http://www.seafarerslog.org/archives_old/files/original/c088c35c4896bc35b290382eca75abc9.PDF 67d007e1a9e9c10f9396724be14ae4bf PDF Text Text Official Organ of the Atlantic and Gulf District, Seafarers International Vnion of North America No. 37 NEW YORK. N. Y.. FRIDAY. SEPTEMBER 13. 1946 Vol. VIII. .••ri SlU PRESSURE FORCES WSB REVERSAL Under pressure from the SIU aud SUP, joined by the pressure from all segments of the labor movement. Wage " - - - -• J iv **T_ n 1^ *1 -Mvvli-rftnr* Y«7Viir>ri Tffc QhviHo*A Stabi^affon DireTrVhTR'stXarLTnigirthe Wag7stabilization Soard ruling which served to abridge the rights of free coilective bargaining had b.n SIU-SUP Telegram To WSB W. WILLARD WIRTZ, Chairman National Wage Stabilization Board Washington, D. C. The Joint SIU-SUP Strike Committee meet­ ing in executive session at New York Wednes­ day night, unequivocally and without reserva­ tion denounce the criminal and union-busting decision of the National Wage Stabilization Board in denying the legitimate wage increases of the SIU—SUP—MFOWW. The further continuance of the greatest gen­ eral maritime strike in the history of the United States rests squarely on your shoulders and the shoulders of those individuals who voted to deny our hard-fought for wage gains. We are fighting this beef to the bitter end, and will continue the strike until victory is ours. Our fight is the fight of all labor, and the SIUSUP rest confident that the entire labor move­ ment will support us till this beef is won. Max Korenblatt, Chairman For Joint SIU-SUP Strike Committee the strike came to an end at 8 A.M. Friday, September 13. On the East Coast, a meeting held in New York's Manhattan Center voted to stay on strike and to maintain picketlines until the decision is official. Ever eager to ride on the Seafarers bandwagon, the NMU immediately 'Call 24-Hour Strike': Committee To AFL, CIO announced lhat they would walk­ out and" stay on strike until their wages had been upped to the scale achieved by the SIUSUP. All of the action of the past twenty-four hours followed close on the heels of the WSB refusal NEW YORK, Sept. 11—Two significant tele­ to reconsider its original stand grams were sent by the Joint Strike Committee of which precipitated the entire na­ the SIU-SUP to William Green, president of the tion-wide tie up of shipping. AFL, and Philip Murray, president of the CIO. The The arrogance of the WSB first, which was by far the most important action brought forth immediate denimtaken by the Joint Committee ast ciation from the Joint Strike the strike went into its seventh that a 24-hour work stoppage Committee of the SIU-SUP. A day, was to ask the two national be called by all American labor telegram stating that "the fur­ in the event the WSB does not ther continuance of the great­ labor organizations to stop work est general maritime strike in for 24 hours if the Wage Stabili­ reverse itself." In the second wire, the Com­ the history of the United States zation Board does not reverse it­ self. It made the point that the mittee urged that the two labor rests squarely on your shoulders" actions of this bureaucratic was sent to the WSB as soon as {Continued on Page 5) agency could only be construed the decision was announced. * as an attack on free collective r ' The original dictatorial action bargaining, and called on all or­ of the WSB in withholding all ganized labor to join in the fight wage increases over $17.50 per for its rights. month for ships under War Ship­ This issue of the Seafarers ping Administration jurisdiction Log has only 8 pages instead The text of this 'telegram ap­ resulted in a walkout of 62,000 of the usual 16. All deliveries pears below; Seafarers, starting on Wednes­ of newsprint have heen halt­ "Continued refusal by the day, September 4. ed during the present team­ Wage Stabilization Board to sters strike. For the same Within a short time close to approve the wage increase se­ reason some of you may have half a million waterfront work­ cured by the SIU-SUP in free not received last week's is­ ers joined the fight against the collective bargaining can only sue. We go back to 16 pages attack on free collective bargain­ be regarded as an attack upon Don't believe the news stories and they were immediately hired as soon as the teamsters win. ing and sea traffic from and to labor's fundamental rights about how the shipping com­ and sent to a tourist camp near (Continued on Page 4) everywhere. We therefore urge panies are one hundred percent Belvidere, New Jersey. on our side in this beef against SCAB CAMP the WSB. As always, the only They talked to the men who MINDING OUR OWN BUSINESS people and the only group that were already out there and fights a union beef is the Union found that most of them had involved and its membership. been recruited under false pre­ This was proven pretty con­ tenses. Except for one or two clusively in the past and it was men, one the First Mate in com­ again pointed up by the activit­ mand of the group, all said that ies of the Calmar Steamship they were not anti-union and Company during the past few that the Calmar Line had played days. a dirty trick on them when they Since the strike started, a num­ were sent to the camp to act as ber of unorganized seamen, scabs. On Tuesday, September 10, a mainly very young boys and company stiffs, have received number of SIU-SUP men visited telegrams asking them to report the camp and explained the sit­ to "Captain Colchester, 13th uation to these would-be scabs. rioor, 25 Broadway." Some did The men said that the Calmar so, and they were signed on ar­ Line had told them that the ticles and sent to various camps strike would be over by Wednes­ which had been established along day, and that they would be then the east coast/ as training centers shipped out. ^.ater, the story changed and they were then told for scabs arid finks. Members of ihe SIU:SUP. 62.000 sirong, sfarfed walking picketlines as soon as the strike Word of this came to the at­ that even if the strike was still began. This was not political, it was purely and simply a fight for the money which had been tention of the Union, and so a on, they would still be shipped few militant SlU.mbn went up to on Wednesday. won honestly and which had been stolen by a lot of phony red-tape artists. Everywhere there Some of them didn't like that see Captain Colchester. When was a complete tie-up of all shipping. Not a propeller churned the water, and incoming ships these men spoke to the scab idea, but there was little they lo rest as their crews left to join the picketlines. At the end of one solid week of picket­ herder, they were sure to let could do about it because they ing. the WSB had not yet backed down, but the Seafarers had only just started to fight. drop sonie anti-union sentiments, (Continued OH'Page'$) Paper Shortage Calmar Strikebreaking Try Fails; Fink Camp Breaks Up i �Page Two 2J WE S E AiE AR 5 If » LOG, Friday, September 13, 1946 SEAFARERS LOG Published Weekly by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTH AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf Disti'ict A ffilia fed with the American federation of Labor At SI Beaver Street, New York, 4, N, Y. HAaover 2-2784 t X % X HARRY LUNDEBERG ------ President lOi Market Street, San Francisco, Calif. JOHN HAWK Secy-Treas. P. O. Box 25, Station P., New York City !l'1 I'i'i Entered as second class matter June 15, 1945, at the Post Office in New York, N. Y., under the Act of August 24, 1912. . 267 We Buckle Down With practically the entire country on our side in this all-out struggle against the dictatorial actions of the .Wage Stabilization Board, the WSB last night announced that its original decision still stands and that the money which they blandly took out of the pocket of the working seaman will not be returned by them. The sentiments of almost all inhabitants of this coun­ try, plus the backing of organized labor, did not have any effect on these wilful men in Washington. Without any attempt to sift the entire situation so as to arrive at an equitable decision, hte WSB reiterated its former satn4 and left the maritime situation tied up in a knot. It is significant that public opinion, reflected by the newspaper treatment of the action, is overwhelmingly on . . . . ,, f" our side. It is not because the people of this country are interested in five and ten dollar raises for ABs. The issue is a far broader one, and one that vitally concerns all or­ ganized labor, and indirectly the entire population of the United States. Here and now the fight is being waged between bu­ reaucratic control and democratic methods. If the WSB is allowed to win this test, they may well consider that they have won a victory over democracy, and that they Touring the Hall while the it was all I could get, but I the ports tied up indefinitely." therefore have the right to institute the sort of control guys were resting after the first wasn't going to wait for a pull- "Boy, I got a kick out of the that we just finished fighting in Europe, and which still day's picketing, one couldn't help speed which this thing came off. Straight from the shoulder—took exists in Russia. overhearing a few snatches of a vote and out we went." The mass of American people, including some of those conversation. One seaman flick­ Good