Media
Issue Date
1943-03-05
Volume
5
Issue Number
5
Plaintext
The N.M.U. Leaders
ft
Are Blind To Finks
«»ssmssss&:^
^ The leadership of the National Martime Union has not
Uttered a single peep of protest over the draft weapon
given the-WSA by "Hoosier Hitler" McNutt. Not only
did the NMU sit quietly on thft side lines when the rest of
martime labor was battling to keep the draft power out of
the hands of the labor-hating shipowners and brass hats
in the WSA, but now that the WSA seems to have won—
the NMU glosses over this very serious defeat, ̂ nd with
friminal irresponsibility fails to inform its members of the
developing threat to the martime labor movement.
• The Feb, 26 issue of The^Pilot headlines the draft
-story as follows, "Active Seamen Needn't Report At Draft
Board." The implication is, of course, that some victory
has been won for John Sailor and that he isn't going to get
kicked around any longer. The headline is completely
dishonest. While it is true that the seamen don't have to
report to the draft boards, they are now in the clutches of
the Recruitment and Manning Organization of the WSA.
They are now being forced to register with a super-fink
Outfit which will have full authority to slap them into the
army if they act like union men.
But no mentoin of that by Curran and his coterie.
Ham Head is full of "Keep 'em Sailing" and "Damn
the Torpedoes". But there are torpedoes here at home too
—torpedoes launched in Washington and aimed at organ
ized labor. Of these Curran has nothing to say.
OFFICIAL OEGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
^ SEAFAEEBS' INTEENATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. v. 280 NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, MAR.CH 5, 1943 No. J
MWEB Flouts Unions
In New Bonus Chisel
aid
Curran has a political line which demands the utmost
for the Soviet Union^—and that's OK. But does he
think that servile appeasement of labor's enemies at home
really aids the Soviet Union?
Does he believe that the American industrialists would
send one additional tank or gun to the Soviet Union if he
scuttled his entire union and sent the men to fink halls?
If he does, he's nuts.
The American industrialists will send just as much or
as little aid to the Soviet Union as they think serves their
purposes, and no screaming by Curran, no surrenders and
retreats, no double crossing of his rank and file followers,
will alter this picture. '
Actually, Curran does a great disservice to the cause
of Democracy which'he claims to champion. No democ
racy can exist without a strong an.d independent labor
movement, and his refusal to fight the WSA fink campaign
certainly aids the foes of unionism.
Curran is long on wind, but in the final analysis he
serves as a labor cover for those who hope to see the open
shop return to the waterfront.
RMO Extends Grip On
Seamen; Labor Fears
Fink Hall After War
The War Manpower Commision order, giving the Re
cruitment and Manning Organization power to draft or
defer seamen, is now in effect. In spite of the protests of
the SIU-SUP, this. finky government bureau has won
authority to line up the seamen and count out those who
•* 'stand firm in defense of their union
BULLETIN!
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25
—This morning Judge Edmund
F. Murphy of, ihe Superior
Court, threw out of court the
ill-smelling "Hampson-Prevost
Suit" against Harry Lundeberg,
President of the SlU. This suit
was inspired' by Stalinist agents
in the National Maritime Union
and charged Lundeberg with
misappropriating ^ISUkOOO in
union funds.
This action wrote finis to the
notorious frame-up against
Lundeberg which first was at
tempted in January 1942.
These SlU men have had ships shot from under them one to three times in all parts of the world, and
while they survived, 602 of their union's brothers did not, 60 SlU contracted ships have been lost since
Pearl Harbor. But In spite of enemy subs an^^ bombers, SlU men continue to deliver the goods to all
war fronts.
(Standing left to rightFR- .C. Ricketts, Steward; Harry Clock, Oiler; J. L, Michaelas, Fireman; E.
Aguirros, Watertender; .Gus Aim, Carpenter; Robert B. Graham, Ordinary arid Reginald Goodin, Cook.
(Seated) AnUioiiy McMunn, Oiler; Andrew Lavazoli, Ordinary; Charles Allen, Able Seaman; Phole =
man Mitthys, Fireman and Carville Councilman, Watertender.
rights. How the RMO will use
this new authority remains to be
seen. It will be watched carefully,
and any attempt to take advan
tage of the new power and black
ball militant union men, will be
fought.
In the meantime the union is
not giving up the battle against
rhis directive. Matthew Dushane,
Washington Representative of the
SIU-SUP, is continuing to meet
with WMC odicials in an effort to
get the order changed and to re
move this club from over the sea
men's heads.
While the SIU-SUP battles the
draft set-up, the RMO began to
move in on other fronts and set
itself up as dictator of ^all phases
of maritime labor. In a speech de
livered on Feb. 27, Marshall Dim-
ock, director of the RMO, said
that the RMO had "opened rest
homes at Oyster Bay, New. York;^
Bay Ridge, Maryland; Gladstone,
New Jersey; Pass Christian, Miss-
{Conthnied on Page 4)
New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
Reasoning that "it Js not the, policy of the War Labor Board
to upset long established wage differentials," and furthermore that
shorcside common labor in the New Bedford area was only receiving
43 cents an hour, a WLB referee ruled last week that seamen on the
New England Steamship Line were not entitled to jjie wage increases
demanded by the SIU.
The referee was a gentleman by the name of Robert S. Coit, and
he handed down one of the phoniest decisions ever to come out of
the WLB. His crack about the wage scales of shoreside commond la
bor reveals his complete lack of understanding of the duties and re
sponsibilities of seamen, and that his qualification as a labor referee
arc sadly lacking.
Coit's decision is full of shipowner figures and reasoning and
winds up by denying the seamen every point asked by the union. His
complete disregard of the facts presented by the union, afid his hand
ing down of a decision that is full of concern over the employer
profit rates but indifferent to the living standards of the men, in-
{Continued on Page 3)
li'' #-
'm-fi
The MWEB is again violating the Statement of Principles under which labor agreed
to its establishment. Reflecting the growing anti-labor atmosphere which prevades the
various Washington martime bureaus, the Martime War Emergency Board has arro-
gently handed down decisions which eliminate area bonlises without even consulting
with the Advisory Committee which includes representatives of the trade unions.
~ ^ ^ ^ ^ Not only has the MWEB follow-
Ui
ed a provocatory proceedure, but
it has performed functions outside
of the limited jurisdiction laid
down by labor at the time of its
formation.
Last month the MWEB handed
down Amendment 10 and 11 to
Decision 7 Revised. These amend
ments eliminated long established
area bonuses and susbstituted a
new system of port and attack
bonuses. The net result, sea
men's wages would be cut. This
procedure was immediately de
nounced by the SIU-SUP and it
was pointed out that it was the
identical move which the MWEB
attempted to pull last January and
was knocked down.
Tlie SIU-SUP reminded the
Board that it was. established to
mediate disputes between operators
and tmions and that no dispute on
this matter existed. However, the
Board preceded with its directives
and the unions sent representatives
to Washington in an effort to head
off the wage cut.
Secretary-Treasurer John Hawk
went to Washington and with
SIU-SUP Representative Matthew
Dushane, attended the first meet
ing of the Advisory Committee.
The meeting was a farce. To
begin with, two MWEB members.
Frank Graham and John Steelman,
were not even present. The third
Board member, Captain Edwafd
Macauley, opened the meeting but
immediately turned it over to a
subordinate and left the room.
{Continued on Page A)
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K 7 •
Page Two THE SEAFARERSVLOG
jw-> ^ Friday, Mircfc T, _
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PuMUM Dv th0
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAI. UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlcmtic and Gulf IHidirict
IffRlaMI wttH (A» Amtrioan PtOrnvtion 4f Laf>or
HAHRY LUNDEBERQ, Int^matlonoa Pl«aid«nt
110 Morkat StrMt, Room 402, Sao Fraodaco, Uedif.
'ADDRMBB ALL OOBREBPONDENOa OONCBRNINO TSIB
PVBUOAS'ION TO:
"THE SWABEBS' LOG
P. O. 25, Station P, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 9-8346
THE HOBBS BILL
Opening wedge for the threatened anti=labor drive in
the present CPngress is the so-called "anti-racketeering"
bill of Congr^sman Hobbs. ' -
' It has evidently been picked for first consideration as
bne of the more comouflaged anti-union bills and because
all true labor unionists hate racketeering like poison^
But the fact of the matter is that federal and state
anti-racketeering laws are already on the books, and all the
Hobbs bill does is to eliminate present language protecting
legitimate labor activities and to insert language that may
be used by anti-labor courts to destroy union organization.
This uiiloh-busting bill has been rushed through the
House Judiciary Committee without any hearings. Urge
your Congressman to insist on hearings and to see that the
bill is defeated. ^ ^
Unions Ask More
Protection Prom
Submarine War
Out of the Focs^l
by
S- ^
The old grey marc of the SIU merchant fleet has finally come to
rest in Davey Jones' locker. Many of the brothers remember her when
she battled 3 submarines off Norfolk sinking one of them, damaging
another—the third submarine beat it. That was the time when the
crew got together and donated $330 to the Navy men for their marks
manship. There is a shell in Headquarters with both tfie licensed and
vn-licensed personnel's names attached to it.
