New-York tribune., 1921-04-20
Wage Deadlock
May Paralyze
Shipping May /
Owners Demands for 20 to
80 P. C.. Cut, No Overtime
and 9-Hour Day Re.
jected by Four Unions
10000 Men Affected
Atlantic, Pacific and Lake
Tie-Up Threatened; May
Appeal to President

possible nationwide shipping tie
up on May / was indicated in the
deadlock reached yesterday in the ne
gotiations between the marine work
ers and ship owners for new wage
and working agreement.
Representatives of the Firemens,
Oilers and Watertenders' Union in
conference with the steamship operat-
ors here yesterday rejected the own
ers' proposals for a reduction Of
20 to 80 per cent in wages. These EN-
ployees declined TO discuss the cues
ton until certain propositions affect
ing the working conditions of the men
had first been disposed of. The op-
orators declined to entertain these
counter proposals and announced that
negotiations had been suspended.
The engineers last week informed
the owners they would give no con-
sideration to any wage reduction what
ever at this time. Andrew Furuseth,
president of the international Sea-
mems Union, declared that the seamen,
who meet the owners this morning, and
the cooks and stewards, who confer
with the operators tomorrow, will
take the same stand as the firemen.
The owners insist that the marine
workers accept the proposed reduc-
tions in pay and resolved yesterday to
put the wage cuts into effect and
eliminate overtime on May J., when
the agreement with the marine men
expires.
"If the operators really tut into eff
feet the wage cuts before an under
standing has been reached" COM
mented Mr.. Furuseth, "what happens
on May 1 will be their fault"
1t was intimated that the matter
would be taken directly to President
Harding before a strike would be
called The seriousness of the situa-
tion has already been recognized by
the authorities at Washington, Secre-
tary of Commerce Hoover now having
taken the matter under considerations
In addition DR.. Fred G. Davis, spe-
cial commissioner for the bureau of
conciliation, arrived here yesterday as
representative of the Department of
Labor to make report on the situa-
tion and assist in bringing about an
duJ US IIleNC OIL lHS controversy.
A walk-out would affect about 110,-
600 unlicensed marine workers in the
nations coastwise, ocean and lake serv-
ice. About 10000 of these, said Mr..
Furuseth, were employed at the pres
ent time. The strike would paralyze
all Atlantic and Pacific shipping flying
the American flag.
representatives of the fremen met
members of the wage committee of the
American Steamship Owners Associa-
ton at the latter's headquarters, at II
Battery Place. In reply to the oper-
ators' proposals that the men accept
reductions of 20 to 80 per cent in pay,
the elimination of overtime and nine
hour day instead of an eight-hour day,
representatives of the fremen, oilers
and watertenders presented a group
of six counter demands, which they in
sisted the owners comply with before
the wage question was taken up.
These demands we're: Cd Abolish
the sea service bureau. l2) Enforce
Section 13 of the seamen's act, espe-
cially the language clause. (3) En-
force Section Ia on foreign ships
strictly. (4) Enforce Section on
American vessels. (5) Preference in
employment to union men, for the pur-
pose of developing efficiency. CO The
union TO examine the men and not to
admit to membership anybody for rat
ings for which they are not reasonably
fCnnftnueh