Media
Issue Date
1939-08-18
Volume
1
Issue Number
16
Plaintext
jS®!
SECURITY
! N
UNITY
'hrers y
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
BROTHERHOOD
OF THE
SEA
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, AUGUST 18^ 1939 446 NO. 16
A
Ivl
VOTING ON CONSTITUTION STARTS
P&O SHIPS REMAIN TIED
UP IN FLORIDA PORTS
Phoney Fenagling by NMU Officials
Eyed With Suspicion by SIU
NO FINK CREWS SHIPPED
^ Miami, Fla., August 14—The P&O siiips have been tied
up since July 25th, because the company wishes to take
"time back" for overtime. We are not going to make the
organization take a five j'ear step backwards. This is the
attitude of the men, but the NMU phoneys have the idea that
as long as they help the shipowners break our strike, the
shipowners will let them sail the P&O ships.
These remarks are based on the facts that the first NMU
officials sent three men into Havana to organize/crews. They
failed, because two went to the hospital, and the other one
couldn't' etay long enough to bring.^
them flowers.
The next thing, — the NMU
Agent in Tampa spent two hours
aboard the 3S Cuba, but when his
own memberslilp in that branch
realized what he was doing, they
made him lay ofl.
Last Friday, the SS Munargo
made ~a trip in the SS Florida's
place, but, of course, "this wasn't
finking", as their new Ag^t put
it,—this was merely "aeoommo,
dating—the—shipowner." This
• arae phoney, not realizing that
his predecessors could not stay
long enough to enjoy the sun and
gats around here, made the
statements to the pickets that HE
would walk through the picket
line. To date, we haven't seen
him again. Where are you old
boy? Dear "NoWatertenders
Joe", don't send any more stooges
down here,—we get our hands
dirty handling them, and it takes
a week to get the stink off the
waterfront.
Now fellows;—this is wliat we '
are bucking, besides the shipown
ers' propagandaf so get' the fish
hooks out of ypur pockets, and
help us win this strike.
John Gunnison, Agent
Report from Tampa
Tampa, Fla., August 10 — The
crew of the SS Cuba of the P&O
Steamaliip Conipaay are still hold
ing their own against the chisel
ing company, and they will hold
tight until the company comes
through with the overtime that
these crews have to put in for
"Jesus." The Union locals in this
port are 'aacking the seamen up
one hundred percent, and we are
getting all possible cooperation
from the C.T.L.A.
The members in this port wish
to thank the crews of the SS Pan
Koyal, SS Jean Lafitte, SS Topa
Topa and the SS Ipswich for
their donations that they gave for
the picket' line.
• ' Shipping is fair in this port,
(ContinueA on Page 3)
Commissars Lose Out by
Court Decision In Gulf
Judge Rules That Gulf Officers
Were Illegally Removed
RANK AND FILE VICTORY
New Orleans, La., August 15^rhe NMU injunctiou hear
ing in Judge Byrnes' court rivaled that of the ISU versus
the SUP.
The same setting:—Piecards from the NMU Top Com
mittee trying to take Complete possession of property, funds
and agreements being held in tTie.{;
name of the elected NMU Gulf
District officials.
After a month of legal subter
fuge by the commissars' shysters,
the Judge decided to dissolve the
writ of sequestration, and deny
Curran's injunction. Phirther, the
Judge granted an injunction
against Curran's appointed Gulf
District offlciale, stating in part:
Court's Decision
"That he (the Judge), appre
ciated the fact that organized
Labor bad advanced the cause
of the working class to where
workers can choose a union of
their own and run their union
as they see fit.
"However, action such as in
stituted here 'by the National
officers of the NMU is a detri
ment to the .guaranteed democ
racy of the members of the
NMU. The decision in this case
is based on the Constitution and
ByLaws of the NMU.
"Now, the Gulf officials were
(Continued on Page 4)
• A
Lakes Nominations
For Officers Opens
BailoHng to Be By
Australian System
ROTARY QUESTION
Detroit, Mich., August IB
Nominations for officers of the
Great Lakes District took place
at Headquarters Branch on Tues
day, August 15. Deadline for
nominations from ships and other
Branches is August 21. Balloting
will take place during the month
of September, by Australian sys
tem. The new officers will be in
stalled on November 1.
The elections are held during
the month of September, on the
Lakes, by special decision of the
Savannah Conference, to make it
possible for the greatest number
of men working on board vessels
at the height of the season to
vote, and participate in setting up
the District as part of the Sea
farers' International Union of
North America.
Balloting Explained
Here is how the Australian bal
lot works: Each member will get,
by his own request, a ballot from
the Union Hall or Patrolman. The
member will mark secretly his
ballot in ink or indelible pencil.
He will then put the ballot into
a blank envelope. He will close
the blank envelope, and put it
into a stamped envelope to be pro
vided by the Union, upon which
will be printed the address of the
Detroit Post Office Box number of
which the Postmaster rfstains the
key. On September 30, the Post
master will surrender the key to
the regularly elected balloting
committee wlien it presents the
proper credentials. The commit
tee will then take the envelopes
to Headquarters Office, and will
first check off the names and
numbers from the outside en
velope, against the files at Head
quarters, as to the standing of
each member. The ballots of
members in bad standing will be
declared void.
Guarantees Secrecy
After the names and numbers
are cheeked, the outside en
velopes are separated from the
blank envtlopes containing the
ballots. The ballots are then
counted. The hailoting committee
will then issue a statement over
the signature of ail members of
the committee, announcing the
result of the vote.
This system guarantees com
plete secrecy, and complete rep
resentation to the membership
both on shore and aboard the
ships. There will be a number of
nominees on the ballot for each
office. It is entirely up to the
membership to decide whom they
want to serve them in office for
the coming year. It is entirely up
to the membership to decide
whether they wish the men now
in office to continue for another
year, or whether they wish to see
n,ew faces at the head of the or
ganization here on the Lakes.
(Continued on Page 4)
DRAWN CLOSELY ON LINES
OF CONSTITUTION OF SUP
Noupination of Officers to Take
Place Latter Part of September
f
MILITANT POLICY ADOPTED
The Constitutional Conference of the SIU delegates came
to a successful conclusion in Savannah on August 4th, after
having been in session about three days.
During lAat time the delegates had, by spending many
long hours in conference, completed the business at hand,
and had adopted a constitution, drawn along industrial
and had also made arrangements for the nomination and
election of officers. No time was lost,—as every delegates
turned to, and finished up the job in minimum time.
Voting on the proposed Constitution started in some of
^the Branches at
BULL LINE RUNS
INTO TRW
Crew of SS Arlyn
Walk Off Ship
SKIPPER STALLS
On contacting the SS Arlyn of
the Bull Line the other day, I was
met by a somewhat disgusted
crew. I had no more than gotten
aboard when the fun began. T saw
a bunch of men going over the
side with their gear, and asked
them what the trouble was. They
replied that it was the same old
story, — not enough fans, no
screens, no cots, when they want
ed a drink of water they had to
walk amidships to get it; also
that the ship was supposed to tie
up in Baltimore, and they didn't
see why they should ride her to
Baltimore, when they lived in
New York; so they might as well
pay off and go home.
Skipper Stalls
I then asked the men how in
Hell they expected to gain condi
ditions if tliey hand the patrol
man a lot of demands, and then
walk off the ship. Finally, the
next day we shipped four A.B.'s,
1 O.S. and 1 Oiler, and as soon
as they got aboard they pulled a
meeting, and put the same de
mands up to tlie patrolman as the
other'brothers who had gotten off
the ship, with an additional de
mand that a rider be inserted in
the article3,''that in the event' the
ship tied up in Baltimore, the men
blgniiig on in Fhilly would get
first class transportation and sub
sistence back to Philly. This to
be paid in cash. The three de
partmental delegates and I con
tacted the captain, and the same
old story was still in vogue; "I
can't do anything until I contact
the office." The crew agreed to
give him twentyfour hours, and
when the time was up, the same
old story was still in swing: "1
have contacted the office, and fhey
are getting in touch with New
(Continued on Page 4)
last Monday's
regular meeting, but due to the
fact that the printed copies of the
proposed Constitution were a lit
tle slow in arriving in New York,
voting did not' start here until
August 16. Voting on the Con~
stitution will continue until Sep
tember 25.
Election of Officers
Nominations for Atlantic and
Gulf District officers will be made
at the last two meetings in Sep
tember, and the voting will take
place all through the months of
November and December. For the
Lakes District the nominations
will be made during the month of
August, and the election held in
September. It is believed that
practically every member will
have an opportunity to cast a vote
in his respective District withLv
the allotted time.
Qualitications for Officers
Under the provisions of the pro
posed Constitution, new members
must serve a six months proba
tionary period before they are ad
mitted to full membership. Quali
fications for officers are that tbey
must have at least three year's
discharges in their particular de
partment, and must have re
mained in continuous good stand
ing for a period of six moni'hs,
and have not previously miscon
ducted themselves while employed
as an officer of the Union. The
question of an officer being either
a citizen, or eligible to citizen
ship, is being subjected to a ref
erendum vote.
The Executive Officer of the
Union, in each District, will be
the SecretaryTreasurer. He will
be aided by an Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer, and one patrol
man from each nepartment, who
will assist him in administering
tlie affairs of the Union. Atlan
tic District Headquarters will be
in New York, Gulf District in
New Orleans, and Headquarters
for the Lakes in Detroit.
Benefits Provided For
The proposed Constitution also
provides for shipwreck, hospital
and burial benefits. The maxi
mum shipwreck benefit will be
fifty dollars; burial benefit eighty
five dollars, and the hospital bene
(Continued on Page 4) IIS;
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P:; 2. THE SEA FA R E R SV L O G Friday, August IS, 1939
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Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the Aiheficah Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President . *
11 Steuart Street, S'an Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BGwliug Green 93437) 2.Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston .1 Rowes Wharf
Providence ........465 St>. Main Street
Philadelphia ...6 North 6th Street
Baltimore ...: 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk .. .60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico .8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans .....309 Chartres^Street
BRANCHES /
Savannah ...218 ̂ ast Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile ..i ,• ... .55 So, Conception Street
Houston 1712 • 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINQ THIS
, PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Oiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
DONATE TO P& O STRIKE I
YOUB. HELP IS NEEDED TO ASSIST
IN DEFEATING SHIPOWNEKSV
The membership in three Florida ports are now on strike
against the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company, in
a sincere effort to better the conditions aboard these ships.
The strike has now been in progress since July 25, and final
settlement is not yet in sight.
