Media
Issue Date
1941-03-25
Volume
3
Issue Number
6
Plaintext
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SlCURITY
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UNiTY
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OFFICIAL GROAN OP THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATI(»YAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. Ill NEW YORK, N. Y., TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1941 «4a No. 6
S.I.U. GETS $7.50 RAISE;
$10 INCREASE ON PUERTO RICO RUN
$50 Bonus Won on African Run
Militant Stand of SS Robin Locksley Crew
Results in Quick Victory for Union
A signed agreement granting a $50 per month bonus to all mem
bers of the unlicensed personnel on vessels going to Africa was obtained
by the Seafarers' International Union last Friday, March 21, from the
Seas Shipping Company (Robin Line).
Once again, the SIU has taken the lead in getting seamen
adequate compensation on the increasingly dangerous war
zone runs. The SIU had previously jacked up bonus pay on
this run, during the course of the year, from 26 per cent to
33 1/3 per cent to a flat $1 per day. With the Lend-Lease
Bill passed, a government announcement to the effect that
German raiders were prowling on this side of the Atlantic,
and increased hostilities in Soixth East Africa, the men on
the Robin Line ships felt that another bonus boost was im-
perative. <s>
When the Robin Locksley,
newest of the Seas Shipping
Co. vessels, prepared to sail
on her maiden voyage to
Africa early last week, the
crew put the demand for the
$50 up to the Company
through its delegates.
The Company refused to
consider any concession. With
the crews of the Robin Hood
and the Seattle Spirit—two
other ships belonging to the
Company which also docked
at New York last week—a
joint meeting was held which
decided that the demand of
the men on the Robin Locks
ley were just.
(C'outijiitcfl on Pufji- 2)
Seafarers Helped Bermuda
Dockers by Solidarity
Battling against all kinds of odds—a hue and cry in the
press of the Island, the mobilization of a whitecollar
army of strikebreakers and the threat of calling^ out the
militia—the longshoremen of Hamilton, Bermuda, won their
first successful strike two weeks ago, when the stevedore
bosses agreed to pay them the equivalent of 42 cents an hour
and 60 cents overtime, a substantial increase in wages for
them.
As against the odds facing
them, the Bermuda longshore
men had the advantage of en
joying the solidarity of the
SIU crews of the Alcoa
Ranger and the Alcoa Path
finder.
The Ranger had been schedulel
only to pick up 1,200 empty oil
driims and sailed without them.
The Pathfinder remained In port,
and the crew demonstrated their
support to the longshoremen, as
may be seen from the following
ship's minutes;
S.S. Alcoa Pathfinder
Hamilton, Bermuda
March 6, 1941
Special Joint Meeting called to
order at 12:25 P.M. to discuss the
situation caused by three mates
and cadet working winches, scabs
from shore working cargo . . .
M/B/C—^To send resolution to
longshoremen as follows:
"We, the unlicensed crew
of the S.S. Pathfinder and
members of the Seafarers In
ternational Union of North
America extend to you our
sympathy and vdsh to advise
you that we. the unlicensed
crew of the S;S. Pathfinder,
are taking no hand in unload
ing cargo, and are with you
100 per cent and will do all
we can to help you.''
M/S/C—That copy be sent' to
New York Branch.
M/S/C—That three delegates
call on captain and voice our dis
approval.
M/S/C—To adjourn...
(signed) D; M. Harris, 3161
Chairman
M. M. Pebworth, G47
Secretary •
P.S.—Mates and cadet knocked
oft about 1:80 P.M.
$10 Penalty for
Sulphur Cargo
In negotiations with the
Range Line, a Negotiating
Committee headed by Bro
ther Harry Collins, Phila
delphia Agent of the SIU,
this week obtained an
agreement placing a $10
penalty on SULPHUR car
go! The essential part of
the Agreement reads as
follows:
"It is hereby understood
ami agreed that on vessels
loading SUIJPHUR on or after
.March 30, 1941, the Com
pany agrees to pay the inein
bers of the nnlicensed per
sonnel, in addition to the
regular inontlily wages, Ten
Dollars ($10) per montli
from the time the Snlphnr
cargo is started loading nntil
Snlphnr cargo is completely
discharged."
<S>
SUP Scores
Big Victory
On Tankers
UBoat Raider
Off New York,
Capital Says
WASHINGTON,D. C.—The
United States government has
been informed that Germany,
plans to start submarine oper
ations off the United States,
possibly near the harbor of
New York, it was announced
here this week. A longrange
submarine, capable of operat
ing over an area of thousands
of miles, is reported on its
way to harass shipping off the
Atlantic Coast.
In some quarters, the report
was discounted as "war propa
ganda." However, the passage of
the LeaseLend Act by Congress
seems logically to lead toward an
(Continued on Page 2)
Five Lines Sign New Agreement;
SIU Wages Top NMU by $5 in Ail
Ratings; Union Leads in Conditions
Five lines under contract with the Seafarers' Interna
tional Union have granted a $7.50 monthly raise to all rat
ings in the coastwise runs I In addition, all SIU ships going
to Puerto Rico are to get offshore pay for their crews—an
increase of $10 for all ratings. The companies which have
conceded the increase so far are the Range Line, the Collabee,
the Atwacoal, the Canadian Gulf and the Bull Line. Other
coastwise companies are expected to follow suit.
$5 Higher Than NMU!
The new increases put the
SIU wage .scale .still $5 a
month ahead of the rate paid
on all ships under contract
with the National Maritime
Union (C.I.O.), do.spite the
scales that organization has
recently received from the
employers. The NMU only
received a $.0 coastwise in
ere.ise as against the SIU's
.$7.50. Last year the same dif
ferential in increases existed
• —which brings coastwise SIU
wages up to $15 above basic
pay as against the NMU
Avagcs. which are only $10
above basic pay.
Same on Puerto Rico Run
On the Puerto Ricaii run, the
same discrepancy e.xists: The
Bull Line has agreed to pay off
shoie wages on SIU ships going
to Puerto Rico, wltli a .$10 in
crejise which, added to the $7.50
obtained last year, brings SIU
wages on that run up to $17.50 a
month higher than basic pay. "No
Coffee Time" Joe Cuiran, mean
while announces that ail he couid
get for the NMU ships under con
tract with the New York and
Puerto Rico Steamship Co. was a
$7.50 increase which, added to
the $5 raise given to him by the
shipowners last year, makes for
$12.50 above basic paj^
NMU Outclassed by SIU . . .
Tims, the Seafarers Tnterna
tlonai Union continues to lead the
(Continued on Page 2)
By a 47 to 7 vote the Sail
ors Union of the Pacific was
chosen sole collective bar
gaining agency on all Asso
ciated Oil tankers last week.
The SUP has had agreements
with the Richfield, Hillcone
and General Petroleum Com
panies, but up to now Associ
ated flatly refused "to enter
into a written agreement with
the Union. Now, with the Su
preme Court decision which
makes it mandatory for an
employer to sign with a union
which has won an NLRB elec
tion, a contract with the As
sociated is virtually in the
bag.
It is intei'esting to note, by the
way, that while the SUP is crack
ing the tanker field on the West
Coast, defeating all the company
setups by the employers, the Na.
tionai Maritime Union under the
vaunted leadership of "NoCoffee
Time" Joe has not been able to do
better than secondbest in NLRB
contests with tanker company
unions in the East.
New Cargo Ships Taken
Over by U.S. Navy
The government further reduced last week the amount of
shipping tonnage available to the merchant marine. It pur
chased two new cargo vessels from private operators. The
vessels were the United States^
Lines' new freighter Rainbow, a
C2 vessel powered with Diesel
engines, and the MooreMcCor
mack Line's Mormacmail, a C3
shipwhich has bben operating for
about a year. Both ships were
acquired by the tNavy for use as
auxiliaries. Two Seatrain vessels
are being purchased for the same
.purpose, it was announced this
week.
These new purchases mark an-
other step in the steady march of
merchant vessels to Naval auxil-
iary service. The shipowners esti-
mate that no less than four-fifth
or 80 per cent of present mer-
(Continued on Page 2)
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H E S E A FA R E R S ' LOG Tuesday, March 25, 1941
lis:
a
a
Published by the
ATLANTIC & GULF DISTRICT
of the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the Avierican Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting International President
" 110 KiurEef'Street, Rbom 402, San Francisco, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICA.TION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. feox 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwHng Green 93437
More About
' Heat About **CoolmgOff"
Tiie cry for "eooliiigoff"" periods before strikes are
called lias been taken np tvith great vigor recently outside
the halls of Congress. Tiie MOday compulsory "eooloff" bills
• ^inelnding tlie Dirksen Bill directed against the seamen—re
• main on the calendar of the legislator,s, but agitation for
them ha.s sliifted to other scenes.
First of all, the reactionaries in the American Legion have
, been pounding tlie drums for sucli legislation. They have
f ahvays bemi in the forefront of the struggle against Labor.
Then Mr. M'iiliam Knudsen, the director of the Office of Pro
| ductioii Management, after fir.st disclaiming any need for re
\l strictions of the strike right, has reversed his stand and gone
I to bat for the coolingoff'' busine.ss. As longtime head* of
.General IMotors. Mr. Knudsen's role in the picture is not
hard to understand. Finally, the National Association of
'Manufacturers, ahvays rather more radical in its antiLabor
stand than other spokesmen of the employers, has come out
in fa vol of 40day "eoolingoft' periods."
60day and threemonth and then sixmonth, etc., "cool
ingofl"' periods are .still to follow, we suppose.
Xou' what is behind all this "coolingoflL" business? The
employers claim, of course, that it is their heartAvringing
patriotism t,hat motivates them : strikes are called yueeipi
tantly and hold up "natiotial defense." The truth of the mat
ter i.s that mo.st union agreements in eflfect already.call for
anyAvhere from thirty to sixtyday periods before the exjAira
tion of the conti'act, AAdien demands aiid couulerdemands are
presented by both sides. When a union takes action after
such to and fro. it is hardly precipitant.
If the case of unorganized shops, AA'here union recognition
is the issue, be inv<)ked here, the same holds true. Before
striking, the union goes through the Avliole procedure of Na
tional Laboi Relations Board elections, etc., etc.—plenty^of
time being pa.ssed in heelcooling,
"What's really behind this "eoolingoff" business is simply
this: The big time openshop and scabherding employers
haA'e discovered lhat Labor i.s too strong and too militant
these days for them to risk an attempt at shackling the
unions by outright anti.strike legi.slation. And so, they are
tryi)ig to put on the .shackles piecemeal. Tliey begin with
30day coolingoflp periods and . . . intend to wind up Avith
smashing the right to strike altogether.
By their "cooloff" agitation, thebig busine.ss interests
betray only too plainlj' that they are themselves hot. and
botheied by the effectiveness Avith Avhich Labor's neAvfound
strength is making its rights respected in these day.s of groAA'
ing i)atrioTic hysteria. The most fundamental of t.he,se rights
is the right to strike; it is also, at the same time, the basic
source of its strength. That's AA'hy Labor fecLs ,so sensitive
about all these "eoolingoff" scheme's. That's Avhy Tiubor
says to the schemers:
Lay off our right to strike!
A 5 Per Cent Tax on Wages ?
Some of tlie einployer.s' stooges,"in the guise of "patriotic" legis
lators, just can't be stopped from doing their bit for the country.
They have been trying very haid to get drastic antistrike legisla
tion i)as.sed In order to prevent higher Avages for the million.s of
exploited Avorking stiffs in the Country, Rebuffed in that direction,
they are not at all dismayed. They have another plan. ...
