M
Mark Baber
Staff member
Moderator
Member
The New York Times, 24 March 1912
BANDSMEN NOW PASSENGERS
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Trouble with Union Put Steamships' Musicians in Curious Position
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The Musicians' Union in England has recently interfered with the bands carried on the Atlantic steamships, and has tried to keep them from sailing because the performers are paid by a musical agency at less than union wages, and are signed on the ship's articles at the pay of one shilling a month.
Before the Olympic left Southampton on March 13 a delegation waited on J. Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line, on behalf of the Musicians' Union, and stated their objections. The bandsmen, they said, were sailing with less than the union scale of pay, and depending on tips from the passengers to make up the difference.
Mr. Ismay responded that if the union objected to the White Star Line carrying its bandsmen as members of the crew at a shilling a month the company would carry them as passengers.
When the Olympic arrived on Wednesday afternoon her five musicians were down on the passenger manifest as second cabin passengers, and were all supplied with regular tickets, which they gave up for the regulation landing cards.
The musicians had to pass examination before the immigration officials, and answer questions put to the aliens in the usual way, and produce $50 in cash to show that they were not destitute. The no. 4 head tax was paid for them also by the company. This was reclaimed by the White Star Line agents after the Olympic sailed with her five bandsmen booked again as second cabin passengers for Southampton. This method takes them out of the jurisdiction of the Captain, as they are not members of the crew.
-30-
MAB
BANDSMEN NOW PASSENGERS
---
Trouble with Union Put Steamships' Musicians in Curious Position
---
The Musicians' Union in England has recently interfered with the bands carried on the Atlantic steamships, and has tried to keep them from sailing because the performers are paid by a musical agency at less than union wages, and are signed on the ship's articles at the pay of one shilling a month.
Before the Olympic left Southampton on March 13 a delegation waited on J. Bruce Ismay, head of the White Star Line, on behalf of the Musicians' Union, and stated their objections. The bandsmen, they said, were sailing with less than the union scale of pay, and depending on tips from the passengers to make up the difference.
Mr. Ismay responded that if the union objected to the White Star Line carrying its bandsmen as members of the crew at a shilling a month the company would carry them as passengers.
When the Olympic arrived on Wednesday afternoon her five musicians were down on the passenger manifest as second cabin passengers, and were all supplied with regular tickets, which they gave up for the regulation landing cards.
The musicians had to pass examination before the immigration officials, and answer questions put to the aliens in the usual way, and produce $50 in cash to show that they were not destitute. The no. 4 head tax was paid for them also by the company. This was reclaimed by the White Star Line agents after the Olympic sailed with her five bandsmen booked again as second cabin passengers for Southampton. This method takes them out of the jurisdiction of the Captain, as they are not members of the crew.
-30-
MAB
