The Omaha guide., 1941-03-15

Chairman, Negro Labor Comm.
DURING THE last war large
numbers of Negro workers came
North and we're hired by the vari-
Gus industries as manufacturing
plants expanded to meet the needs
of war production. These Colored
workers gained a foothold in a
| number of industries and localities
where they had heretofore not
been employed. In practically ev-
cry instance they did satisfactory
work, and in those industries such
as coal mining and the manufact,
ure of clothing where the unions
have always been progressive and
active, they joined freely with
their white fellow workers in the
efforts made by the unions to
maintain and improve conditions
for the working class as a whole.
WITH THE coming of the dep
ression Negro workers suffered
more in proportion than did the
whites, although they both suffer
ed severely. The traditional pre-
JUDGE of many employers and
some workers held full sway as
| millions found themselves out of
work and pressing for any sort of
a job. Negro workers were the
first TO be discharged. Sometim-
es this was the result of prejudice
but often it was the result of the
operation of seniority rights which
caused those who had found jobs
in the industry most recently to be
laid off first when the working
force had to be reduced.
WITH THE improved conditions
under the Roosevelt administration
jobs for white and Colored work.
ers increased in number, although
not sufficient to bring full employ
ment. But again Negro workers
| found themselves called back to
work more slowly than their fell
low workers with white skins. In
consequence, all throughout the
land the proportion Of Negroes on
relief is far higher titan it should
/ be, due TO denying us a fair nppor
tunity to work.
ONCE AGAIN the dogs of war
ere unleashed in the world. The
devastation which they cause will
be kept from our shores, as long
as the British hold back the flood
of aggression by Hitler with his
vile racial ideas, and by Mussolini
who conquered Ethiopia, but who
now feels the heavy hand of JUS
tice as his stolen Empire is being
wrested from him by the British
lion and the aroused Ethiopians.
Our job is to produce the essent-
ials of war and thus enable those
who are fighting against dictator
ship to win the day for democracy
Again, therefore, opportunity for
wider employment in war industry
opens up for the Negro. But this
time it seems that the prejudice
of employers added to the bar
which has been set up by a num-
Der of short-sighted unions, is
blocking Jul way.
ORGANIZED NEGRO workers
must be active and determined to
demand their fair share of jobs in
different industries and their
share of opportunity for training
for such jobs. Since the industr-
les are operating under govern
ment contracts in most cases, and
since much of the training is be-
ing carried out through govern
ment agencies such as the WPA.
and the National Youth Admins
tration, we should use the pressure
of our political power wherever
we have the right to vote to de-
mand our rights, and we can also
use the power we have gained
through our organized industrial
strength. The efforts of such or
CARNATIONS as the NAACP. and
the Urban League to see that wide
spread practice of discrimination
in the defense industries is ended
deserve all the support which we
can give them. The efforts OF the
many thousands of Negro Trade
Unionists to end discrimination
from within the labor movement
likewise deserves u sympathetic
understanding and support. Luck
ily. within the labor movement
progressive white trade %unoinists
give support to our demands. Sid
new Hillman representing labor IN
the Office of Production Manage
ment has promised to use his IN
fluence to end discrimination IN
employment by industries getting
government contracts. The Amer