OCEANOGRAPHY IN THE UNITED STATES 261 



and the results of that survey showed that the men were drastically underpaid. 

 Hence the increase. During the period 1957 through November 1958, subsequent 

 surveys resulted in a slight increase. In February 1959 the Wages Reviewing 

 Committee again reviewed the wages, and in a surprise move, instituted, in 

 record time, another substantial pay raise. And, incidentally, they advised the 

 Albatross crew of the new wage rates at the same time that they announced 

 the deactivation of the vessel. In the same breath, literally, the crew were 

 given a substantial wage increase and fired. Actually, in the case of the Alba- 

 tross III, it has been pointed out that as a result of a drastic reduetion-in-force 

 order, reducing the number of crew members substantially, the subsequent pay 

 increases affected the overall salary budget for the vessel considerably less than 

 the report would tend to make us believe. 



The lay up of the Albatross on such short notice is a real catastrophe for some 

 of the men involved. Sure, they can find other work, in time. But they have 

 gotten away from commercial fishin;,', lost their contacts, and passed up higher 

 paying jobs for the ultimate security and satisfaction that they expected from 

 Government service. Several men who have been hospitalized for injuries or 

 illnesses suffered in Government service now find themselves out of a job and 

 owing the U.S. Government several hundred dollars for advanced sick leave. 

 They have been ordered to sign releases permitting the Government to withhold 

 accumulated retirement benefits and annual leave payments. 



In one instance, a man sick in Brighton Marine Hospital was mailed papers 

 to sign permitting the service to advance him sick leave to cover his extended 

 period of illness. He signed them in good faith, not expecting the vessel to be 

 laid up scarcely 2 weeks after he returned to work. Certainly responsibile men 

 within the service contemplated the deactivation of the Albatross months before 

 the crew and public were advi.sed. This being the case, it seems highly illogical 

 and most careless of those in management to encourage the man to take advanced 

 sick leave. 



When the vessel's crew were called together to receive their final separation 

 papers, men owing sick leave were requested to sign away their pension fund and 

 accumulated annual leave. This is money they will need to support their 

 families while looking for work. In the case noted above the man was told it 

 would go hard with him if he did not sign the release on the spot, after he had 

 requested permission to take the form home to discuss with his wife a method 

 of paying over $400 back to the Government. After signing away all the benefits 

 he had coming the man admittedly could not give the Government a cheek or 

 money order to fulfill the claim. But he was forced to sign the release over a 

 handwritten statement, dictated by regional administrative oflScer, to the effect 

 tliat he needed additional time in which to pay the Government claim. 



At this same separation meeting each of the crew members was handed a blue 

 form No. 52 and told to sign his name anywhere on the back. In response to 

 questions about the form, the regional administrative ofiicer said it was not 

 important, "Don't bother to fill it out" — "Just sign your names on the back, so 

 we'll know where to send your checks and how to reach you in the event we have a 

 job for you." On closer inspection, it was discovered that form No. 52 is a re- 

 quest for personnel action, in short, a resignation form. When several men ques- 

 tioned the signing of this form, all were told they did not have to sign the form, 

 plain paper would do as well. Was this subterfuge? 



In the case of the chief officer of the Albatross, the arbitrary action of de- 

 activating the Albatross came less than a month before the completion of his 

 fifth year of service, thus depriving him of his right to a future annuity. This 

 injustice is even more odious when considered in the light of the man's age, 

 which is 65. Certainly arrangements could have been made to keep this man on 

 duty for another month. 



The master of the vessel is 2 weeks short of completing a full year of active 

 duty. His retention points are 1-plus. He has not received a performance 

 rating, although this could conceivably increase his retention points to 3. 

 Why? 



The statement on page 10 of the report to the effect that the Delaware will 

 be able to accomodate additional crew members without difficulty is a strange 

 and irresponsible one. A poll of the officers and crew of either vessel, the 

 reasearch biologists, or any impartial observer would belie the statements most 

 emphatically. A vast amount of money must be spent to increase her accom- 

 modations and install the most meager facilities. No amount of money could 

 make her equal to the Albatross as a research vessel. 