Union men, all of them. who hold postions of authority in Washington, are in favor ed the ashes off his cigarette and of a living, working democracy. There are, however, a said "Yeah, a Steward from off one of the ships fixed us up with few men who like to have power over their fellow men. a case of beer and two pots of These men are dangerous. They must be weeded out, and man. Got here this morning and their agencies torn asunder before they can undermine went right out on the picket ED EMERY line." the rights and privileges which labor has fought and Here and there one heard com­ Have moved to 34 Locust died for. Street, Dorchester. Phone will ments on things in genei'al: The industry and public members of the Wage "This Union don't waste no be put in next week. Please call. —Ma. Stabilization Board are such men. They care little for the time when it's got a beef to XXX people who make up this mighty land, they care only for settle . . ." R. R. WATSON the power which is theirs, and which they can retain only coffee. Made picketing a real "This is my idea of a real solid strike, no strings attached, every­ as long as the people don't question them. Book number 23186: Ralph picnic. Darn nice df him." thing clear. You got to hand it Casale of 47 Hinckly St., SomerWe Seafarers do question them. We want to know One youngster told his huddy: ville, Mass., would like to hear by what right they set aside the established privilege of "I was down at pier 9 picketing from you. the Coast Guard office. Funny free collective bargaining between labor and employers. thing about it, I was supposed to XXX We ask them how they dare to go counter to the wishes be there today to take my AB's WILLIAM JOHN MEEHAN of the citizens of this country when they attempt to set test, but there I was outside of Please contact your mother up a super-government that will not listen to the voice of the joint carrymg a picket sign. I immediately. can't use my papers right now the man who works for a living, or of the man who em­ anyway, so it doesn't matter. It ploys him. really gave me a change to picket to the strike committee . . ." "I was in a Teamsters strike It is obvious that the WSB has gotten itself into a those guys." in, St. Louis and I thought that hole and must now wait for help from the outside. The Still another voice: "Man, am was a good one, but this is the SS J. SHERMAN seamen who are on strike will hold firm. Only complete I bushed. I was up in Bay City, best I've ever seen. We are even Michigan, fishing for the big ones reversal of the arbitrary ruling which started the strike being fed right here in the Hall C. Garcia, 6 hrs. This can be can now end it. and, that's something I've never collected at the Alcoa SS Com­ pany, Pier 45^North River, New seen done in a strike before." The public and industry members of the Board have York, N. Y. An oldtimer with two days proved that they are not worthy of the trust and respon­ growth of beard set his coffee sibility vested in them. To appease their vanity they have down saying: "If this strike lasts thrown this nation into the largest general maritime strike for a week—I don't think it will, but if it should—we should buy in history. It is time for them to go. JOHN E. PERKINS newspaper space and give it to We will win this battle. Our solidarity is unimpaired when I heard we were going out. 'the public straight just like the Your AB papers, found on the and. we have buckled down to last a long time. The next I; hot footed, it. down to Detroit shipowners do, whenever we John Edr'lstein, are being held move is up to the President, and he now has the chance and threw my gear together ... tangle with them." for you at the Smith & Johnson to right a grievous wrong. : Spent the night in a day coach, "With this set-up we can keep office, 62 Beaver Street. Coffee And Conversation Around The Hall -PERSONALS- MONEY DUE NOTICE! �•1= 1.V "Triday, Sd{it»ntb«r 13, 1946 THE SEAFARERS LOG SITTING THE BRICKS This is the sight you could have seen in practically every sea port in the United States. As these men, and others like them, left their ships in protest over the finky deal given us by the WSB, shipping came to a complete stop. xN.y. Teamsters Tie Up City Smoothly Functioning Strike Committees Assure Successful Running Of WSB Beef NEW YORK — The successful prosecution of the present ship tie-up here in New York depends directly on the various commit­ tees set up under the strike com­ mittee to coordinate the job of carrying out a total strike. This tremendous task could not have gotten rolling in the magnificent fashion that it has were it not for these committees and their tireless workers. A full report of thd various committees and what they have accomplished and run up against so far in the strike would take more space than is available at this time, Most of the chairmen of these committees have. been far too busy to submit detailed reports, so for the time being only a paragraph or so is coming out of the offices of these com­ mittees. The Legal and Medical Com­ mittee headed by H. A. Thomp­ son, with the aid of Joe Volpian, reports that it is operating with the highest of efficiency. They report that they have the services of three volunteer lawyers who POUNDING THE BRICKS All the operators have offered is a meager $3.00 flat increase •per week. Involved in the strike are Lo­ cals 807, 282 and 816 of the In­ ternational Brotherhood of Team­ sters," Warehousemen and Help­ ers, with a combined membership 'of 15,000. Also out are 15,000 'New Jersey drivers who have staged a sympathy walkout. Like ihe minute men of old who freed this country from the domination of a foreign tyrant, these men are prepared to fight for the hard won rights of free American labor. These signs tell the story, and they could be seen along the miles of •waterfront of any sea iown in the United States. Calmar Strikebreaking Attempt Fails As Fink Camp Closes Up Union, without the promise of (Conthmed from Page 1.) anything in return, to help out on • The strike is proceeding with had no money and they had em- the picketlines or anyplace else complete effectiveness with in­ signed articles when first ploj'ed. where they could be of service. dustry after industry revealing "Your beef is our beef," the As soon as they heard the Union they are feeling the impact of group declared, "and we want to this first general trucking strike side, the boys stated that they do what we can to help win," were not scabs. One of them said, in six years. Practically no linff is exempt and several large con­ "Calmar played a dirty trick on And so ends another attempt cerns already have shut down. us, but the Union set us straight. by the shipowners to force sea­ Everything from cigarettes to They could have raised heU with men to return to the days of low kitchen stoves was affected by us, but instead they treated us wages and poor conditions. It the tie-up. Teamsters union of­ like Brothers and we appreciate was defeated because of Union solidarity and vigilance, and ficials, however, said that most it." Another said, "I \hink the proves once more that only by perishable foods were being transported, arid that meat, but­ Union men are square shooters." •organization can these open shop ter, eggs and bread were not The boys were unanimous in phonies be kept from making being left to rot. requesting permission 'from the slaves •of free workers. - -'V set up a first aid unit that is In the cabbage department, or available 24 hours a day. better known as the Finance Committee, Johnny Weir reports 3,000 PICKETS everything running like a well• The Strike Picket and Regis­ oiled machine. tration Committee reports over Every cent of the Union's 3000 SIU-SUP pickets registered money is behig accounted for and no expenditures are being made that do not, have the apr proval of the strike strategy com­ mittee. Brother Weir wishes to caution men in their spending as this strike is by no means the last one, and every dollar saved today will come in handy for the next beef. BEEF—EATING KIND The swiichboard in the New York Hall stayed busy for 24 hours a day after the walkout started. Here the harassed op­ erator trys to talk, listen, and dial at the same time. Bernie Goodman, Chairman of the Publicity and Public Rela­ tions Committee, announces that through the multiplicity of talents available his committee was able to swing into action with minimum of effort. Mayor O'Dwyer's compromise proposal calling for an 181^-cent hourly, wage rise, shorter work week, and increased vacation and overtime allowances has been re­ jected by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters locals involved in the wage dispute, as inadequate. The truck operators had repudiated the settlement plan previously. OFFER $3 are on call 24 hours a day and so been donated by the Coast to far the committee has handled Coast Airlines for the duration over 200 cases. of the strike. The committee re­ The medical situation is well ports that it has been called upon in harrd with three volunteer doc­ to furni.sh men and rar.s to points tors and two nurses offering their as far away as Norfolk and Al­ services. The committee has also bany. and on duty. Commillee chair­ man Jack Greenhaw has only words of praise for the coopera­ tion of the men in undertaking