The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-06-11
Great Lakes Marine
Workers Plan for
Action in ALI Ports

the demand for workers control Of
relief and the passage Of the Work
ers Unemployment Insurance Bill.
The majority Of the shipping on
the Great Lakes is controlled by the
Steel Trust and the hiring of sea-
men is done By the Steel Trust con-
trclled Lake Carriers Association"
In order to obtain employment
aboard these boats the seaman is
forced to take out a LEA. book
and pay fee Of one dollar.
Buffalo initiated the Gtruggle
against the Lea with boycott
and a picket line around the LEA.
hall. The boycott was effective in
Buffalo but was abandoned after
several weeks because Of the inabil-
ity to spread the movement to other
ports In abandoning the boycott,
the M.WI.U. called for the seamen
to get aboard the boats TO organ
ize for strike action against the
Lea"
In all ports the struggle against
the LEA. has continued with meet
ings Of protest, petitions. mass COM
mittees to regional labor boards,
etc. In Buffalo the M.WI.U. has
established a Centralized Shipping
Bureau" and has succeeded in ship
pinng a few men aboard boats not
controlled by the Lea. The de-
mand presented in all ports is for
a rotary system Of shipping with
no favoriti5m and the abolition Of
the blacklist.
Work Within the A. F. of L.
The present strike of the tugmen
who are affiliated to the A. F. Of
L. is an example of the prestige Of
the M.WIU. Following the line Of
action advocated by the M.WI.U.
the tugmen voted to strike over the
heads of Federal "arbitrators" and
their own officials and in the Bui-
falo local they voted a standing
vote Of appreciation to the MWI.U.
On the majority Of the passenger
boats the IS.U. has job control
with the "check-off' dues collecting
system. On these boats there is a
general revolt against the policies
of the A. F. Of L., and opposition
groups are being formed on all Of
the boats. The crews buy the lit
erature of the M.WI.U. and some
are joining the M.W.IU. despite
the fact that to hold their jobs they
have to maintain their membership
in the A. F. Of L. seamen's craft
unions.
The LOngShoremen
Recently some activity has been
started among the longshoremen.
In the East Chicago area groups
have been formed among the I'M
organized longShoremen and prep
arations are being made to form
local. Some Roadway is also being
made in Buffalo and Cleveland
while in Duluth the rank and file
of the International Longshoremen's
Association constantly bring forward
the program Of the M.W.IU.
Prepare for Conference
In preparation for the National
Marine Workers Conference, which
will be held in Baltimore. Septem-
Der l, 2 and g. r. B. Hudson is
making national tour and will
hold meetings in Buffalo and
Cleveland on the Doth, Chicago on
the 2ist, Snd Duluth on the 22nd.
Following this he will make tour
of the West Coast and the Gulf re-
turning to the East Coast in July.
Great Lakes Regional Conference
In preparation for the National
Conference and to stimulate the or
ganizational drive on the Great
Lakes, a regional conference will be
held in Cleveland, June 80 and
July l. At this conference demands
covering all sections of the marine
industry on the Great Lakes will be
drafted and date set for the pres
entation Of the demands. Prepara-
tory to the regional conference, port
conferences are being arranged CO.
inciding with Comrade Hudson's
tour.
Unity in the Steel Strike
The marine workers on the Great
Lakes have actively participated in
the United Front preparations for
the steel strike. A large percentage
Of the marine workers employed on
the Great Lakes are employed
aboard ore boats. and steps are be-
ing prepared for action on these
boats in support Of the steel strike.
In two months the progress Of
t he Marine Workers Industrial
Union on the Lakes has shown that
the Union is here to stay Forward
to fighting united front Of all
marine workers.