SHIPPING STRIKE.

Auckland Star, Volume LXV, Issue 136, 11 June 1934, Page 8

SHIPPING STRIKE.

ON PACIFIC COAST. MANY VESSELS TIED UP. CANADIANS NOT JOINING. "Most of the shipping on the Pacific Coast was tied up when we left," said a passenger by the Aorangi on arrival from Vancouver this morning. "The waterside workers at Pacific Coast ports in the United States arc on strike in support of their demand that labour shall be supplied through their own organisations and not through company unions or the Government," he continued. "The waterside workers are not the only people concerned now. Transport workers generally are now involved, and besides the seamen there are the masters, officers and engineers. There is a growing fear that the strike will extend to tlie Atlantic Coast. The latest information I had before I left was that the ship owners on the Pacific Coast had made a threat to suspend all operations for a month, and the reply of the men was to the effect that if that were done the longshoremen would hold up all the Atlantic shipping and bring about a general dislocation of trade.

"What the men want is to go back to the. system of collective bargaining through their own unions. The Government made an offer to set up labou." bureaux for the engagement of all waterside workers. While the shipowners were silent on the proposal the men refused to entertain it. In fact, they were as strongly oppose;! to th.at course of action as to the company unions set up by the employers. The men consider they have the whip hand at the present time and they want full recognition. Trouble lias been reported'from many quartern where sympathetic strikes have been declared, and rioting lias taken place in some cities." Deck Officers Join. The Vancouver "Daily Province" published a telegram from San Francisco on May 24—the day the Aorangi sailed from Vancouver for Auckland —stating that the executive committee of the local organisation of the Masters', Mates' and Pilots' Association of America had announced that day that their organisation had decided to join the longshoremen's strike. The organisation had a membership of 1000, embracing virtually all deck officers employed on ship* at San Francisco.

Tho telegram went on to state that striking Pacific Coast longshoremen and waterfront employers had deliberated upon tho Government's proposal to operate "hiring lmlls," which was a major bono of contention. The president of the International Longshoremen's Association was flying to San Francisco from New York.

The message continued: —"The crux of the situation, which observers said was becoming more acute daily, revolves around the contention of both sides that they should control tho hiring and dispatching of longshoremen through the 'hiring halls.' Air. Thomas C. Plant, representing the employers, stated they should control the halls, while Mr. William J. Lewis, district president of the 1.L.A., demanded the union should have the right to hire workers to prevent itinerant men from being given jobs in preference to local residents." Trouble Averted at Vancouver. Tho strike in the United States threatened to spread to Canada, and when the Aorangi was in Vancouver in the latter part of May the officers of the liner had an anxious time. Trouble was averted at the last moment when a strike ballot was defeated. Tho Vancouver "Daily Province" published the following on May 23: — "There are many points of dispute, including a demand of the men for an increase of wages from the present SO cents an hour to 95 cents an hour, with time and a half for overtime, but the differences hinge chiefly on*clauscs dealing with control of the labour. A statement alleged to have been made by some of tho longshoremen that if the shipping federation retained control it would mean that some 250 men on longshore rolls would be dismissed was definitely denied by the federation. "If tho strike vote is carried, the longshoremen would be in the position of deliberately breaking the law, and l>® liable to heavy fines, according to some authorities. The fact that an interim report has been issued by tho board of conciliation does not affect the Industrial Disputes Act, which imposes penalties for acts of hostility by either party subject to conciliation proceedings, before a final report has been issued." Steamers For New Zealand. Two steamers laden, or part laden, with cargo for New Zealand are held up at Pacific Coast ports of the United States owing to the strike, while the loading schedules of other ships have | been altered so that they can avoid the centres of trouble.

Already a fortnight behind her schedule, the Union Company's steamer Waihemo, which arrived at Sail Francisco from Ocean Falls on May 10, to lili up for New Zealand and Australian ports, is still delayed at San Francisco, and tho local ofl'ice of the company lias received no advice of when slio Is likely to leave there. Tho loading itinerary of the steamer Wairuna, belonging to the same company, lias therefore been amended to omit United States ports. This vessel, which, was originally scheduled to sail for New Zealand and Australian ports from Los Angeles on June 20, will now sail from Vancouver 011 June 14.

At Taeoma tlie 0. and 0. Line steamer Golden Cloud lias also been held up for about a fortnight. She had been scheduled to clear Los Angeles for Auckland, Wellington and Australian ports on June 1. She will be replaced, however, by the Golden Coast, which is announced to sail from San Francisco on June 27. By omitting San Francisco, the Oceanic Line's passenger steamer Monterey was able to sail from Los Angeles for Honolulu, Pago Pago, Suva, Auckland, Sydney and Melbourne on her schedule date, May 30.