United States Circuit Court of Appeals Judge H. Edward Lumbard today denied a motion on behalf of the Khedivial Mail Line, of Alexandria, Egypt, which sought again to halt the picketing of the United Arab Republic ship, Cleopatra.
It was the third setback for the Egyptian shippers in ten days. The Alexandria firm asked that the Seafarers’ International Union, which has been picketing the Cleopatra since April 13, “show cause” why the picketing should not halt.
The picketing has been ruled a “labor dispute” by U.S. District Court Judge Thomas F. Murphy who, Saturday, disagreed with the thesis that the picketing constitutes “political action.” The maritime workers are picketing in protest against UAR blacklisting of American ships trading with Israel, contending that such a practice robs American seamen of Jobs.
Judge Lumbard, however, agreed that the entire Circuit Court should hear an appeal from Judge Murphy’s ruling. The hearing will be held Wednesday morning. Prior to Judge Murphy’s ruling, U.S. District Court Judge Edward Weinfeldhad turned down a request to issue a restraining order against the pickets.
Meanwhile, the Central Labor Council of New York, representing all trade unions in this city affiliated with the American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial Organizations, sent a message to Paul Hall, president of the SIU, commending the union for “the battle it is waging.”
Declaring that the picketing is “a battle in defense of freedom of the seas and the rights of maritime workers,” the Central Council said in its message: “The SJU, true to its tradition of free trade unionism, is not only defending its own members, but waging a historic battle for freedom of the seas in accordance with international law.”
DOCKERS FEDERATION IN FRANCE BACKS PICKETING OF EGYPTIAN SHIP
The influential Deckers Federation of the French Confederation of Christian Workers today sent a cable of congratulations to the maritime workers in New York who are boycotting the United Arab Republic passenger-cargo vessel Cleopatra in the New York Harbor.
Pierre Foray, general secretary of the Dockers Federation, made the message public. The cable Lauds the New York maritime workers for their “courage” and asks them to “continue the action on behalf of the liberties of all.”
According to M. Foray, the French workers can only express moral support of the boycott against the UAR ships in retaliation for the Arab blacklisting of ships trading with Israel, since no UAR ships call at French ports.
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