
Hillsborough River, took unto
himself a wife.)
Boys, that is the truth, so help
me, and if I had not been the best
man at that undertaking I still
would not believe it. Well, here's
wishing them the best that life can
offer them.
D. L. PARKER, Agent
NEW ORLEANS
On Friday, December 18, 1942,
the New Orleans Item had a spec
ial section of their paper dedicated
to the merchant seamen. They
were whole heartedly supporting
the seamen in the great work they
are doing. All the major steam
ship companies, and quite a few
other companies, had ads in this
paper and quite a few stateqients
refering to Seamen and the great
job they are doing.
Among the statements were:
"Men of the merchant mar
ine your country salutes you."
"No longer are they "Unsung
Heroes". Today the men of the
Merchant Marine are recognized
as heroes of the Sea."
"Victory depends on our
merchant marine."
The planes, and tanks, and
shells, and jeeps. It's the mer
chant marine who gets 'em
there."
All the above statements were
endorsed by various companies or
organizations. All the above state
ments were copied from the Item
word for word. That is the way
the steamship companies felt about
the Merchant Seamen on December
the 18, 1942, but how do they
feel today?
Why don't they help the sea
men in the fight against the un
just taxation on their 1942 in
come in the form of the new "Vic
tory Tax?" The men that victory
depends on are being unjustly tax
ed, yet no steamship company or
any one on the outside of the
Union is doing much to help rem
edy the situation.
There are quite a few incidents
on record proving how unjust the
merchant seamen are being taxed.
On December the 16th a ship paid
off and one of the crew members
did not receive his pay. This man
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICAN
ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
ROOM 213 — 2 STONE STREET, NEW YORK CITY
P.O. Box 25, Station P. Phone: BOwlinc Green 8-8346
Directory of Branches
PHONE BRANCH ADDRESS
NEW YORK 2 Stone St
Dispatcber'a Office BOwlin^ Green B-34SC
Agent BOwling Green 8-3437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 4057
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK. ............. 25 Commercial PI Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartree 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 2-1392
PUERTO RICO 45 Ponce de Leon.- Puerto de Tierm
GALVESTON 219 20th Street Gaivceton 2-8043
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway..
Washington Report
(Contimied front Page 2)
set up in their regional offices and cases do not now have to be tried in
Washington.
The function of the panel will be not to mediate but to get at th0
facts and make recommendations to the regional board for final action.
Under the arrangements worked out by the TJ. S. Conciliation ser-
vice of the Department of Labor and the War Labor Board, there will
be a three stejl procedure in disputes.
1. Mediation efforts by the conciliation service.
2. A hearing before a regional panel with recommendations to the
regional board.
3. A decision by the Regional Board.
Any party will have the right within ten days fater the issuance of
a directive order by a Regional Board to petition to the National Wax
Labor Board in Washington, D.C., for a review of the case.
Been advised that Senator Bone and Representative Lane have in
troduced a bill to make Merchant Seaman available for life insurance
that will be identical to the insurance as the men in the armed forces
have. It looks as though some parties arc trying to force the seamen to
pay for their insurance. Will check on this and inform Heaquarters.
Maritime Commission Medals:
The Maritime Commission is now issuing a ribbon bar for all sea
men who have been torpedoed. These bars will contain a silver star
and every time a seaman has been torpedoed he will rate another star.
There is a bill now in Congress to make this ribbon an official service
bar.
Any men who have been torpedoed and care to have one of these
bars should send requests to Frank Rusk, Executive Secretary, War
Shipping Administration, Washington, D.C. Be sure and name the ship
on which you were torpedoed.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
JANUARY 11 TO 25 INCLUSIVE
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 391 297 293 981
REGISTERED 299 280 199 778
ON HAND 498 596 291 1385
received his pay Jan. 4, 1943 and
was taxed $33.83 on money earned
in 1942.
On January 1, 1943 a ship paid
off and the crew members were
taxed for all money earned in
1942, one man Was taxed $22.29.
On January 1, 1943 a ship paid
off after being gone since Sept. 2,
1942 and the crew was taxed
around $23.00 per man.
On January 2, 1943 a ship paid
off and the crew was taxed around
$11.00 per man.
On January 12, 1943 a ship paid
off that had been out since July
12, 1942 and the men were taxed
around $59.00 per man.
There Js case after case where
the men are taxed on 1942 income.
What a swell reception for the
men of the merchant marine, the
men that Victory depends on.
Why do the Seamen have to pay
this tax? Why don't these com
panies that depend so much on the
seamen do something for them?
The seamen have tried to do all
they could and everyone is of the
opinion that the tax is unjust and
yet the seamen are still being,
taxed.
I close, hoping that the seamen
will be refunded all they have put
out, and it will not be long until
they eliminate the taxes on the
1942 income.
C. J. STEPHENS, Agent
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG
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Friday, February J, 1943
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AFL Southern Conference
Adopts Program Of 1943
Tlic Southern War Labor Con
fcrcncc, attended by more than
3000 American Federation of La
bor union officials from 12 south
ern states, including M. D. Biggs
and Charles Waid of the S.I.U.
adopted at its closing session Jan
17, a declaration of policy which
included:
1. Re-emphasis and continucc
support of the AFL "non-strike'
policy.
2. A proposal that the govern
ment give labor "full representa
tion on all government boards anc
in all government agencies."
3. Opposition to State or Fed
eral "adverse labor legislation."
4. A request that the AFL con-
MORE DRAFT BOARD
BUNGLING IS TOLD
(Continued from Vage 1)
last word they had of Carroll was
a letter from the Seafarers' Inter
national Union informing them
that their son was abord a ship
plying the waters to Russia."
(Item from N. Y. Daily News)
ST. LOUIS—Merchant mariner
Vernon A. Krafft, whose ships
twice have been torpedoed during
a dozen voyages, received a four-
year prison sentence today for fail
ing to nofify his draft board of a
change of address.
The 2 5-year-old seaman, who
has sailed from Reykjavik, Iceland,
to Cape Town, South Africa, with
supplies for the Allies, pleaded
guilty, but explained that his long
sea • duty made it impossible to
communicate with his board. When
he finally succeeded in doing so, it
was six months too late and he al
ready had been declared delinquent.
Krafft failed to inform his board
when he and his family moved
from St. Louis to Texas, where he
joined the merciiant marine.
Federal Judge C. B. Davis inter
rupted Krafft's attempts to tell his
experiences and said he would sus
pend sentence if the seaman would
join the Army immediately.
Krafft exended his arms showing
that his right one was three inches
shorter than the left. This would
make him ineligible for Army ser
vice, he said, and asked that he be
allowed to rejoin the merchant
marine.
Later, Krafft showed newsmen
his papers testifying that he had
shipped out 12 times and that his
last voyage was completed in Jan
uary. He also displayed credentials
showing he had signed up for an
other voyage when picked up by
federal agents in Philadelphia. Be
ing detained, he said, prevented
him from catching his ship.
tinue its fight for repeal of the poll
tax as a condition for voting.
