The Phoenix index., 1940-11-09

Labor and the Congress OF IN
dustrial Organizations had agreed
to lift bans against employment ol
Negroes in defense industries, thus
adhering to the Commissions state
ment of labor policy which stipu'
lates that workers should not bc
Disseminated against because OF
age, sex, race or color"
Mr.. Hillman further assured the
group that as discrimination
against Negroes appeared in speclf-
ic industries and plants holding
defense contracts, his office woulo
correct these cases as rapidly as
facilities permitted. This procedure,
he stated was in line both with a
sound national defense program
and the welfare of the Negro popu-
iation.
MORE DEFENSE HOUSING
In a conference held with the
Federal Works agency, assurance
was given by w. E. Reynolds, Com
missioner of Public Buildings, that
Negro labor will receive equitable
consideration in the construction
of defense housing following as far
as possible the policy developed by
the united states Housing Author
ity in the construction OF low
rent housing projects
C. F.. Palmer, Defense Housing
Coordinator, was informed thar
less than 3 per cent of the dwell
ing units thus far constructed un-
der the defense housing program
were occupied by Negroes. The
Housing Coordinator promised to
use all means within his power to
insure defense housing occupancy
by Negroes in proportion to their
numbers in the working popula'
ton
Evan Clague, director of the
Bureau of Employment Security
asserted that the local offices would
be instructed to emphasize the
placement of skilled Negro work
ers in defense industries. Plans
are under way, he said, for in
service training of local office in
terviewing staffs with view to cor
rectirS present faulty procedures
in referral of Negro jobs applicants
NYA WILL TRAIN YOUTH
billiard B. Lasseter, Deputy Ad-
of the National Youth
Administration, stated that the en-
larged appropriations now maize
available for workshop experience os
young people made it possible foI
NYA to give Negro youth valuable
work experience looking toward
en- Voyment in defense industries
DR.. John B. Studebaker, com
United States Office OIL
promised to use the in
fluence of his office in securing
the appointment of Negroes to ad-
visory committees cooperating with
local boards of education in the
vocational training program. He
further promised to interview per-
sonally some employers in key in
dustries to urge the employment ot
Negroes who have received voca-
tional training for defense pur-
poses.
In an interview with Charles v
assistant secretary OF
Labor, the committee protested the
undue delay shown by the Depart.
ment of Labor in giving the Unit
ed Transport Service Workers their
proper representation on the Rail
way Labor Adjustment Board. The
assistant secretary promised speedy
action on the matter as soon az
papers, Which have been filed by
the union, are studied and approved
by his office.
CAA is EXPANDED PROGRAM
Inadequate facilities provided by
the Civil Aeronautics Authority for
training of Negro air pilots were
POINTED out to Colonel Donald
Connolly and Major Groves Web
ster of that agency. The arm
service was charged with being
secretly opposed to the program
and unwilling to cooperate with it
fully. Assurances were given the
committee that the inadequacieS
susceptible to attack by CAA would
be corrected as rapidly as possible
Continuing discrimination againss
Negroes by local WPA administra-
tors, especially in professional and
service projects, was pointed out
to Mr. Edy of the Federal Works