We can not afford to lose this strike, and it is up to each
and every member of the ,S1U to,give their complete finan
cial and moral support to it. If tlie sliipowners succeed in
winning this strike, a precedent will be set that will be a
blackeye to the organization. The P & O Company have
made use of every means at their command to break the
morale of these men on strike, and although, so far, no fink
crews have been shipped, there has been at least one NMF
manned ship, the' S8 Munargo, made a trip in the place o
the struck SS Florida, from Miami to Havana. The NMU
officials may make the claim that this isn't finking, but it
still is in our books. A fink by any other name is still a fink
The .port of Miami sent a representative for the men on
these ship.'; on a tour of the East Coast ports, at his own ex
pense, to .solicit donations for a strike fund for the crews off
these ships. He remained in New York for about two weeks,^
and went aboard ships in company with the patTolmen. We
are .sorry to say that he met Muth a vei'y poor response, and
many of the members appeared exceedingly reluctant to
donate. In our mind, this shows a sad lack of true union
spirit, although the crews of a few ships did come thrbtigh
with good donations.
This brother who came here at his o'wn expense, Is Hymie
Pesetsky, and we would like to say that, in our estimation,
he is a hard worker, and a real Union man, and is deserving
of a vote of thanks from the entire membership. We can use
a lot of men of his caliber. T
Chairman Dushane sent a letter onAugust 15 to all At
lantic District Agents and Patrolmen, instructing them to
further solicit donations for the P & 0 .strike fund. For each
donation an official receipt will be Is.sued, and the names of
all donors will be publi.shed in the LiUGr.
Are you going to back these Union brothers o7 yours to
the limit, or are you going to jet them down? If you refuse
to contribute to this worthy cause, you can quit calling your
self a Union man, because it is the duty of every member
^ sailing the ships to help these brothers out.
Don't forgetthose men down in Florida are walking
the picket line,—and you can't keep that up for very long
on a;n empty stomach.' They deserve your financial support!
Giye it to^ them, willingly and umstintingly When the
Eastern ships were on strike manj' a good Union brother
contributed to the cause with good hard casli, and you men
who w;ere involved in that strike know, how badly it was
needed.
financially, as Is this
BOSTON
News Bits
Baltimore Highliglits
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/ Boston, August 3—For a reason
not made public, a plan to con
vert the former Boston four
maSted schooner Harry G. Deer
ing into a barge, a fate that be
fell many other fine schooners,
will not be carried out, and the
vessel will leave here In a day or
two for Portland, Maine, where
she will tie up again. The Deal
ing is one of the last of the big
"windjammers."
When the Canadian lobster
smack Marie Yvonne arrived here
yesterday from Aguat'huna, New
fouiidflaiid, a new skipper was in
command. He is Captain Edward
Samson, and he' succeeds the late
John Bragg, who was owner and
captain. Captain Bragg, a native
of Port Union, Newfoundland, was
found dead in a hotel in Mul
grave, N.S., last Sunday, and his
death waa due to natural causes.
He had been landed at Mulgrave
seriously ill oh July 21, and after
treatment at a hospital, was dis
charged. It is believed he was
planning to rejoin his vessel, when
death came. Captain Samsoh
brought a ehiptnent " of 31,291
pounds of lobsters, whicli will be
the last of Newfoundland "live.s"
to come to Boston market this
season.
Within the next week the whole
clerical force of the Lighthouse
Bureau in Chelsea will be trans
ferred to the Customs House, and
assigned to quarters on the thir
teenth floor: ^
The worst fog in the history of
Boston, which delayed ships and
shipping, has cleared for the time
being. The fog lasted for eleven
days. The Yankee Clipper was at
anchor Saturday night and Sun
day until 2;"00 o'clock, with 180
passengers on aboard. She Is an
excursion, steamer to Province
fown, and has no staterooms, and
no protection from the weather,
so there was a good beef on her.
She is manned^ by a NMU crew.
The SS Governor Cobb is tied
up in East Boston, awaiting con
version to a carrier of auto trail
jBi:s. She is due to* sail to New
York some time this month. She
was built in Chester, Pa., in 1906,
and will run for the Trailer
Ships, Inc., pf New York, between
Providence, R. 1., and New York.
The ball team of the SS Boston
of the ESSCO hasn't lost a ball
game this year. They have tak«n
on most ofthe leading teams here
in Bostcn, and a few in New
York. They play again on Satur
day, playing St. Anthony:s at
Everett Field. • '
BALTIMORE BRANCH REPOtTS
ORE LINE SHIPS IMPROVING
Company Finally Delousing (>ew
Quarters and Making Them Livable
SUCGEST "WAR SCALE" WAGE
Baltimore, Md,, Angimt lO—Shipping and business in gen
eral continues'^good along this ivateiffront, and de.spite the
usual "depression" sob stories of the steamship companies,
it is noted that the cu.stomary seasonal tieups have been,
much less than in previous years. Bull Line has only two tied
up as compared with eleven tliis time last year, and both,
the Calniar and Ore SS Lines are in full service. Drydoeks
and shipyards are jammed with vessels being reconditioned
after lengthy boneyard .stays, with ESSO and SOCONY
the forefront in reviving several old hiilk.s from the Solo
mon's Island. Graveyard. ^—— r—^ —
Notice:
Ships' Delegates; Demand
that all replacements produce
a properly filled out assign
ment card from the Dispatcher
at the Union hall.
Building New Ships
The local Bethlehem shipyard
has three combination passenger
freight keels pn the ways for the
Mississippi Line; Seas Shipping
(Robin Line) have also given the
contract for three ships to the lo
cal yard, and ther^ is the pros
pect ofat least five of the 18
Lykes being built here. Noted
also is the movement of several
lines to headquarters in this port
and the number of companies
making Baltimore the payoff and
signon port is on the increase.
War Scale Wages
Looking over the reasons for
the approaching boom in marine
transportation, if is unquestion
able that some of the companies,
especially the tanker outflte, are
looking for trouble in Europe be
fore the end of the year, and since
friend shipowner is making prepa
rations for such an eventuality, it
probably wouldn't be amiss if the
SIU officials didn't start casting
a weather eye in that direction
also. The election of a "War
Committee" authorized to draw up
revised agreements with wage
scales boo3ted~ to meet the new
need; bonus scales for members
on ships navigating dangerous
waters or carrying "dangerous"
cargoes; compensation rates for
seamen injured pi" shipwrecked
due to wartime conditions:
should be drawn up as soon as
possible. Since the United States
Government, and the United
States shipowners have their "M"
day plans all prepared and filed
away, ready to be put into fbrce
the minute a European war
breaks out, It is quite logical that
the Unions should take similar
steps for the protection and wel
fare of their memberships, and
to avoid the disruption likely to
happen if they are "capght with
their pants down."
Ore Ships Improving
The Orp~SS Company, a subsi
diary of the well khown "steel
trust," always has been a tough
proposition in this port. With
the ships docklilg right in the cen
ter of the steel plant; surrounded
by several uiiles of .Company
property, which is policed by a
private force equal to a city of
ten thousand population, it is
practically impossible to bring
any effective, militant action to
bear on these vessels. However,
although it, has been a slow* pro
cess, needed improvements are
gradually being brqught about on
these ships.
tlet^ing tlid of Bi)g.4
The company, which specializes
in the manufacture of steel, a
great part of which undoubtedly
goes to the making of munitions
for the taking of life, is at last
beginning to spend a few dollars
to kill a few of the rats and bugs
that infest their ships. The crew's
quarters are gradually taking on
the appearance of places of hu
man habitation and we are optlm *
istlc enough to believe that the
day isn't far off when the boys
will actually "want" to sail on .
these erstwhile junk heaps. Speak
ing of junk, we thought one of the
members had gone slightly wacky
the other day, when he dashed up
and told us one of the American ,
Range. Line ships was coming
down Pratt Street. However, yye
caught on when he glanced out
of the window and saw a truck
load of assorted scrap iron navi ,
gating the street.
Voting Bull Contract
I : / /, , . ,
District, and their treasury simply , can not stand, the strain
of supporting a strike of any great duration.
Your moral support will, of course, be appreciated,—but
J0^ san't buy food with it! COME ON FELLOWS,—DIG
DEEP IN YOUR POCKETS, AND ASSIST YOUR UNION
BROTHERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE SHIP
OWNERS! DON'T LET THEM DOWN! DON'T FORGET
THAT THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME OF THIS STRIKE
WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT EVERY ONE OF US,—AND
WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE IT.
LAST MONDAY'S ATLANTIC DISTRICT HEAD
QUARTERS MEETING VOTED A DONATION TO THE
P & 0 STRIKE FUND, AND WENT ON RECORD TO GIVE
IT THEIR FUTURE FINANCIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT.
. SUPPORT THE STRIKE AGAINST THE P & 0 SHIPS,
AND DON'T LET YOUR UNION BROTHERS BE DE
FEATED BY THE SHIPOWNERS! >
Balloting on ratification of the
new Bull Line agreement is in
progress here, and while on tltat
subject' might we suggest to the
Bull Line members that if there
is something they don't agree
with in the contract, that they
point out the part' they don't like,
and recommend what tlrey think
it should be. Otherwise the ne
gotiating committee is left in the
dark as to what" should or should
not be amended, clarified, or re
vised.
M & M Line Tough :
Every effort is being made to
keep in touch, with members
aboard the Merchants & Miners
Line, but there are so many com
pany men and stooges around the
MMT piers, that it is a tough pro
position making contact. Even
the old gag of dressing the patrol
men in ice cream pants, putting a
cigar in his mouth, a suit case in,/
eaeb hand and sending hitn
through the gate disguised as a,: .
"passenger" isn't • working very r
well as the MMT cops seem td be
able to smell a Union, man a mite :
away. ,.• • • /''/
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ft, 1939 THE S E A F A
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( Friday, August liS, 1939
t
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
' >»
HERE a«</ THERE in the GULF
NEWS/rom NEW ORLEANS
Commissars Send Stooge to
Miami to Herd Finks
Guif Seamen Will Not Crash Any
Bona Fide Picket Line
CURRAN GIVEN WARNING
Ne^w Orleaiis, La., Augibst 15—The SIU has been on strike^
three weeks for an agreement. The temporary agreement ex
pired when the SlU was certified as a result of a collective
bargaining vote eo'nducted by the Lqjbor Cohciliation De
partment. ;
All unlicensed personnel have
been on the picket lines for
three weeks. Only the licensed
officers are on the five ships of
fhlo chiseling outfit. These crews
assessed themselves $5.00 each
for a strike fund before they hit
the bricks. This money was
turned over to the strike commit
tee and has been used for the
maintenance of picket lines and
soup kitchens in Miami and
Tampa.
Officials Off Payroll
The officials in the ports in
volved have voluntarily gone oft
the payroll for the duration of the
strike. All monies collected In
these ports from other ships will
be used to defray strike expense.
IVfoscow Unity
The National Council of the
NMU has appointed a commie
stooge in Miami, who has stated
that he is there to break the
P & O strike. This comrade will
learn suddenly that the seamen
here in the Gulf District will no
longer allow a rabblarrauser to
order them to crash a picket line.
This sentiment, apparently, has
been developed in both the SIU
and the NMU. Any stooge who
tries to crash a picket Hue will
be treated by both unions as a
fink, reigardless of Curran's orders
not to respect the P $: O picket
line. Curran's orders are known
in the Gulf as "Unity,—Moscow
Style."
