Evening star., 1946-09-13
C|O Seamen Strike for Parity
In Wages as Stee|man Formula
Brightens Hope for Settlement
One Pacific Union
Ready to Return;
Ports Still Tied Up
By jones Y. Newton

Although CIO seamen Joined
the great maritime strike today,
prospects for early resumption of
American shipping definitely
were brighter as it appeared that
the Government formula for
boosting maritime pay and end
ing the strike was working.
The Sailors Union of the Pacific,
larger of the two AFL seamen
unions which started the nine-day-
old strike, ended it stoppage at mid
night, while the other, the Sea-
farers International Union, awaited
only written assurances" of higher
pay before following suit.
Nevertheless, the situation at all
of the Nations great ports remained
the same-completely tied up.
Federal officials here were going
through the formality of extending
to CIO sailors a way to receive wage
boosts of the same size given AFL
seamen. The Maritime Commission
met at 10 am, with ship operators
employing CIO personnel, and its
labor relations director, j. Godfrey
Butler, said he assumed the COM
mission will approve recommenda-
ton that wage increases be ex-
tended the CIO.
CIO Strike Extension Expected.
The CIO National Maritime Union
began its strike early today in New
York and on the West Coast to per-
suade employers to extend AFL
wages to them. It was expected the
strike would be extended to other
ports by noon. A statement by NMU
President Joseph Curran said his
10000 men were hitting the bricks"
because of deliberate creation Of
inequities which result in different
rates of pay for men doing the same
work on the same types OF ships"
New York members of the NMU
formalized strike action in mass
meeting at Manhattan Center this
morning Although the strike actu-
ally was in effect earlier, the New
York locals set noon as the formal
start.
We will go on strike until the ship
owners agree in writing to wipe out
all wage differences" said Mr.. Cur
ran, after successfully urging men,
bers to vote a walkout. I'VE won't go
back until all seamen have parity in
wages"
There had been no intention OF
the Government to deny the higher
wages to the CIO and they probably
would have received 1t without a
strike.
Cost Must Be Absorbed.
For the CIO seamen to receive
the higher pay, their employers
must agree to absorb the increased
cost on their own ships-just as the
Pacific American Ship Owners AS
sociation did. The Government will
foot the bill for higher pay on ships
that it owns which are operated
under contract by private COM
panies.
Harry Lundeberg, West Coast
leader of the AFL seamen, called
off the strike when the Pacific op-
orators agreed to terms of the Gov
ernment formula.
This formula was worked out by
Reconversion Director Steelman in
his other role as Stabilization direc-
tor. It's announcement came from
the White House late yesterday aft
er President Truman told newsmen
a basis for ending the maritime tie
up had been arrived at.
Board Repudiated, Green Says.
Meanwhile, AFL President Will
liam Green demanded the reSigna-
ton of the two public and two
industry members of the Wage
Stabiliaztion Board, which twice re-
fused approval of the employer
indorsed higher pay to AFL seamen
Gee n6ApTT,TN6E poco hQl