Proposed 'Reserve' Bill Weuld Have Seamen Breaking Own Strikes

•r* BRITISH DOCKERS WORK SHIPS; PHOHY CSU 'STRIKF FOLDS UP Dockworkers in British ports finally learned the true character of the commie-dominated Can adian Seamen's Union this week. When the fog of propaganda the CSU's leaders had spread about their phony "strike" against the 100-odd Canadian east coast ships, which are contracted to the SIU, Canadian District, lifted a bit, the British dockers; understood the situation and immediately with drew their support from the CSU. As a result, all Official Organ, Atlantic & Golf District, Seafarers International Union of NA the Canadian-flag vessels contracted to the SIU, VOL. XI NEW YORK. N. Y.. WEDNESDAY. JUNE 22, 1949 No. 21 are now being worked in all British ports. » The action of the British dockers just about ended the CSU's phony 11-week action, "since the Battle Over ships are now sailing every Operators Sign $7.50 Increase where with full SIU Canadian Seventeen of the SIU A&G District's 50 contracted companies have signed agree crews. T-H Repealer However, the commie-line ments calling for a $7.50 clothing* allowance for all ratings, and several other operators leaders of the CSU let out one are expected to fall into line within a few days. Paul Hall. Secretary-Treasurer of the last bleat on June 17. On In Senate A&G District, announced. The CSU leaders sent a letter The action by the operators came within a matter of hours after the SIU. on June to Prime Minister Saint Laurent of Canada, offering a four-point WASHINGTON—The battle in 16, sent letters to all contracted operators requesting talks on a $7.50 increase. The now- Congress over repeal of the Taft- .settlement — CSU-commie style. Hartley law is now in its third signed operators signified their okay, and the new provision will now be written into the However, since the CSU pro week, with a skirmish shapiS[g contracts without opposition. posal took no account of the up in the Senate on the issue The boost went into effect on June 17 aboard' the ships of the companies now facts of the situation, it was ex of injunction versu's seizure in pected to die aborning. signed. the handling of strikes which SIU WARNING may be classified as "national In announcing the boost in take-home pay, the Union stated that it did not expect The British dockers took their to encounter any difficulties with the operators still to be heard from. Full details of emergencies." action after the SIU had cabled The Senate will consider sev- the SIU's latest increase will appear in the next issue of the LOG. Prime Minister Attlee of Britain ei'al amendments to the Admin saying that British-flag ships istration Bill, which would aban The companier which have signed to date are: South Atlantic Steamship Company, Waterman Steamship Corporation, Alcoa Steam might be boycotted by the AFL don the injunctions now author Maritime Trades Department in ized in such disputes by the ship Company, Bull Lines, Eastern Steamship Company, Mississippi Shipping Company Atlantic and Gulf ports of the Taft-Hartley law. Seas Shipping Company, Seatrain Lines, Smith & Johnson Steamship Company, Cuba Dis US, if the wildcat, misguided ac Senator Taft is intent upon re tilling Company, White Range Steamship Company, Mar-Ancha Corporation, Illinois-Atlan tions against the SIU Canadian taining the restrictive features of tic, John M. Carras, Inc., Trans-Fuel Inc., Dry-Trans Inc., and Coral Steamship Co. ships was not halted. his anti-labor bill, but pro-labor Mr. Attlee apparently turned forces in the upper House are the cable over to President Ar trying to win support for the re thur Deakin of the Trades Union pealer by softening up provi Congress, British counterpart of sions of the Administration's Proposed 'Reserve' Bill Weuld Have the American Federation; who measure, commonly known as asked the American unions to the Thomas-Lesinski Bill. hold off the boycott until the AGAINST INJUNCTION Seamen Breaking Own Strikes British unions could straighten The Administration labor leg matters out. islation, backed In its original WASHINGTON — A bill en is no need for a merchant marine smash teamsters' strikes, and so This the American unions were form by the AFL and CIO, con dangering the very life of the reserve to insure manning of US on. glad to do. vessels in wartime, the Union Representative Potter's bill, tains nd provision for injunc SIU and other maritime unions From then on the problem was tions or for government seizure officials declared. described as a "monstrosity" by largely one of informing the is up for hearings before a sub They stressed the fact that one observer, would prescribe British dockers of the true facts, during national emergency dis committee of the House