The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-02-02
SHIP STRIKE BREAKS
CONTRACT, SAYS PIEz
Fleet Corporation Director
Refuses to Deal With Men
Who Went Out.
REFUSES TO COMPROMISE
Solemn Agreement Of Leaders
Deliberately Ignored by
Men, He Says.

PHILADELPHIA, IA. Feb 1.--Charlcs
Piez, Dlrector-Gen OF the Emergency
Fleet Corporation, to-day authorized q
statement in regard To the strike OF ship
yard workers on the Pacific Coast.
THE strike" he said. "is a direct vio-
lation Of a solemn contract entered into
by the American Federation of labor.
representing the shipyard workers. the
United States Navy and the United
States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet
Corporation.
The men involved in the strike should
realize that the emergency OF war Is
past and that the need of ships is not
as great as while the war was in
progress.
The Emergency Fleet Corporation.
as trustee OF the money of the people
Of the United Stntes. cannot compromise
a vital moral principle. II is bound
by an agreement with the shtpyard
workers throughout the country which
Is irrevocahle. except through modinca-
ton by mutual consent.
The shipbuilding labor adjusting
board. popularity known as the Macy
Board is the tribunal before which the
shipyard workers. Navy Department
and the Emergency Fleet Corporation
agreed to submit all questions invoiv-
ing wages, hours and working conditions.
In striking before the expiration OF the
Macy award which fixed the rate OF
wages to be paid up 70 March 81 1919.
the men were guilty OF breach OF
agreement eoemnly entered Into by
tneir international presidents. and by
this action they have repudated the
verdict Of the supreme tribunal they
helped to create.
The decisions Of this tribunal have
been and must continue TO be binding
upon the Emergency Fleet Corporation
and the workers alike. SO long AS the
workers remain away from their posts
the Emergency Fleet Corporation cannot
treat with them.
THE original agreement. which was
entered into in August. 1917. and which
created the Macy board. was Joint
compact by the unions. the Emergency
Fleet Corporation and the Navy. II was
amended in December. 1917. and in this
final form was signed by FranklN H.
Roosevelt, acting Secretary Of the Navy
Charles Plcz OF the Emergency Fleet
Corporation, William Blackman OF the
Emergency Fleet Corporation. James
OConnel,. president OF the Metal Trades
Department John l. holland Of the In
ternational holders Union Of North
America. J. T. Franklin. international
president Boilef Makers Iron Shipbuild-
ers OF America James Wilson, president
Pattern Makers League Of North Amer
lea; Milton Snell'nss. general president
International Union of Steam and OPP
Grating Engineers: W. G. Eandornes gen
Aral vice president International Brother
hood OF Blacksmiths and Helpers: T.. n.
McNulty, l.. r. NJ. of W. John J Hynes,
president AmalEamated Sheet Metal
Workers of America. and william II.
Johnston, l. A. OF NJ. per Fl. F1aherty.
This agreement provided for tho ap-
Pertinent OF board to adjust all DIFF
ferences. such board 10 consist of three
persons, one to represent the public, IA
be appointed by the President OF tho
United States. one 70 be appointed by
Samuel Gompers, representing the Amer
lean Federation OF Labor. and one TO be
appointed Jointly by the Energcnc!
Fleet Corporation and the Navy.
The President Of the United state:
placed his influence behind the enter.
prise by appointing the chairman of the
board
This agreement further provided that
The decisions OF the board will. in sc
far a. this agreement may be capa Die
of achieving such results. be final and
binding upon all parties. provided. how
ever. that either the employers or EN-.
ployees may have the right to appea
from the decisions OF the adjustment
board 10 a hoard Of review and appeal.