Take It Easy, But Take It

This pamphlet is fascinating, but perhaps the real gems here are the preamble to the MWIU and the list of headquarters on the back page. MWIU were a militant communist organization. They were the marine section of the Trade Union Unity League who were directly affiliated with the Red International of Labor Unions (RILU). In the early 1920's the communist international's strategy was to form "red" communist run unions instead of trying to enter and radicalize existing AFL unions.  In the United States, MWIU set to work building a militant industrial union for waterfront workers. Most of their activity was in New York. They advocated industrial unionism exclusively and laid the foundation for the major surge in organizing in the mid 1930's with the formation of the Committee for Industrial Organizations. Most of the TUUL sections would transition into CIO unions. The MWIU helped establish the National Maritime Union (CIO), Likewise, the Cannery & Agricultur...

Agreement Between Various Steamship Companies and the National Maritime Union of America C.I.O. Two year agreement spanning 1941-1943 for unlicensed seamen. Two sections in here stood out to me, the first regarding a ship's crew performing longshoremen's work, the other is about baking bread.  "Article I Section 19. LONGSHORE WORK BY CREW. In those outports where there are no regular longshoremen available, members of the crew may be required to drive winches for handling cargo, or may be required to handle cargo.  Borsch work performed during their regular working hours, they shall be paid, in addition to their regular monthly wages, at a rate of $0.70 per hour; and for such work performed during overtime hours they shall be paid at one and one-half times the overtime rate. The phrase "regular working hours" means men on regular straight time and is not restricted to men on sea watches. This section shall not be so construed as to be applicabl...

"Everett, Massachusetts - Here is a striking view of tear gas routing pickets and strike sympathizers in the seaman's strike here. Note effigy hanging to outside telephone pole of an employment agency official that was strung up. Credit Line: Acme 5/2/1939"

1944 National Maritime Union of America C.I.O. membership book. "Whereas organization is the only means by which the seaman may hope to advance their interests and attain final emancipation from the many evils attending their calling, and Whereas we have learned from bitter experience that the main aim and purpose of the employing interests is at all times to divide and keep apart organizations endeavoring to unite for their common interests, and Whereas the industrial form of organization will insure more unified and harmonious action in all matters directly affecting the interests and welfare of our membership, we Therefore declare ourselves in favor of the organization of an Industrial Union to be known as the National Maritime Union of America and we further declare that in order to protect the interests of the majority of the membership who are aboard ship and in the ports throughout the world, we have adopted this constitution."