New-York tribune., 1918-03-03
Workers Demand Wages
Awarded to Them by
Federal Arbitrators
Give Government
Until March ii to Act
Lighter, Scow and Barge
Men Declare Longshore-
men Will Help Them


The Marine Workers Affiliation, rep
resenting engineers, pilots, lighter,
scow and barge men, employed here
and along the coast from Boston to
South Amboy, n. j., has given the ma
tIonal adjustment commission of the
United States Shipping Board until
March ii TO compel boat owners to pay
the scale of wages set by Federal ar
bitrators last November. 1t is an
nounced that if this is not done a
general strike. originally ordered to
begin tomorrow. will be called.
Such q strike. Thomas l.. Delahunty,
secretary of the Marine Workers AT
fllation, said yesterday would not only
paralyze the commerce of this port, but
would cut off the coal supply of this
section and New England and seriously
interfere with ice and food supplies.
Only those engaged in government op-
eratlons would be exempt from the op-
erations of such strike order, he said
In addition to the men employed on
boats of various kinds, officers of the
Marine Workers Affiliation asserted
that they would have the support of
the longshoremen employed on the
wharves of this port, who will strike in
sympathy. James Matthews, of the
Boatmen's Union, declared that J. f.
Riley, chairman of the Longshoremen's s
District Council, has promised that hts
men will support the demands of the
men III other trades.
That the situation is regarded as
serious by Federal officials was indi-
Gated yesterday by telephone calls from
the offices of the Shipping Board in
Washington to Paul A. Nacarelli. inter
national president of the Long
shoremen's Union, who has been acting
Tor the adjustment board in an effort
to prevent trouble Nacarelli said last
nlght that he believed Robert P. Bass
chairman OF the board, and his asso-
clates would have to come to New York
TINS week If the trouble is to be irone1
out.
Arthur Williams. Food Administrator
OF New York, described the situation
last. night as more than serious.
Situation Dangerous
The situation is dangerous" he said
when told OF the strike threat. If
tnls strike comes it might tie up New
4ork's food supply"
Joseph j. Glatzmeyer, president of
the New York Boat Owners Associa-
SIS'Si uay denled that any de-
mands had been presented or that ho
had heard of any strike threats. The
boat owners, with possibly few ex-
Gtions. ne said, are paying the wages
awarded by the arbitrators. In soroo
cases where there is a dispute over tho
terms OF the award, he said the owners
ana the arbltrators are making adjust
ments 'uoe-
Estimates Of the number of mon
aHected by the strike threat varies
Vacarelli placinb the minimum rJ.,. nnmhar = .
at about $4,000.
There is substantially that number
of dues paying union men involved .,
ne sald, and in addition there are
large numbers not paying dues. Then
tnere are other thousands in trades
not directly affected that would be
made idle by such strike
personally, | hope for an adjust
ment, but | do not know what will
follow. The truth is that if patience
is a virtue, these men are 100 per cent
virtuous, for they have shown rare
patience in refraining from striking to
collect the wages the Federal Board
SAID should prevail after November /.
iheir patience has now reached the
breaking point.
Men Are Mystified
ut has not been an easy matter for
their leaders to hold them in line.
Now they are insisting on handling
things for themselves if the leaders
cannot handle them successfully. For
one thing, they cannot understand WHY
the ooaI owners, making more money
than they ever thought of making, now
decline to pay them living wage"
The situation created by the strike
threat has been impending since earlv
IN December, when complaints began
to be general that the scale Of wages
paid the various classes employed on
tugs, lighters and similar vessel
awarded by the mediation board of
which Captain Williaf b. Baker in
charge OF the Hoboken quartermastec's
depot, was chairman, was not being
paid. 1T was brought to a head by
the Tidtwater Boatmen's Union votino
to strike tomorrow to obtain 500 a
month and 81 night extra for hand
ling cargo. This is $50 month more
than was awarded last fall, but the
men take the ground that failure of
the boat owners to abide by the award
left them free to present fresh de-
Tnands.
Shipping Board Notified
Notice of the decision to strike was
given. to the United States Shipping
Board last week, Chairman Bass's re.
guest for time to make peace following.
This was presented by Vacarelli at a
meeting Of the Marine Workers Al
fiIatIon. held in 217 Court Street
Brooklyn, on Thursday night = and
agreed to. The minutes Of this meet
ing reached Washington Yesterday ac-
cording TO Vacatelli, who was in tele-
phonic communication with Mr.. Bass
during the afternoon. '"'
Sir. Bass, he said, was desirous that
the men waive all new demands until
tne adjustment board has opportunity
10 Obtain the payment of wages prc,