This time they are out to paste a 5 per cent "defense tax" on
wages from 1525 j)ei week upward. That would actuallymean a wage
cut' of $1.25 per week upward. It goes without saying that the people
.who propose this 5 per cent levy on wages are among those who are
loudest in denouncing union dues of a dollar or two a month as a
. . . "racket."
Everybody admits thjit higher wages at best only meet the con
stantly jising cost of living. At' the same time everybody knows that
profits for the employeis in the "defense" industries are soaring up
and up. Why a heavy burden is to be placed on labor which is
.lAa i*a1vr • ! Lf/A I rk lYi/xni 41* <• « mM 41 ...i . A . _ . • '
$50 Bonus Won
On African Run
(Continued from Page 1)
Crew Quits
Since tlie Company would not
come to terms in negotiations,
the crew of tlTe Locksley refused
to sign articles and upon giving
tlie regular twentyfour hours'
iiotice to the Master., the men de
cided to quit. The jobs were
placed on the board at the Union
liall, but there were no takers for
them. ,
Seamen Say "No Soap"
To Die repeated calls for men
to replace the Locksley crew, the
company otlicials were told by the
seamen at the hall that shipping
was too good at present, and jthe
sliortage of skilled .seamen too
great, for them to jeopardize their
lives on the African run for the
money the Robin Line Avas will
ing to pay,
"Defense" Bogey 1*182168
After several dhys of this deadt
lock, during Avhich tlie company
tried to play the old "national de
fense" bogey, the Robin Line ofll
eials finally agreed to talk terms
on Friday. The bogey liadn't at
all s'careil tlie militant crew of
the Locksley. The Government it
self had announced that Nazi
raiders A\'ere increasing activity
on the giA'eh roiite ami couldn't,
very Avell deny that the men had
a justified beef on the bonus
question.
Negotiations Begin
On Friday afternoon, the Locks
ley creAv's three departmental
delegates, aided by District Rep
resentative John Hawk and Sec
retaryTreasurer Sydney Gretcher,
who had come down frOm liead
qiiarters for that purpose, re
ceived an urgent call from the
shipowners' representatives fo
come down and negotiate a bonus
agreement.
Union Stands Pat
After four hours of discussion,
in AvhIch Mr. Prank Taylor of the
Mercliant Marino Institute. Capt.
Conway of the Maritime Commis
sion and Mr. Liller of the United
States Conciliation Service, parti
cipated.. the Locksley's delegates
N,J, Draft Headquarters Issues
Instructions Affecting Seamen
According to a circular (Bullotiu 33) i.ssued by tlie New
Jersey .State Headquarters for Selective Service on March
11, 1941, tlie folloAving- draft regulatioiks are applied to the
issuance of iierniits to sail abroad as AVCU as to defenucnt
of seamen in that state: ' /
Permits and Their Duration
"1. If the registrant hasa sulficiently lar^e order number, so
that it is not likely that he Avill be inducted within six months, a
permit may be issued to him for not in excess of six months.
"A registrant whose permit, and if he is in Class 11, whose
period of deferment, has partially expiied may request his local
board to consider his status as of that time and grant him a new
permit and, if lie is in Class 11, a new period of deferment for not
to exceed six months."
Can Ask for Beclassification
Tlie last two sections of this circular issued by New Jersey
Headquarters hold particular interest for seamen. They I'ead as
follows:
"9. Even though a seaman has heen placed in Cla.ss a lo
cal hoard has ample aiitliority to REOL.^SSIFY him into Class II
for the duration of a vo,vnge if it determines that he is needed in
order to permit a ship to sail and that the circunistances bring "
him Avltliin the definition of a 'necessary man' for .such period of
time.
"10. Unions and einployer.s should be able to assist seamen in
obtaining permits and in requesting reclassiiieatioii in cases Avhere
it is belieA'ed there are grounds therefor eiliier hecau.Hc of a gen
eral shortage bf seamen or because of a specific shortage at a <
given place at a giA'en time, which would require the services of a
particular seaman in order to enable a ship to sail.
(signed) WILLIAM A. HIGGIN.S, State Director."
<S> Of course, tiie circular stresses
that eacli Local Board has to con
sider every individual case and
render its own decision. But the
above instructions, issued "for
(be guidance of all concerned,"
while certainly not all that' draft
able seamoir Avould desire, are
steps ill the riglit direction.
Union seamen called before the
Draft Boards in New Jersey can
refer to them directly. In other
states, it should be pointed out
lliat the New Jersey regulations '
are logical and can be applied
with equal justice in all draft
cases involving seamen.
Tlie SIU men and the Brandi
Ageiit.s should' take advantage of
this information in order to ob
tain deferment for the many
Union seamen being called before
the Draft Boards.
barely able to meet the mounting level of subsistence in order to
finance "def<>n,se"—while profits in "defense" production skyrocket—
these servile gentlemen In Congress do not explain.
No doubt tiiey are just being true to their masters. Their slogan
probably is: Tax the workers to dceep "defense" proflta high for the
employe r.s. /o ,
Brothers Hall, Higby and Black—
and Brotliers Gretcher and HaAvk
made it clear that no retreat
would be made by the crew.
The Union's representatives
urged a .signed agreement for the
.$50 bonus, subject' to ratification
by the Robin Line crcAvs, agree
ing to be bound by the terms of
such an agreement.
At 9 P.M. in the evening the
company officials decided to grant
the Union's demand and signa
tures were fixed to flie document
granting it'. The crews of. the
Locksley. the Hood and the Seat
tle Spirit thereupon voted unan
imously to accept the agreement,
and the ships made ready to sail.
Once again, the SIU has taken
the lead with ah Important vic
tory for the seamen. The mili'
tan I membersiilp of the Seafarers'
union have acted not only in their
own interest, but in the Interest
of all rank and file seamen.
U^Boat Raider
Off New York
(Continued from Page l)
Intensification of German raiding
activity. This trend narrovra down
considerably the shipping routes
Avhiph can be considered neutral
or nonbelligerent. The danger to
American nfefchant shipping prac
tically begins the moment a ves
sel goes 'offshore, with Avar devel
opments what they are. It Is clear
that new^ "revisions In the war
zone bonus rates kre bailed for by
the changes in the situation.
New Cargo Ships
Taken Over by
U.S. Navy
(Continued from Page 1)
chant tonnage will come under
government supervision before
the present trend Is concluded.
To the shipowner.s, the transfer
of these vessels to the Navy is
nothing regrettable at all, for the
government is made to pay for
the transaction through the nose
—Avhat with the shortage of avail
able bottoms—and a handsome
superprofit is thus pocketed by
them. For the seamen, this
means something else entirely.
For. every new ship transferred
to the Navy means that much
more jobs lost to union wages
and filled on the basis of the Na
val Reserve wage scale at $54 a
More About
month tops for A.B.'s, with no
overtime and no grievance ma
chinery—in fact no conditions
worthy of a seaman's hire at all.
If this condition is allowed to
continue indefinitely—the smash
ing of unloh conditions at sea
and the virtual elihilnation of ma
ritime unionism Is Inevitable,
even if no such legi.slatiou as the
vicious Difksen Bill is passed by
Congress.
For their own selfprotection,
for the preservation of the hard
Avon union conditions now pre
vailing, the seamen and their
unions will inevitably have to
tnko stops to see lhat union
wages, overtime pay and collec
tive bargaining are maintained
on merchant vessel.s after their
transfer to service as Naval aux
illrales. Otherwise the Naval Re
serve labor policy—which means
no unions and no conditions—will
predominate on all ships.
The Navy pays union wages
and grants union conditions to
thechanlcs in the shipyards under
its control. There is no reason
why the same rule should not ap
play to merchant seamen on com
mercial vessels under Navy con
trol. The Navyyard workers have
obtained 'union conditions by
their organized power. Only the
organized power of the seamen
can obtain similar union condi
tions on the ships transferred to
Naval auxiliary service.
Attention!
WAIter Labaski
Get in touch withHhe Agent
at the SIU hall in NeAV Or
leans at Dnce.
S.I.U. Gets $7.50
Coastwise Raise
(Continued from Page 1)
field on the East Coast, Avith t'he
liighest pay for seamen sailing
from Atlantic and Gulf Ports!
In overtime pay, the Ciirran
crowd has only been able to ob
tain this year the 80 cents per
liour on NMU ships which has
been in effect on practically all
SIU vessels ever since May, 1940.
In all respect's, whether it be
Avage.s, overtime or working condi
tions, tiie SIU continues to out
class the "Top Fraction"domlnat
ed NMU ill service to tlie men
wlio sail the ships. •
Once more, it is made plain
that as a union run by and for
the seamen, the SIU cannot be
equalled in obtaining improve
ments. It shows why tiie seameh
on llie East Coast are increasleg
ly flocking to the SIU banner in
every test of strengtli. The rank
and file of seafaring men here
are becoming constantly more
aAvare that the SIU Is their union!
Compare Them Yourself!
The following is a table of ct»m
parative wage scales which tells
the story on the coastwise runs
(On the Pueito Rican run, $2.50
additional Is to be added to each
rating):
SIU
Able Seaman ..... .$87.50
Ordinary Seaman .. 70.00
Oilers 07.S0
Watertenders ..... 57.50
Fireman 87,50
Wipers T&oo
Messman 78.00
Mesflboy .,,.. ~ . ynn®
NMU
$82.50
65.00
92.50
92.50
82.50
1 70.00
> 70.00 y
70.95 A:; 65,00
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG " Tuesday, March 25, 1941
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• OUT OF THE MAILS AG
From Oysters
To the Grave
Editor, Seafarers Log;
Dear Sir and Brother:
Prom oysters to the grave. It
seems like a vei-y poor way of
building up to-a-finish-, -but it-ac-
tually happened aboard the S.S.
Margaret of the Bull Line.
* *' *
Leaving Hopewell, Va., the
third assistant engineer, upon
coming up for dinner after reliev
inging the first, read the menu
and ordered oysters, to be met
with the old, old refrain, "there
Is no more." Result of this was
that the third and the steward
had an argument, which seemed
to be all settled, until the ship
docked on the 15th in Galveston.
>» « «
Upon arrival, the third quit the
.ship and paid off. There was
.meeting held in the messroom by
;the members of the crew to jack
up the steward and have the food
improved. A committee was elect
'ed to check the stores with the
'steward and everything was 0,K
• • *
Shortly after noon the exthird
and the Steward got into an ar
gument with the re.sult that the
steward was severely beaten an'd
the third shot. He died shortly
after.
• • •
So, now all hands can sit back
and figure that the worth of a
seamen's lif€ is a mess of oys
ters. There has been more trou
ble aboard ships from that old
cry "there is no more" than from
any other one thing.
« « «
Shoreside workers cannot un
derstand the way that this sort
of thing can lead to trouble, but
you who can and do savvy this
sort of thing, will realize that
once more the straw that broke
the camel's back was something
that should have been avoided.
Your Union can and does
Straighten out your beefs on the
^hlps. So, take time out to think
things over, and such as the
above Will be eliminated.
Fraternally,
A. W. Armstrong.
Calls fqr Unity
After Elections
Saint Partick's Day
March 17, 1941
Editor, Seafarers Log
pear Sir and Brother:
i.In The past few months, there
has been an epidemic of blasting,
knocking, rapping and some very
uncomplimentaiy remarks being
passed by certain brothers about
the duly elected officials of the
Seafarers' Inteinatlonal Union of
North America. This cannot bene
fit the Union in any shape, man
ner or lorm, and can only be a
detriment to the Union, for the
membership has spoken and "SO
BE IT."