this gigantic task. He said that in view of the vast waterfront to cover, and the difficulties in transportation, he is highly pleased with the small number of absentee pickets. NEW YORK, Sept. 11—Tndu.stry faced virtual shutdown as the AFL Teamster's general truck­ ing strike, now in its eleventh •day, tightened its grip on this city. With negotiations stalled, there were no signs of an early settlement, and one high union official thought a break was un­ likely "for two or three weeks." The strike began on Aug. 31 with the expiration of the con­ tract between the operators and Teamsters. The men refused to work without a new contract. The unions demand a 30 per cent wage incr-ease in addition to the lessening of hours of work and the vacation and overtime stipulations. Page Three This committee handles all publicity for New York and vi­ cinity and, on important releases covers all ports in the Atlantic and Gulf district. They put out approximately 5000 copies of every release covering all New York ports, the hospitals and even go uptown with releases and hand them to the general public. RANK AND FILE The Transportation Committee is a glowing example of coopera­ tion and response to the call for volunters. Frank Lovell, Chair­ man, released figures showing 35, automobiles, 18 motorcycles, one truck, two launches, a 40 foot yawl and an airplane at the dis­ posal of the committee. The airliner and a limosine has Cornering Michael Papadakis is a herculean task for a report on the Food and Housing Com­ mittee, however, a statement from the committee reports the feeding of 200 men daily, with one-fourth ton of beef being con­ sumed and over 200 pounds of bread going to the men. Local 202 of the Teamsters do­ nated 10 tons of foodstuffs to the men, which is being put to good use. In housing, the committee reports bunking 200 men here in Jj Hot. black and welcome. For a lift when you get tired, cof­ fee does the trick every time. Plenty of coffee is being drunk by the men of the SIU-SUP during these days we are out on strike. « the Hall, with hotels and insti­ tutions made available throghout the city for the men. Maxie Korenblatt, chairman of the Strike Strategy Committee, sums up the whole set-up with the words "If things could rtm any smoother—well, I wouldn't believe it." Reports from strike strategy committees in the out-ports are not available at the moment, but complete repoiTs on their acti­ vities will be . given at a later date. A CHEERY START Seamen, longshoremen, and teamsters cheev the action as the first picketlines are established. There was no question about their sentiments. These members of other unions let us know definitely that they were in this with us until the Seafarers would win through to final victory. �Page Four THE SEAFARERS LOG Stabilization Director Reverses WSB Ruling SiU HALLS NEW YORK 51 Beaver St. HAnover 2-2784 BOSTON 278 State St. Bowdoin 4057 (Agent) Bowdoin 4055 (Dispatcher) BALTIMORE 14 North Gay St. Calvert 4539 Friday, Sepiember 13, 1946 Strike Committee Wins Lodging For French Seamen NEW YORK, Sept. 10—Seafar bringing wives and children to ers conducting the biggest beef this country. (Contin-ued from Page 1) , ber would be added to as the PHILADELPHIA^^^^^. jS^Sout^h yhjst- jn the nation's maritime history Immediately upon receipt of the United States ground to a wore on. NORFOLK 127-129 Bank Street found time yesterday to respond the wire, the SIU-SUP Strike sure halt ( Thousands of pickets were ac 4-1083 1 Committee went into action. Nec­ humanely to a mercy plea for aid r. ...68 Society St. It was'only a matter of hours 300-odd miles that CHARLESTON Phone 3-3680 from the 1800 passengers and 300 essary details incident to the re­ after the strike call went into "P ""P "oterfront of NEW ORLEANS 339 Chartres St. crew members aboard the French moval of the liner's passengers Canal 3336 effect that aU shipping in the N,®" Y"''''- ^s soon as dealt with quickly. A .220 East Bay St. Line's Athos II, which steamed were United States became paralyzed. J® ^nst lines were established SAVANNAH 3-1728 in to the dead harbor and drop launch was to leave early the The waterfront on all three coasts ,""=>• became 100 per cent effee- MOBILE 7 St. Michael St next morning (Monday) with a ^took , on .1. 1 "of n < a„ dead J ] forest,'I tive. Even the members of other , . 2-1754 ped anchor off Staten Island. the 1look Seafarers delegation headed by SAN JUAN, P. R 45 Ponce de Leon The vessel arrived on Satur unions not affiliated to the AFL San Juan 2-5996 with bare booms sticking up into , . , , ^ , ai. T J Robert A. Matthews and Henry day, at which time Seafarers In Do.,1 decided to honor the lines, anc GALVESTON 30514 22nd St. the air in the words of Paul, , . 2-8448 ternational Union made several "Blackie" Jackson. HaU, SlU Director of Organiza.f, 1809-1811 N. Franklin St strenuous attempts to have 68 Whitey Lykke was in charge curity of the ship, cleared by the TAMPA M.I323 tioh and New York Foil Agent. 920 Main St, orphaned children removed, but of a group to assist passengers unions involved, were allowed to JACKSONVILLE Phone 5-5919 Immigration authorities aboard Activity in the outports reflect­ go aboard any ship. from the Athos to the excursion PORT ARTHUR . .909 Fort Worth Ave ed the complete tie-up of the the ship refused to cooperate. steamer Americana, which would Phone: 2-8532 Wea*k statements kept coming port of New York. From every HOUSTON 1515 75th Street The Union, however, effectec carry them to Pier 88, North out of Washington. At first the Phone Wentworth 3-3800 port came the same story. New their reriioval on Sunday. Bj River, for debaikation. RICHMOND, Calif 257 5th St, Orleans reported that only the officials took no notice of the SAN FRANCISCO 59 Clay St, Monday afternoon, all passengers Also-in the launch were Willy strike in the hopes that perhaps Garfield 8225 had been brought ashore. Mississippi River moved; Tampa Dorchain, representative in the it would not tie up all shipping SEATTLE 86 Seneca St, sent word that everything that Included in the debarkation Main 0290 United States of the Internation­ as threatened. When it became floated was tied up and that any PORTLAND .^.111 W. Buritside St, were some 800 French seamen al Transport Workers Federation, apparent that the paralysis to WILMINGTON 440 Avalon Vlvd brought hete to return 20 Liberty vessel that pulled in would be Captain Honeycotte, a French . Terminal 4-3131 shipping had become even more affected in the same manner; 16 Merchant St Ships to France. The strike com­ Line official, and members of the complete than expected, the WSB HONOLULUBaltimore took credit for a well BUFFALO 10 Exchange St, mittee insisted that these men be press. made the unacceptable offer to Cleveland 7391 oiled strike apparatus and said guaranteed first class hotel ac­ On boarding the Athos, DorCHICAGO 24 W. Superior Ave. that not only was the strike com­ reconsider the matter, on the Superior 5175 commodations ashore, or no one chain, speaking in French, ad­ "basis of further information," on C; . ELAND 1014 E. St. Clair St. would be permitted to land. The plete, but accommodations had dressed, over the public address Main 0147 been arranged for all men parti­ Tuesday, September 10. To this DETROIT French Line officials agreed to 1038 Third St. system, the ship's crew and the John Hawk, SIU SecretaryCadillac 6857 that. Another stipulation exact­ cipating in the beef in that port. 800 seamen who came over as Treasurer, replied that by the DULUTH 531 W. Michigan St. From Boston came the only time the Board met the strike Melrose 4110 ed from the French Line was passengers to man the 20 Liberty VICTORIA, B. C 602 Houghton St. that these men would not be note of comedy when the Boston would be five days old. ships purchased by the French VANCOUVER 144 W. Hastings St. asked to sail their ships until the Strike Committee sent word that Government. 1 •/. w. 8th St. As the most complete shipping MARCUS HOOK the joint SIU-SUP action had Chester 5-3110 SIU-SUP strike was ended. The ITF representative ex­ strike in the nation's history tied up the mighty U. S. battle­ The French skipper, who was plained the strike issue and the CORPUS CHRISTIE ..1824 Mesquite St. the delegate for the unionized position of the SIU-SUP. He ship, the Missouri. All this came went into its sixth day, the WSB about when the Ol' MO was met in Washington and heard a ship's officers, told the SIU-SUP stressed the necessity for solid­ berthed directly between . two representative of the ship owners committee that not only would arity amongst all workers. SIU ships and the open sea. plead that the wage increases be he not ask the crew to sail the Our fight is your fight," he When the walkout became effec­ approved on the grounds that it Athos II while the American said. tive. it was impossible for any­ was negotiated in good faith by unions were on strike, but that, The response was a tremendous The Seafarers Log is your one, including the devil and the the Unions and the operators, as a good union man, he himself ring of applause. He was sur­ port captain, to move the strike and that the Government had Union paper. Every member would not sail. rounded by the French seamen, bound ships, and so the big bat- exceeded its authority in refusing The plea came in the form of members of the Syndicat des has the right to have it mailed tlewagon had to stay where she to honor them. a telegram, from the 'American Marine Francais. The delegates io his house, where he and passengers signed "Veterans of of the French union pledged their HELP OFFERED was. his family can read it at their World War II," and was received 100 percent support in the strike, Last report from Beantown The AFL affiliates connected leisure. at Union headquarters in New and all pinned SIU-SUP strike was that the mighty Missouri was in any way with the waterfront If you haven't already done York late Sunday night. stiU tied up, and would remain so also joined in the action 100 per juttons on their shirts. so. send your name and home It told of the "indescribable" until the strike was settled. cent under the direction of the Jackson then addressed the address to the Log office. 