STORAGE Storage charges at the several independent warehouses are similar to those assessed by the railroads. The Army base terminals subscribe to the storage and free-time tariff of the Norfolk & Portsmouth Belt Line Railroad but also contract for space upon special arrangement. Generally speaking, the storage charge on export freight is 1 cent per 100 pounds for the first 10 days after expiration of free time and one-half cent per 100 pounds for each succeeding 10 days or fraction. Free-time allowance ranges from 2 to 15 days, depending upon the commodity. Charges for the storage of import freight are the same as for export freight. A free-time allowance of 15 days is given package or piece freight. Bulk freight, excepting ores, is allowed 5 days' free time. On domestic freight a flat allowance of 2 days' free time is given, after which charges are assessed on the same basis as for foreign cargo. Railroad storage and free-time arrangements are contained under "Communications," page 193. LOADING AND DISCHARGING VESSELS All work incident to the loading and discharging of vessels is performed by shore labor. Generally one gang, averaging 20 men, is employed at each hatch. At times, when vessel's rig permits, two gangs may be worked. Except at a few of the private terminals, all hatches can be worked at the same time. General cargo, under normal conditions, is unloaded at the rate of 25 tons per hatch or gang per hour. Loading of outward cargo of this nature averages about 20 tons per hatch or gang per hour. The cost of loading general cargo averages from 90 cents to $1 per ton; unloading, from 80 to 90 cents per ton. Wage scales of longshoremen and checkers and rates for stevedoring will be found under "Labor," page 42. Method of handling import cargo.-The agent, after having made arrangements for ship's berth and for entry at customhouse, furnishes stevedores to attend to the discharge of cargo. Stevedore contractors open the hatches and, with the assistance of the ship's gear, break out the cargo and land it on the wharf, in barges alongside the vessel or direct to railroad cars. Steamship clerks, customs officials, and a representative of the consignee inspect and check or weigh the cargo. After merchandise is released by the customs inspectors, receipts are taken by the steamship clerks from the consignee or his agent and the freight handlers of the terminal company transfer the cargo to cars or to storage. It is optional whether cargo be checked or weighed. Manifest weights are sometimes accepted, but general cargo is checked out and oc casionally weighed, either on the deck of the vessel or on the pier. Cargo is checked on landing by regular licensed checkers. Method of handling export cargo.-Shore agents of the vessel to be loaded generally assemble all cargo at a designated pier. Small amounts of cargo are lightered from other piers or are transferred over the belt railroad. Ships, however, often shift to other piers when the amount of cargo to be obtained makes it desirable. Freight is removed from cars or storage by terminal employees and placed by them upon the string piece of the pier where it is turned over to the stevedores for loading. Customs officials exercise no supervision over outbound foreign cargo except drawback merchandise and goods in bond. Receipts are given to the consignor or his agent by the steamship company when cargo originates locally or from storage. Railroads take receipt when cargo is in transit or is loaded direct from cars. Regular licensed checkers are employed in tallying goods taken from warehouse floors or from cars. In the case of coastwise steamship companies, all terminal labor is performed by regular employees. Loading and unloading is done by hand trucks through side ports. The following contractors are engaged in stevedoring vessels at Hampton Roads: Name Atlantic Coast Shipping Co.. Barrett, Fred R............. Cacace's, V., Sons... Chesapeake Stevedoring Co------ Jarka, F., & Co..... Maher, Walter C.. National Stevedoring & Shipping Co. (Inc.).. Address 220 Citizens' Bank Building, and 1412 Boissevain Ave., Norfolk. National Bank of Commerce Building, Norfolk. 304 West Twenty-sixth Street, Norfolk. Citizens Bank Building, Norfolk. Citizens' Bank Building, Norfolk. N. & W. Piers, Lamberts Point, Norfolk. Citizens' Bank Building, Norfolk. Norfolk Terminal Stevedoring Corpora- Law Building, Norfolk. Old Dominion Stevedoring Corporation. Tidewater Stevedoring Co... 116 West Plume Street, Norfolk. LABOR The supply of labor for work aboard ship or on shore is sufficient to meet any reasonable demand. Some competition is offered by other industries, but without impairment of the general marine labor market. Customary hours for this class of labor, during which workers 52690°-27-4 are paid on "straight time" basis, are from 8 a. m. to 5 p. m. week days, with one hour for lunch. Work performed at other times or on holidays is counted as "overtime" and paid for at an advance of 50 per cent over straight time. The usual holidays are observed and, in addition, Lee's birthday (January 19). The following working agreements and wage scales for longshoremen, stevedores, and other marine labor are at present in effect between the labor organizations and the United States Shipping Board: LONGSHOREMEN'S AGREEMENT This agreement, made and entered into by and between the undersigned United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, Deepwater Steamship Lines, Master Stevedores Association, and other contracting stevedores of the ports of Hampton Roads and vicinity, as party of the first part, and the International Longshoremen's Association and its affiliated locals, Nos. 846, 862, 944, 970, 983, 984, and 985, as party of the second part, is meant to cover the loading and unloading of ships and the bunkering of same in the ports of Hampton Roads and vicinity. 