Brothers—we. the ^ona .fide
membership of the Seafarera'
Union, a genuine Democratic rank
and file organization, did, by our
democratic right, of voting, elect
these officials. Their credentials,
papers and Integidty were checked
and doublecbecked by a commit
tee and committees, and they
were found fit' in every respect to
carry on their duties of the office
to which they weie duly and le
gally elected. Now comes the rub:
It seems to the writers that a
few brothers are not in accord
with the Committee's reports on
aame of the officials and want to
start Investigating them all over
again. Do these few brothers, who. ]
of course, are in the minority,
know that the great constitution
of the United States stafes that
no man's life shall be placed
In jeopardy twice; then why in
Hell should we or anyone, irres
pective of their personal feelings,
or come what' may, place the In
tegrity.and honesty of any man
who la a full book member of our
organization in jeopardy? In the
minds of some of us, including
the writers (al time.s) we feel
that being an official is pie, but
down deep in our heart, or hearts,
we do know that being an official
in any capacity in any Union or
ganization is plenty of headaches
and bum kicks. The following
should be emphasized: We, tiie
members of the SIU have agreed
to abide by the vote of the ma
jority and not the minority. So,
Brothers, let's all get down to
brass tacks and be honest with
ourselves and our brothers In this
real McCoy Union organization.
In other words, let us all help
to upbuild and uphold the siU
rather than try to tear it apart.
We, and I am under the Impres
sioff that I speak .for the majority,
do not care for whispering cam
paigns or underground work in
order to try to discredit any mem
hei.s or ofllcial.s of this organiza
tion.
It seems a damnable pity that
we cannot get together and stay
together. We can and wc must try
to the best of our ability to do so.
But if we do not pull together,
then we are in for a sad awaken
ing, brothers, and when we play
"TUO OF WAR," it only make.s
the shipowners, their stooges and
a few subversive elements that
we have in the SIU (you inusi
expect them whenever any real
Union goes to the top) smile and
laugh to themselves. So, let's
buckle down, brothers, and coop
erate with each other and with
our officials and may we, as
binther to brotheiv wish those
officials now going Into office on
this Saint Patrick's Day all the
success in the world, and the best
of luck to them all during their
tenure of office.
Respectfully submitted,
The Four Horsemen:
Bathless Days
On the Robin Line
S.S. WEST IMBODEN
Capetown, So. Africa
January 21, 1941
Dear Sirs and Brothers; :
Back in 1918 I made a trip in
the S.S. Rhine, a fullrigged ship,
out of Boston. Five days out, the
Old Man put the lock on the wa
ter tank and issued water once a
day. This, my friends, mind you.
was back in the dark ages of
1918, and in sail to boot.
• * *
Imagine my surprise when I
land back in the same old condi-
tions again, In this year of our
Lord 1941.
» * *
The story goes like this. It
seems that, the old Robin Line's
luxury liners depend on the rains
ill order that the crew can use
the showers and the botlers boil.
This trip, no rain; and no rain,
no baths, or so it seems.
« • •
When the West Imboden lay in
New York, the Company made a
gosh-orful how-de-do putting nice
new shiny tinga-ma-Jigs on our
showers. "Oh, nothing's too good
for our boys," they said. Well, af-
ter leaving the dock, a bunch of
the boys were waiting to scrub
up a bit, when they heard a rack-
et In the bathroom, and all hands
rushed out to have a look and, in-
cidentally, help to pull out from
under a cloud of steam what
looked like a boiled lobster, but
turned out to be one of the A.B.'s
who was pioneering in the field
of modern showers. The next day
we had to bundle a couple of the
boys up in blankets because the
darn showers decided to turn out
ice water only.
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION I
Tells About Pathfinder
Actiou ill Bermuda
Brother W. Dickey, a member
of the Pathfinder crew, sent in
some clippings about the long
shoremen's strike in Bermuda
<and the following comment:
"We were tied up for two and
a half days before scab longshore
men came aboard to work the
ship. The first, second and third
mates all scabbed on the colored
boys by driving the winches. We
held a meeting and the three dele
gates lodged a protest with the
old man, Uapt. F. (Suicide) Dum
ke about the mates contaminating
the rest of the crew. He raved
and pouted, but in a few minutes
they were replaced.
"IncIdenlaHy, that morning ev
ery man in the crew was asked
if he would work cargo (they
claimed there wasn't any strike).
You know what we s&id—only
stronger. By the way, they
wouldn't allow us ashore in Ber
muda because we didn't have a
pass and because the Capt. was a
"Heinle"!
"To protect ourselves against
another 'Alfifc Case,' we did our
regular day's work, but no one
would work overtime. The
winches had no one to look after
them outside the Chief Engfaeer."
. .. Wilbur W. Dickey.
Well, .so much for our new
bathroom gadgets, but the worst
was yet to come. You see, it did
not rain. So, one morning when
we got up, we found they had
taken down our nice new shower
tiugamajigs and put up plugs in
stead. The new gadgets were put
under lock and key, presumably
to keep them from rusting up or
maybe to save them for the next
crew (you know: to lure them
out' of port like old times, when
you signed on for good and
plenty).
They were generous, though
and left the taps on. That is, un-
til somebody caught somebody
else taking a bath, using a rubber
hose on the faucet. (Then, my
jolly old tars the power that be
who watches over this particular
little rust-pot really got mad and
said: "Let there be water, but
twice per day.)
* * *
To a question from the crew as
to why, the answer was: there
ain't no mo'. And so, shipmates,
the old Shipping Board cry is
born anew: THERE AIN'T NO
MORE!
But, here, as a last word, taken
as a whole, she is not a bad old
tub. The whole gang, officers, and
all three departments, cooperate
100 per cent.
» * •
So, on through the rainless
days, sails the West Imboden
with a motto: On to Capetown,
bath or no bath!
Hoping for a speedy agreement.
Fraternally,
Dirty-Until-the-Rains-Come
Crew of the S.S. West Imboden
Robert WigfaM, G-74
Deck Delegate.
WHEREA.S, it co.sts our organization approximately ?5,000.00
per year in various taxes, such as the Social Security, State Unem
ployment, and. Federal Excise Tax, and
WIIEBEAS, our per capita tax to the International is How ap
proximately $700.00 pe'r month, and
WHEREAS, the amalgamation of the former Atlantic with the
former Gulf Di.strict, and the establishment of a centrally located
Headquai'tei's office in Washington necessitates further weekly op
erating expenses, and
WHEREAS, the Atlantic & Gulf DistriTt, in • m rler give Re
members true representation on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, is
forced to maintain and operate 14 separate Branches, and
WHEREAS, the recent conference held at Washington revealed
that any further curtailment of our present operating expenses, or
any further decreases in staff, would result in serious impairment
to the efficient operation of the organization as a whole, and
WHEREAS, our organization has at the present time outstand
ing liabilities of well over $3,0.')0.00 for such items as unpaid per
capita tax. Federal tax, etc., and
WHEREAS, at the present time it is of parftmount importance
that we publish the ".Seafaiera Log" on a strict regnlai weekly basis,
and
WHEREAS, in all probability our organization will further ex
pand and levelop during tlie next few months, thus entailing addi
tional operating expenses, and
WHEREAS^ in the last quarter of 1940 the operating expenses
of our organization exceeded the income by $2,590.85, and
WHEREAS, this condition of insufficient income to meet current
ope)at'ing expenses continued during the month of January, 1941,
with a consequent rapid decrease in our General Fund balance, and
WHERFJAS, the vital expenses necessary to operate our organi
zation in an efficient and uptodate manner cannot be met by the
revenue, received from dues and Initiation fees, and as a result the
organization is operating with an everincreasing deficit, and
WHEREAS, in order to fully protect our organization, it is of
vital importance that the General Fund always has on hand a balance
of at least $3,009.00 or $4,000.00 to meet any emergency which may
arise, and
WHEREAS, in the last two years the earning capacity of each
indivfclual member has increased approximately 50 per cent and
more, due directly to the successful negotiating and signing of better
agreements calling for substantial wage and overtime increases, the
broadening of overtime hours, and war bonuses second to none,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the monthly dues ho increased, at least tem
porarily, to $2,00 per member per month, and he it further
RESOLVED, that tliis Resoliition he voted upon by the"
Branches at four consecntive meetings, heginning with tlie regu
lar biisincs.s meeting of March 3, 1941, and that a standing "yes
andno" vote l)e taken with the actual "yes" and "no" count being
recorded in the mlmitcs, and he it furtiier
RESOLVED, that upon tlie concurrence with this Resolution
oi a majority total vote, tlie herein mentioned increase in dues
shall go into efl'ect heginning with the month of Mav, 1941, and
be it further • .
RESOLX'ED, tliat as of Marcli 3 of this year no authorized col
lector shall he permitted to collect dues for any months past April,
1941, and he it further
RESOf.VED, that as of March 3 of this year all dues paid in
advance of April, 1941, shall he honored, and be it finally
RESOT/VEI), that this Resolution be printed in its entirely iu
all issues of the "Seafarers Log' published during the voting pe
riod specified herein.
Respectfully submitted,
John Hawk, District Representative
M. D. Biggs, District Representative
Sydney Gretcher, Secretary-Treasurer
i
'• 1
IJ
Labor's Representotives'Oppose
"Model Defense" Bills
B.S. — Incidentally, the rains
never came, but about two days
out of Capetown the old girl
started stampeding like an old
bow smelling water.
Eepresentatives of both the
A.F. of L. and the O.I.O, op
posed five "model" defense
hills at hearings of the New
York State legislature last
week. They argued that the
rights of labor were endan
gered by the bills, pointing
out that none guaranteed the
right to strike and participate
in picket lines.
The labor opposition was con
centrated on the Thompson Anti
Sabotage Bill which permits clos.
ing Streets and highways around
defense plants and imposes a fel
ony penalty, with imprisonment
up to ten years and fines up to
$10,000,, or both for any person
violating it and found guilty of
"sabotage."
Labor spokesmen also objected
to four other bills which would
give the governor power In an
emergency to mobilize the police
forces of the various communities
in the state; set up reciprocal
agreements between states for the
protection of state property; per
mit the military forces of States
to cross State lines In "fresh pur
suit" of "insurrectionists": and
regulate the ownership, manufac
ture and sale and distribution of
explosives. Each carried under
cover provisions which can easily
be used to prosecute legitimate la
bor activities.
Similar "model" bills are being
presented in all state legislatures
and arejneeting with equal oppo'
sitiou on the part of organized
labor.
Temporary Engine
Delegate Elected
Brother Arthur G'Neil, No. 436,
was elected as temporary Engine
Patrolman at the last meeting of
the New York Branch of the SIU.
A Gladstone suitcase was
lost at the New York hall
of the Union by Brother
M. J, Bianculli, No. 6447
while he was in the hospi
tal, Will the brother who
took it by mistake please
return it to the owner, care
of the New York hall.
SS • I
....
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Tuesday, March 25, 1941 THE S E A F A RE R S ' LOG
W.hat's^Doing —
Around The Ports
PHILADELPHIA
'iTv
*4
• " y..
'iftt A.
\S
Ms KctL 7, 1941.
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
The pride of the Waterman
Line, the S.S. Lasalle has ieally
„ gone, through a complete crew
renovation as far as the unli
censed personnel are concerned
since the ship arrived in the old
Port of Philadelphia. Some of the
oldtimers may recall her as the
S.S. George Pierce. You remember
her as the make a mile and then
. drop si.K boiler tubes.
Things are humming plenty
fast around these parts. No A.B.'s
available, oileis and other "Under
giound Savages" won't take a
ship unless they are assured that
they have beautyrest mattresses
and featlier pillows on board.
Stewards, cooks and messmen—
aw hell, why go on raving; they
are as scarce as good jokes from
"Izzy Cohen's whole bag of jokes."
All foolishness aside—the^Agent
and the Patrolman have ordered
sevenleague boots, so that they
can make better time chasing up
and down the waterfront settling
; beefs, and chasing after replace
ments after hours. Prosperity
sure makes lie guys forget where
the Union Hall is located.
