UNPRECEDENTED WIN FOR SEAMEN

Chronicle (Levin), 17 June 1946, Page 5

UNPRECEDENTED WIN FOR SEAMEN

Press Assn

MARITIME DISPUTE REPORTED SETTEEI)

By Telegraph

.-Copyright

Ueeei\ed Snndav, s.15 p.m. XEW Y ( ) 1 »' K , June 15. The Maritime dispnte whieli threatened to stop Aoierieau shipping, has been settled. All tlie seven nnions involved ratiJied the selllemeiit at meetings at the jirineipal Pacitic, Atlantie and (iu!t Coast ports, semling 2'iu,00) seatnen and doekers buek to uork after erratie stoppages in leis than -I liours. The Xew Vnrk Uerald-Tribunc 's Wushington eorrespondent says the strike tlneat still exists lor the future I as tlie eombiiied nuuilinie nnions are j planning a 2,i(i(i,u()U-dollar strike finid j and are preparing for aetion on | Oetober 1 to imprnve terms for tlie1 West Coast lorigshoremen and two other j maritime unions whose contraets expire j then. -ti Mr. Bridges and Mr. 'urrall, co-ehair nien of tlie Comiiiittee of Maritime j Finty, deelared that the seven unio.tis j hnd woii an unpreeedeiited victory. The | ugf'eoniept provides that unlieeneed sea | goirig jit^outiel -V.liose basic work week' is 5d liours, sliall be paid overtiiue for j work in exress of 4> liours, at tlie rate j of a dollar Iiouily. All Sunday work! w ill be. paid for at overtiiue rates. j Wages are inerea-ed 171 dollars nionthI v, rel rospeel ive t(i April 1. There will be a bl liour week in port with overtiiue i'or Sati.rday and Sunday work. Longshoi'einen receive an increase of 22 cents hourly retrospeetive to Oetobeiv 1, 11145, which i> eslinialed to eost the em ! jilovers s.onn.uuu to ln.oiMi.iiuo dollars. j Mr. Frank Taylor, ehairinaii of thej negotiating eomiiiittee for tlie agents of Ihe War Shipping Adminisl rat ion whiehj operates SO j»er cent. of American mer- j idiaut sliip})iug, said jnivate operatingj eompaiiies liad grave iiiisgivings as to the future of I'nited States .sh'pipiiig. ; The Treasury eould doubtless bear the) burden of the new wages' conditions on (lovernment operated ships, bul it relnained to be seen liow long privately owned ships eotild survive eompetition under tlie staggering haudieap now iinjiosed on tlieiu. Tlie moiitlily wage bill f A. I'nited States (lagshijis would be li,14s dollars eomjtared with 2755 for British.