51 plight of those aboard, and ask­ passengers. Speaking in English, newly formed AFL Maritime ATHOS INCIDENT Beaver Street. New York ed the striking Union to "have he outlined the situation, pointTrades Department. The Long­ Other incidents came to a head City, and have yourself added mercy and rescue us." shoremen and the Teamsters ng up the arbitrary ruling of during the strike activity. For to the mailing list. Many of the veterans had been the Wage Stabilization Board in added to the effectiveness of the Instance, the French Line and the discharged in Europe and were denying Seafarers what they action by refusing to work or IT. S. Government took this opmove waterfront cargo. Soon justly earned through the me­ portuhity to try to have the pas­ the action spread overseas and dium of collective bargaining. sengers of the SS Athos II bring British longshoremen stated that He said that the Union had pressure to bear on the Unions u ^ , j r; . , , , I they would not unload any cargo made every effort possible to by mstigating a telegram from loaded in the United States dur­ help the passengers out of their the passengers to the Unions ask­ ing the duration of the strike. fix. The passengers applauded ing that the strike be halted so and shouted their approval. While the main pressure was that the passengers could be disPlacing full blame for the notified the ship operators and the Passengers and crew alike embarked. The whole truth of ^he strike action itself, the present national waterfront Seafarers Union that the agree­ the matter is that the SIU-SUP Physical wants of the strikers strike on the heads of the mem­ ment could not remain in effect." complained bitterly of the filthy, overcrowded, conditions on He went on to call upon all tried to have the crew and pas­ were also taken into considera­ bers of the Wage Stabilization board. Food was poor for the en­ sengers taken off the .ship when tion. In each port committees Board for their failure to approve AFL unions to lend their support tire three week.s of the voyage. she first came into New York, up to attend the feeding the wage rate won through col­ to this all important moment in No facilities of any kind were of the men on the lective bargaining, William labor history. "At this moment Ur Harbor, but the company and the beach.housing available for the many infants. It became a big job as the immigration authorities held out Green, president of the Ameri­ when labor once again is battling 1st CLASS ROOKING until all red-tape had been ne­ ships came into the harbor and can Federation of Labor pledged for it-s rights, all American work­ 1^' dropped anchor, to stay there full support to the Seafarers In­ ing men should rally to support gotiated. Indignation was at fever pitch until the beef was settled in the ternational Union and the Sail­ the Seafarers in their fight among many passengers who had On the whole, the newspapers, , . ,, „ . . , i:treated the situation honestly, Seafarers. And as ors Union of the Pacific in their against the unfair union-break­ purchased first-class tickets from realizing that we had and have Progressed, so did the fight for the rights of American ing tactics. The complete soli­ travel agencies. After paying l.i a good beef, but stories such ^he rank-and-file Labor to receive the wages gain­ darity and solid front shown by exorbitant prices they found ed through free collective bar- American labor now will show there was no first-class room for this one and one other were used committee members. In New York, and in the other gainig. conclusively to those in Wash­ them. One irate passenger said to try to sway public opinion ports, the food became increas­ ington who think they have the he paid $800 each for three firstPresident Green pointed out against our just demands. ingly better, and the activities of that there was no conflict be­ right in their hands to dictate class tickets, but that he and his NO SETTLEMENT the various sub-committees tween the shipowners and the arbitrary decisions to unions who family were forced to make the The third day of the strike saw charged with carrying on the unions, since both groups reach­ have won bj^ lawful rights bet­ trip in fourth-class accommoda­ matters take shape and come to strike to a successful conclusion ed full accord on the wage issue. ter working conditions and tions. a head. On that day the Assis­ became easier and smoother. All All aboard the ship, crew and "In view of the fact that an wages that such tactics will not tant Secretary of Labor, Philip this came about as the picketing agreement was reached in a full be tolerated. passengers, expressed gratitude Hannah, flew to the West Coast militants gained experience. LABOR'S FIGHT to the Seafarers International and open way through collective to attempt to have Harry LundeThere was no doubt about this bargaining and was signed by "The Seafarers International Union for effecting their debark­ berg call an end to the action, being the largest action ever un­ both parties, it should remairi in Union of the AFL has taken upon ation from the "hell-ship." 'This was refused by Lundeberg, dertaken by any union of sea­ effect," he said. itself the task of fighting the un­ Leigh Skinner, a veteran and after four conferences, Han­ men. And there was little doubt just decision of a government whose home is in Detroit, but AFL SUPPORT nah was forced to return to Wash­ that it was the most effective "The agreement was concluded board that is trying to set a who's staying temporarily with ington admitting defeat. strike ever undertaken by any at a time when the OPA and the vicious precedent. This prece­ his new bride at 1705 Bushing By the end of the first three union, anywhere. From every wage stabilization board had dent, if allowed to go unchal­ Avenue, the Bronx, said that all days of picketing of all piers on segment of organized labor came ceased to exist, due to the legis­ lenged, wiU mean the throttling the passengers, "especially the all coasts of the country, the assurances of support and offers lative lapse. The Shipping Board of the labor movement in Amer­ vets," were grateful to the Union. WSA reported that over 750 ships of help, financial and otherwise. approved the increases but when ica. This' is the fight of labor "We sure do appreciate what were lying at anchor in the To all these offers, the Union Congress revived the OPA and everywhere apd is not solely the SIU has done for us," he said. streams and at the piers of the sent the same reply, "Thanks, WSB, the latter board turned the concern of the Maritime "From now on yd'u can be sure various ports, and that the num- but we can win this ,pn nur own." thumbs down on the plan, 11 workers." • of me as a strong union man." GET THE LOG Green Pledges Support Of AFL Union To Striking k I 6 �"f '.u Friday, September 13, 1946 Port Round-Up Of Strike News strike reports are beginning to trickle in from the Atlantic and Gulf ports, and with very few exceptions ihe story is the same: "Strike 100 per cent effec­ tive." A quick glance around' the ports gives us the following pic­ ture of the strike scene: Reports from the north show 38 ships tied up from Portland, Maine, to Boston. 