"Seaweed," the leaping Bull
, Line scullerymaid will,, emphat
ically, not allow the "Four Horse
men to keep his name out of the
Log. He has been trying to pur
chase Jo Jo Flanagan's car, but
Jo Jo refuses to accept the $13.98
that is offered, and on top of that,
. he . states. that he will stand for
R».y. insult, but the insults that
ha^ve been heaped upon his car
by the members, especially by
"Windy Collins." It's awful, ain't
it, JoJo?
Robert (Dothebestyoucan)
Hillman made six days on the La
salle, " and now he and John
"Whispering" Morgandale can tor
ment the waitresses in their spe
cial chewing place. Waitresses,
you really have the sympathy of
all of us, for you are positively in
for a real earbending. Uh huh.
"Coastwise" Arrere, the former
dispatcher, quit the speedwagon
Losmar in Baltimore and came
home to roost. He wants a fast
ship. Here's a tip from the "Four
Horsemen": Don't allow them to
: draft you. Coastwise, but walk
" right up .to the Naval Recruiting
Officer and join the Navy, and
. they'll give you a fast' ship. Yes,
sir; they'll give you a destroyer of
the newer classes and we'll guar
' antee that you will have a fast
one under your feet. Don'J; say,
we didin't tell you.
Just had a "Flash" from Harry
Lundeberg that from the looks of
mattefs in our Capitol City, the
lousy laborhating bill H. R. 2662
. will be completely kicked in the
long underwear. It goes to show
that cooperation and organization
can keep us seamen from getting
the wrong end of the stick. Well
done, brothers.
'J. A. (Dutch) Keller, the Grape
fruit' Steward, registered and
' brought, his gear up ta the Hall.
When the lock (Ropeyarn to us)
sprang open on his keesta, so help
me God, fellows, here's what fell
out: Two baked chickens (Sea
gulls), one large hunk of baloney
and a jar of mustard. What's
wrong, Dutch? No grapeiiult? '
William Cox, the woodbutcher
from Eel's Point, Kentucky, has
been drafted, and he's been ask
ing Harry Collins and the rest of
the heavyweights around here to
jump up and down on his feet, so
that he will get flat feet, and get
turned down when he gets to
Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Don't
worry. Sweet William, those hog
rifles (new style) are so light
that you never know you are car
rying same. Just think, Willie,
you get twentyone (21) dollars a
day, but gosh, you only get it one
day a month. •
Frateritally,
The Fflur Horsemen:
J. F. F., No. 542
H. J. C., No. 496
W. R. B., No. 1994
D. C. J., G116
TEXAS CITY
, SAN JUAN
March II, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Well, here's from Puerto Rico
again, the home of the "Flying
Bull.",We've had plenty of activ
ity around here the last few
weeks. Had a lot of Bull Line
beefs and settled most of them In
a real "Toreador Fashion."
The performers were getting
so thick around here that we had
to take some action. A few other
ports could follow suit if we want
to build up a little prestige and
get somewhere with the ship
owners. So far, four have been
brought up on charges, with one
getting his book suspended for
three months and a recommenda
tion to the SUP to take action
against another. Action still is
pending on two others.
Ship.s are now all getting fresh
milk for their SIU crews in Puer
to Rico and sonie are supplying
shore bread as well.
Well, while the BLIZZARDS
are blowing up north, we con
tinue to enjoy the climate that
Florida and California brag about.
Fraternally,
Daniel Butts, Agent.
BOSTON
Attention!
Hugh P. Bronson
Get iii touch with Joe
'Grande, No. 1640, at the SIU
hall In Philadelphia. He has
some important papers belong
ing to you.
March 17, I94I.
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Progress, that's the word! It
can be seen in terms of higher
wages through the splendid ef
forts and achievements of your
Atlantic and Gulf District' Repie
sentatives and their negotiating
committees.
Every weekly branch report,
when read, speaks progress.
They that have led the way,
and those men that' have made it
possible muiit and shall have'the
backing and encouragement to
continue making progress.
Never before in the history of
the American merchant marine
or any other merchant marine
have those that go down to the
sea in ships enjoyed as much in
wages or living conditions as the
Seafarers* International gained
for those proud members whom it
represents.
No small wonder that the Sea
farers' International Union Is
constantly beiftg deluged "with ap
plications for membership, and
it's no small wonder t,hat the
membership of the SlU scruti
nizes each and every applicant for
membership.
When one has something good.
March 8, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
This has been rather a slow
week in the fair city, only shippell
twelve men to the point of pro
duction. No major beef, just the
usual run of petty stuff. The best
example of this was on the Sea
train. On this floating freight
yard they had a very nice setup
that', you will have to admit, was
a honey for the ship, but kinda
lousy from our angle.
When the ship docked in the
morning, the watches for the men
were broken and how! To illus
trate, the Q.M.'s break watches,
the 8 to 12 is on deck all day, the
4 to 8 works till noon, the 12 to 4
then comes on and this gives the
ship two Q.M.'s on deck all day
while cargo is being worked.
Then next day, sailing day, the
order is reversed, at 8 A.M. the
8 to 12 and the 12 to 4 turn to
work.the morning, then the 4 to 8
and the 12 to 4 are on deck for
the afternoon. Nice, eh? Two
men at all times on deck! The
O.S. were standing the gangway
watches at night. When this was
taken up, the runaround came
up. Result: the Q.M.'s will stand
watch and watch as on the other
ships.
The Plow City in to Houston
with more pipe and loaded sul
phur out of Galveston; the Jean
in and out fiom Corpus; and the
Keever (West Coast) makes up
the action for the week. So, plenty
of time to sit around and cuss the
California weather we are having.
Most unusual, coldei' than Boston.
Biggest laugh of the week:
there is a big chemical plant go
ing up here in town, 100 per cent
union. Some bird opened a bar
ber shop right across the road
from the plant, fink price hair
cuts, and .he js busy 'till way on
and on 'till late in the night.
'Tis rumorea'that the CIO had
notions to organize the cab drivers
in the turning basin in Houston.
Word was issued that the hack
pushers wourd line up or else. A
sizable crew of the Teamsters
came to the Basin and the Boule
vard to inquire into the "or else."
To date„ no "or else." Maybe, be
nause they are members of the
AFL.
When and if the sun ever
shines down here again, then we
will send in some more, till then
Steady as she goes.
A, W. Armstrong.
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF. NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic & Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
Room 918, Washlngtou Loan & Trust Co. Building,
Sth and F Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.
P. O. Box 6180 Phone: District 5963
• • •
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES • • ** .*
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St DOwling Green 93437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ... LlBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .; 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Gay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA „6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial PI. ..Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St MAgnolia 3962
SAVANNAH .... 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728
JACKSONVILLE .136 East Bay St Jacksonville 59724
TAMPA 206 So. Franklin St. .Tampa MI323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N .Texas City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami 22950
SAN JUAN 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885
BALTIMORE
i »-
News and Views
Acute Shortage of Seamen -- Maritime
Commission Moves - Branch Actions
he wishes only those who are
worthy to enjoy it with him.
Such a Union, making such
progress, must always be alert' to
the hazards besetting it.
So„ let us continue to take
greater interest in our Union, our
representatives, and future suc
cesses.
• Your Boston Reporter.
In Memoriam
Edward L. Jordan
Died in Mobile, Ala.
March 13, 1941
Martin Anderson
Died in Boston, Mass.
February 24, 1941
Hnut Skijppervik I
Died on board the S=S. Goi^St
March 9, 1941
Maich 20, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
BALTIMORE, Md.—Beach lists
in this port continue somewhat
below normal with shipping good
Acute Shortage of Seamen
With the government's ship
building program slowly climbing
up Into high gear, the shortage
of skilled seamen is becoming
more and more acute and It is
doubtful If we will be able to fill
onethird of the Jobs by this time
next year. Permit men are com
ing in at the rate of approximate
ly twenty a week in this branch,
but they are only a drop in the
bucket when you remember that
more than half of that number
are replacing members going to
shore jobs, etc.; and that, as of
today, the Baltimore shipyards
are scheduled to deliver 110 new
ships within the next two years.
Fifty of these ships are of the
prefabricated, ten knot. Hog* Is
land type, taking approximately
sixty days in the building of
each one and if we are encounter
ing dilflculty now in crewing up
two new ships a month, wlqit i.s
going to happen when we reach
tlie ship a day status early in
1942?
We can also look for a heavy
loss in personnel when the Amer
ican convoys get going, which
they will, despite all the promises
of the Congressmen. _The Unions,
if they are going to survive this
war, had better get busy NOW
building up their membership.
Maritime Commission Moves
The Maritime Commission
training program is gradually be
ing stepped up to provide enough
Naval Reserve men to take over
the ship.s the Unions are unable
to crew up and the next move in
thaUdirectlon is the plan to give
Green Tickets to^rair.ees with
one year in the MC service.
\ Both the AFL and GIO' radio
men's unions have been experi
encing the shortage of men for
some time now and are fighting
desperately to keep their heads
up above the threat of the navall
zation of the radio rooms. What
is happening to them is going to
happen to us If we don't keep the
ships moving.
Branch Actions
The Branch installed its new
ofllcials this week with Brother
Wm. McKay taking over at the
wheel as Agent and Brother Kup
ta taking over in the Engine J
Rnom Department. Bob Green was
elected to take over the Dispatch
er's headache at last Monday
night's meeting. Brother.^ Berger
Hansen and Bud Ray left port for
Norfolk where men are men, and
beefs arc plentiful.
The membeisliip at a .special
meeting approved accepting of the
Bull Line's offer of a $7.50 in
crease on the Coastwise scale and
flO.'OO on the Puerto Rico scale.
Brother John Hawk is to be coh
gialulated on tlie succe.ssfiil out
come of Ills negotiations with the
Bull Line, especially .since the
new scale is $5 above the NMU
scale.
The next show in Washington
will be the notorious Isak Bill
which calls for seamen to prove
that they are not Communists or,
Nazis, or they lose their certifi
cates and licenses. Brother Har
ry Lundeberg stole the DirkSen
Bill show completely as usual
with his straightforward, hard
hitting testimony.
Despite repeated warnings from
oflicials some members still send
in tlieii' questionnitires to the
Draft Boards witiinut an accom
panying request f(g' deferment.
This means that a few of tliem
are getting IA classification and
when they get that,, it's too late '
for the Union or anyone else to
do anything about jt. Seamen who
let themselves go "and get drafted
aren't helping their country any.
We need .skilled seamen right
now more tlian wc need any other
classification of worker. There's
no shirking question involved
here. If this country gets into any
kind of trouble, you can bet the
merchant seamen Is going to
catch it on the chin first, and all
the time.
Not much trouble was encoun
tered in getting Calmar, Ore and
the other Lines plying offshore
to come across with the new In
crease. Two of them balked, blit
only for a couple of days. Spring
must be close by; some of the
boys are beginning to ease off up
in the direction of the Lakes.
Fraternally, |
Wm. McKay, Agent.
Attentioti I
Anyone knowing tjie
whereabouts of Dennis Ho
gan please have him getlin
toucli with the liinmi, iffio'
fithi,'Branch Agent.
Gordon Ilalcs.
If'.
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
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SlCURITY
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UNiTY
J
OFFICIAL GROAN OP THE ATLANTIC AND GULF DISTRICT,
SEAFARERS' INTERNATI(»YAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA
VOL. Ill NEW YORK, N. Y., TUESDAY, MARCH 25, 1941 «4a No. 6
S.I.U. GETS $7.50 RAISE;
$10 INCREASE ON PUERTO RICO RUN
$50 Bonus Won on African Run
Militant Stand of SS Robin Locksley Crew
Results in Quick Victory for Union
A signed agreement granting a $50 per month bonus to all mem
bers of the unlicensed personnel on vessels going to Africa was obtained
by the Seafarers' International Union last Friday, March 21, from the
Seas Shipping Company (Robin Line).