5. A declaration that the con
ference is in hearty accord with
the AFL principle that the labor
movement should serve workers
without regard to race, creed or
color.
6. A proposcl that the Federal
wage stabilization board establish
a minimum wage rate essential to
fair living conditions, and declare
all wages under that level to be
sub-standard.
7. A request that the AFL in
crease its organizers in the south
ern states.
8. A proposal that requests for
elimination of child labor stand
ards be fully investigated before
standards are lowered.
9. A suggestion that post-war
planning include a program to
build hard-surfaced roads on every
mile of roadway travelled by the
rural mail carriers, and enlarged
appropriations by Congress for the
support of the International Labor
Organization.
AFL President William Green
and nearly a score of government
and state officials took part in the
conference, along with the 12
State Federation leaders who spon
sored the meeting. WPB Labor
Production Division and the labor
sections of CCD, OWI and other
agencies cooperated.
officials Take Office
At Once; Hawk Opens 4th Term
RESOLUTION ON BALLOTING
January 1^, 1943.
WHEREAS: It is the desire of the Tallying Committee of the
Port of New York to introduce to the membership at this meeting
By-law to the Constitution so as to insure honest votes in all elections
therefore, be it
RESOLVED: (a) Every branch of the Seafarers International Union
of North America have a metal or suitable ballot box, fitted with
a lock to be used at the time of elections, and be it further
RESOLVED: (b) That the Union supply large slotted manila
envelopes to have the daily vote cast placed in and sealed by the days
Balloting Committee. This envelope to be put in the ballot box by the
committee at the end of each day with the date stamped on it and the
number of ballots cast, and be it finally
RESOLVED: (c) That the Balloting Committee of each Branch
check the register list each day and forward to the Headquarters' Office
a duplicate of that day's registrars. These duplicates to be kept in the
safe and checked by the final tallyihg committee.
Fraternally yours,
J. H.- EDWARDS, 4368 R. HAYES, 348
REGINALD A. GOODEN, 22160 ANDREW H. LAVELZOLI, 7166
JAMES JOSEPH DE VITO, G-185 0. H. COUNCILMAN, 6453
Seafarers' Log-
HONOR ROLL
ROBIN WENTLEY
CREW
MONEY DUE
The following crew members of
the 8. 8. Wm. Moultrie have over=
time coming from the Robin Line;
W. Fowler, R. Smith, C. Bloome, A.
Rion and J. Shernorick. Collect at
39 Cortland Street, New York City.
«• «•
The c-ews who made the last
trip on the Flomar, Pierce Butler,
and Benjamin Chew, have disputed
bonus money due.
Collect at Calmar Line office, 23
Broadway, New York City.
The crew that made the last trip
aboard the Robin Weniley should
get in touch with Sol Berenholtz,
312 Equitable Building, Baltimore,
Md.
CREW OF S. S. RICHARD H. ALVEY 88.00
CREW OF S. S. WILLIAM MOULTRIE $22.50
CREW OF S. S. THOMAS NELSON 12.00
S. HEINFLING i 10.00
JACK SHIELDS , 5.00
STEVE CARDOLA - 2.50
R. NORGREN 1 2.00
DANNY DIX 2.O0
E. J. TRITT ' 2.00
CHARLES SHEPHERD : 2.00
ED GORING 2.00
A. F. LERNER 2.00
H. HAINZINGER 2.00
J. C. MILLER 1.00
PERCY PODOLSKY 1.00
TOTAL .$156.00
NMU Wind Artist Rides Shirt Tail Seafarers
(Continued from Page 1)' llll'f' ""I'l' 1' '
SIU vs. D. & C. Navigation Company WAGES ASKED BY UNION:
DATE CERTIFIED TO BOARD:
June 4, 1942 by Secretary of Labor.
SIU'was on strike. Boats tied up.
WAGES:
Increase monthly rate for A.B. from $155 to $178,
plus subsistence. ,
For fit-out, lay-up and repair work the hourly
rate is increased from 84 cents to 95 cents.
OVERTIME:
Increase from 84 cents to 95 cents per hour.
NMU vs. Interstate^ Inland,
Bethlehem and International
Harvester Lines
DATE CERTIFIED TO BOARD:
August 18, 1942.
Strike called by union but failed to tie up any
vessels.
$178. The Union relies on the decision in the
Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company case
(SIU) No. 198, for support of its argument.
OVERTIME:
The Union requested 90 cents per hour, pointing
out that the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation
Company (SIU) was paying 95 cents. The
Union offered to accept a lower rate in their
desire to obtain a settlement.
CONCLUSION OF WLB PANEL
Solely on the basis of the wage criteria establish
ed in Case No. 198, Detroit and Celeveland Naviga
tion Company vs. Seafarers International Union,
AFL, the Panel recommended and the Board order
ed, the rate for Able Seamen be raised to $178 per
month.
The Board ordered the overtime rate to be 95
cents, the same as the SIU rate, instead of the 90
cents asked by the NMU.
"If the National War Labor
Board shopld retreat in the face of
this obvious display of pressure by
the Great Lakes steel companies,"
wrote Lawrenson in The Pilot,
before his case had been settled,
"then the Union can only say that
the seamen would lose confidence
in the War Labor Board."
The seamen would lose confi
dence in the Board to do what?
To automatically grant the NMU
all gains won by the SIU? And if
the NMU leadership does "lose
confidence" in the WLB — what
anyone to" believe they would lead
the men in direct struggle with
the shipowners for better condi
tions. That's not the way the
NMU leadership works. They pre
fer to meet the operators through
the back door of some government
board—depending upon Washing
ton stooges to make some slick
deal that will advance their inter
ests.
Not the SIU. We have no con-
• fidence that the War Labor Board,
or any other Washington Board,
will hand us anything on a silver
I then? They certainly don't expect platter. The gains made on the
(Continued from Page 1)
nard Lynch, No. 2126; Fred Wil
liams, No. 4291; Jose L. Garcia,
No. J 609; Leonard Layton, No.
417; James McFarlin, No. 23634;
E. E. Steward, No. 23622; J.-
Vechio, No. 1616; and James J.,
Dobbins, No. 7499. Post a notice
on the bulletin board at your
branch to the effect that before be
ing allowed to ship out, these men
must appear before a trial com
mittee."
The Tallying Committee, be
fore concluding it's work, drew up
a resolution calling for certain
changes in the Constitution aimed
at safeguarding the balloting sys
tem in all future elections. TTiis
resolution passed up and down the
coast and now becomes part of the
Constitution. The resolution is
printed in full at the end of this
story.
