The labor journal. [volume] (Everett, Wash.) 1909-1976, 1920-02-27
WILL INVESTIGATE
BAY CITIES YARDS

| Bay Cities Metal Trades Council
| that immense sums of public
money are being wasted by the
shipyards of the bay district be-
ause Of the employment OF incom-
9etent workers has been started by
Special Federal Attorney Bert
| Schlesinger. who is investigating
he shipyards OF the Pacific Coast.
Replying to a communication
rom the council in which the
,harges are set forth Schlesinger
aid he had begun action upon the
alleations. The charges have been
referred to Investigator George c..
Wheeler. with the request that he
lake up the matter with W. G. lid
we'll, who is in charge of the inves-
tigation in San Francisco, Schles-
niger said.
The Bay Cities Metal Trades
Council in its communication
charged that hundreds of thou
sands Of dollars are being misspent
~ the shipyards, that the plant and
machinery of the shipyards paid
'or by the government are being
allowed to deteriorate and that the
production of ships is virtually at
standstill. Six instances of alleged
waste and incompetency were cited
Il the complaint.
Determination to see their strike
through to the end was expressed
oy officials of the organizations in
Jolved in the bay districts strike at
l rally held in Oakland last week.
p. J. Morrin, president of the In
ternational Association of Bridge,
Structural and Ornamental Iron
Workers and Pile Drivers, presided.
The international organization ap-
proved the strike and was giving
and would continue to give its full
support, he said.
A report of the financial condi-
ton of the strikers was Anade by
Frank c. Miller, secretary of the
Bay Cities Metal Trades Council,
who said: Although labor organi-
cations of the entire country are
sending in contributions, we still
need funds to provide for the large
number Of our men out of employ
ment."
John A. O. O'Connell, secretary
Of the San Francisco Labor Council,
has issued a strong statement in
support of the strike. After de-
claring that the fight will be sup
ported by the entire organized la
Dor movement Of the United States
until the men now on strike have
won a complete victory" the state
ment says:
There can be no disputing the
fact that the shipbuilding corpora
tons Of the bay district are unable
to get skilled workmen. At least
one OF the corporations is sending
some of It's work TO other ports TO
be completed because all skilled
mechanics are within the ranks OF
organized labor and refuse 10 go to
work under the present conditions
existing in the shipyards,
1T is also a fact that in every
yard around the bay are ships
partly completed before the strike
was called last October on which
no work has been done since re-
opened under non-union conditions.
The reason for this is that COM
petent workmen cannot be secured
outside of the unions.
cit is also a fact that good ma
teriai and much labor. part of
which is being paid for by the
United States government. is being
wasted by the inefficient, incompe-
tent men now employed In the ship
yards"
Not one of the 46o former serv-
lee men who went on strike In the
shipyards of the bay district has
returned to work under non-union
conditions, according to Frank c,
Miller, secretary OF the Bay Cities
Metal Trades Council,
These men fought for democracy
abroad and they believe in de-
moeraey at home, Miller said,
They are opposed 10 the se-ealied
American plan, which gives auto
cratic power 10 the employer and
destroys the organization df the
men,
Before the strike the shipyaFds
discharged men because they we're
not citizens, New under the mis-
named American plan these same
men are being employed 10 take the
place of union men who are eiti-
zens,"