The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-17
Seamen Rap I.S.U.
Leaders COnfab
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ASA4AOA ~ OORAA ~
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every ship; by building up a united
front controlled by the rank and
file; and by driving the strikebreak-
ing labor takers out of the ranks!
1t is in this spirit that we seamen
voted to call off the general strike
call issued october 8.
Our strike, effective on % ships.
was the largest strike on the East
Coast since 1928. 1t drove fear into
the hearts. of the shipowners and
labor takers.
Thousands of seamen endorsed
the call for a, united strike issued
by the Marine Workers industrial
Union. United Front strike COM
mittees were set up in all ports,
which included representatives of the
unorganized, the American Radio
Telegraphists Association and the
Marine Workers Industrial Union.
Unorganized seamen, as we'll as
members of the 1. S. U. and M. w.
I. U. piled off ships during the
strike. Licensed officers were drawn
into the strike movement and the
radio men were ready to act. TWEEN
ty-eight ships in five ports came
out on strike-the largest strike on
the East Coast since 1923. The
strike, and the threat of it spread
ing to other ships, drove fear into
the hearts of the shipowners and
labor takers, because they knew this
would have compelled recognition Of
our elected representatives and
granting of our demands.
Time Ripe for Action
The crews were ready and the
time was ripe for action. We we're
weak organizationally, but 1t is
mainly the strikebreaking officials
of the IS.U. who prevented the
crews from taking action Every
seamen must remember the deeds
of these officials. They refused to
come into a united front even when
thousands Of seanen demanded it..
BY cancelling their strike call, the
IS.U. leaders tried to divide the
IS.U. membership from those sea-
men who were rallying behind the
United Front Strike Committees.
Their call for a truce" did not
stop the seamen from taking ac-
ton. When the strike started, the
IS.U. officials were allowed to go
aboard every ship entering port,
where they told the seamen there
was no strike" Where ships crews
struck it was the scabby I.S.U. off,
Gals who provided the shipowners
with strikebreakers. These I.S.U.
officials faithfully put into effect
the strikebreaking plans that were
engineered by Mr. Garrison of the
MIRA. BY these methods and
through these gentlemen the ship
owners succeeded in confusing and
demoralizing crews entering port,
thereby preventing the strike from
spreading The strike was checked
anu MCCthCllChs Oub VIC aiC llAO&N
determined than ever that our de-
mands for higher wages and better
conditions be met. Mr. AXtel, Olan-
der and the other I.S.U. officials
who helped break the strike, will
not fight for our demands in the
present secret negotiations. Already
they have been negotiating for sew
eral weeks with no results or re-
ports to the seamen. On the Pa
cific Coast their negotiations have
dragged out for several months.
we can expect nothing but betrayal
at the hands of these takers.
Militant Action Will Win
Organized. militant action alone
will win our demands and also
force the sf1ipowners to recognize
representatives of our own choos-
ing. If the present negotiations
bring forward any concessions, it
will only be as result of our
strike. A larger, more effective
strike, will win ALL the demands.
Seemen We are in a position to
prepare for such action. Our strike,
built up real unity among thou
sands of seamen. Organization is
stronger as a result of the strike.
We also know that only defeat
awaits us at the hands, of the I.S.U.
takers and victory through united
action and rank and file control.
Because of these things we are
much better prepared to march
forward.
Seamen! We have, put up mil
liant fight Let every man put
his shoulder. to the wheel and keep
the fight going. Let us use our
present strength. and the truce"
which we ourselves declared, to
launch drive that will prepare
every ship for a general strike!
BY organizing ship committees; by
the rank and file of the I.S.U. TAX
ing steps to remove their strike
breaking Officials; by building
powerful Marine Workers Indus
trial Union. We will be able to de-
feat any Sell-out agreement nego-
tiated by the I.S.U. and resume the
fight for the demands presented
to the shipowners.
Long live the unity of the
members of all unions!
Down with the strikebreaking,