Evening star., 1946-08-25
NMU Sailors Ordered
To Return 10 Ships Of
Second Lakes Carrier
BY the Associoied Press

BY the Associofed Press
DETROIT, Aug. 24-The CLIO
National Maritime Union announced
tonight that an agreement with a
second Great Lakes carrier, the
Bethlehem Transportation Co. of
New York, has been ratified by the
union membership affected.
Joseph Stack, NMU vice presi-
dent. directed employees of eight
strike bound Bethlehem ships to
report to work at once. The agree
ment, he said, Is similar to one with
Standard Oil Co. Of Indiana. shaw
ing from to IL hours from the
sailors work week.
simultaneously Mr.. Stack re-
quested union officials at the scenes
to call meetings In an effort to get
more than 1000 striking car ferry
men back on their jobs.
Negotiations under the Railway
Labor Act will be conducted as soon
as work has been resumed, Mr..
Stack said. He added that he had
received assurance Of no discrimi-
nation against strikers from opera
tors of the 20 ferries on Lake Michi-
gan and the Detroit River-the Pere
Marquette, Grand Trunk, Wabash
& Ann Arbor Railroads.
Other Developments.
Other developments during the
day as reported by Mr.. Stack:
l. Leaders Of CIO groups in Du-
luth, Mimi, threatened general
strike unless the City Council gives
assurance of no more police terror"
against NMU pickets. Violence
marked the strike at Duluth several
days ago.
2. Of1icials of the CIO United
Auto Workers at Toledo pledged to
furnish 100 additional pickets in
that city Monday.
Four large windows in the assem-
bly, hall Of the Lake Carriers Asso-
c1ation In Cleveland were broken
last night when pieces Of Stag were
hurled through them, police re-
ported today. The hall has been
used for hiring crews during the
strike.
The association announced that
only 80 Of its 316 vessels now were
strikebound.
No Strike Demands.
The association, which represents
SO companies operating 80 per cent
Of the lake fleet. said the NMU had
been certified as collective bar
gaining agent for only six OF these
concerns.
mo strike demands have been
made upon these Al companies and
they are In nowise involved in ne
gotiations with respect to wages,
hours and working conditions" the
association added.
Throughout the day reports cir
culated Of imminent settlement of
the 10-day-old strike with other
carriers. Mr. Stack said radio time
has been purchased in four cities
to "counteract ship owner propa-
ganda that the strike is over" and
urge that there be no "Iet-up' in
the strike effort.
Tanker Talks Called.
Discussions between three tanker
companies and the NMU opened at
Cleveland today and will continue
in Detroit tomorrow. These COM
panies are the Cleveland Tankers.
Inc; Lake Tankers Corp. and the
Great Lakes Transport Co.-the
concerns which this week filed
damage suits totaling $425 900
against the NMU and its oficers,
charging the strike violated their
contracts.
Union headquarters announced
that plans are underway for meet
ings early next week with the
Nicholson Transit Co. and Ford
Motor Co. in Detroit and the Jupiter
Co. and Interstate Co. in Cleve-
land.
In each case, the NMU will ask
that the carriers accept the pat
tern" contract signed with Standard
Oil OF Indiana, providing for a work
week of 48 hours at sea and A
hours in port.
The present work week on the
lakes is 56 hours and the union
struck August Is in demand for
a 40 hour week.