Evening star., 1947-06-19
81 Raise 10 End
East and Gulf
Ship Strikes
Three Unions Agree
With SO Firms, West
Expected to Follow
By III. Asseeiosed Press

NEW YORK, June 19.-Nego-
tiating committees for three
maritime unions and 80 East and
Gulf Coast shippers reached an
agreement early today for settle
ment of the shipping tieup on
those coasts on the basis of a
5 per cent wage increase.
The settlement agreement, an
nounced at 2:40 am. by John w.
Gibson, Assistant Secretary of La
Dor, would benefit 10000 seamen
on the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts if
approved by the unions member
ships and by the shipowners.
On the West Coast Nathan Fem
singer, Labor Department trouble
shooter, said that undoubtedly the
settlement on the East Coast will be
a factor to reckon with here, but
just what its effect will be cannot
say"
Membership Meetings Called.
Joseph Curran, president of the
National Maritime Union, said spe-
cial membership meetings would be
called later today for ratification of
the agreement. Mr.. Curran'S union
had led the move to embargo sail
ings on the expiration of old con-
tracts last Sunday midnight.
Present contracts of the NNdU, the
American Communications Associa-
ton and the Marine Engineers Ben
eficial Association, all CIO affiliates,
will be extended for one year with a
wage re-opening date Of December
Is, Mr.. Gibson said.
The Labor Department officials
said that under the new agreement,
which is subject to ratification by
the union memberships, the seamen
would receive overtime pay for nine
holidays annually for work per-
formed at sea or in port.
Pacific Negotiations Continue.
Latest word here from the Pacific
Coast, which also felt the effects of
the embargo on sailings, was that
negotiations still we're in progress
there.
The agreement here came after
the NMU had reached a separate
agreement with operators of tank
ers. also for per cent boost.
The tanker lines settlement af-
fected 22,500 seamen.
Frank j. Taylor, chairman of the
Negotia ting Committee for 80 ship
/ ping firms and agents on the At
lantic and Gulf Coasts, said his
committee will recommend to their
principals who have contractual re-
Ilations with the National Maritime
Union, the American Communica-
tons Association and the National
Marine Engineers Beneficial Asso-
citation, the prompt acceptance OF
this proposal made by the Depart
ment of Labor.
1T is of paramount Importance tc
our national welfare and security
that American merchant ships re-
sumo their operations as soon as
possible. We hope that this pro-
posal offered by the Government
representatives will be approved by
all parties concerned so that this
industry will have the peace it must
have If our merchant marine is te
endure t
Ratification Predicted.
Mr.. Curran, whose NMU claims
$4,000 men who work the dry cargo
and passenger vessels involved ir
the new agreement, predicted the
membership would ratify it, He ex.
pressed hope that these gains
would be put into effect for seamer
of all unions in the interest of es-
tablishing stability in the industry
during the coming year."
The settlement with IA Atlantic
and Gulf tanker lines also was ul
for ratification at the NMU mem.
bership meetings today
NMU originally had demanded {
20 per cent wage increase, six weeks
paid vacations, a 40-hour week in.
stead of the present 48, health anc
dlld I'LL l1lSl CdSC Ill bll'
number of holidays granted
The AGA radio operators hat
asked Is per cent increase ane
benefits similar to those the NMJ
sought, and the engineers asked
per cent. Under the old scales. bast
pay varied according to the size O.
vessel. running up to S692 for the
chief engineer and $353.51 for tn,
chief radio operator of the America
the Nations largest passenger vessel
The tieup of cargo ships had lee
the American Association of Rail.
roads to embargo movement o
freight bound for ports and con,
signed to NMU-manned ships.
| On the West Coast, a fourth union
the National Union of Marine Cook
and Stewards (CIO). followed tht
East Coast mo contract, no sail
policy and halted some sailings