DELAY IN ENDING STRIKE

Press, Volume LXXII, Issue 21974, 24 December 1936, Page 11

DELAY IN ENDING STRIKE

U.S. SHIPOWNER MAKES CHARGES MR BRIDGES ACCUSED OF OBSTRUCTION DESIRE FOR A SETTLEMENT DOUBTED (U.VITED TRESS ASSOCIATION —COI'Yr.IGHT.) (Received December 23, 11.30 p.m.) SAN FRANCISCO, December 23. Mr Thomas Plant, chairman of the committee of shipowners, issued a statement accusing Mr Harry Bridges, the union leader, of responsibility for the delay in the settlement of the shipping strike. He cited Mr Bridges's assertion that a settlement on the Pacific coast was impossible until the demands of the Atlantic seamen were met as an example of bad faith and insincerity. "When Mr Bridges is willing to sacrifice the best interests of his own men and the community it is hard to believe that he has a serious desire to effect a fair settlement," said Mr Plant. "It is regrettablfe that he is willing to throw overboard the advantages gained for the sake of personal glorification." [When, on December 14, it was announced that the Sailors' Union had reached agreements with the major shipping companies on all but two points, Mr Bridges was reported to be %ot optimistic of a general settlement. He said that he hoped to create a united front with the eastern unions, which would ultimately result in a national maritime federation. He added that even if the Pacific dispute were settled, seamen would refuse to handle east coast ships and cargoes unless a satisfactory settlement in the east were also secured. He expressed his determination to obtain the eastern longshoremen's support for the eastern sailors' strike.]