in 1936, isu boatswain name of joseph curran drawing attention. march 1 march 4, curran led strike aboard s.s. california, docked in san pedro, california. seamen along east coast struck protect treatment of s.s. california s crew. curran became leader of 10-week strike, forming supportive association known seamen s defense committee. in october 1936, curran called second strike, 1936 gulf coast maritime workers strike, in part improve working conditions , in part embarrass isu. four-month strike idled 50,000 seamen , 300 ships along atlantic , gulf coasts.
believing time abandon conservative isu, curran began recruiting members new rival union. level of organizing intense hundreds of ships delayed sailing seamen listened organizers , signed union cards. isu s official publication, seamen s journal, suggested curran s sudden disenchantment isu odd, since d been member of union 1 year during seafaring career.
in may 1937, curran , other leaders of seamen s defense committee reconstituted group national maritime union. holding first convention in july, approximately 30,000 seamen switched membership isu nmu , curran elected president of new organization. within year, nmu had more 50,000 members , american shippers under contract.
Comments
Post a Comment