The Phoenix index., 1942-02-07
LABOR AND
| INDUSTRY
BY GEORGE F. McCRAY
(FOr AMP
DISCRIMINATION, PRIORlTIES
AND THE NEGRO WORKER

ployment as the result of the ap-
plication of priorities to various in
dustrieS would greatly hamper the
chance of Negro defense workers
to find employment. 1t was point
ed out heavy lay-offs in industries
manufacturing plumbers supplies,
stoves, refrigerators, vacuum clean
ers, washing machines, electrical
appliances, metal furniture, Struc-
tural steel and brass, bronze, cop
per and rubber products lee the
CIO to estimate that by spring
2,500O, ,00G workers will have been
thrown out of work.
At least 250.O0O workers will be
laid off in the automobile industry.
Already the steel industry is begin
ming to lay off men and the manu-
facture Of farm implements is be-
Ing sharply curtailed. On Tuesday
OPM announced the production Of
radios for civilian use would be
stopped.
MUST NOT WAIT FOR
LABOR SHORTAGE
In the face of this rising tide of
unemployment, it seems fatal to
expect an immediate shortage Of
labor to solve the employment prob
lem of the Negro defense worker.
Not only would such a policy throw
an unfair share of the whole bur-
den of unemployment upon the
backs of Negro workers, but would
scuttle the very principle of ma
tional unity so essential to the
worldwide defeat of fascisfn.
I can't think of anything that
more infuriateS Negro work.
er, particularly If he is a veter-
an, that the feeling that his
qualifications to serve his
country in a defense industry
will not be considered until aft
err those of all other workers.
Yet most of the public discus
sion of this problem and even
among people in government cir
cles, turns upon the idea that Ne
gro labor should be hired only as
labor shortages among white work.
ers begin to hamper the defense
program. This Is the line Of reason
ing followed by Hillman and KnuG-
sen in two separate statements
dealing with the problem.
Only recently, and only after
much undercover agitation, did the
Bureau of Employment Security ds-'
eide to use the facilities Of the en-
ployment service to persuade en-
ployers to take the most qualified
person for a Job regardless OF his
color Few people seem convinced
that the employment service has its
heart in this matter. The danger
of antagonizing those employers
upon which it depends for its essis-
tence is too great.
DISCRIMINATION WEAKENS
NATIONAL UNITY
It Is this employment situation
which lies at the root of much o.
I h e widespread dissatisfaction
among Negroes. with the defense
program. No matter how many
resolutions Negro Leaders in WASH
ington adopt condemning this at
titude it will persist so long as the
situation which fosters it exists
Judge Hastie and his aSSOci~
ates would have rendered far
greater service to this country
if they had adopted a resOlu>
ton cOndenining the admins
tration, OPM, or the Fair EN-
plOyment Practices committee
for falling to perform one sin
gle act to make defense employ
ers realize the government Is
determined to destroy discr'mt-
nation in defense industries, 1t
seems to me we must not hesf-
tate to destroy everything that
tends to weaken the defcnses
of this country.
Despite the existence OF non
clause In defense
contracts since July, thus Implying
that offending employers Woulc
lose such contracts, / don't think
Negro workers want such clauses
enforced to hamper productlon.
Rather 10000 Negroes remain un-
employed than have our de1ense
forces lose a single tank, gun, or
airplane.
We can have democratic de-
fense program without hampering
the production of a single nut OF
screw needed for defense. NOW
since the problem of discrimlna-
ton against Negro defense WORK
ers is essentially defense LABOR
dispute I wonder why the army, as
in several other labor disputes, mas
not been used to take over tne
plants of recalcitrant EMPLOYERS
Whv hasn't 1t been announced tnaC
the new War Labor board VIII noO
grant the union or closed snop "
unions that discriminate against
defense workers because OF race
religion, nationality?
Finally, wonder what VIII De
done to secure compliance with the
discrimination OF
der after persuasion and pleadlng
with employers, and appeals 10
HIGHER boards and committees have
failed In produce results? The more
quickly we make clean breast OF
the situation the better we Sf1all
be.