Omaha daily bee., 1921-06-25
Unions Opposed
70 Industrial
Equality Plan
Equal Rights to Women and
Negroes Provided for in
Amendment of A. F. Of
L. Voted Down.

Denver, June 24.-lhe convention
of the American Federation of Labor
today voted down constitutional
amendment designed TO give women
equal rights and privileges of men,
bership in the union OF their trade
or industry" All affiliated unions,
however, were urged not to discrim
mate against the woman wage Garner
and admit her to membership
Efforts to wipe out the color line
in organized labor organizations also
failed. The convention took the
,tand that national and international
lnions could not be compelled to
recognize negro workers and that
>his was a matter to be adjusted by
conference between the negro wage
earners and the various organiza-
lions.
Both questions were the subject
Of long and stormy debates, in which
discrimination by certain unions
against the negro and woman wage
Farmers was bitterly denounced.
The committees report rejecting
The constitutional amendment to give
women industrial equality" defend
I'd tae federation's stand on women
in industry and cited efforts to get
better wages and working conditions
2 Tor them. 1t declared that only
"few unions" were discriminating
against women and for that reason
disapproved the amendment and
urged that "those international and
national organizations which do not
admit women to membership give
early consideration for such admis-
SION
Speak for Women.
Equal rights for women in in
dustry was voiced by delegates from
the cigarmakers' and the laundry
workers union, who declared "if
woman does a mans work she
should receive a mans pay" All
declared that organized labor should
protect the woman wage earners.
w. D. Mahon, president of the
Amalgamated Association of Street
Railway Employees. declared that his
organization would not allow the
federation to dictate to it in the mat
ter of woman's labor. He said he
was in favor of protection for woman
workers. but he did not believe that
the back platform of street car
was the place for woman"
The defeated constitutional amend
ment would have provided for the
issuance of separate charter by the
federation to woman's local with
out the consent of the union having
jurisdiction over the particular trade
Negro Not Recognized.
The negro question arose en- the
report of the committee on laws
which disapproved a resolution call
ing for the suspension of unions that
Disseminated against negro workers.
The committee, however, was upheld
by overwhelming votes
Replying to a question from the
uAaar as to whether it was possible
to force>anv affiliated union to wipe
out the color line" Presiden. Sam
uel Gompers said:
"The American Federation of La
Dor has previously declared that it
is the duty of all workers to organ
.ze, regardless of sex, nationality.
race, political belief or color.
"The federation, however, cannot
force this view upon individual or
affiliated unions without their con-
sent" .....
Jordan w. Chambers. negro dele
gate of the railway coach cleaners of
St. Louis, declaring that conferences
between members of his race and the
unions had been ordered at previous
conventions. but never had been held,
urged drastic action to compel recog-
milton of the negro workers.
Vote Wheeling Aid.
Union labor organizations of
Wheeling. w. Va, were voted as
sistance OF the federation in fighting
a court injunction served on them
yesterday and for which a hearing
has been set for tomorrow morning.
A telegram read to the convention
said none of the attorneys of Wheel
ing would consent to represent the
unions in their court action.
The telegram said that an EN-
ployers' organization had obtained
an injunction restraining virtually all
trades unions of Wheeling from
holding any meetings. eongregating
on the streets, in public meeting
places or in rooming houses because
of a building trades strike now in
progress. The unions, members, !
employees and officers were also en- |
joined from interfering with any
member of the employing organiza-
ton. its natronS or prospective pa