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Joint System Stands Strain at Northwest Seaports By R. C. Hill EPRESSION in the _ overseas D trade, resulting in less work for longshoremen and truckers last year, emphasized the close and friendly relations existing between employers and employes in Seattle and other Pacific coast ports where the joint system is in effect. This joint shop plan was explained in de- tail in Marrne Review for March, 1930, page 46. In brief it consists of co-operative effort to furnish the employer with competent and effi- cient labor and to give the men liv- ing wages and conditions and a fair division of the work. During the latter months of 1930 when water borne traffic registered a marked decline, the joint shop plan underwent the acid test but it con- tinued to function as satisfactorily as it did when conditions for both em- ployers and labor were much more favorable. Work Is Evenly Distributed Briefly stated, the plan offers the men many advantages, not the least important of which has impressed it- self during the months of hard times. It has erected an invisible wall along the waterfront. What work is avail- able is being equitably distributed among the regular listed workers. The thousands of men who have floated to the seaports in search of employment are barred from steve- doring and trucking. The permanent employes are thus protected at a time when they need protection. Furthermore the wage scale per hour remains the same as during pe- riods of prosperity. Were the joint plan not in vogue, it is easy to imag- ine that the influx of outside labor, eagerly seeking work, might have displaced the regular men on the waterfront at reduced wages. This situation is impossible under the joint shop plan, originating in Seattle some ten years ago and which has since made for peace and friendly understanding between employing companies and the men who handle cargo. No amount of influence or argu- ment can get an outsider a job on the Seattle waterfront. Requests from steamship officials, bankers or other men of business standing have no weight in asking the management of the joint shop plan to give an un- listed man a job. The regular work- ers appreciate this protection. The industry is in the position of a fac- D2 tory which has reduced its working time from six to five days a week but is giving its regular personnel as much work as is possible in the cir- cumstances. Figures recently compiled show that because of the decrease in water traffic, waterfront workers in Seattle have suffered a reduction of 15 to 25 per cent monthly in average income. The average monthly wage in 1929 was close to $150 per man. Toward the end of 1930 the same men were earning from $115 to $130 per month, although the same hourly wage scale was paid. The same compilation indicates that the aver- age period of employment was 130 hours, 200 hours being considered a full month. Every effort is being made, and with much success, to ap- portion the work available among the regular longshoremen and truck- ers on the basis of earnings. In other words the object in view is to give preference to men with low in- comes so that their wages per month may approximate those of their fel- lows. No favorites are played and as nearly as is humanly possible the distribution of work, and likewise of earnings, is being made on a fair basis. Approximately 1500 men are being employed on the local water- front but although their income is reduced from the previous level they are all earning sufficient to keep themselves and families. The extra spare time is used by some of the more: thrifty in outside jobs or in working on their small pieces of ground. Wage Scale Remains Same While it cannot be said that the men are all satisfied, they realize that the joint shop plan has given them greater protection than could the union. The wage scale has not been cut, working regulations have not been changed, they are secure in their jobs and the depression has brought no strike as is frequently the case under similar conditions. “The men understand that reduced income is no fault of the employers,”’ said an executive of the joint organi- zation. “They have undoubtedly taken a severe jolt on the chin but they are not complaining. Our men are co-operating splendidly and with the employers are carrying their share of the burden of business de- pression.”’ Here is the viewpoint of an intel- MARINE REvVIEw—February, 1931 ligent and observing longshoremap who was asked to offer criticism on — behalf of the workers: “One of our grievances is that the executive committee does not seem to be functioning as it should. I be- lieve this is true mostly of the labor members of the committee. We find it difficult to get aggressive and in- telligent workers to serve. Of course they get paid for committee work, providing they are taken off the job for meetings, but our fellows do not care much for this so-called honor. It is hard to get our men interested in fighting for our general welfare. The workers’ general attitude on this phase is to ‘let George do it.’ “One of the best things the execu- tive committee did was to organize the black gang. In other words all the registered colored workers are worked together in one gang by themselves. This has removed some feeling between the whites and ne- groes. But the colored workers get the same chance at the jobs as we do and thus everybody is more sgat- isfied. “TI believe that the joint shop plan is the best in the circumstances. I realize that I am not earning as much as last year but that can’t be helped. The employers are giving us all the work they have and they have not cut wages. That shows their fairness. “The number of listed men has decreased since a year ago and it continues to grow smaller. This is due to the fact that there is less work and in the existing conditions no new men are being added. Some have died, some moved away, others have gone into other work. So that leaves a smaller number of active, regular workers, which is a good thing seeing that there is less work than a year ago. I shudder to think what would have happened under former conditions. It would have meant trouble, for outside labor would be seeking our jobs at reduced wages. There certainly would have been a strike with consequent loss to all coneerned. I am not earning as much by any means but at least my family is eating and we hope for better times soon. Manager Shows Wisdom “IT want to say that the manager of the hall seems to show uncanny wisdom in selecting the proper men for the job. You know some classes of longshoring are specialized labor and the manager has no easy task in satisfying both sides. For instance steam schooner work is a job that every man cannot do. That’s just an illustration. But the manager makes every effort to select men 02 the basis of equalized earnings and while there are always some kickers, the system is working as well as could be expected.’’