The preliminary difficulty in the negotiations was that the Union demanded a flat percentage increase. It was on this point that it became apparent at the outset that difficulties were almost sure to arise between the Union and the owners. Negotiations eventually progressed upon a basis of percentages for various lines. The result has been that where low pay was in evidence, the owners were willing to concede generous terms, and although the original demand of the seamen in this particular respect was for an increase of 40 per cent., it will be seen that they eventually accepted 30 per cent.
In the case of higher paid services, such as European and Pacific lines, the original demands called for a 30 to 40 per cent. increase, and the settlement resulted in the men accepting a 15 to 20 per cent. increase.
The shipowners in making such concessions as they have done, were not unduly influenced by anything other than the grave commercial holdup and the hardship entailed
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.