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The Seafarers^ Log
Seafarers' International Union of North America
. Official Organ of the Atlantic, Gulf and Great Lakes Seamen
VOL. II
NEW YORK, N. Y., MONDAY, JUNE 17, 1940
,446
BROTHERHOOD
OF THE
SEA
No. 4
AGENTS CONFERENCE ACTS
ON ORGANIZATION DRIVE!
Amendments
Eliminate Phoney Clauses Fiash!
From Unemployment
Insurance Bill
Wage Increases Won
REPOET ON THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL
FOR SEAMEN
i ifl *
'1
• • if
a
'if
!
; v
.'4
• J"
3
By Harry Lundeberg
Brothers:
For the past week 1 have been busy contacting various people
frienilly to us in reganl, to getting support in redrafting the Un
employment Insurance Bill for Seamen in order to get a bill which
will conform to the policy laid down by the SUPSIU to safeguafd
our Hiring Halls and conserve onr freedom as a trade union.
The original bill in substance would establish Fink Halls, making
oiir Union Halls government controlled, etc. (The NMU supported
the bill in its original finkhall form.)
I have had several meetings with the Railroad Retirement Board
who, with the aid«of the CIO commies, drew up the original bill.
For days I have gone over the bill point by point with them and
proved that the bill was phoney the way it stands and that If we
didn't get it changed to protect the seamen we would kill it com
pletely rather than sell out our Hiring Halls and freedom
....The bin, with the aid of your Secretary (Harry Lundeberg, Act
ing President, SIU) has been completely redrafted. The "following
has been accomplished for the benefit of our organization and the
seamen as a whole:
Dangerous Clauses Eiiminafe l
1. The part of the bill giving the Board the right to establish
Fink Halls has been COMPLETELY STRICKEN OUT!
2. The parjt of the bill giving the Board the right to move into
our Hiring Halls and supervise shipping has been COM
PLETELY STRICKEN OUT!
3. The part of the bill giving the Board the right to prescribe a
procedure of registration of unemployed seamen (lay down
shipping rules) has been COMPLETELY STRICKEN OUT
OF THE BILL.
4. The part of the bill setting up an Advisory Council consisting
of one shipowner, one Union representative and one from the
general public to find ways and means to eliminate unemploy
ment for seamen by establishing training schools for "retrain
ing" seamen, etc., has been COMPLETELY WIPED OUT OF
THE BILL.
5. The part of the bill giving the board the right to appoint
(stooges) has been stricken out.
6. The part of the bill giving the Board the right to enter into
agreements with various employment offices, (Fink Halls, ,etc.)
to exchange information has been stricken out.
7. The part of the bill giving the Board the right to make nota
tions upon a seaman's papers has been stricken out and in
stead the only thing they can now put on your discharge is
the time you apply for unemployment insurance.
New Changes in the Bill
f •
;>
'>t
<
In order to establish a procedure for administering unemploy
ment insurance for seamen and to eliminate the phoney clauses of
the bill, it was necessary to insert a clause which would safeguard
the seamen as a whole and the SUPSIU in particular.
1. We were successful In making the Board insert unemploy
ment insurance for the Great Lakes and the Inland waters.
We were the only Union that fought for this. The CIONMU
were fighting against these people getting unemployment in
ranee.
2. Thd Board shall establish, maintain and operate Registration
offices at such places as it may deem necessary for the effi
cient administration ot the Act, for the purpose of accepting
registration and applications for benefits.
Remarks. This means that the Board will have offices to take
applications for u7iemployment benefits, for seamen and noth
ing else!
3. Every person and organization engaged in the operation of
facilities for the employment of employees as defined in this
Act shall furnish to the Board such prescribed information and
report on unemployment and placements as the Board may re
quire to administer this Act.
, . ; Remarks.' This meutis that we agi'ee to furnish a list of the
number (not the names) of men registered for shipping in
(Continued on page 2)
An increase of $10 per
month and 10 cents per
hour was won on the Range
Lines when the company
signed an addendum to
their agreement with the
SIU granting the higher
wages and overtime rate.
This is the first of the
coastwise operators who
have come thru with the
raise, thus falling in line
with the offshore wage
and overtime rate previous
ly established.
After lengthy negotia
tions and imder pressure
of a strike vote by the
membership, the Eastern
S.S. Co., which had pr«4
ously rejected all demands
for any concessions, came
thru with a proposal for a
$2.50 increase and impor
tant concessions in the
working conditions of the
ships. The proposal is now
being submitted to the
crews on the Eastern S.S.
Co, ships for approval.
Negotiations are now in
progress with other coast
wise operators under agree?
ment with the SIU for in
creases in the wage and
overtime rate.
Engineer
Assaults
Oiler
William L. G.eslnger, twenty
yeai^old oiler on the S.S. Tex
mar, was assaulted by John
Thrush, the first assistant engin
eer, while the ship was docked
In, Brooklyn and was taken to the
Groundwork Laid for
Further Progress
At SIU Meeting
Proposals Adopted for Consolidation,..
Of Atlantic and Gulf Districts;
Organization Drive Launched
ix
Meeting in a hard working four day conference (June 69)
at Atlanta, Georgia, the Agents of th6 Atlantic and Gulf
Districts of the Seafarers International Union succeeded in
hamniei'ing out a program designed to extend the progressive
expan.sion of the organization and to strengthen the internal
structure in order to .solidify the gains that have been made
in tlie past period.