Curran Warned
Now Comrade Curranski, we
wish to advise you that the SIU
in the Gulf will not tolerate any
picket line crashing. If such at
tempts are made, we will concen
trate our defense, not against the
dupes, BUT AGAINST THE OF
FICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS FINK HERDING! YOU,
LIKE OTHER LABOR FAKERS,
WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM
THE MAF^ITIME FIELD! You
had some expedience with New
Orleans, and know that if you
herd finks, now or later, you will
never return to the Gulf!
"Red Dean
rr
SHIPS PAY OFF EXPENSES
OF RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Mobile Membership Prepares For " p:
Labor Day Celebration
WATERMAN BRANCHES OUT
Mobile, Ala., August 15—The reception committee that
served during the visit of the Fink School Ship "American
Seaman" was discharged with a vote of confidence and
thanks for the hard work they did in humming the ships for
voluntary contributions to take care of the expense of this
reception. The total expense was^ '
approximately $350.00, and this
amount was contributed by mem
bers working on the ships out of
the Pprt of Mobile. A list of the
ships and members who cdntri
buted is so lengthy that lack of
space keeps us from publishing
same. The average contribution
was ipproximately one dollar per
man. The membership, in a joint
meeting here commended all for
their cooperation in this matter.
Panama City Beef
At a regular joint meeting
Monday, August 7, a letter " was
read from the Deck Department
delegfte of the SS Panama City
about the aifuation that arose
about an injured AB being placed
on board the ship without coming
through the Union Hall. The let
ter was accepted, and a motion
was made that the New York
Branch Investigate the matter,
and take what action is neces
"sary.
„ A number of former members of
the crew of the Panama City
Bpbke at length, and it was the
jgeneral consensus that this ship
was sadly In need oL a general
Rtraightening 'out. The changes
which have been made in the
general working rules since the
Panama City left Mobile on Janu
ary 30, being the cause of most
cf the disputes.
Labor Day Preparations
The SIU of NA in the Port of
Mobile wbnt on record at a regu
lar joint meeting held Monday,
that they are in favor ofra parade
on Labor Day. A special commit
tee was elected to, contact the
other—various labor organizations
in Mobile,, wltn the view or hold
ing a parade and a general cele
bration, with speeches, dancing,
and general merrymaking at
some nearby park not yet de:
cided upon. The purpose of this
general celebration is to show the
"bosses" the strength of Organ
ized Labor under the banner of
the AFL in the Port of Mobile.
Relief Watches
Several memhers of crews of
various ships have been removed
for not abiding by the port rule
relative to relief Waljihes. The
port rule is, in any port where
there is a SIU Hall, relief watches
must be called from the Hall, at
P & O STRIKE
(Continued from Page 1)~
and we have a small shipping
list.
By the way brothers. Phoney
Epps is a "G" man now,—he is
working on one of the City's
Garbage trucks. A good place for
a phoney, but he should be in one
of the cans instead.
Had a beef on fre£h,q^ik on the
Major Wheeler this week, and the
crew was ready, to hit the dock,
but the "old man" saw the light,
and came across.
Up until now, we don't see any
signs of anyone attempting to
ship scabs on the P&O ships. We
wonder why? ? ?
Steady as she goes
Otis Purry, Patrolman
Headquarters Report
New Orleans, La., August 9—
The P&O strike was called July
25. On. the 2,711^ .all three of their
ships in operation weie tied up.
The other two were laid up at
the time. .
These ships are still tied up.
Reports have reached us that
Watson, NMU Agent in Tampa,
has contacted the company and
offered to furnish crews. The
company is afraid to move on this
angle, due to the fact that Wat
son has not enough fiiiks in Flor
ida to move all these ships.
Also, the strike publicity de
partment has made excellent con
tact with the traveling public,
who remember the finky crews of
the Mono Castle!
Negotiations were broken off
last week, due to reaching a stale
mate.; The company claims ina
bility to continue overtime pay
ment's as of the last four months.
The memberfi who sail those
scows refuse to work, except un
der the conditions recently inau
gurated and maintained by job
action.
However, the Labor Department
was instrumental in reopening ne
gotiations, beginning Thursday,
August" 10th. We will report on
negotiations at a later date. Mean
while, these scows remain tied up
by strike action, and the soup
kitchens are functioning.
Red Dean
the rate of EIGHTY CENTS PER
HOUR,—with a four hour mini
mum. Any watch, or fraction
thereof is $3.20, When the entire
eight hours is Worked, the pay is
$6.40. The only exception is that
mess boys and mess men are to
be paid at the rate of sixtyfive
pents an hour,—with a four hour
minimum.
Some of the members are under
the impression that other mem
bers of the crew can swap, and
stand each others watches. This
is wrong, and members have
learned that charges will be pre
ferred again.st them, , and they
will be removed from the ship,
and another man shipped in their
place.
Waterman Branches Out
Three ships of the Waterman
Company have been put on an in
tercoastal run, from Baltimore to
the West Coast. The ships placed
on this run for an indefinite
period are the SS West Kyska,
Desoto and West Madaket. In the
early Spring the Waterman Com
pany will place two passenger
freight ships on the New York to
New Orleans run, with "weekly
sailings. The Waterman Com
pany is at present negotiating for
the purchase of two ships for this
run.
0. Underwood, Gulf No. 2
REASONS FM NECESSITY
OF STRIKE ASSESSMENT
General Income of Union Not
Sufficient to Support Strikes
RATIFICATION NECESSARY
Following the report of the Constitutional Conference
delegate.s, at the August 7th Headquarters meeting, quite a
few of the members seemed to be of the opinion that such a
thing as a strike assessment i.s not at all necessary. We would
like to take this opportunity to point out that a, strike a.ssess
ment IS necessary, and explain why.
Any of those members who were involved in the strike
on the Eastern Steamship Company's .ships this year, or who
were a.shore at the time, will remember that, if the .strike had
lasted another week we would have been absolutely broke,
and with our backs up againsti ^ ——
the wall". They will also remem
ber that we did not have the
funds with which to operate a
more satisfactory system of feed
ing the men on strike.
Strike Fund Necessary
NOW:—the monies to be de
rived from this strike assessment
can not be put in a general strike
fund, because of the fact that our
agreements do not terminate
simultaneously; They must be
used for any strike which may
occur. The fact that our agree
ments do expire at different times
is all the more reason why we
must have a strike fund. You can
not finance strikes out of an or
ganization's general funds, such
as |s derived from their regular
income. This Is especially true of
an organization as comparatively
small and young as the SIU.
Since this organization started,
in the Atlantic District, bur week
ly bank balance has never, at any
time, exceeded two thousand dol
lars. Furthermore; we still owe
the luternational in the neighbor
hood of $3,400. In other words, we
are not, theoretically at least, sol
vent. Our cash liabilities actually
exceed our cash assets. How then,
could we support a strike finan,
cially? The answer is obvious: —
we couldn't!
.Strike a Potent Weapon
Remember:—;we are not plan
ning on having a lot of strikes,
just for the fun of it; but the
strike is Organized Labor's most
potent weapon, and there are
times when it must be used. We
had two strikes this year: —
against the Seatrain Lines, and
against the Eastern. There is
good reason to believe that we
will, sooner or later, have other
strikes, and it is also quite pos
sible they may last longer than
the previous ones. To guard
against such an emergency, we
must be prepared, and the only
viay we can properly prepare is to
have" an amount of cash in re
serve, so that we can successfully
carry on a strike.
Don't forget that when a strike
starts the Union's income also
drops proportionately. In the
case of a general strike, the in
come would cease completely. In
other words: —everything going
out, "and nothing coming in! if
we relied on the general funds of
the organization to carry us
through a strike of any realdura
tion, how long could we last? The
answer to that question is also
perfectly obvious.
Prepaie for War
To the best of bur knowledge,
all bona fide Labor organizations
have a strike fund, because they
well know t4iat if is an absolute
necessity. Some unions have not
had a strike in years, but they
nevertheless still tnaintain a
strike fund, "In times of peace.
prepare for war!" You can't fight
an elephant with a peashooter,—
and no more can you fight the
shipowners without an ample sup
ply of hard cash!
It is a well known, and proven
fact that an army fights best on
a full stomach; and the same
thing holds true for an efficient
picket line. You can't walk a
picket line for very long with
nothing but an empty void where
your "darby kelly" .should he!
Anyone who has done picket duty,
knows that!
Financial Picture
But, to get back to the financial
side of the picture;—According to
the report of the last Quarterly
Finance Committee, only about
3,100 members were paid up In
good standing. The expenses of
the organization average approxi
mately $1,600 per week, or over,
eighty thousand dollars a year,
and even if every one of the
5,500 members religiously paid
their dues each and every month,
we would have a balance of only;
about sixteen thousand dollars.
But,—according to figures, only
about threefifths of the members
continuously pay dues. At that
rate, by the end of each year, we
would be in the red! V 1
Vote for Strike Assesspientd '•
Therefore, in order to assure
ourselves that we will be in a po
sition to fight the shipowners
whenever the necessity arises, we
must make provision to maintain
a fund aside from the money de
rived from the general income.
There can be only one solution to
this problem, and the answer lies
in the establishment of a strike
fund, to be created by an a,ssess
m_ent .of the membership.
Too much can not be said In
favor of a strike fund, and it
should be perfectly obvious to
every member that any bona fide
labor organization without a
strike fund, is like a country
without an army or navy!
VOTE YES ON THE STRIKE
ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION!
NOTICE
All correspondents to
the "LOG" are cautioned
that all contributions must
bear their written signa
ture, and book number.
Typewritten signatures or
initials only will not be
acceptable.
We will not publish any
unsigned com municaiions.
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NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
C H i C A G O
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BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street 8101/2 N. Clark Street
BOBLO COMPANY REFUSES
TO ABIDE BY AGREEMENT
Numerous Beefs Settled Through
Quick Action by SIU Agents
GEORGIAN BAY JITTERY
COURT DECISION
Detroit, Mich., August 16—Officials of the BobLo Steam
ers, Inc., have refused to alloAv our agents to board their
boats for tlie transaction of Union business. The Union
signed up the BobLo boats this year, but apparently this
company doe.sn't knovr the .score. By unanimous vote, the
membership at headquarters in"fr ^
Btructed our Internation.al Repre
sentative to file a five day strike
notice with the Michigan State
Mediation Board. The company
now has five days to decide to
permit the Union's authorized
representatives aboard ship,—or
else!
Beef Settled
The old beef on the PM No. 12
at Toledo has finally been set
tled. The men have no sleeping
quarters aboard, and it's a long
hike into town, from the slip. Mr.
Kent of the,Fere Marquette road
turned down Thompson's proposal
for $1.00 per day for a bed, but
consented to have a regular Full
man coach, with clean linen, in
stalled on the ferry to serve as'
sleeping (quarters for. the men.
