New-York tribune., 1920-11-14
British Beset
By yDemands of
Marine Labor
Shipowners Are Alarmed by
Pressure for a Measure
Like the La Toilette Law,
With 8-Hour Day Added
Shipping Handicapped
Saw Greater Cost Would Make
1t Almost Impossible for
Them 10 Stay in Business

Ehould the new shipping legislation
Az under consideration in Great Brit
xM be adopted in its present form,
British shipowners claim, the increased
cost of operation would make it prac-
tically impossible for them to continue
in business.
The new bill, according to reports re-
ceived by the Shipping Board, is de-
signed primarily to improve the con-
ditions of employment aboard ship.
Among other things it provides for
better Accommodations, an eight-hour
day and forty-e eight-hour week. In
case of the loss Of a vessel, provision is
made for the payment of wages up to
the time seaman reaches his home
port. Some relaxations in the punish
ment of offenses against discipline are
also provided for.
British shipowners are vigorously
opposing some of the provisions of the
bill, particularly those relating to the
hours of labor. 1t is held that the in
stitution of an eight-hour day would so
increase working costs as to burden the
operation of British vessels with
practically insurmountable handicap.
That modification will be effected in
some of the more radical provisions
is expected, but it is pointed out that
the British labor party is stronger than
at any time in its history and will
press vigorously for the adoption of
the bill.
La Toilette Law Paralleled
"The British shipowner," says the
report to the Shipping Board, now
finds himself confronted with a piece
of shipping legislation resembling in
many respects the La Toilette act,
which act he has always regarded as
great hindrance to the development Of
the American merchant marine"
British shipping will soon have an
other labor problem on its hands. The
general demand for increased wages by
the unions representing masters, off,
GERS, engineers and seamen is sched-
uled to come up again on November 29.
The increases asked for rangesfrom 95
a month in the case of seamen to so
per cent for the engineers. Opposition
has been advanced by the ship owners
on the ground that the wages of the
crews have already been increased to
three etimes their pre-war figure eand
that the increased cost of living, which
is given as the principal justification
for higher wages, is to S~considerable
extent borne by the ship owners.
The application of the men was
brought up before the National Mari
time Board conducted with the CO.
operation of the government, but no
decision was reached, and the matter
was referred to special committee. A
two months postponement was ar
ranged on September 20, the case being
cited as one of the instances in which
the National Maritime Board, both
during the war and since, has medi-
ated in disputes relating to marine
wages and has avoided strikes.
Unemployment Increasing
In the meantime the increasing
amount of unemployment is likely to
become factor in moderating the
mems demands. Idleness is especially
marked among the longshoremen. It
was recently reported that 10000 regis
tered dockers were out of work in Lon
don and large numbers at Liverpool
and other British ports.
AS result the question of a guar
anteed wage to dock laborers is again
under discussion. Earlier in the year,
when a government inquiry regarding
lockers wages was held and a mini
mum wage of 16 shillings day was
awarded, the Recommendation was
made that representatives Of the in
dustry should work out a scheme for
industrial maintenance, together with a
plan for reducing the amount Of casual
labor. The Transport Workers. Fed
Grafton is accordingly placing before
the longshoremen q plan dealing with
these problems.
1t is declared that no matter how
generous the wages paid to dockers.
the casual nature of the industry and
the long periods of unemployment
make it exceedingly difficult for the
men to earn enough to support them
the year round. According to the new
proposals, each registered docker
should be guaranteed minimum
weekly income of S4. This guaranty
would be paid by the industry as q
whole, the funds to be raised by q
levy of fourpence per ton on all mer.
rhandise handled. This scheme is
said to be favored over the alternate
proposal that levy should be made on
each employer in proportion to his
wages bill. 1t is estimated that the
cost OF the plan would be about
s2,600,OO0 per year, and that this sum
would be met by the charge Of four
pence per ton on merchandise ham
died.
Success of Plan Predicted
obviously such an Arrangement
would require exceptionally close or
?anization and registration of the
,ongshoremen," says the report to the
Shipping Board. at is believed. how
ever, that this can be ACCOMPLISHED 4
successfully"
Conditions are disturbed in the field
Ct ship construction labor also. The
Engineering. and Shipbuilding Trades
Federation has decided, following the
rejection by the Industrial Court Of
Arbitration of the claim for increased
wages, that it will terminate its rela-
tons with the court at the expiration
OF the agreement, on November 80. At
the same time the federation decided
to make demand on all shipbuilding
and engineering employers for higher
pay. sixpence per hour increase is
asked for adult workers, and three.
pence per hour for workers under
eighteen. The merging of all war
bonuses into ordinary wages is also
demanded
"The employers are opposed to
granting the increases" says the Ship
ping Board report, "and with the serv-
ices of the Industrial court ruled out
it will be interesting to see whether
= settlement can be peacefully reached
by. the direct dealing Of the parties in
volved." q,
n