The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1929-12-03
fContinaea from Page One)

much as 10 points were deducted
suddenly from a good many workers
who had been employed in the yard
five, ten and more years.
Among those recently laid off
were large numbers of first class
skilled men, helpers, old workers
(above forty-five years of age) and
those who were within a few weeks
Of their first year and would be
entitled to thirty days vacation with
pay, when their year was up.
At the same time, enlisted men
from the U. S. s. Vestal and Viii
ney, floating machine shops, and
also from the U. S. S. Pennsylvania
have been placed in a shop, specially
outfitted, in which they are doing
work formerly done by civilian
workmen.
These enlisted men are getting
but SO day for the same work that
the civilian workers were paid Sc
day for.
Said worker in the PhiIadeI-
phia navy yard to the Daily Worker.
From many facts it is evident
to us workers in the yard that a
wage cut is being introduced, really
by laying off first class men and
helpers, while keeping second and
third class men, putting enlisted
men on the job and hiring appren-
tees who are then used instead of
the helpers laid off.
"Men over forty-five are being
Disseminated against aid laid off.
Vacation periods are being skill
fully done away with by laying off
all who are close to having put in
years service. They are also
laying off older men who ordinarily
would be getting off two and one
half days each month with pay"
The workers id the navy yard
are complaining about the disregard
of the safety regulations on the
part of the navy yard bosses.
One worker, uncoupling a water
hose on a narrow ledge near the
top Of a drydock (there were no
safety chains OF ratings there)
was knocked over by the back pres
sure of the water in the hose, and
fell fifty feet to the concrete floor.
He was instantly killed.
Then a gang of men were put to
work in the machine shop, working
overhead right III the midst of re-
volving pulleys and belts. AS a
result, rigger, removing seaffold-
! ing on this job caught his clothes
on an open keyway on the drive
shaft. He desperately held on to
supports he clutched while the shaft,
revolving at high speed, ripped his
clothing to ribbons. He was taken
out, a mass of blood and flesh.
Coincident with the lay-offs, the
naval officers go shopping around
and fire men on the flimsiest pre-
texts. The majority of the men
are organized into A. F. of Ii. craft
unions. "But what does the A. F.
of L. do for u.s. said a navy yard
worker. whenever we discuss these
things at our meetings, they are
always referred to representatives
in Washington.
"The A. F. of L. takers boast
about their being close pals with
the navy department officials. They
shout for a big navy to kill work
ers. And that big navy is being
built and the work is being done
in private shipyards.
"But the takers don't help us
fight lay-offs and speed-up and
wage cuts"
The Metal Trades Council, composed
of representatives of each craft,
presided over by a non-union man.
who happens to be private secretary
to the commander Of the yard, did
decide on definite action. That ac-
ton consisted of banquet of
"greatfulness" to the secretary of
the navy; the commandant, Ware,
the notorious anti-labor G o. P.
politician, and several congressman
and senators.
! The workers were charged SIS a
ticket, and those who refused to be
robbed face the prospect of dis
charge at the first opportunity. The
banquet was held just as the last
lay-off took place, when fifty men
were discharged.
Says a navy yard worker:
snow, with the naval officers
persecution together with the man
coverings Of the union officials
who are only killing all initiative
on the part of TIE workers to organ
ize in the right manner, and who
reject the strike as a means Of
obtaining better conditions, there is
but one course left open to US, and
that is to organize rank and file
shop, yard and service mems COM
mittees under the banner of the new
trade union center--the Trade I'm
ion Unity League, and force the
navy department. to grant US con-
ditions of work which the hypocrites
in our unions prated about but never
intended to try to get"
Navy yard workers in Philadel.
phia are urged to get in touch with
the Trade Union Unity League, al
1924 Spring Garden Street, Phila.
delphia, and learn how to organize
in an industrial union taking in all