Evening star., 1946-09-08
New York Tug Crews Join Strike>
lmperi|ing Citys Food and Fuel;
AFL Hits Talk Of General WaIkout
Port tAeent's PIon
Called Ridiculous
ByUnion Chieftuin
BY jones Y. Newton


tugboats in New York harbor
Joined the Nation wide mari
time strike yesterday, imperil-
ing the city'S food and fuel sup
plies. An AFL spokesman termed
ridiculous" the threat of an
AFL maritime union leader to
call for a general strike of all
American labor.
While strike-induced chaos pre-
vailed at most of the Nations great
ports, the tugboat walkout posed
the gravest sort of problem for New
York's teeming millions. The tugs
normally bring in about 80 per cent
Of the city's fuel and half of it's
food supplies.
The general strike threat came
from Paul Hall New York port
agent of the AFL Seafarers In
ternatlonal Union, who said: IF
the Government 'fnks' (moves) any
of our ships, as it has threatened
to do. We will call on all organized
labor to come out with U.S."
Pearl Derides Statement.
Philip Pearl, AFL information di-
rector, declared of the Hall state
ment: This scarehead of a gen.
eral strike threat is ridiculous on
its face and has no basis in fact
He said Labor Department officials
had assured him that the Govern
ment does not plan to operate the
ships and pointed out that Mr.. Hall
is only a local union official.
AFL President William Green
was not available for comment. In
Chicago, Philip Murray, CIO head.
said i wouldn't have any COM
ment on a thing like that"
Meanwhile, top Federal officials
here worked feverishly to find
way to end the strike which began
Thursday. Apparently. they are
relying on the finding of a COM
promise acceptable to the unions in
the wage dispute
Only about 10000 members of the
AFL Seafarers Union and its |
branch, the Sailors Union of the
Pacific, are involved in the dispute.
However, the rest of organized mari
time labor-about 100000 workers of
a score of unions-is idle either be-
ause of sympathy with the stop
age or a refusal to cross picket
ines.
Omcials indicated there had been
discussion of the possible use of
he armed forces to operate some of
ne estimated $500 ships that are
led up, but it was indicated that |
j. has not been considered seriously |
o far. The discussion involved only
hips needed to supply overseas
roops and similar emergency situ-
ltions.
Chief Government reliance for a |
way out of the dilemma was placed |
on the effort to persuade Harry /
Lundeberg. chief of the AFL sailors
union, to call off the strike so that
a satisfactory settlement of the
wage problem can be reached in
conferences it is planned to hold
here.
Hold Two Conferences.
Phillip Hannah. special emissary
of Secretary of Labor Schwellen-
bach, held two conferences with
Mr.. Lundeberg in San Francisco
yesterday and last night. He re-
ported to the Secretary that the
lirst session was merely pre-
lminary."
Edgar L. Warren. head of the de-
partment's Cancellation Service,
told newSmen that a break in the
strike was not in sight although he
was hopeful of a. favorable develop
ment by tomorrow.
Mr.. Hannah, assistant secretary
of labor, is trying to persuade Mr..
Lundeberg to attend a re-hearing
of the maritime wage issue which
the National Wage Sterilization
Board has set for Tuesday. So far,
the sailors leader has fatty re-
jected the idea, demanding that the
board reverse its ruling which led
to the strike.
Adjustment was Trimmed.
The stabilization board two weeks
ago trimmed to s1750 month, the
adjustment given earlier to CIO
sailors, a wage increase AFL sea-
men won from ship operators rang
ing from $3.50 to s2750 a month.
WSB ruled the higher pay hikes
inf1ationary. It's decision, however,
came nearly two months after the
agreement was signed. That added
TO the sailors ire.
Union tugboat crews in New
(See MARITIME, Page A-4J