Evening star., 1921-09-10
SHIP BOARD FIGHTS
LABOR OBSTACLES
Gives Notice That Workers
Must Keep Agreements or
Others Get Jobs.

The shipping Board has served no.
tice on organized labor that 1t must
live up to agreements with the, board
or that federal agency will employ
"whatever labor is available to fill
their places
Official announcement of this de-
cision was made by the board last
night, after formal resolution to
that effect had been adopted. The
resolution declares the board to be
..firmly of the opinion" that labor or
ganiZations must observe the letter
and spirit of their contracts.
Gulf Port Difficulties.
Action of the board followed re-
ports that members of the longshore.
mems union at New Orleans, La, and
Mobile. Ala. We're refusing TO loao
vessels "solely because the cotton TO
be loaded had previously been han-
died by non-union labor in warehouses
and timber to be loaded had been
RATED from booms by non-unlon
labor"
The operations division was in
structed to employ labor in the open
New Orleans and Mobile and where
and when members of the lonGshore-
mems unions. in violation of their
agreements now in effect. refuse TO
Load vessels OF the Cnlteu states snip
ping Board
The resolution was offered by Com
missioner Thompson. who is the MEM
her of the board accredited from the
gulf division
The board has insisted. a statement
issued last night said. that managing
operators of Shipping Board vessels
running from gulf ports scrupulouSly
observe the wage agreement adopted
last October because of the moral
~1~1 o.
Eardless of the action of operators of
other than board ships.
"In this case" the statement contin-
ued, 1.-THE question of Stevedore wages
was not involved. as the board has def
initely and plainly signified its willing
ness to regard the agreement expiring
October l."
The resolution adopted follows:
Text of Resolution.
"Whereas members of the longShore-
mems union at New Orleans La. are re-
fusing to load cotton into ships in viola
tion of the agreement now in effect be-
tween operators of United States Ship
ping Board vessels and the longshore-
mems union, and
.Whereas members of the longshore-
mems union at Mobile, Ala. are refusing
10 load timber in vessels of the United
States Shipping Board in violation of the
agreement between the opera tors of the
United States Shipping Board vessels
and the longshoremen's union, and
Whereas the reason of the members
of the longshoremen'S union not to COM
ply with this agreement is based solely
upon the fact that the cotton to be load
ed had previously been handled by nom
union labor in warehouses, and the tim
Der to be loaded had been RATED from
boomS by non-union labor, and
',Whereas the United States Shipping
Board considers such refusal by MEM
bers of the longshoremens union as
violation of the agreement now in eff
feet between operators Of the United
States Shipping Board vessels and the
longsho-emen'S union: Therefore, be it
Resolved. That the vice president in
charge of operations be directed to in
struct chiefs of division of operations in
ports on the gulf that managing oper-
stors be directed to use whatever labor
is available in loading of vessels of the
United States Shipping Board, where
and when members of longshoremen's
unions. in violation of their agreement
now in effect. refuse to load vessels of
the United States Shipping Board"