*
Purpose of Meeting
The conference was called
Communist
together by Hariy Lundeberg,
Acting President of the Sea
Party Lays
farers' International Union of
Down Line!
North America, for "the pur
pose of coordinating the ac
NMU Charlie McCarthies tivity of the Atlantic and
Out to Smash the SIU Gulf Districts and to formu
late a program and policy to
We have just come into pos
increase the effectiveness of
session of a document that clear
ly exposes the ruling topcommit the" organization and to pro
tee of the NMU as Charlie Mc vide the means for the., fur
Carthies for the unionwrecking ther expansion of our organi
line of the Communist Party. zation activity. Also to elimi
This document is entitled:
"Branch Resolution" of the "New nate several sources of fric
York Seamen's & Harbor Work tion between the several dis
ers Branch, Communist Party of tricts."
the United States." The resolu
Consolidating Districts
tion lays down the "Party Line"
Every phase of the union's ac
tivity was thoroughly discussed,
both as regards our strength and
our weaknesses. The continued
growth of the organization con
stantly raised new problems
which pressed for solution, in
"Unity" — C.P. Style
other
words, the ,SIU is experienc
Point 3 of the resolution under
the somewhat ironic subtitle: ing what Is commonly known as
"Unity of the Labor Movement," "growing pains." One of the
the following instructions are main questions that arose was
the necessity of consolidating
given:
the Atlantic and Gulf Districts
3. "Assist in the organiza into one unified whole and to
tion of all unorganized eliminate seme of the duplication
into hnnafide unions. of effort that now exists. A reso
WHILE HELPING lution was adopted calling for the
TO SMASH THE. amalgamation of both districts
SIU, I WW, CTU, and with the centralization of head
{AND!) company un quarters for the organization in
ions
as shipowners' Washington, D.C. which would
also function as the legislative
tools within the labor
office of the SIU.
movement''
for the stooges in the leadership
of the National Maiitlme Union,
and we shall demonstrate how
this "line" is carried into prac
tice.
hospital where it was reported
that he had suffered a possible
skull fracture, fractured jaw, and
Changes Necessary
wrist, and extreme swelling and
Their Master's Voice!
Such a change in the organiza
injury to his arm.
Smash the SIU! That's the
The black gang delegate on the Communist Party program! Im tion structure necessitated many
alterations in the constitution
Texniar etated that while the mediately, the top officialdom of
which was originally drawn up
ship was on the West Coast the the NMU declares that all ships
on a district basis. These
first assistant had threatened to under contract to the SIU are
changes were made and will be
"get Brother Gresinger" before "unorganized" and "Charley Mc submitted to the membership for
the trip was over, because he had Carthy" Lawrenson, chairman of ratification. Another question
Insisted on the payment of over the socalled reorganization com which had been the cause of
time and other conditions in the mittee of the NMU, announces in some confusion in the past was
agreement. When the ship docked the Pilot: "The SIU has got to that of different shipping rules
in Brooklyn, Gresinger and other be wiped off of this coast." 'When prevailing in the Atlantic and
members of the crew were going the Charlie McCarthies speak, Gulf districts. A completely
ashore. As they passed the first, they give the impression that the vised set of shipping rules was
assistant's' room, he rushed out voice is theirs, but—the words drawn up, based upon those no'W,
(Continued on page 2)
are those of their master!
(Continued on page 3),
1
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i J
�Monday, June 17, 1940
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
«
I; 1
Published by thu
Seafarers^ Inierna^nal Union
of North America
AffiUilted mth the American r^iiihatiM of; Labor
HARRY LUNDEBERQ, A«(lM/Presl4ent
"''110 Market Street, Room 402. San Francisco, Calif.
Atlantic District
HEADQUARTERS
New York (Phone: BOwIing Green 92437) ......2 Stone Street
BRANCHES
Boston
Fcdvidence
Philadelphia
Baltimore
Norfolk
San Juan, Puerto Rico
..l.SJO Atlantic Avenue
......i.465 So: Main Street
6 North 6th Street
14 North Gay Street
"..60 Commercial Place
8 Covadonga Street
Gulf District
• HEADQUARTERS
New Orleans
BRANCHES
Savannah
Jacksonville
Miami
Tainpa
Mobile v.,
.....'
.309 Chartres Street
218 East Bay Street
136 Bay Street
815 N. E. First Avenue
.208 Franklin Street
55 So. Conception Street
Houston
1712 • 75th Street
Texas City
Detroit
4th Street
" Great Lakes District
HEADQUARTERS
1088 Third Street
ADDRESS ALL CORRESPONDENCE CONCERNING THIS
PUBLICATION TO:
"THE SEAFARERS' LOG"
P. O. Box 522, Church St. Annex, New York, N. Y.
Editor: Tom Kerry—Former Editor of "West Coast Firemen"
• in j
MDRE ABiOrUT:
r
nURY RETURNS
•
Engineer
Assaults
Verdict of GiiTlty
In S.S. EWA Cose
W.l
I
Wm
Crew of Ewa Charged With "Endeavor To
Commit Mutiny" Are Victims Of
Curran War Hysteria!
