New-York tribune., 1921-03-03
Ship Owners
May DropPay
Agreements
American Association Will
Decide the Question of
Ending Present Wage
Plan at Meeting Here Soon
Talk of Strike Continues
Foreign Vessel Operators
Also Seeking to Reduce
Their Operating Costs

Another move in the situation re-
garding marine labor on deep sea
ships will be made at meeting to be
held by the American Steamship Own
ers' Association next Tuesday.
Al that time decision will be made
IS 70 whether it is advisable in the
future 70 have formal written agree
ments with the marine unions. Such
agreements have been in existence for
several years past, having been first
brought about in this country by the
Shipping Board during the war.
In the agreements made on the Pa
&C Coast a clause providing for a
termination OF the agreement en- thirty
days notice was inserted. Shortly
after the first Of this year the Pacific
Coast shipowners put this clause into
effect. The time limit expired on Feb
-Gary s, but no reduction in wages has
yet been announced. Representatives
% the shipowners and OF the Shipping
Board have been meeting on the Coast,
however, for the purpose Of drafting
new wage scale, and this is expected
t. be put into effect shortly.
Wage Revision Opposed
Agreements made on the Atlantic
Foast contain no thirty-day clause. and
sAe agreements. which were made for
q year. Will not expire until May l.
Efforts Of the shipowners to have the
rsen agree to . revision of the wage
scale IN the meantime have been un~
avsiIing. On their part, the men
sought for a general conference of
representatives of all the unions with
the shipowners and the Shipping Board
TIE shipowners, however. have taken
tie stand that 8 general conference
would be futile. but they have ex-
pressed willingness 10 meet with rep
resentatives OF the various branches
o. seasoing labor separately.
There has been considerable talk Of
a str.ae on the part OF the men after
The expiration OF the agreement on
May / unless it IS renewed on an I'M
reduced basis. That the shipowners
are prepared to meet this issue is in
ticatei by the fact that q meeting has
been called for the purpose OF deciding
whether il viii not be advisable TO do
svay with formal agreements here
s-ter
II it is determined to end the agree
trent plan the course taken will prob
ably be for the steam ship companies
so decide upon wage scales without any
conferences with representatives OF the
men. Committees representing the
American Steamship Owners Associa-
tion are now engaged in drawing up
new set Of wage rates and working
rules TO supplant the ones at present
operative and the change will be made
on May !.
Reduction Sought Abroad
Not only here, but in most European
countries. shIpowners are seeking to
bring about & reduction IN the cests
OF shipboard labor, which are still at
the highest levels Of the war. AT
recent conference in Brussels repre-
sentarIves Of the ship workers put
forward 4 proposal for an eight-hour
working day on shipboard. to which the
shipowners responded with proposal
for reduction in wages. The con-
ference adjourned without any action
being taken.
There is talk in some quarters Of
shipping strike covering the world 10
take effect May I. Under the present
depressed state OF shipping conditions
many thousands OF marine workers gre
idle bots here and abroad and the
number Is steadily increasing. IF this
continues at the present rate .on-
siderably more than half Of the worlds
shipping VIII have been laid up by May
J ard tae number OF idle men VIII be
greatly increased. To strike in the
face Of sucn unemployment as is likely
to exist at that time would be very
different matter from q strike in last
MAJ, when shipping was still very
active.
On the part Of the shipowners, II is
pointed out that it is impossible to
operate vessels at a profit with the
present levels Of freight rates and the
present costs OF operation. American
ships, with higher running costs than
the vessels OF any other country, must
be the heaviest losers, they say. while
present conditions continue. Through
reduction in operating costs, however.
such as would be effected by reducing
wages from war levels, it is stated, it
would not only be possible for Amer
lean vessels 20 compete with foreign
chipping, but employment would be
sound for ships now laid up and un-
emp oyment among American seamen
diminished.