The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-10-03

9l'SO 10 Sl.lO has been decreed by the
organized steamship companies,
stevedoring companies, and by the
officials of the International Long
Shoremen's Association.
The contract expired September 30,
and the new contract was completed
and agreed to by the companies and
by President Joseph Ryan of the
LILA. after negotiations lasting sew
eral weeks. Ryan began by granting
the straight time cut, the main point.
He then played with the companies
a gigantic fraudulent fake struggle
over the less important overtime
rates; the companies demanding a
rate of S1.05 and Ryan S1.15. with
the result that they compromised just
a day before the end of the old con-
tract on what the companies expect
all along, namely, $11O overtime
rates.
Longshoremen Never Accepted This
Cut
Ryan repeatedly claimed that he
had the support of the longshoremen
for his straight time cut, and toward
the end. for his compromise proposal
for $1.10 on overtime. The only YES
tige of truth in this claim is that in
the very last week of negotiations
fake meetings, attended, except in
Baltimore and Philadelphia by prac-
tically none of the real longshore-
men, voted to accept these cuts.
At Baltimore the meeting de-
nounced the whole wage cut entirely
and Ryan also. In Philadelphia
where revolt against the cuts is rag
ing Ryan's henchman, Polly" Baker,
an international appointee, railroad
ed through a motion to accept the
cut, and adjourned the meeting be-
fore opposition could get in its word
Philadelphia Demands.
The Philadelphia rank and file has
organized and elected a leading COM
mittee which proposes struggle for
the following demands;
Against any wage cut or wors-
ened conditions.
2-For s or more men in hold and
dock; 4 men on steel lighters; 4 men
on cars on lumber.
3-Reduction of size of loads of all
drafts, sings, skids and trucks by at
least one quarter in size.
4-No man or gangs to work over 8
hours a day
5-Full union wages for all car
gangs.
Irregular shape up three times
mo discrimination or favorite
gangs in putting out work.
The Marine Workers Industrial
Union supports these demands, and
in its latest issue calls on all long
shoremen in Boston and New York
and Baltimore to follow the example
of the rank and file in Philadelphia,
in organizing for strike for such de-
mands, and particularly against the
wage cut.
Boston longshoremen struck last
year against the cut of IS cents. and
their strike was broken by Ryan.
They are preparing for new struggles
this year.
Revolt Rises at New York.
Red Hook longshoremen have held
meetings and denounced the cut.
On the Jarca stevedoring jobs in
Philadelphia, the company has al
ready tried to put in a wage cut,
so cent scale, and sharp struggles
have already forced the postpone
ment of the cut.
Seamen Should Help
Now is the time for the longshore-
men to fight The Marine Workers
Industrial Union calls on them to
form dock committees to lead the
Strike against the cut when the COM
panies try to enforce it. The M.W.I.U.
calls on coastwise seamen to come out
in support Of the longshoremen on
deep water docks, otherwise the
companies will try to use coastwise
men to break the strike and enforce
the cut, and the coastwise men will
get their cut right after that
"Seamen," says the MWIU. edi-
torially in the Marine Workers Voice,
its newspaper, make sure that not
one ship sails that has been loaded
by scabs''
Unite and fight this wage cut!'
is the theme of the Marine Workers
Industrial Union, and it pledges its
full support to any struggle against
the wage cut.