GENERAL STRIKE

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 166, 27 April 1935, Page 5

GENERAL STRIKE

MARITIME WORKERS. PACIFIC COAST TROUBLE. NEW PRESIDENT ELECTED. (United Press Association— Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, April 25.Efforts at mediation by the Government Board in'the coast-wise tanker strike collapsed on the heels of support for a walk-out from, the Maritime Federation at' Seattle. Marine circles admitted that the situation was delicate. ■ The strike began with a demand by the seamen for the preferential hiring of union members. The request was later dropped and in its stead a demand; for a forty-four hour week instead of the present fifty-six hours, and the reemployment of union strikers became critical issues.

The operators refused to comment on the breakdown of negotiations, but the recent ultimatum is recalled: • in which they set Friday night as the dead-line for twelve thousand striking seamen, masters, mates, pilots, engineroom workers and radio operators to end the dispute. Members of the joint tankers' strike committee to-day blamed for the deadlock the "arrogant attitude" of the Standard Oil Company in refusing to give inch., ; .;.

STRONG BACKING FOR MEN, SAN FRANCISCO, April 25. Mr Harry Lundberg, a tall Norwegian from Seattle (Washington State) who believes in keeping to the middle of the road, was elected president of the newly-formed Maritime Federation, of the Pacific, the most powerful Union Labour group on this coast, with ,35,000, _ ; members. Mr Henry Bridges, the militant long-_: shore leader from San Francisco, in approving of Mr Lundberg's election, r said: "This is a very strong federation which can accomplish more for maritime labour than anything we have achieved before."

Mr Lundberg, interviewed, said: "I am a sailor and, stand absolutely hehind the resolution of the convention, which states that we will support, the oil tanker strikers. We shall stand be*-; hind them to the limit of the convention." • ' ■■ tift --;:■•

The resolution pledged support -to 1 ' the tankers even to the extent of s calling a general strike vote, if necessary. The federation unites eight maritime unions, including in their membership longshoremen, sailors, firemen, biters, svater tenders, cooks, stewards, ferry, boatmen, radio/men, masters, mates,.;. and pilots. ;r ...,j::-.*/.■