'Not bad!
' A fireman on the Greater De
troit was discharged recently,
charged with being drunk. The
crew was contacted. The men on
his watch all state he was not
drunk at the time the complaint
was made. Only the first assist
ant and an oiler maintained he
was. Thompson and McGinn put
the first assistant wise to him
self, and insisted he take this
man back or else. He's back!
Couipi'omise Reached
The boys on the Michigan put
up a squawk about getting two
more firemen, or thi'ee coalpass
ers aboard. Our representatives
negotiated with the company.
They succeeded in getting one ad
ditional fireman. Due to the fact
that the agreemeuL had already
been drawn up, the men exercised
good judgment in not pressing the
matter any further.
No Support
. Steamship Inspectors came
aboard the Grand Rapids for life
boat inspection, at 7:00 o'clock
one morning. The men were call
ed out at 6:00 A.M. for breakfast.
Due to the fact that practically
all the grub had been eaten by
big passenger list carried the day
before, and the new stores were
due at 8:00 A.M., many of the
men went without breakfast, and
squawked for action. To take
care of the beef, Thompson con
' tacted the .skipper and demanded
sixty cents for each man who got
rimmed out of his breakfast. The
skipper said O.K. He would give
it to any man wh oasked for it.
Only one man stepped up to get
it! Which only goes to show that
the men who talk loudest in the
Hall, are not ready to give sup
port to their agents when Ihey
,come aboard to settle beefs.
Georgian Bay Jittery
The Georgian Bay Line would
Hl^^..^ to have us lay off of their
St^w^irds Department. In a letter
from Emery B. Hatch, Secretary
Tireasurer of the line, he begs us
not to press them for an agree
ment at this time, since he al
ready has one witti Secor^s
uunion", which expiies in Jana
ary. The membership, at its
August 15 Headquarters meeting,
unanimously voted to place a five
day strike notice in the hands of
the Michigan State Mediation
Board. No doubt this will encou
rage thetimid Mr. Hatch to real
ize he is going to deal with a real
Union that protects its member
ship, and not a phoney racket
such as Secord'a..
LAKES VOTING
(Continued from Page 1)
There are over 1,60'0 men work
ing on SIU boats on the Lakes,
and more than 1,200 of these are
eligible to vote. It will be only
the membership's fault if the new
officials are elected hy a small
handful of votes. Get your bal
lots men, on the first of Septem
ber, and let's go!
Constitution Arii\es
The proposed Constitution of
the Seafarers' International Union
of North America, drawn up at
the Savannah Conference, is now
here, and is being distributed to
the membership at all ports. The
membership will vote for its ac
ceptance or rejection in a space
provided for that purpose on the
same ballot on which the candi
dates for office will appear.
Since this Constitution, if accept
ed, will be the law under which
our Union will function, it be
hooves every member to study it
carefully, so that he will know
what he is voting for.
Kulat.y Sliippiiig
Another proposition to appear
on the ballot, along with the can
didates and the proposed Consti
tution, will be the question of re
storing the rotary shipping li.st.
There has been so much beefing
back and forth about this ques
tion, that the Headquarters
Branch, at its meeting of August
8, went on record to put the ques
tion up to the membership of the
entire Lakes District, for settle
ment one way or the other. The
membership should not fail to
register its wishes on this impor
tant question, on the September
ballot.
(Continued from Page
elected under the Constitution
by a referendum vote. Until
Constitutional methods are used
these officials are lo be returned
to office as of the date this
court' action started."
Victory for VVorker.^,
This decision is a distinct vic
tory for the workers. It proves
that the workers no longer need
to fear thb dictates of wouldbe
Stalins and Hitlers in labor
unions. In one of the few cases
in court history, the workers got
a square deal. As long as the
courts rule that they will not fa
vor any individual or group of in
dividuals, then the workers have
a chance.
In the future, th* labor .fakers
of Curran's type will have to
abide by the Constitutions drawn
up and ratified. This is a preced
ent in courts that can be used by
workers in any union.
"Red" Dean
ARLYN BEEF
NOTICE
James H. Adams, able sea
man, Steamship "Arlyn", who
was injured while the ship was
in New Orleans on the 23rd
day of May, 1939, requests that
Charles Kellog, Joe Baker and
Hqwartt, able seamen, who
were working with him at the
time, communicate with Paul
C. Matthews, atornety, of No.
11 Broadway, New York City,
in reference to acting as wit
nesses In Mr. Adams' case.
/
(Continued from Page 1)
York." The crew again agieed to
twentyfour hours more, and then,
after two days, the captain called
the three delegates together and
read them a letter whi^ stated
that it was not the policy of the
Bull Line to issue cots or mos
quito mettng. I then gave the cap
tain the necessary twentyfour
hours notice, and told him that
the crew desired to be paid off,
unless their demands were met.
Tries Fast One
Five hours later the Bull Lin'fe
agent came aboard the ship and
asked me what the Hell I was
trying to pull off, and \ informed
him that I was merely there to
see that the company didn't pull
any fast ones on the crew, like
they have in the past. Then he
stated that this was the only port
on the Atlantic Coast where the
company was having any trouble,
and also accused me of having it
in for the company. This was said
in a very loud voice so that the
crew could bear it, CYery smart!)
trying to discredit the Union in
the eyes of the crew. He then
stated that the company had the
interests of the crew at heart,
and just to prove it, he, personal
ly, had gone ashore and bought a
watercooler for them, so that
they would not have to go amid
ships anymore for a cold drink,
and he further said 'to the men:
See, we really have your inter
ests at heart, and don't let this
patrolman of yours make you quit
the ship and deprive you of your
jobs, as he Is only trying to make
a name for himself at the ex
pense of you men and your jobs!"
(NOTE: THIS WAS VERY
CLEVER OF THE COMPANY TO
TRY TO DISCREDIT THE
PATROLMAN IN THE MINDS
OF THE CREW, BUT. IT FAIL
ED!) Then he commenced to
holler, and tell the men to take
the ship to Baltimore, and the
outcome it was that I had to
outholler him,—and what a pleas
ure that really was!
Take No Promises
If is the custom of the com
parfy, when a beef arises, to prom
ise you anything in order to get
the ship out of one port to the
next. The agents in charge in
the various ports are responsible
for the ship while it is in their
particular port, and they , don't
CONSTITUTION
(Continued from Page J)
'fit, one dollar per week, for a
period not exceeding fiftytwo
weeks. The cost of these bene
fits, to the membership, will be
an annual assessment of twdniol
lars.
Policy I.iai<I Down
A resolution, calling for^a strike
and organizational assessment of
five dollars, is being subjected to
a referendum vote of the mem
bership.
The confei'ence delegates, in es
tablishing the policy of theUnion,
passed the following Resolution:
"WHEREAS: The Seafarers' In
ternational Union of North Amer
ica is founded on the principle of
the rights of bona fide seamen to
organize into a democratic sea
men's union, run by seamen, and
for the benefits of seamen, and
"WHEREAS: our parent organ
ization, the Sailoj s' Unionof the
Pacific, is a democratic, bona fide
seamen's union, built by seamen,
and whose policy has been, and
is today to fight for the principle
of:
(1) All shipping of seamen from
the. Union Halls on a rotary
basis. ~
(2) To fight the Fink Hall pro
gram of the Maritime Com
mission.
(3) To fight the Training Ship
program of t|ie Maritime
Commission.
(4) To fight any attempts of the
establishment of compulsory
arbitration for seamen.
(5) To fight any and all political
parties who attempt to mus
cle in on the seamen's move
ment under the smoke screen
of Rank and File unity
phrases. (Such as the Com
munist Party, who are busily
engaged in a united front
movement with the ship
owners and the "Maritime
Commission, in selling out the
American Seamen to Govern
ment regimentation, to fur
ther own phoney political am
bitions) and
"WHEREAS: The seamen in the
Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes
Districts of the Seafarers' Inter
national Union Oif North America
have gone down the line, and are
going down the line 100 percent
for this policy as the only policy
on which our Union can function,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED; That we, the dele
gates here assembled, go on
record as unanimously reaffirm
ing our stand on this policy, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That we pledge ourselves to gq
back to our ports and ships and
oontinue on fighting for this
policy.
The foregoing Resolution was
introduced by "Whitey" Hawk,
who attended the conference as a
representative for the Deck De
partment of the SS Acadia. '
It is the general consensus of
opinion that the delegates to the
conference did a very fine job, and
the proposed Constitution has met
with considerable commendation.
It is our opinion that it will be
ratified by a large majority of the
membership.
DONATIONS TO P&O
STRIKE FUNO
SS SEATRAIN NEW YORK:
Kelly $1.00
Shank 50
Morris .' 1.00
Boresenberg 1.00
Sabido 1.00
Burns ............... 1.00
Rogeseh 1.00
Garcia ^50
Tillman 1.00
S,|mpson 1.00
George 50
Abina... 1.00
Banks .50
Westover 1.00
Eppinette ........ .50
Mesana .50
Steenchen 50
Fernandez .50
Browii 1.00
Vreta 50
Conner .. .r. 1.00
McCormlck 1.00
Lewis 1.00
TOTAL $18.50
SS ANGELINA:
Riley $ .50
Wright
Court
Bonefoiit 25
Doley .....U .50
Maldonado ....
Ferrara ........
Geanda ....... .50
Cales
Ellorin
Damaso
Fernandez .25
Rodriget ....... ...... .25
Hernandez ,.... 50
Ship's Fund ....
TOTAL . ._.. . ...... $10.00
SS FLOW CITY:
Gorman ...... $ .50
Hughes ... ."^ 50 •
Med ford ....... 50
Mcl^emore ;50
Mays
Robertson
Cable
Frost
Trevathan .....
Broderlck .50
Munro
Fittman ...... .50
Barry ...... .50
Ship's Fund
TOTAL $10.00
SS CITY OF ATLANTA:
Greer
Grissom i...
Hoagland
Cetti
Ride
Forrester
Kenny ...............
Bablnger ............
TOTAL ........... $5.00
Sp ELLENOR .$5.00
SS MILLINOCKET
SS EDITH ......
Teamster's Local
Neilson
A. Kelcey
SS DELVALLE ..
Cullison .........
Sullivan
TOTAL $18.91
give a damn what happens when
she leaves!
I believe that these ships com
ing in to the various ports should
be contacted by the patrolman,
and if they don't have refrigera
tors, cots, netting, screens, water
coolers,. a sufficient numter of
fans in good order, and other gear^
for the welfare of the crews, and
plenty of fresh milk, they should
be.aet down until everything is
put in order before she sails. (No
promises!)
