WATERFRONT BLOCKADE

Evening Post, Volume CXXIV, Issue 57, 4 September 1937, Page 9

WATERFRONT BLOCKADE

HOLD-UP TIGHTENS

PACIFIC COAST DISPUTE

ATLANTIC CITY, September 3.

Mr. William Green, president of the American Federation, of Labour, denounced the activities of Mr. Harry Bridges in the Pacific Coast dispute. He said: "Bridges is marching inland attempting to impose his will by force, thereby .transgressing the jurisdiction of his. union. We are fighting to a finish." * , v

The executive council telegraphed to the teamsters pledging its - fullest support. ■■'■«.* A San Francisco message says that the teamsters have tightened the waterfront blockade, refusing to handle goods moved from dock by raiL Mr. Bridges is seeking a conference with the teamsters, but repeated pleas in that direction have been rejected. Importers and exporters are seriously alarmed. They fear ships will avoid San Francisco owing to the uncertainty of the duration of the embargo.

It was reported some days ago that the longshoremen's leader,. Mr. Harry Bridges, personally led 500 Committee for Industrial Organisation pickets against American Federation of Labour teamsters at a shoreside warehouse, following factional rivalry for union jurisdiction. Police dispersed the rioters, no one being injured. Pickets grappled with teamsters hauling merchandise from the warehouse. Police fought through the mob and persuaded the teamsters to desist. The Teamsters' Union, in retaliation, placed an embargo on all cargo at the San Francisco docks until the question of jurisdiction is settled.