The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-07-14
SHIP STRIKERS
BALK AT AWARD
Big Walkout and Anchoring
Of ESQ Vessels Here Are
Union Threats.
SEAMEN'S WAGES LIFTED
But Shipping Board Refused
8 Hour Day and Preferen-
tial Work Demands.


An unsatisfactory award by the
U. s. Shipping Board at a special
meeting in Washington yesterday on
the demands OF the deep seamen's
union will lead unauestionably to a
widespread strike along the Atlantic
coast, 1t was predicted last night by
Union leaders.
The Shipping Board granted only a
10 per cent increase in wages, and
made no provision for preferential en-
ployment, which was the chief issue
an the strike.
There are 25o ships tied at New
York docks to-day that will not move
because the award does not suit the
men. Oscar Carlson. secretary of the
New York local OF the Marine Fire
men, Oilers and Water Tenders Union,
declared that the crews OF all the
American ships arriving at Atlantic
PORTS from Portland to Galveston are
quitting. He says the members of the
International Seamens Cooks and
Stewards unions will leave their
steamships to-day.
More than $4,000 employees OF the
Shipping Board will go on strike. A
number have already quit. The walk
out OF the below deck" workers on
the oceangolng boats will cause the
idleness Of 10000 additional boatmen,
iongshoremen and other workers in
allied unions. -.-.....
The announcement from Washington
last night OF the increase decided upon
was a keen disappointment to the union
leaders. The American Steamship Asso-
citation offered the 10 per cent. advance.
the eight hour day in port and preferen-
tial employment to workers OF Aperican
citizenship.
Those Who Enjoy Increase.
Deck officers and ssamen are afrected
! by the Increases announced as we'll as
water tenders oilers. engineers. firemen.
stewards and cooks While the new
scale win apply only to employees on
Shipping Board operated vessels, it>was
| said by officials that undoubtedly II
would form the basis for new wage
agreement to be concluded between pri-
vate lines and their employees.
August Brown, secretary OF the In
| ternational Seamen's Association, said
! the award would not settle the strike
mainly because the sight hour day is not
| granted. and because preferential EN-
! pioyment is not given to workers be-
cause Of their membership In the union
rather than their nationality.
! Tho unions asked for SIS a month In
crease for all marine workers. A SO
| advance was granted to many. The
| preferential employment was refused or
| the ground that there were too few men
now available for crews. The demand
| for an eight hour day In port was
granted, but the board denied the reques,
for three watches Of eight hours each al
sea because of the shortage OF seamen
and the dificulty OF getting them. Pro.
vision Is made for a Joint grievance com.
mittee in every port to settle all future
disputes.
Terms of the Settlement.
Tho settlement terms are embodied
In this telegram sent TO Oscar Carlson
II. p. Griffin, Gustav Brown and Percy
| Pryor. representing the unions:
EFFECTIVE at once. following condi.
tions will prevail on vessels owned by
or operated on account of thu Shipping
Board sailing from Atlantic and Gull
ports: Wages, deck department, $40 fiat
increase for all positions, except thai
wages Of boatswain shall he $50 ordi.
nary sSamen, $50. and boys for training
purposes. $40. Wages, engine room de-
partment, so nat increase for each
position. Wages. stewards department
315 nat increase for stewards and CHIEF
cooks and $40 nat increase for, every
other position In stewards department
working day in port eight hours
Shipping Board cannot at this tim,
favorably consider three watch system
for deck crew. because this would tent
to increase size OF crew at time o
great shortage of sailors. Working
rules to be promptly agreed upon be
tween organizations and Shipping Boar
along lines indicated by pending negotia
tions. Joint grievance committees I,
be established IN important ports Il
interpret rules and arrangements.
ANY other pending questions to b.
subject to negotiations with ShippinI
Board, II being understood that ther
will be no departure from Shippini
bohr0 present pracuco peHuHns sucl
negotiation. Shipping Board believe
conditions which Il hereby announce
to be Just and fair and expects all mel
to return at once to work on its vessel
TO facilitate prompt despatch OF Vessel
and cargo"
. Ever since Thomas l. Delahunty ant
the labor leaders who control the mafin
workers of New York were beaten b!
the New York boat owners In their stPik
last winter there has been a growing
demand on the part of the union Official
for organized control of steamships an,
all craft coming into American ports
!, This union fight includes also the thou
sands of workers who handle cargoes a
the docks and cart It away in trucks
The aim Is to strengthen the union whil
to the extent that all traffic In freigh
will have to bs handled by union work
srA