(Continued from page J)
with a club or wrench and began
Eleven Aiembers of tlie crew of the 3S EWA received
' beating (irestnger al?out the head, .sentencesranging from 30 days to 9.0 days, and five others
inflicting severe injuries that nec were placed on probation after a jury brought in a compro
essitated hospital treatmenf.
mise verdict of guilty on one charge in the mdictnient—"en
Challenges Union
deavor to commit mutiny"—with a "recoiiiniendcitioii for
When Scotty Thompsqn, union extreme clemency" and found the men not guilty on a second
representative, ivent aboard to charge of "conspiracy to commit a mutiny or revolt." In
find out what Hie beef was about,
he was confronted by the first as other \yords, the men were apparently convicted as Indivi .
sistant who challenged the un duals endeavoring "to commit mutiny," and not as a group
ion's ability to do anything about entering into a "conspiracy to commit mutiny."
it! He further stated: "The union
can't do anything to me! I have Meetings Called Conspiracy ^ Further, it gives the seamen the
It is well to keep this dis right to consider the contract, or
no use for unions anyway." This
latter statement was verified by tinction in mind as the charge artlclc.s, broken in the event that
other officers on the Texmar who of conspiracy was based upon this demand for a draw is not
stated that the first had finked in the fact that the crew mem met in accordance with the terms
every strike that involved the of
bers held meetings aboard set forth.
ficers.
ship, elected delegates as Articles Broken
spokesmen for the crew, and When the skipper refused to
Scotty Thompson accompanied
give the men a draw, they exer
by the black gang delegate visit had these delegates represent cised their right under the law, as
ed the hospital to ascertain the them in dealing with the of quoted above, declared the arti
extent of the injuries sustained ficers of the vessel. This is a cles broken and demanded to be
by Brother Gresinger and then procedure that is embodied in paid off. The crew then proceeded
proceeded to the precinct station our agreements with the ship to communicate with the Amer
house to prefer charges against
owners, hut one that was im ican Consul and requested his in
the first assistant. He was re
tervention in the dispute. .The
ferred to ttie Harbor police squad plicitly under attack as was crew took the ship to Port Said,
who arrested the first
on a revealed by the testimony. where it was finally decided to
charge of felonious assault. The Captain Leithead, master of |jay the crew off. Because the ar
case came up before the Magis the SS Ewa, who stated on ticles had been broken by the
strates Court on June 11th and
the witness .Stand that "men captain, the crew was entitled to
after hearing the testimony of
one month's extra compensation.
Witnesses, Judge Jaeobson of the (aboard ship) have no husi Their wages, with the extra
Magistrates Court remanded the ness nieeling in one body,' month's compensation, were de
tlie case for trial to a higher and that "everytime they posited with the American Con
court, 'file company's attorneys meet together, they are con sul at Port Said.
asked that the case he dismissed
spiring (!) against tlie mas Delayed "Mutiny"
but on the basis of tlie evidence,
Much has been made of the fact
the request was denied and the ter."
that the crew were placed in a de
first assistant engineer was held Disturbing Symptom
tention camp at Port Said, Egypt,
Engineer Arrested
' More About:
Unemployment Insurance
(Continued from Page 1)
our Hall and also agree to give them a list of hoto many men
we are shipping (not their names).
4. Any of the seven days beginning with the day after the mini
mum period provided, for in Section 3 (b) of this Act (14 days
on the beach), with respect to which the Board finds that he
failed, without good cause, to apply for or accept suitable work
offered individual registered at the employment facility at
which he is registered and accepted by an individual who
registered at such employment facility subsequent to the date
on which such employee registered: Provided that this dis
qualification shall not be applicable to an employee until after
he has twice failed to apply for or accept work sincce his last
employment.
Remarks: This means if you are receiving unemployment bene
fit yon cannot turn down more than three jobs offered by
'our Dispatcher if your card is old enough. If you turn doum
three jobs offered by the Union you can't get any more unem
'
ployment benefit.
With these drastic changes in the bill, I feel that we are pro
tected against any attempt to break down our Hiring Hall, to estab
lish our Union as a branch of a Bureaucratic Government Board,
to take away our choice of employment as free men.
in ?500 bail pending trial in the When Captain Leithead was
after they left the vessel. This
Special Sessions Court.
confronted with a copy of the was done with the knowledge of
agreement between the SUP and the crew who were informed of a
Will Press Charges
the Matson Navigation Co., own
Adding insult to injury, the ers of the Ewa, which contained wartime Egyptian nieasITre which
company then tried to get the a clause expressly granting rec required all aliens to be com
Union to agree to permit the first ognition to ships delegataes elect mitted to detention camps until
assistant to go hack on board and ed by meetings of the crew, he they were expatriated. The crew
sail the ship. The answer to that contended that "the agreement apparently preferred tlie none too
was NO SOAP! He then went was not binding" on him and that pleasant surroundings of an
C.P. SlQoges Exposed
After having exposed the attempt of the Communist Party down to the ship under police he was ONLY bound by the ship's Egyptian detention camp, to sail
Btpoges in the NMU together with certain Government intellectuals protection and remoyed his be articles. Fortunately, the verdieet ing the ship back to the United
and theShipowners' Lobby to sell the American seamen down the longings. Next, the company was not guilty on the charge of States under the command of
river in the biggest attempted sellout yet, I am reasonably sure wanted to settle the case out of conspiracy; otherwise, a prece Captain Leithead. This is under
that when this bill (as amended) again comes up for considaration, court by getting Brother Gresin dent would have been established standable in view of the fact that
the NMUShipowner combine will havs lost and the SUFSiU will ger to drop the charges. In view vyhlch would have endangered the two members of the crew were
again have stopped tbe Comrats from selling out the American sea of the fact that the first assistant rl^ht of ships' crews to meet to driveiv insane on the voyage, the
men.
had previously boasted that he gether In a body, elect a delegate second mate and the deck dele,
had put three men in the hospi to represent them, and to act in gate, who is still confined in the
Assistance Acknowledged
tal before, and because of his aqx an orderly and organized manner insane asylum at Cairo, Egypt.
