Media
Issue Date
1939-09-01
Volume
1
Issue Number
17
Plaintext
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SECURITY
I N
UNITY
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarergi' 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, SEPT. 1, 1939 446 NO. 17
P&O STRIKE STILL ON
AS MEN STAND FIRM
NMU Officials Play Fiiaky Game
But Plans Fall Through
FINKS ON SS FLORIDA
Miami, Fla., Aug. 29—On July 25 the men walked off the
P&O ships. On July 28, negotiations were broken oft", and
the U.S. Conciliator declared a deadlock.
Ten days later Soup Kitchens were set up along with com
missary totake care of married men and families.
On August 21, an injunction was^
served on the SITJ, because, ac
cording to the press, there would
be bloodshed when a crew was
recruited.
Finks Shipped
On August 22, the P&O Com
pany began hiring a crew, and the
links went to work. After scurry
ing around, the company finally
secured enough to take the ship
out, but could not get a full crew.
On August 25, the ship (SS
Florida) sailed, and arrived back
on August 28, with two ambu
iances and a hearse meeting her.
Approximately fifteen finks quit
the ship and scrammed.
The men are still on strike, and
intend to win. They will win with
the wonderful financial support
they have been getting.
Fighting NMU Officials
The strike is now in its sixth
week, and going strong, in spite
of the fact that we are not only
fighting the shipowner, but also
the NMIi officials. The Pilot
came out on August 18, with state
ments which were absolutely un
tfue, but which indicated what
the company planned. However,
the statement were not made
through the public press until
five days later. How did Fiank
Jones, NMU agent in Miami, get
his information if he was not
working for the company?
Jones stated this week that the
"NMU twobookcarrlers" will de
liver the ships. To whom does he
mean? He can mean only the
shipowner.
Commies Plan Flops
The commie stooges are run
ning around frantically because
their plans have fallen through.
They had a sweet setup, but they
forgot that the men have been
sold out by dictators often enough,
and under the banner of the SIU
we have a true democracy.
NMU agent Jones was reported
aboard the SS Florida, contacting
the finks, and this was reported
by a member of the SS Mimargo's
crew. He also went aboard a
Standard Oil tanker today to or
ganize the finks, and was told by
the crew that they were 100 per
cent finks, and didn't need to pay
dues to an organization that
OK'd finking. This seems to be
the policy of the officials of the
NMU,"—to organize finks, whether
there is a picket line or not.
When an AF of L picket line goes
out, it seems to be the signal for
the commies to come flocking In
and do a little fancy finking and
finkherding.
The Central Trades is backing
us 100 per cent, and Walter Hoyt,
Secretary of the State Federation
of Labor, has given us wonderful
cooperation.
CIO MOVE ON WEST KYSKA
FLOPS ON WEST COAST
Teamsters Ignore Phoney Picket
Line as Commissars Rave
SUP GIVES COOPERATION
San Francisco, Aug. 24 (WCS)—Hailing from the Port of
Mobile, operating under closed shop agreements—manned by
a bonafide 100% strikeclear crew—shipped from Union hir
ing halls—comes the handy little ship called the SS' WEST
EYSE^' into the Port of San iFrancisco this week.
This vessel is owned by Waterman, and usually runs
across to Europe from South Atlantic Ports.
She is chartered to make a few trips intercoastal.
' Sudden and flhristensen are the agents from this ship
while on this coast but have nothing to do with the crew
or the ship, which is operated dU^—
shipping through Union halls.
This agreement was won bj the
Gulf seamen through strike action
by the seartien on these ships, and
they have continually improved
their conditions on these ships
through job action.
rectly by Waterman.
A Union Crew
The Waterman Line ships, in
cluding the WEST JrVSKA, have
Seafarers' Intl. crews, shipped out
of Union halls in the Gulf. The
Gulf District Seafarers' have
agreements with the Waterman
Line which are on a level with
and, in some instances, better
than some of the West Coast
agreements. They call for all
Previous to the arrival of the
West Kyska in San Francisco, the
Firemens' and Cooks Unions in
, (Continued on Page 3}
Bull Line Contract
Ratified by Members
Changes to Be Made
Before Signing
Announcement of the comple
tion of tlie voting on the Bull
Line agreement was made at last
Monday night's Atlantic District
Headquarters meeting. The re
sults were as follows:
GENERAL RULES:
Deck Department—
Yes 145; No. 33
Eng. Department—
Yes 91; No 40
Steward's Department—
Yes 81; No. 29
WORKING RULES:
Deck Department—
Yes 135; No 42
Eng. Department—
• Yes 97: No 34
Steward's Department—
Yes 81; No 36 ^
The total vote cast in favor of
the General Rules was 317, and
102 against. On the Working
Rules 305 voted in favor, and 112
v,rere opposed. In other words,
the agreement was ratified by a
better than seventy percent mar
gin.
However, although the agree
ment was ratified by the majority
of the men on the Bull Line
ships, it will not be signed until
certain requested changes have
been made. Emergency Board
Chairman Dushane, in company
with Arthur Keleey, met with
Bull Line officials last Tuesday af
ternoon, and it was agreed by the
company that the necessary
changes wiil be made in the agiee
ment. As soon as a corrected
copy is drawn up, the agreement
wili be signed.
Althougli the new agreement
has met with some adverse critic
ism by certain parties, it is uever
thelos.s a vast improvement over
the old one. When the clarifica
tions and changes are inserted, it
will look much differeut from the
original draft.
TWO ISTHMIAN LINE SHIPS
STRUCK IH 6ULf PORTS
Company Agrees to Terms, Following
Militant Action by Membership
CONDITIONS GAINED BY SIU
New Orleans, La., August 22—Struck' SS Atlanta City in
Mobile on August 18. Struck SS Steel Ranger here yester
day. Longshoremen backing our beef 100 per cent, and re
specting our picket line.
Crews off about 90 per cent on both scows. Stewpot here
—• set up for pickets. Strong picket
Buckley Declares
Charges Marfhey With
Sailing Hot Oil Ship
New Bedford Line
Signs Agreement
Militant Action By
Crews Gets Results
On Thursday, August 17, an
agreement between the Seafarers'
Int'ernational Union of North
America and the New Bedford,
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
Line of the New England Steam
ship Company, was signed.
This company operates five ves
sels on this seasonal run, and all
of the employees come under the
Railway Labor Act. The members
of the unlicensed personnel aboard
the.se ships, after the 193637
strike, were unorganized,,and ne
gotiated an agreement for them
selves. According to Brothers
Dushane and Frank Berry, these
men are a very militant body of
men, and went to town for the
conditions gained under the terms
of the newly signed agreement.
They had previously informed
the. company that' if an acceptable
(Contimied on Page 2)
Attention Claude Marthey:
Reports come to me in the port
of Houston that you have taken
it upon yourself to write an ar
ticle questioning my stand in the
marine industry.
It is beyond doubt that Marthey
wishes to impress the members
of the SUP, and the commies, to
whom he has suddenly shown
such favoritism that his record as
a militant Union man is beyond
reproach.
Stand on ESSO Strike
Brother Marthey,—why haven't
you informed your SUP brothers
as to your stand during the
Standard Oil strike, while you
were In the Port of New York?
Why don't you tell your SUP bro
thers where that ship you sailed
lines being maintained. This
crummy outfit, in the past, has
bought off the piecards of the
ISU, NMU and several other out
fits. At last they are struck by
the SIU,—which is run by the
membership, with no danger of a
sell out!
So, in the near future, we will
be able to sail these scows with
A1 conditions. After all, these
are the only freight ships sailing
to the Pacific Coast with phoney
conditions. Of course, the M.C.
operates the Baltimore Mail Line
to the Pacific, with lousy condi
tions and NMU crews. Soon, that
also will be rectified.
The SIU is out to gain ana
maintain the best wages and con
ditions possible to achieve. We
are being sold out daily by the
NMU top committee, who advo
cate political activities, compared
to the SIU direct action.
"Red" Deaii
The beef on the Atlantic City
and the Steel Ranger was straight
ened out when the company was
contacted in New York, and
from the Port of New York got agreed to pay overtime for all
its bunkers? Hell!—Marthey,— work performed on Saturday af
be honest for a change, and give ternoons, Sundays, holidays, and
the workingox a chance! Tell after 5:00 P.M. and before 8:00
your SUP brothers the truth Gon, A.M. jt ^a.s agreed that food
cerning my stand during the would be improved, and working
tanker strike;—tell them why 11 conditions adjusted satisfactorily.
; ' \
was so damned long ashore in
New York! Had I been as job
conscious as yourself, it would
have been easy to get at the
point of production; but you
know it was because of the dis
tasteful odor that emitted from
"scaboil" that kept me so long
from the point.
Can't Take Heat
There is one thing that has al
ways been noticeable among those
men who shout In hai'rooms, and
on street corners, of their mili
tancy:—they are damned hard to
find when the heat is the heavi
est;—where it takes more than
booze to give a man intestinal for
titude to fight the opposition in
the Labor field. If you think it's
a picnic in the West Gulf, take a
stroll down in this country, and
we will show anyone who may be
interested to that extent, what
type of RATS and fingermen we
men in the marine industry are
forced to contend with in our en
deavor to build up the SIU.
One Track Mtnd
To permit yourself to hold to a
onetrack mind because of your
personal feelings towards a few
individuals, is proof of stupidity,
and a sign of lacking in that type
of principle which every militant
man has within himself, to come
out openly, regardless of the re
(Continued on Page 3)
The company also agreed to re
move the men who refused to
leave the ships when they were
struck. This was done, and a
crew for the Steel Ranger was
shipped from the New Orleans
SIU Hall.
[
'in • • •
SIU Does It
New Orleans, La., Aug. 29—Re:
the Isthmian S.S. Co. beef:
Being a Gulf man, and knowing
this phoney company's tactics,
and their trjdng for quite awhile
to evade having their ships or
ganized, the SIU has done some
thing that neither the phoney
NMU, nor the phoney old ISU
could do.
The SIU has gotten West Coast
conditions on two of this com
pany s ships, and as fast as their
ships hit port, the same West
Coast conditions will be gotten on
them.
Ships Lousy
The beef for conditions started
when the SIU patrolmen contact
ed the crew of the Steel Ranger
and told them the score. They
responded by walking off and hit
ting the picket line, with the re
mark: "We have been, waiting
for this for a long time, for con
ditions on these ships are really
lousy!"
Well, the picket line was going
(Continued on Page 3)
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2 THE S E A F A R E R S* L O G Friday, Sept. 1, 1939
Publishea by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARP.Y LUNDEBERG, Acting. Presldwit
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwIing Green 93437) 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Bo^on ,^30 Atlantic Avenue
Providence ."r. ..465 So: Main Street
Philadelphia .6 North 6th Street
Baltimore .14 North Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico ...8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BBANOHESu
Savannah . 218 East Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami .809 N, B, First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston .... 1712 • 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINO THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
}
' >'S • /«
15."
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RESULT OF P&O STRIKE
WILL AFFECT ALL
Itnmediately following a motion at. last Monday night's
Atlantic District Headquarters meeting to donate fifty dollars
to the P&O .strike fund, the. following motion was unani
mously carried:
"THAT AN ARTICLE BE PUT IN THE 'LOG'
CONDEMNING MEMBERS ON SHIPS WHO
HAVE NOT DONATED TO THE P&O STRIKE
POND."
It seems to us that a rather deplorable state of ffairs must
exist when it becomes necessary to even introduce such, a
motion on the floor, and if the poor response met with on
the ships is any criterion of the true Union spirit of some of
• our members, then a sorry state of affair.s certainly does
exist!
