The New York herald., 1921-04-20
UNIONS THREATEN
TOTE UP SHIPPING
UPONBOTHCOASTS
Steamship Owners Dead
locked With Marine Work
ers Over Wages.
FERUSETH is INSIS'TENT
Demands Enforcement of
Language Provisions Of
Seamen's Law.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE
Federal Commissioner Here to
Keep in Touch With
Developments.
NEGOTIATIONS CONTINUE

A strike which would tie up all ves-
sells in both transatlantic and coast
wise trade appears nearer than at any
time since the American Steamship
Owners Association a week ago pro-
posed a reduction on May 1 of about
20 per cent. in wages and a revision OF
working conditions to the union repre-
sentatives of the marine engineers. the
cooks and stewards and the firemen,
oilers and water tenders.
Eighty members of the American
Steamship Owners Association met
yesterday afternoon at the Whitehall
Club. IL Battery place. and decided
by unanimous vote to back up the
action of the wage committee in in
sisting upon a cut in wages. Union
leaders insisted they would tie up
every ship on the Atlantic and the
Pacific coasts before they would sub
nit to cents cut in pay.
Position of Owners.
Winthrop j.. Marvin. vice-president
and general manager OF the American
up the employers reply with the fol-
lowing:
TN reply TO the six demands of the
Marine F7irenen. Oilers and Water
Tenders Union II was unanimously
voted that on the request for the aboli-
tion Of the Sea Bureau of the Shipping
Board the union be referred TO the
board that on the points referring to
enforcement OF sections 13, IA and OF
the seamen's law the union be re-
ferred 10 the Department of Commerce.
and that IN regard TO the demand for
preference IN employment for union
men the shipowners were entirely OPP
posed to such a proposition. which
would involve discrimination In en-
ployment. and might involve discrim-
ination against young -American sea-
men in favor OF foreigners
The same six demands will be sub
mitted to-day by the International Sea-
mems Union. Andrew Feruseth, presi-
dent OF the union, said that a settle
ment upon those questions would be
demanded before wages and working
conditions could be considered He said
he was especially interested in the en-
forcement OF the section OF the sea-
mems act which provides that rs per
cent. OF the crews OF American ships
must speak the language in which
officers give orders
vrsiSts ou Union Preference
Feruseth said ne would insist that
preference in employment be given 70
union men. "for the purpose of develop
ing efficiency" with the understanding
that the union would admit to member
ship no one not reasonably qualified.
Oscar Carlson, general secretary OF
the Firemen. Oilers and Water Tenders
Union. said the union would insist on
strict enforcement OF the language
clauses OF the seamen's act before they
would consider wages. Carlson said he
represented 1000 men. The proposed
wage scale for his men would give deck
engineers and pumpmen sT5 month
instead OF 800. donkeymen. store
Keepers, oilers and water tenders, $40
instead OF sos: fremen, $3.50 instead
OF 500. and coal passers and wipers. 500
instead Of SIS.
Negotiations will be continued to-day.
The marine cooks and stewards will
meet a committee OF the owners to-
morrow. Fred G. Davis. Commissioner
OF the Department Of Labor. arrived
yesterday from Washington to keep in
touch with tbs situation.