LITTLE BENEFIT FROM STRIKE

Dominion, Volume 30, Issue 131, 27 February 1937, Page 13

LITTLE BENEFIT FROM STRIKE

Lost Wages in America

By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, February 26.

Although the American shipping strikers were rewarded finally for their long “stay out” with general wage increases, it will take them months and, in some cases, years to make up the wages which they lost during the strike. This opinion was expressed to-day on the arrival of the Monterey, which left the Pacific coast a few days after the strike had ended. From comments that were passed it was gathered that the increases made were in several instances considerably below the original, claims. One man said, in fact, that the men were a good deal worse off than they had been. He said that with increasing business and growing general prosperity an equivalent rise would have come as a matter of course. The long strike had meant a long period without pay and, with savings severely drawn upon and often exhausted, it would be many months before the wage increases would make up for the lost pay. The increases varied among different classes of maritime workers. In some cases they were as low as five dollars a month. Certain stewards received an additional ten dollars, while other classes were increased by 20 dollars. There was also a varying reduction in hours.

During the strike, according to a passenger, a lot of money was lost on both sides. “Seventy-five per cent, of the men did not want to strike," he added. "They were forced into it.” There had been few instances of violence, he said. On one occasion, however, a group of men whom he called “tigers” drove about in cars, jumping out and “beating up” a few of the picketers. No one seemed to know exactly who they were.