On her next voyage she was a little way off Boston when a torpedo
knocked off her propcllor. Her guns started to pop in every direction
and the Coast Guard came out and towed her to Boston. After being
repaired, she made the trip to Russia with 2400 tons of TNT in her
iioids, and she got thru to Murmansk in spite of torpedoes and dive
bombers. Three days out of Murmansk on her way home, a torpedo
finally got her. None of the, crew was lost.
A A A
Albert Bernard (Tiny Tim) Moses has shipped out. His shipmate
Ernest Tenkanen informed us of the fact, while drinking in a barroom
in Hoboken. Kris Hurst and his shadow T. Miller arc anxious to see
their shipmates get home so they can settle their beef. John King wrote
us from New Orleans that he intends to get his ticket soon. Lucas
Gurimbalaen, who is Steward aboard a tanker, wants to be remembered
to his friends. He has been away over a year at sea. What a payoff
he'll have when he returns.
Greater protection of merchant
Vessels against the Axis submariuc
peril, an all-out construction pro
gram of high-speed cargo ships,
and grcately stepped-up attacks on
German submarine bases and con
tinental shipyards were the high
lights of an international maritime
conference which was held recent
ly in London, England, under the
auspices of the International Trans
port Wofkers' Federation, it was
announced here yesterday.
Representatives of the seafarers
of twelve Allied nations partici
pated in the conference which ex
pressed dissatisfaction over the in
adequacy of protection of Allied
convoys by escort vessels and air
craft, and the apparent inability of
the Allied governments to deal with
maritime shipping and supply prob
lems in a more aggressive spirit.
The conferees tmanimously ap
proved an action program outlin
ing five principal points and de
manding that the Allies take im
mediate steps to put the proposals
of maritime unions into practice.
The five points are; Greater pro
tection for convoys; organization
of special convoys composed of
fast cargo vessels, now sailing
either alone or with slow-moving
ships; immediate building of high
speed vessels for the above pur
poses; strict vigilance of sliips in
port and control of the persons al
lowed to enter docks and harbor
areas; offensive measures against
submarine bases and shipyards on
the European continent.
Charles Jarman, secretary of the
British National Union of Seamen
and a member of the management
committee of the I. T. F., was par
ticularly outspoken in his criticism
of the lack of convoy protection.
"Our men are by no means getting
a fair deal," he declared. Jarman
reported that the British Admiralty
had assured him "that the safety
p£ Britain's merchant ships and the
gallant men serving in them is re
garded^ as a duty of supreme im
portance," but pointed out that
such assurances were hardly
enough. "I continue to insist that
protection by aircraft and escort
vessels ds far from adequate," he
concluded.
REPORT FROM
Washington
Bju Matiketo Dmhane
Martirhe War Emergency Board: •
We set up an Advisory Committee in compliance with the Stst^
ment of Frinciples, and the first meeting of this Committee with th4
MWEB Was held on Feb. 24, 1943.
Captain Edward Macauley, chairman of the Board called the mce^
ing to order and then turned the chair over to Mr. Eric Nidsen,
retary to the Board, and then lef^^the meeting. Frank P. Graham and
John R. Steelman, other members, were also missing from the meeting.
The meeting had to carry on without any Board members being present
All the representatives of the Unions felt that this meeting was!
not what they anticipated and felt that the members of the Boardi
should be present to hear some of the problems that the unions are cort-
fronted with. They moved that in the future all members of the Board
should be present at the meetings. i
The only questions that can be aired out at the Advisory Commltttf
meeting is what will be on the agenda. It will be necessary for th«j
unions to submit their questions ten days ahead of the regularly schcd->
uled meetings, which are the last Wednesday of the month. I advise
all branches to write their respective headquarters with any questions!
they want discussed. In this way the headquarters can then pass thenaj
along to the Board in tirrie.
War Manpower Commission: ^
I have been trying all week to get the WMC to change the direci
tive whereby the RMO is to act. as agents for the Commission in thq
matter of seamen's deferments and time allowed ashore in between
ships. As we are the only unions protesting this directive, it makes it veiTi^
difficult for us to get certain people in the WMC to change this direc
tive. However, I am of the opinion that if the other unions knew of
this directive and studied its angles, they would also protest it. The
number of the directive is XVIII and. the memorandum of Selective
Service is number 182. It may be obtained at any local Selective Serv
ice board. i
I have another meeting scheduled for Monday with the WMC oif
this directive and we may be able to get some action then. ^
Office Of Defense Transportation:
There are plans for construction of new barges and tow-boats foi"
the transportation of petroleum products from the Texas fields to the
east coast. Also, there is serious manpower shortages in the inland
waterways, Rivers, harbors and Great Lakes.
The ODT feels that there may be a need for Federal recruitment!
and training program and they have requested the opinions of the uru-
ons. I have advised the ODT that I will attend this meeting. I wOuld
therefore, like suggestions from our members who are acquainted with
the manpower problems in these areas.
A A A
Don Ronan and Arthur Thompson have returned from a six
months voyage. Don expects to be married soon. He will be following
in the footsteps bf Jean Peterson, who was married two weeks ago.
Baltimore and Norfolk are busy these days, with plenty of ships in port.
The F.B.I, is going to crack down on all seamen who notify their Draft
iBoards that they're aboard a ship, and then quit on sailing day. So get
Wise, or you'll regret it.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SEIPPING FOR
FEB. 8 TO 20 INCLUSIVE
^ DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 370 258 300 928
REGISTERED ^6 285 215 796
ON HAND 474 &31 217 1252
OFFICE UNION RUNS
SEAMEN'S CANTEEN
A Saturday night schedule from
7:30 to dawn and entertainment
by various celebrities of stage,
screen and radio will feature the
operation of Canteen 19, for mer
chant seamen and all members of
the armed forces, at 160 5 th Ave
nue, under auspices of Local 19,
Social Service Employes Union.
The union, an affiliate of the
UOPWA, opened the canteen this
week.
In addition to regular entertain
ment, Canteen 19 will also provide
recreational facilities, dancing and
reading and library room. AIL
members of the armed forces and
the merchant marine are welcome.
SUP '43 Election Returns
The official balloting committee of the Sailors Union of the Pa
cific made its report on Feb. 8, and announced the re-election of Harry
Lundeberg as Secretary-Treasurer. The great majority of the incum
bent officers were returned with Brother Lundeberg, most of them
without opposition.
Following are the SUP officers for 1943: '
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Harry Lundeberg
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
John De Rocco
FIRST S. F. PATROLMAN
Max Weisbarth
SECOND PATROLMAN
Lee Barlow .
DISPATCHER
John Palazio r
SEATTLE AGENT :
Ed Coester
PATROLMAN
Harry Johnson
PORTLAND AGENT
SAN PEDRO AGENT
Harlan Snow .
PATROLMAN
Loui Cochran
HONOLULU AGENT
Carl Christiansen •
NEW YORK AGENT
Morris Weisberger
PATROLMAN
Jack Dwyer
TRUSTEES:
Lee Barlow
John De Rocco
John Lavoie
Harry Lundeberg,
Max Weisbarth
I
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John Massey
Sailors Union of llio Facific
Constitutional Ohangres:
1. The initiation fee shall be $25, and shall accompany the applica
tion of ftiembership, and the dues shall be $2 per month, payable in ad
vance. In unorganized fields the Initiation Fee shall be determined from
time to time by the membership.
2. Upon joining the Union members shall receive a probationary
membership certificate which they shall hold for 12 months.
3. Providing increase in officials wages, and $5 assessment for Gen
eral Fund to cover such increases and Increased taxes and supplies
for SUP.
. j. •
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Aroundi the Ports
./
PORT EVERGLADES
Attention;
Mr. Westbrook Pcgler and
Mr. H. V. Kaltenborn:
I have noticed in your com
ments on the world news that you
often, directly or in^rectly, ac
cuse brganizcd labor of holding up
the production of essential war
materials. Perhaps you are not fa
miliar with the production of
these materials. If you are, surely
you know that ordanance, muni
tions, clothing, medical supplies
food stuffs are being produced
faster and in larger quantities than
the brass hats and bureaucrats can
devise ways and means to trans
port them to the areas in which
they are needed.
In analyzing your analysis of the
news and the manner in which you
publish it, it seems that you are
quick to exaggerate the mistakes
of Labor, yet you are slow to rec
ognize the good accomplishments
of Labor. In several cases you have
I)foclaimed to the world that the
men in our armed forces were
ashamed of the manner in which
the people at home were prosecut
ing the war effort. Recently I
talked to several Marines who have
teturned from Guadalcanal to re
cover from wounds received in
battle. In every case their stories
were the same. The news broad
casts and the newspaper columnists
have painted such a black picture
of strikes, walkouts and food
hoarding, that they believed the
country to be on the verge of a
revolution.
Usually when talking with men
just returned from the battle
zones, I ask them for their opinion
of organized labor, and if they be
lieve labor is supporting them as
it should. In almost every case
each man has said that he not only
believes in organized labor, but
that the men in the armed forces
aie depending on organized labor
to protect and maintain the wage
and work standards that are part
of the American way of life. When
they return home after the war is
w«m, they want employment where
they can work under American
conditions and earn a decent liv
ing for themselves and their fam
ilies. That is one of the tilings for
which we are fighting.