Fraternally, '
Harry J. Collins, No. 496
1 iM'Mi
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SECURITY
! N
UNITY
'hrers y
Seafarers' International Union of North America
Official Organ of the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
BROTHERHOOD
OF THE
SEA
VOL. I NEW YORK, N. Y., FRIDAY, AUGUST 18^ 1939 446 NO. 16
A
Ivl
VOTING ON CONSTITUTION STARTS
P&O SHIPS REMAIN TIED
UP IN FLORIDA PORTS
Phoney Fenagling by NMU Officials
Eyed With Suspicion by SIU
NO FINK CREWS SHIPPED
^ Miami, Fla., August 14—The P&O siiips have been tied
up since July 25th, because the company wishes to take
"time back" for overtime. We are not going to make the
organization take a five j'ear step backwards. This is the
attitude of the men, but the NMU phoneys have the idea that
as long as they help the shipowners break our strike, the
shipowners will let them sail the P&O ships.
These remarks are based on the facts that the first NMU
officials sent three men into Havana to organize/crews. They
failed, because two went to the hospital, and the other one
couldn't' etay long enough to bring.^
them flowers.
The next thing, — the NMU
Agent in Tampa spent two hours
aboard the 3S Cuba, but when his
own memberslilp in that branch
realized what he was doing, they
made him lay ofl.
Last Friday, the SS Munargo
made ~a trip in the SS Florida's
place, but, of course, "this wasn't
finking", as their new Ag^t put
it,—this was merely "aeoommo,
dating—the—shipowner." This
• arae phoney, not realizing that
his predecessors could not stay
long enough to enjoy the sun and
gats around here, made the
statements to the pickets that HE
would walk through the picket
line. To date, we haven't seen
him again. Where are you old
boy? Dear "NoWatertenders
Joe", don't send any more stooges
down here,—we get our hands
dirty handling them, and it takes
a week to get the stink off the
waterfront.
Now fellows;—this is wliat we '
are bucking, besides the shipown
ers' propagandaf so get' the fish
hooks out of ypur pockets, and
help us win this strike.
John Gunnison, Agent
Report from Tampa
Tampa, Fla., August 10 — The
crew of the SS Cuba of the P&O
Steamaliip Conipaay are still hold
ing their own against the chisel
ing company, and they will hold
tight until the company comes
through with the overtime that
these crews have to put in for
"Jesus." The Union locals in this
port are 'aacking the seamen up
one hundred percent, and we are
getting all possible cooperation
from the C.T.L.A.
The members in this port wish
to thank the crews of the SS Pan
Koyal, SS Jean Lafitte, SS Topa
Topa and the SS Ipswich for
their donations that they gave for
the picket' line.
• ' Shipping is fair in this port,
(ContinueA on Page 3)
Commissars Lose Out by
Court Decision In Gulf
Judge Rules That Gulf Officers
Were Illegally Removed
RANK AND FILE VICTORY
New Orleans, La., August 15^rhe NMU injunctiou hear
ing in Judge Byrnes' court rivaled that of the ISU versus
the SUP.
The same setting:—Piecards from the NMU Top Com
mittee trying to take Complete possession of property, funds
and agreements being held in tTie.{;
name of the elected NMU Gulf
District officials.
After a month of legal subter
fuge by the commissars' shysters,
the Judge decided to dissolve the
writ of sequestration, and deny
Curran's injunction. Phirther, the
Judge granted an injunction
against Curran's appointed Gulf
District offlciale, stating in part:
Court's Decision
"That he (the Judge), appre
ciated the fact that organized
Labor bad advanced the cause
of the working class to where
workers can choose a union of
their own and run their union
as they see fit.
"However, action such as in
stituted here 'by the National
officers of the NMU is a detri
ment to the .guaranteed democ
racy of the members of the
NMU. The decision in this case
is based on the Constitution and
ByLaws of the NMU.
"Now, the Gulf officials were
(Continued on Page 4)
• A
Lakes Nominations
For Officers Opens
BailoHng to Be By
Australian System
ROTARY QUESTION
Detroit, Mich., August IB
Nominations for officers of the
Great Lakes District took place
at Headquarters Branch on Tues
day, August 15. Deadline for
nominations from ships and other
Branches is August 21. Balloting
will take place during the month
of September, by Australian sys
tem. The new officers will be in
stalled on November 1.
The elections are held during
the month of September, on the
Lakes, by special decision of the
Savannah Conference, to make it
possible for the greatest number
of men working on board vessels
at the height of the season to
vote, and participate in setting up
the District as part of the Sea
farers' International Union of
North America.
Balloting Explained
Here is how the Australian bal
lot works: Each member will get,
by his own request, a ballot from
the Union Hall or Patrolman. The
member will mark secretly his
ballot in ink or indelible pencil.
He will then put the ballot into
a blank envelope. He will close
the blank envelope, and put it
into a stamped envelope to be pro
vided by the Union, upon which
will be printed the address of the
Detroit Post Office Box number of
which the Postmaster rfstains the
key. On September 30, the Post
master will surrender the key to
the regularly elected balloting
committee wlien it presents the
proper credentials. The commit
tee will then take the envelopes
to Headquarters Office, and will
first check off the names and
numbers from the outside en
velope, against the files at Head
quarters, as to the standing of
each member. The ballots of
members in bad standing will be
declared void.
Guarantees Secrecy
After the names and numbers
are cheeked, the outside en
velopes are separated from the
blank envtlopes containing the
ballots. The ballots are then
counted. The hailoting committee
will then issue a statement over
the signature of ail members of
the committee, announcing the
result of the vote.
This system guarantees com
plete secrecy, and complete rep
resentation to the membership
both on shore and aboard the
ships. There will be a number of
nominees on the ballot for each
office. It is entirely up to the
membership to decide whom they
want to serve them in office for
the coming year. It is entirely up
to the membership to decide
whether they wish the men now
in office to continue for another
year, or whether they wish to see
n,ew faces at the head of the or
ganization here on the Lakes.
(Continued on Page 4)
DRAWN CLOSELY ON LINES
OF CONSTITUTION OF SUP
Noupination of Officers to Take
Place Latter Part of September
f
MILITANT POLICY ADOPTED
The Constitutional Conference of the SIU delegates came
to a successful conclusion in Savannah on August 4th, after
having been in session about three days.
During lAat time the delegates had, by spending many
long hours in conference, completed the business at hand,
and had adopted a constitution, drawn along industrial
and had also made arrangements for the nomination and
election of officers. No time was lost,—as every delegates
turned to, and finished up the job in minimum time.
Voting on the proposed Constitution started in some of
^the Branches at
BULL LINE RUNS
INTO TRW
Crew of SS Arlyn
Walk Off Ship
SKIPPER STALLS
On contacting the SS Arlyn of
the Bull Line the other day, I was
met by a somewhat disgusted
crew. I had no more than gotten
aboard when the fun began. T saw
a bunch of men going over the
side with their gear, and asked
them what the trouble was. They
replied that it was the same old
story, — not enough fans, no
screens, no cots, when they want
ed a drink of water they had to
walk amidships to get it; also
that the ship was supposed to tie
up in Baltimore, and they didn't
see why they should ride her to
Baltimore, when they lived in
New York; so they might as well
pay off and go home.
Skipper Stalls
I then asked the men how in
Hell they expected to gain condi
ditions if tliey hand the patrol
man a lot of demands, and then
walk off the ship. Finally, the
next day we shipped four A.B.'s,
1 O.S. and 1 Oiler, and as soon
as they got aboard they pulled a
meeting, and put the same de
mands up to tlie patrolman as the
other'brothers who had gotten off
the ship, with an additional de
mand that a rider be inserted in
the article3,''that in the event' the
ship tied up in Baltimore, the men
blgniiig on in Fhilly would get
first class transportation and sub
sistence back to Philly. This to
be paid in cash. The three de
partmental delegates and I con
tacted the captain, and the same
old story was still in vogue; "I
can't do anything until I contact
the office." The crew agreed to
give him twentyfour hours, and
when the time was up, the same
old story was still in swing: "1
have contacted the office, and fhey
are getting in touch with New
(Continued on Page 4)
last Monday's
regular meeting, but due to the
fact that the printed copies of the
proposed Constitution were a lit
tle slow in arriving in New York,
voting did not' start here until
August 16. Voting on the Con~
stitution will continue until Sep
tember 25.
Election of Officers
Nominations for Atlantic and
Gulf District officers will be made
at the last two meetings in Sep
tember, and the voting will take
place all through the months of
November and December. For the
Lakes District the nominations
will be made during the month of
August, and the election held in
September. It is believed that
practically every member will
have an opportunity to cast a vote
in his respective District withLv
the allotted time.
Qualitications for Officers
Under the provisions of the pro
posed Constitution, new members
must serve a six months proba
tionary period before they are ad
mitted to full membership. Quali
fications for officers are that tbey
must have at least three year's
discharges in their particular de
partment, and must have re
mained in continuous good stand
ing for a period of six moni'hs,
and have not previously miscon
ducted themselves while employed
as an officer of the Union. The
question of an officer being either
a citizen, or eligible to citizen
ship, is being subjected to a ref
erendum vote.
The Executive Officer of the
Union, in each District, will be
the SecretaryTreasurer. He will
be aided by an Assistant Secre
taryTreasurer, and one patrol
man from each nepartment, who
will assist him in administering
tlie affairs of the Union. Atlan
tic District Headquarters will be
in New York, Gulf District in
New Orleans, and Headquarters
for the Lakes in Detroit.
Benefits Provided For
The proposed Constitution also
provides for shipwreck, hospital
and burial benefits. The maxi
mum shipwreck benefit will be
fifty dollars; burial benefit eighty
five dollars, and the hospital bene
(Continued on Page 4) IIS;
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P:; 2. THE SEA FA R E R SV L O G Friday, August IS, 1939
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Published by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the Aiheficah Federation of Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERG, Acting President . *
11 Steuart Street, S'an Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BGwliug Green 93437) 2.Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston .1 Rowes Wharf
Providence ........465 St>. Main Street
Philadelphia ...6 North 6th Street
Baltimore ...: 212 East Pratt Street
Norfolk .. .60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico .8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans .....309 Chartres^Street
BRANCHES /
Savannah ...218 ̂ ast Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami 809 N. E. First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile ..i ,• ... .55 So, Conception Street
Houston 1712 • 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINQ THIS
, PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Oiurch St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
DONATE TO P& O STRIKE I
YOUB. HELP IS NEEDED TO ASSIST
IN DEFEATING SHIPOWNEKSV
The membership in three Florida ports are now on strike
against the Peninsular & Occidental Steamship Company, in
a sincere effort to better the conditions aboard these ships.
The strike has now been in progress since July 25, and final
settlement is not yet in sight.