Active support and valuable assistant was given us here in this
iety to protect his brother mem in presenting their demands and The "incriminatingV circumstance
fight by William Green, President of the American Federation of
bers against future violence by grievances. A fundamental right of the crew's commitment to a de
Lgbor, and Richard Welch, Congressman from the Mission District
cfficers aboard ship, Brother Gre which is embodied in all of our tention camp is exploded by the
in San Francisco. Also the imniediate response of all the S.I.U.
singer rejected the company pro agreements with the shipowners fact that the U. S. Consul pro
branches on the east coast to wire their protest to the Committee
posal to settle the case out of arid orie which .the American sea vided free transportation as pas
belped In no small way. ,
court' and will press; charges men have wpn after years of bit sengers with all expenses paid
Fraternally,
ter struggle. It is a disturbing until their return; No one was
against the first assistant.
HARRY LUNDEBERG,
syympton that this right Is now aware of any "mutiny" charges
SecretaryTreasurer, Sailors Union of the Pacific
until the crew got back to this
Getting to Be a Habit!
being challenfied.
country.
Acting President, Seafarers International Union
(We have just been informed Protective Laws involved
that a member of the Pacific The verdict In the Ewa" case Clue to Motive
A clue to the motive of the
Coast Coast Marine Firemen was may have far reaching signifi
cance
as
it
involves,
the
applica
skipper
in refusing to give the
recently assaulted by the first en
tion of certain laws designed for crew a draw, and refusing to give
gineer on the S,.S. Kainalau, which the protection of seaqien. The them shore leave in Colachel—al
S.S. PORTMAB
$ 4.50
ivas operated by the Matson Na case grew out of the blunt refusal though the ship was to stay there
B.S. COLABEE
11.00
vigation Co. The first assistaiit on of the master of the Ewa to give for at least seven days—was re
S.S. ROBIN GOODPELLQW .........
6.00
this ship hit the MFOW nian over the crew a draw on their wages vealed! in the testimony. Captain
g.S. EVELYN
2.45
$2.3.95 the head with a heavy screw in the port of Colachel, India, In Leithead had purchased 150 cases
conformanpe with Section 4530 of beer for the elopchest at Ma
driver and split his scalp. The of the Revised Statutes of the nila. He testified that he paid
Tot&l
$23.95 New York branch of the MOFW U. S. In brief, this law requires 2.75 a case for the beer and Sold
ip6RRECTlON: In the last issue of the Log we listed the went on record to prosecute the the captain to give the men, on it to the crew for 15 cents a
S:S. Del Mar as donating $12.35 to the Log. It should first assistant before the Inspec demand, a draw equal t'6 onehalt bottle, which makes ?3.60 per
of their accumulated wages. This
IS'?:'
have read the same amount from the S.S. Del Sud in tors and in court. Looks like it's law was obviously designed for case of 24 botles. THE LAW
STATES THAT THE 'VESSEL
y (Stead of Del Mar,
ghtting to be a haJbitt)
the protection of the seamen.
(Continued on page J)
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�Monday, June 17, 1949
*
•
I '
'
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
L
Groundwork Laid MORE ABOUT:
At SlU_Meeting SSE WA Cqse
What's Doing
(Continued from page 2)
(Continued from Page !)•
.SHALL OPERATE TRE SLOP
In force In both districts, which CHE.ST AT NO MORE THAN 10
will be submitted to the inem PER CENT GROSS PROFIT!
her.ship
for ratification by refer The skipper of the Ewa, who was
whole. Think this over seriously
endum ballot. After the member operating the slopchest • on his
and give your union brothers a
ship has acted on the shipping
own account, was making over 30
BALTIMORE, Md., June 11.— the light and is willing to come breakI
rules we will have a more or less
• • «
per cent profit on his beer. Which
Shipping continpes fair to good to terms with the A. F. of L. or
uniform set of shipping rules for
Quite
a
few
of
the
NMU
mem
out of the Port of Baltimore, with ganizations. Thanks to SIUSUP
the entire AtlanticGulf Di.strict. is a very neat profit, IP HE
SOLD ALL OF THE BEER HE
the beach list showing 227 mem efforts on the Baltimore water bers are getting disgusted with
Organizing
Drive
their
setup.' It's
about
time
that
HAD BOUGHT!
bers shipped during the past two front, the port now rates 100 per
In
the
field
of
organization,
the
the
majority
of
them
get
wise
to
weeks. Total beach list registra cent Union with even the watch
Beer Sales Fall
tion a t t he end of the past week men, janitors, stenographers, and themselves that they belong to an conference acted to provide the Between Manila and Colachek
numbered 180 in the three depart office boys all organized into their orgaaization controlled by top necessary organizers to carry the skipper sold ten cases of beer.