So, M'r. Pegler and Mr. Kalten
born, when you are blasting labor
and the working man to the pub
lic, remember that the laboring
man IS the public, and that a large"
part of our armed forces came
from the ranks of labor.
' Yours truly,
J. K. Shaunghnessy, Agent
SAVANNAH
Shipping has been damn good
here in the last couple of weeks.
One ship out of Wilmington and
one out of Savannah. Am expect
ing another one out of Wilmington
on the 22 nd of March and one out
of Savannah about the same time.
For the last year it has been
brought to the attention of the
War Shipping Administration and
the Maritime Commission that cer
tain changes on these ships were
absolutely necessary due to the fact
of the increase of armed guards,
they put on these ships the less
space there is available for seamen
and everytime you bring this mat
ter to their attention they holler
there is a war going on. If the sail
ors don't know there is a war go
ing on who does?
If the War Shipping Admiras-
tration and Maritime Commission
should just forget about this war
business for a little while and
change the forecastle so that they
won't have to pack the sailors into
these cubby holes that are called
rooms and cause the Company who
operate these ships to spend a lot
of money and time trying to im
prove conditions.
Some . £ these mud-scows that
they are building now are worse
than thosj wooden schooners that
used to run in the 19th century.
These same bureaucrats had better
wake up to the fact that this is a
democracy and that a sailor has a
right to a decent place to live and
also a decent place to keep himself
clean.
Hoping that some of those swiv
el chair warmers read this article so
that they can take some action.
Steady as she goes
CHARLES WAID, Agent
BOSTON
A very hectic two weeks! Paid
off three ships and creWed up five
ships including 3 new Libertys,
And the weather these last two
weeks! Twenty-two below zero
along the docks and a thirty mile
wind to boot. For a couple of
days I thought I was a polar ex
plorer. Everything finally squared
except a few beefs which must be
settled down South.
Sam Bayne, former Boston pa
trolman was in town, a victim of
a sub, but looking just as chipper
as ever and sporting a great big
bearskin coat, a gift from Russia.
He's going out again as Steward.
Good luck Sam!
Well, there's been a bit of pub
licity about the heroic men of the
U. S. Merchant Marine but evi
dently Mr. Morgenthau believes
they are an exception as they are
being taxed 5 per cent more than
any other class for earnings made
in 1942. As a gesture of real re
spect this money should be return
ed to these men who certainly
earn it the hard way.
Mr. Eddie Rickenbacker spoke
over the radio last week and
sounded like a very illiterate reac
tionary. He squawked like hell
about the workers working only 40
hours a week at straight time and
squawked still louder about getting
time and one-half for overtiniie
work, but boy did he squawk
about the President's suggestion
that a ceiling be put on earnings
of twenty-five thousands a year.
Poor Mr. Rickenbacker may
have to take a cut to bring his
earnings down to 25 grand a year.
JOHN MOGAN, Agent
Seafarers' Log-
HONOR ROLL
——————— • —^
CREW S. S. JAMES CAULDWELL $34.91
CREW S. 8. COLABEE 29.07
CREW S. S. iBENJ. WILLIAMS 20.00
CREW S. S. DELMAR 19.50
CREW S. 8. FRANCIS MARION 19.00
CREW 8. 8. LAFAYETTE ....14.50
CREW 8. 8. RAFAEL 8EMM8 14.00
CREVy S. 8. BENJ. CHEW 14.00
CREW 8. 8. T. ROBERTSON 12.75
CREW 8. 8. J08IAH BARTLETT 8.70
CREW 8. 8, ALCOA MASTER 7-00
CREW 8. 8. PAN CRESCENT 5.35
A. PAGE 2.00
F. E. PHILIPS 2:00
C. F. 8ALZM AN 1.00
W. F. HARDEMAN 1.00 .
CHARLES McCULLOUGH ••••• l-O®
TOTAL .....! ;. .$205.76
MERCHANT SAILORS
JOBS PROTECTED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—The
House Merchant Marine Commit
tee approved today a bill (HR
133) to preserve the status of mer
chant seamen as private employes
while serving on vessels owned or
operated by the Government
through the War Shipping Admin
istration.
Practically all seagoing tonnage
now is owned or operated directly
by the Government with the own
ers acting only as agents for the
Government. Thus under existing
law seamen technically become
Government employes and have
surrendered many of their rights as
employes of private industry in
exchange for what they consider
less desirable privileges.
The committee also approved a
bill (HR 131) to provide re-em-
ploymejit rights for persons who
leave their jobs to serve in the
merchant marine during the wai".
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICAN
ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
ROOM 213 — 2 STONE STREET, NEW YORK CITY
P.O. Bex 29, Station P. Phone BOwlins Green 8-8346
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS
NEW YORK 2 Stone St.
Dispatcher'a Office
BOSTON MO "AtiiilHi' XVe'.!
BALTIMORE ....14 North Gay St,
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres Stf. ........
SAVA^AH 218 Eaat Bay SL
TAMPA. 423 East Piatt St
n.i-V: Conception SL...,
Ponce de Leon
CA^y^TON...... 219 20lh Street
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway,
>HONE
. BOwling- Green 9-8346
.BOwIing Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
Eaivert 4539
' Lombard 7661
.Norfolk 4-1083
.Canal 3336
Savannah 3-1728
Tampa MM-1323
Dial 2-1392
.Puerto de Tlerra
.Galveston 2-8043
Oiler
Cook
$178.00 monthly base pay.
44.50 per week for 56 hrs.
$102.50 monthly base pay.
27.59 per week for 56 hrs.
$223.00 monthly base pay. $122.50 nionthly base pay
57.75 per week for 56 36.11 per week for 63 hourS
hrs. in span of 84 hrs. in span of 84.
#•
Porters $138.00 monthly base pay. $70.00 monthly base pay.
34.50 per week for 56 hrs. 20.02 per week for 63 hours
in span of 84 hrs. in span of 84.
Not only does the wage scale of the New England line compare
imfavorably with that paid by Great Lakes operators, but also with that
paid by other New England Coast operators engaged in similar trade.
This can be proven by an examination of standard contracts held for
such work in this area by the International Longshoremen's Association
(AFL).
The New England Steamsliip Company wage scales are not only
substandard when compared with the Great T.akes Contracts, and when
compared with East Coast ILA contracts, but also when compared with
{Continued on Page 4)
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New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
{Continued from Page 1) /
dicates the rankest sort of anti-labor bias.
While Coit is greatly concerned that the shipowner should con
tinue to make a high rate of profit, his decision may in the end re
act against the very men he is attempting to protect—for the New-
England Steamship Company may well experience difficulty in finrling
seamen willing to work under the present rate of pay and working
conditions. The SIU has been able to persuade these men to continue
manning the boats on the basis that the WLB would review their case
and adjust wages. But if Mr. Colt's line is to carry the day—we would
hesitate to issue any guarantee that New England could find crew?
in the future.
We find it difficult to believe, however, that the WLB would
uphold the Coit decision. We have prepared a new appeal which will
be carried over Coit's head, and we expect that his position will bg
thrown into the ash can by the National War Labor Board.
The following excerpts from the SIU brief reveal the actual
conditions under which the New England men work, and the modest
demands upon the shipov/ners made by the union.
SIU BRIEF
The unlicensed personnel of the New England Steamship Company
is fully qualified and endorsed by the United States Steamship Inspec
tion service. The certificates issued by this body to New England sea
men as Able Seamen, Oilers, Firemen, Stewards, Cooks and Messmeri
require the same experience and knowledge as men sailing the Great
Lakes or deep sea to foreign countries.
The unlicensed personnel is, therefore, comparable to the ships
crews throughout the industry in skill and experience, and should re
ceive a wage comparable to their value to the operator and in accordance
with industry standards.
The working conditions and wage scales of the New England line
are sub-standard when compared with similar operations of other com
panies in the maritime industry. The New England boats compare ia
size and operation to the boats on the Great Lakes. The SIU holds con
tracts with the Great Lakes operators, all of which are far superior to
the contract held with New England.
The following table shows how the scales of the War Labor Board
and the New England Steamship Company compare:
• War Labor Board New England Steamship Co.
Able - $178,00 monthly basepay. $92.50 montlily base pay.
Seaman 44.50 per week for 56 hrs. 26.46J4 per week for 56 hour*
three months of the year—
70 hours for nine months
of the year.
M
'A---'•• • " • • ••
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, March 5, 1945
This is brother Ben Rosen standing beside his painting which
won the $100 first prize at the USS art show held in New York
la&t month.
RMO Extends Grip On
Seamen; Labor Fears
Fink Hall After War
{Continued from Page 1)
issippi; and San Mateo County,
California, in order to take care, of
seamen in this country."
Has the RMO i>ow become a
.charity outfit? We were under the
impression that these rest hornes
jhad been opened by United Sea
men's Service—or has the RMO
taken that over also?
In the first place there is a rec
ognized Marine Hospital Service
tmdcr the United States Public
Health Service with full and com
plete equipment and skilled physi
cians to take care of any condition
that might arise among seamen.
Why should the RMO—a gov
ernment body—which now claims
that it has set up these rest homes
' —be shaking a can to support
themselves in competition with a
recognized and established ' Gov-
, ernment service?