Once again, the SIU has taken the lead in getting seamen
adequate compensation on the increasingly dangerous war
zone runs. The SIU had previously jacked up bonus pay on
this run, during the course of the year, from 26 per cent to
33 1/3 per cent to a flat $1 per day. With the Lend-Lease
Bill passed, a government announcement to the effect that
German raiders were prowling on this side of the Atlantic,
and increased hostilities in Soixth East Africa, the men on
the Robin Line ships felt that another bonus boost was im-
perative. <s>
When the Robin Locksley,
newest of the Seas Shipping
Co. vessels, prepared to sail
on her maiden voyage to
Africa early last week, the
crew put the demand for the
$50 up to the Company
through its delegates.
The Company refused to
consider any concession. With
the crews of the Robin Hood
and the Seattle Spirit—two
other ships belonging to the
Company which also docked
at New York last week—a
joint meeting was held which
decided that the demand of
the men on the Robin Locks
ley were just.
(C'outijiitcfl on Pufji- 2)
Seafarers Helped Bermuda
Dockers by Solidarity
Battling against all kinds of odds—a hue and cry in the
press of the Island, the mobilization of a whitecollar
army of strikebreakers and the threat of calling^ out the
militia—the longshoremen of Hamilton, Bermuda, won their
first successful strike two weeks ago, when the stevedore
bosses agreed to pay them the equivalent of 42 cents an hour
and 60 cents overtime, a substantial increase in wages for
them.
As against the odds facing
them, the Bermuda longshore
men had the advantage of en
joying the solidarity of the
SIU crews of the Alcoa
Ranger and the Alcoa Path
finder.
The Ranger had been schedulel
only to pick up 1,200 empty oil
driims and sailed without them.
The Pathfinder remained In port,
and the crew demonstrated their
support to the longshoremen, as
may be seen from the following
ship's minutes;
S.S. Alcoa Pathfinder
Hamilton, Bermuda
March 6, 1941
Special Joint Meeting called to
order at 12:25 P.M. to discuss the
situation caused by three mates
and cadet working winches, scabs
from shore working cargo . . .
M/B/C—^To send resolution to
longshoremen as follows:
"We, the unlicensed crew
of the S.S. Pathfinder and
members of the Seafarers In
ternational Union of North
America extend to you our
sympathy and vdsh to advise
you that we. the unlicensed
crew of the S;S. Pathfinder,
are taking no hand in unload
ing cargo, and are with you
100 per cent and will do all
we can to help you.''
M/S/C—That copy be sent' to
New York Branch.
M/S/C—That three delegates
call on captain and voice our dis
approval.
M/S/C—To adjourn...
(signed) D; M. Harris, 3161
Chairman
M. M. Pebworth, G47
Secretary •
P.S.—Mates and cadet knocked
oft about 1:80 P.M.
$10 Penalty for
Sulphur Cargo
In negotiations with the
Range Line, a Negotiating
Committee headed by Bro
ther Harry Collins, Phila
delphia Agent of the SIU,
this week obtained an
agreement placing a $10
penalty on SULPHUR car
go! The essential part of
the Agreement reads as
follows:
"It is hereby understood
ami agreed that on vessels
loading SUIJPHUR on or after
.March 30, 1941, the Com
pany agrees to pay the inein
bers of the nnlicensed per
sonnel, in addition to the
regular inontlily wages, Ten
Dollars ($10) per montli
from the time the Snlphnr
cargo is started loading nntil
Snlphnr cargo is completely
discharged."
<S>
SUP Scores
Big Victory
On Tankers
UBoat Raider
Off New York,
Capital Says
WASHINGTON,D. C.—The
United States government has
been informed that Germany,
plans to start submarine oper
ations off the United States,
possibly near the harbor of
New York, it was announced
here this week. A longrange
submarine, capable of operat
ing over an area of thousands
of miles, is reported on its
way to harass shipping off the
Atlantic Coast.
In some quarters, the report
was discounted as "war propa
ganda." However, the passage of
the LeaseLend Act by Congress
seems logically to lead toward an
(Continued on Page 2)
Five Lines Sign New Agreement;
SIU Wages Top NMU by $5 in Ail
Ratings; Union Leads in Conditions
Five lines under contract with the Seafarers' Interna
tional Union have granted a $7.50 monthly raise to all rat
ings in the coastwise runs I In addition, all SIU ships going
to Puerto Rico are to get offshore pay for their crews—an
increase of $10 for all ratings. The companies which have
conceded the increase so far are the Range Line, the Collabee,
the Atwacoal, the Canadian Gulf and the Bull Line. Other
coastwise companies are expected to follow suit.
$5 Higher Than NMU!
The new increases put the
SIU wage .scale .still $5 a
month ahead of the rate paid
on all ships under contract
with the National Maritime
Union (C.I.O.), do.spite the
scales that organization has
recently received from the
employers. The NMU only
received a $.0 coastwise in
ere.ise as against the SIU's
.$7.50. Last year the same dif
ferential in increases existed
• —which brings coastwise SIU
wages up to $15 above basic
pay as against the NMU
Avagcs. which are only $10
above basic pay.
Same on Puerto Rico Run
On the Puerto Ricaii run, the
same discrepancy e.xists: The
Bull Line has agreed to pay off
shoie wages on SIU ships going
to Puerto Rico, wltli a .$10 in
crejise which, added to the $7.50
obtained last year, brings SIU
wages on that run up to $17.50 a
month higher than basic pay. "No
Coffee Time" Joe Cuiran, mean
while announces that ail he couid
get for the NMU ships under con
tract with the New York and
Puerto Rico Steamship Co. was a
$7.50 increase which, added to
the $5 raise given to him by the
shipowners last year, makes for
$12.50 above basic paj^
NMU Outclassed by SIU . . .
Tims, the Seafarers Tnterna
tlonai Union continues to lead the
(Continued on Page 2)
By a 47 to 7 vote the Sail
ors Union of the Pacific was
chosen sole collective bar
gaining agency on all Asso
ciated Oil tankers last week.
The SUP has had agreements
with the Richfield, Hillcone
and General Petroleum Com
panies, but up to now Associ
ated flatly refused "to enter
into a written agreement with
the Union. Now, with the Su
preme Court decision which
makes it mandatory for an
employer to sign with a union
which has won an NLRB elec
tion, a contract with the As
sociated is virtually in the
bag.
It is intei'esting to note, by the
way, that while the SUP is crack
ing the tanker field on the West
Coast, defeating all the company
setups by the employers, the Na.
tionai Maritime Union under the
vaunted leadership of "NoCoffee
Time" Joe has not been able to do
better than secondbest in NLRB
contests with tanker company
unions in the East.
New Cargo Ships Taken
Over by U.S. Navy
The government further reduced last week the amount of
shipping tonnage available to the merchant marine. It pur
chased two new cargo vessels from private operators. The
vessels were the United States^
Lines' new freighter Rainbow, a
C2 vessel powered with Diesel
engines, and the MooreMcCor
mack Line's Mormacmail, a C3
shipwhich has bben operating for
about a year. Both ships were
acquired by the tNavy for use as
auxiliaries. Two Seatrain vessels
are being purchased for the same
.purpose, it was announced this
week.
These new purchases mark an-
other step in the steady march of
merchant vessels to Naval auxil-
iary service. The shipowners esti-
mate that no less than four-fifth
or 80 per cent of present mer-
(Continued on Page 2)
(
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•
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H E S E A FA R E R S ' LOG Tuesday, March 25, 1941
lis:
a
a
Published by the
ATLANTIC & GULF DISTRICT
of the
Seafarers' International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the Avierican Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting International President
" 110 KiurEef'Street, Rbom 402, San Francisco, Calif.
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICA.TION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. feox 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Phone: BOwHng Green 93437
More About
' Heat About **CoolmgOff"
Tiie cry for "eooliiigoff"" periods before strikes are
called lias been taken np tvith great vigor recently outside
the halls of Congress. Tiie MOday compulsory "eooloff" bills
• ^inelnding tlie Dirksen Bill directed against the seamen—re
• main on the calendar of the legislator,s, but agitation for
them ha.s sliifted to other scenes.
First of all, the reactionaries in the American Legion have
, been pounding tlie drums for sucli legislation. They have
f ahvays bemi in the forefront of the struggle against Labor.
Then Mr. M'iiliam Knudsen, the director of the Office of Pro
| ductioii Management, after fir.st disclaiming any need for re
\l strictions of the strike right, has reversed his stand and gone
I to bat for the coolingoff'' busine.ss. As longtime head* of
.General IMotors. Mr. Knudsen's role in the picture is not
hard to understand. Finally, the National Association of
'Manufacturers, ahvays rather more radical in its antiLabor
stand than other spokesmen of the employers, has come out
in fa vol of 40day "eoolingoft' periods."
60day and threemonth and then sixmonth, etc., "cool
ingofl"' periods are .still to follow, we suppose.
Xou' what is behind all this "coolingoflL" business? The
employers claim, of course, that it is their heartAvringing
patriotism t,hat motivates them : strikes are called yueeipi
tantly and hold up "natiotial defense." The truth of the mat
ter i.s that mo.st union agreements in eflfect already.call for
anyAvhere from thirty to sixtyday periods before the exjAira
tion of the conti'act, AAdien demands aiid couulerdemands are
presented by both sides. When a union takes action after
such to and fro. it is hardly precipitant.
If the case of unorganized shops, AA'here union recognition
is the issue, be inv<)ked here, the same holds true. Before
striking, the union goes through the Avliole procedure of Na
tional Laboi Relations Board elections, etc., etc.—plenty^of
time being pa.ssed in heelcooling,
"What's really behind this "eoolingoff" business is simply
this: The big time openshop and scabherding employers
haA'e discovered lhat Labor i.s too strong and too militant
these days for them to risk an attempt at shackling the
unions by outright anti.strike legi.slation. And so, they are
tryi)ig to put on the .shackles piecemeal. Tliey begin with
30day coolingoflp periods and . . . intend to wind up Avith
smashing the right to strike altogether.
By their "cooloff" agitation, thebig busine.ss interests
betray only too plainlj' that they are themselves hot. and
botheied by the effectiveness Avith Avhich Labor's neAvfound
strength is making its rights respected in these day.s of groAA'
ing i)atrioTic hysteria. The most fundamental of t.he,se rights
is the right to strike; it is also, at the same time, the basic
source of its strength. That's AA'hy Labor fecLs ,so sensitive
about all these "eoolingoff" scheme's. That's Avhy Tiubor
says to the schemers:
Lay off our right to strike!
A 5 Per Cent Tax on Wages ?
Some of tlie einployer.s' stooges,"in the guise of "patriotic" legis
lators, just can't be stopped from doing their bit for the country.
They have been trying very haid to get drastic antistrike legisla
tion i)as.sed In order to prevent higher Avages for the million.s of
exploited Avorking stiffs in the Country, Rebuffed in that direction,
they are not at all dismayed. They have another plan. ...
This time they are out to paste a 5 per cent "defense tax" on
wages from 1525 j)ei week upward. That would actuallymean a wage
cut' of $1.25 per week upward. It goes without saying that the people
.who propose this 5 per cent levy on wages are among those who are
loudest in denouncing union dues of a dollar or two a month as a
. . . "racket."
