American Society of Marine Engineers
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| Abbreviation | ASME |
|---|---|
| Predecessor | None |
| Successor | None |
| Formation | 1921 |
| Dissolved | ca. 1941 |
| Type | Company union |
| Services |
|
| Membership | 800 (claimed) (1934) |
Main organ | The Log |
The American Society of Marine Engineers (abbr: ASME) was a company union established by shipowners in 1921 to supplant or weaken the chief labor union of American marine engineers, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA). The ASME enjoyed some success for a number of years after the failed MEBA strike of 1921, but was effectively eliminated as a competitor to MEBA following the successful "Big Strike" of 1934.
The ASME also served as an educational organization, and continued publishing its official organ, The Log, until 1941.
During World War I, the United States merchant navy underwent a great expansion, leading to a shortage of qualified marine engineers, which in turn led to an increase in wages. The situation was reversed in the postwar period, with a surplus of engineers seeking a reduced number of jobs. In 1921, shipowners attempted to take advantage of these conditions by reducing wages, in response to which, the chief trade union representing American marine engineers, the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association (MEBA), went on strike. With the union unable to exert leverage due to the high number of unemployed in the industry, the strike was a disastrous failure for MEBA, which lost half its membership in the aftermath.[1][a]
In the wake of the failed strike, shipowners sought to consolidate their victory over MEBA by establishing a number of company unions to replace it. The most important of these was the American Society of Marine Engineers (ASME).[1]