ments. Nineteen tripcard men respective unions. Cooperation be committees and not by the rank out the elaborate organization Meanwhile, the crew had made
were shipped out during the two tween the various organizations and file. Every day, they come program set down by the Agents' up their minds not to buy any
week period. Prospec^ for ship is good, and outside of. the deca into the SIU hall here trying to conference. Particular attention more of the skipper's beer and
ping continue good. Strangely dent NMU whom no one pays any join an organization that is run will be given to those lines which with visions of being stuck with
enough, the closing of various attention to any more, the whole democratically for the seamen. are now unorganized as well as 140 cases of beer, it is evident
ocean areas to American shipping waterfront is solidly A. F. of L. The NMU is not making any to strengthening the lines under that if the crew were refused a
headway In the port of Jackson agreement with the SIU, These draw and refused shore leave,
by the Neutrality Act has had no
ville and all this bunk about "re organizers will be assisted by a they would be forced to stay
great effect on the SlUSUP niern Check on Citizenship
organizing
the unorganized'.' is planned cooperation with the offi aboard, and if they stayed aboard
All
members
who
have
been
un
bership, since most of the Lines
affected by the Act have quickly able to prove citizenship and who not getting anywhere because the cials in all Atlantic and Gulf ship, they would be forced to buy
found other services and routes still have a question mark on seamen on the East Coast have Ports who will work in conjunc the skipper's beer out of sheer
mainly in the Coastal, ,Inter their papers should take steps had experience with Curran's tion with the organizers in the desperation! Therefore, they were
field.
coastal, and South American serv immediately to have the mark re "reorganizers" and will not fall
refused a draw and refused shore
Weekly Log
moved. Birth certificates or bab for this line of hooey again.
ices.
leave.
In order to assist in the or
tisimal certificates are required
• » •
In supporting the charge of
Ship Transfers
ganization
work, it was decided "endeavoring to commit mutiny"
to prove citizenship and once ob
Shipped eight members during
, The transfer of U. S. flag ships
taained, these certificates should the week on various ships. There to supplement the work of the numerous incidents were cited of
to foreign registry still continues
be kept carefully in case of loss is still a shortage of A.B.'s in this field organizers by publishing the alleged insubordination on the_
with the latest victims being tlie
of seaman's papers. The removal port, with none registered on the Log on a weekly basis just as part of the crew. Incident,.s, which
MAKAWAO and MANA of the
soon as possible. Provision was in normal times, would have .re
of the Immigration Dept. from
Matson Line; the SAN VINCEN the Department of Labor to the shipping list at present.
made to' provide the nece.ssary ceived scant consideration by any
TR, the T. J. WILLIAMS jurisdiction of the FBI means a
funds
for weekly publication. It jury. However, with the prevail
June 10, 1940.
GEOnGR O. HENRY, and JOHN close checkup on all aliens, and
was felt that the weekly publica
On
my
return
to
Jacksonville
ing wartime psychology, such in
WORTHINGTON of the Esso although the Unions are doing
tion of the Seafarers' Log was
fleet; the old ADMIRAL WOOD their best to check the hysterical from the Agents Conference, 1 necessary to offset the destruc cidents can be inflated out of all
and several assorted yachts and drive on some of their members, found that several members had tive, lying propaganda of our proportion to their actual signifi
barges. To offset these losses to no one can foresee whaat Is like taken it upon themselves to get enemies as well as to provide the cance. The main facts whicli
the merchant marine we note that ly to happen in these troubled filled up with cheap wine and pro unorganized seamen with true Eland out in bold and glaring
fifteen ships of the tiedup fleets time; so to avoid the possibility ceeded to come up to the hall to pictures of the program and pro contradiction to the charge are:
are open for bids. Five of them: of being yanked off some ship be do a little performing. This sort gressive character of the SIU Maiu Facts!
the BAYOU CHICO, CITY OF cause of lack of citizenship proof, of thing will not be tolerated policy.
1.Tlie Captain refused the crew
WEATHERFORD, GEORGE the matter should be attended to very much longer. One of these
a draw that they were enti
Wage
Increase"
members, Harold Bell, No. 270,
PIERCE, SALAAM, and YAPA as soon as possible.
tled to under law, thereby
The
question
of
securing
an
in
started to disturb several mem
LAGA have already been ear
breaking the articles.
crease
in
the
Coatwise
lines
now
marked for Waterman Steamship, Conference Report Approved! bers who were reading and mind under contract to the SIU was 2. After declaring the articles
and the fen others are lined up Brother Wm. McKay is back in ing their own business. The out discussed at great length. The
broken, the crew immediately
for reconditioning. The Maritime port after a short trip on the Ma come of it all was that they conference requested Brother
contacted the American Con
Commission has also invited bids rymar. Patrolman Zimmer will threw him out of the hall before Hawk, Sec.Treas., Atlantic Dis
sul and requested his inter
on. the BARREADO and MON finish up here this week, and we any real damage was done. This trict, to enter Into immediate
vention, and demanded to be
ROE, two old timers laid down are sorry to see the brother leave. man will have to answer to the negotiations with the operators in
paid off.
ExPatolman John Lui is some membership before he can ship
In the James River.
3. Even
after the articles had
question looking toward the se
where in the Mediterranean on out again.
been
broken,
the black gang
curing
of
the
$10
increase
in
Live Up to Agreements!
« * *
the Schoharie. Agent Elkins, re
kept
up
steam,
so that cargo
wages
and
10
cents
per
hour
in
The Blanch cracked down hard cently returned from the Atlanta Another man, by the name of
could
be
worked,
and the
on tlie practice of some engineers conference, explained the purpose R. W. England, an NMU man, crease in overtime.
crew
sailed
the
vessel
from
(Since
the
conference,
the
in having members of the black and results of the conference to who ^had been expelled from the
Coiachei
to
Port
Said.
