Evening star., 1946-06-10
MARITIME Probe
Ito Be Pushed by
House Group
Efforts to Avert Strike
Appear DeodIocked,
Kelley Declares

Kelley Declares ,
Representative Kelley, Demo-
crat, of Pennsylvania today said
ne Is going ahead with plans to
work out a congressional solu-
tlop OF the maritime dispute now
that other Federal media ton at
tempts appear deadlocked.
Mr.. Kelley, chairman of the SUBJ
committee on labor-management,
said his group had held off hearings
hoping the Labor Department could
work out settlement.
I'VE had hoped for a settlement
by tomorrow, but now that it looks
like there will be nothing coming
out OF the Labor Department nego-
tlations we feel that we should get
busy right away" Mr.. Kelley said.
The deadline for the strike Is
getting right on us"
To Open Hearings Tomorrow.
seven unions affiliated with the
C1O-dominated Committee for Mar
itlme Unity have set a strike date
Tor midnight Friday in behalf Of
their demands, principally for a
reduction in the present 56-hour
work week for seamen.
Mr.. Kelley said his COMMITTEES
will open hearings tomorrow with
testimony from either Joseph Cur
ran, president of the CIO National
Maritime Union. or Harry Bridges,
head of the CIO International
Longshoreman's and Warehouse
mems Union. They are co-chair-
men of GNU. Another witness will
be Joseph Selly, president of the
! C1O American Communications
Association.
Union preparations for the strike
went into high gear today after the
National Maritime Union rejected
a proposal to give seamen shore
leave with pay.
Operators Accept Proposal.
This suggestion first was put for
ward by Labor Department concil-
lators as possible way to break the
] deadlock over the length of the
Work-Week at sea.
The idea was to give one day or
Shore leave for every IA days at sea,
and keep the present 56-hour week
hours day, 7 days a week.
Eastern ship operators accepted
the suggestion last night and form
ally offered it as a proposal in a
negotiating session which lasted
until after midnight.
), But the union, which is demand
ing 44-hour week. rejected the
idea as impractical, and then
proposed exploration of other ways
OF meeting its demands" according
to a Labor Department announce
ment. - y-..r.-... s.
Last-Minute Accord Possible.
another session was scheduled af
2 pm. today. ~
1t became more likely that If the
walkout is to be avoided at all. the
settlement will come at the last
moment
The strike of seamen and dock
workers is scheduled at 1901 am.
,, Saturday, local time.
; Mr.. Curran's National Maritime
Union served notice yesterday in a
strike policy statement that un-
less ship operators offer a shorter
work week, the strike can't be
avoided
Setting Up Soup Kitchens.
Then the 40-man national council
OF the union, which unanimously
approved the statement here, scat
tered to their ports and began set
ting up soup kitchens and taking
other strike measures.
we are almost sure to hit the
bricks Friday night" said an officer
of the union in Philadelphia, Thomas
Carolan. I'VE are not very hopeful
of settlement"
Today. in addition to the new
negotiating session, Mr.. Curran. Mr.,
Bridges and Mr.. Selly were to visit
CiO President Philip Murray. They
Will report on the maritime dispute
and probably ask for CIO express
sion of support.
Mr.. Selly told a reporter he has
been invited to testify at an open
nearing before House Labor Sub
, committee tomorrow. and that either
Mr.. Bridges or Mr.. Curran also was
expected to appear. The subcom-
mlttee, investigating the maritime
labor crisis, is headed by Repre-
sentative Kelley, Democrat, of Penn
, Sylvania
i NMU Policy Statement.
The policy statement by the NMU
I declared:
4 !. If the present attitude of the
snip operators continues, the union
). acting jointly with the other unions
in the GNU will have mo alterna-
tive" but to strike.
;, 2. Mr.. Curran's union rejects any
suggestion of fact-finding, arbitra-
tion or interim agreements because
they are only schemes" used as
"stalling tactics to dissipate the
energies of the workers"
I 3. The union now is serving its
demands-for a shorter workweek.
| (See MARITIME, Page A-5J
lA..s hlsI r.