The Raymer enterprise., 1921-04-28
SEAMEN REFUSE
WAGE REDUCTION
f7s,0o0 Y. 8. SHIP WORKERS RI
JEcT NEW CONTRACT PRO-
PosAL BY OWNERS.
MARINE cTRIYE NAY 1
MARINE STRIKE MAY |.
ALL OVERSEAS AND coAsTWisG
SHIPPING is INVOLVED IN
LABOR STRUGGLE.
,w...ra Ss.sp.ps Union sr, seria.

New York, April 28.-Lines tending
toward nationwide strike on May l
Of more than 175.OO0 unionized marine
engineers, firemen and seamen, were
closely drawn here when the unions
refused to consider new contract
proposed by the owners carrying wage
cuts averaging 25 to IS per cent.
The engineers, through their ma.
tional president, William II. Ryan, fol-
lowed their refusal by issuing strike
order effective that date II the cut is
put into effect. The firemen and sea-
men, through Andrew Furuseth, presi-
dent of the International Seamen's
Union, said their men had voted on
the matter and they, too, would quit
work II the wage cut was made effect.
i've. Overseas and coastwise Ameri-
can flag ships on the Atlantic, Gulf Of
Mexico and Pacific will be involved
unless the differences are adjusted.
The conferences were the culmina.
ton of series of meetings between
representatives Of the unions and the
owners. The engineers last week an.
nounced wage cut would not be ac-
cepted and the declaration was reit-
Grated. At previous conferences, the
firemen and seamen insisted that wage
questions be made secondary TO en-
forcement of alleged violations OF the
La Toilette law, abolishment Of the
Shipping Boards Sea Service Bureau.
and preference in employment Of union
men.
The answer of the owners was that
the La Toilette scamen's law was a
federal statute, and the sea service bu.
reau was a government agency. 1t was
further stated that this bureau was
furnishing American ships with sea.
men, SO per cent of whom were Amer
lean citizens while the seamen's
unions were furnishing negligible
percentage Of Americans. Preference
In employment Of union men was de-
clared to be discrimination against
Americans and the demands were re-
fused.
As result Of the refusal, Mr.. Furu.
seth and his associates left the meet.
ing and declared that the men would
refuse to work after May l, II the wage
reduction was put into effect.
Ships on the Great Lakes and tugs,
barges and other craft employed In
harbor transportation would not be af-
fected by the strike, union leaders said,
as they are under separate contracts.
A tieup Of deep sea and coastwise
ships would be felt by several hundred
thousand men. Recent reports OF
American shipping show that the
United States shipping board owns L..
773 ocean going ships, Of 1,I9O,138
gross tons, the majority In the hands
Of private operators.
In addition there are LOTT ships Of
5,125,273 gross tons owned by private
companies. The American flag pas
senger vessels which possibly would be
affected by strike include those OF
the International Mercantile Marine,
Hamburg and Antwerp service; the
United States Mail Steamship Com
pany and the United American lines
In the European trade, and all coast
wise lines operated on the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts and between cities on
the Atlantic and Gulf coasts
The engineer representatives de,
clared that the American strike would
throw out of work approximately
100000 men Of the allied marine
trades.