Everybody admits thjit higher wages at best only meet the con
stantly jising cost of living. At' the same time everybody knows that
profits for the employeis in the "defense" industries are soaring up
and up. Why a heavy burden is to be placed on labor which is
.lAa i*a1vr • ! Lf/A I rk lYi/xni 41* <• « mM 41 ...i . A . _ . • '
$50 Bonus Won
On African Run
(Continued from Page 1)
Crew Quits
Since tlie Company would not
come to terms in negotiations,
the crew of tlTe Locksley refused
to sign articles and upon giving
tlie regular twentyfour hours'
iiotice to the Master., the men de
cided to quit. The jobs were
placed on the board at the Union
liall, but there were no takers for
them. ,
Seamen Say "No Soap"
To Die repeated calls for men
to replace the Locksley crew, the
company otlicials were told by the
seamen at the hall that shipping
was too good at present, and jthe
sliortage of skilled .seamen too
great, for them to jeopardize their
lives on the African run for the
money the Robin Line Avas will
ing to pay,
"Defense" Bogey 1*182168
After several dhys of this deadt
lock, during Avhich tlie company
tried to play the old "national de
fense" bogey, the Robin Line ofll
eials finally agreed to talk terms
on Friday. The bogey liadn't at
all s'careil tlie militant crew of
the Locksley. The Government it
self had announced that Nazi
raiders A\'ere increasing activity
on the giA'eh roiite ami couldn't,
very Avell deny that the men had
a justified beef on the bonus
question.
Negotiations Begin
On Friday afternoon, the Locks
ley creAv's three departmental
delegates, aided by District Rep
resentative John Hawk and Sec
retaryTreasurer Sydney Gretcher,
who had come down frOm liead
qiiarters for that purpose, re
ceived an urgent call from the
shipowners' representatives fo
come down and negotiate a bonus
agreement.
Union Stands Pat
After four hours of discussion,
in AvhIch Mr. Prank Taylor of the
Mercliant Marino Institute. Capt.
Conway of the Maritime Commis
sion and Mr. Liller of the United
States Conciliation Service, parti
cipated.. the Locksley's delegates
N,J, Draft Headquarters Issues
Instructions Affecting Seamen
According to a circular (Bullotiu 33) i.ssued by tlie New
Jersey .State Headquarters for Selective Service on March
11, 1941, tlie folloAving- draft regulatioiks are applied to the
issuance of iierniits to sail abroad as AVCU as to defenucnt
of seamen in that state: ' /
Permits and Their Duration
"1. If the registrant hasa sulficiently lar^e order number, so
that it is not likely that he Avill be inducted within six months, a
permit may be issued to him for not in excess of six months.
"A registrant whose permit, and if he is in Class 11, whose
period of deferment, has partially expiied may request his local
board to consider his status as of that time and grant him a new
permit and, if lie is in Class 11, a new period of deferment for not
to exceed six months."
Can Ask for Beclassification
Tlie last two sections of this circular issued by New Jersey
Headquarters hold particular interest for seamen. They I'ead as
follows:
"9. Even though a seaman has heen placed in Cla.ss a lo
cal hoard has ample aiitliority to REOL.^SSIFY him into Class II
for the duration of a vo,vnge if it determines that he is needed in
order to permit a ship to sail and that the circunistances bring "
him Avltliin the definition of a 'necessary man' for .such period of
time.
"10. Unions and einployer.s should be able to assist seamen in
obtaining permits and in requesting reclassiiieatioii in cases Avhere
it is belieA'ed there are grounds therefor eiliier hecau.Hc of a gen
eral shortage bf seamen or because of a specific shortage at a <
given place at a giA'en time, which would require the services of a
particular seaman in order to enable a ship to sail.
(signed) WILLIAM A. HIGGIN.S, State Director."
<S> Of course, tiie circular stresses
that eacli Local Board has to con
sider every individual case and
render its own decision. But the
above instructions, issued "for
(be guidance of all concerned,"
while certainly not all that' draft
able seamoir Avould desire, are
steps ill the riglit direction.
Union seamen called before the
Draft Boards in New Jersey can
refer to them directly. In other
states, it should be pointed out
lliat the New Jersey regulations '
are logical and can be applied
with equal justice in all draft
cases involving seamen.
Tlie SIU men and the Brandi
Ageiit.s should' take advantage of
this information in order to ob
tain deferment for the many
Union seamen being called before
the Draft Boards.
barely able to meet the mounting level of subsistence in order to
finance "def<>n,se"—while profits in "defense" production skyrocket—
these servile gentlemen In Congress do not explain.
No doubt tiiey are just being true to their masters. Their slogan
probably is: Tax the workers to dceep "defense" proflta high for the
employe r.s. /o ,
Brothers Hall, Higby and Black—
and Brotliers Gretcher and HaAvk
made it clear that no retreat
would be made by the crew.
The Union's representatives
urged a .signed agreement for the
.$50 bonus, subject' to ratification
by the Robin Line crcAvs, agree
ing to be bound by the terms of
such an agreement.
At 9 P.M. in the evening the
company officials decided to grant
the Union's demand and signa
tures were fixed to flie document
granting it'. The crews of. the
Locksley. the Hood and the Seat
tle Spirit thereupon voted unan
imously to accept the agreement,
and the ships made ready to sail.
Once again, the SIU has taken
the lead with ah Important vic
tory for the seamen. The mili'
tan I membersiilp of the Seafarers'
union have acted not only in their
own interest, but in the Interest
of all rank and file seamen.
U^Boat Raider
Off New York
(Continued from Page l)
Intensification of German raiding
activity. This trend narrovra down
considerably the shipping routes
Avhiph can be considered neutral
or nonbelligerent. The danger to
American nfefchant shipping prac
tically begins the moment a ves
sel goes 'offshore, with Avar devel
opments what they are. It Is clear
that new^ "revisions In the war
zone bonus rates kre bailed for by
the changes in the situation.
New Cargo Ships
Taken Over by
U.S. Navy
(Continued from Page 1)
chant tonnage will come under
government supervision before
the present trend Is concluded.
To the shipowner.s, the transfer
of these vessels to the Navy is
nothing regrettable at all, for the
government is made to pay for
the transaction through the nose
—Avhat with the shortage of avail
able bottoms—and a handsome
superprofit is thus pocketed by
them. For the seamen, this
means something else entirely.
For. every new ship transferred
to the Navy means that much
more jobs lost to union wages
and filled on the basis of the Na
val Reserve wage scale at $54 a
More About
month tops for A.B.'s, with no
overtime and no grievance ma
chinery—in fact no conditions
worthy of a seaman's hire at all.
If this condition is allowed to
continue indefinitely—the smash
ing of unloh conditions at sea
and the virtual elihilnation of ma
ritime unionism Is Inevitable,
even if no such legi.slatiou as the
vicious Difksen Bill is passed by
Congress.
For their own selfprotection,
for the preservation of the hard
Avon union conditions now pre
vailing, the seamen and their
unions will inevitably have to
tnko stops to see lhat union
wages, overtime pay and collec
tive bargaining are maintained
on merchant vessel.s after their
transfer to service as Naval aux
illrales. Otherwise the Naval Re
serve labor policy—which means
no unions and no conditions—will
predominate on all ships.
The Navy pays union wages
and grants union conditions to
thechanlcs in the shipyards under
its control. There is no reason
why the same rule should not ap
play to merchant seamen on com
mercial vessels under Navy con
trol. The Navyyard workers have
obtained 'union conditions by
their organized power. Only the
organized power of the seamen
can obtain similar union condi
tions on the ships transferred to
Naval auxiliary service.
Attention!
WAIter Labaski
Get in touch withHhe Agent
at the SIU hall in NeAV Or
leans at Dnce.
S.I.U. Gets $7.50
Coastwise Raise
(Continued from Page 1)
field on the East Coast, Avith t'he
liighest pay for seamen sailing
from Atlantic and Gulf Ports!
In overtime pay, the Ciirran
crowd has only been able to ob
tain this year the 80 cents per
liour on NMU ships which has
been in effect on practically all
SIU vessels ever since May, 1940.
In all respect's, whether it be
Avage.s, overtime or working condi
tions, tiie SIU continues to out
class the "Top Fraction"domlnat
ed NMU ill service to tlie men
wlio sail the ships. •
Once more, it is made plain
that as a union run by and for
the seamen, the SIU cannot be
equalled in obtaining improve
ments. It shows why tiie seameh
on llie East Coast are increasleg
ly flocking to the SIU banner in
every test of strengtli. The rank
and file of seafaring men here
are becoming constantly more
aAvare that the SIU Is their union!
Compare Them Yourself!
The following is a table of ct»m
parative wage scales which tells
the story on the coastwise runs
(On the Pueito Rican run, $2.50
additional Is to be added to each
rating):
SIU
Able Seaman ..... .$87.50
Ordinary Seaman .. 70.00
Oilers 07.S0
Watertenders ..... 57.50
Fireman 87,50
Wipers T&oo
Messman 78.00
Mesflboy .,,.. ~ . ynn®
NMU
$82.50
65.00
92.50
92.50
82.50
1 70.00
> 70.00 y
70.95 A:; 65,00
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG " Tuesday, March 25, 1941
• %.
• I •
• '
i.
K;:..
• OUT OF THE MAILS AG
From Oysters
To the Grave
Editor, Seafarers Log;
Dear Sir and Brother:
Prom oysters to the grave. It
seems like a vei-y poor way of
building up to-a-finish-, -but it-ac-
tually happened aboard the S.S.
Margaret of the Bull Line.
* *' *
Leaving Hopewell, Va., the
third assistant engineer, upon
coming up for dinner after reliev
inging the first, read the menu
and ordered oysters, to be met
with the old, old refrain, "there
Is no more." Result of this was
that the third and the steward
had an argument, which seemed
to be all settled, until the ship
docked on the 15th in Galveston.
>» « «
Upon arrival, the third quit the
.ship and paid off. There was
.meeting held in the messroom by
;the members of the crew to jack
up the steward and have the food
improved. A committee was elect
'ed to check the stores with the
'steward and everything was 0,K
• • *
Shortly after noon the exthird
and the Steward got into an ar
gument with the re.sult that the
steward was severely beaten an'd
the third shot. He died shortly
after.
• • •
So, now all hands can sit back
and figure that the worth of a
seamen's lif€ is a mess of oys
ters. There has been more trou
ble aboard ships from that old
cry "there is no more" than from
any other one thing.
« « «
Shoreside workers cannot un
derstand the way that this sort
of thing can lead to trouble, but
you who can and do savvy this
sort of thing, will realize that
once more the straw that broke
the camel's back was something
that should have been avoided.
Your Union can and does
Straighten out your beefs on the
^hlps. So, take time out to think
things over, and such as the
above Will be eliminated.
Fraternally,
A. W. Armstrong.
Calls fqr Unity
After Elections
Saint Partick's Day
March 17, 1941
Editor, Seafarers Log
pear Sir and Brother:
i.In The past few months, there
has been an epidemic of blasting,
knocking, rapping and some very
uncomplimentaiy remarks being
passed by certain brothers about
the duly elected officials of the
Seafarers' Inteinatlonal Union of
North America. This cannot bene
fit the Union in any shape, man
ner or lorm, and can only be a
detriment to the Union, for the
membership has spoken and "SO
BE IT."
Brothers—we. the ^ona .fide
membership of the Seafarera'
Union, a genuine Democratic rank
and file organization, did, by our
democratic right, of voting, elect
these officials. Their credentials,
papers and Integidty were checked
and doublecbecked by a commit
tee and committees, and they
were found fit' in every respect to
carry on their duties of the office
to which they weie duly and le
gally elected. Now comes the rub:
It seems to the writers that a
few brothers are not in accord
with the Committee's reports on
aame of the officials and want to
start Investigating them all over
again. Do these few brothers, who. ]
of course, are in the minority,
know that the great constitution
of the United States stafes that
no man's life shall be placed
In jeopardy twice; then why in
Hell should we or anyone, irres
pective of their personal feelings,
or come what' may, place the In
tegrity.and honesty of any man
who la a full book member of our
organization in jeopardy? In the
minds of some of us, including
the writers (al time.s) we feel
that being an official is pie, but
down deep in our heart, or hearts,
we do know that being an official
in any capacity in any Union or
ganization is plenty of headaches
and bum kicks. The following
should be emphasized: We, tiie
members of the SIU have agreed
to abide by the vote of the ma
jority and not the minority. So,
Brothers, let's all get down to
brass tacks and be honest with
ourselves and our brothers In this
real McCoy Union organization.