Range
Lines
signed
an
addendum
gang do certain jobs they weren't the membership at the last busi AFLSU in the autumn of 1938,
4. In Port Said, the crew volun
supposed to be doing,, forcing one ness meeting. There was much came Into the hall w^hile the to the existing agreement grant
tarily left the ship after con
ing
an
increase
of
$10
per
month
company fo pay more than 200 discussion on the various matters Agent was outoftown, and tried
tacting the American Consul
and
10
cents
per
hour
overtime.
hours overtime on a ship that had brought up at the Agents' meet to ship on an SIU ship. The act
with whom the money was
been on a trip of less than a ing, but the reaction of the mem ing dispatcher happened to look Negotiations are still in progress
left to pay off the crew. Most
with
other
companies).
month. We may rest assured that bership was highly favorable.
into the deferred list and saw The conference also went on
peculiar actions for an> al
after that salutory lesson, the
that' he had been expelled and re record in support of any neces
W. H. Elkins
leged mutinous crew.
companies will see to if that their
fused to ship him. He was asked sary action to., complete the sign
Jury Out Long Time
engineers will read the agree
why he had come into our hall ing of an agreement with the
The jury was out for a consid
ments and live up to them. In
to ship, and he made the state Eastern S.S. Go. that will be ac
erable
length of time before
the Stewards Department, Patrol
ment that the NMU had in ceptable to the membership.
June
4,
1940
reaching
a verdict. After they
man Vechio went to town on two
structed him to knowing that tlie
were out for seven hours, they re
The S.S. HELEN of the Bull
Caution
Advisable
of the Lines that had been short
agent was absent. So, brothers,
changing their crews lately in the Line came in yesterday, and it is you can see for yourself what One of the most important turned and informed the court
way of fresh milk. The matter getting to be the same old song steps the stooges will take to get problems discussed at the confer that they were unable to reach a
was speedily adjusted with the where a member goes on a drunk aboard ships that' have been or ence was the current legislative verdict. Small wonder! However,
quantity in one paiticular case and misses the ship at the last ganized by union men who have assaiilt upon the American sea they were sent back and finally
being upped two gallons per day minute. This has happened twice taken it upon themselves to get men by certain pressure groups .arrived at the formula of return
their last two trips. I wish
in Washington, D.C. These groups ing a verdict of guilty on one
to seven gallons. Recent clarifica
the best conditions available.
are attempting
to take advantage count, dropped the second count
tions 6n the Bull, Cuban Distil that some of these brothers would
* * *
come
to
their
senses
some
time
of
the
condition
created by the and urged "extrenie clemency", on
ling, Waterman, and South Atlan
Shipped five
members this war situation in pressing for pas the court. It was the general con
or
another'
and
think
of
their
tic S.S. agreements have been of
week (June 10) to various ships.
considerable help in straightening brother members who are holding There are 12 members on the sage of various antiunion laws sensus of opinion among observ
down
the
beach
eagerly
looking
under the disguise of "National ers at the trial, that were it not
out difficulties on the ships of
three shipping lists at present' Defense." Brother Lundeberg re for the present unsettled condi
for
a
job
on
a
ship.
these Lines, and the practice of
This kind of stuff isn't any time.
ported to the conference on some tions, the case would have been
the members in making them
pond
for any jinion and should be Steady as she goe^l
of these measures on which he flii'own out of court, if it ever
selves familiar with tliie terms oif
Fred Lauriiailo. testified against on behalf of the would have been pressed at all.
the various agreements saves the stopped immediately, or else toe
SlUSUP membership. He warned Caution Necessary
will be shipping out of the fink
partolman a lot of time.
that any irresponsible action on
halls again!
It Is well to recognize the sig
Baltimore Organizatioii.
the part of an individual member nificance of the Ewa case and ex
I sometimes wonder how many
Progress
or crew, under present conditions, ercise the utmost caution against
seamen had to shell out a five
The news that our brother or dollar bill or have a letter from
could be fatal for the entire or getting involved in beefs In ports
JOHN K. GLASS
ganization.
ganization, the CTU (AFofL Ra some Senator or big shot, so that
where there are no union repre
dio Operators) had finally broken, he could get a job on some meas
Resolution Adopted
sentatives available. During this
down the resistance of the So ly ship that wasn't even paying
JAIVIES V. VENDETTI
The conference adopted a reso period of emergency, all crews
cony Vacuum and Isthmian Lines decent wages, had no conditions
lution (printed elsewhere in this should avoid disputes In any out
and come away with signed and fed .you any kind of slop they
Please communicate 'with issue) outlining the necessary ports and sail the ship to the
agreements from both outfits wanted to. I remember those days
procedure on the question of tak nearest port where there is a un
came as a surprise to the water and there are quiteSi^^^ew more the Ocean Dominion Line at ing action in an organized man ion office and representative who
front. The CTU with 39 signed of the seamen that do. This per once! 17 Battery Place , New ner. Anyone violating this resolu can take up the beef In an or
agreements under their belts is forming bunk can't last forever, York City. Tlie company has tion >vill have to answer to the ganized manner.
probably the smallest but strong not with the Maritime Comrnls $200 bond posted and must membership. The shipowners'
est organization on the, water sion and other such agencies who
establish the fact) that you are lobby at Washington is only too against the union. It is the re
front, and their signing up of are in the field today to do one
anxious to take advantage of any sponsibility of every member to
Isthmian is a good indication thing; and that is to smash the in the United States before it phoney beef to raise a hue and see that no such opportunity la
that the Line has at least seen seamen's union movement as a will be returned.
cry for repressive legislation given them.
BALTIMORE ^EWS AND VIEWS!
JACKSONVILLE
Attention !
V <n^
I
�• i.
•• • • • " ' .