, • We arc forced to the conclus
ion that RMO has embarked upon
a course of collusion with a group
of professional "charitieers" who
•; are' exploiting the heroism of the
American Seamen and using them
as a chariot for their cushy jobs..
It's about time to call for an
investigation of this racket—since
the American Seamen have long
since made it clear that they want
no charity and certainly want no
regimcntatioff from a group of
professional bureaucrats and pub
licity seekers.
: . It is obvious that the RMO is
trying to squee.ze into every ser
vice connected with seamen. And
this;is no accident or case of bu
reaucratic bungling. The RMO is
out to build k permanent organi
zation that will continue after the
war. It is shaping up into the
modern equivalent of the old
Shippings Board and its chain of
fink hiiing halls which reduced
r ""the seamen to slavery after the last
war.
A step at a time, the RMO exr
tends its jurisdiction and expands
its functions. By the time the war
' «nds it hopes to really have the
seamen under its thumb. The pro
gress it has already made in this
direction was revealed when Dim-
ock said in his speech on Feb. 27
that in the past nine months his
outfit had placed 20,000 men on
ships, and it now placing them at
the rate of 1,000 per month.
This means that every month
1,000 men are being shipped out
of a potential fink hall and have
no contacts with the unions. If
the RMO plans are realized, this
number will multiply many tiipes
and (the RMO hopes) the union
hiring halls will be vacant.
Dimock's hopes were frankly
expressed when he said, "the RMO
seems to be on the threshold of
responsibility for unified manning
of all water transportation."
Each month that passes finds
the RMO strengthened and in a
better position to combat the
unions after the war ends. Much
of its progress to date has been due
to the fact that the unions were
not fully aware of the anti-union
character of its program. Now
the pattern- is clear., All unions
must b'? on their guard and pre
pared for struggle.
The final show down may not
come immediately — the entire
fight may be postponed until af
ter the war when an all out effort
will be made to smash our condi
tions. But one thing is now clear
—the fight is inevitable.
PERSONALS
ROBERT D. EISENGRAEBER;
Contact your draft board at ones.
NICOLA SCEARIDIA: Your
book has been found and returneH
to the office of the Secretary-Trea-
BONUS BEEF
The West Coast o"f South Amer
ica Beef has finally been settled.
The crews that made the last trips
on the Flomar," Pierce Butler, Berij.
Chew, Alcoa Patriot and Alcoa
Pioneer can collect their, money at
Calmar Line, 25 Broadway and Al
coa Line, 17 Battery Place, N.Y.C.
MWEB Fliouts Unions
{Continued from Page 1)
In reporting this meeting to the
membership in New York on
March 1, Brother John Hawk said,
"The meeting was pointless. The
unions had sent men to Washing
ton to discuss this matter, but
there were no Board members pres
ent to listen to us. We were left
beating our gums to the four
walls."
After some discussion among
themselves, the Advisory Commit
tee voted unanimously to request
the MWEB to withhold the two
new amendments until the next
meeting of the Advisory Commit
tee so that labors* opinions could be
heard.
No sooner had the Advisoryr
Committee left town that the
MWEB announced that the two
disputed amendments woiild be ef
fective pn March 1. '
In denouncing this action.
Brother Hawk chafged that "this
is strictly dictatorship." He an
nounced that the SIU-SUP would
immediately protest the flaunting
of Union riglits.
"This action," said Hawk, "is a
challenge to all maritime unions. If
the MWEB gets away with it,
there is no telling where they will
stop."
-The entire Atlaptic and Gulf
membership has endorsed the posi
tion taken by Hawk, Dushanc and
the Advisory Commi«ee and in
structed Hawk to send to the
Board the following protests and
resolutions:
March 2, 1943
Maritime War Emergency Board
Capt. Edward Macauley, Chairman
Dr. John R. Steelman
Dr. Frank P. Graham ,
Washington, D.C.
Geiiclemen:
The Atlantic and Gulf membets
of the . Seafarers International
Union went on record March 1,
1'943 to condemn the dictatorial
action taken by your body in
handing downr Amendment 10 and
11 to Decision 7, Revised, -without
consulting the Advisory Commit
tee.
This union passed unanimously
the following resolution:
"We, members of the Atlantic
and Gulf District of the Seafarers
International Union, protest the
arrogant action of the Maritime
War Emergency Board in handing
down Amendment 10 and 11 to
Decision 7 Revised, without con
sulting the Advisory Committee as
provided in the Statement Of Prin
ciples.
"We fully concur in, and en
dorse the action of the Advisory
Committee in protesting this high
handed procedure.
New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
' {Continued from Page 3)
SIU contracts held with companies performing the same services as that
performed by the New England Steamship Company. To prove this,
we enter as exhibit No. 4 the contract held by the SIU with the Frelihew
Southern Corporation.
In view of the above evidence and exhibits, the SIU is asking that
the New England Steamship Company conform to the standards al
ready set in the industry. The Union is not asking that the New Eng
land line meet the scale established on the Great Lakes, nor even that
established by the ILA. The Union is only demanding that the New
England Line eliminate the most obvious and unjust differentials in the
following manner:
1. Increase in the monthly scale of wages for all unlicensed rat
ings of $40,000.
2. Overtime increase for all ratings of 10c per hour.
3. Increase in hourly pay for all ratings to $1 per hour.
-4. Contract heading Deck Department Section 2 to read:
"Eight hours shall constitute a day's work; Any work performed in
excess of eight hours, from midnight to midnight, shall be paid for ^t
the regular overtime rate. Second mates, Boatswains and deck hands
shall work eight consecutive hours per day based on the three watch
system." '
. ; A A A
,In addition to these arguments, the SIU pres<;nted wage exhibits
in the form of ILA contracts throughout the New Bedford area cov
ering over 70 operators. All exhibits proved beyond question that , the,
men on the New England boats were being payed fax less than the
prevailing scale for like work In the area. ,
And to this, Mr. Coit blandly replied that "it is not the policy
of the War Labor Board to upset long established wage differentials."
If this is the case, then labor was defrauded when, it was. persuaded to
give up the right to strike and depend upon the WLB for adjustment
of wage inequalities. •
Coit, in jdenying all of the union demands, makes much of the
fact that New Bedford is a low Wage area. What .sort of finky rea
soning is that? If the men have received starvation wages in the past,
under Goit's logic they should continue to receive them for the dura
tion of the war. ' .
V
The SIU has prepared an appeal which will be forwarded to the
War Labor Board this week. The Union will demand that the full
board review-Coit's outrageous decision and takg a position so that
the seamen :will know jtist what sort of a deal they can expect in.
the future. , - .
"We demand that the MWEB
immediately call a meeting, at
tended by all members of the
Board, at which the Advisory
Committee will have an opportun
ity to present its view on the
Amendments 10 and 11 to De
cision 7. Revised.
• "We further demand that in the
future the MWEB meet with the
Advisory Committee and consider
its opinion? before handing down
any new decisions, or arnendments
to existing decisions."
- I would like to point out that
this Union's position relative to the
powers granted the Board was
clearly outlined in my communi
cation to the Board dated January
12, 1943 when we opposed
Amendment" 9 to Decision 7, Re
vised. These latest amendments
are, in our opinion, the same as
Amendment 9—outside of the jur
isdiction of the Board and consti
tute a clear infringement of the
Statement of Principles.
May I emphasize again that the
Advisory Committee was unani
mous in its motion to withhold
Amendments 10 and 11 to De
cision 7, Revised, until we had an
opportunity to present our view
to you.
Your flouting of this request re
veals the attitude of a dictator and
constitutes a grave threat to all
waterfront democracy and trade
unionism.
Very truly youXs,
JOHN HAWK
Shipowners Give MMP,
Run Around In Pacific
Powerful West Coast steamship
interest were accused this week by
Captain J. J. Delaney, president of
the Masters, Mates and Pilots of
America, of reneging on their
promise to make use of mediatioft
machinery set up by the govern
ment for the settlement, of dis
putes.
Unless these shipping magnates
end their defiance of UnClc Sam in
wartime, their tactics'may provoke
a strike of 1,300 Pacific Coast
members of the union, Delaney
warned.
"Some time ago representative#
of the shipbuilding industry and
maritime unions agreed upon a no^
strike, no-lockout policy," De^
laney said. "An agreement waS
reached also on creation of a Mar
itime Wax Emergency Board- to ad
just controversies, the board's de
cision to be final.
"Recently, our. West Coast lo
cals made a request for an increase
in salaries of licensed deck men, to
bring their scales up to the levels
prevailing on East- Coast ships,"
Delaney said.
"We got nowhere in negotiations
with the Pacific-American Steam
ship Association, which represents
all the companies on the Western
seaboard. Then we sought to have-
the. issue adjudicated by the Em
ergency Board, but the'asscvlation
through its counsel, Gregory Har
rison, refused to go along with
this procedure, thus plainly violaC?
ing wartime pledge.
