The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1934-09-14
N. Y. Seamen Fight
For NeaO Wage Scale
Communist Party and Marine Workers Industrial
Union Issue Statements Pushing Demands
as Ryan Maneuvers to Block Struggle

NEW YORK.-Action to win a
new wage scale of 81 an hour for
30-hour week and a 6-hour day
is being taken by rank and file
longshoremen on the leading docks
of the Eastern Coast, while Joseph
P. Ryan, president of the Interna-
tional Longshoremen's Association,
is attempting to block real strug-
gle for higher wages through nego-
t1ating with the shipowners.
Ryan, forced by the tremendous
resentment of the men to propose
the program adopted by the recent
Baltimore conference of longshore-
men, is seeking through protracted
negotiation to white the demands
down, leaving the men in the same
situation as before.
The New York District Bureau
of the Communist Party, realizing
the purpose of Ryan's negotiations,
yesterday issued an urgent call to
all its members and sympathizers 10
organize immediate rank and file
actions and committees to see that
the new wage scale is won from
the employers.
Rank and File Militancy
Pointing out that the work of the
rank and file and the Communists
on the waterfront will be decisive
in winning the new wage scale, the
Communist Party statement de-
clares:
"a situation now exists among
the New York longshoremen which
represents the most urgent strategic
task Immediately confronting our
Party and mass organizations in
this district.
"The statement of the Rank and
File Action Committee of the Inter-
national Longshoremen's Associa-
ton giving the demands worked out
by the Baltimore Marine Unity
Conference, and suggesting inlme-
date steps for action, gives the
background of this situation.
Around the demands and proposals
contained in this statement and
around the question of the new
wage and working agreement which
is now being negotiated by Ryan,
there is taking place widespread
discussion among the masses of the
longshoremen. The sentiment of the
longshoremen is characterized by:
Wages and Conditions Bad
"(a) Deep-going discomfort with
wages and working conditions
which have worsened considerably
during the past year;
cob General distrust and hatred
of the corrupt and treacherous lead
ership of Ryan;
"(c) Growing will to struggle
both against the bosses and Ryan
for better agreement, trade union
democracy, etc.
1.-THE existence of this sentiment
is indicated by the fact that Ryan
has been compelled, due to rank
and file pressure, to put forward as
maneuver the demand for the
same wage scale ($1 per hour-$1 so
for overtime-30-hou week., as
that adopted by the Baltimore Con-
ference.
"AIl Of these factors making for
struggle have been greatly strength
ened in the recent period by the
example and lessons of the great
West Coast strike.
Concentration Industry
'The marine industry is a basic
concentration industry in our dis
trict. And the longshoremen-over
$1,000 of them-are a key strata of
workers in this industry. A struggle
of the New York longshoremen
would Gas the Frisco strike demon
strateO stir the entire working
class of the city, would lift the class
struggle, the Party and the revolu-
tionary mass organizations to new
high level. The strengthening of
the Party's base among the long
shoremen means solid step to-
ward the Bolshevization of the
Party.
"Our district is here confronted
with a specific and concrete oppor-
tunity to carry through in practice
the line of the Open Letter and
Eighth Convention of our Party,
which placed as one of our central
and decisive tasks the work in the
marine industry.
Urge Active Aid
1.-THE District Bureau demands
the maximum mobilization at once
Of all forces and resources for sup
port Of the program of the Rank
and File Action Committee of the
International Longshoremen's As
ISOLATION, for carrying through our
four weeks plan of marine con-
centration work, for building of the
Party and Daily Worker on the