Longshoremen and Employers Start Negotiations at San Francisco

Follorn'ing a preliminary meeting on August 24, negotiations between the International Longshoremen's Association and the Wateriront Employers' Association leading to n'rodification of the 193.1 arbitration awarcl were opened in San Francisco, A,ugust 25.

Daily ancl nightly sessions were agreed upon to expedite proceeclings. At the end of the first day's session the question as to rvJ-rether arbitration rvill be the last resort in the event of a deadlock at the end of the negotiation period remained unansr.vered.

The contention of the I. L. A. as explained by their spokesman, Henry Melnikolv of the Pacific Coast Labor Bureau, is that arbitration should be a last resort instead of a first resort.

As chairman of the Coast committee representing shipowner enrployers of dock workers, Thomas G. Plant insisted that the I. L. A. place itself definitely on record as agreeing to arbitration if mutual cliscussions fail to bring agreement.

Five changes ir.r the n orking agreement being sought by the I. L. A. are: l-Wage increases of five cents an hour in straight time and ten cents in overtime.

2-A uniform differential penalty for the entire coast.

3-A coastrvide preferential employment agreement where I. L. A. members are available.

4-Overtime for all t:me betrveen the hours of 3 p.-. and 8 a.m., and for Sundays and holidays.

S-Uniform working rules for the entire ,coast.

In addition the I. L. A. submitted a list of specifically worded suggestecl cl.ranges in the .current agreements as an amplification of their five point program.

Recommendations of the employers were as follows : l.-Establishment of penalties on both sicles for violations of the agreement ultimately reached "to discourage violations of the award."

2-Operation of hiring halls by the Joint Labor Relations Committee for each port ancl the substitution of "neutral persons" to operate them, in accorclan,ce with the terms of the awards, "in place of the union ofificials and representatives who now administer them."

3-All questions "arising under the award," in,cluding the imposition of penalties, shall be "administered by the appropriate Joint Labor Relations Committee, or, if necessary, by an arbitrator," and that there be compliance with the decisions.

Hot Cargo" Clause

4-Incorporation in the new agreement of the provisions of the arbitrator's decisions of 1935. (These inclucled the necessity of working "hot cargo" pending a de'cision in dispute and of not quitting work l>efore settlement of an issue.)

S-Unwillingness of the employers to consider requested wage in,creases unless efficiency of work is improved, because, "since the awarcl was renderecl efficiency has been deliberately redu,ced."

6-Establishment of "spread work" hours in fact by distribution of longshoremen into shifts, instead of using the six-hour day as a basis o{ earning overtime pa-v.

7-'[here should be no interference with work "as orclered by the employers" under terms of the arvards.

B-Elimination of "travel time" and "transportation" for men reporting to work or returning from it "in the community at or near which they reside."

It was made clear by the employers that they will not continue relations undel the current au'ard and agreements beyond September 30.

DICK HAMMATT VISITS S. F.

R. F. (Dick) Hammatt, assistant to F. A. Silcox, chief of the United States Forest Service, was a recent visitor to San Francisco where he greeted many old friends.

Mr. Hammatt was formerly secretary-manager of the California Redwood Association.

A HARI'I1rOOID BRIDGE DEPENIDABTLTTT-RIGHT PRICES ANd COMPLETE STOCKS

HIGH GRADE HARDWOODS-Doatic wodc: Ash, Bech, Birch. Gu, HicLory' Masnolia, Maple, Oal Poplar, Walnut, OaL and MapLe Flryins. FOREIGN WOODS: Apitmg, Balsa, Spaaich Cedar, Eboy, Spotted Gum, tmbark, Jeniero, Llgnum Vitae, Mahogun Primvm, Rewood, Siu Tqk Abo DOUGLAS FIR PLYWOOD AND WALLBOARD

Representatives of Lumber Industry Discuss Patman-Robinson Act

At a preliminary conference of representatives of lumber manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers, held in New York City, August 11, it was evident that much confusion exists relative to the application of the provisions of the PatmanRobinson Act to the various branches of the lumber industry. All of the provisions of the new Act with respect to its application to the lumber industry were discussed by those present. It was the sense of this group that in view of the uncertainty, not only in the lumber industry but in others, and in the absence of any formal interpretation from the Federal Trade Commission, further study of the bill should be made and the matter referred to the Lumber Industry Conference on Trade Relations, with the suggestion that an early meeting be called for the purpose of interpreting for the benefit of manufacturers, wholesalers and retailers the application of this law, and its efiects upon distribution practices in the lumber industry. While it is recognized that the provisions of this Act are not designed primarily to apply to the lumber industry, its terms are so broad in scope that unquestionably it merits the full consideration of this industry. The groups represented at this preliminary conference will continue their study of the act in the light of the questions raised and opinions expressed at the meeting, and their suggestions will be reported to the meeting of the Lumber Industry Conference on Trade Relations. Pending this meeting, manufacturers, rvholesalers or retailers who have questions to ask as to the application of the Act to specific cases should submit these to their trade associations for submission to the conference.

The following attended the meeting:

MANUFACTURERS-4. S. Boisfontaine, assistant secretafy, and John C. White, counsel, Southern Pine Association; R. T. Titus and Mr. Frederickson, West Coast Lumbermen's Association; Gene Rutledge and Frank White, California Redwood Association; J. F. Wigginton, Southern Cypress Manufacturers' Association; Ralph Hill, secretary, and L. M. Harris, Jr., National Oak Flooring Manufacturers' Association; A. Klammt, W. M. Ritter Lumber Company; G. C. Wathen and H. R. Northrup, National Lumber Manufacturers Association. WHOLESALERSJohn I. Coulbourn, first vice-president, and R. C. Pepper, second vice-president, National-American Wholesale Lumber Association; William H. Schuette, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Dwight Hinckley, Cincinnati, Ohio; J. A. Currey, New York, N. Y.; E. R. Plunkett, New Rochelle, N. Y.; William Schuette, Jr., New York, N. Y.; D. Theo. Kelly, Howard B. Harte, and Sid L. Darling, National-American Wholesale Lumber Association. RETAILERS-Geo. W. LaPointe, Jr., president, Frank Carnahan, secretary, Spencer D. Baldwin and L. P. Lewin, National Lumber Dealers Association; Paul Collier, secretary, Northeastern Retail Lumbermen's Association; J. F. Martin, secretary, Middle Atlantic Lumbermen's Association; G. E. DeNike, secretary, New Jersey Lumbermen's Association, and Findley

M. Torrence, secretary, Ohio Association of Retail Lumber Dealers.

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