In other words, let us all help
to upbuild and uphold the siU
rather than try to tear it apart.
We, and I am under the Impres
sioff that I speak .for the majority,
do not care for whispering cam
paigns or underground work in
order to try to discredit any mem
hei.s or ofllcial.s of this organiza
tion.
It seems a damnable pity that
we cannot get together and stay
together. We can and wc must try
to the best of our ability to do so.
But if we do not pull together,
then we are in for a sad awaken
ing, brothers, and when we play
"TUO OF WAR," it only make.s
the shipowners, their stooges and
a few subversive elements that
we have in the SIU (you inusi
expect them whenever any real
Union goes to the top) smile and
laugh to themselves. So, let's
buckle down, brothers, and coop
erate with each other and with
our officials and may we, as
binther to brotheiv wish those
officials now going Into office on
this Saint Patrick's Day all the
success in the world, and the best
of luck to them all during their
tenure of office.
Respectfully submitted,
The Four Horsemen:
Bathless Days
On the Robin Line
S.S. WEST IMBODEN
Capetown, So. Africa
January 21, 1941
Dear Sirs and Brothers; :
Back in 1918 I made a trip in
the S.S. Rhine, a fullrigged ship,
out of Boston. Five days out, the
Old Man put the lock on the wa
ter tank and issued water once a
day. This, my friends, mind you.
was back in the dark ages of
1918, and in sail to boot.
• * *
Imagine my surprise when I
land back in the same old condi-
tions again, In this year of our
Lord 1941.
» * *
The story goes like this. It
seems that, the old Robin Line's
luxury liners depend on the rains
ill order that the crew can use
the showers and the botlers boil.
This trip, no rain; and no rain,
no baths, or so it seems.
« • •
When the West Imboden lay in
New York, the Company made a
gosh-orful how-de-do putting nice
new shiny tinga-ma-Jigs on our
showers. "Oh, nothing's too good
for our boys," they said. Well, af-
ter leaving the dock, a bunch of
the boys were waiting to scrub
up a bit, when they heard a rack-
et In the bathroom, and all hands
rushed out to have a look and, in-
cidentally, help to pull out from
under a cloud of steam what
looked like a boiled lobster, but
turned out to be one of the A.B.'s
who was pioneering in the field
of modern showers. The next day
we had to bundle a couple of the
boys up in blankets because the
darn showers decided to turn out
ice water only.
IMPORTANT RESOLUTION I
Tells About Pathfinder
Actiou ill Bermuda
Brother W. Dickey, a member
of the Pathfinder crew, sent in
some clippings about the long
shoremen's strike in Bermuda
<and the following comment:
"We were tied up for two and
a half days before scab longshore
men came aboard to work the
ship. The first, second and third
mates all scabbed on the colored
boys by driving the winches. We
held a meeting and the three dele
gates lodged a protest with the
old man, Uapt. F. (Suicide) Dum
ke about the mates contaminating
the rest of the crew. He raved
and pouted, but in a few minutes
they were replaced.
"IncIdenlaHy, that morning ev
ery man in the crew was asked
if he would work cargo (they
claimed there wasn't any strike).
You know what we s&id—only
stronger. By the way, they
wouldn't allow us ashore in Ber
muda because we didn't have a
pass and because the Capt. was a
"Heinle"!
"To protect ourselves against
another 'Alfifc Case,' we did our
regular day's work, but no one
would work overtime. The
winches had no one to look after
them outside the Chief Engfaeer."
. .. Wilbur W. Dickey.
Well, .so much for our new
bathroom gadgets, but the worst
was yet to come. You see, it did
not rain. So, one morning when
we got up, we found they had
taken down our nice new shower
tiugamajigs and put up plugs in
stead. The new gadgets were put
under lock and key, presumably
to keep them from rusting up or
maybe to save them for the next
crew (you know: to lure them
out' of port like old times, when
you signed on for good and
plenty).
They were generous, though
and left the taps on. That is, un-
til somebody caught somebody
else taking a bath, using a rubber
hose on the faucet. (Then, my
jolly old tars the power that be
who watches over this particular
little rust-pot really got mad and
said: "Let there be water, but
twice per day.)
* * *
To a question from the crew as
to why, the answer was: there
ain't no mo'. And so, shipmates,
the old Shipping Board cry is
born anew: THERE AIN'T NO
MORE!
But, here, as a last word, taken
as a whole, she is not a bad old
tub. The whole gang, officers, and
all three departments, cooperate
100 per cent.
» * •
So, on through the rainless
days, sails the West Imboden
with a motto: On to Capetown,
bath or no bath!
Hoping for a speedy agreement.
Fraternally,
Dirty-Until-the-Rains-Come
Crew of the S.S. West Imboden
Robert WigfaM, G-74
Deck Delegate.
WHEREA.S, it co.sts our organization approximately ?5,000.00
per year in various taxes, such as the Social Security, State Unem
ployment, and. Federal Excise Tax, and
WIIEBEAS, our per capita tax to the International is How ap
proximately $700.00 pe'r month, and
WHEREAS, the amalgamation of the former Atlantic with the
former Gulf Di.strict, and the establishment of a centrally located
Headquai'tei's office in Washington necessitates further weekly op
erating expenses, and
WHEREAS, the Atlantic & Gulf DistriTt, in • m rler give Re
members true representation on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts, is
forced to maintain and operate 14 separate Branches, and
WHEREAS, the recent conference held at Washington revealed
that any further curtailment of our present operating expenses, or
any further decreases in staff, would result in serious impairment
to the efficient operation of the organization as a whole, and
WHEREAS, our organization has at the present time outstand
ing liabilities of well over $3,0.')0.00 for such items as unpaid per
capita tax. Federal tax, etc., and
WHEREAS, at the present time it is of parftmount importance
that we publish the ".Seafaiera Log" on a strict regnlai weekly basis,
and
WHEREAS, in all probability our organization will further ex
pand and levelop during tlie next few months, thus entailing addi
tional operating expenses, and
WHEREAS^ in the last quarter of 1940 the operating expenses
of our organization exceeded the income by $2,590.85, and
WHEREAS, this condition of insufficient income to meet current
ope)at'ing expenses continued during the month of January, 1941,
with a consequent rapid decrease in our General Fund balance, and
WHERFJAS, the vital expenses necessary to operate our organi
zation in an efficient and uptodate manner cannot be met by the
revenue, received from dues and Initiation fees, and as a result the
organization is operating with an everincreasing deficit, and
WHEREAS, in order to fully protect our organization, it is of
vital importance that the General Fund always has on hand a balance
of at least $3,009.00 or $4,000.00 to meet any emergency which may
arise, and
WHEREAS, in the last two years the earning capacity of each
indivfclual member has increased approximately 50 per cent and
more, due directly to the successful negotiating and signing of better
agreements calling for substantial wage and overtime increases, the
broadening of overtime hours, and war bonuses second to none,
therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the monthly dues ho increased, at least tem
porarily, to $2,00 per member per month, and he it further
RESOLVED, that tliis Resoliition he voted upon by the"
Branches at four consecntive meetings, heginning with tlie regu
lar biisincs.s meeting of March 3, 1941, and that a standing "yes
andno" vote l)e taken with the actual "yes" and "no" count being
recorded in the mlmitcs, and he it furtiier
RESOLVED, that upon tlie concurrence with this Resolution
oi a majority total vote, tlie herein mentioned increase in dues
shall go into efl'ect heginning with the month of Mav, 1941, and
be it further • .
RESOLX'ED, tliat as of Marcli 3 of this year no authorized col
lector shall he permitted to collect dues for any months past April,
1941, and he it further
RESOf.VED, that as of March 3 of this year all dues paid in
advance of April, 1941, shall he honored, and be it finally
RESOT/VEI), that this Resolution be printed in its entirely iu
all issues of the "Seafarers Log' published during the voting pe
riod specified herein.
Respectfully submitted,
John Hawk, District Representative
M. D. Biggs, District Representative
Sydney Gretcher, Secretary-Treasurer
i
'• 1
IJ
Labor's Representotives'Oppose
"Model Defense" Bills
B.S. — Incidentally, the rains
never came, but about two days
out of Capetown the old girl
started stampeding like an old
bow smelling water.
Eepresentatives of both the
A.F. of L. and the O.I.O, op
posed five "model" defense
hills at hearings of the New
York State legislature last
week. They argued that the
rights of labor were endan
gered by the bills, pointing
out that none guaranteed the
right to strike and participate
in picket lines.
The labor opposition was con
centrated on the Thompson Anti
Sabotage Bill which permits clos.
ing Streets and highways around
defense plants and imposes a fel
ony penalty, with imprisonment
up to ten years and fines up to
$10,000,, or both for any person
violating it and found guilty of
"sabotage."
Labor spokesmen also objected
to four other bills which would
give the governor power In an
emergency to mobilize the police
forces of the various communities
in the state; set up reciprocal
agreements between states for the
protection of state property; per
mit the military forces of States
to cross State lines In "fresh pur
suit" of "insurrectionists": and
regulate the ownership, manufac
ture and sale and distribution of
explosives. Each carried under
cover provisions which can easily
be used to prosecute legitimate la
bor activities.
Similar "model" bills are being
presented in all state legislatures
and arejneeting with equal oppo'
sitiou on the part of organized
labor.
Temporary Engine
Delegate Elected
Brother Arthur G'Neil, No. 436,
was elected as temporary Engine
Patrolman at the last meeting of
the New York Branch of the SIU.
A Gladstone suitcase was
lost at the New York hall
of the Union by Brother
M. J, Bianculli, No. 6447
while he was in the hospi
tal, Will the brother who
took it by mistake please
return it to the owner, care
of the New York hall.
SS • I
....
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Tuesday, March 25, 1941 THE S E A F A RE R S ' LOG
W.hat's^Doing —
Around The Ports
PHILADELPHIA
'iTv
*4
• " y..
'iftt A.
\S
Ms KctL 7, 1941.
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
The pride of the Waterman
Line, the S.S. Lasalle has ieally
„ gone, through a complete crew
renovation as far as the unli
censed personnel are concerned
since the ship arrived in the old
Port of Philadelphia. Some of the
oldtimers may recall her as the
S.S. George Pierce. You remember
her as the make a mile and then
. drop si.K boiler tubes.
Things are humming plenty
fast around these parts. No A.B.'s
available, oileis and other "Under
giound Savages" won't take a
ship unless they are assured that
they have beautyrest mattresses
and featlier pillows on board.
Stewards, cooks and messmen—
aw hell, why go on raving; they
are as scarce as good jokes from
"Izzy Cohen's whole bag of jokes."
All foolishness aside—the^Agent
and the Patrolman have ordered
sevenleague boots, so that they
can make better time chasing up
and down the waterfront settling
; beefs, and chasing after replace
ments after hours. Prosperity
sure makes lie guys forget where
the Union Hall is located.
"Seaweed," the leaping Bull
, Line scullerymaid will,, emphat
ically, not allow the "Four Horse
men to keep his name out of the
Log. He has been trying to pur
chase Jo Jo Flanagan's car, but
Jo Jo refuses to accept the $13.98
that is offered, and on top of that,
. he . states. that he will stand for
R».y. insult, but the insults that
ha^ve been heaped upon his car
by the members, especially by
"Windy Collins." It's awful, ain't
it, JoJo?