Following are the officials elected
to serve the union for the year of
1943:
SECRETARY-TREASURER
John Hawk
BOSTON AGENT
John Mogan
PROVIDENCE AGENT
•Joseph E. Lapham
NEW YORK AGENT
Frank Williams
N. Y. ENGINE PATROLMAN
Ray W. Sweeney
NEW YORK DECK PATROLMAN
L. J. (Baldy) Bollinger
N. Y. STEWARD PATROLMAN
Claude Fisher
PHILADELPHIA AGENT
Harry J. Collins
BALTIMORE AGENT
Joseph F. Flanagan
BALTIMORE JOINT PATROL'N '
John Vechio
NORFOLK AGENT
Martin Trainor
SAVANNAH AGENT
Charles Waid :
TAMPA AGENT
D. L. (Jack) Parker
MOBILE AGENT
Olden Banks
MOBILE JOINT PATROLMEN
Robert A. Matthews
Charles E. Turner
NEW ORLEANS AGENT
A. W. Armstrong
NEW ORLEANS J'T PATROL'N
C. J. (Buck) Stephens
Tedd E. Terrington
GALVESTON AGENT
E. R. Wallace
SAN JUi^N AGENT
Daniel Butts
Victory Tax on *42
Income Is Upheld
The Washington Representative
of the SIU-SUP has been in con-
ference with officials of the Inter
nal Revenue Department in Wash
ington, D.C,, and reports that the
"Victory Tax" deduction on sea
men's wages still stands. Revenue
officials say that the way the law is
written leaves them no alternative
but to deduct the tax from 1942
wages if the payoff came in 1943.
It is the opinion of the SIU that
Great Lakes and on the Atlantic
and Gulf Ck>asts were won by di
rect struggle against, and negotia- Congress did not intend that sea-
tion with the shipowner. We ap- men's 1942 wages should be taxed,
pear before the War Labor Board and the uqion will continue the
only when forced to. • fight to have these wages exempt-
. . . . €d-
There is, iij our opinion, two
types of unionism. One might be In the mean time, there is nbth-
called "Washington unionism" and ^^e men to do but to al-
the other "waterfront unionism.", deducted from
We stand by the latter. If any one
is .in doqbt as to which method is T" '""T"
, fl- . , I union succeeds in having the
the most effective, we suggest that
they compare SIU contracts with ficult to obtain any refunds in the
those of the NMU. I future if you have no receipts.
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1^^ OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 1943 No. 3
WSA Creates
Discipline
Board
P
Back again on the old saw
'about "discipline breaking down
aboard ship," the War Shipping
Administration has set up a special
board whose function will be "to
restore and maintain the authority
of ship masters."
This is the old anti-union prop
aganda line always used by the
shipowners when they saw a chance
to land a blow on organized labor.
The truth is that those skippers
who have trouble maintaining dis
cipline, arc the ones who attempt
to violate union working rules. It
is the brass hat with the Napoleon
complex that has discipline
trouble. Any skipper that keeps
his nose clean, does his own work,
and demands that the crew does its
work—within the frame of the
union contract — has little or no
trouble with American seamen.
The personnel of the new WSA
Discipline Board is as follows:
James L. Adams, assistant general
counsel, H. W. Jackson, manager
marine operation, and Erich Neil-
sen, assistant director Maritime
Labor Relations.
Looks like a bunch of Washing
ton career men are going to carry
the ball a while for the shipowners.
More Draft Board
Bungling Told
Evidence is piling up that the
local draft boards, especially those
located inland, are acting' in a
criminally irresponsible manner
when it comes to deferring merch
ant seamen. Many boards have
cornpletely disregarded directives
from the national office of Selec
tive Service in Washington, and
are inducting men in the army.
Other boards have brought crim
inal charges against seamen for the
slightest infraction of the compli
cated bookkeeping rules laid down.
The following two examples,
'clipped from two newspapers,
serves to illustrate our point.
{Item From Wasbhigfon, D, C.
Newspaper)
" "Carroll J. Rollins, young Mes-
sick, Va., seaman has been listed by
his draft board as the only delin
quent, and Rollins' parents, Mr.
and Mrs. Floyd J. Rollins, don't
like it.
"For they said today, at the time
the draft board was labeling Car
roll a delinquent he was drifting
on a raft in the mid-Atlantic with
five shipmates from a vessel that
had been torpedoed ancF sunk by an
ehcmy submarine.
"Furthermore, they added, the
{Continued on Page 4)
New SIU Officers Elected
Merchant Seamen
See The Sights
New York is quite a hot spot
for seamen these days, and it does
n't cost them a plug nickle. The
town has finally awakened to the
fact that it is the merchant seamen
that keep things moving in this
war, and is now treating them
royally.
Many canteens and clubs have
been opened to give the boys a
good time, and most of them are
on the up and up. The best spot,
according to those who have made
the rounds, is the American
Theatre Wing Merchant Seamen's
Club. This club, run by actors
and actresses, has distributed 10,-
000 free tickets to theatres,
movies, operas, radio shows and
boxing matches in the two weeks
since it was opened. Tickets are
distributed every day from 12 to
9 P.M. And then, of course, there
are some nice kittens around to
dance with.
The- newest canteen open for the
seamen is at the Ritz—no less.
Every Sunday night the Ritz Tow
ers on Park Ave., at 57th Street
holds open house. Dancing, floor
show, hostesses from Park Ave
nue, etc., etc.
Quite a change from the old
days when a man that wandered
aboijt 14rh street was muscled in
to the back alleys.
1943 Officials Take Office
At Once; Hawk Opens 4th Term
The annual election of officers for the Atlantic and Gulf District of the Sea
farers International Union has been completed, the results concurred in by the Branches
up and down the coast, and the new officers were sworn in last Monday, February 1.
This year the offices of Atlantic District Representative and Gulf District Rep
resentative were eliminated from the ballot, as were various port patrolmen. This was
• done in order to streamline the or
ganization for the utmost economy
A Slight Change
of Plans
Secretary-Treasurer
At the last convention held by
the National Maritime Union,
San Francisco was selected asi
the site of the 1943 convention.
Today, however, the National
Council is conducting a refer
endum vote in order to change
the convention site to New
York City.
Strangel
The NMU even bought them
selves a fancy hall in San
Francisco in preparation for
the big convention. Why the
sudden shift?
Our guess is that the 1943,
clam bake was to be a "victory"
celebration marking the NMU
invasion of the West Coast.
Since there has been no vic
tory, it would be pointless to
meet in the deserted S.F. hall.
No sense in transporting Cur-
ran and his coterie to the West
Coast just for a wake.
JOHN HAWK
NMU WIND ARTIST RIDES SHIRT
TAIL ON GAINS BY SEAFARERS
In the Jan. 8 issue oi The Pilot,
J.ick Lawrenson, NMU Vice-
President, reported the results of
his raiding tactics on the Great
Lakes when he attempted to force
seamen sailing the "steel" boats in
to his union. Lawrenson gave his
campaign a lot of fan-fare but
wound up by taking the case to
the War I.ahor Board in an at
tempt to obtain government aid in
getting conditions.