32 ships are American and six are of foreign -flags. Boston was a few hours later going out on strike than most of the east coast ports as the long­ shoremen pleaded "special cir­ cumstances," but picketing was a 100 per cent Friday morning when the official hour for pick­ eting to start came around. Sup­ port is .solidly pledged from all maritime sources throughout the New England states. PHILLY SNUG In Philly there are 90 Ameri­ can and 19 foreign ships tied up. Everything is snug in this city. Picketing in Philly has its bright spot as even on the picketline men receive their coffee. The AFL Central Labor Union has put at the disposal of the SIU a mobile canteen that has been touring the waterfront with cof­ fee, sandwiches and doughnuts. In Norfolk 102 American ships and six foreign flag ships are thoroughly tied up. Charleston, S. C., has 16 ships that are not going to sail until the whole thing is over. Savannah reports seven Amer­ ican and four foreign ships tied up, with not a thing moving. Jacksonville, Fla. is 100 per cent tied up with three ships in. Several small ports in Florida which were not being picketed were being used by fruit boats to unload. The holes are rapidly being plugged and picketlines be­ ing set up. INJUNCTION FILED On the gulf coast come reports of the only anti-union activity so far reported anywhere on the strike front. In Houston, Texas, the Union had an injunction filed against it by the Houston Wharves, refraining it from picketing. The order was based on the argument that The Sea­ farers have no dispute with the shipowners, but against the WSB and therefore the Union should be picketing the WSB and not the watpvfrontThe pickets are still walking the waterfront, but not carrying picket signs. All AFL maritime workers have said they will stay out, picketli^ies or not, until the beef is settled. In Galveston the same type of injunction has been filed against the Union. The injunction has been served upon Luther Reed, who says he is not working for the Union in any official capa­ city. So far, as a result of the injunction, 12 pickets have been arrested, but as the jail will only hold 124 men the Union feels that it can fill the jail and still have men enough to man the picketlines so the picketlines will con­ tinue, Port Arthur, Mobile and Tam­ pa report everything is "stone cold dead in the® harbor" with nothing moving, and they're re­ ceiving full cooperation from every source connected with the waterfront. THE SEAFARERS LOG TAKING A WALK Page Five 4000 Attend SlU-SUP Meeting In New York NEW YORK—Starting with a derson, of the American Mer­ mass walkout of SIU-SUP mem­ chant Marine Staff Officers As­ bers on all contracted ships at 12 sociation. noon on Thursday, Sept. 5, SIU Patrolman William Hamil­ the greatest strike in American ton made a few brief remarks, maritime history got off to a fly­ . stating "If it were in my power, I would make the WSB reim­ ing start. SIU-SUP members, as well as burse all Seafarers on strike members from other maritime today." unions, then attended a mass Telegrams of support which meeting held at Manhattan Cen­ were received from President S. ter at 3:00 p. m. Police estimates J. Hogan of the MEBA, and Fred placed the attendance at 4,000. Farnen, Secretary-Treasurer of The meeting was opened by the Great Lakes District, were Max Korenblatt, chairman of the also read by Chairman Koren­ When the strike call came, these Seafarers responded—and Joint SIU-SUP Strike Commit­ blatt. how! A lonely harbor testifies to their effectiveness. tee, who proceeded to give a brief SIU Gulf Coordinator Lindsay i-esume of the beef against the Williams gave a brief word pic­ Wage Stabilization Board which ture of the Gulf condition: "To­ resulted in the strike call. Before day at noon, sailors in the Gulf the introduction of the other hit the bricks in every port. We speakehl, the entire crowd stood have 130 ships tied up in New in silence for one minute in honor Orleans, 7.5 in Mobile, 50 in Hous­ of the dead seamen who gave ton, and smaller numbers in Sa­ being taken by the WSB could their lives during World War II. vannah, Jacksonville, Tampa, (Contimied from Page 1) Texas City, and Port Arthur." only be construed by the .SIUHAWK LEADS OFF organizations withdraw their "AFL Maritime Trades Coun­ SUP, and all organized labor as representatives from the WSB Secretary-Treasurer John Hawk cils have been set up in every a deliberate attack upon the very on the grounds that "further par­ declared during the course of his port on the Atlantic Coast," de­ principles which labor had fought ticipation by labor members on remarks that, "We're going to clared SIU Organizer Cal Tan­ and bled for over a period of such a board can only be inter­ stay out on strike until the Na­ ner, "and they'xe all supporting many years. preted as approval of a bureau tional Wage Stabilization Board us. Crews from all ships along He further warned that this okays these wage increases. which is depriving labor of its fundamental rights as guaran­ turn down would not be accep­ "We don't intend to have any the Coast (Atlantic) hit the bricks table to the unions involved, and goverr,ment board tell us we at noon, too." teed by law." East Coast SIU Coordinator The committee asked that such that strike action might be a can't^ have them," stated Hawk. Earl "Bull" Sheppard stated, action be taken if the WSB does natural consequence. The Board, "They understand now that we "We've contacted all affiliated not see fit to reverse its original with its usual high-handedness, mean business." and non-affilated Unions in this decision which stole from the did not or would not take his In commenting on the strike area and they're all supporting members of the SIU-SUP the in­ word for this, and so they found status up to date. Hawk firmly us. New York Tugboatmen won't creased wages secured through out for themselves. emphasized, "When we've got to take a line from any incoming free collective bargaining. hit the bricks, we hit them prop­ PRESSURE MOUNTS ship . . . We've always won our erly. All the action referring to the Much 'pressure was being put "We have the full support of beefs, and I'm damn sure that requests was taken only after on the WSB to reverse itself, and the AFL Maritime Trades De­ we'll win this one, too." long and solemn deliberation by all organized labor has signified partment," concluded Hawk, "in Another telegram pledging the Joint Strike Committee. that it has become not only a our strike." support of the SIU-SUP from In the course of the previous fight for "pork chops" for sea­ President Murray Winocur of Lo­ Following Hawk, SIU Vice meetings, which have been held men, but a battle against the at­ President and SUP New York cal 2, ACA, was read by Chair­ every day since the strike action tempt of a government agency Port Agent Morris Weisberger man Korenblatt. started, the question of whether to substitute government edict remarked, "The sign behind me MM&P FULL SUPPORT or not to call upon other seg­ for free collective bargaining. 'No contract! No work!' is exactly Speaking for the Masters, ments of organized labor not con­ This principle has been scored the position of the Sailors Union Mates, and Pilots of America, nected with the waterfront to Captain Harry Martin, President walkout in sympathy with the by many labor leaders as "intol­ of the Pacific. "The WSB is requesting that of that organization, asserted, "A striking seamen, was brought up erable" and they have indicated many times. Until yesterday, that they will recommend that we appear before them next short while ago, when it became however, there was never any their organizations take an active Tuesday for a rehearing," said apparent that the SIU-SUP were action, favorable or otherwise, on part in the struggle if it should Weisberger. "As far as we're going out on strike, our Union become necessary. concerned, they're talking to the pledged its full support. Instruc­ the subject. Only a WSB announcement wrong people. We presented our tions went out to all MM&P mem­ When the wage increases nego­ bers to leave the ships lie where tiated between the SIU and the that the wages as negotiated by case already." they're at." Chairman Korenblatt then pro­ the SIU and SUP are agreeable SUP and the ship operators first Captain Martin continued, went before the WSB for review, will end the strike of the AFL ceeded to read some telegrams the AFL representative,. Walter seamen. And the way things look pledging all out support of the "This beef will benefit all AFL Mason, was the only one who now, unless this reversal is forth­ SIU-SUP strike from John R. Unions . . . When the CIO Mari­ coming within a very short time, Owens, Executive Secretary of time Unions talked about going voted to grant the increases. In a decision which differed all work in the United States the AFL Maritime Trades De­ out on strike, we pledged our­ with the majority, Mr. Mason may come to a halt for at least partment; Joe Curran, President selves to support all economic of the NMU; and George F. An- picket lines. Now that the CIO pointed out the action which was 24 hours. Unions have pledged themselves to support this strike, we'll win IN MEMORY OF OUR DEAD in a walk," SIU Port Agent Paul Hall re­ marked, "The present contract won is not the maximum, but the minimum wage that wc will accept. This is only the begin­ ning in our continuous fight for decent wages. "We are fighting for our rights —A lot of seamen's blood was spilled in obtaining these rights— and, if necessary, our blood will spill again to keep these rights," proclaimed Hall. After a few concluding re­ marks from Strike Chairman Korenblatt, the meeting was ad­ journed. Three long banners placed in prominent spots around the hall expressed the general sentiments of the entire meeting quite aptly. They were "An Injury To One Is An Injury To All," "No Con­ tract! No Work!", and "For Labor's Collective Bargaining Rights! Against (Government One mimifo of silenco in Manhaltan Center in memory of our Brothers who died in the fight Regimentation." against fascism. Call 24-Hour Work Strike, Committee Asks AFL, CIO "'^l m �r ti^ ^S'E A F A 'R E'H S VO G TANKER TRAGEDY -BS- IN*-'- In WSB Beef M: :. ft- Salvage Job Was Too Risky, Master Of Rescue Ship Says Operations to salvage the 30ton aircraft which crashed into the Water off the ^tern of the SS Tulane Victory July 4 would have been impractical and dan­ gerous, Capt. J. W. Clark, the vessel's master, declared