Business: World Boycott

From Portland, Ore. to Piraeus, seamen last week staged a four-day international boycott against ships flying the flags of Panama, Liberia, Honduras and Costa Rica, which, taken together, form the world's fastest-growing merchant fleet (717 in 1951, 1,695 today). The boycott, sponsored by the International Transport Workers' Federation, which claims 200 affiliates in 62 nations with 7,000,000 members, was the start of a campaign to harass owners of "convenience" or "runaway" flag vessels, so called because the PanLibHonCo nations levy negligible taxes, have lower labor and safety standards than the U.S. and other leading maritime nations. An estimated 45% of all...

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