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
ft
Are Blind To Finks
«»ssmssss&:^
^ The leadership of the National Martime Union has not
Uttered a single peep of protest over the draft weapon
given the-WSA by "Hoosier Hitler" McNutt. Not only
did the NMU sit quietly on thft side lines when the rest of
martime labor was battling to keep the draft power out of
the hands of the labor-hating shipowners and brass hats
in the WSA, but now that the WSA seems to have won—
the NMU glosses over this very serious defeat, ̂ nd with
friminal irresponsibility fails to inform its members of the
developing threat to the martime labor movement.
• The Feb, 26 issue of The^Pilot headlines the draft
-story as follows, "Active Seamen Needn't Report At Draft
Board." The implication is, of course, that some victory
has been won for John Sailor and that he isn't going to get
kicked around any longer. The headline is completely
dishonest. While it is true that the seamen don't have to
report to the draft boards, they are now in the clutches of
the Recruitment and Manning Organization of the WSA.
They are now being forced to register with a super-fink
Outfit which will have full authority to slap them into the
army if they act like union men.
But no mentoin of that by Curran and his coterie.
Ham Head is full of "Keep 'em Sailing" and "Damn
the Torpedoes". But there are torpedoes here at home too
—torpedoes launched in Washington and aimed at organ
ized labor. Of these Curran has nothing to say.
OFFICIAL OEGAN OF THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
^ SEAFAEEBS' INTEENATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. v. 280 NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, MAR.CH 5, 1943 No. J
MWEB Flouts Unions
In New Bonus Chisel
aid
Curran has a political line which demands the utmost
for the Soviet Union^—and that's OK. But does he
think that servile appeasement of labor's enemies at home
really aids the Soviet Union?
Does he believe that the American industrialists would
send one additional tank or gun to the Soviet Union if he
scuttled his entire union and sent the men to fink halls?
If he does, he's nuts.
The American industrialists will send just as much or
as little aid to the Soviet Union as they think serves their
purposes, and no screaming by Curran, no surrenders and
retreats, no double crossing of his rank and file followers,
will alter this picture. '
Actually, Curran does a great disservice to the cause
of Democracy which'he claims to champion. No democ
racy can exist without a strong an.d independent labor
movement, and his refusal to fight the WSA fink campaign
certainly aids the foes of unionism.
Curran is long on wind, but in the final analysis he
serves as a labor cover for those who hope to see the open
shop return to the waterfront.
RMO Extends Grip On
Seamen; Labor Fears
Fink Hall After War
The War Manpower Commision order, giving the Re
cruitment and Manning Organization power to draft or
defer seamen, is now in effect. In spite of the protests of
the SIU-SUP, this. finky government bureau has won
authority to line up the seamen and count out those who
•* 'stand firm in defense of their union
BULLETIN!
SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 25
—This morning Judge Edmund
F. Murphy of, ihe Superior
Court, threw out of court the
ill-smelling "Hampson-Prevost
Suit" against Harry Lundeberg,
President of the SlU. This suit
was inspired' by Stalinist agents
in the National Maritime Union
and charged Lundeberg with
misappropriating ^ISUkOOO in
union funds.
This action wrote finis to the
notorious frame-up against
Lundeberg which first was at
tempted in January 1942.
These SlU men have had ships shot from under them one to three times in all parts of the world, and
while they survived, 602 of their union's brothers did not, 60 SlU contracted ships have been lost since
Pearl Harbor. But In spite of enemy subs an^^ bombers, SlU men continue to deliver the goods to all
war fronts.
(Standing left to rightFR- .C. Ricketts, Steward; Harry Clock, Oiler; J. L, Michaelas, Fireman; E.
Aguirros, Watertender; .Gus Aim, Carpenter; Robert B. Graham, Ordinary arid Reginald Goodin, Cook.
(Seated) AnUioiiy McMunn, Oiler; Andrew Lavazoli, Ordinary; Charles Allen, Able Seaman; Phole =
man Mitthys, Fireman and Carville Councilman, Watertender.
rights. How the RMO will use
this new authority remains to be
seen. It will be watched carefully,
and any attempt to take advan
tage of the new power and black
ball militant union men, will be
fought.
In the meantime the union is
not giving up the battle against
rhis directive. Matthew Dushane,
Washington Representative of the
SIU-SUP, is continuing to meet
with WMC odicials in an effort to
get the order changed and to re
move this club from over the sea
men's heads.
While the SIU-SUP battles the
draft set-up, the RMO began to
move in on other fronts and set
itself up as dictator of ^all phases
of maritime labor. In a speech de
livered on Feb. 27, Marshall Dim-
ock, director of the RMO, said
that the RMO had "opened rest
homes at Oyster Bay, New. York;^
Bay Ridge, Maryland; Gladstone,
New Jersey; Pass Christian, Miss-
{Conthnied on Page 4)
New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
Reasoning that "it Js not the, policy of the War Labor Board
to upset long established wage differentials," and furthermore that
shorcside common labor in the New Bedford area was only receiving
43 cents an hour, a WLB referee ruled last week that seamen on the
New England Steamship Line were not entitled to jjie wage increases
demanded by the SIU.
The referee was a gentleman by the name of Robert S. Coit, and
he handed down one of the phoniest decisions ever to come out of
the WLB. His crack about the wage scales of shoreside commond la
bor reveals his complete lack of understanding of the duties and re
sponsibilities of seamen, and that his qualification as a labor referee
arc sadly lacking.
Coit's decision is full of shipowner figures and reasoning and
winds up by denying the seamen every point asked by the union. His
complete disregard of the facts presented by the union, afid his hand
ing down of a decision that is full of concern over the employer
profit rates but indifferent to the living standards of the men, in-
{Continued on Page 3)
li'' #-
'm-fi
The MWEB is again violating the Statement of Principles under which labor agreed
to its establishment. Reflecting the growing anti-labor atmosphere which prevades the
various Washington martime bureaus, the Martime War Emergency Board has arro-
gently handed down decisions which eliminate area bonlises without even consulting
with the Advisory Committee which includes representatives of the trade unions.
~ ^ ^ ^ ^ Not only has the MWEB follow-
Ui
ed a provocatory proceedure, but
it has performed functions outside
of the limited jurisdiction laid
down by labor at the time of its
formation.
Last month the MWEB handed
down Amendment 10 and 11 to
Decision 7 Revised. These amend
ments eliminated long established
area bonuses and susbstituted a
new system of port and attack
bonuses. The net result, sea
men's wages would be cut. This
procedure was immediately de
nounced by the SIU-SUP and it
was pointed out that it was the
identical move which the MWEB
attempted to pull last January and
was knocked down.
Tlie SIU-SUP reminded the
Board that it was. established to
mediate disputes between operators
and tmions and that no dispute on
this matter existed. However, the
Board preceded with its directives
and the unions sent representatives
to Washington in an effort to head
off the wage cut.
Secretary-Treasurer John Hawk
went to Washington and with
SIU-SUP Representative Matthew
Dushane, attended the first meet
ing of the Advisory Committee.
The meeting was a farce. To
begin with, two MWEB members.
Frank Graham and John Steelman,
were not even present. The third
Board member, Captain Edwafd
Macauley, opened the meeting but
immediately turned it over to a
subordinate and left the room.
{Continued on Page A)
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K 7 •
Page Two THE SEAFARERSVLOG
jw-> ^ Friday, Mircfc T, _
r-
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Is?'/
PuMUM Dv th0
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAI. UNION
OF NORTH AMERICA
Atlcmtic and Gulf IHidirict
IffRlaMI wttH (A» Amtrioan PtOrnvtion 4f Laf>or
HAHRY LUNDEBERQ, Int^matlonoa Pl«aid«nt
110 Morkat StrMt, Room 402, Sao Fraodaco, Uedif.
'ADDRMBB ALL OOBREBPONDENOa OONCBRNINO TSIB
PVBUOAS'ION TO:
"THE SWABEBS' LOG
P. O. 25, Station P, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwling Green 9-8346
THE HOBBS BILL
Opening wedge for the threatened anti=labor drive in
the present CPngress is the so-called "anti-racketeering"
bill of Congr^sman Hobbs. ' -
' It has evidently been picked for first consideration as
bne of the more comouflaged anti-union bills and because
all true labor unionists hate racketeering like poison^
But the fact of the matter is that federal and state
anti-racketeering laws are already on the books, and all the
Hobbs bill does is to eliminate present language protecting
legitimate labor activities and to insert language that may
be used by anti-labor courts to destroy union organization.
This uiiloh-busting bill has been rushed through the
House Judiciary Committee without any hearings. Urge
your Congressman to insist on hearings and to see that the
bill is defeated. ^ ^
Unions Ask More
Protection Prom
Submarine War
Out of the Focs^l
by
S- ^
The old grey marc of the SIU merchant fleet has finally come to
rest in Davey Jones' locker. Many of the brothers remember her when
she battled 3 submarines off Norfolk sinking one of them, damaging
another—the third submarine beat it. That was the time when the
crew got together and donated $330 to the Navy men for their marks
manship. There is a shell in Headquarters with both tfie licensed and
vn-licensed personnel's names attached to it.
On her next voyage she was a little way off Boston when a torpedo
knocked off her propcllor. Her guns started to pop in every direction
and the Coast Guard came out and towed her to Boston. After being
repaired, she made the trip to Russia with 2400 tons of TNT in her
iioids, and she got thru to Murmansk in spite of torpedoes and dive
bombers. Three days out of Murmansk on her way home, a torpedo
finally got her. None of the, crew was lost.