Robert (Dothebestyoucan)
Hillman made six days on the La
salle, " and now he and John
"Whispering" Morgandale can tor
ment the waitresses in their spe
cial chewing place. Waitresses,
you really have the sympathy of
all of us, for you are positively in
for a real earbending. Uh huh.
"Coastwise" Arrere, the former
dispatcher, quit the speedwagon
Losmar in Baltimore and came
home to roost. He wants a fast
ship. Here's a tip from the "Four
Horsemen": Don't allow them to
: draft you. Coastwise, but walk
" right up .to the Naval Recruiting
Officer and join the Navy, and
. they'll give you a fast' ship. Yes,
sir; they'll give you a destroyer of
the newer classes and we'll guar
' antee that you will have a fast
one under your feet. Don'J; say,
we didin't tell you.
Just had a "Flash" from Harry
Lundeberg that from the looks of
mattefs in our Capitol City, the
lousy laborhating bill H. R. 2662
. will be completely kicked in the
long underwear. It goes to show
that cooperation and organization
can keep us seamen from getting
the wrong end of the stick. Well
done, brothers.
'J. A. (Dutch) Keller, the Grape
fruit' Steward, registered and
' brought, his gear up ta the Hall.
When the lock (Ropeyarn to us)
sprang open on his keesta, so help
me God, fellows, here's what fell
out: Two baked chickens (Sea
gulls), one large hunk of baloney
and a jar of mustard. What's
wrong, Dutch? No grapeiiult? '
William Cox, the woodbutcher
from Eel's Point, Kentucky, has
been drafted, and he's been ask
ing Harry Collins and the rest of
the heavyweights around here to
jump up and down on his feet, so
that he will get flat feet, and get
turned down when he gets to
Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Don't
worry. Sweet William, those hog
rifles (new style) are so light
that you never know you are car
rying same. Just think, Willie,
you get twentyone (21) dollars a
day, but gosh, you only get it one
day a month. •
Frateritally,
The Fflur Horsemen:
J. F. F., No. 542
H. J. C., No. 496
W. R. B., No. 1994
D. C. J., G116
TEXAS CITY
, SAN JUAN
March II, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Well, here's from Puerto Rico
again, the home of the "Flying
Bull.",We've had plenty of activ
ity around here the last few
weeks. Had a lot of Bull Line
beefs and settled most of them In
a real "Toreador Fashion."
The performers were getting
so thick around here that we had
to take some action. A few other
ports could follow suit if we want
to build up a little prestige and
get somewhere with the ship
owners. So far, four have been
brought up on charges, with one
getting his book suspended for
three months and a recommenda
tion to the SUP to take action
against another. Action still is
pending on two others.
Ship.s are now all getting fresh
milk for their SIU crews in Puer
to Rico and sonie are supplying
shore bread as well.
Well, while the BLIZZARDS
are blowing up north, we con
tinue to enjoy the climate that
Florida and California brag about.
Fraternally,
Daniel Butts, Agent.
BOSTON
Attention!
Hugh P. Bronson
Get iii touch with Joe
'Grande, No. 1640, at the SIU
hall In Philadelphia. He has
some important papers belong
ing to you.
March 17, I94I.
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
Progress, that's the word! It
can be seen in terms of higher
wages through the splendid ef
forts and achievements of your
Atlantic and Gulf District' Repie
sentatives and their negotiating
committees.
Every weekly branch report,
when read, speaks progress.
They that have led the way,
and those men that' have made it
possible muiit and shall have'the
backing and encouragement to
continue making progress.
Never before in the history of
the American merchant marine
or any other merchant marine
have those that go down to the
sea in ships enjoyed as much in
wages or living conditions as the
Seafarers* International gained
for those proud members whom it
represents.
No small wonder that the Sea
farers' International Union Is
constantly beiftg deluged "with ap
plications for membership, and
it's no small wonder t,hat the
membership of the SlU scruti
nizes each and every applicant for
membership.
When one has something good.
March 8, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
This has been rather a slow
week in the fair city, only shippell
twelve men to the point of pro
duction. No major beef, just the
usual run of petty stuff. The best
example of this was on the Sea
train. On this floating freight
yard they had a very nice setup
that', you will have to admit, was
a honey for the ship, but kinda
lousy from our angle.
When the ship docked in the
morning, the watches for the men
were broken and how! To illus
trate, the Q.M.'s break watches,
the 8 to 12 is on deck all day, the
4 to 8 works till noon, the 12 to 4
then comes on and this gives the
ship two Q.M.'s on deck all day
while cargo is being worked.
Then next day, sailing day, the
order is reversed, at 8 A.M. the
8 to 12 and the 12 to 4 turn to
work.the morning, then the 4 to 8
and the 12 to 4 are on deck for
the afternoon. Nice, eh? Two
men at all times on deck! The
O.S. were standing the gangway
watches at night. When this was
taken up, the runaround came
up. Result: the Q.M.'s will stand
watch and watch as on the other
ships.
The Plow City in to Houston
with more pipe and loaded sul
phur out of Galveston; the Jean
in and out fiom Corpus; and the
Keever (West Coast) makes up
the action for the week. So, plenty
of time to sit around and cuss the
California weather we are having.
Most unusual, coldei' than Boston.
Biggest laugh of the week:
there is a big chemical plant go
ing up here in town, 100 per cent
union. Some bird opened a bar
ber shop right across the road
from the plant, fink price hair
cuts, and .he js busy 'till way on
and on 'till late in the night.
'Tis rumorea'that the CIO had
notions to organize the cab drivers
in the turning basin in Houston.
Word was issued that the hack
pushers wourd line up or else. A
sizable crew of the Teamsters
came to the Basin and the Boule
vard to inquire into the "or else."
To date„ no "or else." Maybe, be
nause they are members of the
AFL.
When and if the sun ever
shines down here again, then we
will send in some more, till then
Steady as she goes.
A, W. Armstrong.
SEAFARERS' INTERNATIONAL UNION
OF. NORTH AMERICA
Atlantic & Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
Room 918, Washlngtou Loan & Trust Co. Building,
Sth and F Street, N.W., Washington, D. C.
P. O. Box 6180 Phone: District 5963
• • •
DIRECTORY OF BRANCHES • • ** .*
BRANCH ADDRESS PHONE
NEW YORK 2 Stone St DOwling Green 93437
BOSTON 330 Atlantic Ave. ... LlBerty 4057
PROVIDENCE .; 465 South Main St. ..Manning 3572
BALTIMORE ... 14 North Gay St. ...Calvert 4539
PHILADELPHIA „6 North 6th St Lombard 7651
NORFOLK 60 Commercial PI. ..Norfolk 41083
NEW ORLEANS 309 Chartres St MAgnolia 3962
SAVANNAH .... 218 East Bay St Savannah 31728
JACKSONVILLE .136 East Bay St Jacksonville 59724
TAMPA 206 So. Franklin St. .Tampa MI323
MOBILE 55 So. Conception St. Dexter 1449
TEXAS CITY ... 105 4th St., N .Texas City 722
MIAMI 1348 N.E. First Ave.. Miami 22950
SAN JUAN 8 Covadonga St San Juan 1885
BALTIMORE
i »-
News and Views
Acute Shortage of Seamen -- Maritime
Commission Moves - Branch Actions
he wishes only those who are
worthy to enjoy it with him.
Such a Union, making such
progress, must always be alert' to
the hazards besetting it.
So„ let us continue to take
greater interest in our Union, our
representatives, and future suc
cesses.
• Your Boston Reporter.
In Memoriam
Edward L. Jordan
Died in Mobile, Ala.
March 13, 1941
Martin Anderson
Died in Boston, Mass.
February 24, 1941
Hnut Skijppervik I
Died on board the S=S. Goi^St
March 9, 1941
Maich 20, I94I
Editor, Seafarers Log
Dear Sir and Brother:
BALTIMORE, Md.—Beach lists
in this port continue somewhat
below normal with shipping good
Acute Shortage of Seamen
With the government's ship
building program slowly climbing
up Into high gear, the shortage
of skilled seamen is becoming
more and more acute and It is
doubtful If we will be able to fill
onethird of the Jobs by this time
next year. Permit men are com
ing in at the rate of approximate
ly twenty a week in this branch,
but they are only a drop in the
bucket when you remember that
more than half of that number
are replacing members going to
shore jobs, etc.; and that, as of
today, the Baltimore shipyards
are scheduled to deliver 110 new
ships within the next two years.
Fifty of these ships are of the
prefabricated, ten knot. Hog* Is
land type, taking approximately
sixty days in the building of
each one and if we are encounter
ing dilflculty now in crewing up
two new ships a month, wlqit i.s
going to happen when we reach
tlie ship a day status early in
1942?
We can also look for a heavy
loss in personnel when the Amer
ican convoys get going, which
they will, despite all the promises
of the Congressmen. _The Unions,
if they are going to survive this
war, had better get busy NOW
building up their membership.
Maritime Commission Moves
The Maritime Commission
training program is gradually be
ing stepped up to provide enough
Naval Reserve men to take over
the ship.s the Unions are unable
to crew up and the next move in
thaUdirectlon is the plan to give
Green Tickets to^rair.ees with
one year in the MC service.
\ Both the AFL and GIO' radio
men's unions have been experi
encing the shortage of men for
some time now and are fighting
desperately to keep their heads
up above the threat of the navall
zation of the radio rooms. What
is happening to them is going to
happen to us If we don't keep the
ships moving.
Branch Actions
The Branch installed its new
ofllcials this week with Brother
Wm. McKay taking over at the
wheel as Agent and Brother Kup
ta taking over in the Engine J
Rnom Department. Bob Green was
elected to take over the Dispatch
er's headache at last Monday
night's meeting. Brother.^ Berger
Hansen and Bud Ray left port for
Norfolk where men are men, and
beefs arc plentiful.
The membeisliip at a .special
meeting approved accepting of the
Bull Line's offer of a $7.50 in
crease on the Coastwise scale and
flO.'OO on the Puerto Rico scale.
Brother John Hawk is to be coh
gialulated on tlie succe.ssfiil out
come of Ills negotiations with the
Bull Line, especially .since the
new scale is $5 above the NMU
scale.
The next show in Washington
will be the notorious Isak Bill
which calls for seamen to prove
that they are not Communists or,
Nazis, or they lose their certifi
cates and licenses. Brother Har
ry Lundeberg stole the DirkSen
Bill show completely as usual
with his straightforward, hard
hitting testimony.
Despite repeated warnings from
oflicials some members still send
in tlieii' questionnitires to the
Draft Boards witiinut an accom
panying request f(g' deferment.
This means that a few of tliem
are getting IA classification and
when they get that,, it's too late '
for the Union or anyone else to
do anything about jt. Seamen who
let themselves go "and get drafted
aren't helping their country any.
We need .skilled seamen right
now more tlian wc need any other
classification of worker. There's
no shirking question involved
here. If this country gets into any
kind of trouble, you can bet the
merchant seamen Is going to
catch it on the chin first, and all
the time.
Not much trouble was encoun
tered in getting Calmar, Ore and
the other Lines plying offshore
to come across with the new In
crease. Two of them balked, blit
only for a couple of days. Spring
must be close by; some of the
boys are beginning to ease off up
in the direction of the Lakes.
Fraternally, |
Wm. McKay, Agent.
Attentioti I
Anyone knowing tjie
whereabouts of Dennis Ho
gan please have him getlin
toucli with the liinmi, iffio'
fithi,'Branch Agent.
Gordon Ilalcs.
If'.
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