New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-18
Demand for Higher Wages
May Be Extended to Big
Foreign Lines.
SEAMEN AFFILIATED
IN FEDERATION
Order Effective Nav Includes
4O.OO0-Interr2. .ral Tie-Up
Aimed at Va. supplies.

Forewarnng Of worldwide strike
Of shipping workers came yesterday
with The announcement Of the Interna-
tional Seamens Union OF America OF
general strike order, effective May J..
1t includes all marine engineers. fire
men. stewards. cooks. walters and
hands on Transatlantic. Atlantic Coast.
gulf and Great Lakes lines that refuse
the demands of the workers for higher
wages.
Officers OF the union declared last
night that a general strike OF American
workers. numbering 10000, was likely
TO be followed BIZ an internationa!
strike Of British. German. French. ltsl-
ian. scandinavian and other sea trans
portation men throughout the word
under the auspices OF the international
TRANSPORT Workers Federation, win
which the American sesmen are ami
ated. II is estimated that there are
100000 shipping workers IN al branches
controlled by the federation.
Among the transatlantic companies
which will be affected By the strike are
the American Line. the Red star Line
and every other passenger and frelght
carving line in operation under the
American flag.
Would Tic Up War Supplies.
An international strike would tie up
the shipment Of munitions and war
supplies from this country TO the Al
lies, as we'll as the sending of all food.
clothing and other material for relief
distribution.
The shipping workers find them
selves in position 10 dictate terms by
virtue Of the clause OF the Seamens
law requiring all seamen 20 have GER
tifcates before they can ship. That
would efectually prevent. they believe
the employment Of makeshlft crews TO
break the strike.
Henry G,ifin, vice-president OF The
Seamen's Union, said last night that he
believed the strike would become inter-
national because of the great shipping
activity on coast lines, due 20 the Euro
pean war
THE seamen are making their de-
mands ahead Of time. and there have
been a few preliminary strikes on va
rous vessels" he said, but the gen
eral strike will start May /, as agreed
upon by all the branches of the ship
ping service The Masters. Mates and
Pilots Association has voted 10 join
the American Federation OF Labor and
the International Transport Workers
Federation. The Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association is taking a vote
on the question OF afiiliation, with an
excellent chance Of It's being adopted.
Aim at Lakes. Too.
an the Great Lakes district the ship
ping workers are in an especially adj
vantageous position. Three thousand
hands are needed there and deckhands
are being offered $50 month
All the seamen have agreed 10 take
concerted action in demanding wage
increases. The walters are TO ask $50
a month; the cooks and bakers 10
and 20 per cent increase; firemen, $40;
oilers and water tenders, 500; boat
SWANS. $50. and ordinary seamen, $40.
Officers Of the Atlantic Coast division
Of the Seamen's Union asserted that
forty seamen of the Santa Catalina, Of
the Grace Line. had obtained their de
mands and that the Munson Line had
agreed TO increase the pay OF its sea
men. allowing the Munwood, Of that
line, to sail.
The New York Boat Owners Asso-
citation has placed advertisements IN
newspapers Offering positions TO engi-
neers. The owners arc willing, they
say. 10 grant a reasonable wage in
crease, but are not prepared TO pay the
80 per cent additional demanded in
some cases One hundred and sixty-five
strike breakers have been registered By
the association.