New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-04-03
Ship Strike
Threatens on
Both Coasts
10000 Marine Workers
on Pacific Seaboard Nav
Go Out To-day Because
of Wage Cut Last Friday
Reduction i'm East
Ordered for Nav
Union Leaders Here Say
IA, 900 ON Atlantic and
Gulf Vessels Will Quit

Vul1 vessels Will Vu1t
The shipping situation on the Allan
tic and Pacific coasts, it was indicated
yesterday, is approaching an unprece-
dented crisis through the resistance of
the 10000 marine workers on the two
scaboards to the wage cuts which the
big steamship owners Of the nation pur-
pose shortly to put into effect
The storm is expected by local labor
leaders to break out on the Western
coast within twenty-four hours. The
owners there ordered q general reduc-
ton Of about 25 per cent in the wages
Of $4,000 steamship employees on April
l. Yesterday, advices here say, the
union heads delivered a twenty-four-
hour rltimatum to the steamship peo-
pie to withdraw the reduction order or
face a strike. In view of the deter
mlnation of the steamship owners to 90
through with their wage cutting pro-
gram, tie-up Of all Pacific Coast ship
ping is expected to be ordered today
or tomorrow.
With both sides adamant in their
attitudes on the wage question the
trouble threatens to spread to the At
lantic seaboard. with the consequent
paralysis of all overseas and coastwise
trade. The agreement of the Atlantic
coast workers, however, does not ex-
pire until May l. The ship owners on
O{ bo
conference with Admiral Benson. head
of the United States Shipping Board,
in an effort to obtain the boards ap-
proval to their plans for read ustment
OF. wages and working conditions.
While Admiral Benson declared that
some readJustments were necessary he
declined to approve the specific pro-
posals of the owners
Reductions Here Is to 80 Per Cent
The reductions contemplated by the
owners here were not made public, but
1T is understood that they range from
Is to 80 per cent, affecting engineers.
tiremen, cooks, oilers, seamen, stewards
and wireless operators employed on the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
Thomas B. Healey, head of the Ma
rine Engineers Beneficial Association
protesting against the conference with
no representatives Of the workers pres
ent, yesterday received assurances
ployees would be given ample oppor-
tunIty to be heard on the matter.
The board always favors confer
ences and negotiations in labor mat
ters,' telegraphed the Admiral. Con
ferences are being arranged in the near
future to which you will have ample
opportunity to present arguments
Board does not contemplate committing
itself to definite program in the mean
time
1T seems too early to predict what
will happen on this side of the Atlantic
on May !. when the steams ship people
propose to put their wage reductions
into effect" said Healey yesterday. "But
II they adopt the same stand as that
taken by their associates on the Pacific
Coast [ am quite safe in assuring you
that the owners will be in for lot Of
trouble. The men simply will not toll
crate wage decrease. The cost Of
living hasn't gone down anywhere near
the amount OF the reductions proposed.
We are willing to cooperate with the
owners in bringing about satisfactory
conditions and will be glad to meet
them half way, but acceptance of the
slashing contemplated Is out of the
question"
Cites Freight Rate Raise
Bert L. Todd, business manager Of
the Ocean Association OF Marine En-
gineers, Local No. S0 which is affiliated
with Healeys organization, declared
that he would be glad to see the sched-
ule of proposed reductions prepared by
the owners.
eve presume that it will cover the
individual wishes of every ship owner,'
he said. at is rather remarkable, too.
that to-day we hear that freight rate
of from 80 to 800 per cent
have been ordered by the steamship
interests, thus ending the rate war
which was partly responsible for the
present chaotic condition in the ship
ping trade. 1t is because of this CON
dition that the ship owners are trying
to take advantage of the workers and
demand reductions in pay
Reports from Atlantic coast ports
show that the strike of marine engi-
neers on coastwise towboats, called in
protest against wage reductions, was
progressing satisfactorily, according
to Healey Within the next three days,
he said, the tie-up was expected to be
complete. This would entail the de-
sertion of about $50 tugs and the
throwing out of work OF about 2,4OO
Shipments of coal, lumber, oil and gen.
eral merchandise between this port and
other coast cities Will be completely
halted, added Healey Active support
of the walk-out has been authorized by
the Association of Masters, Mates and