REVERSE YOUR POSITIONS
It is, of cour.se, quite true that a good many ships have
been quite generous with their donations to this very worthy
cause, hut a whole lot more haven't kicked in with even a
solitary dime! No,—they can't afford to support a bona fide
strike of their Union Brothers,— hut still, they can well af
ford to stand up against a bar and guzzle theirmoney away I
Place yourself in the position of these brothers who are on
strike, and think how you would feel if the members of your
own organization didn't dig down in their pockets, and lay
it on the line, in order to keep you from going hungry and
without a place to flop. How would you like it? You wouldn't
like it at all! Some day you may find yourselves in this very
same position, and then you'll be the very fir.st one to holler
if your Union brothers don't contribute their financial sup
port to keep you from going hungiy!
HELP DESPERATELY NEEDED
To you men wlio are at the point of production,—on the
ships: It wouldn't be working any particular hardship on
you to donate at least a dollar to help your brothers out, and
by so doing, you will he well aware of the fact that you are
contributing to something well, worth while, and that your
generous aid will be more than appreciated. HOW CAN
YOU CALL YOURSELVES UNION MEN UNLESS YOU
ARE READY AND WILLING TO HELP YOUR BROTHER
UNION MEMBERS? THESE MEN WHO STRUCK THE
t&O SHIPS NEED YOUR HELP DESPERATELY, AND
YOU CAN'T, CONSCIENTIOUSLY, AFFORD TO LET
^THEMDOWN!
These men strnek these .ships in a sincere effort to better
their conditiou.s through the signing of a fair working agree
Company has refused to grant these men
their just demands, .and are doing their best to break down
K ^ their morale. IF YOU LET THEM BREAK THIS STRIKE
YOU ARE ALLOWING THEM TO DO SOMETHINCJ
WHICH WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE ENTIRE
SIU! IF HIS STRIKE IS LOST, YOU MAY AS WELL
^iLOSE UP THE MIAMI AND TAMPA HALLS!
Of Mllltaficy in NMU
Marine Hospital,
Staten Island, N. Y.
Editor,
The LOG
Dear Brother:
I hope you can And room in
your next publication of the Sea
farers' LOG for this artide.
In the hospital here, it is prac
tically 99 percent NMU, but one
would be surpfioed to observe
these men and see how lax they
are in the matter of militancy.
One can point out to them how
the comrafs are selling the mem
berahin down the river, and it
doesn't faze them a bit. Some
contend with the idea, that since
the real rank and file of the Gulf
was thrown out of the Union,
there is nothing they can do but
wait for the axe to fall.
Keep Check on. Phonies
When the axe falls, it is going
to be too late to do anything
about it. It is my belief that this
September will see the last of the
NMU. But what then? The com
missars are going to rush into the
AFL and try to pull it apart, as
they have always done.
In my estimation, it would be
a good idea to keep a check on
all the stooges trying to get into
the SIU, and refuse them a book.
Furthewiore, close the books
• when the NMU folds .up. Why I
say this, is because everyone has
a chance to.^join now, and they
know the NMU is phoney by this
time. If they don't know it by
this time—well, you don't want
people in the SIU who are as
NEW BEDFORD LINE
(Con timed from Page 1)
agreement was not signed by Au
gust 17, they would hang the
hook. These men weren't fooling
—they meant what they said!
Negotiations had been broken
off the week previous, when a sat
isfacfory settlement could not be
reached, and the men then in
formed the company tliat if they
did not sign on the dotted line by
the following Thursday, their
ships would be struck. Negotia
tions were resumed on August 16
witli Emergency Board Chairman
Dushane and Providence Agent
Frank Berry, assisted by a crew
member of each of the Ave ships
involved. A satisfactory agi*ee
ment was then reached, and the
contract was signed the following
day. !
Included among the gains was a
ten cents an hour raise in the
overtime rate, and a like increase
for standby work. Previously,
the unlicensed personnel was
obliged to pay the full cost of any
uniforms they were obliged to
wear, but under the new agree
ment, the company .assumes Afty
percent of , the cost. Double days
pay for Sunday work is also in
cluded, and tlie overtime condi
tions are well taken care of.
The agreement expires in June
1940.
r,;
• &'
dumb as that.
Committee Galls
I put out some literature yes
teiday about noon, and you would
be surprised at the results. No
body said anything right then, but
after supper T was visited by a
committee of three. They asked
me who was putting out the dis
ruptive literature. I told them it
wasn't disruptive, in the Arst
place; in the second place/ since
they came direct to my bunk,
they must have known it was me.
I also asked them why they didn't
read it, and learn the truth. They
said they had read it, and I asked
them if the truth hurt! They said
they didn't give a damn if it was
the truth or not, as it was still
disruptive, and, furthemore, that
the men in the hospital weren't
going to read it. I told one of
them that it was a helluva union
where the membership couldn't
read what they pleased. They
Anally wound up the argument by
asklug uie if I didn't think that
putting out those papers wasn't
a good way to keep from growing
old? Now can you imagine any
commy getting militant enough to
dump anyone? That makes me
laugh! When they were leaving,
told them to call again next
week, and I would give them some
more truth about the way tlie
NMU is selling out!
What does all this mean? Is
the membership of the NMU fall
ing out so fast that they are be
ginning to feel the dues collect
ing racket leaving them?
Don't Want Too Strong
Before closing this, I would like
to know why the NMU oAlcials al
lowed the SIU to get such a hold
on the E.G., if if isn't any good,
as they elaim? The NMU had
been in full power for three years
before, the SIU came into being.
If they were leally sincere with
the membership, they would have
had the E.G. tied up tighter than
all Hell, But no, they don't want
it too strong, because they could
not pull it down when they want
ed. They don't like to see things
going too smoothly, because, after
all, it is a known fact that they
thrive on dissension and human
misery.
Ill coiiclusiuii, ali I sau say Is;
When will the members wake up
and join a real Union, and .quit
being kidded by the party? ,
(Signed) SUP Number 4840
P.S.—There are plenty of party
members who would like to know
who wrote this, therefore, with
hold my name, i,f possible. Thank
ing you for same, I remain yours
for a bigger SIU!
Have You Voted on the
Proposed Constitution?
Mliltaiit Activity
On SS Pan Atiantic
Strike Fund Favoredi
By Crew Members
DONATE TO P&O
smii
RESULT WILL AFFECT ALL
It won't be long now before the Evangelinfe will be going
to Florida to go on the rim with tliese struck ships, and
whatever agreement is signed by the P&O will he applied to
the Evangeline. IF THE P&O STRIKE IS LOST, THE MEN
ON THE EVANGELINE WILL ALSO BE DIRECTLY AF
FECTED ! And, as yet, the crew of tlie Evangeline have do
nated very little to the P&O strike fund 1
However, although the Evangeline will be the only East
Coast ship affected directly by the result of the P&O strike,
every ship on this Coast will sooner or later feel the effects
of it. IF THE MEN OFF THE P&O SHIPS LOSE THEIR
STRIKE, IT WILL BE A DIRECT LOSS TO EVERY MEM
BER OF THIS ORGANIZATION! ^
COME ON FELLOWS;—SHOW YOUR TRUE UNION
SPIRIT, AND DIG DEEP IN THE OLD SOCK, AND LAY
SOME REAL HARD CASH ON THE Ln(E TO HELP
YOUR UNION BROTHERS IN DISTRESS!
DON'T LET THE P&O STRIKE BE LOST!
SS Pan Atlantic
At sea.
Editor, The "LOG":
"Scotty Ross' Navy": —You
know; fellows, I've read that, and
heard it so often, — that when I
shipped on the SS Pan Atlantic
at New Orleans on June 17th, my
bags stayed unpacked for several
days, kecause I couldn't believe
mese Baldwin County and Mobile
nay rust pot jumpers could real
ly be so militant and determined,
to get what was coming to them!
The spirit of Unionism they
showed in sticking together 100
percent on every real beef to bet
ter conditions on this ship, has
changed my opinion, and those of
you who read this could beneAt,
and be better Union men in fol
lowing some of the examples of
Unionism this crew has shown In
the tight places.
Donate to P&O
Before reaching Tampa, the fel
low.s took up a collection of thirty
dollars for the beneAt of the boys
out on the P&O strike. Every
member of the crew contributed,
and some of the licensed person
nel gaie.to the collection.
At the last meeting held on
board, the crew also unanimous
ly voted In favor of the following
resolution:
Inasmuch as the agreements
between the Waterman SS Co., the
Bull Line, and the Mississippi
Shipping Co., all expire on Decem
ber 1st, of this year—that" for our
protection and Insurance, in the
event, there is trouble in securing
from these companies an agree
ment satisfactory to the members
of this Union, that a strike as
ses.sraent fund of $5.00 per mem
ber be started. This fund to be
placed in trust in the Gulf Head
quarters bank, with the under
standing.it is for use in strike re
lief work only, in the Gulf Dis
trict, Also that no loans can .be
drawn against it in any way by
the officials of the Union, and the
distribution of the funds may be
made only after expenditures are
approxed by a . committee elected
by tiie Gulf niembei ship.
Strike Fund Advocated
The foregoing motion was unan
imously carried, and the thought
was expressed, that in having a
separate strike fund in the Gulf
District such as the West Coast
member's have for their District,
that the Atlantic District wi!!
also start similar action along tlie
Atlantic Coast.
In conclusion, would like to add
that we feel biothers Gunnison
and Curry are deserving of a word
of conAdence for the orderly man
ner iu which they are conducting
the strike against the P&O Line.
The crew of this ship also feel
that if contact ̂ as made with the
ships' delegate of those vessels
.that regularly make Tampa, be
fore the.se ships arrived at this
port, and were requested for Anan
cial assistance in helping to carry
on the work in connection with
this P&O, would be made to
wards this P&O strike fund.
G. Shelton, Book No. 71, Gulf
SHIPMATES HELP
As ample proof that goodfeilow
ship exists between crew members
of the SS Texmar and the SIU,
a fund of $17.50 was collected for
Dominic Spalla, who was .stricken
with appendicitis and rushed to
thio ItospUal before aijival in
Boston.
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y;; Friday, Sept. 1, 1939 T H E S E A F A R E R S ' LOG
C^•
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• • rW A
HERE and THERE in the GULF
Results
\
Skipper Sees Light^ as Crew Hits
Dock to Enforce Demands
SHIP STRAIGHTENED OUT
ISTHMIAN BEEF
(Continued from Page 1)
full blast, with the longshoremen
supporting us 100, per cent, by re
fusing to go through the picket
lines. When the company saw the
unity and solidarity of this port,
they quickly came coco.
The Steel Ranger here, and the
Atlanta, City, which was struck In
Mobile, sailed with 100 per cent
SIU crews.
Credit Given
I comment, brotheis, that the
officials and niembers of the SIU
should be commended for the
way they handled this situation.
I think with our brothers organ
izing the SIU, a real rank and file
democratic organization is being
built up. I was on the picket
lines, and observed the SIU mem:
bership and officials really going
to town for a bona fide rank and
file organization, to gain better
wages and conditions.
Fraternally. yours,
E. M. Boudreattx, SUP 4191.
CREW APPRECIATIVE
" Mobile, Ala., August 28—During the last week, things are
shaping up to where the members are on the pin, and want
to know what is wrong if there isn't some ship alongside the
dock for conditions. The prize was the. Atlanta City, one of
the rust pots running for the Isthmian Line. This scow was
tied to the dock for nine days, ̂ d^
the whole beef should haveJieen
settled In a few hours, but a gen
tleman on there who is masquer
ading as master of the ship had
other ideas, and brothers, Admiral
Land is a piker compared to this
guy!