"The Union recognizes that this
is the first marine case before the
War Labor Board, and recognizes
too, that the issues are different
from any other case that the
Board has heard to date," Lawren
son wrote in The Pilot.
This is a lot of bilge water!
Lawrenson attempts to make it
appear that he is blazing new trials
—but in reality he is tagging along
in the 'path of the Great Lakes
District of the SIU, basing his en
tire case upon SIU precidents al
ready established, the only differ
ence being that he did not quite
have the guts to ask for the full
benefits won by the SIU.
And this is not a matter of op
inion, but a matter of record as
published by the War Labor Board
Life Boats To Have
Fishing Equipment
The U. S. Coast Guard has is
sued a regulation requiring
every ship of over 3,000 gross
tons to provide each life boat
with a fishing kit. The regula
tions call for several types of
hooks and line and bait, design
ed to enable the men to catch
all sorts of fish in any water.
All material for fishing will be
packed in a metal waterproof
key opening can.
This new regulation should
greatly reduce the loss of life
due to exhaustion of ordinary
emergency rations aboard the
life boats.
itself. All one has to do is to
glance over the following break
down of WLB records to see just
what sort of a B.S. artist Lawren
son really is.
The quotations concerning the
SIU are from the WLB release on
case No. 198 in the dispute be
tween the Gre.it T.akes District of
the SIU and the Detroit and Cleve
land Navigation Company. It was
this case, filed on June 4, 1942,
which really set the precedents for
conditions on the Lakes, and which
formed the bases for Lawrenson's
appeal.
The quotations concerning the
NMU are from WLB Mediation
Panel Report on case No. 376
which was not introduced by the
union until Nov. 28, 1942 — or
until six months after the SIU had
won its dispute.
{Continued on Page 4)
the war and efficiency during
years.
Brother John Hawk was re
elected Secretary-Treasurer of the
District without opposition. This
is the fourth time that the mem
bership has returned Hawk to
this office. The majority of the in
cumbent port agents and patrol
men were also re-elected, thus as
suring the union of experienced
officers for the difficult year that
lies ahead.
Assessment Passed
Highlight of the election was
the passage of the resolution pro
viding for an annual $3 assessment
to build the strike fund. The pas
sage of this assessment testifies to
the determination of SIU men to
fully prepare for the inevitable
struggle with the shipowners after
the war ends. This assessment will
build the strike fund to the point
where a full scale economic struggle
with the operators can be financed
through to victory and the preser
vation of present conditions.
The Secretary-Treasurer is now
having special receipts and stamps
made for this assessment and they
will be in the hajnds of the patrol
men within the week. All mem
bers should be certain to pay the
strike assessment next time they
pay dues.
Baltimore Mix-Up
The only dark spot in the en
tire election was the port of Balti
more where the election proceedings
became pretty well fouled up. The
General Tallying Committee found
several discrepencies in the voting
and disqualified the entire vote
cast in the port. Secretary-Treas
urer John Hawk, following the
recommendation of the Tallying
Committee, has brought formal
I charges against the men who voted
more than once and against the
Agent of the port who failed to
catch the errors.
In a letter to Branch Agents,
Hawk said, "Pursuant to the Com
mittee's recommendation, the fol-
I lowing brothers are to answer
I charges for violations of the Con
stitution's provisions on balloting.
Clarence Wallace, No. 5318; Leo-
{Con tin lied on Page 4)
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-fell
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Page Two THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, February 5, 1943
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Pubiuhta &v CM
SEAFiUlERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic and Guli District
AtffUatta vrifh CM Anmioan FtdtroXion of Labor
HASRY LUNDEBERQ, Intemcrtloncd Pr«ld*nt
110 l.(cEr]c«t Street Room 402, Sea Frondsco, Cdlii.
ADDBEBB ALL OORBBBPONDENOH OONOBRNIKO
PUBLICATION TOt
"THE SEAFABEBS' LOG
P. O. 25, Station P, Now Yorio N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 9-8346
TMIM
9n Wmwhiam
ALEXANDER, HARRY Fireman
BANKS, O. C. 2nd Cook
CENTENO, FRANCIS Wiper
CRA^W^FORD, THOMAS A.R.
ELLSE, T. W. Messman
GENNARO, LOUIS DE Fireman
HOLMS, BARRY Oiler
JONES, LEWIS Deck Engineer
KEANE, EDWARD Messman
MACKSEY, ANTHONY Oiler
McCULL, JAMES Bosun
MURRAY, THOMAS F Messman
PAS, HERMAN Chief Cook
PEREZ, MARCELINO Wiper
PETITTI, CHARLES A.B.
SQUIRES, JOSEPH ,. A.B.
TILLEY, F. H. Steward
VARELA, JESUS •. • • .^Watertender
WILSON, CHARLES ...^ OS
WYNN, LEWIS 3rd Cook
Out of the Focsl
by
it. ec.
The brothers who were squawking about .torpedo pins, victory pins
«r what have you, may now secure a ribbon from the WSA for every
time they survive a torpedoing, by writing to that office.
AAA
Now that H. J. Collins has left for Philly, things are quiet around
Headquarters. We can just see him now, telling the boys all about his
--escapades in the Big City. Snozzy Gorman, Frank Kcaveney, John
(Red) Carolan swaping tales in the Bean Pot. Keaveney is anxious to
hear from his buddy, George Cowles. Mike Walsh telling us about his
heart ailment, but we still think the girls should keep a sharp lookout
now that he's back in New York. Max Longfellow is shipping out of
New York these days. Brother McCudden an Australian member telling
US how much he likes America and the Americans.
Now that the War Manpower Commission has come out with a
definite statement as to its policy, we'll expect to see a great many of
the beachcombers shipping out unless they want to get into the Army.
Klous Frey has been inducted into the Army. Wally Dorfmaster and
Lcroy (Rah Hah) Parrish have entered the school at New London.
PERSONALS
CHARLES WINFORD
Your local draft board and the
FBI are trying to locate you for
failure to notify the board of your
whcr-abouts. Get in touch with
your board in Savannah at once.
ALFRED V. VILK
Your papers and passport have
been found. Call for them at the
office of the Secretary-Treasurer.
Dutch Seafarers
Mark New Gains
NEW YORK, N.Y. —ITF —
Substantial improvements in the
wages and working conditions of
the Dutch merchant seamen have
been incorporated into the new
collective agreement signed in De
cember, 1942, in London, by rep
resentatives of the Netherlands
Government in exile, shipowners,
the Dutch Central Transport
Workers' Union and the Officers'
Organization, it was armounced
jointly by P. J. Vanderberge, sec
retary, and J. J. Vandevile, ships'
representative of the New York
branch of the Dutch Central
Transport Workers' Union.
The union, an affiliate of the In
ternational Transport Workers'
Federation, has been operating in
the United States since the fall of
1940.
