The Wilmington morning star., 1943-06-06
BY WEsTBROOK PEGLER

been strongly organized for many years and
the unions run the country now by telephoned
orders to Prime Minister Curtin but our people
have only a vague notion of the power OF
the Australian unioneer. That the longshore-
men Of a country SO close under the guns
of the Jap, which is crying to Americans to
help stand off the conquest, would refuse to
umloao American military cargo because of
rain or qWbble over jurisdictional union ques-
! tions is almost incredible but true, neverthe-
less.
| For proof of this let us not take the word
Of any enemy OF labor, pro-Nazi or appeaser.
Let us, instead, refer to two American union
publications, The Voice, the official organ of
the marine cooks and stewards, and The Pi-
lot, which expresses the personality and pro-
communist politics of Joseph Curran, presi-
dent of the national maritime union.
Both belong to the CIO.
1t would be well for Americans to read
more of the union papers. They are, to be
sure, abusive, often illiterate, always untruth-
full and, in many cases, rackets, but they do
convey, unwittingly, information which can
not be found elsewhere.
In The Voice of last Dec. 9, one comes upon
a small item published with great satisfac-
ton by the cooks and stewards because it
compliments the union crew of an American
vessel and particularly the chief steward, for
helping in the discharge of cargo. 1t consists
of letter from an American major in Aus
trdlia to the captain of an American merchant
snip and says:
Il desire to express my deep appreciation
Ct the very excellent cooperation of yourself
ycur officers and crew in connection with the
employment of military personnel in discharg-
ing your vessel, in order to avoid the other
Wise dangerous delay which would have been
cccasioned by the refusal of civilian long
shoremen to work during the recent heavy
rains. This assistance rendered by Chief Stew
ard Deering in arranging to feed a large
number of soldiers short notice and that
of the bos'n in acting as winch-dri is
particularly commendable. It is teamwork
like this that will help our country to win
the war. Yours very truly, H. R. Hernung,
Major, Aus. ATS
But could it be that lot of husky Aus
tralian longshoremen those rough and hardy
giants, those staggering knights of Labor
with an upper-case L. who boast of their
physical endurance, would refuse to handle
military shipment because of rainfall that
American kids were able to endure?
That's what the item says, and in CIO
publication. I'm order to avoid the otherwise
dangerous delay which would have been oc-
casioned by the refusal of civilian longshore-
men to work during the recent heavy rains"
That might mean that they refused to work
for considerable time during the rainy sea-
son but we know they did this time anyway
and that a dangerous delay might have
resulted. The delay might have cost Aus
tralian and American lives. 1t might have
cost the lives of Australian women and chill
dren.
That is not merely possible, but So For
verication of that let us consult "a letter
from T. Healy secretary of the Australian
Waterslde workers federation, published in
me Pilot. Mr. Healy says labor conditions
If Australia do not "materially' prolong the
turn-around of vessels and blames inefficient
loading, faulty planning and the lack of heavy
gear on the piers and quayS, for which latter
he scolds the employers. However, where
neavy gear does not exist there was no pre- |
war need for it in an undeveloped and sparsely
settled country And even if it had been in
stalled the Australian longshoremen might
nave refused to use it efficiently or at all,
considering the fact that in San Francisco
their countrynan, Harry Bridges, still pre-
vents the full use OF much highly efficient
machinery and many short cuts because
they eat up the work too fast.
Mr.. Healy says:
'"The only time lost which can be attributed
to the wharf workers is that lost for smoke
obs or breaks because of rain. 1t is not the
practice to work during the heavy rain unless
covers and protection are provided. Employ
ers have hesitated to do this in the past be-
cause of the cost involved.'
Smoke-ohs apparently are smoking periods |
and MIR. Healy says the day workers talqe
half hour and the night workers full hour |
for this purpose and thinks this improves ef-
ficiency.
Attempts have been made by American
people here to use American soldiers and |
IN two cases, we agreed to a number of
soldiers receiving training on the wharf prior
to their proceeding to- the battle area''
we might read that again. too The Aus
trahan dockers' union kindly let American
soldiers practice their docks so that they
could handle cargo in the fighting zone where
the union longshoremen won't be going. But
mr. Healy says it has been necessary ''to
take a firm stand against the employment
OF soldier labor on American vessels to the
exclusion of civilian labor"
General Macarthur has agreed with the
uhlors contention and has given assurances
IN the matter but there are some Junior Of
ficers Qabor baiters, no doubt who are still
desirous of putting this policy into operation
and we have to be constantly alert to prevent
the use of American forces"
-V---
When total objectives are less than can be /
achieved under maximum pressure, then we
are not mobilizing our full resources On the
other hand, if the detectives are too far be-
yond what can be attained, then all kinds
of unevenness and lack of balance are sure
to develop.-WPB Vice Chairman William L. /
Bait.