Skipper Fires Two.
First, he couldn't see us at all,
then when he saw that the ship
was set until he did, then he
started — and I mean started!
There were two men on the ship
whom he refused to take back at
any price. One of the men was
a swacko, and the other was fired
lor incompetency. The lad who
was a swacko said, "Sure, that's
right, I'll get off the ship; the
other man said, "What the Hell, I
made a six months trip on this
same ship some time back, and
got along O.K. I've, been on fhe
ship now for three weeks, and
when I start squawking, I'm fired
because I can't do the work/'
Yeahi we thought so too, so when
the ship stayed for another
twentyfour hours, and then he
took the man.
But, i.ere is the payoff:—When
we told the skipper that the lad
who took a drink once in awhile
was contciit to get off the tub, but
that the other lad was sailing the
ship, he turned around and said,
"No smoke",—that he would take
the drinker, but not the other one.
So you can see that he was going
out of his way to cooperate.
"Old Man" Sees Light
When the cxew. returned to the
ship Saturday afternoon, the "Old
man" said that the crew would
turn too at once, and no delegates
..allowed on the ship. So, off again
came the crew. Then I blew my
lid, and told the master and the
agent that if the crew had, to take
their gear ashore again, that it
would stay ashore until evei'y
thing was reduced to writing.
Tb^n we got some action. We sat
on the dock and argued with thi.s
skipper for an hour until we
gained our point, and to make it
certain, we had him buy the crew
Jheir dinner ashore before, they
turned to. Today, Monday, the
ship is back in from Port St. Joe
aiid all hands say things'are fine.
Labor Day Parade
On the Coast, if a few of our
SUP patrolmen will get these
ships that come in there, and get
them to sign the SIU pledge cards,
it will give us a big boost; as a
lot of these ships run from the
East Coast where they'can't be
contacted. So how about it?
We are trying to get a real La
i fcor Day parade lined up here—
the first in ten years. Watch our
smoke!
The Point Clear Is due to take
a crew very soon, and by the
time this Is printed, all the
Swayne & Hoyt ships in the Gulf
will be back in operation.
The fishermen here are coming
ight along, and very soon they
will be a force to be reckoned
with.;:. : •
:steady as she goes!
;Armstrong, SUP 2983
WEST KYSKA BEEF
SS Delplata,
Pilottown, La.,
August 23, 1939.
Dear Bi'othei's:
We are now bound South again
on the good ship Delplata. We.aie
proud of "Red" Dean and Finp fox*;
settling all overtime beefs, and
perfect conditions and chow.
We are all 100, percent SIU of
NA.
Crew of SS DELPLATA
NMU CONDITIONS?
SS Delplata,
New Orleans, La.
Dear Brothers:
Leaving. Houston, in the ship
channel we passed the SS Mackay,
laying at Deer Park. This is a
new ship constructed by the Mari
time Commission for the Pennsyl
vania Shipping Co. There is a full
NMU ci*ew aboard the vessel, who
shipped out of the Maritime Com
mission "Fink Hall" up East.
These phoneys were painting
over the side at 6:00 P.M.^—Marl
time Commission Training Ship
style. On inquiring at the dock,
we waie hifovrned that the crew
of this ship work overtime for
time off. If these donkeys could
see the working and living condi
tions we have on this SIU agree
ment ship, they would ditch their
commie controlled NMU, and
strike these ships for SIU nego
tiations for conditions.
The general working conditions
on this ship (SS Delplata) are
good; quarters and living condi
tions are first class—much supe
rior to many West Coast ships.
One good featux'e of the SIU is
the industrial type of organiza
tion, which Insures the membexs
of a united front of sailors, fire
men and stewards departments, in
any beef against the boss.
Fraternally,.
Robert A. Grimes, SUP 2015
^ (Continued from Page 1)
San Pedro weie notified by the
higheiups at Headquarters to tie
up the West Kyska upon her ar
rival at that port. However, the
San Pedro Branches of both
unions lefused to be used to drive
bona fide union men off a ship,
and passed the matter right back
into the laps of the topflight mas
terminds.
Phoney Move Starts
On August 21, in San Francisco,
Bruce Hannon of the Maritime
Federation, Walter Stack, and
Cayton of the MC&.S infoxmed
Sudden aijd Christensen that the
SIU crew would have to get off
the ship, and be replaced by men
who would be supplied by them.
This action was taken up at the
regular SUP meeting that night,
and after the matter was ex
plained to the members, they
went on record to back up the
SIU crew on the West Kyska
100%. The MFOW&W was noti
fied that if there were any re
placements to be made in the
black gang, they would be made
from the MFOW&W hall.
Stack PerfoiTOs
The West Kyska arrived in San
Francisco on the morning of Au
gust 22, and were_met by a picket
line of MC&S members, Wednes
day afternoon, comrade Walter
Stack called a rump meeting of
the MFOW, and went on record to
picket tlxe ship. A picket line was
dispatched the following morning,
but when the pickets discovexed
what the, beef was all about, they
immediately retuxned to their
hall, and stated that the beef was
phoney!
In the meantime, the Teamsters,
vvho have always respected a legi
timate picket line in Frisco, dcr
dared the picket line phoney,
and drove their trucks through.
Injiunction Granted
On Thursday, August 24, Dean
Wayne Morse, longshore arbitra
tor, handed down a blistering in
dictment. of. CIO tactics used in
the West Kyska beef, and; ren
dered a decision that the picket
line was. not only in violation of
the agreement, but was illegiti
jaate,.and hot even official.
Judge Griffin, to whom ship
owners had applied for an injunc
tion in this same dispute, granted
It, forbidding the CIO to continue
picketing the West Kyska.
Thus was tlxe phoney attemi^
of the CIO foiled. Their efforts
to have bona fide members of the
SIU removed from the s'hip in ox'
(ier to make jobs for their own
iiierabex's, were defeated tlirouglx
the complete cooperation of the
SUP, and the refusal of the Teanx
otex's to recognize a phoney picket
line.
ASKS MEMBERS
COOPERATE
TO
SS' Evangeline,
Boston, Mass.,
August 28, 193.9.
"United we stand, divided we
fall."
That phrase has been stailng
the membei'ship in the face time
and time again. To some of the
members these are just~ meaning
less words. The books that some
carxT are just for the sake of a
job. Do you call that Union
spirit? If all the members were
interested in the Union just for
the sake of a job, tlxe shipowneis
would be in their glory. Sooner
or later there would be a collapse,
and the bosses would again hold
the whip hand. Theie iemains
In a class by themselves, members
who know what they want—who
know what's right.. It is those
men who attempt to better condi
tions and get higher wages, but
their hands are tied becaxxse theie
is a small percentage of spinelp.ss
individuals who call themselves
Union men, who will not cooper
ate, but who aie content to sit
back and be satisfied with any
thing.
It has been proven numerous
times that there is strength, and
in the case of the shipowners,
might makes right.
Up and down tlxe coast, nomina
tions and election time aie draw
ing nearer. Will it be the old
story of "You vote for me, and
I'll take, care of you?" Or will
the members wake up to the fact
that they want new blood? Honest
seafaring men who are capable of
handling the job;—men who are
now working on ships, who assm
ciate with the crews, and know
of faults that have to be. reme
died. This is your Union, boys
P&O DONATIONS
you benefit or lose by its govern
ing.
The time for housecleaning has
arrived. Cooperate, and do your
bit', by taking part iix your Union
activities.
Vincent J. Yakavonis,
Book No. 1774
BUCKLEY
(Continued from Page 1)
proach he expects to receive re
garding his former stand to the
opposition. For, were it not for
those men within the Labor field
who are willing to stick out their
necks in order to steer their fel
low worker on a steady course,—
we, in the marine Industry would
still be working for slave wages.
The sneers that you, or any of
your type wish to throw my way,
matters not to me, for whatever
have done has always been in
the open. Can you say as much
for yourself? YOU SHALL AL
WAYS REMAIN, i,N MY
THOUGHTS, AS THE MAN WHO
SAILED WITH SCAB OIL!
YOU SHOULD REALIZE THE
DEFINITION OF ANYONE WHG
SAILS ON A HOT CARGO SHIP!
Jos. S. Buckley,
Book No. 312 Gulf
PHONEY EXPOSED
New Orleans, La.,
Aug. 29, 1939.
To Roland Dean, Gulf Org.:
I am calling your attention con
cerning the exboatswain of tlxe
SS Edgar F. Luckenbaclx, whose
name is VV. Dean Lea, SUP Book
Number 3201.
I have learixed through reliable
sources that this man applied for
membexship in the NMU, and I
have done a little investigating
myself, and found out that this
man now has a NMU book.
Being a exdelegate of said ship,
I have looked back into the min
nutes, of which I have the rec
ords, and a copy of said minutes
was. sent to SUP Hcndquai tors.
Now: —the minutes show that
this man was charged with vio
lating the working, x'ules at vari
ous times, while boatswain on
said ship. He had to quit here,
on his own accord, saying he
would go to Headquarters and
stand trial. It looks like the
phoney has no intention of de
fending himself against, .said
charges at a trial, and openly ad
mitting his guilt and phoney tac
tics, by clianging his book at' a
time like this.
The NMU has lots of phoneys
in their union, so I think one
move will not hurt them. The old
saying is: "Birds of a feather
flock together."
Fraternally yours,
E. M. Boudreaux, SUP 4191,
Ex Delegate,
SS Edgar F. Luckenbach
SS ROBIN ADAIR ?30.00
F. J. Klippberg ;, 1.00
G. W. McQuay 5p
W. Mackin 1.00
F. Baron 1.00
A. M. Wonson 1.00
G. S. Grant 1<()D
A. 'Wright 1.00
A Shipmate .50
W. Beebe ' .50
J. J. Jackson 1.00
S3 SEATKAIN HAVANA 28.70
SS ROSARIO 5.50
SS MARGARET 7.00
SS OREMAR 2.4'J
SS DELNORTE 22.50
SS DELPLATA 62.74
SS DOROTHY:
Beebe 5(1, *
SS CLARA:
P. White LOO
SS POINT ARENA .... 1.00
Sailors' Union of the
Pacific .' 100.00
N. Y. Branch SIU I00:0a
SS BOSTON 3.75^
L. S. Ortiz .25
SS NEW YORK:
(Eixg. DepL) J,... 6.50,
W. Love 1.00.
SS EVANGELINE:
(Steward's Dept.) .... 2.00^
SS ST. JOHN:
(Eng. Dept.) 4.75
Dan Barrett 50
G. Kinghorn 50
SS YARMOUTH:
(Eng. Dept.) 4.00
(Deck Dept.) 3.75
SS BOSTON:
(Eng. Dept.) 2.15 /
H. Lavender 25^
J. Kicklighter .25
J. Pinkus .501
T, Kerig ..SO,
R. Paul .50.i
F. Roche .50 .
G. Lepp 1.00..
SS NEW YORK:
(Deck Dept.) 9.10,
M. R. Gustavus 1.00
E. Smith 1.00
SS GEO. WASHINGTON:
(Eng. Dept.) 7.00 ,
(Deck Dept.) 95';), .
(Steward's Dept.) , 5.75
SS ACADIA:
(Eng. Dept.) 15.75,
Laborer's Local No. 850,
Miami 15;00 •
S3 CASSIMIR 18.00
F. Lauritano 2.00: •
H. Rocafort .25
H. Estwick 1.00;^.
V. E. Raymon 25^
A. Seott 1.00
B. Johnson 5'D
SS JEAN LAPITTB:
(Bos'n) 50
SS MAJOR WHEELER . 3.10
SS PAN ROYAL ....... 5.05
Boilermaker's Union,
Tiimpa 25.00 .