A A A
Albert Bernard (Tiny Tim) Moses has shipped out. His shipmate
Ernest Tenkanen informed us of the fact, while drinking in a barroom
in Hoboken. Kris Hurst and his shadow T. Miller arc anxious to see
their shipmates get home so they can settle their beef. John King wrote
us from New Orleans that he intends to get his ticket soon. Lucas
Gurimbalaen, who is Steward aboard a tanker, wants to be remembered
to his friends. He has been away over a year at sea. What a payoff
he'll have when he returns.
Greater protection of merchant
Vessels against the Axis submariuc
peril, an all-out construction pro
gram of high-speed cargo ships,
and grcately stepped-up attacks on
German submarine bases and con
tinental shipyards were the high
lights of an international maritime
conference which was held recent
ly in London, England, under the
auspices of the International Trans
port Wofkers' Federation, it was
announced here yesterday.
Representatives of the seafarers
of twelve Allied nations partici
pated in the conference which ex
pressed dissatisfaction over the in
adequacy of protection of Allied
convoys by escort vessels and air
craft, and the apparent inability of
the Allied governments to deal with
maritime shipping and supply prob
lems in a more aggressive spirit.
The conferees tmanimously ap
proved an action program outlin
ing five principal points and de
manding that the Allies take im
mediate steps to put the proposals
of maritime unions into practice.
The five points are; Greater pro
tection for convoys; organization
of special convoys composed of
fast cargo vessels, now sailing
either alone or with slow-moving
ships; immediate building of high
speed vessels for the above pur
poses; strict vigilance of sliips in
port and control of the persons al
lowed to enter docks and harbor
areas; offensive measures against
submarine bases and shipyards on
the European continent.
Charles Jarman, secretary of the
British National Union of Seamen
and a member of the management
committee of the I. T. F., was par
ticularly outspoken in his criticism
of the lack of convoy protection.
"Our men are by no means getting
a fair deal," he declared. Jarman
reported that the British Admiralty
had assured him "that the safety
p£ Britain's merchant ships and the
gallant men serving in them is re
garded^ as a duty of supreme im
portance," but pointed out that
such assurances were hardly
enough. "I continue to insist that
protection by aircraft and escort
vessels ds far from adequate," he
concluded.
REPORT FROM
Washington
Bju Matiketo Dmhane
Martirhe War Emergency Board: •
We set up an Advisory Committee in compliance with the Stst^
ment of Frinciples, and the first meeting of this Committee with th4
MWEB Was held on Feb. 24, 1943.
Captain Edward Macauley, chairman of the Board called the mce^
ing to order and then turned the chair over to Mr. Eric Nidsen,
retary to the Board, and then lef^^the meeting. Frank P. Graham and
John R. Steelman, other members, were also missing from the meeting.
The meeting had to carry on without any Board members being present
All the representatives of the Unions felt that this meeting was!
not what they anticipated and felt that the members of the Boardi
should be present to hear some of the problems that the unions are cort-
fronted with. They moved that in the future all members of the Board
should be present at the meetings. i
The only questions that can be aired out at the Advisory Commltttf
meeting is what will be on the agenda. It will be necessary for th«j
unions to submit their questions ten days ahead of the regularly schcd->
uled meetings, which are the last Wednesday of the month. I advise
all branches to write their respective headquarters with any questions!
they want discussed. In this way the headquarters can then pass thenaj
along to the Board in tirrie.
War Manpower Commission: ^
I have been trying all week to get the WMC to change the direci
tive whereby the RMO is to act. as agents for the Commission in thq
matter of seamen's deferments and time allowed ashore in between
ships. As we are the only unions protesting this directive, it makes it veiTi^
difficult for us to get certain people in the WMC to change this direc
tive. However, I am of the opinion that if the other unions knew of
this directive and studied its angles, they would also protest it. The
number of the directive is XVIII and. the memorandum of Selective
Service is number 182. It may be obtained at any local Selective Serv
ice board. i
I have another meeting scheduled for Monday with the WMC oif
this directive and we may be able to get some action then. ^
Office Of Defense Transportation:
There are plans for construction of new barges and tow-boats foi"
the transportation of petroleum products from the Texas fields to the
east coast. Also, there is serious manpower shortages in the inland
waterways, Rivers, harbors and Great Lakes.
The ODT feels that there may be a need for Federal recruitment!
and training program and they have requested the opinions of the uru-
ons. I have advised the ODT that I will attend this meeting. I wOuld
therefore, like suggestions from our members who are acquainted with
the manpower problems in these areas.
A A A
Don Ronan and Arthur Thompson have returned from a six
months voyage. Don expects to be married soon. He will be following
in the footsteps bf Jean Peterson, who was married two weeks ago.
Baltimore and Norfolk are busy these days, with plenty of ships in port.
The F.B.I, is going to crack down on all seamen who notify their Draft
iBoards that they're aboard a ship, and then quit on sailing day. So get
Wise, or you'll regret it.
ATLANTIC AND GULF SEIPPING FOR
FEB. 8 TO 20 INCLUSIVE
^ DECK ENGINE STEWARD TOTAL
SHIPPED 370 258 300 928
REGISTERED ^6 285 215 796
ON HAND 474 &31 217 1252
OFFICE UNION RUNS
SEAMEN'S CANTEEN
A Saturday night schedule from
7:30 to dawn and entertainment
by various celebrities of stage,
screen and radio will feature the
operation of Canteen 19, for mer
chant seamen and all members of
the armed forces, at 160 5 th Ave
nue, under auspices of Local 19,
Social Service Employes Union.
The union, an affiliate of the
UOPWA, opened the canteen this
week.
In addition to regular entertain
ment, Canteen 19 will also provide
recreational facilities, dancing and
reading and library room. AIL
members of the armed forces and
the merchant marine are welcome.
SUP '43 Election Returns
The official balloting committee of the Sailors Union of the Pa
cific made its report on Feb. 8, and announced the re-election of Harry
Lundeberg as Secretary-Treasurer. The great majority of the incum
bent officers were returned with Brother Lundeberg, most of them
without opposition.
Following are the SUP officers for 1943: '
SECRETARY-TREASURER
Harry Lundeberg
ASSISTANT SECRETARY
John De Rocco
FIRST S. F. PATROLMAN
Max Weisbarth
SECOND PATROLMAN
Lee Barlow .
DISPATCHER
John Palazio r
SEATTLE AGENT :
Ed Coester
PATROLMAN
Harry Johnson
PORTLAND AGENT
SAN PEDRO AGENT
Harlan Snow .
PATROLMAN
Loui Cochran
HONOLULU AGENT
Carl Christiansen •
NEW YORK AGENT
Morris Weisberger
PATROLMAN
Jack Dwyer
TRUSTEES:
Lee Barlow
John De Rocco
John Lavoie
Harry Lundeberg,
Max Weisbarth
I
/
John Massey
Sailors Union of llio Facific
Constitutional Ohangres:
1. The initiation fee shall be $25, and shall accompany the applica
tion of ftiembership, and the dues shall be $2 per month, payable in ad
vance. In unorganized fields the Initiation Fee shall be determined from
time to time by the membership.
2. Upon joining the Union members shall receive a probationary
membership certificate which they shall hold for 12 months.
3. Providing increase in officials wages, and $5 assessment for Gen
eral Fund to cover such increases and Increased taxes and supplies
for SUP.
. j. •
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Aroundi the Ports
./
PORT EVERGLADES
Attention;
Mr. Westbrook Pcgler and
Mr. H. V. Kaltenborn:
I have noticed in your com
ments on the world news that you
often, directly or in^rectly, ac
cuse brganizcd labor of holding up
the production of essential war
materials. Perhaps you are not fa
miliar with the production of
these materials. If you are, surely
you know that ordanance, muni
tions, clothing, medical supplies
food stuffs are being produced
faster and in larger quantities than
the brass hats and bureaucrats can
devise ways and means to trans
port them to the areas in which
they are needed.
In analyzing your analysis of the
news and the manner in which you
publish it, it seems that you are
quick to exaggerate the mistakes
of Labor, yet you are slow to rec
ognize the good accomplishments
of Labor. In several cases you have
I)foclaimed to the world that the
men in our armed forces were
ashamed of the manner in which
the people at home were prosecut
ing the war effort. Recently I
talked to several Marines who have
teturned from Guadalcanal to re
cover from wounds received in
battle. In every case their stories
were the same. The news broad
casts and the newspaper columnists
have painted such a black picture
of strikes, walkouts and food
hoarding, that they believed the
country to be on the verge of a
revolution.
Usually when talking with men
just returned from the battle
zones, I ask them for their opinion
of organized labor, and if they be
lieve labor is supporting them as
it should. In almost every case
each man has said that he not only
believes in organized labor, but
that the men in the armed forces
aie depending on organized labor
to protect and maintain the wage
and work standards that are part
of the American way of life. When
they return home after the war is
w«m, they want employment where
they can work under American
conditions and earn a decent liv
ing for themselves and their fam
ilies. That is one of the tilings for
which we are fighting.
So, M'r. Pegler and Mr. Kalten
born, when you are blasting labor
and the working man to the pub
lic, remember that the laboring
man IS the public, and that a large"
part of our armed forces came
from the ranks of labor.
