New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-09
SHIPS OFFICERS INSIST
ON HIGHER SALARIES
British Merchant Marine Faces
Problem from Upper
Branch of Service.
WAGE SCHEDULE PREPARED
National Union of Masters and
Mates Ready Next Week
for a Trial of
Strength.

Strength.
,r, transatlantic Wireless TO The Tribune.l
Ioudop. Aug. 9.-Ships' officers be-
.,r-ioc t. the National Union OF Mas
.ors and Mates threaten strike which,
Il nut into effect. will tie up the port
of London Thcy have presented
demand for Il minimum wage on ships
If 3.0oo to 5000 gross registered tons,
as follows
Master. c25; first mate. c14 second
mate. G12: third mate. { 10 month.
For ships Of more than 5000 tons the
schedule demanded is as follows:
Master. $50; first mate. Els: second
mate. SIS; third mate, Sill a month.
Arrangements have been made to
notify the owners Of ships sailing next
week that the scale must be accepted
before officers sign articles.
The secret organization OF the National
Union Of Masters and Mates OF Great
Britain and the plans OF the organization
IN make demands upon the steamship
owners in the latter part OF this month
unless certain concessions were granted
was announced exclusively in The New
York Tribune on July
With il we're stated in detail the griev-
srcss of the men and their decision to
nressnt their demands just before the be-
ss,c,ng Of the homeward rush Of tourists
from Europe.
sired the chief demand Of the masters
and mates is for higher scale OF wages
and shorter hours. il having been pointed
out that the chief officers Of some of the
trsnsstlantic liners with masters certih-
Gates receive a wage as low as $40
month
Sympathy for Organization.
n is not expected that all OF the highly
psid masters Of express steamships will
ioin the union but it is known that the
organiza ton has their sympathies and
hat the majority of the officers undef
them are already members of the union.
II is generally understood that II viii
not he necessary for the prominent mas
iers 10 sacrifice their commands for the
axe Of the union. but II is believed that
Inc union when ready TO strike will make
II impossible for the big liners to 80 odt
Of port with fully equipped STATS of com
petent officers.
For many years the masters and mates
In the British mercantile service have
suffered a sense OF injustice owing TO the
small Pay offered them by British owners.
and this has been whetted within the last
decade by the substantial salaries pail
6y the German steamship lines TO the
masters Of German liners.
Captain Hogemann OF the North Ger
nan Lloyd liner Kronprinzessln Cecilte
and commodore OF tho company's feet &c
Gives annually in salary and perquisi;es
sum exceeding $1,000 Captain tIrns
Ruser Of the Hamburg American steam
ship Kaserin Auguste Victoria receives a
similar amount. which IS more than dou-
BILE the pay Of the masters Of tho big
British steamships coming TO this port.
The Cunard Line pays about $4,000 for
the commands Of the Lusitania and the
Mauritania. and the White Stars scale
varies between $500 and $4,000 The
retirement &c Of the latter company is
ffty.hve years. or eight years below that
Of the German lines.
Public To Be Protected.
Prominent among tho demands Of the
union Is that the steamship companies
shall guarantee TO the travelling public
proper Hfesa ving equipment on all pas
senssr steamships and perfectly trained
and efficient crow and TO see that no
steamship is allowed to proceed TO sea
unless it is thoroughly seaworthy in every
detail
Pay for overtime is another demand on
The list Of the union. In bad weather and
when a ship Is making the land the
officers are compelled to work sixteen
and eighteen hours IN a day. and fire.
lGuently the officers on British vessels
coming 70 this port have to work twelve
hours daily throughout the voyage.
The masters and mates will also de-
imsnd that three watches shall prevail on
all deep water ships. and that ship own
ers shall provide annual leave with full
pay. With the present schedule OF steam
ships the masters and mates get no va
cation and are paid half time II the yes
sel happens 10 be undergoing repairs.
In the articles Of organization the Mas
ters and Mates OF Great Britain provide
FOR the abolition OF the tallying system,
exception being made t. mail, specie and
special cargo. Moreover, provision Is
made against summary dismissal and un-
reasonable discharge.
The restoration Of tho load line down
10 its original safe position" is another
proposition tho union will present 10 the
ship owners tho Plimsoll mark having
been raised about twelve years ago.
The union, II is said. IL gaining rapidly
in strength. and within six months will
have on lts membership roll every officer
In the British service