SS TOPA TOPA 10.50.:
Pipe Fitters Union,
Tampa 5.00
J. E. Smith 45
SS IPSWICH... 12.50
Boilermakers SAL &
ACL RR's 5.00
SS MAE 4.49 '
SS BELLINGHAM . . .• 6.00
Gene Don .10
SS PAN ATLANTIC ..... ,30.36 .
SS HASTINGS;. '
(Bro. Guess).^ 2'.00
SS CLARA 1.94
SS SHICKSHINNY ..... 9.00
SS TEXMAR:
(Deck Dept.) ll.'OO.
(Eng. Dept.) 6.00
(Steward's Dept.) ..._» 5.00 .
TUG MONTROSE 1.20
TUG SAMPSON 3.20 '
Baltimore Meeting
collection 6.37
Members in Baltimore
Bxauch 23.00
Add to DONATIONS to P&O
SS tJUijABEE «• • • • • • 27.50
SS ACADIA:
(Deck Dept.) 8.00
SS PANAMA CITY 21.50
SS PENNMAR v
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, Sept. 1,19319
NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street
CHICAGO
8101/2 N. Clark Street
IP; ' '
...
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lAlf f
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__ ^
,1 s VS,
STEWARDS^ON GEORGIAN BAY|Antidosed Slnp
BOATS COMING INTOiS IU
Secord's Phoney "Union" Loses Out
As "Agent" Refunds Money to Men
STOOGES START RUMORS
Buffalo, N. Y., August 19—Organization of the steward's
department on the Georgian Bay boats proceeds at a steady
pace. The chief steward on the SS South American, who had
acted as a willing Secord Agent at the beginning of the sea
son, withdrew gracefully from the picture by refunding to
the crew 25% of all money he had stolen in the name of
Secord's "union". This 25% represented the Steward's 'cut'.
At the same time that Secord's agent weakened under pres
sure of strongly organized crews, the company shows signs
of desperation.
Labor Forces Fighting
Vicious Legislation
LEWISCIO BLAMED
On the "South" the crew is
100% organized. Everything runs
Bmoothly on that ship. The crew
received part of the money stolen
from them. Plans are being laid
for a contract next season.
Stooges Start Rumor
Just after the "South" sailed
from here the SS Alabama docked.
On the Alabama the Steward's de
partment is not organized as
strongly as on the other two ships
in this outfit. Among this partly
organized crew. General Manager
Hatch and some of his stooges
whom he has placed in key posi
tions there are spreading the fal
lowing rumors: 1) that the
Georgian Bay Co. has signed a
contract for another year with
Secord; 2) that the Company will
lay its ships up if members of
the stewards department join the
Seafarers; S) that if the Seafar
ers force the company to sign a
contract', white men will be
shipped to replace the negroes
now working there.
No Contract for Secord
These are lies, lies, rzesr Hatch
would not dare sign a contract
with Secord for next season. As
tor laying up the ships: Hatch
knows that there is danger of his
ships not running next season,
only if he and Mr. Secord put
their heads together again. Hatch
has already agreed to sign with
the Seafarers' net season. There
is no question any longer about
whether the men want imion rep
resentation. The "North" and
"South" are 100% Seafarers'
ships. Union men fromthe three
Georgian Bay boats are holding a
meeting in Chicago this month to
draw up a set of working rules,
and wage scale, and to elect a ne
gotiating committee to present
same to Mr. Hatch. They are de
termined to get a closed shop con
tract for next season.
Stewards Militant
' Characteristic of the high union
Bpirit„ nvevalent among the stew
iBIfd's department members is
ithe following statement mimeo
graphed and sent to all boats by
the crew delegate off the SS
South American:
"To all members of the Stew
ards' Union of the Great Lakes:
"On Thursday, August 17, the
I Steward's Dept. on the South
American received reimburse
ment to the amount of 25% on
the dollar paid In said union.
"All these funds supposedly
It U the Duty of Every
Member to Vote.
hlL _ tiave tour
came from the Steward's
pocket.
"Time is short! Take action
now!"
Signed—
Leon Mitchell, delegate
Seafarers' International Union
SS South American
The men on the SS Alabama
want to force the chief steward
there, one Mr. Bailey, to cough
up the 25% "take" he pocketed
from money stolen off them. Swift,
chief steward on the "South," did
it! Why can't Bailey?
Vicious Rumora
Next trip our organization on
the Alabama ought to be solid
enough to force the hands of the
racketeers there. At present it is
the vicious rumors spread by the
company that is keeping the men
divided. Nothing could be more
slanderous than the rumor that
the Seafarers want to replace the
negroes with whites.
In spite of these rumors, mem
bers of the steward's department
are coming to clearly understand
that the Seafarers' International
Union is an organization of sea
men, run by seamen, to improve
conditions and raise wages of sea
men. In our ranks today are sea
men of various races, religious be
liefs, nationalities and political
views. We have to all stand to
gether to fight for better condi
tions for all of us. The attempt
to divide workers according to ra
cial and national lines is not a
new trick of the boss and his
stooges.
NOTICE
Membership books for the
following men are being held
at New York Headquarters:
Milton Weiner, A No. 4—Deck
M. Btanchi, A No. 2319—Deck
Frank E. Harvle, A iNo. 2671—
Deck
Charles W. Johnson, A No.
3163—Deck
E. Rivera, A No, 273&—Eng.
L. Culafato, A No. 2401—Stwd.
Burgess W. Davis, A. No. 3556
—Stwd.
Erasmo 0. Vega, A No. 4034—
Stwd.
C. F. Stowch, A No. 4642—
Stwd.
If the foregoing members
will write to Headquarters
stating What Branch they wish
their book sent to, It will be
forwarded to the Agent of that
particular Branch. Members
wishing their books to be sent
to a private address will be
requested to give a description
of themselves.
Montgomery, Als., August 21
(SLNB)—This great state, which
gave to the United States Con
gress it's Speaker of the House,
and to the United States Supreme
Court that great exponent of lib
eralism, the Hon. Justice Hugo
Black, and to the United States
Senate that great Roosevelt sup
porter, Senator Lister Hill, and
that stalwart Democrat', Senator
Bankhead, is now showing indica
tions of becoming the most reac
tionary state in the South, if bills
Introduced in the State Legisla
ture here are to be taken as
an Interpretalion of Alabama's
thought and philosophy.
Labor Forces Fighting
A bill has been introduced in
the state legislature making it un
lawful for an employer to sign a
closed shop agreement with a
union of his employees. It is the
first time in the South's history
that such a hill has been intro
duced in a state legislature. Labor
forces are fighting the proposed
measure, and it may be that the
thinking people of the state will
bo able to keep the legislature
from enacting the bill into law.
With the Now Deal being
praised far and wide for the con
sideration of the laboring people;
with Speaker Bankhead, and Ala
bama congressmen being a big cog
in the wheel of the New Deal;
with Senator Lister Hill of Ala
bama being one of the following
supports of the New Deal; with
Senator Bankhead being a stal
wart leader in the hosts of Dem
ocracy which claims so much
credit for looking after Labor's
interests, and with Justice Hugo
Black being such an outstanding
advocate of the New Deal's pr>
gram that he was appointed to
the United States Supreme Court;
with all of these Alabama leaders
constituting so much of the New
Deal's power, it is remarkably
strange, according to Labor lead
ers here, .why it Is that their state
legislature is becoming the most
ieactionary in the Union. *•
CIO Blamedl.
The one man responsible for
this deplorable stats of affairs is
that muchlytouted, selfappointed
dicthtor, John L. Lewis. Many of
the advocates of the Alabama bill
outlaw closed shop agreements
frankly admit that it is directed
John L. Lewis and his CIO.
Students of government and
politics say that Alabama's reac
tionary attitude is but a forerun
ner of that thought which will
lead America in 1940 into one of
most reactionary fouryear
periods this country has ever
known, and that it is the selfim
posed and exceedingly foolish lead
ership of John L, Lewis, and the
support which he receives from
communists that is solely re
sponsible for the terrible condi
tions wl^ich will be imposed upon
working people at no distant
date.
ATTENTION SEAMEN!
COMPUT.ATION OF SEAMEN'S WAGES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON
Department Circular No. 305'
Bureau of Marine Inspection
and Nairigation
To United States Shipping Commissioners, Collectors and Deputy
Collectors Acting as Shipping Commissioners, and Others
Concerned.
May 7, 1938.
The follotving rules will be observed by United States
shipping commissioners and collectors and deputy collectors
of customs acting as shipping commissioners in computing
amounts due American seamen as wages—
1. The date written in the column of the shipping articles
headed "Time at which to he on hoard" is taken as the time
when a seaman's wages should commence, provided he was
on hoard or duly presented himself to go on board at that
time.
If he went on board before that date with the consent and
at
Take an Active Part in
Your Union Affairs,
Vote!
.subject to the orders of the master, he is deemed to" have
commenced work and to he entitled to wages from the date
going on hoard.
If he failed through his own fault to join the ship at the
time specified in the articles, his wages accrue only from the
time at which he went on board and reported for duty.
Disputes in regard to the time when the wages began to
accrue rarely involve more than 1 or 2 days, and they are
usually adjusted by the ship's log, although if there is doubt
arising from the absence of proper entry in the log or sus
picious interlining" or other cause, the seaman's statement
may he accepted,
2. The column in the shipping articles headed "Place and
date of signing this agreement" contains the date of the
agreement. It does not indicate the time when wages are to
begin.
3. The agreement is considered as referring to calendar
months, defined as the tin e from any month, to the corre
sponding day (if any, and if not, to the last day) of the
next month.
For example:
January 29 to February 28 is 1 month.
January 31 to February 28 is 1 month.
February 28 to March 27 is 1 month.
March 28 to April 27 is 1 month.
4. In computing the amount due for a fraction of a month,
30 days is counted as a month without regard to its length.
or example, . 5 days in any month are onesixth of a month.
5. Any fraction of a day is counted as a whole day. For
example, from the afternoon of March 1 to March 4, both
inclusive, i.s reckoned as 4 days; and from March 1 to the
'orenoon of March 4, both inclusive, is reckoned as 4 days.
But if a seaman he entitled to wages from the afternoott
of one day to the forenoon of another day, the two fractions
of a day are considered as I day only. For example, the time
Tom the afternoon of March 1 to the forenoon of March 4,
)oth inclusive, is 3 days.
6. In computing the amount of wages due, the number of
calendar months (commeficing on the day on which wages be
gan to accrue) is to he determined first; to this is to he added
the fractional part of a month determined by counting each
and every day beyond the final day of the last full month. .
For example:
January 29 to March 3 (inclusive) equals 1 month
3 days.
January 31 to March 3 (inclusive) equals 1 mopth
3 days.
June 15 to October 13 (inclusive) equals 3 months
29 days.
/• June 15 to Nov. 13 (inclusive) equals 5 months. ' •
June 15 to Nov., 14 (inclusive) equals 5 months.
Approved:
DANIEL C. ROPER,
Secretary of Commerce.
iThis circular supersedes Treasury Department Circular No 60 t
entitled "Seaman's Wages," dateu April 2«!lg9a. • '
67924r—38
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SECURITY
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UNITY
The Seafarers' Log
Seafarergi' 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, SEPT. 1, 1939 446 NO. 17
P&O STRIKE STILL ON
AS MEN STAND FIRM
NMU Officials Play Fiiaky Game
But Plans Fall Through
FINKS ON SS FLORIDA
Miami, Fla., Aug. 29—On July 25 the men walked off the
P&O ships. On July 28, negotiations were broken oft", and
the U.S. Conciliator declared a deadlock.