We can not afford to lose this strike, and it is up to each
and every member of the ,S1U to,give their complete finan
cial and moral support to it. If tlie sliipowners succeed in
winning this strike, a precedent will be set that will be a
blackeye to the organization. The P & O Company have
made use of every means at their command to break the
morale of these men on strike, and although, so far, no fink
crews have been shipped, there has been at least one NMF
manned ship, the' S8 Munargo, made a trip in the place o
the struck SS Florida, from Miami to Havana. The NMU
officials may make the claim that this isn't finking, but it
still is in our books. A fink by any other name is still a fink
The .port of Miami sent a representative for the men on
these ship.'; on a tour of the East Coast ports, at his own ex
pense, to .solicit donations for a strike fund for the crews off
these ships. He remained in New York for about two weeks,^
and went aboard ships in company with the patTolmen. We
are .sorry to say that he met Muth a vei'y poor response, and
many of the members appeared exceedingly reluctant to
donate. In our mind, this shows a sad lack of true union
spirit, although the crews of a few ships did come thrbtigh
with good donations.
This brother who came here at his o'wn expense, Is Hymie
Pesetsky, and we would like to say that, in our estimation,
he is a hard worker, and a real Union man, and is deserving
of a vote of thanks from the entire membership. We can use
a lot of men of his caliber. T
Chairman Dushane sent a letter onAugust 15 to all At
lantic District Agents and Patrolmen, instructing them to
further solicit donations for the P & 0 .strike fund. For each
donation an official receipt will be Is.sued, and the names of
all donors will be publi.shed in the LiUGr.
Are you going to back these Union brothers o7 yours to
the limit, or are you going to jet them down? If you refuse
to contribute to this worthy cause, you can quit calling your
self a Union man, because it is the duty of every member
^ sailing the ships to help these brothers out.
Don't forgetthose men down in Florida are walking
the picket line,—and you can't keep that up for very long
on a;n empty stomach.' They deserve your financial support!
Giye it to^ them, willingly and umstintingly When the
Eastern ships were on strike manj' a good Union brother
contributed to the cause with good hard casli, and you men
who w;ere involved in that strike know, how badly it was
needed.
financially, as Is this
BOSTON
News Bits
Baltimore Highliglits
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/ Boston, August 3—For a reason
not made public, a plan to con
vert the former Boston four
maSted schooner Harry G. Deer
ing into a barge, a fate that be
fell many other fine schooners,
will not be carried out, and the
vessel will leave here In a day or
two for Portland, Maine, where
she will tie up again. The Deal
ing is one of the last of the big
"windjammers."
When the Canadian lobster
smack Marie Yvonne arrived here
yesterday from Aguat'huna, New
fouiidflaiid, a new skipper was in
command. He is Captain Edward
Samson, and he' succeeds the late
John Bragg, who was owner and
captain. Captain Bragg, a native
of Port Union, Newfoundland, was
found dead in a hotel in Mul
grave, N.S., last Sunday, and his
death waa due to natural causes.
He had been landed at Mulgrave
seriously ill oh July 21, and after
treatment at a hospital, was dis
charged. It is believed he was
planning to rejoin his vessel, when
death came. Captain Samsoh
brought a ehiptnent " of 31,291
pounds of lobsters, whicli will be
the last of Newfoundland "live.s"
to come to Boston market this
season.
Within the next week the whole
clerical force of the Lighthouse
Bureau in Chelsea will be trans
ferred to the Customs House, and
assigned to quarters on the thir
teenth floor: ^
The worst fog in the history of
Boston, which delayed ships and
shipping, has cleared for the time
being. The fog lasted for eleven
days. The Yankee Clipper was at
anchor Saturday night and Sun
day until 2;"00 o'clock, with 180
passengers on aboard. She Is an
excursion, steamer to Province
fown, and has no staterooms, and
no protection from the weather,
so there was a good beef on her.
She is manned^ by a NMU crew.
The SS Governor Cobb is tied
up in East Boston, awaiting con
version to a carrier of auto trail
jBi:s. She is due to* sail to New
York some time this month. She
was built in Chester, Pa., in 1906,
and will run for the Trailer
Ships, Inc., pf New York, between
Providence, R. 1., and New York.
The ball team of the SS Boston
of the ESSCO hasn't lost a ball
game this year. They have tak«n
on most ofthe leading teams here
in Bostcn, and a few in New
York. They play again on Satur
day, playing St. Anthony:s at
Everett Field. • '
BALTIMORE BRANCH REPOtTS
ORE LINE SHIPS IMPROVING
Company Finally Delousing (>ew
Quarters and Making Them Livable
SUCGEST "WAR SCALE" WAGE
Baltimore, Md,, Angimt lO—Shipping and business in gen
eral continues'^good along this ivateiffront, and de.spite the
usual "depression" sob stories of the steamship companies,
it is noted that the cu.stomary seasonal tieups have been,
much less than in previous years. Bull Line has only two tied
up as compared with eleven tliis time last year, and both,
the Calniar and Ore SS Lines are in full service. Drydoeks
and shipyards are jammed with vessels being reconditioned
after lengthy boneyard .stays, with ESSO and SOCONY
the forefront in reviving several old hiilk.s from the Solo
mon's Island. Graveyard. ^—— r—^ —
Notice:
Ships' Delegates; Demand
that all replacements produce
a properly filled out assign
ment card from the Dispatcher
at the Union hall.
Building New Ships
The local Bethlehem shipyard
has three combination passenger
freight keels pn the ways for the
Mississippi Line; Seas Shipping
(Robin Line) have also given the
contract for three ships to the lo
cal yard, and ther^ is the pros
pect ofat least five of the 18
Lykes being built here. Noted
also is the movement of several
lines to headquarters in this port
and the number of companies
making Baltimore the payoff and
signon port is on the increase.
War Scale Wages
Looking over the reasons for
the approaching boom in marine
transportation, if is unquestion
able that some of the companies,
especially the tanker outflte, are
looking for trouble in Europe be
fore the end of the year, and since
friend shipowner is making prepa
rations for such an eventuality, it
probably wouldn't be amiss if the
SIU officials didn't start casting
a weather eye in that direction
also. The election of a "War
Committee" authorized to draw up
revised agreements with wage
scales boo3ted~ to meet the new
need; bonus scales for members
on ships navigating dangerous
waters or carrying "dangerous"
cargoes; compensation rates for
seamen injured pi" shipwrecked
due to wartime conditions:
should be drawn up as soon as
possible. Since the United States
Government, and the United
States shipowners have their "M"
day plans all prepared and filed
away, ready to be put into fbrce
the minute a European war
breaks out, It is quite logical that
the Unions should take similar
steps for the protection and wel
fare of their memberships, and
to avoid the disruption likely to
happen if they are "capght with
their pants down."
Ore Ships Improving
The Orp~SS Company, a subsi
diary of the well khown "steel
trust," always has been a tough
proposition in this port. With
the ships docklilg right in the cen
ter of the steel plant; surrounded
by several uiiles of .Company
property, which is policed by a
private force equal to a city of
ten thousand population, it is
practically impossible to bring
any effective, militant action to
bear on these vessels. However,
although it, has been a slow* pro
cess, needed improvements are
gradually being brqught about on
these ships.
tlet^ing tlid of Bi)g.4
The company, which specializes
in the manufacture of steel, a
great part of which undoubtedly
goes to the making of munitions
for the taking of life, is at last
beginning to spend a few dollars
to kill a few of the rats and bugs
that infest their ships. The crew's
quarters are gradually taking on
the appearance of places of hu
man habitation and we are optlm *
istlc enough to believe that the
day isn't far off when the boys
will actually "want" to sail on .
these erstwhile junk heaps. Speak
ing of junk, we thought one of the
members had gone slightly wacky
the other day, when he dashed up
and told us one of the American ,
Range. Line ships was coming
down Pratt Street. However, yye
caught on when he glanced out
of the window and saw a truck
load of assorted scrap iron navi ,
gating the street.
Voting Bull Contract
I : / /, , . ,
District, and their treasury simply , can not stand, the strain
of supporting a strike of any great duration.
Your moral support will, of course, be appreciated,—but
J0^ san't buy food with it! COME ON FELLOWS,—DIG
DEEP IN YOUR POCKETS, AND ASSIST YOUR UNION
BROTHERS IN THEIR FIGHT AGAINST THE SHIP
OWNERS! DON'T LET THEM DOWN! DON'T FORGET
THAT THE EVENTUAL OUTCOME OF THIS STRIKE
WILL DIRECTLY AFFECT EVERY ONE OF US,—AND
WE CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE IT.
LAST MONDAY'S ATLANTIC DISTRICT HEAD
QUARTERS MEETING VOTED A DONATION TO THE
P & 0 STRIKE FUND, AND WENT ON RECORD TO GIVE
IT THEIR FUTURE FINANCIAL AND MORAL SUPPORT.
. SUPPORT THE STRIKE AGAINST THE P & 0 SHIPS,
AND DON'T LET YOUR UNION BROTHERS BE DE
FEATED BY THE SHIPOWNERS! >
Balloting on ratification of the
new Bull Line agreement is in
progress here, and while on tltat
subject' might we suggest to the
Bull Line members that if there
is something they don't agree
with in the contract, that they
point out the part' they don't like,
and recommend what tlrey think
it should be. Otherwise the ne
gotiating committee is left in the
dark as to what" should or should
not be amended, clarified, or re
vised.
M & M Line Tough :
Every effort is being made to
keep in touch, with members
aboard the Merchants & Miners
Line, but there are so many com
pany men and stooges around the
MMT piers, that it is a tough pro
position making contact. Even
the old gag of dressing the patrol
men in ice cream pants, putting a
cigar in his mouth, a suit case in,/
eaeb hand and sending hitn
through the gate disguised as a,: .
"passenger" isn't • working very r
well as the MMT cops seem td be
able to smell a Union, man a mite :
away. ,.• • • /''/
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ft, 1939 THE S E A F A
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( Friday, August liS, 1939
t
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
' >»
HERE a«</ THERE in the GULF
NEWS/rom NEW ORLEANS
Commissars Send Stooge to
Miami to Herd Finks
Guif Seamen Will Not Crash Any
Bona Fide Picket Line
CURRAN GIVEN WARNING
Ne^w Orleaiis, La., Augibst 15—The SIU has been on strike^
three weeks for an agreement. The temporary agreement ex
pired when the SlU was certified as a result of a collective
bargaining vote eo'nducted by the Lqjbor Cohciliation De
partment. ;
All unlicensed personnel have
been on the picket lines for
three weeks. Only the licensed
officers are on the five ships of
fhlo chiseling outfit. These crews
assessed themselves $5.00 each
for a strike fund before they hit
the bricks. This money was
turned over to the strike commit
tee and has been used for the
maintenance of picket lines and
soup kitchens in Miami and
Tampa.
Officials Off Payroll
The officials in the ports in
volved have voluntarily gone oft
the payroll for the duration of the
strike. All monies collected In
these ports from other ships will
be used to defray strike expense.
IVfoscow Unity
The National Council of the
NMU has appointed a commie
stooge in Miami, who has stated
that he is there to break the
P & O strike. This comrade will
learn suddenly that the seamen
here in the Gulf District will no
longer allow a rabblarrauser to
order them to crash a picket line.
