The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-05-05
Coast Seamens Union Expected to
Demand More Pay.
PREVAILING RATE is NOW ss5.
Cannery and Sealing Business nj the
Present season Of the Year. To-
Ecther with the Great Alaska
Trade, Makes sailors I'm Demand
and us a Result the Seamen VIII
Likely Ask for at Least $40.

Seattle shipowners and shipping masters
are looking for a demand for an increase
In wages on the part of the Coast Sea-
mems Union. The prevailing rate out OK
this port is now s3s and a demand for
raise to $40 viii be made very shortly.
The prevailing rate out of San Francisco
has been $50 all winter, but for the past
few weeks $35 has been paid in many iE-
stances. A few days ago $40 was demand
ed and shipping men say that Seattle sea-
men viii not be long behind their San
Francisco brethren In making similar
demand
1t is net so very long ago that the sea-
men on the Pacific coast were glad 10
get So a month for their work OH steam
ers and sailing vessels The Alaskan
rush. which brought every steamer that
had been laid up for the past ten years
and all of the sailing craft on the coast
into service, soon changed the status o.
things. Instead of there being more sea-
men than jobs demand for seamen was
instantly created. The klondike rush
also increased the coasting business be-
tween Seattle and San Francisco and this
made the demand greater. Wages Went
from SO and $50 In short order.
This is the time of year when seamen
are in most demand. The caunery steam
ers and sealing vessels are shipping crews
and have to offer good prices TO get them.
AS high as $40 has been paid in several
instances by vessels getting crews at this
pert and shipping men say that raise
to SIS is in sight If the Klondike steamers
keep running.
The crews shipped last fall are still
drawing but So a month and it is in their
behalf that the Coast Seamens Union
will demand $40. The San Francisco Ship
owners Association does not desire to pay
more than $50 a month, but will probably
come to time after few more experiences
like that which happened 10 the ship Luz
Gle last week.
Capt. Anderson, Of the Lucille. had
shipped a union crew at San Francisco at
So a month for the trip to Seattle He
was just getting ready to haul out into
the stream from his wharf when a walk
ing delegate of the Coast Seamen's Union
came aboard The walking delegate ord
cred the men to demand $40. and in event
of their being refused. walk ashore. The
men had shipped at s. more than the pre-
vailing rate and refused to leave the YES
sci. The delegate informed the men that
if they refused they would. be blackiisted
and barred from ever shipping from the
port OF San Francisco. The men decided
to stay aboard and the delegate collected
their books of membership. He left the
ship presumably 10 get men to remove the
Lucile's crew by force, but before he
returned tug had come alongside and she
was safely out In the stream.
If fight is made for $i5 out of this port
there is liable to be a clash between the
Shipowners' Association and the Coast
Seamen's Union. Several of the local ship
owners say they viii have to come TO the
demands of the union as they have no
remedy Others say they will ship nom
union crews and If this is attempted there
will be trouble. 1t has been some time
since the two organizations came together
on the Sound and the trouble is likely 10
be interesting.