Ten days later Soup Kitchens were set up along with com
missary totake care of married men and families.
On August 21, an injunction was^
served on the SITJ, because, ac
cording to the press, there would
be bloodshed when a crew was
recruited.
Finks Shipped
On August 22, the P&O Com
pany began hiring a crew, and the
links went to work. After scurry
ing around, the company finally
secured enough to take the ship
out, but could not get a full crew.
On August 25, the ship (SS
Florida) sailed, and arrived back
on August 28, with two ambu
iances and a hearse meeting her.
Approximately fifteen finks quit
the ship and scrammed.
The men are still on strike, and
intend to win. They will win with
the wonderful financial support
they have been getting.
Fighting NMU Officials
The strike is now in its sixth
week, and going strong, in spite
of the fact that we are not only
fighting the shipowner, but also
the NMIi officials. The Pilot
came out on August 18, with state
ments which were absolutely un
tfue, but which indicated what
the company planned. However,
the statement were not made
through the public press until
five days later. How did Fiank
Jones, NMU agent in Miami, get
his information if he was not
working for the company?
Jones stated this week that the
"NMU twobookcarrlers" will de
liver the ships. To whom does he
mean? He can mean only the
shipowner.
Commies Plan Flops
The commie stooges are run
ning around frantically because
their plans have fallen through.
They had a sweet setup, but they
forgot that the men have been
sold out by dictators often enough,
and under the banner of the SIU
we have a true democracy.
NMU agent Jones was reported
aboard the SS Florida, contacting
the finks, and this was reported
by a member of the SS Mimargo's
crew. He also went aboard a
Standard Oil tanker today to or
ganize the finks, and was told by
the crew that they were 100 per
cent finks, and didn't need to pay
dues to an organization that
OK'd finking. This seems to be
the policy of the officials of the
NMU,"—to organize finks, whether
there is a picket line or not.
When an AF of L picket line goes
out, it seems to be the signal for
the commies to come flocking In
and do a little fancy finking and
finkherding.
The Central Trades is backing
us 100 per cent, and Walter Hoyt,
Secretary of the State Federation
of Labor, has given us wonderful
cooperation.
CIO MOVE ON WEST KYSKA
FLOPS ON WEST COAST
Teamsters Ignore Phoney Picket
Line as Commissars Rave
SUP GIVES COOPERATION
San Francisco, Aug. 24 (WCS)—Hailing from the Port of
Mobile, operating under closed shop agreements—manned by
a bonafide 100% strikeclear crew—shipped from Union hir
ing halls—comes the handy little ship called the SS' WEST
EYSE^' into the Port of San iFrancisco this week.
This vessel is owned by Waterman, and usually runs
across to Europe from South Atlantic Ports.
She is chartered to make a few trips intercoastal.
' Sudden and flhristensen are the agents from this ship
while on this coast but have nothing to do with the crew
or the ship, which is operated dU^—
shipping through Union halls.
This agreement was won bj the
Gulf seamen through strike action
by the seartien on these ships, and
they have continually improved
their conditions on these ships
through job action.
rectly by Waterman.
A Union Crew
The Waterman Line ships, in
cluding the WEST JrVSKA, have
Seafarers' Intl. crews, shipped out
of Union halls in the Gulf. The
Gulf District Seafarers' have
agreements with the Waterman
Line which are on a level with
and, in some instances, better
than some of the West Coast
agreements. They call for all
Previous to the arrival of the
West Kyska in San Francisco, the
Firemens' and Cooks Unions in
, (Continued on Page 3}
Bull Line Contract
Ratified by Members
Changes to Be Made
Before Signing
Announcement of the comple
tion of tlie voting on the Bull
Line agreement was made at last
Monday night's Atlantic District
Headquarters meeting. The re
sults were as follows:
GENERAL RULES:
Deck Department—
Yes 145; No. 33
Eng. Department—
Yes 91; No 40
Steward's Department—
Yes 81; No. 29
WORKING RULES:
Deck Department—
Yes 135; No 42
Eng. Department—
• Yes 97: No 34
Steward's Department—
Yes 81; No 36 ^
The total vote cast in favor of
the General Rules was 317, and
102 against. On the Working
Rules 305 voted in favor, and 112
v,rere opposed. In other words,
the agreement was ratified by a
better than seventy percent mar
gin.
However, although the agree
ment was ratified by the majority
of the men on the Bull Line
ships, it will not be signed until
certain requested changes have
been made. Emergency Board
Chairman Dushane, in company
with Arthur Keleey, met with
Bull Line officials last Tuesday af
ternoon, and it was agreed by the
company that the necessary
changes wiil be made in the agiee
ment. As soon as a corrected
copy is drawn up, the agreement
wili be signed.
Althougli the new agreement
has met with some adverse critic
ism by certain parties, it is uever
thelos.s a vast improvement over
the old one. When the clarifica
tions and changes are inserted, it
will look much differeut from the
original draft.
TWO ISTHMIAN LINE SHIPS
STRUCK IH 6ULf PORTS
Company Agrees to Terms, Following
Militant Action by Membership
CONDITIONS GAINED BY SIU
New Orleans, La., August 22—Struck' SS Atlanta City in
Mobile on August 18. Struck SS Steel Ranger here yester
day. Longshoremen backing our beef 100 per cent, and re
specting our picket line.
Crews off about 90 per cent on both scows. Stewpot here
—• set up for pickets. Strong picket
Buckley Declares
Charges Marfhey With
Sailing Hot Oil Ship
New Bedford Line
Signs Agreement
Militant Action By
Crews Gets Results
On Thursday, August 17, an
agreement between the Seafarers'
Int'ernational Union of North
America and the New Bedford,
Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket
Line of the New England Steam
ship Company, was signed.
This company operates five ves
sels on this seasonal run, and all
of the employees come under the
Railway Labor Act. The members
of the unlicensed personnel aboard
the.se ships, after the 193637
strike, were unorganized,,and ne
gotiated an agreement for them
selves. According to Brothers
Dushane and Frank Berry, these
men are a very militant body of
men, and went to town for the
conditions gained under the terms
of the newly signed agreement.
They had previously informed
the. company that' if an acceptable
(Contimied on Page 2)
Attention Claude Marthey:
Reports come to me in the port
of Houston that you have taken
it upon yourself to write an ar
ticle questioning my stand in the
marine industry.
It is beyond doubt that Marthey
wishes to impress the members
of the SUP, and the commies, to
whom he has suddenly shown
such favoritism that his record as
a militant Union man is beyond
reproach.
Stand on ESSO Strike
Brother Marthey,—why haven't
you informed your SUP brothers
as to your stand during the
Standard Oil strike, while you
were In the Port of New York?
Why don't you tell your SUP bro
thers where that ship you sailed
lines being maintained. This
crummy outfit, in the past, has
bought off the piecards of the
ISU, NMU and several other out
fits. At last they are struck by
the SIU,—which is run by the
membership, with no danger of a
sell out!
So, in the near future, we will
be able to sail these scows with
A1 conditions. After all, these
are the only freight ships sailing
to the Pacific Coast with phoney
conditions. Of course, the M.C.
operates the Baltimore Mail Line
to the Pacific, with lousy condi
tions and NMU crews. Soon, that
also will be rectified.
The SIU is out to gain ana
maintain the best wages and con
ditions possible to achieve. We
are being sold out daily by the
NMU top committee, who advo
cate political activities, compared
to the SIU direct action.
"Red" Deaii
The beef on the Atlantic City
and the Steel Ranger was straight
ened out when the company was
contacted in New York, and
from the Port of New York got agreed to pay overtime for all
its bunkers? Hell!—Marthey,— work performed on Saturday af
be honest for a change, and give ternoons, Sundays, holidays, and
the workingox a chance! Tell after 5:00 P.M. and before 8:00
your SUP brothers the truth Gon, A.M. jt ^a.s agreed that food
cerning my stand during the would be improved, and working
tanker strike;—tell them why 11 conditions adjusted satisfactorily.
; ' \
was so damned long ashore in
New York! Had I been as job
conscious as yourself, it would
have been easy to get at the
point of production; but you
know it was because of the dis
tasteful odor that emitted from
"scaboil" that kept me so long
from the point.
Can't Take Heat
There is one thing that has al
ways been noticeable among those
men who shout In hai'rooms, and
on street corners, of their mili
tancy:—they are damned hard to
find when the heat is the heavi
est;—where it takes more than
booze to give a man intestinal for
titude to fight the opposition in
the Labor field. If you think it's
a picnic in the West Gulf, take a
stroll down in this country, and
we will show anyone who may be
interested to that extent, what
type of RATS and fingermen we
men in the marine industry are
forced to contend with in our en
deavor to build up the SIU.
One Track Mtnd
To permit yourself to hold to a
onetrack mind because of your
personal feelings towards a few
individuals, is proof of stupidity,
and a sign of lacking in that type
of principle which every militant
man has within himself, to come
out openly, regardless of the re
(Continued on Page 3)
The company also agreed to re
move the men who refused to
leave the ships when they were
struck. This was done, and a
crew for the Steel Ranger was
shipped from the New Orleans
SIU Hall.
[
'in • • •
SIU Does It
New Orleans, La., Aug. 29—Re:
the Isthmian S.S. Co. beef:
Being a Gulf man, and knowing
this phoney company's tactics,
and their trjdng for quite awhile
to evade having their ships or
ganized, the SIU has done some
thing that neither the phoney
NMU, nor the phoney old ISU
could do.
The SIU has gotten West Coast
conditions on two of this com
pany s ships, and as fast as their
ships hit port, the same West
Coast conditions will be gotten on
them.
Ships Lousy
The beef for conditions started
when the SIU patrolmen contact
ed the crew of the Steel Ranger
and told them the score. They
responded by walking off and hit
ting the picket line, with the re
mark: "We have been, waiting
for this for a long time, for con
ditions on these ships are really
lousy!"
Well, the picket line was going
(Continued on Page 3)
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http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
2 THE S E A F A R E R S* L O G Friday, Sept. 1, 1939
Publishea by the
Seafarers^ International Union
of North America
Affiliated with the American Federation of Labor
HARP.Y LUNDEBERG, Acting. Presldwit
110 Market Street, Room 402, San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwIing Green 93437) 2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Bo^on ,^30 Atlantic Avenue
Providence ."r. ..465 So: Main Street
Philadelphia .6 North 6th Street
Baltimore .14 North Gay Street
Norfolk 60 Commercial Place
San Juan, Puerto Rico ...8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans 309 Chartres Street
BBANOHESu
Savannah . 218 East Bay Street
Jacksonville 136 Bay Street
Miami .809 N, B, First Avenue
Tampa 206 Franklin Street
Mobile 55 So. Conception Street
Houston .... 1712 • 75th Street
Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
Detroit 1038 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNINO THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
}
' >'S • /«
15."
1^
a
RESULT OF P&O STRIKE
WILL AFFECT ALL
Itnmediately following a motion at. last Monday night's
Atlantic District Headquarters meeting to donate fifty dollars
to the P&O .strike fund, the. following motion was unani
mously carried:
"THAT AN ARTICLE BE PUT IN THE 'LOG'
CONDEMNING MEMBERS ON SHIPS WHO
HAVE NOT DONATED TO THE P&O STRIKE
POND."
It seems to us that a rather deplorable state of ffairs must
exist when it becomes necessary to even introduce such, a
motion on the floor, and if the poor response met with on
the ships is any criterion of the true Union spirit of some of
• our members, then a sorry state of affair.s certainly does
exist!