"•
THE SEAFARERS' LOG
AUEW BILL
Lundeberg Testifies on Behalf
Of Foreign Born Seamen
Monday, June 17, 194t
" 4
FANTASnO
Shipping
Mystery Man Speaks
For Ghost Seamen
News
The Maritime Commission has
A flood of legislative measures affecting the interests of accepted the bid of the Waterman
the seamen have kept Harry Lundeberg, Acting President of Steamship Corporation of $596,
Seafarers' 'International, in "Washington, D. 0., for an ex 000 for five vessels from the gov
vernment's laldup fleet, on the
tended period of time. Certain selfish groups are attempting condition
that Waterman will
to take advantage of the eiirrent national emergency to fur build lour new ships. The five old
ther their particular group interest at the expense of the freighters that. Waterman is buy
organized seamen. Under cover of supplementing tlie Presi ing and their costs are: Bayou
dent's defense program, the powerful .shipowners' lobby is Chico, ?147,000; City of Weather
1100,000; freorge Pierce,
moving to nullify many of the conditions gained by the sea ford,
?100.000; Salaam, ?96,000: Yapal
men through legitimate union brganwution,
ga, .ft .13,000. All of these ships are
Unmasked Marvel Plays First Fiddle
In Shipowners' Chorus!
The tno.st fnritastie character was washed itito the Na
tion's Capitol this past week, riding a wave of hysteria that
threatens to engulf the organized seamen of the American
Merchant Marine. This bird by the name of W. II. T. Rey
nold.s has been appearing before variou.s congre.ssional eom
mittee.s pa.ssing himself off as a representative of the Inter;
national Seamen's Utiioo of Ariierica On every hill affecting
now tied up at New Orleans. It the seamen, our mystery man appears to testify on behalf of
Testifies Before Committee
is reported that they will be oper
Brother Lundeberg appeared before the House Commit ated in the foreign service, but a nonexistent membership of a nonexistent organization!
tee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries and on behalf of the no definite run has yet been as
Ghostly Membership
The Unmasked Marvel
membership of the SIUSUP offered powerful arguments in signed.
The Inteniational Seamen's A clue to the identify of the
opposition to the H.R. 9918, the bill which would eliminate
Union went out of existence unmasked marvel is contained in
foreignborn seamen from the American Merchant Marine.
the nature of the testimony he of
some two years ago when the fers
He was the only one to appear on behalf of the seamen at the
on behalf of his ghost mem
Houston convention of the bership. No matter what the na
hearing. The CIONMTJ officialdom was conspicuous by its ab
American Federation of Labor ture of the bill may be, Reynolds
sence:' Altho their "official" legislative representative was
lifts his voice in one refrain:.
present at the hearing, neither he, nor any of the other NEW YORK, N. Y.—The Inter revoked its charter and grant "Closed
shop agreements and un
stoogei'had the courage to take the stand on behalf of the national Ladles' Garment Work ed jurisdiction under a new ion control of the hiring hall arQ ^
membership they are supposed to represent. They get mili ers Union, one of the largest la charter to the Seafarers' In honeycombing the American
tant as all hell on the pages of the "Pilot" where they storm bor organizations in the country, ternational Union of North Merchant Marine with a disloyal
with a membership of 250,000, re America. There just isn't any army of malcontents." On every^
and thunder against the "reactionaries" but it's another turned
officially to the American
bill that is presented he urges
question when they have to face these same reactionaries at Federation of Labor on June 6. International Seamen's Union "that
the bill be amended to in
a public hearing. Then tfiey luck their tails between their Twentytour hours earlier, by an aside from the fictitious exis clude authority for the Secretary
overwhelmingl vote of 640 to 12, tence it enjoys in the mind of of Commerce to establish district
legs and slinlc into their holes.
the union voted to reaflilate im W. H. J. Reynolds, with a offfces for hiring seamen."
mediately with the Federation. membership that is composed
Proposals Submitted
Pipe the Same Tune
(rAs a result o f the hearing. Brother Lundeberg was re BOOST TOTAL MEIVrBERSHIP entirely of mystery man Rey strangely
enough, the shipown ,
quested, by Chairman Bland of the Committee, to submit Return of the Ladies' Garment nolds and the ghosts of the era' lobby at Washington pipes
some proposals for the safeguard of the foreignborn seamen. Workers to the A. F. of L. brings seamen he alleges to repre the same tune! Could It be that
W. H. J. Reynolds actually repre ,
In ceompliance with this request the following proposals, the dues paying menibersliip of sent.
Federation to more than
sents a much more material body
which were printed in the Congressional Record and which the
4,550,000—the highest recorded
than the ghostly crew of the de
Bland promised Avould receive the utmost consideration, were membership in history. The ILG known as the Congress of Indus funct
international Seamen's Un
submitted:
WU was one of the original un trial Organizations, in 1938, the ion? Brother Lundeberg, who has
Garment Union
Returns to AFL
ni;
l^
Statement by Harry Lundeberg
SecretajyTreasurer of the Sailors Union of the Pacific
V and Acting President of the Seafarers' International
• Union of North America, affiliated with the American
Federation of Labor.
~
Honorable S. 0. Bland, Chairman,
House Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries,
. Washington, D. C.
