The New York herald., 1921-06-24
LAST UNIONS YIELD;
END MARINE STRIKE
Surrender Marks Worst
Defeat for Labor in Re-
cent Conflicts.
OLD JOBS ARE GONE
Few Who Are Taken Back
Accept Is Per Cent. Cut
in Wages.
SPURNED BENSON OFFER
Cooks, Firemen and Seamen
Now Have No Agreement
Whatever.
OLD JOBS ARE GONE
SPURNED BENSON OFFER

What is regarded as the worst de-
feat suffered by organized labor in Its
recent conflicts with employers came
yesterday when the three remaining
unions of marine workers-the cooks
and stewards. the firemen and the sea.
men--voted to end their strike against
the proposed is per cent. wage reduc-
ton and go back to work wherever
they can get jobs.
The action of the unions amounts
to a complete capitulation. The ma
rine engineers ended their strike two
weeks ago when their international
president signed a six months agree
ment with the United States Shipping
Board. accepting the Is per cent. cut
The cooks, firemen and seamen, how
ever, will have to go back to work
without even an agreement for siS
months, and without any assurance
that another attempt will not be made
soon further to reduce their wages
The mems action is effective not only
on the Atlantic but the Pacific and
Gulf coasts.
The status of the unions ana the pri-
vate steamship owners. represented by
the American Steamship Owners Asso-
citation, still is somewhat doubtful, aS
negotiations were broken off more than
a month ago. but the marine engineers
have considered their strike against the
private owners ended and have been
applying for their old jobs similar
course. it was announced. will be fol-
lowed by the other three unions.
The decision yesterday marked the
end of what appeared TO be losing
fight from the beginning The men
flockcd back to the steamship offices
asking for their jobs. but in most cases
they were told theUa was nothing doing.
The men found that their joEs either
had been filled with men willing to
work for less or that. because of the
increasing atagnation of shipping. there
were no jobs for anybody. Those who
went back to work took a cut of Is per
cent, and in some cases more. They
were told by steamship officials morn
than once that they would be fortunate
If they obtained work before the end of
the summer. The unions are making
plans now to feed their men during the
lean months.
The number of men who have been
out of work since the strike was called
on May l is problematical Conflicting
claims have been made. The strength
OF the unions, which included all marine
workers. on all ships flying the Ameri-
can flag, was set at a little more than
100000. The marine engineers have only
10000 or $4,000 members but they are
regarded as the best organized of the
lot. The seamen, headed by Andrew
Furuseth, have more than 100000 men,
bers, but their number is a disadvantage
In some respects and their places are
easily filled from the thousands of un-
employed who have gone to the steam
ship companies for jobs since the strike
begun.
The controversy began when the pri.
vate steamship owners sought to put ir
effect new contracts calling for re.
duction of from 20 to 30 per cent in
wages and a drastic revision of working
conditions After a conference with Ad.
miral w. s. Benson, then chairman OF
the Shipping Board. they altered these
proposals to a Is per cent. cut. But the
unions refused to accept any cut what.
ever until IL was forced on them. The
negotiations when the unions refused tc
accept the compromise suggestion oi
Admiral Benson.
The action of local unions in calling
of the strike has been followed, II was
announced. by virtually every port or
the Atlantic. Gulf and Pacific coasts.