The Wrangell sentinel., 1935-02-15
LONGSHOREMEN STRIKES RAISE
 FREIGHT RATES

Freight costs at Wrangell will be increased if plans now under consideration by the Northland Transportation company and the Alaska Steamship company are car ried out. The increase will be caused through the recent long shore strike at Juneau
 On January 27, the Longshore- mems union at Juneau, which or ganization was issued several months ago a charter by the h. ternational Longshoremen's asso- citation, declared a strike, demand ing Seattle scale of wages of 95 cents per hour straight time and $1 40 per hour overtime, the overtime rate applying during Sun days and holidays and between the hours of 5 pm. and am. This is in accordance with the award handed down by the National Longshoremen's Board under date of October 12, 1894, but was ap- plicable only to Pacific Coast ports in the United States
 Steamship companies resisted this strike on the premise that. first, the award was not applicable to the Territory of Alaska; second, that there had always been a diff ferential as between rates paid for longshoremen in Seattle and in Alaska ports; and third, that the strike was unauthorized. The dis trict secretary of the ILA wired to the local secretary of the long shoremen's union at Juneau at the commencement of the strike advis- ing him the strike was unauthor- ized and that full responsibility therefor rested with the local union.
 The steamship operators took the united stand that demands or grievances of the local longshore union should be arbitrated before the Federal Regional Labor board for the Northwest Territory locat- ed at Seattle, in accordance with federal machinery set up for such purpose This the local union at Juneau steadfastly refused to do, reversing their original position that the strike was authorized and claiming that the district office of the ILA at Seattle had no juris- diction over their situation.
 All efforts to work the ships at Juneau were unsuccessful, The Yukon was successful only in dis charging perishables and small amount of freight destined to an outside dock there and departed to westward ports with Juneau dry freight aboard, T he Northland Transportation company attempted to work the Northland under po- lice and guard protection but this was frustrated by the strikers. It, therefore, became evident that the longshoremen backed by the Min CTS union and other favorable con- ditions had the situation well un- der control.
 The strike was finally terminat- ed on February by the dock oper- ators agreeing to meet wage de- mands and assess an additional handling charge of 75 cents per ton to cover additional expense Of trucking and handling freight from ships tackle to point of rest in the warehouse. In other words, steam ship operators have been relieved of lopgshore problems by inaugu- rating ships tackle delivery. From there, it becomes the responsibtl1- ty of the dock operators to handle, sort and deliver freight and collect handling and wharfage charges. The city council at Juneau played A major part in effecting settle ment on this basis and it is report ed that the arrangement is sat1s- factory to merchants and shippers at Juneau.
 So far, the regulations have not applied to the smaller ports such as Wrangell, Petersburg and Sitka, but it is understood that the steamship companies contemplate extending the change in the near future, particularly should labor agitation spread to these ports.
 Tn the past steamship employees have delivered freight into the warehouse where it is received by dock operators, classified and stored for delivery. If delivered at ships tackle the freight is left on the dock and becomes at once the responsibility of dock operators from that point. The additional handling charge which was set at 75 cents per ton in Juneau will probably be the rate at all other ports. In tte end it is paid by the