The new agreement which went
into effect on January 1, 1943,
covers more than 17,000 seafarers
aboard Dutch ships engaged in the
Allied cause. The basic wage of
the lower ratings has been increas
ed by 15 guilders (about $8.10)
per month, thus bringing the basic
pay of an A.B. up to 118.50 guild
ers or about $63. In addition all
officers and men receive an equal
monthly war bonus of $40, re
gardless of their rank, long voyage
allowances amounting to 10% of
the basic pay, and a shore bonus
of $1.00 per day paid to the lower
ratings in all ports outside the
United Kirigdom,
In consideration of the long
drawn out negotiations in London,
all officers and men above 18 years
are entitled to an extra payment of
$40, and $20 for all men below
18 years of age.
Working hours which ran in
certain departments as high as 72
hours per week, have been reduced
to an average of 56 hours. Com
pensation for loss of effects has al
so been raised by 10%, and com
pensation payments for ordinary
and war accidents have been eqaul-
izcd. The 10% deduction former
ly taken out of the men's pay and
kept in a special savings account
to he paid out after the war, has
been eliminated at the insistence
of the union.
REPORT FROM
Washington
By Matthew Dushane
Editor's Mail
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
I am writing this letter asking
all of the membenship to take up
donations for the fellows who are
in the hospitals. A lot of these fel
lows have been in various hospitals
over a year, which means that they
cannot collect hospital benefits
from the union. There are several
of them that haven't any money or
any means of getting any. Person
ally, I was in the hospital for a
year «nd a half. In that time I re
ceived one year's benefits. For the
other half of the year I didn't re
ceive anything which is according
to constitution.
Remember, a lot of these fellows
have been shipmates of yours, so
why not shell out a few nickles
for them. You wo;t^t miss it and
they will need it and appreciate it
a lot. Remember that you, too,
may he sick and broke some time.
ARTHUR L. GRESHAM
1*
I
Selective Service:
John Mahonney, A.B. has been going to sea for 12 years, was ordered
inducted into the Army by Local Board No. 10 Seattle, and the case
was referred to Selective Service here. Was advised that Naval Intelli
gence and operations of the War Shipping Administration have recom
mended to the Local Draft Board not to defer this man. Advised the
Agent to appeal the case and submit a report to Headquarters. f
The Recruiting and Manning division of the War Shipping Ad
ministration have presented a proposal to the National Headquarters of
Selective Service where by they will handle the deferment of Merchant
Seamen. That is they intend to handle all the cases for all Merchant
Seamen, and they will fill out form 42-A and make formal requests for
deferments to Selective Service. They will also inform Selective Service
as to the activity of Merchant Seamen. Selective Service- has agreed tQ
the proposal that was submitted by the WSA.
I have taken this up with Capt. Schmidt of Selective Service, and
asked him if this was compulsory, and were the union compelled to co
operate. He informed me that this is not compulsory and that if the
unions did not cooperate, it was doomed.
Here we have a case of where one division of the WSA are request
ing Selective Service that they he allowed to handle all the deferments
for Merchant Seamen, appeals, check-up on seamen, etc.—and in an
other case where another division of the WSA recommends to a Local
Draft Board not to defer a seaman. The Unions should take this ques
tion up and express their opinion on whether they want the W.S.A. to
he in a position to black hall any seaman that they do not like or will
not cater to the whims of some individual in the WSA. All branches
and Headquarters should send telegrams into" the National Headquarters
of the Selective Service System and oppose the RMO of the WSA having
anything to do with request for deferment or handling of appeals for
deferment for Merchant Seamen. All telegrams or letters should he
addressed to General Hershey, Director. Paul V. McNutt, Director of
the War Manpower Commission should also he advised of whatever ac
tion the Union takes.
War Relocation Authority:
Received serveral requests from some of our members who are in
terned in the centers of the WRA. Contacted Mr. T. Holland and re
quested to know what is the hold up on these men. I was informed that
Naval Intelligence is opposed to these men being released. These men
have nearly all been cleared by the F.B.I, and other government agencies.
Mr. Holland has informed me that all of the men that arc interned and
that have been cleared can and will he released to go up on the lakes
until we can get clearances that they can sail off shore.
Mardy Polaner, Sec.-Treas. S.I.U. Great Lakes District is now in
town and in a conference that was held with Mr. Holland, he has agreed
to make arrangements that these men will be given employment on ves
sels on the Lakes. Mr. Flolland has assured us that the WRA will allow
these men to leave the camps if we can supply ttem with a job, and will
give us all the assistance that he can, and in the meantime he is trying
to get the Naval Intelligence to change their opposition regarding al
lowing the men to sail out of the Atlantic Coast ports.
Maritime War Emergency Board:
The MWEB has ruled that if a ship goes into the straits of Gibral
tar, and then goes into a port in the Mediterranean and then goes back
through the Straits of Gibraltar, men are entitled to three (3) bonuses.
Hudson Bay; Board has ruled that when ships are in Hudson Bay ports,
rule regarding no bonus payable while in the western hemisphere shall
apply, ports, open sea roadsteads, and anchorages, shall he governed by
the. Hydrographic office sailing directions, and the United States Coast
pilot, check with decision No. 7 and 7 Revised. Bonus is payable while
in Hudson Bay hut not in some rivers and ports.
Board has ruled that Carlos Trunninger is entitled to wages and
bonus while being detained by the British Authorities in England.
Mailing list of the MWEB is being very poorly handled, several
complaints have come into my office regarding material not being sent
out, yours truly was also being left 6ut. This has been brought to the
attention of Mr. E. Nielsen, Sec. MWEB., who has promised to cor
rect same.
War Labor Board:
\
The WLB is now divided into twelve (12) regional tribunals and .
all cases will not be handed by their regional offices. Panels are being
{Continiied on Page 3)
'V
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BSFiewidl
Friday, February 5, 1943 THE SEAFARERS'LOG Page Three
i
WHArS DOING
Around the Ports
MOBILE
Vt^ell, Brothers, I just had the
pleasure of looking at the propa
ganda sheet, for the front organi
zation known as the National
Maritime Union. Dated Dec. 18,
1942, on page 9 under the heading
of Mobile, it states that three
N.M.U. vessels which was sched
uled to pay otf in Mobile agreed to
pay off in New Orleans to avoid
any delay in the loading of the
ships. Then it refers to what a
great tradition these three crews
represent inasmuch as one S.I.U.
crew was requested to do the same
thing but paid off in Mobile. Then
it states that this is no reflection
Pn S.I.U. members but rather on
the war time policy of that Union.
Now let us get this thing
straight so there will be no misun
derstanding in anybody's mind.
