The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-10-18
An Injunction Aimed at the
Marine Workers


y terests in New York against the A. F.
of L. Longshoremen's and Transfers
unions. ''to restrain them from interfering
with the movement of freight with non
union men" IS another step flowing from the NRA
anti-labor policy 1t is continuation OF the line OF
the West Coast shippers. who, until forced by the
militant strike even refused to recognize the union
chosen by the works-1.
This action taken by 90 companies, backed by
the Merchants Association the New York Board
of Trade and the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce
came at the very moment when the Roosevelt board
made public its decision on the demands OF the
West Coast longshoremen. While the workers
through a militant struggle, forced substantial con-
cessions the action of the shippers is only one OF
the steps to prevent the workers from actually
benehttng The injunction proceedings Of the large
New York shippers, if net defeated by mass strug-
gle will have far-reaching effect and set pre-
cedent for all other ports.
But while the shiooWners taking such steps
to prepare for another open shop drive, the officials
of the Longshoremens Transfers ana the Inter
national Seamens unions are very busy dividing the
workers doing everything possible to prevent strike
preparations and direct the workers to stake
thing on the secret negotiations with the bosses
and the government boards.
Joseph Ryan president of the International Long
snoremens Association, expressing great satstsc-
ton with the decision OF the Roosevelt Board on
the West Coast Marine Strike demands, declared
that DELAY in strike action on the East Coast was
justified claiming that the workers in agreeing to
ACCEPT the boards decision gained in the end. Then
he attacked the Communists for attempting to
bring about strike on the East Coast.
Anyone who is not acquainted with the recent
struggles Of eth marine workers would take Ryan
as a champion Of the workers, After all, long
snorenan on the East Coast will reason, the Roose
welt board granted 10 cents per hour increase to
95 CENTS s14o per hour for overtime and 3o-hour
week
BUT is this gain result of Ryans conferences
with the employers? BY no means! 1t is a result
of the three-month bitter struggle of the West
Coast longshoremen and seanlen, led by the mill
tant workers such as Bridges whom Ryan attacks.
1t is because of the threat Of a general marine
strike on the East Coast. 1t is because the West
Coast longshoremen have kept their union intact,
and in San Francisco have elected militant strike
leaders as officials of their union Since the strike
was called of they have maintained their vigilance,
Just as on the picket lne, and no scabs were per-
nitted to get ON the cocks.
TIE calling of the seamen's strike the East
Coast speeded the decision Of the Roosevelt beard
IL it wasn't fer the strikebreaking tactics Of Ryan
in splitting the longshoremen from the sesmen,
il the LS.U. officials would not have served
scaS- her6ing agency a successful marine strike
the East Coast, would have resulted in a complete
victory for both THE EAST AND THE WEST
COASTS For it must not be forgotten that the
chief demand Of the strikers workers controlled
hiring hall. not granted. Instead, there is the
Joint hiring hail. which places final decision on -
elimination complaints in the hands of the govern
nent Labor Relations Board, which, like all the
MA divisions, is strikebreaking and pro-com-
pany union instrument.
The action Of the New York shippers shows that
the shippers plan to follow the auto and steel bosses
and renew their drive for company unionizing the
waterfront and instituting backlistng hiring halls,
This threat hangs over every port. tut the &C
tons Of the Ryans ana OlanderS is only to Illusion
the workers that the bosses attack be met with
negotiations Instead Of preparing against this at
tack of the shipowners the top officials of the
their attack against the Communists-the very ones
whose policies and leadership made possible the
concessions Their attack is against the rank and
file movement in the unions which calls for prepa-
ration of a general strike along the eastern sea-
board with workers own hiring hall as the CEN
trail demand
If the marine workers are 10 win their own hir-
ing hall, and central shipping bureau if the gains
scored by the recent West Coast strike are not to
remain on paper, no time should be lost in kicking
out the Ryans and Olanders and placing leader
ship in the hands of honest rank and file leaders.
Marine workers in all unions must rally imne-
diately to organize rank and file opposition Only
such action will defeat the injunction, which is
backed by the N.R.A.