recently in a letter addressed to his crew. SeafarersVow The details of the crash and the swift rescue of the five-man plane crew in the' South Atlan­ tic was reported to the Log from Rio de Janeiro by former Deck Delegate Joseph Catalanotta and appeared in the July 26 issue. The only reference to salvage, however, was Catalanotta's sen­ tence: "My first thought, after taking the airmen aboard, was As the nation's ships by the hundreds dropped their hooks in the biggest strike in maritime history, thousands of seamen who •poured off the vessels expressed feverish indignation over the Wage Stabilization Board ruling which denied them what they had won legally in the free col­ lective bargaining process. Their comments varied greatly, but fundamentally all agreed that the WSB stood responsible for perpetrating a monstrous dirty deal against the working men who man the nation's mer­ chant fleet, and, in fact, against all labor. One Seafarer, Salvatore Barges, pretty well explain­ ed the situation, and typified the militancy and determination of the SIU membership to fight and "stay on the bricks until we win, whether it takes a week, a month or a year." BARGES' VIEWPOINT Here is how Brother Barges looks at it: "Today we seamen are striking to get a wage increase—a wage increase which we won legally through collective bargaining, which was agreed to and granted by the operators, and the War Shipping Administration. Then comes the WSB to arbitrarily rescind the increases. "After - all, the seaman is a family man. All seamen depend on sailing for a living for them­ selves and their families. Sea­ farers and their families depend­ ed on this wage increase in order to live comfortably and to make up in some measure for the spiralirig cost of living. They cannot live on the wage offered to us by the WSB. WSB UNJUST "It is unjust that we be demed what our committee has ne­ gotiated for us. The strike, •therefore, is not a strike for a wage increase, but a strike to re­ ceive what was already granted us by those concerned. "We find that we have been let down. We have found it neces­ sary to resort to the only means a working man has to protect his living and his wages—a strike. "So to you, the members of the WSB, we say: We will stay on the picket lines. We are determined to win what is rightfully ours. "We will stay on Ihe bricks until we win, whether it takes a week, a month, or a year." Top photo i^hows two Sea­ farers who were crew members aboard the ill-fated DeconhiU tanker Homestead, swept by a raging fire at the Standard Oil docks in Jacksonville, Aug. 6. The fire was touched o£f-by a bolt of lighting which ignited the 1^0,000 gallons of gasoline aboard. Two SIU crew men, Claude Duckworth and Jack Bowman, perished in the blase. The -above Tbotos, t^en by Brother Warren Stiles, reveal ^Friday, Sapteniibar 13, 1946 the charred hulk of the Home­ stead, and the gaping hole in her' side resulting from the fuel explosion. In spite of the ef­ forts of 11 city fire companies and two fire boats, the Home­ stead burned for several days before the fire-died-^but. salvaging the plane, thinking of the nice piece of change this would involve, but the Old Man had other ideas, and $150,000 was left to the deep sea. It was a good thought, anyhow." Captain Clark sets forth cate­ gorically his reasons for abandon­ ing any attempts at salvage, after he and his officers had discussed the possibilities. ". . . the risk involved was entirely too great to risk men's lives for such small gain," the Captain stated. The Captain also commended highly the crew's performance during the rescue, and said that "each man of the boat crews has been individually mentigned in my recommendation to the Sea­ men's Award Committee. Larry Graff, Deck Delegate aboard the Tulane, forwarded Captain Clark's letter to the Log. He said "the Captain called me up and asked me in a very nice manner if I would mind sending in his statement . . ." TEXT OF LETTER Captain Clark's letter follows: 12 Aug., 1946 Santos, Brazil From Capt. W. J. Clark Master, SS Tulane Victory To: Unlicensed Personnel 1. An article in your SIU publication re our plane rescue July 4, 1946 has been brought to my attention. The statement made by a crew member of this vessel that I "refused" to salvage the plane when peti­ tioned to do so by the crew is both absurd and ridiculous. Such statements, published without investigation, only widen the breach between of­ ficers and men, and such prac­ tice should be condemned. In the first place there was no request made to me re­ garding salvage on the night of July 4, 1946, and any asser­ tion to the contrary is mali­ ciously false. 2. Salvage, however, was considered by myself and of­ ficers, but 1 abandoned the idea for following reasons: * (a) Plane, when last viewed, was three-fourths full of water. (b) All instruments, etc., of value were smashed or ren­ dered valueless by salt water. (c) Plane's Captain stated, "engines were ruined by salt water, and plane presumed completely shot." (d) A moderately heavy swell was running which would have, made raising a 30-ton plane plus water inside, a precarious job at night. I had to make the decision and the "risk involved was en­ tirely too great to risk men's lives for such small gain. After all, by rules of salvage, I, as master would have gained far far more than ahy crewmember, I .suppo.se had I attempted salvage and one or mote men had been injured, the caption would have read, "Greedy Skipper needlessly risks SIU lives for salvage money." 3. Frankly, the only reason I bother to rebut such a state­ ment at all, knowing full well {Continued on Page 7) lA �SEAFARER AGREES WITH 'STEAMBOAT'CG IS NG Dear Editor: Three big lusty cheers for "Steamboat" O'Doyle and his item on the Coast Guard Ges­ tapo. He sure hit them where The Wanderer it hurts. By "WOODSIE" At the moment I am here in drydock to get my bottom scraped and as a result I have I've washed my feet in the time on my hands. When Herb Ganges. Jansen, the Chicago SIU agent My neck in the Bengal Bay, brought the Logs around to the I've walked for miles thru the hospital, I read them through Aleutian Isles and wished there were more. For less than a dollar a day. I am in complete sympathy with O'Doyle. The Coast Guard I was lost in the Indian Ocean has no damn right to persecute And typhooned down Bombay us, but damn it, they do it every On a hurricane deck which I day. grabbed on a spec I suppose I am a bit nuts on In lieu of a few days pay. the subject, however, I lost my I was sandbagged in dusty papers as a result of a CG courtCavite. martial in Panama for six months And woke upon the low highway and it cost me $225.00 to fly home And lived a week on the smell or rot in the WSA concentration of a leek camp at Coco Sola. For I had no money to pay. What for? The Chief Engineer kicked me in the guts and I I was spliced to a gal in China promised him I would make him And a Maltese in Malay, These crew members of Ihe SS Robert Ingersoll know their port from their starboard but a sorry soul for doing what he Played at pingpong with Miss when it comes to clicking to "port arms" that's something else- Anyway they are just having did. The charges? Threatening Hong Kong fun with some old rifles picked up in an old German fort in La Pallice, France. an officer. While her mother was away. From left to right, the men who prefer the sea are: Gerhard Hinrichs, Fireman; Freddie Not only was I charged with Schumacher, Deck Main!.; Richard Augsbuch, AB; Frank Wasmer, Wiper, and Red Goering, Oiler. threatening an officer, but they 'Twas at St. Kits I met a lass Brother Robert Burns, Oiler, took the picture. thz-ew the book at me. Now, if Blacked eyed as any Gypsy, as Mr. O'Doyle says they bave I pledged a glass in a friendly Pilot was prominently displayed no legal status I am going to sue pass. however. And then with love grew tipsy. them. The girls here go out to the One of the CG officers tried hospital once or twice a week I took this lass away with me. to make a deal with me in be­ to visit the seamen in the hos­ We landed in Jamaica, half of the shipowner, L. A. pital, but they "are American Red We began to disagree upon a The USS club in Shanghai isn't Tankers. He told me if I would Dear Editor: little chivaree. Cross workers who I do give plead guilty as charged, he On a recent trip to the Pacific. as bad as the one in. Manila, but And so I had to shake her. would guarantee me a suspended I stopped off at the usual ports it too. is pro-NMU. It only takes credit for their help to the sick sentence with the proviso that I and among other things I took in a short time to find that out in seamen who are pinned up there But all good girls just fail to pine sign off the ship on a mutual the USS clubs. I made some ob­ any of these places. The prices and can't get out. When Jack turns out a roamer. Of the three I like the club in They laugh and laugh, just start consent with the Captain, as he servations of the clubs in these here, are reasonable and the place explained the company didn't ports and thought I'd pass them is run just like a rest center. It Honolulu best as it is the prop­ to chaff. want to be stuck with my trans­ along to you. I don't know ex­ is in charge of an American, Miss erty of the Seamen's Church In­ They pledge the