The New York herald., 1921-09-16
|LONGSHOREMEN TAKE
% P. C. WAGE CUT
Settlement Near in Long
Standing Controversy
With Shipowners.
MEDIATION EFFECTIVE
t. V. O'Connor, Shipping
Board Expert, Adjudi-
Gates Differences.
ONE OBSTACLE REMAINS
Disagreement Exists Over the
Length Of Time New Scale
Is to Run.
MEDIATION EFFECTIVE
ONE OBSTACLE REMAINS

With >the acceptance by the en-
pioyees of cut in their present wage
scale amounting to approximately go
per cent, the long standing differ
ences between the International Long
shoremen's Association on the one
hand and the United States Shipping
Board and the American Steamship
Owners Association on the other, prob
ably will be officially adjusted to-day.
Mediation effected chiefly by the con-
cilatory Offices OF r. v. O'Connor. the
member OF the Shipping Board whose
affiliations have been largely with la
Dor, and who is the Shipping Board
specialist on industrial relations, Is
credited by steamship men with hav-
ing effected the settlement. There now
is every prospect that tho threatened
strike of 10000 longshoremen in this
port viii be averted.
Mr.. oConnor came to this city last
Tuesday. Since that time he has been
busy in conferences with representatives
Of both sides OF the controversy. It
was stated on high authority yesterday
that the scale which Is likely to be
ratified to-day will affect directly about
$4,000 men. Indirectly. since the set
tlement will become precendent for all
the rest OF the Atlantic. Pacific and Gulf
seaboards. 1t will affect the fortunes
OF nearly double that number of workers.
The Iongshoremen. who in most re-
spects have assented to the steamship
owners terms. are said to be ready to
accept under the new wage and hours
scale which becomes effective September
80. straight rate OF 65 cents an hour.
with 81 an hour for overtime. and
a forty-eight hour week The present
scale is 80 cents an hour and $1.20 an
hour for overtime. For some months
the men have been ready to accept re-
ductions. but they made their final
fight for a straight wage of 70 cents
an hour. with 81 oS sor overtime and
and eight hour working day.
At the close OF yesterdays confer
cnccs, Il was said only one important
noint remained una adjudicated Repre-
sentatives of the Longshoremen's Asso-
citation want the new scale to be binding
upon both sides for period OF a full
year from September 80 next so that
no further wage re&ctions may be at
ship owners prefer that the contract
shall run for six months only.
The prospective settlement will end A
long fight which for more than a year
has intensified the harassing conditions
under which the shipping trade has
operated. As result of the settlement
Of the strike OF October, 1919, longshore-
men wording on overseas lines were
aparded the rate of so cents an hour
with 1920 overtime Encourae god by
this. the lonsshoremen of the coastwise
lines, who were receiving 65 cents an
hour and 81 overtime, threatened to
strike unless they were granted new
scale Of 81 an hour, So an hour overtime
and an eight hour day. Those demands
were rejected by the leading coastwise
lines. including the Ocean, Old Domin-
ion. Clyde-Mallory and Southern Pacific
companies and a long struggle ensuea.
The working agreement between the
overseas lines and the longshoremen
which granted the latter so cents an
hour and si2o overtime would have ex-
pircd by limitation on September 80
1920, but with the approval OF Rear Ad-
mirsl Benson, who then was chairman
Of the Shipping Board. II was agreed
with the men that the 50 cent rate with
the same wages, hours and working
conditions should remain In effect FOR
another year.
With the approach OF September 30.
1921, marking the expiration OF the ex-
tended agreement. the situation becam
increasingly acute. Amicable wage
scales already had ben signed with or
ganizations OF engineers, mates and
most OF the other scamen's unions. With
the slump In all kinds OF shipping ac-
tivity and the determination OF the new
shipping Board 10 effect drastic ccono-
mics. the longshorencn realized they
would have to accept material reduc-
tions in the old scale or else remain
idle Their acceptance substantially Of
the new terms proffered by tho ship
owners is regarded as notable victory
for tho new shipping Board manage
ment under Chait man Lasser