American Labour Troubles
There is as yet no indication of an early ending to the strike
seamen affiliated to the American Federation of Labour which started on September 5th and has since resulted in the paralysis of every port in America. The signs are, indeed, that it may be spreading. The immediate cause of the dispute is the refusal of the Wage Stabilisation Board to sanction pay increases to A.F.L. seamen ex- ceeding those already granted to C.I.O. (Congress of Industrial Organisation) seamen—on the ground that such an increase would further accentuate the existing perils of inflation. The employers concerned have already agreed to the increase demanded. The result is that over 2,500 ships are standing idle in American ports and American maritime trade is virtually at a standstill. This is a pro- foundly grave situation and likely to have far-reaching consequences. Apart from the obvious economic repercussions large UNRRA ship- ments are being held up, and the effect on bread-rationing in this country can onIST be conjectured. But the greatest danger implicit in the labour unrest is not the catastrophic fall in Wall Street prices, with its inevitable effect on the London StoCk Exchange, but the pos- sible weakening of the Administration's authority in international affairs. There has never been greater 'need than exists today for a strong American policy backed by a united nation, and while there is no reason to believe that a split on the domestic front will neces- sarily weaken support for Mr. Byrnes, it will inevitably cause part of the energy of the Administration to be diverted to domestic issues at a time when a resolute concentration on the unsolved problems in the international field is urgently called for.
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