There was a convoy of ships arrive
here, with three ships represented
by the N.M.U. and one by the
S.I.U. At that time, the Manning
and Recruiting Organization had
just opened an office here in this
port and they did not have any
men (neither did the N.M.U. for
that matter) to replace the crews
if J^ey had paid off. So the only
thing that they could do was to
request the crews to take the ship
to New Orleans and pay off where
they could get replacements. Tlien
the Port Captain for the Company
contacted this hall and explained
what the score was. It was very
explicitely explained to the com
pany that the Seafarers Interna
tional Union had a contract with
the company and it was the union's
responsibility to supply the crew
for this ship and not the Recruit
ing and Manning Office. The com
pany was informed that we would
crew the ship up, and if we did not
have enough men here to fill up
the crew we would get them from
New Orleans.
And that my dear friends, is
just what the Recruiting and Man
ning Organization did not want
us to do. They had requested us
to call their office for men. After
thiat was all straightened out, the
crew was paid off and went home,
and wc shipped another crew to
the ship and the ship sailed with
out any delay with a satisfied crew.
I want to remind the N.M.U.
that all other S.I.U. ships have
sailed out off this port on time
without delay by the crew. The
policy of this Union is to crew
them up and to keep right on do
ing it for us. And I just want to
challenge whoever was responsible
for the article to claim the same
record for the N.M.U., even if Joe
Curran did coin the phrase "Keep
*Em Sailing." I definitely know
that the N.M.U. has had ships tied
up in this Port as long as two
weeks waiting for crew.
Under the heading of "Passing
the Buck" by Joe Curran, this
great Emaff-vipator of the Seamen
goes back to 193^ and gives the
Matitime Commission a raking
oVet the coals because from its in
ception it has always tried to break
>^up the spirit of the N.M.U. Now
this Is really a joke. If you told
this to a government mule he
would kick your brains out. I just
wonder if Joe Curran forgets 1939
when the SUP and the SIU had
picket lines on all maritime offices
up and down the Coast and the
N.M.U. was sending their men in
and out of these places.
I stated previously that the pol
icy of the N.M.U. is to get all the
publicity and to hell with the con
ditions for the members. I will
cite you a few cases: Last Septem
ber the Hamlin F. McCormick of
The McCormick Line out of San
Francisco paid off here. The Deck
Department was under contract to
the S.U.P. which was represented
by the S.I.U. in this port. The
Stewards and Engine Departments
was under contracts to M. S. & C.
and the M. F. O. W. 8c W. of the
Pacific which was represented by
the N.M.U. in this port. The ship
had laid in Georgetown, B.C. for a
period of time and the company
deducted the time the ship had laid
in Georgetown from the voyage
bonus, stating they could not pay
bonus for that time the ship laid
there. After a lot of jaw Boning
the crew paid off. The N.M.U.
did not take any part in the ar
gument at any time, and was" quite
willing to forget all about the
matter. The S.I.U. took the case
to the M.W.E.B. and got a ruling
in the crew's favor and kept at
the company until they finally paid
off. That's only one case in sev
eral—I could go on for several
pages with this sort of thing.
Now you can readily understand
why the ship operators and the
W.S.A. is in favor of catering to
this outfit that you hear so much
about on the radio and you see so
much about in the Pilot. Brothers
just draw your own conclusions
about your unions.
OLDEN BANKS, Age,a
SAVANNAH
Shipping in the Savannah dis
trict is still fairly good. The fact
is that I'm still short of AB, Cooks
and Oilers.
Brother Biggs and myself at
tended the Southern Conference
and there introduced a telegram
from President Flarry Lundeberg
pretaining to the unfairness of col
lecting the Victory Tax from sea
men on the 1942 earnings.
Also introduced similar message
in the Central Body in Savannah,
Georgia. Also had the Mayor of
this City write Senator George,
head of the tax committee regard
ing the unfairness of collecting
this Victory tax from seamen when
there is no other group in the
States who have to pay on. their
1942 earnings. Due to all this
pressure some results have been
achieved.
Am expecting another ship out
around the 26 th of February for
the South Atlantic Steamship Line.
Thi; isuie Company expects a new
ship on the Pacific coast, no date
as yet.
CHARLES WAID, Agent
TAMPA
Brothers believe it or not, I saw
a miracle the other day and I am
still wondering if I am subject to
optical illusions. This past week
none other than one of the ex-pie-
cards (Sonny Simmons) came in
to the hall and wanted me to go
some place with him in a hurry. I
thought that he had some kind of
a beef on his hands so I grabbed
my ole shooting iron and we took
off. But lo and behold he had two
gals in the car, then things began
to take on a different version, es
pecially when he headed for the
Court House.
Now brothers this is hard to be
lieve. (The old Gator that has
caused a many broken heart and
was the first to use the well known
Gator slide on the banks of the
Hillsborough River, took unto
himself a wife.)
Boys, that is the truth, so help
me, and if I had not been the best
man at that undertaking I still
would not believe it. Well, here's
wishing them the best that life can
offer them.
D. L. PARKER, Agent
NEW ORLEANS
On Friday, December 18, 1942,
the New Orleans Item had a spec
ial section of their paper dedicated
to the merchant seamen. They
were whole heartedly supporting
the seamen in the great work they
are doing. All the major steam
ship companies, and quite a few
other companies, had ads in this
paper and quite a few stateqients
refering to Seamen and the great
job they are doing.
Among the statements were:
"Men of the merchant mar
ine your country salutes you."
"No longer are they "Unsung
Heroes". Today the men of the
Merchant Marine are recognized
as heroes of the Sea."
"Victory depends on our
merchant marine."
The planes, and tanks, and
shells, and jeeps. It's the mer
chant marine who gets 'em
there."
All the above statements were
endorsed by various companies or
organizations. All the above state
ments were copied from the Item
word for word. That is the way
the steamship companies felt about
the Merchant Seamen on December
the 18, 1942, but how do they
feel today?
Why don't they help the sea
men in the fight against the un
just taxation on their 1942 in
come in the form of the new "Vic
tory Tax?" The men that victory
depends on are being unjustly tax
ed, yet no steamship company or
any one on the outside of the
Union is doing much to help rem
edy the situation.
There are quite a few incidents
on record proving how unjust the
merchant seamen are being taxed.
On December the 16th a ship paid
off and one of the crew members
did not receive his pay. This man
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICAN
ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
ROOM 213 — 2 STONE STREET, NEW YORK CITY
P.O. Box 25, Station P. Phone: BOwlinc Green 8-8346
Directory of Branches
PHONE BRANCH ADDRESS
NEW YORK 2 Stone St
Dispatcber'a Office BOwlin^ Green B-34SC
Agent BOwling Green 8-3437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave Liberty 4057
BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK. ............. 25 Commercial PI Norfolk 4-1083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartree 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 2-1392
PUERTO RICO 45 Ponce de Leon.- Puerto de Tierm
GALVESTON 219 20th Street Gaivceton 2-8043
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway..
Washington Report
(Contimied front Page 2)
set up in their regional offices and cases do not now have to be tried in
Washington.
The function of the panel will be not to mediate but to get at th0
facts and make recommendations to the regional board for final action.
