The Wilmington morning star., 1947-06-18
AMERICA.
tContinued From Page One)

sent to President Trlman, Secre-
tary of State George c. Marshall
and other high officials kilograms
declaring the seamen were clock
ed out by the s~hipowners" and
adding:
1.-THE arrogant refusal of the
shipowners to bargain in good faith
with our unions demonstrates
clearly that they rely on the Taft
Hartley bill to destro.- the labor
movement"
Operators here have labeled the
stoppage a pure, simple, unadul-
terated strike"
Government officials in Washing
ton said no shipment of grain or
coal for Europe had been delayed
so far in the maritime dispute, but
W. r. Godber, Interstate Com
merce Commission agent here, an
nounced restrictions on shipments
of coal to three east coast ports.
Free Sailing Assurance
Godber said coal shipments to
New York, Philadelphia and Balti-
more would be allowed only if
there were assurance that tle ves-
sci for which the coal was destined
would not be tied up.
Assistant Secretary of Labor
John W. Gibson planned talks with
both sides here in an effort to
end quickly the, stoppage involving
five CLIO unions with 200, 900 mem
bers. The stoppage began last Sum
day midnight when contracts of
the unions expired.
Unions involved beside the NMU
are the International Longshore-
mems and Warehousemen's union,
the American Communications as
ISOLATION which is negotiating with
employers on both coasts, the Ma
rine Engineers Beneficial associa-
ton which has agreed to a one
year contract extension on the west
coast and is negotiating for a 81
mllar agreement on the east coast
and the Marine Cooks and Stew
ards who also are seeking an ex-
tension of their contract.
The NMU and AGA are asking
20 and Is per cent wage boosts
respectively as we'll as other con-
tract gains.
Charges Meeting
Meanwhile, the New York World
Telegram said Harry Bridges, pre-
sident of the West Coast Interna-
tional Longshoremen's and Ware
housemen's union held a secret
meeting here yesterday with top
Communist party officials.
William q. Foster, the party's
national chairman, was present at
the meeting in the apartment of
Murray Winocur, secretary of the
CLIO maritime joint policy commit
tee and a leade. in the current
maritime stoppage, the paper said.
However, a public relations Of
flcer at Communist party head
quarters said the story was mot
true" and Winocur denied he had
seen Bridges yesterday.
Asked about the story, Curran
declared:
Neither the Communist party
nor any other outside group will
be tolerated, interfering with this
unions struggle to improve the
wages, hours and working condi-
tons Of its members"
Curran said Bridges was "sun.
posed to be" in San Francisco.
In San Francisco, a spokesman
for Bridges said the story was
"a flat lie."
The NMU presidents instruc-
lions to his men to continue main
tenance work ON their vessels but
not to sail them remained in eff
feet. Under this policy, he esti-
mated 700 ships were tied up.
However, shipping activity con-
tlnued brisk on west coast. The
1LWU agreed to a one-year con-.
tract extension there and its mem
bers remained at work. SUIT the
union agreed to cooperate in a
formal strike call if one is issued.
Most west coast vessels are man
ned by AFL seamen. These men
also continued on the job.
The Hampton Roads port at Nor