New-York tribune., 1921-05-30
Engineers Here
Reject Offer of
Shipping Board
Local Unions Vote, 6Ol to
26l, Against Accepting
New Wage Cut Proposal;
Mass Meeting To-day
Philadelphia in Doubt
Boston and Norfolk Also
Refuse 10 End Strike,
Former Port by 90 TO 80

The local unions of marine engineers
voting on the lates: proposition of the
United States Shipping Board for a
settlement of the nationwide shipping
strike practically rejected the offer
yesterday.
The decision of the local men. al
though they constitute about 1000 of
the $4,000 engineers involved along the
Atlantic coast, does not finally dispose
of the matter, as the referendum was
taken at all ports along the entire sea-
board. The full vote will be made
known by William S. Brown, national
president OF the, Marine Engineers
Beneficial Association, at Washington
tomorrow. The results of the local
balloting were wired to Brown last
night.
Local No. SO, of 2s Park Place, the
largest of the marine engineers unions
at this port, headed by Thomas &.
aealey, voted 474 against acceptance to
30 for acceptance. Local No. so, known
as the Ocean Association. with head
quarters al 15 Whitehall Street, voted
to accept the Shipping Boards propo-
sltlon by 1877 to SO. In addition several
out-of-town engineers from New Or
leans, Norfolk and other ports cast ball
lots with this organization, of whom
torty~four voted to accept the offer, as
against thirty-one reflections.
-Ihe combined votes of the men of
both locals and out-of -towners totaled
sol to reject the Federal proposition
to 261 to accept.
At the conclusion of the ballotine
Healey said: Judging from the temper
Of the men on the basis Of their votes,
the strike will 60 on indefinitely. They
seem to be willing to fight the issues
to finish. The action demonstrates
that Local No 33, of the Marine Engi-
neers' Beneficial Association is a fight
ing organization"
With regard to the comparatively
small number Of the organizations
5000 who participated in the balloting
Healey said that many of the engi-
neers were at other ports and lived at
great distances from the headquar-
teTs and we're unable to be present.
Bert L. Todd, the business manager
of Local No. 80, Healey and others of
the local union officials went into con-
ference at the Continental Hotel shortly
after the voting, where they were later
Joined by Andrew Furuseth, head of
the Seamen's Union, who had just re-
turned from Washington. A mass meet
ing of engineers, it was announced, will
be held at Webster Hall this morning.
Says 1t Means Open Shop
Healsy said that the proposition of
the Shipping Board, which controls
four-sevenths of the vessels flying the
American flag, included is per cent cut
in wages, eliminates night engineers,
cuts down subsistence allowance, fails
to restore seniority rights to the strik-
ers, make no definite specifications as
to overtime and practically amounts to
a declaration for the open shop.
The terms offered apply only to
United States Shipping Board vessels,
the private owners, members of the
American Steamship Owners Associa-
ton, having declared they would stand
by their original program So far as
they are concerned, said Winthrop L.
Marvin, vice-president of the associa-
ton and its spokesman, the private own
ers will continue to insist on the Is per
cent reduction in wages put in effect
on May / and the various changes in
working conditions involving the length
ening of the working day and the elimi-
nation of overtime. In addition, the pri-
vate operators now say they will make
Continues on pace fouyl