1. Members of the party of the second part shall have the preference of all work pertaining to the rigging up of the ships and coaling of the same, as is done at the present time, and the discharging and loading of all cargoes under the following terms and conditions: 2. (a) The basic working day shall consist of eight hours. Straight time (to be paid for at the respective rates specified below) shall be from 8 a. m. to 12 noon and from 1 p.m. to 5 p. m. on all week days, except that on Saturdays, throughout the entire year, straight time shall be from 8 a. m. to 12 noon. All other time, including meal hours, except as specified under clause 2 (c), shall be counted and paid for as overtime, at the respective rates specified below. Meal hours shall be from 6 a. m. to 7 a. m.; 12 noon to 1 p. m.; 6 p. m. to 7 p. m.; and 12 midnight to 1 a. m., except on passenger vessels, when the midnight meal hour may be from 11 p. m. to midnight, as agreed. (b) Rates per hour: Straight Overtime No. 1. General cargo, including barrel oil when part of general cargo, also bulk cargo, ballast and all coal cargoes, including bunker coal, except as specified under rate No. 2... No. 2. Sulphur and steel dust in bulk or bags. .80 1.15 No. 3. Wet hides. No. 4. Screwing cotton and tobacco aboard ship. Frozen meats and other cargo in compartments under refrigeration. No. 5. Explosives in stream When men work through (c) Meal hours shall be paid for at the overtime rate. the night and are required to work the midnight and/or the breakfast meal hours the rate for such meal hours shall be double the overtime rate. If men work through the noon hour the overtime rate shall prevail until the men are relieved. Men to be entitled to the full meal hour, except when only a portion of meal hour is worked in order to finish vessel, in which case they are to be paid only for portion of meal hour actually worked, at the meal-hour rate. (d) When men are to work in stream or other cargo than explosives, they shall be so advised beforehand so they can carry their lunch. If the employer so elects, he can knock the men off at the noon or midnight meal hour, allowing them one-half hour for lunch, starting work again one-half hour before regular starting time and allowing them one hour's pay at the prevailing rate. When men work in stream on any class of cargo, time to count from time of leaving pier until time of return to pier. Actual time consumed in going and returning to be paid for as general cargo rate except when men are transported upon lighters with explosives when explosive rate will apply. (e) Legal holidays are: New Year's Day; Lee's Birthday, January 19; Washington's Birthday, February 22; Decoration Day, May 30; Fourth of July; Labor Day; National Election Day; Thanksgiving Day; Christmas--and such other national or State holidays as may be appointed by Executive authority. Only mail or baggage, and ships in distress, to be worked on Christmas, Fourth of July, and Labor Day. Men are to work any night of the week or Sunday when required. 3. (a) Meal hours on explosives in stream, when worked, $2.20 per hour. Men to supply their own meals when notified that ship is to work in stream; otherwise employer shall supply meals to men at actual cost. (b) Explosives such as are customarily handled in stream, when handled at any pier, shall be paid for at explosive rates. For shells and small ammunition, such as are handled at piers from cars to lighters, the general cargo rate to apply. If dispute arises as to what explosives are, it shall be settled by arbitration. 4. (a) Every effort will be made to arrange for the men to receive their wages at a locality as convenient as possible to the place at which they have performed the work. Any abuses arising under this clause shall be brought to the attention of the arbitration committee. (b) The pay-roll week to end 6 p. m. on Thursday and the men to be paid Saturday afternoon, pay windows to be opened as near 3 o'clock as possible, and remain open until 7 p. m., if necessary. 