The Omaha guide., 1934-06-30

back vel the years the labor move
ment has been weak in it's defense of
the rights Of Negro working men. 1t
has at times been hostile. It not only
refuses membership to Negroes bu,
in refusing them automatically with
holds employment from them Ne
groes who are members are frequent
ly denied the opportunity to work on
closed shop jobs because their fellow
white unionists-sometimes members
of the same local with Neg-oes-are
too prejudiced to work with them
Under the NRA thee discrimina-
| tory practices have not ceased. III
some respects they have become
more burdensome. 1t is not to be
wondered at, then, that Negro work
ess should feel concerned for their
future over the impending Bill which
grants more advantage to labor than
does the National Industrial Re-
covery Act.
Of the men and women normal
engaged in making a living in the
United States, about one in every
eight is a Negro. Of the number of
trade ~unionists n the country, not
mo in fifty is a Negro. If the labor
representatives on the board set up
n the Wagner Bill should come from
the A. F. of L. they might come from
one of the Federation's nationals
which permit no Negroes to join its
ranks. If they come from the four
Brotnerhoods of Railway Employees
it is a certainty that Negroes will
not be represented since this group
bans Negroes from membership with
out a single exception. In any event
the most optimistic conjecture will
allow for no aggressive steps on be-
half of Negro workers by the major
labor organizations.
1t is important that Negro work
ers should consider the possible eff
feet upon their future employment
Of this continued growth of labor's
influence and power. Under the NRA
labor has been a silent partner with
government along the entire recov-
| cry front. The Wayne, Bill ~elevates
labor to the dominant position of an
active, operating co-partner with the
employer and the public, each hav-
ing equal rights and authority. Ii, as
it has been pointed out above, the
NRA under the guidance of the dom
inant personality of General Hugh s.
! Johnson, has permitted labor unions
to continue their restrictions against
Negroes, what might not be expected
when organized labor is given great
er prestige and control?
But complaining such as this is
neithe~ statesmanlike nor self re-
speeding. There are more effective
approaches to the problem within the
control of the Negro group, and these
should be used. Appeals by profess
sional groups and protesting confer
ences have not been effective. The
Negro is not represented by others
nor allowed to represent himself be-
cause he has been too i~narticulate to
justify being appointed to boards and
to warrant adequate consideration OF
his just complaints, So far as the
writer knows, there has not been du-
1ing the past twenty years a nation
al labor congress Of Negro workers.
Groups outside of the labor move
ment have frequently denounced at
national conferences the discrimina-
ton practiced against Negro workers
by organized labor, but Negro work
ers themselves have not analysed
their own problem 0 harnessed
their strength in defense of their
own welfare.
Looking toward such an objective,
the National Urban League has
launched a program designed to pro-
mote, stimulate and perpetuate col
lective action among Negro workers
for the puspose of ~effecting their
full participation in the American
labor movement, by presenting the
problem of Negro labor to Federal
bodies, securing the admission OF
| Negro workers in all organized lab
or groups, working for a o racial
labor movement obtainable through
the joint action of white and Negro
labor, fighting against discrimina-
tory wage and work policies and
practices, and carrying on q continu-
Gus program to gain appropriate re-
cognition in all relationships
The first step in the organization
of this interest and awateness is the
promotion of workers study groups
in all parts of the country. There
will be an advisory committee on
which authorities on industrial pro-
blems will serve and a large commit
tee Of leading men and women will