REVERSE YOUR POSITIONS
It is, of cour.se, quite true that a good many ships have
been quite generous with their donations to this very worthy
cause, hut a whole lot more haven't kicked in with even a
solitary dime! No,—they can't afford to support a bona fide
strike of their Union Brothers,— hut still, they can well af
ford to stand up against a bar and guzzle theirmoney away I
Place yourself in the position of these brothers who are on
strike, and think how you would feel if the members of your
own organization didn't dig down in their pockets, and lay
it on the line, in order to keep you from going hungry and
without a place to flop. How would you like it? You wouldn't
like it at all! Some day you may find yourselves in this very
same position, and then you'll be the very fir.st one to holler
if your Union brothers don't contribute their financial sup
port to keep you from going hungiy!
HELP DESPERATELY NEEDED
To you men wlio are at the point of production,—on the
ships: It wouldn't be working any particular hardship on
you to donate at least a dollar to help your brothers out, and
by so doing, you will he well aware of the fact that you are
contributing to something well, worth while, and that your
generous aid will be more than appreciated. HOW CAN
YOU CALL YOURSELVES UNION MEN UNLESS YOU
ARE READY AND WILLING TO HELP YOUR BROTHER
UNION MEMBERS? THESE MEN WHO STRUCK THE
t&O SHIPS NEED YOUR HELP DESPERATELY, AND
YOU CAN'T, CONSCIENTIOUSLY, AFFORD TO LET
^THEMDOWN!
These men strnek these .ships in a sincere effort to better
their conditiou.s through the signing of a fair working agree
Company has refused to grant these men
their just demands, .and are doing their best to break down
K ^ their morale. IF YOU LET THEM BREAK THIS STRIKE
YOU ARE ALLOWING THEM TO DO SOMETHINCJ
WHICH WILL AFFECT THE FUTURE OF THE ENTIRE
SIU! IF HIS STRIKE IS LOST, YOU MAY AS WELL
^iLOSE UP THE MIAMI AND TAMPA HALLS!
Of Mllltaficy in NMU
Marine Hospital,
Staten Island, N. Y.
Editor,
The LOG
Dear Brother:
I hope you can And room in
your next publication of the Sea
farers' LOG for this artide.
In the hospital here, it is prac
tically 99 percent NMU, but one
would be surpfioed to observe
these men and see how lax they
are in the matter of militancy.
One can point out to them how
the comrafs are selling the mem
berahin down the river, and it
doesn't faze them a bit. Some
contend with the idea, that since
the real rank and file of the Gulf
was thrown out of the Union,
there is nothing they can do but
wait for the axe to fall.
Keep Check on. Phonies
When the axe falls, it is going
to be too late to do anything
about it. It is my belief that this
September will see the last of the
NMU. But what then? The com
missars are going to rush into the
AFL and try to pull it apart, as
they have always done.
In my estimation, it would be
a good idea to keep a check on
all the stooges trying to get into
the SIU, and refuse them a book.
Furthewiore, close the books
• when the NMU folds .up. Why I
say this, is because everyone has
a chance to.^join now, and they
know the NMU is phoney by this
time. If they don't know it by
this time—well, you don't want
people in the SIU who are as
NEW BEDFORD LINE
(Con timed from Page 1)
agreement was not signed by Au
gust 17, they would hang the
hook. These men weren't fooling
—they meant what they said!
Negotiations had been broken
off the week previous, when a sat
isfacfory settlement could not be
reached, and the men then in
formed the company tliat if they
did not sign on the dotted line by
the following Thursday, their
ships would be struck. Negotia
tions were resumed on August 16
witli Emergency Board Chairman
Dushane and Providence Agent
Frank Berry, assisted by a crew
member of each of the Ave ships
involved. A satisfactory agi*ee
ment was then reached, and the
contract was signed the following
day. !
Included among the gains was a
ten cents an hour raise in the
overtime rate, and a like increase
for standby work. Previously,
the unlicensed personnel was
obliged to pay the full cost of any
uniforms they were obliged to
wear, but under the new agree
ment, the company .assumes Afty
percent of , the cost. Double days
pay for Sunday work is also in
cluded, and tlie overtime condi
tions are well taken care of.
The agreement expires in June
1940.
r,;
• &'
dumb as that.
Committee Galls
I put out some literature yes
teiday about noon, and you would
be surprised at the results. No
body said anything right then, but
after supper T was visited by a
committee of three. They asked
me who was putting out the dis
ruptive literature. I told them it
wasn't disruptive, in the Arst
place; in the second place/ since
they came direct to my bunk,
they must have known it was me.
I also asked them why they didn't
read it, and learn the truth. They
said they had read it, and I asked
them if the truth hurt! They said
they didn't give a damn if it was
the truth or not, as it was still
disruptive, and, furthemore, that
the men in the hospital weren't
going to read it. I told one of
them that it was a helluva union
where the membership couldn't
read what they pleased. They
Anally wound up the argument by
asklug uie if I didn't think that
putting out those papers wasn't
a good way to keep from growing
old? Now can you imagine any
commy getting militant enough to
dump anyone? That makes me
laugh! When they were leaving,
told them to call again next
week, and I would give them some
more truth about the way tlie
NMU is selling out!
What does all this mean? Is
the membership of the NMU fall
ing out so fast that they are be
ginning to feel the dues collect
ing racket leaving them?
Don't Want Too Strong
Before closing this, I would like
to know why the NMU oAlcials al
lowed the SIU to get such a hold
on the E.G., if if isn't any good,
as they elaim? The NMU had
been in full power for three years
before, the SIU came into being.
If they were leally sincere with
the membership, they would have
had the E.G. tied up tighter than
all Hell, But no, they don't want
it too strong, because they could
not pull it down when they want
ed. They don't like to see things
going too smoothly, because, after
all, it is a known fact that they
thrive on dissension and human
misery.
Ill coiiclusiuii, ali I sau say Is;
When will the members wake up
and join a real Union, and .quit
being kidded by the party? ,
(Signed) SUP Number 4840
P.S.—There are plenty of party
members who would like to know
who wrote this, therefore, with
hold my name, i,f possible. Thank
ing you for same, I remain yours
for a bigger SIU!
Have You Voted on the
Proposed Constitution?
Mliltaiit Activity
On SS Pan Atiantic
Strike Fund Favoredi
By Crew Members
DONATE TO P&O
smii
RESULT WILL AFFECT ALL
It won't be long now before the Evangelinfe will be going
to Florida to go on the rim with tliese struck ships, and
whatever agreement is signed by the P&O will he applied to
the Evangeline. IF THE P&O STRIKE IS LOST, THE MEN
ON THE EVANGELINE WILL ALSO BE DIRECTLY AF
FECTED ! And, as yet, the crew of tlie Evangeline have do
nated very little to the P&O strike fund 1
However, although the Evangeline will be the only East
Coast ship affected directly by the result of the P&O strike,
every ship on this Coast will sooner or later feel the effects
of it. IF THE MEN OFF THE P&O SHIPS LOSE THEIR
STRIKE, IT WILL BE A DIRECT LOSS TO EVERY MEM
BER OF THIS ORGANIZATION! ^
COME ON FELLOWS;—SHOW YOUR TRUE UNION
SPIRIT, AND DIG DEEP IN THE OLD SOCK, AND LAY
SOME REAL HARD CASH ON THE Ln(E TO HELP
YOUR UNION BROTHERS IN DISTRESS!
DON'T LET THE P&O STRIKE BE LOST!
SS Pan Atlantic
At sea.
Editor, The "LOG":
"Scotty Ross' Navy": —You
know; fellows, I've read that, and
heard it so often, — that when I
shipped on the SS Pan Atlantic
at New Orleans on June 17th, my
bags stayed unpacked for several
days, kecause I couldn't believe
mese Baldwin County and Mobile
nay rust pot jumpers could real
ly be so militant and determined,
to get what was coming to them!
The spirit of Unionism they
showed in sticking together 100
percent on every real beef to bet
ter conditions on this ship, has
changed my opinion, and those of
you who read this could beneAt,
and be better Union men in fol
lowing some of the examples of
Unionism this crew has shown In
the tight places.
Donate to P&O
Before reaching Tampa, the fel
low.s took up a collection of thirty
dollars for the beneAt of the boys
out on the P&O strike. Every
member of the crew contributed,
and some of the licensed person
nel gaie.to the collection.
At the last meeting held on
board, the crew also unanimous
ly voted In favor of the following
resolution:
Inasmuch as the agreements
between the Waterman SS Co., the
Bull Line, and the Mississippi
Shipping Co., all expire on Decem
ber 1st, of this year—that" for our
protection and Insurance, in the
event, there is trouble in securing
from these companies an agree
ment satisfactory to the members
of this Union, that a strike as
ses.sraent fund of $5.00 per mem
ber be started. This fund to be
placed in trust in the Gulf Head
quarters bank, with the under
standing.it is for use in strike re
lief work only, in the Gulf Dis
trict, Also that no loans can .be
drawn against it in any way by
the officials of the Union, and the
distribution of the funds may be
made only after expenditures are
approxed by a . committee elected
by tiie Gulf niembei ship.
Strike Fund Advocated
The foregoing motion was unan
imously carried, and the thought
was expressed, that in having a
separate strike fund in the Gulf
District such as the West Coast
member's have for their District,
that the Atlantic District wi!!
also start similar action along tlie
Atlantic Coast.
In conclusion, would like to add
that we feel biothers Gunnison
and Curry are deserving of a word
of conAdence for the orderly man
ner iu which they are conducting
the strike against the P&O Line.
The crew of this ship also feel
that if contact ̂ as made with the
ships' delegate of those vessels
.that regularly make Tampa, be
fore the.se ships arrived at this
port, and were requested for Anan
cial assistance in helping to carry
on the work in connection with
this P&O, would be made to
wards this P&O strike fund.
G. Shelton, Book No. 71, Gulf
SHIPMATES HELP
As ample proof that goodfeilow
ship exists between crew members
of the SS Texmar and the SIU,
a fund of $17.50 was collected for
Dominic Spalla, who was .stricken
with appendicitis and rushed to
thio ItospUal before aijival in
Boston.
http://www.pdfcompressor.org/buy.html
y;; Friday, Sept. 1, 1939 T H E S E A F A R E R S ' LOG
C^•
; f^:^|
• • rW A
HERE and THERE in the GULF
Results
\
Skipper Sees Light^ as Crew Hits
Dock to Enforce Demands
SHIP STRAIGHTENED OUT
ISTHMIAN BEEF
(Continued from Page 1)
full blast, with the longshoremen
supporting us 100, per cent, by re
fusing to go through the picket
lines. When the company saw the
unity and solidarity of this port,
they quickly came coco.
The Steel Ranger here, and the
Atlanta, City, which was struck In
Mobile, sailed with 100 per cent
SIU crews.
Credit Given
I comment, brotheis, that the
officials and niembers of the SIU
should be commended for the
way they handled this situation.
I think with our brothers organ
izing the SIU, a real rank and file
democratic organization is being
built up. I was on the picket
lines, and observed the SIU mem:
bership and officials really going
to town for a bona fide rank and
file organization, to gain better
wages and conditions.
Fraternally. yours,
E. M. Boudreattx, SUP 4191.
CREW APPRECIATIVE
" Mobile, Ala., August 28—During the last week, things are
shaping up to where the members are on the pin, and want
to know what is wrong if there isn't some ship alongside the
dock for conditions. The prize was the. Atlanta City, one of
the rust pots running for the Isthmian Line. This scow was
tied to the dock for nine days, ̂ d^
the whole beef should haveJieen
settled In a few hours, but a gen
tleman on there who is masquer
ading as master of the ship had
other ideas, and brothers, Admiral
Land is a piker compared to this
guy!
