~]1 ~ .~ In This Issue Gains in Inland Agreements Radio Officers* Urge Talks East German Relief* Ship Sails Hospital Facilities Curtailed VOL. XVI JULY, 1953 NO.7 r I .~. \ Officers of the S. S. "American Inventor" watch cargo assigned to East Germany lowered to hold of the ship. They are (left to right) Ward W. Warren, junior 3rd officer; Floyd Gergler, 3rd officer; Captain H. J. Johnson, ship's master' J. M. Coady, chief officer; James McDermott, 2nd officer. At right, a slingload of milk products is hoisted ahoa ' First Ship With Relief for East Germany Sails The United States Lines cargo vessel, the worked out by him and the West Germany Arner'ican Inventor, sailed from New York at ernment. 5 :00 p, m., July 17, with the first part of the The recent uprisings in East Germany by Mutual Security Agency's $15,000,000 food relief who oppose Communism indicates that all i shipment,. destined for East Germany. In its well behind the Iron Curtain. President holds were 1,600 tons .of flour, dried milk and lard, hower's well-timed move of offering this shi a foretoken only of 50,000 tons that President of food should indicate to the citizens of the Eisenhower had instructed the Agency to send to ern Zone of Germany that they have the ha Germany to relieve the food shortage in the friendship extended to them from across th Eastern Zone. Captain Johnson, of North Bergen, N. J. The remainder of the tonnage was loaded on shipside interview called the shipment "a the American Flyer' on July 23 and on the Ameri­ while thing" and added that "we must ba can Clipper' sailing July 25, from New York. with food people who stand up in the stre The officers of the American Inventor, all of throw rocks at tanks." whom are members of the National Organization The cargo was not identified by special Masters, Mates and Pilots, are as follows: as being a relief shipment. On one of the Captain H. J. Johnson, ship's master; J. M. openings a sign had been posted with the Coady, chief officer; James McDermott, 2nd offi­ "First Food Relief Shipment to East Ge., eel'; Floyd Gergler, 3rd officer, and Ward W. War­ by M. S. A. on United States Lines S. S. A.m~ ren, junior 3rd officer. Invento1'." The American Inventor' is scheduled to arrive The National Organization of Masters, in Hamburg July 27, marked for delivery to the and Pilots heartily endorses the action United States High Commissioner in Germany. President in his humanitarian gesture The food will be distributed according to plans starving peoples of East Germany. l'he·Master~ Mate & Pilot Offici"J Journal of the National Organization of Ma5t~rs, Mates and Pilots of America. Published by the Organization on tho 15th of each month at 810-16 Rhode Island Ave., N. E., Washington 18, D. C. Vol. XVI JULY, 1953 .No.7 Revised Inland Agreements Reflect Gains lor Members Revised agreement signed June 8, 1953, to run San Pedro Agreement :for a period of three years with a provision for Local No, 18, San Pedro reports successful reopening for modifications at the end of each negotiations with several companies in that area: year upon thirty days notice. A revised agreement covering captains and Astoria Navigation Co., operating three ferries mates on Pacific Towboat and Salvage Company's hei;WE,en Astoria, Oreg. and Megler, Wash. Wage vessels and launches includes a 17c per hour in­ in"re"se graduated as follows: crease for captains and mates and covers both Increased to: pay and outside work. The new rates are: Cap­ Straight tains $2.22 straight time and $3.06 overtime rate. Old Rate Time OV6'rtime Mates $2 per hour straight time and $2.74 for 'Captains. , , . , .. " .... $1.92 6/2/53 $2.30 $3.45 overtime. 6/2/54 2.37 3.555 6/2/55 2.44 3.66 The Welfare Plan, originally negotiated in ,Inland Mate and Pilot 1.81 6/2/53 2.17 3.255 1952 includes increased benefits for our members 6/2/54 2.23 3.345 6/2/55 2.30 3.45 and is reprinted as follows: '\>Vacation pay for Captain increased from present rate "The company agrees that effective April 1, f $168.96 to $220.80 for the period from 6/2/53 to 6/1/54 1953, or as soon thereafter as is possible, to in­ nd to $227.52 from 6/2/54 to 6/1/55. Crease the benefits of its Welfare Plan, now in 'acation Pay Period from Jtme 2 to June 1 of effect, to the amount of benefits set forth below: P1"CSent Rate 1953-54 1954-55 1955-56 Fo?' Employes ~ptain $168.96 $220.80 $227.52 $234.24 Life Insurance . $2,500 land Mate and Pilot 159.36 208.32 214.08 220.80 Accidental Death & Dismemberment Insurance . 2,500 Hospital Room and Board-3! days . 