New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-07-31
Shipping Board
To Quit Port
COnciliatOrs
Mill Establish Method of
Direct Negotiation With
| Longshoremen ON Allan
tic and Gulf Coasts
70 Withdraw October ]
Local Officials Say Action
Does Not Presage Strike
When Agreement Expires

When Agreement Expires
| rror, The Trioane's Washington Bureau
| WASHINGTON, July 30.-The United
hates Slipping Board announced to-
lsy that + will withdraw on October 1
i-om the National Adjustment Com
lsission, having jurisdiction over long
khoremen matters on the Atlantic and
l;ulf coasts. A resolution to that eff
tect has been passed by the board and
HE necessary sixty days notice has
been given to the secretary of the
kommission.
"The National Adjustment Commits
ken" the Shipping Board announce
kent said, was established at the in
lance OF the Shipping Board during
HE war in order to maintain close con-
bet in the longshore industry between
lie shipping and stevedoring interests
lie international Longshoremens As
Rotation and the United States Ship
ting Board.
"The Shipping Board is immediately
hiking steps to set up the machinery
Necessary for joining with the shipping
bud stevedoring interests in negotiating
frectly with the international Long
loremen's Association in reference to
III matters affecting the loneshore in
Iastry on the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
FMS method of direct negotiation is in
fne with its procedure in dealing with
1e other large groups of labor in its
fperating departments"
/ Act Does Not Presage Strike
1.-The withdrawal by the Shipping
Board from the National Adjustment
commission and the boards with
tiswal from the agreement now exist
fg between itself, the shipping COM
fsnies and the international Long
Eoremen's Association does not neces-
brliy presage with certainty a strike
II longShoremen after October /, when
he agreement expires, local observers
Believe.
| Spokesman for the international
I1ngs horemen Association and the
Slipping companies, however, declared
yesterday the action of the board
beans that the governments control
Ing agency for the settlement of dis
tutes between the |. L. A. and the
shipping interests is withdrawn and
FIAT the union and the companies will
pave to resort to independent negotia-
hons in whatever demands the men
bay see fit to put forth at the expira-
ZION Of the present agreement.
That the return to this conventional
method of action entails greater
Ehances of tie-up was not denied, but
It IN no way excludes the avenues Of
fmica Bile negotiation or adjustment by
FILTRATION. The only advantage lost
IS far as the public is concerned-is
The fact that the awards of the Ma
ficnal Adjustment Commission were
hnding upon both parties, thus pre-
fluding the possibility Of strikes.
| Professor William z. Ripley is chair
ban OF the commission. The other
rembers are f. Toppin and Oakley
Food, for the shipping companies. and
~ O'Connor and Joseph P. Ryan. for
Es longshoremen.
Difficulties Are Seen
1t is believed serious difficulties NAV
Prise in October as result of the
shipping Boards action A point on
winch sharp disagreement may be ex-
5eeted is that of the open shop. The
present agreement existing as a result
81 the award Of the National Adjust
meAt Commission confirms certain
clauses IN previous agreements where
py union longshoremen in certain ports
flong the Atlantic coast, Gulf ports ex-
rluded are given preference in en-
bloyment on all ships allocated by the
Shipping Board.
A demand for the renewal of this
feature or for an out and out closed
shop by the international Longshore-
pens Association, it is understood.
Fould meet with rejection on the part
p the shipping companies, thus Great
lne point of serious disagreement,
containing the possibility of a tie-up of
|. number Of Atlantic ports. including
New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Balti-
more and Hampton Roads, the chief
eoal shipping center in the East.
! The international Longshoremen's
association has consistently interpret
FL the preferential clauses in the exist
Ing award OF the National Adjustment
COMMISSION as coming within the pur-
EleW Of the closed shop. This has been
liened by Admiral Benson, chairman
If the Shipping Board. and reasserted
IN behalf Of the men by Mr.. O'Connor,
president OF the International Long
shoremen's Association.
New Agreement To Be Made
Spokesman for shipping companies in
'hls city declared yesterday that,
whether the Slipping Board desires it
pr not, 1t cannot Avoid beng a party to
wage agreements. They explained that
nearly all Shipping Board vessels are
20" operated by the private companies
Etn account. with cost plus provision.
N zen the present agreement expires,
Vctober l, the companies will face the
necessity of concluding u new agree
ment with the longsnoremen. Thus the
Snlpplng Board viii not escape the eff
rect of whatever understanding may be
reached.
The situation is certain to be so in
New York City. Only in some of the
Gulf ports, where labor is plentiful. it
vas explained, do the shipping com
Panles stand a chance of operating un-
per non-union conditions. Whatever
Understanding Shipping companies may
seach with the unions, therefore, will
Pc reflected in the accounts submitted
Oy them to the Shipping Board for it's
approval or rejection.
It Is expected that the International
Longshoremen's Association will ask
or 81 an hour for its men in October.
This is expected to involve the local
larbor situation in a serious difficulty
Which may or may not be settled am
cably, and which contains the posi-
pihtles of complete tie-up of the
ort OF New York, unless Admiral Ben
on reverses his new policy.