The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-02-26
Ship Committees On Soviet Vessels

THE tasks of the ship committees, as the primary
organizations of the union on board the ships are
determined both by the statutes of the Water Work
ers' Union of USSR and by the general tasks with
which the working class of the Soviet Union became
confronted ever since the overthrow of the bour-
geosie and the establishment of the proletarian die
tatorship
The fundamental and immediate task of the ship
committee is the protection of the economic inter-
ests of the ships and of their working condi-
tions well as the satisfaction of their cultural
needs
For these purposes the ship committee:
Looks after the faithful observance of the coll
lective agreement and of the wage agreements both
on the part of the administration and crew Of the
ship;
2.-Looks after the proper hiring and dischargng
of crews the basis of the collective agreement
signed between the parties;
3.-Sees to the timely payment of wages to the
observation of all the rules concerning labor pro-
lection and social insurance the part of the adj
ministration, takes care of improving working and
living conditions aboard ship, looks after the quality
of the crews food, and also co-operates with the
labor inspectors in their work. and
4.-Carries on cultural and educational activity
among the crew. assists in the illiteracy campaign
by arranging during leisure hours: talks, readings,
courses, lectures, etc., looks after the activity and
content of the ships wall-newspaper and takes
charge of the ships library
In the domain of professional organization the
TASK OF the snip committee IS: TO get the workers
board the ship to join the union to develop the
revolutionary class consciousness among the mem
bers of the crew; to make propaganda for organza-
tional proletarian discipline; to represent the men,
bers of the before the various organizations and
institutions, including the organs dealing with any
conflicts arising between members of the union and
the administration.
Furthermore, on ships owned by the Soviet gov
eminent it is also of the tasks of the ship COM
mittee to encourage in every way the profitable
running of the ship to assist in promoting effci
ency and labor discipline
The last task arises from the fact that the work
ing class during the period of the proletaran die
tatorship has for its important purpose to take
part in the building of the socialist commonwealth
and in the first place, in the organization and i'm
provement of the state industries and transports.
In this connection the trade unions of the USSR,
incidentally, furnish school for the management
Of socialized industries
Of course, this last task does not in any way
concern the ship committees on board ships owned
by private people by concessonares. Aboard such
ships the only task of the ship committee is to look
after the economic interests of the members of the
union and to take charge of cultural and general
educational work.
Thus, the ship committees although only con-
shutting the primary organs of the union, are
charged with very responsible, complex and varied
tasks and functions. OF particular Importance be-
comes the activity of the ship committees aboard
oceanic vessels going out on long journeys, where