Seamen Again Seek World-wide Support

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31090, 20 June 1966, Page 13

Seamen Again Seek World-wide Support

(N.Z P.. 4. Reuter—Copyright) LONDON, June 19. The striking British seamen, already rebuffed in their calls for international help in their five-week-old walkout, yesterday made a second appeal to world transport workers for support.

The union's appeal, announced by its secretary, Mr W. Hogarth, after an executive meeting, was directed at the International Transport Workers’ Federation.

unions affiliated with the International Transport Workers’ Federation to boycott British ships diverted to their ports, to give the strikers financial support, and not to supply crews for British vessels which were a few men short. He also asked the unions not to handle cargo ordinarily handled by British ' ships. Mr Hogarth, who said ais union now felt it should get some positive action, added ! that the executive would not meet again before Thursday “unless something explodes.” Today there were 810 ships idle in British ports. The latest casualty was the 29,000ton P. and O. liner. Arcadia: the line bad to tell 1000 passengers that their planned Mediterranean cruise, due to start tomorrow, was off.

The federation, which turned down an earlier appeal for help after British trade unions advised it not to back the seamen, said it would call a meeting of its management committee in London to discuss the new plea. Seeking more pay and a cut in working hours, the seamen's union has rejected requests by the Prime Minister, Mr Wilson, to end the stoppage on the basis of proposals by a court of inquiry. The proposals would cut the working week to 48 hours immediately, and to 40 hours within a year. Mr Hogarth called on