On behalf of 8,000 Seamen of the Pacific Coast and
12,000 Seamen on the Atlantic and Oulf Coast, I ask that
the following statement be put in the Record as a Sup
plement to my statement before your Committee on
Thursday, June 6, 1940:
In order to protect and avoid discrimination against
the foreignborn seamen who are legally admitted to this
" country by the United States Government through the
Immigration Bureau, and in order to protect'and help
those foreignbom seamen who have sailed in American
ships for a number of years and who have proven to be
loyal Americans and who helped man the American
ships, when foreign seamen were needed to man Amer
. ican ships, but who through technicalities of the law
cannot become American citizens, we wish to offer the
following Amendments to H. R. 9918:
1. Legally admitted quota immigrants whose call
ing is that of seamen should be allowed to sail in Amer
ican ships for a period of five years—^the time it takes
to become an American citizen after legal entry—(B)
Or as an alternative:
Leave the law as it now reads under the law passed
June 25, 1936: That 75 percentum of the crew, exclud;
ing officers, shall be citizens of the United States, native
bpm or completely naturalized; unless the Secretary of
Commerce shall, upon investigation, ascertain that quali
fied citizen seamen are not available, when under such
' conditions he may reduce the above percentum.
"
2. That alienbom seamen who for the past ten
; years or more have followed their calling as seamen in
vessels of the United States and who are of good char
acter and repute sworn to by reputable citizens and cer
tified as such by the Bureau of Marine Inspection and
Navi^tion, shall be allowed to pay their Head Tax and
"be allowed to continue sailing in American ships until
they can obtain their citizenship papers.
We also ask the Committee to seriously take into
i consideration the effect this Bill wiU have on alienbom
fishermen who are legally in this country but cannot
i become citizens due to the fact that they are Asiatics.
,• ')•
I'l fc
Mi
ions which joined in forming the
Committee for Industrial Organi
zation In 1935, but when it was
decided to convert the Committee
into a permanent organization.
ILGWU withdrew. Since Novem
her of that year the Ladies' Gar
ment Workers have maintained
the status of an independent
union.
RESOLUTION!
Adopted by Atlantic and Gulf District Agents Con
ference, June 69, Atlanta, Georgia.
WHEREAS: Certain conditions have arisen on account
of the European war which have virtually placed
this country on an emergency status, and
AVHEREAS: Hostile shipowners in conjunction witii
various antiunion men on government bureaus are
trying to destroy our unions, and
WHEREAS: Saboteurs may have crept into our ranks
with the specific purpose of disrujiting our organi
zation, be it therefore
RESOLVED: That we go on record instituting the fol
lowing measui'es in conformity with our constitution
and for the benefit of the membership as a whole:
1. In ships and companies where our organization
has an agreement, no direct action to tie up a
ship shall be taken either by an individual ccrew,
by an individual official of the union or by an
individual branch before contactmg district
headquarters thru the secretarytreasurer.
2. The headquarters shall have the final say before
a ship is tied up and they shall at all times be
guided by the constitution, which in the final
analysis, is the law of the membership as a whole.
3. No action shall be taken by the Atlantic District
to tie up a ship with an agreement with the Gulf
District and vice versa, until the respective dis
tricts where the ship belongs has been contacted,
and be it finally
RESOLVED: That anyone that breaks these rules shall
be made to answer to the membership.
Our testimony before your Honorable Committee on H.R.
8180, Febiuary 13, 1940, brings out in detailed facts
what would happen to these people if this legislation is
passed.
Very truly yours,
HARRY LUNDEBERG.
been in Washington for the past
several weeks, reports that the
place is swarming with laborhat
ing stooges of the shipowners,
bent on taking advantage of the
national emergency to seek the
destruction of the seamen's or
ganizations. All of their fire is
concentrated on the union hiring
hall which is the firmest pillar of
union strength, the destruction of
which would mean the collapse
of the entire union structure in*
the maritime industry.
Playing the Angles
The shipowners aren't overlook
ing any angle. Mystery men and
ghost seamen are supplemented
by other means and other meth
ods. The organized seamen seem
to have been selected as a special
target for repressive and restric
tive legislative measures by the,
laborhating fraternity. It is nec
essary to exercise the utmost ,
selfdiscipline on the part of ev
ery member of the union and ev
ery unign crew.
Union Discipline Essential
Irresponsible action by individ
uals create "incidents" which are
seized upon, inflated, distorted,
and utilized as a basis for legia.
lation demanding the elimination
of the hiring hall and the destruc
tion of t he union. In this period,
our primary concern must be the
interest of the organization AS A
WHOL5. The Union can and
MUST discipline its membershipj
Every member must take upon
himself the responsibility to act,
in the light of present conditions,
in such a way as to safeguard the
.welfare of the Union and Its
membership as a whole. Unless
we do, we will find ourselves
disciplined" out of existence by
the "mystery men' and their
masters.
In Memoriam
CHARLES COFFEY
Died in Africa on the 28th day
of March 1940.
• .v\
�
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Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949
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Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log
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Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993
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Seafarers International Union of North America
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Title
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June 17, 1940
Description
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Headlines:
AGENTS CONFERENCE ACTS ON ORGANIZATION DRIVE!
ELIMINATE PHONEY CLAUSES FROM UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE BILL
FLASH! WAGE INCREASES WON
ENGINEER ASSAULTS OILER
COMMUNIST PARTY LAYS DOWN LINE
VERDICT OF GUILTY IN S.S. EWA CASE
LUNDEBERG TESTIFIES ON BEHALF OF FOREIGN BORN SEAMEN
MYSTERY MAN SPEAKS FOR GHOST SEAMEN
GARMENT UNION RETURNS TO AFL
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Seafarers Log
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6/17/1940
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Newsprint
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Vol. II, No. 4
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Seafarers International Union of North America
1940
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Seafarers Log