This sentiment, apparently, has
been developed in both the SIU
and the NMU. Any stooge who
tries to crash a picket Hue will
be treated by both unions as a
fink, reigardless of Curran's orders
not to respect the P $: O picket
line. Curran's orders are known
in the Gulf as "Unity,—Moscow
Style."
Curran Warned
Now Comrade Curranski, we
wish to advise you that the SIU
in the Gulf will not tolerate any
picket line crashing. If such at
tempts are made, we will concen
trate our defense, not against the
dupes, BUT AGAINST THE OF
FICIALS RESPONSIBLE FOR
THIS FINK HERDING! YOU,
LIKE OTHER LABOR FAKERS,
WILL BE ELIMINATED FROM
THE MAF^ITIME FIELD! You
had some expedience with New
Orleans, and know that if you
herd finks, now or later, you will
never return to the Gulf!
"Red Dean
rr
SHIPS PAY OFF EXPENSES
OF RECEPTION COMMITTEE
Mobile Membership Prepares For " p:
Labor Day Celebration
WATERMAN BRANCHES OUT
Mobile, Ala., August 15—The reception committee that
served during the visit of the Fink School Ship "American
Seaman" was discharged with a vote of confidence and
thanks for the hard work they did in humming the ships for
voluntary contributions to take care of the expense of this
reception. The total expense was^ '
approximately $350.00, and this
amount was contributed by mem
bers working on the ships out of
the Pprt of Mobile. A list of the
ships and members who cdntri
buted is so lengthy that lack of
space keeps us from publishing
same. The average contribution
was ipproximately one dollar per
man. The membership, in a joint
meeting here commended all for
their cooperation in this matter.
Panama City Beef
At a regular joint meeting
Monday, August 7, a letter " was
read from the Deck Department
delegfte of the SS Panama City
about the aifuation that arose
about an injured AB being placed
on board the ship without coming
through the Union Hall. The let
ter was accepted, and a motion
was made that the New York
Branch Investigate the matter,
and take what action is neces
"sary.
„ A number of former members of
the crew of the Panama City
Bpbke at length, and it was the
jgeneral consensus that this ship
was sadly In need oL a general
Rtraightening 'out. The changes
which have been made in the
general working rules since the
Panama City left Mobile on Janu
ary 30, being the cause of most
cf the disputes.
Labor Day Preparations
The SIU of NA in the Port of
Mobile wbnt on record at a regu
lar joint meeting held Monday,
that they are in favor ofra parade
on Labor Day. A special commit
tee was elected to, contact the
other—various labor organizations
in Mobile,, wltn the view or hold
ing a parade and a general cele
bration, with speeches, dancing,
and general merrymaking at
some nearby park not yet de:
cided upon. The purpose of this
general celebration is to show the
"bosses" the strength of Organ
ized Labor under the banner of
the AFL in the Port of Mobile.
Relief Watches
Several memhers of crews of
various ships have been removed
for not abiding by the port rule
relative to relief Waljihes. The
port rule is, in any port where
there is a SIU Hall, relief watches
must be called from the Hall, at
P & O STRIKE
(Continued from Page 1)~
and we have a small shipping
list.
By the way brothers. Phoney
Epps is a "G" man now,—he is
working on one of the City's
Garbage trucks. A good place for
a phoney, but he should be in one
of the cans instead.
Had a beef on fre£h,q^ik on the
Major Wheeler this week, and the
crew was ready, to hit the dock,
but the "old man" saw the light,
and came across.
Up until now, we don't see any
signs of anyone attempting to
ship scabs on the P&O ships. We
wonder why? ? ?
Steady as she goes
Otis Purry, Patrolman
Headquarters Report
New Orleans, La., August 9—
The P&O strike was called July
25. On. the 2,711^ .all three of their
ships in operation weie tied up.
The other two were laid up at
the time. .
These ships are still tied up.
Reports have reached us that
Watson, NMU Agent in Tampa,
has contacted the company and
offered to furnish crews. The
company is afraid to move on this
angle, due to the fact that Wat
son has not enough fiiiks in Flor
ida to move all these ships.
Also, the strike publicity de
partment has made excellent con
tact with the traveling public,
who remember the finky crews of
the Mono Castle!
Negotiations were broken off
last week, due to reaching a stale
mate.; The company claims ina
bility to continue overtime pay
ment's as of the last four months.
The memberfi who sail those
scows refuse to work, except un
der the conditions recently inau
gurated and maintained by job
action.
However, the Labor Department
was instrumental in reopening ne
gotiations, beginning Thursday,
August" 10th. We will report on
negotiations at a later date. Mean
while, these scows remain tied up
by strike action, and the soup
kitchens are functioning.
Red Dean
the rate of EIGHTY CENTS PER
HOUR,—with a four hour mini
mum. Any watch, or fraction
thereof is $3.20, When the entire
eight hours is Worked, the pay is
$6.40. The only exception is that
mess boys and mess men are to
be paid at the rate of sixtyfive
pents an hour,—with a four hour
minimum.
Some of the members are under
the impression that other mem
bers of the crew can swap, and
stand each others watches. This
is wrong, and members have
learned that charges will be pre
ferred again.st them, , and they
will be removed from the ship,
and another man shipped in their
place.
Waterman Branches Out
Three ships of the Waterman
Company have been put on an in
tercoastal run, from Baltimore to
the West Coast. The ships placed
on this run for an indefinite
period are the SS West Kyska,
Desoto and West Madaket. In the
early Spring the Waterman Com
pany will place two passenger
freight ships on the New York to
New Orleans run, with "weekly
sailings. The Waterman Com
pany is at present negotiating for
the purchase of two ships for this
run.
0. Underwood, Gulf No. 2
REASONS FM NECESSITY
OF STRIKE ASSESSMENT
General Income of Union Not
Sufficient to Support Strikes
RATIFICATION NECESSARY
Following the report of the Constitutional Conference
delegate.s, at the August 7th Headquarters meeting, quite a
few of the members seemed to be of the opinion that such a
thing as a strike assessment i.s not at all necessary. We would
like to take this opportunity to point out that a, strike a.ssess
ment IS necessary, and explain why.
Any of those members who were involved in the strike
on the Eastern Steamship Company's .ships this year, or who
were a.shore at the time, will remember that, if the .strike had
lasted another week we would have been absolutely broke,
and with our backs up againsti ^ ——
the wall". They will also remem
ber that we did not have the
funds with which to operate a
more satisfactory system of feed
ing the men on strike.
Strike Fund Necessary
NOW:—the monies to be de
rived from this strike assessment
can not be put in a general strike
fund, because of the fact that our
agreements do not terminate
simultaneously; They must be
used for any strike which may
occur. The fact that our agree
ments do expire at different times
is all the more reason why we
must have a strike fund. You can
not finance strikes out of an or
ganization's general funds, such
as |s derived from their regular
income. This Is especially true of
an organization as comparatively
small and young as the SIU.
Since this organization started,
in the Atlantic District, bur week
ly bank balance has never, at any
time, exceeded two thousand dol
lars. Furthermore; we still owe
the luternational in the neighbor
hood of $3,400. In other words, we
are not, theoretically at least, sol
vent. Our cash liabilities actually
exceed our cash assets. How then,
could we support a strike finan,
cially? The answer is obvious: —
we couldn't!
.Strike a Potent Weapon
Remember:—;we are not plan
ning on having a lot of strikes,
just for the fun of it; but the
strike is Organized Labor's most
potent weapon, and there are
times when it must be used. We
had two strikes this year: —
against the Seatrain Lines, and
against the Eastern. There is
good reason to believe that we
will, sooner or later, have other
strikes, and it is also quite pos
sible they may last longer than
the previous ones. To guard
against such an emergency, we
must be prepared, and the only
viay we can properly prepare is to
have" an amount of cash in re
serve, so that we can successfully
carry on a strike.
Don't forget that when a strike
starts the Union's income also
drops proportionately. In the
case of a general strike, the in
come would cease completely. In
other words: —everything going
out, "and nothing coming in! if
we relied on the general funds of
the organization to carry us
through a strike of any realdura
tion, how long could we last? The
answer to that question is also
perfectly obvious.
Prepaie for War
To the best of bur knowledge,
all bona fide Labor organizations
have a strike fund, because they
well know t4iat if is an absolute
necessity. Some unions have not
had a strike in years, but they
nevertheless still tnaintain a
strike fund, "In times of peace.
prepare for war!" You can't fight
an elephant with a peashooter,—
and no more can you fight the
shipowners without an ample sup
ply of hard cash!
It is a well known, and proven
fact that an army fights best on
a full stomach; and the same
thing holds true for an efficient
picket line. You can't walk a
picket line for very long with
nothing but an empty void where
your "darby kelly" .should he!
Anyone who has done picket duty,
knows that!
Financial Picture
But, to get back to the financial
side of the picture;—According to
the report of the last Quarterly
Finance Committee, only about
3,100 members were paid up In
good standing. The expenses of
the organization average approxi
mately $1,600 per week, or over,
eighty thousand dollars a year,
and even if every one of the
5,500 members religiously paid
their dues each and every month,
we would have a balance of only;
about sixteen thousand dollars.
But,—according to figures, only
about threefifths of the members
continuously pay dues. At that
rate, by the end of each year, we
would be in the red! V 1
Vote for Strike Assesspientd '•
Therefore, in order to assure
ourselves that we will be in a po
sition to fight the shipowners
whenever the necessity arises, we
must make provision to maintain
a fund aside from the money de
rived from the general income.
There can be only one solution to
this problem, and the answer lies
in the establishment of a strike
fund, to be created by an a,ssess
m_ent .of the membership.
Too much can not be said In
favor of a strike fund, and it
should be perfectly obvious to
every member that any bona fide
labor organization without a
strike fund, is like a country
without an army or navy!
VOTE YES ON THE STRIKE
ASSESSMENT RESOLUTION!
NOTICE
All correspondents to
the "LOG" are cautioned
that all contributions must
bear their written signa
ture, and book number.
Typewritten signatures or
initials only will not be
acceptable.
We will not publish any
unsigned com municaiions.
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NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
C H i C A G O
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BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street 8101/2 N. Clark Street
BOBLO COMPANY REFUSES
TO ABIDE BY AGREEMENT
Numerous Beefs Settled Through
Quick Action by SIU Agents
GEORGIAN BAY JITTERY
COURT DECISION
Detroit, Mich., August 16—Officials of the BobLo Steam
ers, Inc., have refused to alloAv our agents to board their
boats for tlie transaction of Union business. The Union
signed up the BobLo boats this year, but apparently this
company doe.sn't knovr the .score. By unanimous vote, the
membership at headquarters in"fr ^
Btructed our Internation.al Repre
sentative to file a five day strike
notice with the Michigan State
Mediation Board. The company
now has five days to decide to
permit the Union's authorized
representatives aboard ship,—or
else!
Beef Settled
The old beef on the PM No. 12
at Toledo has finally been set
tled. The men have no sleeping
quarters aboard, and it's a long
hike into town, from the slip. Mr.
