SEAMEN’S STRIKE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 April 1935, Page 7

SEAMEN’S STRIKE

CALIFORNIAN SHIPS IDLED

TWELVE THOUSAND MEN OUT (BY CABLE —PIERS ASSN. SAN FRANCISCO. April 25. Mediation efforts by the Government Board in the coast-wise tanker strike, has collapsed, on the heels of support being offered for the walkout from the newly-formed big Maritime Federation at Seattle. Marine circles have admitted that the situation is delicate. The strike began with a demand by the seamen for the preferential hiring of union members. This request was later dropped. In its stead there was a demand made for a 44-hour week instead of the present 56 hours weekly, and for the re-employment of union strikers. These became the critical issues. The operators have refused to comment on the breakdown of the negotiations, but. their recent ultimatum is recalled, in which they set Friday night, as the “deadline” for the 12,000 striking seamen, masters, mates, pilots, engine-room workers and radio operators, to end the dispute. Members of the joint tankers’ strike committees blamed the arrogant the Standard Oil Company in refusing to give, an inch for the deadlock. Harry Lundberg, a tall Norwegian, from Seattle, who believes in “keeping to the middle of the road.” ,has been elected President of the newlyformed Maritime Federation of the Pacific. It is the most powerful Union Labour group on this coast, with 25,000 members. Harry Bridges, the military longshore leader from San Francisco, in approving of Mr Lundberg’s election, said: “This is a very strong \fedenZ tion, which can accomplish more for maritime laboui' than anything we have achieved /before." Mr Lundberg, interviewed, said: “I am a sailor, and I stand absolutely behind the resolution of the convention which states that we will support the oil tanker strikers. We shall stand behind them to the limit. The Convention resolution pledged support to the oil tankers, even to the extent of calling a general strike vote if necessary. This Federation unites eight maritime unions, including in its membership longshoremen, sailors, firemen, oilers, water-tenders, cooks, stewards, ferry-boatmen, radiomen, masters, mates and pilots."