Under the arrangements worked out by the TJ. S. Conciliation ser-
vice of the Department of Labor and the War Labor Board, there will
be a three stejl procedure in disputes.
1. Mediation efforts by the conciliation service.
2. A hearing before a regional panel with recommendations to the
regional board.
3. A decision by the Regional Board.
Any party will have the right within ten days fater the issuance of
a directive order by a Regional Board to petition to the National Wax
Labor Board in Washington, D.C., for a review of the case.
Been advised that Senator Bone and Representative Lane have in
troduced a bill to make Merchant Seaman available for life insurance
that will be identical to the insurance as the men in the armed forces
have. It looks as though some parties arc trying to force the seamen to
pay for their insurance. Will check on this and inform Heaquarters.
Maritime Commission Medals:
The Maritime Commission is now issuing a ribbon bar for all sea
men who have been torpedoed. These bars will contain a silver star
and every time a seaman has been torpedoed he will rate another star.
There is a bill now in Congress to make this ribbon an official service
bar.
Any men who have been torpedoed and care to have one of these
bars should send requests to Frank Rusk, Executive Secretary, War
Shipping Administration, Washington, D.C. Be sure and name the ship
on which you were torpedoed.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SHIPPING FOR
JANUARY 11 TO 25 INCLUSIVE
DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 391 297 293 981
REGISTERED 299 280 199 778
ON HAND 498 596 291 1385
received his pay Jan. 4, 1943 and
was taxed $33.83 on money earned
in 1942.
On January 1, 1943 a ship paid
off and the crew members were
taxed for all money earned in
1942, one man Was taxed $22.29.
On January 1, 1943 a ship paid
off after being gone since Sept. 2,
1942 and the crew was taxed
around $23.00 per man.
On January 2, 1943 a ship paid
off and the crew was taxed around
$11.00 per man.
On January 12, 1943 a ship paid
off that had been out since July
12, 1942 and the men were taxed
around $59.00 per man.
There Js case after case where
the men are taxed on 1942 income.
What a swell reception for the
men of the merchant marine, the
men that Victory depends on.
Why do the Seamen have to pay
this tax? Why don't these com
panies that depend so much on the
seamen do something for them?
The seamen have tried to do all
they could and everyone is of the
opinion that the tax is unjust and
yet the seamen are still being,
taxed.
I close, hoping that the seamen
will be refunded all they have put
out, and it will not be long until
they eliminate the taxes on the
1942 income.
C. J. STEPHENS, Agent
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Page Four
7;v^: '••
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
•' /
Friday, February J, 1943
".. • ' •
"T -/
•
!•
AFL Southern Conference
Adopts Program Of 1943
Tlic Southern War Labor Con
fcrcncc, attended by more than
3000 American Federation of La
bor union officials from 12 south
ern states, including M. D. Biggs
and Charles Waid of the S.I.U.
adopted at its closing session Jan
17, a declaration of policy which
included:
1. Re-emphasis and continucc
support of the AFL "non-strike'
policy.
2. A proposal that the govern
ment give labor "full representa
tion on all government boards anc
in all government agencies."
3. Opposition to State or Fed
eral "adverse labor legislation."
4. A request that the AFL con-
MORE DRAFT BOARD
BUNGLING IS TOLD
(Continued from Vage 1)
last word they had of Carroll was
a letter from the Seafarers' Inter
national Union informing them
that their son was abord a ship
plying the waters to Russia."
(Item from N. Y. Daily News)
ST. LOUIS—Merchant mariner
Vernon A. Krafft, whose ships
twice have been torpedoed during
a dozen voyages, received a four-
year prison sentence today for fail
ing to nofify his draft board of a
change of address.
The 2 5-year-old seaman, who
has sailed from Reykjavik, Iceland,
to Cape Town, South Africa, with
supplies for the Allies, pleaded
guilty, but explained that his long
sea • duty made it impossible to
communicate with his board. When
he finally succeeded in doing so, it
was six months too late and he al
ready had been declared delinquent.
Krafft failed to inform his board
when he and his family moved
from St. Louis to Texas, where he
joined the merciiant marine.
Federal Judge C. B. Davis inter
rupted Krafft's attempts to tell his
experiences and said he would sus
pend sentence if the seaman would
join the Army immediately.
Krafft exended his arms showing
that his right one was three inches
shorter than the left. This would
make him ineligible for Army ser
vice, he said, and asked that he be
allowed to rejoin the merchant
marine.
Later, Krafft showed newsmen
his papers testifying that he had
shipped out 12 times and that his
last voyage was completed in Jan
uary. He also displayed credentials
showing he had signed up for an
other voyage when picked up by
federal agents in Philadelphia. Be
ing detained, he said, prevented
him from catching his ship.
tinue its fight for repeal of the poll
tax as a condition for voting.
5. A declaration that the con
ference is in hearty accord with
the AFL principle that the labor
movement should serve workers
without regard to race, creed or
color.
6. A proposcl that the Federal
wage stabilization board establish
a minimum wage rate essential to
fair living conditions, and declare
all wages under that level to be
sub-standard.
7. A request that the AFL in
crease its organizers in the south
ern states.
8. A proposal that requests for
elimination of child labor stand
ards be fully investigated before
standards are lowered.
9. A suggestion that post-war
planning include a program to
build hard-surfaced roads on every
mile of roadway travelled by the
rural mail carriers, and enlarged
appropriations by Congress for the
support of the International Labor
Organization.
AFL President William Green
and nearly a score of government
and state officials took part in the
conference, along with the 12
State Federation leaders who spon
sored the meeting. WPB Labor
Production Division and the labor
sections of CCD, OWI and other
agencies cooperated.
officials Take Office
At Once; Hawk Opens 4th Term
RESOLUTION ON BALLOTING
January 1^, 1943.
WHEREAS: It is the desire of the Tallying Committee of the
Port of New York to introduce to the membership at this meeting
By-law to the Constitution so as to insure honest votes in all elections
therefore, be it
RESOLVED: (a) Every branch of the Seafarers International Union
of North America have a metal or suitable ballot box, fitted with
a lock to be used at the time of elections, and be it further
RESOLVED: (b) That the Union supply large slotted manila
envelopes to have the daily vote cast placed in and sealed by the days
Balloting Committee. This envelope to be put in the ballot box by the
committee at the end of each day with the date stamped on it and the
number of ballots cast, and be it finally
RESOLVED: (c) That the Balloting Committee of each Branch
check the register list each day and forward to the Headquarters' Office
a duplicate of that day's registrars. These duplicates to be kept in the
safe and checked by the final tallyihg committee.