Commit there was always more than uniforms for reservists on duty, which British unionists together putes. It provides, however, for tee on Merchant Marine and a thirty-day cooling off period. enough manpower to keep the and would set their pay at Navy with a representative of the SIU Fisheries. If the bill becomes scales. Reservists would get a Senator Paul Douglas (D., 111.), merchant marine moving, even proceeded to do. law, SIU spokesmen said, it will minimum of one month's pay a who is anxious to insure passage during the most trying days of As a result, the British dock set the stage so that striking year if they kept their noses of the repeal law, has proposed the conflict. ers are now working the SIU seamen could be put into uni clean. Canadian vessels. an amendment, aloiig with Sen form and ordered to break their SIU Washington representa The Merchant Marine Reserve The Canadian beef dates back ator George Aiken (R., Ver.), that own strikes. And the precedent, tive, Matthew Dushane, will ap would allow government seizure pear before the sub-committee to would be organized and admin to March. At that time, the once established, could be used istered by the United States commie leaders of the CSU, af of struck plants in emergencies in any industry. inform the Congressmen of the threat not only to seamen's Maritime Service. However, the ter . several months of negotia affecting national health and Specifically, the biM seeks to unions if the bill becomes law, Maritime Service would be em tion, Induced the CSU member safety. create a Merchant Marine Re In this way, Douglas and his but to emphasize that the same powered to delegate its functions ship to reject an arbitration serve embracing all licensed and device could be used in other to other federal, state or private award to which the CSU leaders* bi-partisan supporters hope ' to unlicensed personnel aboard US fields—that if a Merchant Ma agencies. own spokesman on the arbitra defeat a substitute bill, backed, merchant ships. by Taft and others, that would rine Re^rve can be created to As a result of this provision, tion board agreed. retain most of the basic features It was introduced by Repre smash seamen's strikes, a team seamen might wake up one The CSU membership was left of the Taft-Hartley act. sentative Charles Potter, Repub sters' reserve may be set up to (Continued on Ptge 11) CContinued on Page 11) Bitter opposition to the Doug lican, of Michigan, on April 29. las-Aiken amendment came early It went virtually unnoticed un in the week from Senator Wayne til the hearings were announced Morse (R., Ore.), who offered his the other day. own proposal. SIU officials pointed out that Oppose. Merchant Marine Reserve Bill! the section of the proposed legis Morse's plan would exclude use An^ important role in combatting the Merchant Marine Reserve Bill (HR 4448), lation. calling for members of the of the injunction, but would per now before a House Sub-Committee, rests with the individual members of the SIU. mit Congress to decide what reserve "to be available for im should be done on a case-by-case mediate mobilization in time of Letters of protest from seamen all over the country, their families and friends, lend basis. Under the Morse amend war or national emergency," is great weight to the campaign of opposition being waged by the SIU and supporting ment, Congress could decide on loaded with danger. unions. NO NEED use of the injunction, however. All members are urged to write the sub-committee and stress the importance of Organized labor's objection . to Inasmuch as the bill does not the Morse proposal would stem define what is meant by "na keeping maritime free of militarization. The members of the House Merchant Marine principally from the fact.that it tional emergency," the SIU and Fisheries Sub-Committee are: would institute compulsory arbi spokesmen held it could serve Edward Garmatz, (D. Md.), Chairman; H. C. Bonner, (R. Mich.); William Barrett, tration, since it provides that the as a cloak for government-spon (D. Pa.); James B. Hare, (D. S.C.); Phil J. Welsh, tD. Mo.); Alvin F. Weichel, (R. fact-finding board's recommenda- sored strikebreaking. Ohio); Edgar Jonas, (R. 111.). The committee's address is: House Office Building, tions are to be put into effect Moreover, the merchant sea • pending final settlement of the men's contribution to victory in Washington 25, D. C. dispute. World War H shows that there •,m^ Page Two THE SEAFARERS LOG Wednesday. June 22, 1949 SEAFARERS LOG Published Three Times a Month by the SEAFARERS INTERNATIONAL UNION OF NORTIF AMERICA Atlantic and Gulf District Afiilialed with the American Federation of LaboE At 51 Beaver Street, New York 4, N.

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