New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-23
$50 Deep Sea
Dockmen Quit;
Defy O'Connor
United Fruit Co. Employees
Demand Increase and
Permission to Unionize;
HarbOr Situation Worse
Food at Piers Spelling
Longshoremen and Road
Heads End Farley; Re-
ferred to Managers Board

The harbor situation resulting from
the strike of 1000 longshoremen
against the five coastwise lines Of the
part was aggravated yesterday, when
750 deep sea dockmen walked out on
three piers Of the United Fruit Com
pany.
The action had no connection with
the coastwise controversy, but grew
out OF the demands of the deep sea
longshoremen for more money for the
checkers and permission to unionize
them. The checkers now get sos a
month and want $3.50. The United Fruit
Company always has maintained an
open shop, and notices posted to that
effect on the piers of the firm yester-
day are said to have assisted in pre-
cipitating the break.
The men are said to have gone out in
violation of the orders Of T. V. O'Con-
nor, president Of the international
Longshoremen's Association, who in
structed on Saturday that no strikes be
called until his return from Buffalo.
Incoming Vessels Affected
The walk-out affects incoming vessels
Of the company at Piers Is and 1e, on
the East River, and outgoing ships on
Pier 9, North River. At Pier Is, the
steamer Calamares, which arrived dur
ing the morning from Jamaica and Gen.
traf American ports, was tied up with
$4,000 stems Of bananas and a large
quantity of sugar, coffee and coconuts.
Ralph Heating, freight agent, said
much OF the food would spoil if not
unloaded promptly. The loading of the
steamer Carrillo at Pier 8 also was
halted, making thirty-six vessels now
tied up by strikes in the harbor.
The reported dissolution of the union
OF masters, mates and pilots of Harbor
NO: l, embracing the New York district,
and the formation of new local, to be
affiliated through the National Associ-
alton OF Masters, Mates and Pilots of
America with the big Four" railroad
brotherhoods, was discredited vester-
day. by Captain William A. Maher.
business agent of the Harbor No. /.
Union Declared Intact
1t had been said that, fearing to be
drawn into the present longshoremens
strike, masters, mates and pilots en-
ployed on railroad floating euuipmen Mt
at this port had formed a union Of their
own, were given a charter by John
II. Pruett, national president. and now
were affiliated with the railroad broth.
erhoods. The new local is declared to
be known as Jersey City Local No. 8
The Harbor No. union had 1900 mem
bers, of which about 900 were employed
TQlirnQd NJ
Independent vessels
The formation Of this new body OH,
OF our union," said Captain Maher YES
terday, "ls all news to me, and | dom
Deileve 1t. It's an unheard of pro
cedure in organized labor circles for .
national or international president Il
Issue charter to locals having for ;ts
purpose the destruction of other locals
IN the national organization It NAV BIZ
true that dispensation or permission
has been granted a handful of dis.
gruntied members of our organization
to form union that will line up with
the railroad brotherhoods. Int prss;l
oent Pruett would certainly not repre-
sent the best interests of the workers
by granting these discontents a char.
ter, without first obtaining the sanction
OF the local they belong to.
Negotiations Are Ended
LAS it is, only thirty-two pilots have
dropped out of our union, and no engi-
neers have left US. The so-called in.
surgents are headed by James J. De-
llaney, Michael McLain, brother of Tue
superintendent McLain of the PennsyI
vanla Railroad, and M. ]. Harkins. Nc
Laln's cousin. You can say that we arc
still intact and supported by the Ma.
rine Workers Affiliation."
The negotiations that have been 90.
ing on between the unions and the
railroad managers for an increase Of
about $50 month for engineers. mas
ters, mates and pilots were conclude
at conference yesterday. The matter
VII now be referred to the General
ha1iroad Managers Association, who
ten days.