The chronicle-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1920-1941, 1941-03-14
Shipyard Riggers
Walkout Reaches Serious
Proportions, Delaying Work
President Monro Lanier State
Pascagoula Yard May Be
Forced To Close. Hating
Defense Shipbuilding Pro-
gram

Defense Shfpbuftdfng FRO
gram
Federal labor eoncislators err m
terredlne In the strike q TIE fnEalk
Shlpyara metal trade rigEern 81
pssragculn. The associations are
being conaucted BY Bryce p. Hod-
eonbe. eeseliiator. vfa has been
n c1ntArt with officials a the
American Federation q Labor. with
whom THE Triggers are affiliated, and
officials a the Ingalls, Company at
Birmingham.
The rlgKers walked of from their
JOBS at ne yards Monday At noon
The osflcias Of the labor union
stated that there are $50 men tn
VOWED tn tine strike. However. r.
I ingalls,. 6r. chairman Of the
ingalls, Shipbutlding Corporation
stated At Birmingham, Monday
night. that only 50 men we're af-
fected.
The ringers stated that the strike
vas called because of alleged i'm
proper recognition b the company
84AA a. RA0t&34 AM0AAaA AAAEL4 AlNLl3
Of work working conditions and two
years Of alleged discrimination
against their trade.
The ingalls, officials claim that
the r1ggers we're included In 9 con-
tract with the boilermakers Union
OF the American Federation Of
Labor metal trades department. but
added that the riggers want . sepa-
rate contract
Although the progress IN equip
ping the two ships at the yard =
being hnpeded By the strike. no
other departments are effected IN
the controversy and other work Is
going or Is usual ingalls, officials
branded the strike a lurtsdictional
Threatens Shutdown
Monro d Lanier. president Of tke
ingalls, ShipbuildinR Company
charged the striking employees
with -unwarranted interference
sith the National defense program
and that the work On AL ships ~
the plant would be forced 70 halt
unless the striking Triggers and cree
tors return 70 their jobs promptly.
mo steel has been erected on the
ships since the walkout and each
day the riggers and erectors are cut
represents nj days delay In deltv-
cry Of 10 ships including those 70
be Laid down after the launching
Of the ships now on the ways. Nj.
Ianier said.
He pointed out that these sims
include -four large combat vessels
for the United States Navy. Other
vessels are being built for the U. o
Maritime Commission and are pro-
duced to strengthen Americas mer-
chant marine fleet
Denying the company is or has
been" q party TO any lurtsdictonal
dispute between the unions. LAuier
stated that the company was bound
under the existing contract With
the metal trades department. as well
as the Wagner act, IN accord
ance with certtficatiun OF the Ma
tional Labor Relations Board, 70
negotiate with the committee Of the
Metal Trades Department. affiliated
With the American Federation Of
Labor as the sole bargaining agent,
IN respect 70 wages. working con-
ditions and hours OF work.
Cannot Cemply
Therefore" continued Lanier.
The demands Of the riggers and
erectors. members OF the newly Or
eantzed local GIT Of the Iron Work
ers. that . separate contract be ne
gotiated with them covering the
aforesaid condition cannot be legal
y complied with"
Lanier charged that the publish
ed statement that the riegers and
eEectors were striking for higher
wages and recognition on account Of
Two years discrimination against
them appears Inconsistent" He
added. this Illegal strike is serious
" affecting progress Of work on the
yard.
He said an addendun TO the con-
tract between the company and the
metal trades department Of July :
1910, was negotiated and executed
on February 10. 1871 between the
company aro the metal trades CON-
mittee. This addendum was pre-
pared he continued. by the com
mittee and witnessed b signatures
Of the representatives of the unions
specifying the crafts which they
represent. Rlggers ard erectors
we're classified under the boiler
makers craft IN the amendment %
the contract submitted By the metal
trades committee"
The company president gave
basic rates for the boIlermakeu
craft. including rigeeFs and erectoxs.
- follows.
FrSf-class mechanics. a6 cents
per hour second-class mechanics.
s6 cents al hour; Especial apprenf-
ICES rates for this craft start at ST
cents per hour. advancing after TIE
first six months period % 81 cents.
TIE third stx months period 70 II
cents; and the fourth six months
period % S. centsJ
Lanier said IL was further agreec
nat the employees nov receiving
s<ep-ups " rates intermediate %
those specified IN ne special ap-
prentice schedules VIII be advanced
= the next highest rates shown L
the schedule not later than me end
a AZ six months period from tnezr
Ast promotion O step-ap In rate.
Called Out 0zhzEs
Tie Ingalls, company statement
says that N addition 70 calling CT
the rtggerx and erec1orx enRaeed Ia
GtpbUicllE Hork. Ben Murray.
general Fiee-uex1enl uf the Iusn
Workers. called oft TIE building
trades efeetoTx Of the steel eonauue-
TIN company. engaged Il emery
eney construction q TIE Uufte1
States nzFy facilities
In connection with ne strfkeax
effect O national defense. Lantsr
asd TGe hss Of national defense
An5r time - employees - the com-
Wny and sabeontraetoz oocastoae4