The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-10-10
.SEAMEN TO HEAR
WIN. Z. FOSTER
Huge Shipping Merger
On Eve of Session


NEW YoRK.-On the eve of the
two day session of the National Com
mittee of the Marine Workers In
dustrial Union here today, at 140
Broad Street, takes place new
vancouver by the shipping interest
that will mean more wage cuts and
greater speed up to the seamen and
longshoremen.
A giant merger Of IL American
boat lines has practically settled. The
American Pioneer Line, Atlantic
Transport Lines, Panama Pacific
Line, Red Star Line, Leland Line
and Baltimore Line are to be
merged under the control of "one bsJ
holding company" The merger is
an outcome of the pressure of the
deepening crisis, further demoraliz-
ing the already over crowded ship
ping lines and greatly sharpening the
competition between the United
States and British shipping interests
The American interest hope that this
move will put them in a position. to
displaee England in the shipping
field and, aid United States imper
ialisn in the struggle against Eng
land for foreign markets. At same
time this Ats in with the general
war preparations, by consolidating
the transport facilities foreasier con-
troll by the government in the COM
ing war.
The M.WLU. will take up this new
phase Of the situation as it effects
the seamen and longshoremen with
its general discussion of conditions
in the entire industry. William z,
Foster, secretary of the Trade Union
Unity League will open the session
representing the T.U.UL. Delegates
are arriving from the gulf coast, from
the west coast and the Atlantic coast
ports to attend the conference. A
general report will be made by Geo.
Mink, National Chairman of the M.
VIII. followed by an organizational
report by r. B. Hudson Of the Ma
tional Bureau, reports by secretaries
from all locals will be made, the un-
employment situation will be ex-
amined and definite program Of
action worked QUA in preparation for
struggle on the ships.
/ Steam schooners are cutting wages,
some have cut 10 per cent once and
some have cut twice, since July, states
John Burns, delegate to the Marine
Workers Industrial Union national
board meeting here today, in an in
terview yesterday.
Unemployment is rife on the Pa
cific coast, he states. The steam
schooners have a trick OF running a
week or two and then tying up for q
q week or two, not paying the crew
for the time tied up. Overtime has
been cut generally from IS cents an
hour to so cents.
The big ships are cutting too. 10
per cent or more.
This situation exists in all ports
along tie coast.
The immigration Bureau is launch
ing a terror against foreign born
workers who organize. Many Portu-
guese had been working on the river
boats. They were not bothered by the
immigration Department as long as
they let the boss put things over on
them. But when. under the leadership
of the M.W.I.U. q strike was won
against a IS per cent wage cut on the
river boats last August, and all the
river men Joined the union, seven
Portuguese and two Swiss were ar
rested and held for deportation. Ev-
cry effort was made to bar the LID;
teh Portuguese consul bailed Out the
men Of his nationality. The case is
still pending.
Build a workers cOrreSp0ndence