Congress of Industrial Organizations. Maritime Committee. Conference Proceedings,
1947

On May 15-19, 1947 the Maritime Committee of the CIO met at the CIO Building in San Francisco, California to discuss and formulate a common strategy for the maritime unions whose contracts expired on June 15, 1947. The unions officially represented at the meeting were the National Maritime Union (NMU), American Communications Association (ACA), International Longshoremen's and Warehousemen's Union (ILWU), National Union of Marine Cooks and Stewards (MCS),, and the Marine Engineers Beneficial Association (MEBA). The Marine Firemen, Oilers, Watertenders and Wipers Association, an independent, non-CIO union attended as an interested observer.

The inventory includes six (6) mimeographed booklets which record the proceedings of the conference:

Volume 1, May 15, 1947, PP- 1-60, records the background and intended purpose of the conference, discussion of the problem of transfer of American ships to foreign registry, discussion of policies to counter the passage of the Taft-Hartley Bill, including measures calling for a nation-wide work stoppage and a march on Washington.

Volume 2, May 16, 1947, pp. 61-209, contains the preliminary reports of the ACA, MEBA, NMU, ILWU and MCS concerning the policies and demands for the proposed June 15 contracts.

Volume 3, May 17, 1947, pp. 210-335, contains discussion of policy motion seeking national unity to enforce contracts on both coasts.

Volume 4-A, May 18, 1947, pp. 335-418, contains the report of the subcommittee established to consolidate the demands of the west coast maritime unions and the discussion of this issue. Also included is the ten point program formulated to govern the conduct and operation of contract negotiations.

Volume 4-B, May 18, 1947, pp. 419-514, contains a record of the discussions to formulate a telegram to be sent to the Brazilian labor movement condemning its disbandment and the debate to remove the Secretary of the CIO maritime committee.

Volume 5, May 19, 1947, pp. 515-636, records the formulation of the telegram to the Brazilian labor movement, discussion of the maritime committee's opposition to the Taft-Hartley Bill, the formulation of local committees to coordinate action among the various unions in the coming negotiations, the drafting of a resolution on the subject of ship transfers, and the discussion of the admission of the Shipyard Workers Union to the CIO maritime committee.

Arranged chronologically.