next beach­ portation bill. Naturally I told actly what seamen can get from Waltrous and she treats the boys stitute and does a real job of comber the big stiff where to go, which, them, but I'll give my slant on pretty fair. They mostly employ looking after the seamen who of course, made him very mad. them for whatever benefit it may white Russians from the west make this life their bread and Now it's home, dearie, home; side of Shanghai where the Jap­ butter. However, if you are on It's home where I long to be So mad that he saw fit to make be. anese section ^vas before the war. the beach over 30 days, they My tops'ls are hoisted, on wind a personal issue of the case. Now The club in Manila is about they are foisted There is always some kind of won't give you a room or bed I ask you is that justice? seven miles from Wall city and I must put out to the sea. Keep hitting out at them -has a swimming pool, FX, ship's entertainment going on during as they claim you should go to "Steamboat," I'm with you all canteen, pool hall and a place in the day all week long. Outside sea again. the way. Fred J. Reppome the yard where movies are shown of the movies and dances once a Well that is about all the dirt and they have tours going to week the place is really dead if that I could dig up about the COMES THROUGH Corregidor every other day or so you're looking for good time or clubs that I visited. You can sec INGERSOLL MEN a real laugh. that the NMU is really solid with WITH GOOD 'SHOTS' when the weather permits. GOMMEND THE It is close to the custom jetty these outfits. Personally 1 really Dear Editor: PREFERS HOTEL and is a good place to rest up don't care too much. The at­ STEWARDS DEPT. The price for a bunk is reason­ As I read thoroughly each is­ after a long walk or while wait­ mosphere doesn't smell right, and able, but I preferred to sleep on Dear Editor: sue of the Log, I can't help see­ ing for some one as it has a nice that isn't a crack at the NMU, but the ship or at a hotel if you lounge. The minute steaks are they are just seamen's hangouts ing your note about writing to We the crew of the SS Robert know what I mean. good and tender, but stay away when you are broke or close to the Log. As I am a pei-mit man Ingersoll wish to commend the Like most USS clubs, this one from the T-bones as they are im­ it. About the only ones who take I felt that before writing I should present Steward Department for was definitely pro-NMU. I found advantage of the clubs are the have sOilieLliiilg tu wrile abuuL their excellent feeding, coopera­ this out one day when I tried to possible to chew. In the Log of Aug. 9, I saw HONOLULU CLUB beachcombers. As long as I am tion and cleanliness throughout find two AB's for our ship. I the news item about the SIUI don't know too much about sailing I will stop in at these the present voyage. inquired at the office of the club SUP tanker Homestead. But I Speaking as Union Brothers we and asked if any SIU men were the Honolulu club, but the first spots now and then, but in the didn't see any pictures. time I visited there and register­ long run they can have them; I'll can truthfully say the Steward on the beach. I only got a cold I read the eai-lier article while ed I got into an argument with take my bunk on a ship or a hotel Department exemplifies the stare for my trouble, and had to in Port Arthur about Aug. 15. the girl at the desk. I merely room. When the day comes that spirit of true unionism in both look, elsewhere. At the time I was attempting to their work and personal relations Another point in that there is a asked for a copy of the Log and I start combing the beach maybe organize the SS Roanoke, The she acted as though I was asking they'll look good to me then, but with other crewmembers. typewriter available at the club "Red" Fisher next trip we tied up in Jackson­ We didn't have a single beef for the use of anyone, but to my for her bankroll. I noticed the not until. ville at the Texas dock. Now is during the voyage, concerning surprise, I found the NMU patrol­ the time to send something to the cooking, stores, cleanliness and man George A. Guilmet making SALVAGE JOB TOO RISKY MASTER SAYS paper, I decided. other such matters that can make it his headquarters and he had To finish my roll, I took a manner in which unlicensed {Continued from Page 6) congregation of NMU beach­ a voyage so irksome. It was couple of pictures of the new personnel performed their re­ truly one of the best feeding combers sitting around' him as that members of this crewi hav­ Hall in Port Arthur, which I am spective duties during the res­ ing witnessed and participated ships we've been on. In view of though it were the NMU hall. sending to you in the hope that cue operations. Each man of the fact that much notice is taken I To me the whole Manila club in the rescue are aware of the you can use them. the boat crews has been indi­ of the beefs, bad feeding and is a money making deal and they true events, is that the true tale Warren Stiles vidually mentioned in my other complaints of hxmgry ships, delight in trimming the Seafar­ be carried home. I have many recommendation to the Sea­ (Editor's Note: The Log thanks it is a pleasure and copifort to ers. Of course there are some an old friend in the SIU and I men's Award Committee, routed Brother Stiles for his pictures, convey a vote of thanks and nice refined people here, but they don't like to be misrepresented. via the Mississippi Shipping the first we have received of the 4. Nothing in this rebuttal is gratitude to each and every man are few in number and cannot Co., Iijc. Homestead fire. They appear oa of the Steward Department of balance the many phony char­ to be construed as detracting from the highly praiseworthy acters in the-joint. (Signed) J. W. Claik, Master page^ 6 of this issue). the Robert Ingersoll, Log'A • Rhythms USS Clubs Lacking Plenty For SIU Men, Fisher Finds BROTHER STILES �•~p :'. .•- THE SEAFARERS LO€ Page Eight ^ ifj'' Friday. September 13. 1946 SlU Strike Helped By Early Preparations t Union Delegation Visits Seamen In S.i. Hospital To Give Lewdewn I By IRWIN SUALL With the policy in mind that all Seafarers should be complete­ ly informed of all activities, delegation of 14 seamen visited their brothers in Staten Island Marine Hospital last Sunday to give them the lowdown on the strike situation. Carrying Seafarers Logs and strike bulletins, we went from bed to bed passing the word and interviewing the men for their opinion. The men were unani­ mous in their welcome and were This Brother, in the Staten glad to know that the Union even Island Marine Hospital, was with a big strike on its hands not kept in ignorance of the found time to see that the boys action. Here another Brother, in the hospital weren't neglected. sent out by the Union, tells him The men in the hospital were the whole story. with us to the end without ques­ tion. Even the men who were and when he reported to Staten flat on their backs, hardly able Island Hospital with a leg that to move, squirmed in their beds was far from healed he was told and said the hardest thing to take to come back in three days. Cus­ was that they were lying in their sing under his breath he went sacks while their brothers were away and when he returned he out pounding the bricks. was told to wait a couple of more They were loaded with ques­ days. tions of "How is running?" "Is Finally they admitted him and my friend Frank out on the gave him a sack and paid him no bricks?" "Is everything really further attention for a week. tied up tight?" Since that time the treatment Enthusiasm was paramount and attention has been totally in­ with them and that old militant adequate. look came into their eyes as we A fellow who's been through told them of the smooth running that sort of treatment, and jhas strike machine and the solid sup­ had to stand poor chow all along, port we've been getting. isn't likely to be in good morale, DUAL PURPOSE and Les looked pretty down in The delegation was serving a the mouth. But when he found dual purpose of informing them out that we were a committee of of the strike and asking them Seafarers to give him the lowabout conditions in the hospital. down on the strike, he perked up The men had something to say immediately. The strike was the thing and he was with us to the on that score, also. end. • Take Brother Les Knicker­ "We've got to stay out til we bocker for example: Les broke his leg while leaving his ship win this thing 100 per cent. I in Madagascar on the Robin Line sure as heck wish I could be East Africa run. He was given there with the boys." extremely poor treatment at a With the promise that we French army hospital in that city would take up the business of John L. Lewis has thrown the weight of his United Mine Work­ ers behind the SIU-SUP in its strike against the WSB ruling which denied wage increases gained through free collective bargaining. The miner's chief also offered financial assistance if it is needed. In a telegram which he sent to the Union's leaders, Lewis said: , "The United Mine Workers of America send greetings. We ad­ mire the spendid fighting ability oi the members of the SIU-SUP. "Of course you will win. ,, "Several days ago, I urged the American Federation of Labor to withdraw its representative from