U.S. SHIPPING DISPUTE

Press, Volume LXXXII, Issue 24901, 14 June 1946, Page 7

U.S. SHIPPING DISPUTE

Government Terms Presented

WAGE INCREASES SUGGESTED

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) (Rec. 9 p.m.) WASHINGTON, June 12 Government officials are confident that the shipping strike will be averted. The president of the Congress of Industrial Organisations (Mr Philip Murray), acting as intermediary, presented to the maritime unions the Government’s terms for settlement, which are reported to include substantial increases in pay with the retention of the 56-hour week at sea. Mr Frank Taylor, chairman of the negotiating committee for the Atlantic and Gulf Coast shippers testifying before the House of Representatives Labour Committee, said the operators proposed to give seamen a day off with Siy for each week worked at sea, but e National Maritime Union had reefed that offer. “It is apparent that the unions contention that the present working week is inhumanely long, lacks sincerity,” said Mr Taylor. “The union is willing to permit ihen to continue working for 56 hours provided they receive monetary compensation. Uncle Sam may be able to afford the new costs proSosed by the union, but private indusy finds them prohibitive.” Mr Taylor said the operators were still wiping to submit the dispute to arbitration, but the unions would not agree.