Evening star., 1941-09-24
Seamen Take Lead
To Release Is Ships
Tied Up by Strike
Aircraft Muchinists
Authorize WoIkout,
But Ask for Mediation


California military aircraft factory
posed a new and pressing problem
for Federal conciliators.
John Hawk, secretary of Sea-
farers, announced in New York that
membership meetings were being
held this morning to discuss releas-
ing the vessels.
"As long as the Maritime Com
mission has stepped out" Mr.. Hawk
said. "the sensible thing to do is
to put the men back on the ships
and release them, and then let the
Mediation Board handle the dis
pute.''
The New York local, first to an
nounce its vote, acceded to Presl-
dent Roosevelt's request to return
to work, stipulating, however, that
the members would not board the
ships in New York Harbor until the
13 other locals had accepted a Gov
ernment proposal to return to work
pending negotiation OF the dispute,
At the same time, the Sailors
Union of the Pacific GA. F. L. which
had tied up three OF the SHIPS IN
New York harbor announced that
its membership had voted to release
the vessels at noon today. Ihe
Marine Firemen, Oilers and water
Tenders Union, associated with the
S, L. P, took similar action.
Dispute Over War Bonus.
hNnl1c rates
vas referred yesterday by Secretary
of Labor Perkins to the Defense
Mediation Board, after efforts of
the Maritime Commission to COM
pose differences between the union
and the Ship-oWning companies
failed. Union men accused the Mari
time Commission of anti-labor tao
tics.
The Mediation Board asked strik-
ers to return to work, advising both
union and ship owners that the YES
sells were "vitally and Immediately
needed for the transportation OF de-
fense materials"
The new strike threat was directed
against the Consolidated Aircraft
Corp. at San Diego, Calf, holding
s750,O0O.00O worth of orders for
bombers, placed by the United
States, Britain and her allies.
The International Association Of
Machinists GA. F. L. announced
last night that 98.8 per cent of the
membership at the plant had au-
thorized a strike to enforce demands
for increased wages. The union
asked a blanket increase of 10 cents
an hour for all employees not affected
by previously agreed-upon increases
in the minimum scales for begin
lerS. And the union has turned
down a company offer to raise the
minimum from 55 cents-65 cents to
60 cents-75 cents, the rates varying
with experience.
Hopes to Avert Strike.
George Castleman, general vice
president of the union, saw the
strike authorization as disposing OF
formalities necessary for certifca-
ton of the dispute to the Nationa.
Defense Mediation Board. He sale
he felt the board would sustain oul
position and make strike unneces-
sary."
The strike of A. F. L. seamen fol
higher war bonuses began 10 days
ago. The last ship to be tied up was
the Alcoa Pilgrim when it docked al
Mobile. Ala.
At his press conference yesterday
President Roosevelt asserted that
the tied-up vessels have got to move;
they must not remain idle. He an
nounced that the dispute had beer
referred to the Mediation Board.
A hearing in the case was set fol
Monday in Washington.
Appeal to Strikers.
The board telegram, signed BY
Chairman William H. Davis, said, II
part:
The ships now tied up as result
Of this dispute are vitally and i'm
mediately needed for the transporta-
ton of defense materials.
with complete confidence in the
loyalty and patriotism of the strik.
ing members and officials of the
Sailors Union of the Pacific anc
the Seafarers' International Union
the National Defense Mediation
Board calls upon them to return
to and operate the ships pending
the boards consideration of thi.
dispute"
The A. F. L. Seafarers' Interna
tional, meanwhile, balloted on tht
question of a general walkout which
would affect 10000 men and tie ur
the vessels of 25 lines.
The strikers are seeking a S60-a
month bonus for trips to the Wes
Indies and increases in the presen
bonuses (Which vary widely paic
for voyages into war zones.
A G. I. o. strike yesterday halteC
operations at Springfield (Ohio
plant of the International Harveste
Co, where $500 employees have beer
building trucks, some of them TO
the Army.
The union, which recently wa
granted bargaining rights at tn
plant, halted work after negotia
tions toward a contract had col
lapsed. Among the demands wer
closed shop, the checkoff, pai
vacations, a blanket 10-cents-an
hour wage increase and a minimum
hourly scale of IS to IS cents 70
beginners. The present wage seal
was not disclosed.
A delegation from 10000 strikin
Pennsylvania anthracite miners wa
expected in Washington today t
confer with John L. Lewis, presider
of the C. I. o. United Mine Worker
on disputed increases in union due
and assessments. Miners in tn
unions District quit work in pre-
test to an increase from 81 to SIS
month in district union due
and a boost from 50 to S6 yea
in international assessments.
Navy Projects Stand Still.
Construction on two naval d,
fense projects at Key West, Fla
remained at a standstill today a
though 200 carpenters and lahore