MARITIME STRIFE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22540, 3 October 1936, Page 10

MARITIME STRIFE

FEARS IN AMERICA PACIFIC COAST THREAT UNIONS AND COMPANIES EXPIRATION OF AGREEMENT [from our ow> correspondent] , SAN FRANCISCO, Sept. 35 By the time these lines reach New Zealand it will probably be known ■whether industrial warfare has again broken out on the San Francisco waterfront, with a possibility of a spread all along the Pacific coast and perhaps affecting Atlantic and southern ports. The situation is tonse. The horrors of the general strike of 19114 are too vividly in the public mind. The citizens are striving toward peace, and the newspapers are pleading for a solution of the main and minor controversies through mediation, conciliation or arbitration. The agreement between shipping companies and their employees expires on September 30. The employers want a new agreement effective as from October 1, containing material changes from the present terms, with a plan of arbitration to decide any and all issues. The unions are voting on the arbitration recommendation, and it looks as though it will be defeated. The men take the position that they desire a contract . that modifies or alters the existing document, and that they want to continue to operate under the agreement entered into in 1934, until there ■ is reached by negotiation between the main parties concerned any alteration in terms. Radical Leadership The employers and employees have emphatically disagreed on all of the proposals so far submitted by each side. The two groups rssail each other as breakers of the faith. For many years on the San Francisco waterfront there have been bitter industrial controversies. During the past three of four years the unions have become strong, and radical leadership has resulted in displacing the veteran labour officials whose experience and conservatism would have proved beneficial. Harry Bridges, an Australian who has not become an American citizen, is looked upon as the man who has reduced the hours of employment, increased the wages, and improved the conditions. He is striving to construct a Maritime Federation that will include all the workers that are connected in any way with the shipping industry. There is,no doubt that the employers have been subjected to annoyances and violations of the spirit of the agreement. Longshoremen have refused "as individuals" to work vessels, with the union taking, the position that it has nothing to do with such action. Some disputes have not been referred to the committees of adjustment, as provided for in the agreement. Violence is not unknown. Labour Day Parade When the longshoremen of San Francisco walked by the thousands in the Labour Day parade of September 7, each in appropriate uniform, and other thousands engaged in maritime callings accompanied them, it could be seen that it would be pract cally impossible to replace these workers in the event of a strike or lockout. The general opinion Beems to be that the employers will discontinue operations by tying up their boats, if they decide on drastic action. Any such course will paralyse business to a serious extent, unless the railroad carriers can, in some measure, meet the emergency. A float in the maritime division of - the Labour Day parade bore an inscription to the.eff-jct that before the unions became effective the yearly wages paid San Francisco waterfront workers averaged between £BOO,OOO and £1,000.000. During 1935 the amount increased to more than £1,800,000. Such a statement, which is probably mainly true, is one of the reasons for the strength of the labour groups. President Hoover Dispute One of the many "incidents" related to the present situation was the departure of the Dollar Steamship Company's luxury liner President Hoover for the Orient on September 10. For five days and 20 hours after the steamer's regular sailing time, she was delayed because the Sailors' Union of the Pacific insisted that a seaman named Charles Brenner be signed as a member of the crew. He had served before in that capacity' for the Dollar Lines. The agreement gives the employer the right of selection, provided none but members of the union are engaged. This was admitted, but it w a ? contended that Brenner was discriminated against when he, as the union's delegate, complained on a previous voyage that the steamer left Honolulu with open hatches and alleged other violations of the United States Government safetv regulations. After an expense to the 'Dollar Lines of approximately £IO,OOO. the delaying of the mails, and serious inconvenience to 459 passengers, it was agreed that the President Hoover should sail without Brenner and that his status should be determined by Federal Government officials, or a special board appointed by them, so that the charge of violation of safety requirements could be determined. Association's Attitude There was nothing comforting in Harrv Bridges' statement to the San Francisco Labour Council on September 11 that trouble bet ween Pacific Coast longshoremen and shipowners would literally "throttle" the nation's shippine, because the Atlantic Coast, the Gulf of Mexico and the Great Lakes would be included in any dispute affectins Pacific Coast ports. Mr. Joseph P. Ryan, president of the International Longshoremen's Association, who does.Pot agree with all that Bridges Says and dons, has indicated to shipowners that all the ports of the United States may be concerned in a refusal to agree to a Pacific Coast settlement by direct negotiation. Mr. Bvan supports the San Francisco labour officials in their refusal to arbitrate on the six-hour working day. The employers reply that all they want to do is to make the six hours "practical and workable." Out of this maze of distrust and violence of expressions must come a better ■way of doing business and recognising the rights each side possesses. If this does not happen San Francisco will suffer grievously, and the trouble will spread to other centres of population. The possibility of a strike is arousing keen interest among the ship's company of the Mariposa, which reached Auckland yesterday. From radio advice received on the vessel, the impression exists that such action has been postponed for 31 days pending further efforts at arbitration. A cablegram from Washington published yesterday stated that a 15 days' truce was virtually assured. ' 1 I