Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1946-06-12
Offer Rejected
byShipUnions,
Long, Bitter Strike
Seen by Curron if
Demand Is Refused

Frank j. Taylor, a spokesman
for the ship operators in the
threatened maritime strike, re-
ported today that the unions in
volved have rejected new
compromise Offer on the work
week for seamen.
Adding to the ominous note
Joseph Curran, president of the CIO
National Maritime Union, said "a
long and bitter strike" will begin
Friday midnight, as scheduled, un-
less the seamen's work-week is cut
or their pay increased.
Despite the tenor of these state
ments Federal labor officials gen.
orally were optimistic over the pro-
spects for heading off the strike.
Both Mr.. Taylor and Mr.. Curran
appeared before a House labor sub
committee.
Charges Lack of Sincerity.
Mr.. Taylor, chairman of the
negotiating committee for the
Atlantic and Gulf coast shippers,
said the operators proposed to give
the seamen day off with pay for
each week worked at sea.
Yet this new offer was turned
down by the NMU," Mr.. Taylor tes-
titled
ut is thus quite apparent that
the unions plea that the present
work week (of Sc hours generality is
inhumanly' long and should be
shortened lacks sincerity" he con-
tlnued. The union is perfectly
willing for its men to continue
working these hours if they receive
extra compensation"
Would Accept Arbitration.
Mr.. Taylor added that perhaps
Uncle Sam may be able to afford
these new costs proposed by the
unionO but private industry finds
them prohibitive."
He also declared that the oper-
ators still are willing to submit the
entire controversy to arbitration.
but the unions won't agree.
Mr.. Curran was critical of both
President Truman and Navy officers
for statements that the Navy would
run the ships if the maritime work.
ers refuse to do so.
Says Stand Was Not Helpful.
The Presidents position was not
helpful to negotiations, Mr.. Curran
cir,
to Navy officials.
The NMU chief also said the sea-
men were not hopeful OF getting any
better settlement in the controversy
from the Government than from the
ship operators.
Mr.. Curran said repeatedly that
all the maritime workers want is
the same consideration as any
other citizen" in wages and hours
matters. He said that at present
seamen are exempted from Federal
wage and hour provisions.
He also spoke out bitterly against
what he called a lack of protection
for maritime workers during the
war.
"GI Bill" for Seamen Planned.
He said that such workers who
were injured received none of the
benefits accorded members of the
armed forces.
At this point, Representative
Buck, Republican, of New York in
terposed to say that the House Mer-
chant Marine Committee will ap-
prove soon "GI bill or rights for
maritime workers."
Mr.. Curran commented that I'VE
have been working for this bill for
years and I hope you are right"
Although Government concili-
ators, who have worked day and
night on the dispute, were tight
Tipped, there were definite hopeful
signs the walkout could be averted.
Behind the optimism, apparently,
was the fact that a plan for paying
cash bonuses to seamen for their
long work week had been received
with some favor.
New Conference Today.
Labor Department mediators met
with union representatives and ship
operators separately into last night
and resumed hearings today after
the appearance of Mr.. Taylor and
Mr.. Curran on Capitol Hill.
The chief stumbling block to set
tlement still was the demand of the
seagoing unions for a reduction to
"A hours of their 56-hour work week
at sea.
1t was understood that the Govern
ment plan received with some favor
called for continuation of the seven
day, 56-hour week at sea, but pro-
vlded for payment of an extra days
wages for each week. That would be
equivalent to working the seventh
day each week at double the regular
rate.
While officials were hopeful of a
break, spokesman for the Committee
for Maritime Unity, the CIO-
dominated group which has called
the strike, said arrangements for the
stoppage had gone so far it would
be difficult to head it off now even
| II a settlement is reached