Kennedy's Bid To Stop Sea Strike

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29797, 13 April 1962, Page 11

Kennedy's Bid To Stop Sea Strike

(A’.Z. Press Assn.—-Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO, April 12. Striking United States west coast merchant seamen were ordered back to work last night by Federal Judge George Harris, who issued a temporary restraining order under the TaftHartley Act.

Judge Harris ordered a return io the “status quo’’ and directed lawyers for the three striking unions and the Pacitic Maritime Association, representing 12 companies, to return on Monday for a hearing on a petition for an injunction. But he made it clear he would issue the injunction The hearing would be to determine specific terms.

Judge Harris said Government action under the TaftHartley Act—requested earlier in the day by President Kennedy—was supported by affidavits. of growing food shortages in Hawaii and a gradual crippling of movement of cargoes along the west coast.

President Kennedy told a press conference yesterday that he acted in the dispute because the strike would soon tie up 130 cargo and passenger ships including those delivering vital supplies to Hawaii. He said the public interest and the nation’s health and safety demanded that he request a Court order to halt the Pacific coast dispute. The Federal complaint said that unless work was resumed, “the United States will suffer immediate and irreparable injury for which it has no adequate remedy at law.”

The unions involved are the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific, the Marine Cooks’ and Stewards’ Union, and the Marine Firemen's Union.

The complaint asked that the Court order members of the unions to resume their normal employment.

It also asked that the Court order both sides, including the Employers’ Pacific Maritime Association, to engage in collective bargaining “in good faith for the purpose of

resolving their dispute and make every effort to adjust and settle their difference.” The strike began on March 16.