10 Miscellaneous Charges . 200 Columbia Basin Agreement (Plus 75 per cent of next $1,000) Surgical Fees . 300 greement signed, effective April 30, 1953, to Doctor's Calls: ,nd to April 30, 1955, between Columbia Basin Home . 5 Elsewhere . 3 er Operators, empioyer association represent­ Maximum per Disability . 225 most of the tug and bare line on the Columbia First Call-Accident Third Call-Sickness Williamette Rivers, and MM&P Local No. 17, Diagnostic X-Ray & Laboratory Examinations. ... 25 ~land, Oreg. Additional Accident Expense. ................... 300 Polio in addition to other benefits ,...... 5,000 rother A. J. Carlton, secretary of the local re­ F01' Dependents ta. that wage boosts for skippers range from Hospital Room and Board-31 days . 10 cents (for Class "A" captains on single-crew Miscellaneous Charges . 200 (Plus 75 per cent of next $1,000) Is) to 50 cents an hour (for Class "B" cap­ Surgical Fees 300 "on double-crew boats). These increases Medical Care in Hospital 3 Additional Accident Expense 150 pt to 10 per cent on the single-crew boats Maternity 50 ~, per cent on the double-crewed. Polio in addition to other benefits... .. 5,000 new pact reduces the work from 44 to 40 Benefits for dependents to be optional with the . and maintains the same take home pay. employe, who shall pay the cost of same. Present urn pay for captains and pilots having a practice with respect to the deduction of 1 per cent ;oast Guard license is provided at the rate of employes' gross earnings up to $3,000 shall con­ dditional 5c per hour. tinue to be applied to the cost of the employes' . 1950, Local No. 17 has negotiated wage disability benefits. s for its members from $1.48 to $2.16 per A revised agreement has also been signed with ,d has also won many other improvements the Garvin Towboat and Barge Company, operat­ ng conditions. (Continued on page 16) THE MASTER, MATE AND PILOT :Frauds hy Maritime Traders Vol. XVI JULY, 1953 . No.7 Hurt U. S. Defense Program By WILLIAM L. CALDWELL Published monthly. Main~ Northeast, Washington 18, Local 90, Portland, Qreg. tained by and in the intel'. District of Columbia, with est of the National Organi_ General and Executive All seafarers are aware that the lamentable zation of Masters, Mates Offices at 1420 New York frauds and scandals that have been prevalent in and Pilots of America. at the United States maritime industry during the 810 Rhode Island Avenue. Ave., Washington 5, D. C. post-war period have been gravely detrimental to the nation's defense and security program. These Published on the 15th of each month. fraudulent actions have voided the effectiveness Sworn detailed circulation statement on reQ,uest. of the Merchant Marine Act of 1936 and subse. Entered as second-dass matter at the post office at Washington. D. C., under the Act of August 24, 1912. quent legislation that was intended to strengthen our national defenses and economic well being. SUBSCRIPTION: $1.00 PER YEAR FOREIGN. $2.00 Regardless of the convictions of President Eisenhower and other able military men that it is C. T. ATKINS, New York, N. Y., Business Manager. necessary for our national defense and security to JOHN M. BISHOP. Washington, D. C., Editor. M. H. HICKS, Washington, D. C., Co-Editor. have a capable merchant marine manned by American seamen to serve as a naval and military auxiliary, many fraudulent and greedy indiViduals NATIONAL OFFICERS have weakened our merchant fleet for personal C. T. ATKINS, President, New York, N. Y. material gain. C. T. MAY, First Vice President, San Francisco, Calif. Revelations and documental proof have shown R. D. LURVEY, National Vice President, Boston, Mass. that the most flagrant violators have been those L. COHEN, National Vice President, Philadelphia, Pa. who directly and indirectly profited from the lOr, H. M. STEGALL, National Vice President, New Orleans, La. vessels owned by our allies who carried Uniled ROLLA JOHNSON, District Deputy, Great Lakes Region. States financed cargoes and also traded with Red J. A. GANNON, National Vice President, San Francisco, Calif. China and other Communist countries in 1952. G. HAVILAND, Apprentice Vice President, New York, N. Y. Many citizens will be surprised to learn that gov­ ernment data shows that many of these ships were J. M. BISHOP, National Secretary~Treasurer, Washington, D. C. built in American shipyards by American unio H. T. LONGMORE, District Deputy of the Panama Canal, Balboa, C. Z. labor and during World War II. Assistant Coun F. T. GASKINS, Dish'ict Deputy, Norfolk Area, Norfolk, Va.