' Yours truly,
J. K. Shaunghnessy, Agent
SAVANNAH
Shipping has been damn good
here in the last couple of weeks.
One ship out of Wilmington and
one out of Savannah. Am expect
ing another one out of Wilmington
on the 22 nd of March and one out
of Savannah about the same time.
For the last year it has been
brought to the attention of the
War Shipping Administration and
the Maritime Commission that cer
tain changes on these ships were
absolutely necessary due to the fact
of the increase of armed guards,
they put on these ships the less
space there is available for seamen
and everytime you bring this mat
ter to their attention they holler
there is a war going on. If the sail
ors don't know there is a war go
ing on who does?
If the War Shipping Admiras-
tration and Maritime Commission
should just forget about this war
business for a little while and
change the forecastle so that they
won't have to pack the sailors into
these cubby holes that are called
rooms and cause the Company who
operate these ships to spend a lot
of money and time trying to im
prove conditions.
Some . £ these mud-scows that
they are building now are worse
than thosj wooden schooners that
used to run in the 19th century.
These same bureaucrats had better
wake up to the fact that this is a
democracy and that a sailor has a
right to a decent place to live and
also a decent place to keep himself
clean.
Hoping that some of those swiv
el chair warmers read this article so
that they can take some action.
Steady as she goes
CHARLES WAID, Agent
BOSTON
A very hectic two weeks! Paid
off three ships and creWed up five
ships including 3 new Libertys,
And the weather these last two
weeks! Twenty-two below zero
along the docks and a thirty mile
wind to boot. For a couple of
days I thought I was a polar ex
plorer. Everything finally squared
except a few beefs which must be
settled down South.
Sam Bayne, former Boston pa
trolman was in town, a victim of
a sub, but looking just as chipper
as ever and sporting a great big
bearskin coat, a gift from Russia.
He's going out again as Steward.
Good luck Sam!
Well, there's been a bit of pub
licity about the heroic men of the
U. S. Merchant Marine but evi
dently Mr. Morgenthau believes
they are an exception as they are
being taxed 5 per cent more than
any other class for earnings made
in 1942. As a gesture of real re
spect this money should be return
ed to these men who certainly
earn it the hard way.
Mr. Eddie Rickenbacker spoke
over the radio last week and
sounded like a very illiterate reac
tionary. He squawked like hell
about the workers working only 40
hours a week at straight time and
squawked still louder about getting
time and one-half for overtiniie
work, but boy did he squawk
about the President's suggestion
that a ceiling be put on earnings
of twenty-five thousands a year.
Poor Mr. Rickenbacker may
have to take a cut to bring his
earnings down to 25 grand a year.
JOHN MOGAN, Agent
Seafarers' Log-
HONOR ROLL
——————— • —^
CREW S. S. JAMES CAULDWELL $34.91
CREW S. 8. COLABEE 29.07
CREW S. S. iBENJ. WILLIAMS 20.00
CREW S. S. DELMAR 19.50
CREW S. 8. FRANCIS MARION 19.00
CREW 8. 8. LAFAYETTE ....14.50
CREW 8. 8. RAFAEL 8EMM8 14.00
CREVy S. 8. BENJ. CHEW 14.00
CREW 8. 8. T. ROBERTSON 12.75
CREW 8. 8. J08IAH BARTLETT 8.70
CREW 8. 8, ALCOA MASTER 7-00
CREW 8. 8. PAN CRESCENT 5.35
A. PAGE 2.00
F. E. PHILIPS 2:00
C. F. 8ALZM AN 1.00
W. F. HARDEMAN 1.00 .
CHARLES McCULLOUGH ••••• l-O®
TOTAL .....! ;. .$205.76
MERCHANT SAILORS
JOBS PROTECTED
WASHINGTON, Feb. 4—The
House Merchant Marine Commit
tee approved today a bill (HR
133) to preserve the status of mer
chant seamen as private employes
while serving on vessels owned or
operated by the Government
through the War Shipping Admin
istration.
Practically all seagoing tonnage
now is owned or operated directly
by the Government with the own
ers acting only as agents for the
Government. Thus under existing
law seamen technically become
Government employes and have
surrendered many of their rights as
employes of private industry in
exchange for what they consider
less desirable privileges.
The committee also approved a
bill (HR 131) to provide re-em-
ploymejit rights for persons who
leave their jobs to serve in the
merchant marine during the wai".
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF NORTH AMERICAN
ATLANTIC and GULF DISTRICT
Secretary-Treasurer's Office
ROOM 213 — 2 STONE STREET, NEW YORK CITY
P.O. Bex 29, Station P. Phone BOwlins Green 8-8346
Directory of Branches
BRANCH ADDRESS
NEW YORK 2 Stone St.
Dispatcher'a Office
BOSTON MO "AtiiilHi' XVe'.!
BALTIMORE ....14 North Gay St,
PHILADELPHIA 6 North 6th St
NORFOLK 25 Commercial PI
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres Stf. ........
SAVA^AH 218 Eaat Bay SL
TAMPA. 423 East Piatt St
n.i-V: Conception SL...,
Ponce de Leon
CA^y^TON...... 219 20lh Street
FT. LAUDERDALE 2021 S. Federal Highway,
>HONE
. BOwling- Green 9-8346
.BOwIing Green 9-3437
.Liberty 4057
Eaivert 4539
' Lombard 7661
.Norfolk 4-1083
.Canal 3336
Savannah 3-1728
Tampa MM-1323
Dial 2-1392
.Puerto de Tlerra
.Galveston 2-8043
Oiler
Cook
$178.00 monthly base pay.
44.50 per week for 56 hrs.
$102.50 monthly base pay.
27.59 per week for 56 hrs.
$223.00 monthly base pay. $122.50 nionthly base pay
57.75 per week for 56 36.11 per week for 63 hourS
hrs. in span of 84 hrs. in span of 84.
#•
Porters $138.00 monthly base pay. $70.00 monthly base pay.
34.50 per week for 56 hrs. 20.02 per week for 63 hours
in span of 84 hrs. in span of 84.
Not only does the wage scale of the New England line compare
imfavorably with that paid by Great Lakes operators, but also with that
paid by other New England Coast operators engaged in similar trade.
This can be proven by an examination of standard contracts held for
such work in this area by the International Longshoremen's Association
(AFL).
The New England Steamsliip Company wage scales are not only
substandard when compared with the Great T.akes Contracts, and when
compared with East Coast ILA contracts, but also when compared with
{Continued on Page 4)
.:i _
mi
New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
{Continued from Page 1) /
dicates the rankest sort of anti-labor bias.
While Coit is greatly concerned that the shipowner should con
tinue to make a high rate of profit, his decision may in the end re
act against the very men he is attempting to protect—for the New-
England Steamship Company may well experience difficulty in finrling
seamen willing to work under the present rate of pay and working
conditions. The SIU has been able to persuade these men to continue
manning the boats on the basis that the WLB would review their case
and adjust wages. But if Mr. Colt's line is to carry the day—we would
hesitate to issue any guarantee that New England could find crew?
in the future.
We find it difficult to believe, however, that the WLB would
uphold the Coit decision. We have prepared a new appeal which will
be carried over Coit's head, and we expect that his position will bg
thrown into the ash can by the National War Labor Board.
The following excerpts from the SIU brief reveal the actual
conditions under which the New England men work, and the modest
demands upon the shipov/ners made by the union.
SIU BRIEF
The unlicensed personnel of the New England Steamship Company
is fully qualified and endorsed by the United States Steamship Inspec
tion service. The certificates issued by this body to New England sea
men as Able Seamen, Oilers, Firemen, Stewards, Cooks and Messmeri
require the same experience and knowledge as men sailing the Great
Lakes or deep sea to foreign countries.
The unlicensed personnel is, therefore, comparable to the ships
crews throughout the industry in skill and experience, and should re
ceive a wage comparable to their value to the operator and in accordance
with industry standards.
The working conditions and wage scales of the New England line
are sub-standard when compared with similar operations of other com
panies in the maritime industry. The New England boats compare ia
size and operation to the boats on the Great Lakes. The SIU holds con
tracts with the Great Lakes operators, all of which are far superior to
the contract held with New England.
The following table shows how the scales of the War Labor Board
and the New England Steamship Company compare:
• War Labor Board New England Steamship Co.
Able - $178,00 monthly basepay. $92.50 montlily base pay.
Seaman 44.50 per week for 56 hrs. 26.46J4 per week for 56 hour*
three months of the year—
70 hours for nine months
of the year.
M
'A---'•• • " • • ••
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, March 5, 1945
This is brother Ben Rosen standing beside his painting which
won the $100 first prize at the USS art show held in New York
la&t month.
RMO Extends Grip On
Seamen; Labor Fears
Fink Hall After War
{Continued from Page 1)
issippi; and San Mateo County,
California, in order to take care, of
seamen in this country."
Has the RMO i>ow become a
.charity outfit? We were under the
impression that these rest hornes
jhad been opened by United Sea
men's Service—or has the RMO
taken that over also?
In the first place there is a rec
ognized Marine Hospital Service
tmdcr the United States Public
Health Service with full and com
plete equipment and skilled physi
cians to take care of any condition
that might arise among seamen.