that economic boans no.st that calls itself a Wage Stabili­ zation Board. "If you need money, advise me." OT YET Commentlnii on Lewis' cash of­ fer, John Hawk, SIU Secretary- With the SIU-SUP General Maritime Strike entering its eighth day, the smoothness of op­ eration and the solidarity of the strikers clearly illustrates that the the long preparations which went into perfecting of the strike machinery and apparatus were certainly not wasted. A few months ago, when it be­ came apparent to a number of long-visioned Seafarers that there was strong possibility of a strike sometime in the future, the entire apparatus and ma­ chinery of the Union was grad­ ually geared for any eventuality. That eventuality occurred — the greatest maritime strike in the history of the United States now going on. It took almost three months to prepare the many plans, forms, details, etc. which go into the making of a successful, and smoothly operating strike. Proof of the soundness of these same plans lies in the success which our strike is maintaining in spite of many odds. poor treatment with the.. com­ mittee handling the Marine Hos­ pital situation we moved along. A brother whose name is not given, nor his union mentioned— but he was a rank and file sea­ man and he knew our strike was his strike—said, "I'm with you guys to the end, and the end has got to be complete and total vic­ tory over the WSB, and over every effort of the government to regiment us or keep our fight for better conditions under their thumb. "The freedom of a worker and his right to fight for a decent standard of living is holy, and any one who tries to interfere with it is looking for trouble and is going to get it. If I could only be with the fellows on the bricks." MORALE GOOD The spirit of the men in the After making daily tours of the hospital exemplified the manner New York and surrounding in which the Seafarers every­ waterfronts, it's easy to report where are viewing the whole sit­ that the morale of all SIU-SUP uation. strikers—on the picketline. m When sick men, flat on their special detail assignments, cook­ backs, get the itching to get out ing, sign painting, on the various there and get their licks in, there committees—is the highe.'^t pos­ can be no doubt of our ability sible. to stay out until everything we're Youngsters, oldtimers—Seafar­ fighting for has been sewn up ers all—they're pounding the solidly, and all our demands picket line for hours on end with­ granted. out a murmur. Members of the various committees to which the complicated strike apparatus owes its smooth operation, work for 16, 18 or 20 hours on end, if necessary, to perform their re­ quired tasks. They don't grumble about a little thing like sleep. No, all they know is that the SIUSUP have a beef, and it has to be won. - The Stewards, Cooks, Messmen, etc. who handle so efficiently the hungry chow hounds, don't squawk about their duties. Neither do the other men doing the many jobs which a strike re­ quires—they know they're put­ ting in their time fighting to win a just beef. ISTHMIAN MEN REPORTING Hundreds of Isthmian men have reported for picket duty and other strike assignments. All Isthmian ships in New York har­ bor have been hung up, and the crews of these ships are con­ tinuously reporting for strike as­ signments. These Isthmian sea­ men know that the SIU-SUP beef is their beef as well as that of all organized labor. As a result, these boys are going all out just like full-fledged SIU-SUP mem­ bers. It is highly gratifying to see Isthmian seamen, who are not members of the SIU-SUP (in some instances, they are SIU new­ comers), gladly volunteer their services in any capacity to win the beef against the WSB. It speaks well for the future of Isth­ mian once that company becomes onewf the SlU-contracted ship operators. Regular Army Snafu On Wilson Victory Is Patiently Untangled By The Seafarers You can always depend on the Army for miles of red-tape, bar­ rels of mistakes, and more ways to do a thing wrong than you ever thought existed. And the case of the Wilson Victory was no exception. When the Wilson pulled into dock in Brooklyn, with 56 bodies of Americans aboard, the crew left the ship in sympathy with the striking Seafarers. The picketline which had been thrown across the entrance to the pier also kept the longshoremen from coming anywhere close to the vessel, and there was a strong chance that the bodies on board Treasurer, said that it was a very would have to .stay there Until nice gesture but that the Sea­ the strike was settled. farers were financially very well And so, with usual Army shortable to carry on the strike. Ample .sightedne.sq; statements were im­ preparations had been made to mediately released that the Un­ conduct a strike for a consider­ ion was holding up the unload­ able length of time, he added. The announcement of the mine ing and that the authorities were workers' leader addiftg his organ­ making plans for Army steve­ ization's support to the rapidly dores to work the ships. INTO ACTION growing list of those openly At that time, the SIU strike backing the Seafarers strike had important implications. Labor machinery went into action. Jim­ observers pointed out that Lewis' my Sheehan, Patrolman, was im­ statements show that the pro­ mediately dispatched to the scene test strike of the SIU-SUP and went about the job of clear­ against the decision of the WSB ing the ship so that longshore­ has developed into an all-out of­ men could go on the pier to un­ fensive on labor's part to rid load the bodies. It was not difficult to make workers of the arbitrary, bureaucratic effect of WSB rulings. the necessary arrangements with Lewis, at any rate revealed the ILA Local in the vicinity, but that he is using his influence to contracting the many Army ofget the top AFL councils to walk ficers who have to approve anyout of the WSB . thing took quite a bit of time. It, was only after hours of tracEarlier, William Green, AFL president, pledged hw 100 per ing certain high ranking army cent support to the striking Sea- officers, and unraveling miles of farers. |red-tape that it was possible to John L. Lewis Offers Mine Union Help To Striking Seafarers By EARL SHEPPARD gain clearance for the men need­ ed to work the ship. Of course, now the Ai-my didn't want to ad­ mit the newspapers since the story had already gone out that the Union was refusing to allow the ship to be worked. But Shee-' han and the longshoremen main­ tained that no work would be done unless the press could come down to the ship and take pic­ tures. Finally, at four in the after­ noon the brass hats gave in, and the work commenced soon after. The Army still had another fast one concealed up their sleeves, but the Union was ready for that one top. When the bodies had been re­ moved, and the longshoremen were ready to knock off, a Ma­ jor tried to talk them into tak­ ing off some mail and other car­ go, on the grounds that "no one has to know about this." Good union men that they are, the ILA members refused to do this, and so the scabherder had to accept defeat. The attitude of the Army en­ listed personnel who were on duty guarding the pier was that they wanted the SIU-SUP mem­ bers to know that they are with the men in this fight, and the actions of the Unions in allowing the bodies to be removed struck them as a swell gesture on the part of the Unions. i;-l Here are Ihe bodies suspended in mid-air between the ship and the dock. Fifty-six bodies were unloaded this way. r! � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Seafarers Log Issues 1939-1949 Description An account of the resource Volumes I-XI of the Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America Document A resource containing textual data. Note that facsimiles or images of texts are still of the genre text. Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource September 13, 1946 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context Vol. VIII, No. 37 Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Seafarers Log Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Paul Hall Maritime Library Microfilm 1939-1993 Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource Newsprint Type The nature or genre of the resource Text Description An account of the resource Headlines: SIU PRESSURE FORCES WSB REVERSAL SIU-SUP TELEGRAB TO WSB 'CALL 24-HOUR STRIKE': COMMITTEE TO AFL, CIO CALMAR STRIKEBREAKING TRY FAILS; FINK CAMP BREAKS UP WE BUCKLE DOWN COFFEE AND CONVERSATION AROUND THE HALL SMOOTHLY FUNCTIONING STRIKE COMMITTEES ASSURE SUCCESSFUL RUNNING OF WSB BEEF N.Y. TEAMSTERS TIE UP CITY STRIKE COMMITTEE WINS LODGING FOR FRENCH SEAMEN GREEN PLEDGES SUPPORT OF AFL TO STRIKING SEAFARERS UNION PORT ROUND-UP OF STRIKE NEWS 4000 ATTEND SIU-SUP MEETING IN NEW YORK SEAFARERS VOW FINISH FIGHT IN WSB BEEF SALVAGE JOB WAS TOO RISK, MASTER OF RESCUE SHIP SAYS SIU STRIKE HELPED BY EARLY PREPARATIONS UNION DELEGATION VISITS SEAMEN IN S.I. HOSPITAL TO GIVE LOWDOWN REGULAR ARMY SNAFU ON WILSON VICTORY IS PATIENTLY UNTANGLED BY THE SEAFARERS JOHN L. LEWIS OFFERS MINE UNION HELP TO STRIKING SEAFARERS Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 9/13/1946 Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available Seafarers International Union of North America 1946 Periodicals Seafarers Log