Seamen's Strike

Most of the seven million New York Citizens are wholly indifferent to the fact that their home is the world's greatest seaport. It therefore took two grade-A waterfront riots last week, which resulted in injuries for a dozen and arrests for 221, to call New Yorkers' attention to the fact that a bitter seamen's strike has been roiling New York Harbor for two months.

Prime cause of the trouble was the demand of coastwise sailors for more pay and better working conditions. To agitate for these ends is nominally the job of the International Seamen's Union of America. which is divided into three districts, Pacific, Atlantic and Great Lakes. The Pacific section came out of the bloody 1934 San Francisco general strike with a pay scale of $62.50 a month, overtime pay, control of their hiring halls. On the east coast, however, the Union remained in conservative hands, wangled only a $57.50 pay scale with no overtime. The rank & file began demanding the west coast scale. When the Union failed to get it after the old wage agreement expired last winter, seamen on the 5. 5. California struck in protest in San Pedro, Calif. Harbor (TIME, March 16). Persuaded by Secretary of Labor Perkins to return to work, they took the ship back to Manhattan, where they were promptly fired, branded as "mutineers." Under one Joseph Curran, the dissatisfied element brewed a general east coast seamen's strike. The conservative Union heads, who had meantime arranged an agreement with shipowners for an east coast pay-scale of $62.50 but no pay for overtime, no improved working conditions, disowned the strike.

In this impasse have matters remained. The strikers, with yells of "Judas!" at the Union heads, have picketed strenuously, tried to prevent ships from sailing, offered to submit to referendum. The Union heads, with yells of "Outlaw!" at the strikers, have successfully found crews for all outbound ships, refused to put the question to a Union referendum. Last week, as both sides stood pat, Leader Curran claimed 4,500 of New York Harbor's 10,000 seamen were behind him. The Union heads put the figure at 1,200.

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