A Sailor's Strike

Before loading their new cargo in Barletta, the crew are kept hard at work. The weather and work condition are below optimal and a scuffle breaks out over overtime pay. A successful workers' strike ensues...

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Monday 8^th January, 1912

Started to paint or rather tar the funnel. After breakfast finished top black and some of the white band. A very cold strong breeze sprang up, so the three of us on the stage high up felt the full force of it. At last it became so wild we descended to the deck refusing to stay working up there any longer, notwithstanding the bosun’s growling or his boast about painting funnels in the Western Ocean in the depth of winter. Some folk will do anything.

Lowering the staging we took all our gear pots, pain, tar etc for’ard. I heard the mate say (sensible man) “You know the men cant work up there on a day like this. Put them down the bunker and see about the shifting boards.”

The weather grew worse, the sky full of heavy black clouds. By 11 oclock it rained hard, the wind increasing in violence. Spray dashing over the breakwater reached the deck of the ship, and formed by the breeze, a heavy swell come rolling in between the pier heads. To make the ship secure we put out extra breast rope and head and stern wires. We also hove tight the big coir springs. This kept us busy until dinner-time. The coalies ceased work.

The manner of discharging is the following – A gang down the hold fills sacks which are hoisted by whips, two sacks to each whip, four whips being worked at each hatch. The sacks are landed on a small staging by the ship’s rail and carried from there on the backs of workmen, along a gang way stretching form the ship’s side to the shore, where carts await to receive them –

About 3pm the weather improved, the coalies recommenced work. In the evening to cheer our drooping spirits we lit the bogie, all hands staying aboard. It was not safe nor inviting along the breakwater.

Wednesday 10^th January, 1912 

Chipping and red leading over the side all day. After tea, having got ½ franc from the Austrian, I went ashore. Most of the shops were closed, and although there was a good number of pedestrians about, the place was oppressively quiet and dull, I thought. I went to Sala Roma picture hall there seeing and enjoying the programme of five good pictures. That cost cinque soldi (2½d English). The way back to the ship called in at the Ideal Bar for a Vermouth (a sweet wine, price 2d. That left me with ½d out of the 5d or half franc as we sailors call it. Actually it was half a ‘lira’. Down came the rain, all humans disappearing, as I wended my way back aboard, my path being a singularly quiet, lonely damp and eerie one.

I was on edge.

Thursday 11^th January, 1912 

A very warm day, the sun shining strong. Took a letter containing a note for £2 which I got from the master, aft. It is for my old lady (mother).

The master will post it when he goes ashore, for ship’s custom requires him to post all letters the crew thinks fit to send home, or elsewhere.

The subject of conversation to night was the Boer War. Our bosun, by the way, was in Lovatts House. In 1900 I was in a Federal Liner that took part of the Second Australian Contingent to the Cape. Then I had the experience of being ashore in Cape Town when the Relief of Ladysmith took place. Oh boys what a night!

Quite befittingly, I have Rider Haggards’s The Last Boer War to peruse ere going to sleep.

Friday 12^th January, 1912 

Engaged all day sweeping holds. The bosun kept us on the move, no spell-o with that guy. Knocked off as usual at 5pm. I was busy washing myself when the mate came along and told the bosun to turn us to the ‘shift ship’. “Turn to! Shift ship! Starboard watch aft” roared my nabs, through the forecastle doorway. We looked at one another and argued whether we should turn to or not, as there was no mention of overtime payment.

"Let’s see the mate," advised the Dundonian. “Sure” agreed yours humbly, and up on the f’c’stle head we went. “Are we going to get overtime for this Sir? Enquired Scottie. “What! For shifting ship. Oh no.” replied the mate. “Well the new rules is all work after 5 is overtime, sir.” “I won’t pay it!” snapped the mate. He wouldn’t pay it. Oh my! I thought the shipowners did all the paying but some folk will talk at random “All work connected with the ship or cargo after 5 o clock is overtime” chimed in I.

“If the shipping office superintendant says you are entitled, when you pay off – alright”

“That’s no use, sir. Please state definitely whether you are going to pay us overtime or not”

“No. I will not.”

“Then no work” so saying I headed the march off the forecastle head. 

Five minutes later the mate came to our door, shouting “Alright turn to. The captain agrees to pay overtime”. We sailors went immediately on deck and shifted ship astern, under the direction of the Italian pilot. The time occupied I will duly note down along with the date, so as to be able to give particulars in writing to the shipping master if necessary.