The Sailors' Union Defends Its Cause
Agent E.C. Thiel responds to business interests blaming union sailors for shipping delays and commercial friction.
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Agent E. C. Thiel of the Sailors' Union, speaking Saturday of the complaints of some masters of vessels about union men injuring shipping interests, said: 'There is not a union man in this city who has any intention to injure the interests of the city. Union men know that their time and effort maintain wages for everyone in the trade. It is aggravating to have non-union fellows stand outside, accept the benefits, and contribute nothing. Sailors have more than this to contend with; the public looks upon them as a lot of low dogs. Every time a captain makes a statement, the public believes every word, but a sailor's word is considered good for nothing.' Thiel also noted that Seattle's union headquarters made it a central point for sailors to spend their wages, arguing that the city actually benefited from the union presence despite occasional friction with pugnacious shipmasters.
“Sailors have more than this to contend with. The public is down on them, for they are looked upon as a lot of low dogs.”
This reflects the long-standing tension between labor organizing and maritime industry elites in the Pacific Northwest. The rhetoric regarding 'shipping interests' versus 'fair wages' echoes in modern debates about port automation and labor rights.
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