Fraternally yours,
J. H.- EDWARDS, 4368 R. HAYES, 348
REGINALD A. GOODEN, 22160 ANDREW H. LAVELZOLI, 7166
JAMES JOSEPH DE VITO, G-185 0. H. COUNCILMAN, 6453
Seafarers' Log-
HONOR ROLL
ROBIN WENTLEY
CREW
MONEY DUE
The following crew members of
the 8. 8. Wm. Moultrie have over=
time coming from the Robin Line;
W. Fowler, R. Smith, C. Bloome, A.
Rion and J. Shernorick. Collect at
39 Cortland Street, New York City.
«• «•
The c-ews who made the last
trip on the Flomar, Pierce Butler,
and Benjamin Chew, have disputed
bonus money due.
Collect at Calmar Line office, 23
Broadway, New York City.
The crew that made the last trip
aboard the Robin Weniley should
get in touch with Sol Berenholtz,
312 Equitable Building, Baltimore,
Md.
CREW OF S. S. RICHARD H. ALVEY 88.00
CREW OF S. S. WILLIAM MOULTRIE $22.50
CREW OF S. S. THOMAS NELSON 12.00
S. HEINFLING i 10.00
JACK SHIELDS , 5.00
STEVE CARDOLA - 2.50
R. NORGREN 1 2.00
DANNY DIX 2.O0
E. J. TRITT ' 2.00
CHARLES SHEPHERD : 2.00
ED GORING 2.00
A. F. LERNER 2.00
H. HAINZINGER 2.00
J. C. MILLER 1.00
PERCY PODOLSKY 1.00
TOTAL .$156.00
NMU Wind Artist Rides Shirt Tail Seafarers
(Continued from Page 1)' llll'f' ""I'l' 1' '
SIU vs. D. & C. Navigation Company WAGES ASKED BY UNION:
DATE CERTIFIED TO BOARD:
June 4, 1942 by Secretary of Labor.
SIU'was on strike. Boats tied up.
WAGES:
Increase monthly rate for A.B. from $155 to $178,
plus subsistence. ,
For fit-out, lay-up and repair work the hourly
rate is increased from 84 cents to 95 cents.
OVERTIME:
Increase from 84 cents to 95 cents per hour.
NMU vs. Interstate^ Inland,
Bethlehem and International
Harvester Lines
DATE CERTIFIED TO BOARD:
August 18, 1942.
Strike called by union but failed to tie up any
vessels.
$178. The Union relies on the decision in the
Detroit and Cleveland Navigation Company case
(SIU) No. 198, for support of its argument.
OVERTIME:
The Union requested 90 cents per hour, pointing
out that the Detroit & Cleveland Navigation
Company (SIU) was paying 95 cents. The
Union offered to accept a lower rate in their
desire to obtain a settlement.
CONCLUSION OF WLB PANEL
Solely on the basis of the wage criteria establish
ed in Case No. 198, Detroit and Celeveland Naviga
tion Company vs. Seafarers International Union,
AFL, the Panel recommended and the Board order
ed, the rate for Able Seamen be raised to $178 per
month.
The Board ordered the overtime rate to be 95
cents, the same as the SIU rate, instead of the 90
cents asked by the NMU.
"If the National War Labor
Board shopld retreat in the face of
this obvious display of pressure by
the Great Lakes steel companies,"
wrote Lawrenson in The Pilot,
before his case had been settled,
"then the Union can only say that
the seamen would lose confidence
in the War Labor Board."
The seamen would lose confi
dence in the Board to do what?
To automatically grant the NMU
all gains won by the SIU? And if
the NMU leadership does "lose
confidence" in the WLB — what
anyone to" believe they would lead
the men in direct struggle with
the shipowners for better condi
tions. That's not the way the
NMU leadership works. They pre
fer to meet the operators through
the back door of some government
board—depending upon Washing
ton stooges to make some slick
deal that will advance their inter
ests.
Not the SIU. We have no con-
• fidence that the War Labor Board,
or any other Washington Board,
will hand us anything on a silver
I then? They certainly don't expect platter. The gains made on the
(Continued from Page 1)
nard Lynch, No. 2126; Fred Wil
liams, No. 4291; Jose L. Garcia,
No. J 609; Leonard Layton, No.
417; James McFarlin, No. 23634;
E. E. Steward, No. 23622; J.-
Vechio, No. 1616; and James J.,
Dobbins, No. 7499. Post a notice
on the bulletin board at your
branch to the effect that before be
ing allowed to ship out, these men
must appear before a trial com
mittee."
The Tallying Committee, be
fore concluding it's work, drew up
a resolution calling for certain
changes in the Constitution aimed
at safeguarding the balloting sys
tem in all future elections. TTiis
resolution passed up and down the
coast and now becomes part of the
Constitution. The resolution is
printed in full at the end of this
story.
Following are the officials elected
to serve the union for the year of
1943:
SECRETARY-TREASURER
John Hawk
BOSTON AGENT
John Mogan
PROVIDENCE AGENT
•Joseph E. Lapham
NEW YORK AGENT
Frank Williams
N. Y. ENGINE PATROLMAN
Ray W. Sweeney
NEW YORK DECK PATROLMAN
L. J. (Baldy) Bollinger
N. Y. STEWARD PATROLMAN
Claude Fisher
PHILADELPHIA AGENT
Harry J. Collins
BALTIMORE AGENT
Joseph F. Flanagan
BALTIMORE JOINT PATROL'N '
John Vechio
NORFOLK AGENT
Martin Trainor
SAVANNAH AGENT
Charles Waid :
TAMPA AGENT
D. L. (Jack) Parker
MOBILE AGENT
Olden Banks
MOBILE JOINT PATROLMEN
Robert A. Matthews
Charles E. Turner
NEW ORLEANS AGENT
A. W. Armstrong
NEW ORLEANS J'T PATROL'N
C. J. (Buck) Stephens
Tedd E. Terrington
GALVESTON AGENT
E. R. Wallace
SAN JUi^N AGENT
Daniel Butts
Victory Tax on *42
Income Is Upheld
The Washington Representative
of the SIU-SUP has been in con-
ference with officials of the Inter
nal Revenue Department in Wash
ington, D.C,, and reports that the
"Victory Tax" deduction on sea
men's wages still stands. Revenue
officials say that the way the law is
written leaves them no alternative
but to deduct the tax from 1942
wages if the payoff came in 1943.
It is the opinion of the SIU that
Great Lakes and on the Atlantic
and Gulf Ck>asts were won by di
rect struggle against, and negotia- Congress did not intend that sea-
tion with the shipowner. We ap- men's 1942 wages should be taxed,
pear before the War Labor Board and the uqion will continue the
only when forced to. • fight to have these wages exempt-
. . . . €d-
There is, iij our opinion, two
types of unionism. One might be In the mean time, there is nbth-
called "Washington unionism" and ^^e men to do but to al-
the other "waterfront unionism.", deducted from
We stand by the latter. If any one
is .in doqbt as to which method is T" '""T"
, fl- . , I union succeeds in having the
the most effective, we suggest that
they compare SIU contracts with ficult to obtain any refunds in the
those of the NMU. I future if you have no receipts.
. i;'"'
X
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