Skipper Fires Two.
First, he couldn't see us at all,
then when he saw that the ship
was set until he did, then he
started — and I mean started!
There were two men on the ship
whom he refused to take back at
any price. One of the men was
a swacko, and the other was fired
lor incompetency. The lad who
was a swacko said, "Sure, that's
right, I'll get off the ship; the
other man said, "What the Hell, I
made a six months trip on this
same ship some time back, and
got along O.K. I've, been on fhe
ship now for three weeks, and
when I start squawking, I'm fired
because I can't do the work/'
Yeahi we thought so too, so when
the ship stayed for another
twentyfour hours, and then he
took the man.
But, i.ere is the payoff:—When
we told the skipper that the lad
who took a drink once in awhile
was contciit to get off the tub, but
that the other lad was sailing the
ship, he turned around and said,
"No smoke",—that he would take
the drinker, but not the other one.
So you can see that he was going
out of his way to cooperate.
"Old Man" Sees Light
When the cxew. returned to the
ship Saturday afternoon, the "Old
man" said that the crew would
turn too at once, and no delegates
..allowed on the ship. So, off again
came the crew. Then I blew my
lid, and told the master and the
agent that if the crew had, to take
their gear ashore again, that it
would stay ashore until evei'y
thing was reduced to writing.
Tb^n we got some action. We sat
on the dock and argued with thi.s
skipper for an hour until we
gained our point, and to make it
certain, we had him buy the crew
Jheir dinner ashore before, they
turned to. Today, Monday, the
ship is back in from Port St. Joe
aiid all hands say things'are fine.
Labor Day Parade
On the Coast, if a few of our
SUP patrolmen will get these
ships that come in there, and get
them to sign the SIU pledge cards,
it will give us a big boost; as a
lot of these ships run from the
East Coast where they'can't be
contacted. So how about it?
We are trying to get a real La
i fcor Day parade lined up here—
the first in ten years. Watch our
smoke!
The Point Clear Is due to take
a crew very soon, and by the
time this Is printed, all the
Swayne & Hoyt ships in the Gulf
will be back in operation.
The fishermen here are coming
ight along, and very soon they
will be a force to be reckoned
with.;:. : •
:steady as she goes!
;Armstrong, SUP 2983
WEST KYSKA BEEF
SS Delplata,
Pilottown, La.,
August 23, 1939.
Dear Bi'othei's:
We are now bound South again
on the good ship Delplata. We.aie
proud of "Red" Dean and Finp fox*;
settling all overtime beefs, and
perfect conditions and chow.
We are all 100, percent SIU of
NA.
Crew of SS DELPLATA
NMU CONDITIONS?
SS Delplata,
New Orleans, La.
Dear Brothers:
Leaving. Houston, in the ship
channel we passed the SS Mackay,
laying at Deer Park. This is a
new ship constructed by the Mari
time Commission for the Pennsyl
vania Shipping Co. There is a full
NMU ci*ew aboard the vessel, who
shipped out of the Maritime Com
mission "Fink Hall" up East.
These phoneys were painting
over the side at 6:00 P.M.^—Marl
time Commission Training Ship
style. On inquiring at the dock,
we waie hifovrned that the crew
of this ship work overtime for
time off. If these donkeys could
see the working and living condi
tions we have on this SIU agree
ment ship, they would ditch their
commie controlled NMU, and
strike these ships for SIU nego
tiations for conditions.
The general working conditions
on this ship (SS Delplata) are
good; quarters and living condi
tions are first class—much supe
rior to many West Coast ships.
One good featux'e of the SIU is
the industrial type of organiza
tion, which Insures the membexs
of a united front of sailors, fire
men and stewards departments, in
any beef against the boss.
Fraternally,.
Robert A. Grimes, SUP 2015
^ (Continued from Page 1)
San Pedro weie notified by the
higheiups at Headquarters to tie
up the West Kyska upon her ar
rival at that port. However, the
San Pedro Branches of both
unions lefused to be used to drive
bona fide union men off a ship,
and passed the matter right back
into the laps of the topflight mas
terminds.
Phoney Move Starts
On August 21, in San Francisco,
Bruce Hannon of the Maritime
Federation, Walter Stack, and
Cayton of the MC&.S infoxmed
Sudden aijd Christensen that the
SIU crew would have to get off
the ship, and be replaced by men
who would be supplied by them.
This action was taken up at the
regular SUP meeting that night,
and after the matter was ex
plained to the members, they
went on record to back up the
SIU crew on the West Kyska
100%. The MFOW&W was noti
fied that if there were any re
placements to be made in the
black gang, they would be made
from the MFOW&W hall.
Stack PerfoiTOs
The West Kyska arrived in San
Francisco on the morning of Au
gust 22, and were_met by a picket
line of MC&S members, Wednes
day afternoon, comrade Walter
Stack called a rump meeting of
the MFOW, and went on record to
picket tlxe ship. A picket line was
dispatched the following morning,
but when the pickets discovexed
what the, beef was all about, they
immediately retuxned to their
hall, and stated that the beef was
phoney!
In the meantime, the Teamsters,
vvho have always respected a legi
timate picket line in Frisco, dcr
dared the picket line phoney,
and drove their trucks through.
Injiunction Granted
On Thursday, August 24, Dean
Wayne Morse, longshore arbitra
tor, handed down a blistering in
dictment. of. CIO tactics used in
the West Kyska beef, and; ren
dered a decision that the picket
line was. not only in violation of
the agreement, but was illegiti
jaate,.and hot even official.
Judge Griffin, to whom ship
owners had applied for an injunc
tion in this same dispute, granted
It, forbidding the CIO to continue
picketing the West Kyska.
Thus was tlxe phoney attemi^
of the CIO foiled. Their efforts
to have bona fide members of the
SIU removed from the s'hip in ox'
(ier to make jobs for their own
iiierabex's, were defeated tlirouglx
the complete cooperation of the
SUP, and the refusal of the Teanx
otex's to recognize a phoney picket
line.
ASKS MEMBERS
COOPERATE
TO
SS' Evangeline,
Boston, Mass.,
August 28, 193.9.
"United we stand, divided we
fall."
That phrase has been stailng
the membei'ship in the face time
and time again. To some of the
members these are just~ meaning
less words. The books that some
carxT are just for the sake of a
job. Do you call that Union
spirit? If all the members were
interested in the Union just for
the sake of a job, tlxe shipowneis
would be in their glory. Sooner
or later there would be a collapse,
and the bosses would again hold
the whip hand. Theie iemains
In a class by themselves, members
who know what they want—who
know what's right.. It is those
men who attempt to better condi
tions and get higher wages, but
their hands are tied becaxxse theie
is a small percentage of spinelp.ss
individuals who call themselves
Union men, who will not cooper
ate, but who aie content to sit
back and be satisfied with any
thing.
It has been proven numerous
times that there is strength, and
in the case of the shipowners,
might makes right.
Up and down tlxe coast, nomina
tions and election time aie draw
ing nearer. Will it be the old
story of "You vote for me, and
I'll take, care of you?" Or will
the members wake up to the fact
that they want new blood? Honest
seafaring men who are capable of
handling the job;—men who are
now working on ships, who assm
ciate with the crews, and know
of faults that have to be. reme
died. This is your Union, boys
P&O DONATIONS
you benefit or lose by its govern
ing.
The time for housecleaning has
arrived. Cooperate, and do your
bit', by taking part iix your Union
activities.
Vincent J. Yakavonis,
Book No. 1774
BUCKLEY
(Continued from Page 1)
proach he expects to receive re
garding his former stand to the
opposition. For, were it not for
those men within the Labor field
who are willing to stick out their
necks in order to steer their fel
low worker on a steady course,—
we, in the marine Industry would
still be working for slave wages.
The sneers that you, or any of
your type wish to throw my way,
matters not to me, for whatever
have done has always been in
the open. Can you say as much
for yourself? YOU SHALL AL
WAYS REMAIN, i,N MY
THOUGHTS, AS THE MAN WHO
SAILED WITH SCAB OIL!
YOU SHOULD REALIZE THE
DEFINITION OF ANYONE WHG
SAILS ON A HOT CARGO SHIP!
Jos. S. Buckley,
Book No. 312 Gulf
PHONEY EXPOSED
New Orleans, La.,
Aug. 29, 1939.
To Roland Dean, Gulf Org.:
I am calling your attention con
cerning the exboatswain of tlxe
SS Edgar F. Luckenbaclx, whose
name is VV. Dean Lea, SUP Book
Number 3201.
I have learixed through reliable
sources that this man applied for
membexship in the NMU, and I
have done a little investigating
myself, and found out that this
man now has a NMU book.
Being a exdelegate of said ship,
I have looked back into the min
nutes, of which I have the rec
ords, and a copy of said minutes
was. sent to SUP Hcndquai tors.
Now: —the minutes show that
this man was charged with vio
lating the working, x'ules at vari
ous times, while boatswain on
said ship. He had to quit here,
on his own accord, saying he
would go to Headquarters and
stand trial. It looks like the
phoney has no intention of de
fending himself against, .said
charges at a trial, and openly ad
mitting his guilt and phoney tac
tics, by clianging his book at' a
time like this.
The NMU has lots of phoneys
in their union, so I think one
move will not hurt them. The old
saying is: "Birds of a feather
flock together."
Fraternally yours,
E. M. Boudreaux, SUP 4191,
Ex Delegate,
SS Edgar F. Luckenbach
SS ROBIN ADAIR ?30.00
F. J. Klippberg ;, 1.00
G. W. McQuay 5p
W. Mackin 1.00
F. Baron 1.00
A. M. Wonson 1.00
G. S. Grant 1<()D
A. 'Wright 1.00
A Shipmate .50
W. Beebe ' .50
J. J. Jackson 1.00
S3 SEATKAIN HAVANA 28.70
SS ROSARIO 5.50
SS MARGARET 7.00
SS OREMAR 2.4'J
SS DELNORTE 22.50
SS DELPLATA 62.74
SS DOROTHY:
Beebe 5(1, *
SS CLARA:
P. White LOO
SS POINT ARENA .... 1.00
Sailors' Union of the
Pacific .' 100.00
N. Y. Branch SIU I00:0a
SS BOSTON 3.75^
L. S. Ortiz .25
SS NEW YORK:
(Eixg. DepL) J,... 6.50,
W. Love 1.00.
SS EVANGELINE:
(Steward's Dept.) .... 2.00^
SS ST. JOHN:
(Eng. Dept.) 4.75
Dan Barrett 50
G. Kinghorn 50
SS YARMOUTH:
(Eng. Dept.) 4.00
(Deck Dept.) 3.75
SS BOSTON:
(Eng. Dept.) 2.15 /
H. Lavender 25^
J. Kicklighter .25
J. Pinkus .501
T, Kerig ..SO,
R. Paul .50.i
F. Roche .50 .
G. Lepp 1.00..
SS NEW YORK:
(Deck Dept.) 9.10,
M. R. Gustavus 1.00
E. Smith 1.00
SS GEO. WASHINGTON:
(Eng. Dept.) 7.00 ,
(Deck Dept.) 95';), .
(Steward's Dept.) , 5.75
SS ACADIA:
(Eng. Dept.) 15.75,
Laborer's Local No. 850,
Miami 15;00 •
S3 CASSIMIR 18.00
F. Lauritano 2.00: •
H. Rocafort .25
H. Estwick 1.00;^.
V. E. Raymon 25^
A. Seott 1.00
B. Johnson 5'D
SS JEAN LAPITTB:
(Bos'n) 50
SS MAJOR WHEELER . 3.10
SS PAN ROYAL ....... 5.05
Boilermaker's Union,
Tiimpa 25.00 .