Why should the RMO—a gov
ernment body—which now claims
that it has set up these rest homes
' —be shaking a can to support
themselves in competition with a
recognized and established ' Gov-
, ernment service?
, • We arc forced to the conclus
ion that RMO has embarked upon
a course of collusion with a group
of professional "charitieers" who
•; are' exploiting the heroism of the
American Seamen and using them
as a chariot for their cushy jobs..
It's about time to call for an
investigation of this racket—since
the American Seamen have long
since made it clear that they want
no charity and certainly want no
regimcntatioff from a group of
professional bureaucrats and pub
licity seekers.
: . It is obvious that the RMO is
trying to squee.ze into every ser
vice connected with seamen. And
this;is no accident or case of bu
reaucratic bungling. The RMO is
out to build k permanent organi
zation that will continue after the
war. It is shaping up into the
modern equivalent of the old
Shippings Board and its chain of
fink hiiing halls which reduced
r ""the seamen to slavery after the last
war.
A step at a time, the RMO exr
tends its jurisdiction and expands
its functions. By the time the war
' «nds it hopes to really have the
seamen under its thumb. The pro
gress it has already made in this
direction was revealed when Dim-
ock said in his speech on Feb. 27
that in the past nine months his
outfit had placed 20,000 men on
ships, and it now placing them at
the rate of 1,000 per month.
This means that every month
1,000 men are being shipped out
of a potential fink hall and have
no contacts with the unions. If
the RMO plans are realized, this
number will multiply many tiipes
and (the RMO hopes) the union
hiring halls will be vacant.
Dimock's hopes were frankly
expressed when he said, "the RMO
seems to be on the threshold of
responsibility for unified manning
of all water transportation."
Each month that passes finds
the RMO strengthened and in a
better position to combat the
unions after the war ends. Much
of its progress to date has been due
to the fact that the unions were
not fully aware of the anti-union
character of its program. Now
the pattern- is clear., All unions
must b'? on their guard and pre
pared for struggle.
The final show down may not
come immediately — the entire
fight may be postponed until af
ter the war when an all out effort
will be made to smash our condi
tions. But one thing is now clear
—the fight is inevitable.
PERSONALS
ROBERT D. EISENGRAEBER;
Contact your draft board at ones.
NICOLA SCEARIDIA: Your
book has been found and returneH
to the office of the Secretary-Trea-
BONUS BEEF
The West Coast o"f South Amer
ica Beef has finally been settled.
The crews that made the last trips
on the Flomar," Pierce Butler, Berij.
Chew, Alcoa Patriot and Alcoa
Pioneer can collect their, money at
Calmar Line, 25 Broadway and Al
coa Line, 17 Battery Place, N.Y.C.
MWEB Fliouts Unions
{Continued from Page 1)
In reporting this meeting to the
membership in New York on
March 1, Brother John Hawk said,
"The meeting was pointless. The
unions had sent men to Washing
ton to discuss this matter, but
there were no Board members pres
ent to listen to us. We were left
beating our gums to the four
walls."
After some discussion among
themselves, the Advisory Commit
tee voted unanimously to request
the MWEB to withhold the two
new amendments until the next
meeting of the Advisory Commit
tee so that labors* opinions could be
heard.
No sooner had the Advisoryr
Committee left town that the
MWEB announced that the two
disputed amendments woiild be ef
fective pn March 1. '
In denouncing this action.
Brother Hawk chafged that "this
is strictly dictatorship." He an
nounced that the SIU-SUP would
immediately protest the flaunting
of Union riglits.
"This action," said Hawk, "is a
challenge to all maritime unions. If
the MWEB gets away with it,
there is no telling where they will
stop."
-The entire Atlaptic and Gulf
membership has endorsed the posi
tion taken by Hawk, Dushanc and
the Advisory Commi«ee and in
structed Hawk to send to the
Board the following protests and
resolutions:
March 2, 1943
Maritime War Emergency Board
Capt. Edward Macauley, Chairman
Dr. John R. Steelman
Dr. Frank P. Graham ,
Washington, D.C.
Geiiclemen:
The Atlantic and Gulf membets
of the . Seafarers International
Union went on record March 1,
1'943 to condemn the dictatorial
action taken by your body in
handing downr Amendment 10 and
11 to Decision 7, Revised, -without
consulting the Advisory Commit
tee.
This union passed unanimously
the following resolution:
"We, members of the Atlantic
and Gulf District of the Seafarers
International Union, protest the
arrogant action of the Maritime
War Emergency Board in handing
down Amendment 10 and 11 to
Decision 7 Revised, without con
sulting the Advisory Committee as
provided in the Statement Of Prin
ciples.
"We fully concur in, and en
dorse the action of the Advisory
Committee in protesting this high
handed procedure.
New England Men Get Raw
Deal From Phoney Referee
' {Continued from Page 3)
SIU contracts held with companies performing the same services as that
performed by the New England Steamship Company. To prove this,
we enter as exhibit No. 4 the contract held by the SIU with the Frelihew
Southern Corporation.
In view of the above evidence and exhibits, the SIU is asking that
the New England Steamship Company conform to the standards al
ready set in the industry. The Union is not asking that the New Eng
land line meet the scale established on the Great Lakes, nor even that
established by the ILA. The Union is only demanding that the New
England Line eliminate the most obvious and unjust differentials in the
following manner:
1. Increase in the monthly scale of wages for all unlicensed rat
ings of $40,000.
2. Overtime increase for all ratings of 10c per hour.
3. Increase in hourly pay for all ratings to $1 per hour.
-4. Contract heading Deck Department Section 2 to read:
"Eight hours shall constitute a day's work; Any work performed in
excess of eight hours, from midnight to midnight, shall be paid for ^t
the regular overtime rate. Second mates, Boatswains and deck hands
shall work eight consecutive hours per day based on the three watch
system." '
. ; A A A
,In addition to these arguments, the SIU pres<;nted wage exhibits
in the form of ILA contracts throughout the New Bedford area cov
ering over 70 operators. All exhibits proved beyond question that , the,
men on the New England boats were being payed fax less than the
prevailing scale for like work In the area. ,
And to this, Mr. Coit blandly replied that "it is not the policy
of the War Labor Board to upset long established wage differentials."
If this is the case, then labor was defrauded when, it was. persuaded to
give up the right to strike and depend upon the WLB for adjustment
of wage inequalities. •
Coit, in jdenying all of the union demands, makes much of the
fact that New Bedford is a low Wage area. What .sort of finky rea
soning is that? If the men have received starvation wages in the past,
under Goit's logic they should continue to receive them for the dura
tion of the war. ' .
V
The SIU has prepared an appeal which will be forwarded to the
War Labor Board this week. The Union will demand that the full
board review-Coit's outrageous decision and takg a position so that
the seamen :will know jtist what sort of a deal they can expect in.
the future. , - .
"We demand that the MWEB
immediately call a meeting, at
tended by all members of the
Board, at which the Advisory
Committee will have an opportun
ity to present its view on the
Amendments 10 and 11 to De
cision 7. Revised.
• "We further demand that in the
future the MWEB meet with the
Advisory Committee and consider
its opinion? before handing down
any new decisions, or arnendments
to existing decisions."
- I would like to point out that
this Union's position relative to the
powers granted the Board was
clearly outlined in my communi
cation to the Board dated January
12, 1943 when we opposed
Amendment" 9 to Decision 7, Re
vised. These latest amendments
are, in our opinion, the same as
Amendment 9—outside of the jur
isdiction of the Board and consti
tute a clear infringement of the
Statement of Principles.
May I emphasize again that the
Advisory Committee was unani
mous in its motion to withhold
Amendments 10 and 11 to De
cision 7, Revised, until we had an
opportunity to present our view
to you.
Your flouting of this request re
veals the attitude of a dictator and
constitutes a grave threat to all
waterfront democracy and trade
unionism.
Very truly youXs,
JOHN HAWK
Shipowners Give MMP,
Run Around In Pacific
Powerful West Coast steamship
interest were accused this week by
Captain J. J. Delaney, president of
the Masters, Mates and Pilots of
America, of reneging on their
promise to make use of mediatioft
machinery set up by the govern
ment for the settlement, of dis
putes.
Unless these shipping magnates
end their defiance of UnClc Sam in
wartime, their tactics'may provoke
a strike of 1,300 Pacific Coast
members of the union, Delaney
warned.
"Some time ago representative#
of the shipbuilding industry and
maritime unions agreed upon a no^
strike, no-lockout policy," De^
laney said. "An agreement waS
reached also on creation of a Mar
itime Wax Emergency Board- to ad
just controversies, the board's de
cision to be final.
"Recently, our. West Coast lo
cals made a request for an increase
in salaries of licensed deck men, to
bring their scales up to the levels
prevailing on East- Coast ships,"
Delaney said.
"We got nowhere in negotiations
with the Pacific-American Steam
ship Association, which represents
all the companies on the Western
seaboard. Then we sought to have-
the. issue adjudicated by the Em
ergency Board, but the'asscvlation
through its counsel, Gregory Har
rison, refused to go along with
this procedure, thus plainly violaC?
ing wartime pledge.
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