5. (a) When men are ordered out for work beginning Sunday morning they shall be notified before 5 p. m. on the Saturday preceding. (b) When men are ordered out to work they shall be paid for two hours at the prevailing rate if they are not put to work, except when weather conditions are such as to make it impractical to work ship. 6. (a) It is understood and agreed that the employer is under no obligation to hire men by gangs or through the office of the union. The stevedore or his authorized representative reserves the right to hire from available members of the union, all men, including headers, gangwaymen, winchmen, and slingers and to lay off any or all men whenever such action in his judgment is warranted. Shaping time shall be 7.55 a. m., 12.55 p. m., and 6.55 p. m. It is understood that, under ordinary conditions, men are to shape at their hall; but, upon request by the employer, men will shape at the regular shaping times at points between Imperial Docks and Engineers Depot, inclusive, Norfolk, and at the C. & O. Piers, Newport News. (b) It is further understood and agreed that men may be ordered out for any other hour, and such men, or gangs, shall be paid from the hour they report for work, whether work begins or not, in accordance with clause 5 (b). (e) It is distinctly understood and agreed that headers shall be responsible for their men and perform such labor as required of them by the employer. 7. When men are worked beyond any even hour, they are to be paid to the nearest quarter hour. 8. When necessary, gangs are to be knocked off 10 minutes before quitting time to replace hatch covers. The party of the second part undertakes to see that under no circumstances do men leave a ship, or fail to return if ordered back, without replacing hatch covers, and further specifically agrees to discipline any man guilty of a violation of this rule. 9. No chemicals improperly packed or in any but first-class shipping condition are to be accepted or loaded on board ship. If any question arises regarding the condition of this class of cargo, the matter to be left to the arbitration committee whose decision shall be final. 10. Any cargo which has been damaged by either fire or water and which has to be handled under distress conditions of handling, to be paid for at rates No. 5, but sound cargo in the same or a separate compartment is to be handled at rates Nos. 1, 2, 3, or 4 as the case may be. When rubbers are required for handling wet cargo or explosives or leather hand pads or gloves for barbed wire, they shall be provided by the stevedore or company. 11. The steamer is to supply suitable shelter for men working on deck in bad weather. 12. Employer to have the right to designate method of rigging ship; also to name number of men in gangs, and likewise how men are to be distributed on ship, dock, or lighter. The size of drafts or truck loads to be at discretion of employer or his representative. 13. In the event of any dispute or controversy arising during the life of this agreement as to the interpretation of same or abuse of any of the provisions thereof the men will continue to work pending an adjustment of the trouble as follows: Matter in dispute to be submitted to a committee of six, three of whom shall be representatives of the employers (one of these being a managing agent of United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation vessels) and three to be representatives of the employees. A decision of the majority of this committee to be final and binding. In the event of failure on the part of this committee of six to reach a satisfactory decision, then the committee of six shall proceed to select a seventh man as chairman, which man must be satisfactory to both sides and to the United States Shipping Board Emergency Fleet Corporation, and the decision of a majority of the committee so augmented shall be final and binding upon all parties signatory to this agreement. 14. There shall be no beer or other intoxicating liquor brought upon the property of the party of the first part. For a violation of this clause the guilty party may be discharged and given no further employment by the party of the first part. It is clearly agreed that no men are to be allowed to leave the pier during working hours for the purpose of obtaining drink, or for any purpose whatever except with the express permission of the foreman stevedore in charge. The steamship companies agree to supply proper drinking water on pier, also adequate and cleanly toilet facilities. 15. The party of the second part will not try to uphold incompetency, shirking of work, pilfering, or poaching of cargo. Any man guilty of the above offences shall be dealt with as the party of the first part sees fit, or as the circumstances may require. If any man is convicted of theft he shall be expelled from the Union. 16. There shall be no discrimination by the party of the first part against any member of the party of the second part nor shall the party of the second part discriminate against the party of the first part. 17. When the party of the second part can not furnish a sufficient number of men to perform the work in a satisfactory manner, then the party of the first part may employ such other men as are available. 18. When men are ordered to work at United States Army base, United States Naval base or Pinners Point (unless transportation is furnished by employers), they will be allowed their actual carfare to and from work. If men are knocked off at United States Army base, United States Naval base, Pinners Point, or Lamberts Point after hours during which street cars operate, employers will furnish transportation or allow 40 cents if unable to furnish transportation. |