SS TOPA TOPA 10.50.:
Pipe Fitters Union,
Tampa 5.00
J. E. Smith 45
SS IPSWICH... 12.50
Boilermakers SAL &
ACL RR's 5.00
SS MAE 4.49 '
SS BELLINGHAM . . .• 6.00
Gene Don .10
SS PAN ATLANTIC ..... ,30.36 .
SS HASTINGS;. '
(Bro. Guess).^ 2'.00
SS CLARA 1.94
SS SHICKSHINNY ..... 9.00
SS TEXMAR:
(Deck Dept.) ll.'OO.
(Eng. Dept.) 6.00
(Steward's Dept.) ..._» 5.00 .
TUG MONTROSE 1.20
TUG SAMPSON 3.20 '
Baltimore Meeting
collection 6.37
Members in Baltimore
Bxauch 23.00
Add to DONATIONS to P&O
SS tJUijABEE «• • • • • • 27.50
SS ACADIA:
(Deck Dept.) 8.00
SS PANAMA CITY 21.50
SS PENNMAR v
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THE SEAFARERS' LOG Friday, Sept. 1,19319
NEWS and VIEWS from the LAKES
BUFFALO
10 Exchange Street
MILWAUKEE
730 S. Second Street
DETROIT
1038 Third Street
CLEVELAND
1426 Third Street
CHICAGO
8101/2 N. Clark Street
IP; ' '
...
r • ;•
lAlf f
'iaf .
__ ^
,1 s VS,
STEWARDS^ON GEORGIAN BAY|Antidosed Slnp
BOATS COMING INTOiS IU
Secord's Phoney "Union" Loses Out
As "Agent" Refunds Money to Men
STOOGES START RUMORS
Buffalo, N. Y., August 19—Organization of the steward's
department on the Georgian Bay boats proceeds at a steady
pace. The chief steward on the SS South American, who had
acted as a willing Secord Agent at the beginning of the sea
son, withdrew gracefully from the picture by refunding to
the crew 25% of all money he had stolen in the name of
Secord's "union". This 25% represented the Steward's 'cut'.
At the same time that Secord's agent weakened under pres
sure of strongly organized crews, the company shows signs
of desperation.
Labor Forces Fighting
Vicious Legislation
LEWISCIO BLAMED
On the "South" the crew is
100% organized. Everything runs
Bmoothly on that ship. The crew
received part of the money stolen
from them. Plans are being laid
for a contract next season.
Stooges Start Rumor
Just after the "South" sailed
from here the SS Alabama docked.
On the Alabama the Steward's de
partment is not organized as
strongly as on the other two ships
in this outfit. Among this partly
organized crew. General Manager
Hatch and some of his stooges
whom he has placed in key posi
tions there are spreading the fal
lowing rumors: 1) that the
Georgian Bay Co. has signed a
contract for another year with
Secord; 2) that the Company will
lay its ships up if members of
the stewards department join the
Seafarers; S) that if the Seafar
ers force the company to sign a
contract', white men will be
shipped to replace the negroes
now working there.
No Contract for Secord
These are lies, lies, rzesr Hatch
would not dare sign a contract
with Secord for next season. As
tor laying up the ships: Hatch
knows that there is danger of his
ships not running next season,
only if he and Mr. Secord put
their heads together again. Hatch
has already agreed to sign with
the Seafarers' net season. There
is no question any longer about
whether the men want imion rep
resentation. The "North" and
"South" are 100% Seafarers'
ships. Union men fromthe three
Georgian Bay boats are holding a
meeting in Chicago this month to
draw up a set of working rules,
and wage scale, and to elect a ne
gotiating committee to present
same to Mr. Hatch. They are de
termined to get a closed shop con
tract for next season.
Stewards Militant
' Characteristic of the high union
Bpirit„ nvevalent among the stew
iBIfd's department members is
ithe following statement mimeo
graphed and sent to all boats by
the crew delegate off the SS
South American:
"To all members of the Stew
ards' Union of the Great Lakes:
"On Thursday, August 17, the
I Steward's Dept. on the South
American received reimburse
ment to the amount of 25% on
the dollar paid In said union.
"All these funds supposedly
It U the Duty of Every
Member to Vote.
hlL _ tiave tour
came from the Steward's
pocket.
"Time is short! Take action
now!"
Signed—
Leon Mitchell, delegate
Seafarers' International Union
SS South American
The men on the SS Alabama
want to force the chief steward
there, one Mr. Bailey, to cough
up the 25% "take" he pocketed
from money stolen off them. Swift,
chief steward on the "South," did
it! Why can't Bailey?
Vicious Rumora
Next trip our organization on
the Alabama ought to be solid
enough to force the hands of the
racketeers there. At present it is
the vicious rumors spread by the
company that is keeping the men
divided. Nothing could be more
slanderous than the rumor that
the Seafarers want to replace the
negroes with whites.
In spite of these rumors, mem
bers of the steward's department
are coming to clearly understand
that the Seafarers' International
Union is an organization of sea
men, run by seamen, to improve
conditions and raise wages of sea
men. In our ranks today are sea
men of various races, religious be
liefs, nationalities and political
views. We have to all stand to
gether to fight for better condi
tions for all of us. The attempt
to divide workers according to ra
cial and national lines is not a
new trick of the boss and his
stooges.
NOTICE
Membership books for the
following men are being held
at New York Headquarters:
Milton Weiner, A No. 4—Deck
M. Btanchi, A No. 2319—Deck
Frank E. Harvle, A iNo. 2671—
Deck
Charles W. Johnson, A No.
3163—Deck
E. Rivera, A No, 273&—Eng.
L. Culafato, A No. 2401—Stwd.
Burgess W. Davis, A. No. 3556
—Stwd.
Erasmo 0. Vega, A No. 4034—
Stwd.
C. F. Stowch, A No. 4642—
Stwd.
If the foregoing members
will write to Headquarters
stating What Branch they wish
their book sent to, It will be
forwarded to the Agent of that
particular Branch. Members
wishing their books to be sent
to a private address will be
requested to give a description
of themselves.
Montgomery, Als., August 21
(SLNB)—This great state, which
gave to the United States Con
gress it's Speaker of the House,
and to the United States Supreme
Court that great exponent of lib
eralism, the Hon. Justice Hugo
Black, and to the United States
Senate that great Roosevelt sup
porter, Senator Lister Hill, and
that stalwart Democrat', Senator
Bankhead, is now showing indica
tions of becoming the most reac
tionary state in the South, if bills
Introduced in the State Legisla
ture here are to be taken as
an Interpretalion of Alabama's
thought and philosophy.
Labor Forces Fighting
A bill has been introduced in
the state legislature making it un
lawful for an employer to sign a
closed shop agreement with a
union of his employees. It is the
first time in the South's history
that such a hill has been intro
duced in a state legislature. Labor
forces are fighting the proposed
measure, and it may be that the
thinking people of the state will
bo able to keep the legislature
from enacting the bill into law.
With the Now Deal being
praised far and wide for the con
sideration of the laboring people;
with Speaker Bankhead, and Ala
bama congressmen being a big cog
in the wheel of the New Deal;
with Senator Lister Hill of Ala
bama being one of the following
supports of the New Deal; with
Senator Bankhead being a stal
wart leader in the hosts of Dem
ocracy which claims so much
credit for looking after Labor's
interests, and with Justice Hugo
Black being such an outstanding
advocate of the New Deal's pr>
gram that he was appointed to
the United States Supreme Court;
with all of these Alabama leaders
constituting so much of the New
Deal's power, it is remarkably
strange, according to Labor lead
ers here, .why it Is that their state
legislature is becoming the most
ieactionary in the Union. *•
CIO Blamedl.
The one man responsible for
this deplorable stats of affairs is
that muchlytouted, selfappointed
dicthtor, John L. Lewis. Many of
the advocates of the Alabama bill
outlaw closed shop agreements
frankly admit that it is directed
John L. Lewis and his CIO.
Students of government and
politics say that Alabama's reac
tionary attitude is but a forerun
ner of that thought which will
lead America in 1940 into one of
most reactionary fouryear
periods this country has ever
known, and that it is the selfim
posed and exceedingly foolish lead
ership of John L, Lewis, and the
support which he receives from
communists that is solely re
sponsible for the terrible condi
tions wl^ich will be imposed upon
working people at no distant
date.
ATTENTION SEAMEN!
COMPUT.ATION OF SEAMEN'S WAGES
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
WASHINGTON
Department Circular No. 305'
Bureau of Marine Inspection
and Nairigation
To United States Shipping Commissioners, Collectors and Deputy
Collectors Acting as Shipping Commissioners, and Others
Concerned.
May 7, 1938.
The follotving rules will be observed by United States
shipping commissioners and collectors and deputy collectors
of customs acting as shipping commissioners in computing
amounts due American seamen as wages—
1. The date written in the column of the shipping articles
headed "Time at which to he on hoard" is taken as the time
when a seaman's wages should commence, provided he was
on hoard or duly presented himself to go on board at that
time.
If he went on board before that date with the consent and
at
Take an Active Part in
Your Union Affairs,
Vote!
.subject to the orders of the master, he is deemed to" have
commenced work and to he entitled to wages from the date
going on hoard.
If he failed through his own fault to join the ship at the
time specified in the articles, his wages accrue only from the
time at which he went on board and reported for duty.
Disputes in regard to the time when the wages began to
accrue rarely involve more than 1 or 2 days, and they are
usually adjusted by the ship's log, although if there is doubt
arising from the absence of proper entry in the log or sus
picious interlining" or other cause, the seaman's statement
may he accepted,
2. The column in the shipping articles headed "Place and
date of signing this agreement" contains the date of the
agreement. It does not indicate the time when wages are to
begin.
3. The agreement is considered as referring to calendar
months, defined as the tin e from any month, to the corre
sponding day (if any, and if not, to the last day) of the
next month.
For example:
January 29 to February 28 is 1 month.
January 31 to February 28 is 1 month.
February 28 to March 27 is 1 month.
March 28 to April 27 is 1 month.
4. In computing the amount due for a fraction of a month,
30 days is counted as a month without regard to its length.
or example, . 5 days in any month are onesixth of a month.
5. Any fraction of a day is counted as a whole day. For
example, from the afternoon of March 1 to March 4, both
inclusive, i.s reckoned as 4 days; and from March 1 to the
'orenoon of March 4, both inclusive, is reckoned as 4 days.
But if a seaman he entitled to wages from the afternoott
of one day to the forenoon of another day, the two fractions
of a day are considered as I day only. For example, the time
Tom the afternoon of March 1 to the forenoon of March 4,
)oth inclusive, is 3 days.
6. In computing the amount of wages due, the number of
calendar months (commeficing on the day on which wages be
gan to accrue) is to he determined first; to this is to he added
the fractional part of a month determined by counting each
and every day beyond the final day of the last full month. .
For example:
January 29 to March 3 (inclusive) equals 1 month
3 days.
January 31 to March 3 (inclusive) equals 1 mopth
3 days.
June 15 to October 13 (inclusive) equals 3 months
29 days.
/• June 15 to Nov. 13 (inclusive) equals 5 months. ' •
June 15 to Nov., 14 (inclusive) equals 5 months.
Approved:
DANIEL C. ROPER,
Secretary of Commerce.
iThis circular supersedes Treasury Department Circular No 60 t
entitled "Seaman's Wages," dateu April 2«!lg9a. • '
67924r—38
• 1
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