Kent of the,Fere Marquette road
turned down Thompson's proposal
for $1.00 per day for a bed, but
consented to have a regular Full
man coach, with clean linen, in
stalled on the ferry to serve as'
sleeping (quarters for. the men.
'Not bad!
' A fireman on the Greater De
troit was discharged recently,
charged with being drunk. The
crew was contacted. The men on
his watch all state he was not
drunk at the time the complaint
was made. Only the first assist
ant and an oiler maintained he
was. Thompson and McGinn put
the first assistant wise to him
self, and insisted he take this
man back or else. He's back!
Couipi'omise Reached
The boys on the Michigan put
up a squawk about getting two
more firemen, or thi'ee coalpass
ers aboard. Our representatives
negotiated with the company.
They succeeded in getting one ad
ditional fireman. Due to the fact
that the agreemeuL had already
been drawn up, the men exercised
good judgment in not pressing the
matter any further.
No Support
. Steamship Inspectors came
aboard the Grand Rapids for life
boat inspection, at 7:00 o'clock
one morning. The men were call
ed out at 6:00 A.M. for breakfast.
Due to the fact that practically
all the grub had been eaten by
big passenger list carried the day
before, and the new stores were
due at 8:00 A.M., many of the
men went without breakfast, and
squawked for action. To take
care of the beef, Thompson con
' tacted the .skipper and demanded
sixty cents for each man who got
rimmed out of his breakfast. The
skipper said O.K. He would give
it to any man wh oasked for it.
Only one man stepped up to get
it! Which only goes to show that
the men who talk loudest in the
Hall, are not ready to give sup
port to their agents when Ihey
,come aboard to settle beefs.
Georgian Bay Jittery
The Georgian Bay Line would
Hl^^..^ to have us lay off of their
St^w^irds Department. In a letter
from Emery B. Hatch, Secretary
Tireasurer of the line, he begs us
not to press them for an agree
ment at this time, since he al
ready has one witti Secor^s
uunion", which expiies in Jana
ary. The membership, at its
August 15 Headquarters meeting,
unanimously voted to place a five
day strike notice in the hands of
the Michigan State Mediation
Board. No doubt this will encou
rage thetimid Mr. Hatch to real
ize he is going to deal with a real
Union that protects its member
ship, and not a phoney racket
such as Secord'a..
LAKES VOTING
(Continued from Page 1)
There are over 1,60'0 men work
ing on SIU boats on the Lakes,
and more than 1,200 of these are
eligible to vote. It will be only
the membership's fault if the new
officials are elected hy a small
handful of votes. Get your bal
lots men, on the first of Septem
ber, and let's go!
Constitution Arii\es
The proposed Constitution of
the Seafarers' International Union
of North America, drawn up at
the Savannah Conference, is now
here, and is being distributed to
the membership at all ports. The
membership will vote for its ac
ceptance or rejection in a space
provided for that purpose on the
same ballot on which the candi
dates for office will appear.
Since this Constitution, if accept
ed, will be the law under which
our Union will function, it be
hooves every member to study it
carefully, so that he will know
what he is voting for.
Kulat.y Sliippiiig
Another proposition to appear
on the ballot, along with the can
didates and the proposed Consti
tution, will be the question of re
storing the rotary shipping li.st.
There has been so much beefing
back and forth about this ques
tion, that the Headquarters
Branch, at its meeting of August
8, went on record to put the ques
tion up to the membership of the
entire Lakes District, for settle
ment one way or the other. The
membership should not fail to
register its wishes on this impor
tant question, on the September
ballot.
(Continued from Page
elected under the Constitution
by a referendum vote. Until
Constitutional methods are used
these officials are lo be returned
to office as of the date this
court' action started."
Victory for VVorker.^,
This decision is a distinct vic
tory for the workers. It proves
that the workers no longer need
to fear thb dictates of wouldbe
Stalins and Hitlers in labor
unions. In one of the few cases
in court history, the workers got
a square deal. As long as the
courts rule that they will not fa
vor any individual or group of in
dividuals, then the workers have
a chance.
In the future, th* labor .fakers
of Curran's type will have to
abide by the Constitutions drawn
up and ratified. This is a preced
ent in courts that can be used by
workers in any union.
"Red" Dean
ARLYN BEEF
NOTICE
James H. Adams, able sea
man, Steamship "Arlyn", who
was injured while the ship was
in New Orleans on the 23rd
day of May, 1939, requests that
Charles Kellog, Joe Baker and
Hqwartt, able seamen, who
were working with him at the
time, communicate with Paul
C. Matthews, atornety, of No.
11 Broadway, New York City,
in reference to acting as wit
nesses In Mr. Adams' case.
/
(Continued from Page 1)
York." The crew again agieed to
twentyfour hours more, and then,
after two days, the captain called
the three delegates together and
read them a letter whi^ stated
that it was not the policy of the
Bull Line to issue cots or mos
quito mettng. I then gave the cap
tain the necessary twentyfour
hours notice, and told him that
the crew desired to be paid off,
unless their demands were met.
Tries Fast One
Five hours later the Bull Lin'fe
agent came aboard the ship and
asked me what the Hell I was
trying to pull off, and \ informed
him that I was merely there to
see that the company didn't pull
any fast ones on the crew, like
they have in the past. Then he
stated that this was the only port
on the Atlantic Coast where the
company was having any trouble,
and also accused me of having it
in for the company. This was said
in a very loud voice so that the
crew could bear it, CYery smart!)
trying to discredit the Union in
the eyes of the crew. He then
stated that the company had the
interests of the crew at heart,
and just to prove it, he, personal
ly, had gone ashore and bought a
watercooler for them, so that
they would not have to go amid
ships anymore for a cold drink,
and he further said 'to the men:
See, we really have your inter
ests at heart, and don't let this
patrolman of yours make you quit
the ship and deprive you of your
jobs, as he Is only trying to make
a name for himself at the ex
pense of you men and your jobs!"
(NOTE: THIS WAS VERY
CLEVER OF THE COMPANY TO
TRY TO DISCREDIT THE
PATROLMAN IN THE MINDS
OF THE CREW, BUT. IT FAIL
ED!) Then he commenced to
holler, and tell the men to take
the ship to Baltimore, and the
outcome it was that I had to
outholler him,—and what a pleas
ure that really was!
Take No Promises
If is the custom of the com
parfy, when a beef arises, to prom
ise you anything in order to get
the ship out of one port to the
next. The agents in charge in
the various ports are responsible
for the ship while it is in their
particular port, and they , don't
CONSTITUTION
(Continued from Page J)
'fit, one dollar per week, for a
period not exceeding fiftytwo
weeks. The cost of these bene
fits, to the membership, will be
an annual assessment of twdniol
lars.
Policy I.iai<I Down
A resolution, calling for^a strike
and organizational assessment of
five dollars, is being subjected to
a referendum vote of the mem
bership.
The confei'ence delegates, in es
tablishing the policy of theUnion,
passed the following Resolution:
"WHEREAS: The Seafarers' In
ternational Union of North Amer
ica is founded on the principle of
the rights of bona fide seamen to
organize into a democratic sea
men's union, run by seamen, and
for the benefits of seamen, and
"WHEREAS: our parent organ
ization, the Sailoj s' Unionof the
Pacific, is a democratic, bona fide
seamen's union, built by seamen,
and whose policy has been, and
is today to fight for the principle
of:
(1) All shipping of seamen from
the. Union Halls on a rotary
basis. ~
(2) To fight the Fink Hall pro
gram of the Maritime Com
mission.
(3) To fight the Training Ship
program of t|ie Maritime
Commission.
(4) To fight any attempts of the
establishment of compulsory
arbitration for seamen.
(5) To fight any and all political
parties who attempt to mus
cle in on the seamen's move
ment under the smoke screen
of Rank and File unity
phrases. (Such as the Com
munist Party, who are busily
engaged in a united front
movement with the ship
owners and the "Maritime
Commission, in selling out the
American Seamen to Govern
ment regimentation, to fur
ther own phoney political am
bitions) and
"WHEREAS: The seamen in the
Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes
Districts of the Seafarers' Inter
national Union Oif North America
have gone down the line, and are
going down the line 100 percent
for this policy as the only policy
on which our Union can function,
NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED; That we, the dele
gates here assembled, go on
record as unanimously reaffirm
ing our stand on this policy, and
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED:
That we pledge ourselves to gq
back to our ports and ships and
oontinue on fighting for this
policy.
The foregoing Resolution was
introduced by "Whitey" Hawk,
who attended the conference as a
representative for the Deck De
partment of the SS Acadia. '
It is the general consensus of
opinion that the delegates to the
conference did a very fine job, and
the proposed Constitution has met
with considerable commendation.
It is our opinion that it will be
ratified by a large majority of the
membership.
DONATIONS TO P&O
STRIKE FUNO
SS SEATRAIN NEW YORK:
Kelly $1.00
Shank 50
Morris .' 1.00
Boresenberg 1.00
Sabido 1.00
Burns ............... 1.00
Rogeseh 1.00
Garcia ^50
Tillman 1.00
S,|mpson 1.00
George 50
Abina... 1.00
Banks .50
Westover 1.00
Eppinette ........ .50
Mesana .50
Steenchen 50
Fernandez .50
Browii 1.00
Vreta 50
Conner .. .r. 1.00
McCormlck 1.00
Lewis 1.00
TOTAL $18.50
SS ANGELINA:
Riley $ .50
Wright
Court
Bonefoiit 25
Doley .....U .50
Maldonado ....
Ferrara ........
Geanda ....... .50
Cales
Ellorin
Damaso
Fernandez .25
Rodriget ....... ...... .25
Hernandez ,.... 50
Ship's Fund ....
TOTAL . ._.. . ...... $10.00
SS FLOW CITY:
Gorman ...... $ .50
Hughes ... ."^ 50 •
Med ford ....... 50
Mcl^emore ;50
Mays
Robertson
Cable
Frost
Trevathan .....
Broderlck .50
Munro
Fittman ...... .50
Barry ...... .50
Ship's Fund
TOTAL $10.00
SS CITY OF ATLANTA:
Greer
Grissom i...
Hoagland
Cetti
Ride
Forrester
Kenny ...............
Bablnger ............
TOTAL ........... $5.00
Sp ELLENOR .$5.00
SS MILLINOCKET
SS EDITH ......
Teamster's Local
Neilson
A. Kelcey
SS DELVALLE ..
Cullison .........
Sullivan
TOTAL $18.91
give a damn what happens when
she leaves!
I believe that these ships com
ing in to the various ports should
be contacted by the patrolman,
and if they don't have refrigera
tors, cots, netting, screens, water
coolers,. a sufficient numter of
fans in good order, and other gear^
for the welfare of the crews, and
plenty of fresh milk, they should
be.aet down until everything is
put in order before she sails. (No
promises!)
Fraternally, '
Harry J. Collins, No. 496
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