The Global Blacklist Fighting Sailors to the Grave

For the first time in the history of labor organizations, American and European workmen have agreed to make common cause and strike simultaneously against the Shipping Federation, Limited, which has its headquarters in London. More than 100,000 deep water sailors and men engaged in coastwise trade on the Atlantic coast will be involved. The main grievance of the seamen is a so-called 'welfare plan' adopted by the Shipping Federation which, the sailors assert, amounts virtually to a system of slavery. Every seaman shipping on a vessel is required to carry a 'discharge hook,' which contains his record as to character, ability and the names of vessels on which he has been employed. The officer in charge of the ship makes the entries on the discharge book, and the union men say if an officer has a grudge against a seaman he will make an entry that will forever prevent that man from getting employment on another ship. No man can be employed unless he is in possession of a discharge book, and the union men claim it amounts to a blacklist and that it is used by vessel owners to break up the labor organization.