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support in that port." Of course, as the MW1LJ adamantly claimed, the
Subcommittee was not an MW1U institution. Only about one-fifth of the
Subcommittee's initial membership belonged to the MW1U (although most of the
rest subsequently joined) and, as already noted, seamen of all and no union
affiliations were treated equally by the Subcommittee. The Subcommittee was,
nevertheless, more than happy to extend benefits to striking seamen and to act as a
safety net for those whose strikes failed. Moreover, with a large number of seamen
"on the beach" receiving relief benefits, the MWIU had a large constituency to
organize and mobilize for strike support actions. In early February the Munsomo
was struck and two solidarity marches were organized on two successive days, the
first numbering a reported 300-400 persons (and taking place at 4 a.m.), the second
a reported 500. The policy to concentrate on the Munson lines, begun in the latter
half of 1933, continued. Munson ship after ship, including the Mundixie in the
action led by Bill Bailey and his compatriots, were struck. In some cases the strikes
were won, in others the ship slipped away, undermanned, to search for a scab crew
elsewhere.

In addition to Munson, a second focus for the Baltimore MWIU was the Ore
Steamship Company, a subsidiary of Bethlehem Steel and a particularly anti-union
company. Starting with modest demands raised on the Mangore, to the escalating
demands on the Steelore, a succession of strikes occurred on Ore ships until, in
April, the MWIU claimed victory. And from the point of view of worker's control,
it was a remarkable victory; according to Marine Workers Voice:

Now all ships of this company are 100% organized with ship's committees on
all ships. The company is forced to deal directly with the ships committee on
all problems that affect seamen. The ship's committee has a right to fire
anyone, including ships officers. Delegates if the MWIU have access to all
ships of that company. ^

Additionally, Bill Bailey later wrote that "conditions on the fifteen Ore ships
improved tremendously. They became some of the best ships to sail on, with a